Brave Writer

219. The 4th R: Relationship

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode is about what I call “The 4th R.” Most of us are familiar with the three R’s: Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. But in order f...

218. Reupping Your Homeschool Commitment

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The new year brings a perfect opportunity to refresh and re-energize our homeschooling practices. It's not just about sticking to what has worked in t...

217. Raising Kind Humans with Katie Doughty

27 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the journey of nurturing the next generation, the importance of instilling kindness and empathy in children cannot be overstated. The concept of te...

216. Putting your kids in school

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We have always been passionate advocates for flexible and child-centered education. With our combined experience in homeschooling and traditional scho...

215. Planned Spontaneity

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In our journey of homeschooling, we've discovered that education is not just about textbooks and structured lessons; it's about nurturing a child's cu...

214. Asian-American History with Resilient Panda

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the realm of educational resources, Essie and Hsin-Fu Wu, the founders of Resilient Panda History, aim to fill a neglected niche in the homeschooli...

213. How to Talk to Homeschool-Resistant Family

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As seasoned homeschoolers and advocates for this unique educational journey, we have experienced firsthand the challenges and joys that come with choo...

212. Hygge Homeschool for the Holidays

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As the leaves turn and the days shorten, there's a distinct shift in the air – it's the cozy season, a time for warmth, reflection, and connection. ...

211. The Danger in Setting Boundaries

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With the holiday season approaching, I’ve been hearing all kinds of advice about boundary setting. As a grandmother myself, I’ve experienced first...

210. Pleasure in Writing

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As an educator deeply embedded in the homeschooling world, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of writing when taught as a natural and e...

209. The Emotional Impact of Divorce, Part 2

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we dive deeper into a topic that holds immense significance in many of our lives: divorce. It's an extension of our previous discussions, and I...

208. The Emotional Impact of Divorce, Part 1

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode dives into the emotional aspect of divorce, especially its impact on children. From my personal experience as a child of divorce and l...

207. Cycles in Learning and Housekeeping

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What do the laundry cycle and the learning cycle have in common? A lot, actually. Today, we apply KC Davis’s take on laundry to homeschooling.In her...

206. Put Your Kids in the Driver's Seat!

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever stopped to marvel at the unique skills and knowledge your children possess? Sometimes, they have these fascinating insights about their ...

205. Building a Family Heritage through Homeschool with Amber Johnston Part 3

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Representation and diversity in media play a crucial role in shaping the self-worth and perception of children. We're continuing our in-depth discussi...

204. Building a Family Heritage through Homeschool with Amber Johnston Part 2

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re continuing our deep dive discussion into Amber O’Neal Johnston’s new book, “A Place to Belong.” Previously we talked about what led Am...

203. Building a Family Heritage through Homeschool with Amber Johnston Part 1

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Amber O'Neal Johnston, the heart and soul behind heritagemom.com and a proud contributor to the Wild + Free homeschooling community, has woven her exp...

202. Make It Stick—How to know if your kids are retaining what they learn!

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re diving deep into the book “Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning” by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Rodiger III, and Mark A. M...

201. Gentle Parenting, Natural Learning, and Simple Living with Rachel Rainbolt

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Rachel Rainbolt, the visionary founder of Sage Family and one of my favorite homeschoolers. With a master's degree in marital and family therapy,...

200. How to Become a Better Reader

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you noticed the shift from reading novels, newspapers, and research papers to watching 2-minute videos or skimming 280-character tweets? If you'v...

199. The Value of Effort in Learning

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s homeschooling environment, misconceptions about learning often cloud our judgments. Key among these misconceptions – one I may be guilt...

198. What to Do About Unmotivated Learners

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are days when you feel invincible, ready to conquer the world, and there are other days where getting out of bed feels like a herculean task. I ...

197. Josh MacNeill: Practices to Boost Learning

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Parenting can be one of life's most fulfilling yet challenging journeys. Josh MacNeill, former teacher and now the CEO of InMind Services, has dedicat...

196. Burnout: What it is and how to handle it! Part 2

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ever found yourself feeling emotionally and physically drained? Do you wonder if what you're experiencing is burnout? And importantly, do you know how...

195. Burnout: What it is and how to handle it!

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel like your energy reserves are just being depleted, and you can't seem to replenish them? It might be more than just fatigue or exhaus...

194. Boredom Busters for Summer!

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As homeschooling parents, we understand the unique challenges that arise when the academic year ends. Summer is here, and so begins a time without the...

193. Supporting Learners Through Occupational Therapy with Sarah Collins

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dive into a captivating conversation with our special guest Sarah Collins, a skilled occupational therapist turned homeschooling consultant. I met Sar...

192. Persistence in Homeschooling

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s discuss a topic that I believe is fundamental to the homeschooling journey: persistence. Regardless of where you are in your homeschooling adv...

191. Writing for young kids!

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

At Brave Writer, we believe that writing is at the heart of education. Our approach is to teach kids to write by reading books they’ll love, and org...

190. All About Writing

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While the field of reading science is buzzing today with various theories, philosophies, and approaches, Brave Writer's method stands out. Let's be cl...

189. Party Schooling with Brave Learner Home Member Lise McGuinness

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for an entertaining journey into homeschooling on this episode of our podcast! We delve into an inspiring approach to education that proves ...

188. Five Surprising Reasons to Homeschool

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're going back to the root of it all the ask – and answer – one incredibly vital question: Why homeschool in the first place? Everyone ha...

187. The Brave Writer Worldview (our not so secret agenda)

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most popular questions we get as a company is to define (or identify) our underlying worldview. Parents who sift through the Internet looki...

186. Awesome Adulting with Meg Maloney on the Camino de Santiago

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Meg Maloney is the author of an intriguing memoir, "Slow Your Roll," where she chronicles her transformative journey across Spain on the Camino de San...

185. Book Wandering with Anna James

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the realm of children's literature, certain authors create captivating worlds that inspire young readers to explore, imagine, and grow. One such au...

184. An Honest Conversation about Unschooling

10 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a homeschooling parent who has heard about unschooling but isn't quite sure what it means, or whether it's right for your family? Don't worry,...

183. How to Have a Drama-Free Family Life with Nedra Tawwab

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you struggling with family drama and looking for ways to create a more harmonious home environment? You’re not alone! We recently sat down with ...

182. How it Feels to Find Yourself with Meera Lee Patel

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We know that parents and home educators often feel like they aren't living up to their own ideals, which can lead to a crisis of self-esteem. As we fa...

181. Rereading, rewatching, revisiting: Should you let your kids do it?

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever wonder if there are benefits to letting your kids reread, rewatch, and revisit their favorite books, movies, and TV shows? Here, we delve ...

180. Habits and Homeschooling

12 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In our last discussion, we explored what it takes to feel good about home education and parenting, and we were left with a tantalizing idea: the key l...

179. Homeschooling: Am I doing enough? Part 2

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the first part of our series answering the question “How do I know if I’m doing enough for my kids’ education?” (which you should definitel...

178. Homeschooling: Am I doing enough? Part 1

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A question that often comes up repeatedly in the minds of many homeschooling parents is: "Am I doing enough?" We know how stressful it can be — we'v...

177. Bingo! Planned Spontaneity in Homeschooling

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you wish you were more spontaneous? Or do you think you should “stick to a schedule”? I share an experience I had learning the hard way that pl...

176. Am I Doing Enough?

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever felt anxious about homeschooling and worried that you're not doing enough? In this episode, you'll hear our advice on how to create a we...

175. Reading Simplified with Dr. Marnie Ginsberg

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a parent or teacher who feels overwhelmed by the challenge of helping all of your students achieve their reading goals? Then you won't want to...

174. Millennials and Gen X CAN homeschool!

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Looking into our analytics, we discovered a surprising fact: Most of our listeners are Millennials or Gen X! In today's episode, Melissa and I will be...

173. Use Your Bodies to Learn

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Melissa and I just discovered an interesting coincidence about us: We both grew up as theater kids! Although we didn't pursue theater professionally, ...

172. Emily Glankler: The Power of Historical Perspective

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The way most of us were taught history can be boring — just a list of dates and events with no relevance. But once you start teaching history to you...

171. Writing in the age of ChatGPT

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today Melissa and Julie nerd out about writing. We're passionate about writing. We're professional writers! Ergo: we LOVE it! The unique aspect of Bra...

170. Screenwise with Devorah Heitner: How to juggle technology and kids!

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is dedicated to addressing the number one requested topic: screen time and our children. With the rise of technology and the numerous ...

169. Introducing Co-Host Melissa Wiley

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I can’t wait for you to listen to today’s episode!Today's show marks a new beginning in the Brave Writer podcast. I’m introducing a co-host to t...

168. (S8E52) Bonus Episode! Teaching Kids about Their Bodies with Dr. Betty Choi

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kids are naturally, wonderfully curious — especially when it comes to their own bodies. It isn't easy to answer curious kids' questions about their ...

167. (S8E51) Differently Wired: Raising Neurodivergent Kids

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve often had requests to explore the struggles and strategies of raising neurodivergent children. Our guest, Debbie Reber, is the founder of Tilt...

166. (S8E50) Modern Miss Mason

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s podcast:Meet Charlotte Mason—who she is and why her method of education was so revolutionary.What constitutes living literature and whe...

165. (S8E49) Becoming a Parent-Coach to Your Child

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Parents often don’t see themselves as educators or coaches to their own children or communities. And yet, that’s exactly what they are — or at l...

164. (S8E48) Tea with Julie: Finding a Homeschool Philosophy that Works for You

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The speaker is a Christian and this show features her book that teaches families how to celebrate the liturgical calendar.In our attempts to find a ph...

163. (S8E47) Seasons of Wonder: Making the Ordinary Sacred with Bonnie Smith Whitehouse

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bonnie Smith Whitehouse is a Nashville-based professor at Belmont University and writer. She calls herself a pilgrim not only because she loves to wal...

162. (S8E46) Reflections on 2022: We're in it together

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we’re facing the end of the year — whatever that means to you — I feel like it’s a chance to think about the dynamics of our relationships ...

161. (S8E45) How Adult Kids Can Get Along with Their Parents with Whitney Goodman

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Whitney Goodman is the author of Toxic Positivity, a book sharing its release date with my own, Raising Critical Thinkers. She’s a psychotherapist w...

160. (S8E44) Raising Spicy Kids! with Mary Van Geffen

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mary Van Geffen is an international coaching expert for parents of “spicy ones.” She helps people who are highly competent in life but overwhelmed...

159. (S8E43) Why a Brave Writer Writing Class Works!

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that Brave Writer was the first online writing class instruction in the homeschool space? We have been pioneers and innovators in the wri...

158. (S8E42) Happy Homeschooling through the Holidays

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The holidays are coming, and many homeschooling parents know that there are going to be disruptions to the routine of daily life — so they try to fi...

157. (S8E41) Tea with Julie: The Trap of Valuing Prestige Subjects

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Most parents love the idea of allowing their children to be independent, follow their own passions and interests, and be enriched by them. But not all...

156. (S8E40) Tea with Julie: When Your Child is Mad at You

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If your year is starting—and it's not going well yet, keep reading. Do you have a nagging sense that you and your child are not on the same page or ...

155. (S8E39) Dawn Smith: How Brave Writer does what it does!

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When the staff of Brave Writer gets together, there is always one ingredient present that isn’t planned for but is nevertheless enjoyed: Laughter. I...

154. (S8E38) Yael Schonbrun: Work, Parent, Thrive

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

While educating children is a job of its own, many homeschooling parents also have a full-time job or side gig on top of that. You deserve support in ...

153. (S8E37) Emily Mohajeri Norris: How Emily and Liam wound up on LEGO Masters

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest today is a Brave Writer mom, Emily Mohajeri Norris. She homeschooled her kids, using our Brave Writer program extensively. She and her child...

152. (S8E36) The Peril of Trusting Your Child

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As parents and caretakers, we are often torn between the trust we feel for our children and the worry that something will go wrong. These two are intr...

151. (S8E35) Bekah McNeel: Raising Kids When You Question Your Faith

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Content warning: We deal with topics of evangelical Christianity and parenting in the United States. While this conversation may be welcoming for some...

150. (S8E34) Dr. Becky Kennedy: Raising Kids who are Good Inside

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist and the founder and CEO of Good Inside, as well as a mom of three, and she’s rethinking the way we rais...

149. (S8E33) Avoid the Meltdown

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It feels like a natural part of teaching to look at our child’s work and note where it could be improved. Yet oftentimes, giving suggestions can oft...

148. (S8E32) Overcoming Resistance in Learning

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What’s clear to me is that parents are confusing two important issues. They care about their students getting the appropriate education and so they ...

Bonus. Best of: The Bermuda Triangle of Education

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Note: To kick off the start of the school year, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes.Even, and especially, when a task is easy for us, teac...

147. (S8E31) Raising Happy Humans

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For homeschooling parents, happiness feels like the lowest level of ambition. When other parents would say “I only want my kids to be happy,” we’...

146. (S8E30) Mothering by the Book with Jenn Pepito

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Pepito and I have had many wonderful conversations on the WILD + FREE podcast, a community of moms seeking to give their children a beautiful...

145. (S8E29) Emotional Safety in Writing

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some writing programs don’t address the key condition needed to take risks in writing: emotional safety. Young writers need to learn to discover the...

144. (S8E28) Critically Thinking about the News Pt. 2 with Mosheh Oinounou

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’re continuing our conversation with Mosheh Oinounou, a journalist who breaks down daily headlines of the biggest, most relevant news stories on h...

143. (S8E27) Critically Thinking about the News with Mosheh Oinounou

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve been discussing the importance of critical thinking lately, and today’s guest is a perfect example of why it’s so important—and also inc...

142. (S8E26) Breaking the Rules

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s okay to make messes. Continuing our series on the four forces of enchantment, we’re going to take a look at one that might put you on edge: R...

141. (S8E25) Help Kids See Differently

08 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How did it go thinking about surprise as a force for good? In our series on the four forces of enchantment, it's time to look at the second force, whi...

140. (S8E24) One Thing

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Let me know if this sounds familiar: You’re trying to think about all of the things you need to accomplish, not just in a day, but over the course o...

139. (S8E23) Natural Stages of Growth in Writing

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s summertime! Are you planning for the upcoming school year? Whether you’re homeschooling or sending kids to a traditional school, writing is t...

138. (S8E22) Be Open to Surprise

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If we want our kids to be open to surprise then so should we be. One of the most difficult parts of any relationship is the fantasy we create in our h...

137. (S8E21) Reading for Our Lives with Maya Payne Smart

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Maya Payne Smart is a writer, parent educator, and literacy advocate who has served on the boards of numerous library and literacy organizations. She ...

136. (S8E20) Do you have the wrong personality for your temperament?

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Does it sometimes feel like your personality and your temperament are at odds with one another? Whether you keep a ship-shape house or you’re relaxe...

135. (S8E19) It's not selfish to meet your own needs.

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

No one person can balance the needs of a family alone. There’s nothing wrong with prioritizing and taking care of your own needs. I’m going to off...

134. (S8E18) The Courage to Change

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It takes courage to change. The moment we make changes in our lives, we feel uncomfortable—maybe even afraid—about how those changes will impact o...

133. (S8E17) Growing Reading & Writing Comprehension with Rita Cevasco, Pt. 2

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’re continuing our conversation with the brilliant Rita Cevasco! In case you missed out last episode with the owner and creator of Rooted in Langu...

132. (S8E16) Growing Reading & Writing Comprehension with Rita Cevasco

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learning to read and write is absolutely life-changing, but it doesn’t come easily to all kids. Rita Cevasco is a friend and colleague of mine and t...

131. (S8E15) Toxic Positivity & the Downside of Always Looking Up with Whitney Goodman

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Whitney Goodman is the radically honest psychotherapist behind the Instagram account @sitwithwit, and the owner of The Collaborative Counseling Center...

130. (S8E14) Finding Deeper Value Without (and Within) Motherhood with Erin Lane

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re going to talk about motherhood like you’ve never heard it before. I have five grown children and two grandchildren (with another on th...

129. (S8E13) Celebrate Cultural Diversity at Home & in the World with Amber Johnston

11 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Amber Johnston is a brand new author, debuting with her book, A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond. Her mission...

128. (S8E12) Exploring the Meaning of Regret

11 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do we do with regret?On one hand, dwelling on our past – giving in to feelings of remorse, guilt, or shame – is not exactly productive. But o...

127 (S8E11) Book Launch: Raising Critical Thinkers Is Now Available!

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This is a special episode for me: my new book, Raising Critical Thinkers, is now available!I have been thinking about thinking for decades. My bookshe...

126. (S8E10) Tips and Tricks to Calm Down

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Last week we discussed how the path to giving our kids the best possible outcomes in life comes down to some counterintuitive advice: You have to thin...

125. (S8E9) Don’t Overthink It

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As parents and caregivers, we all care so much about giving our kids the best outcomes, education, and experiences possible. We’ve probably even spe...

124. (S8E8) Keep All Options on the Table

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In our last episode, I explored the difference between setting boundaries and setting rules. I want to continue that conversation because there is so ...

123. (S8E7) Setting Boundaries, Not Setting Rules

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the first episode of a new segment I’m calling “Julie Pep Talks,” where I narrow in on one particular topic and give you my thoughts ...

122. (S8E6) Introducing Teens to Unschooling Liberation with Grace Llewellyn

14 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we connect with Grace Llewellyn, a staple of the unschooling community who shaped my own homeschooling approach. She taught for three ...

121. (S8E5) The Learning Benefits of Travel & Taking Big Risks with Blake Boles

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This interview did not go the way I expected – in the most delightful way imaginable. We wound up discussing the power of travel in a teen’s life!...