The Independent Learner Podcast by Mosaic

How Families Navigate the New Learning Landscape

The Mosaic Collective [https://mosaic-collective.org/membership] is an online membership for families creating learner-led paths outside conventional school. Members access practical resources, live events, thoughtful discussion, and personalized guidance in a welcoming, supportive community. In this episode, Mosaic will be joined by Eric Wearne, Director of the National Hybrid Schools Project at Kennesaw State University, for a conversation about the changing learning landscape across the United States. Families today are navigating a growing range of options – conventional schools, homeschooling, hybrid schools, microschools, and self-directed learning environments - and many are moving among these models over time rather than following a single path. What is driving these shifts? What are families seeking that they feel they cannot find in conventional systems? And how are new learning models emerging in response? Together, we’ll explore what is happening across the country as families rethink how, where, and why young people learn. For more information on this episode follow the link below: Episode Resources [https://weareborntolearn.org/resource/podcast-how-families-navigate-the-new-learning-landscape/]

Why Unschooling May Be a Great Option for Neurodivergent Children

The Mosaic Collective [https://mosaic-collective.org/membership] is an online membership for families creating learner-led paths outside conventional school. Members access practical resources, live events, thoughtful discussion, and personalized guidance in a welcoming, supportive community. What helps neurodivergent young people thrive—and why unschooling may open doors traditional schools can’t. Krystal Dillard, Executive Director of Natural Creativity, joins unschooling parent Jessica Hoffman for a grounded conversation about why unschooling can support neurodivergent young people in ways conventional systems often cannot. Together, they reflect on what works in practice, where challenges still arise, how families can approach this path with clarity, and what helps young people truly thrive. This episode offers honest reflections, real stories, and supportive guidance for anyone considering a self-directed approach. Episode Resources [https://weareborntolearn.org/resource/podcast-neurodivergent-learning-why-unschooling-may-be-a-great-option-for-neurodivergent-children/]

When You're Navigating Self-Directed Learning On Your Own

The Mosaic Collective [https://mosaic-collective.org/membership] is an online membership for families creating learner-led paths outside conventional school. Members access practical resources, live events, thoughtful discussion, and personalized guidance in a welcoming, supportive community. Today’s episode with Meghan Davies shares her lived experience of supporting self-directed learning as a single parent, where trust, agency, and flexibility aren’t abstract ideals but daily, practical choices. Meghan speaks candidly about the emotional and logistical realities of parenting solo while honoring a child’s curiosity, needs, and autonomy. We talk about letting go of external expectations, building confidence without a co-pilot, and finding steadiness amid uncertainty. This discussion explores how self-directed learning can become not just an educational approach, but a stabilizing framework when time, energy, and resources feel stretched. Meghan reflects on decision-making, boundaries, resilience, and the quiet strength that comes from listening closely to both yourself and your child. This episode is for single parents, caregivers navigating change, and anyone wondering how learning can remain humane, responsive, and grounded even when the path isn’t simple. It’s an honest, affirming conversation about trust, courage, and building a learning life that works in the real world. For more information on this episode follow the link below: Episode Resources [ https://weareborntolearn.org/resource/podcast-when-youre-navigating-self-directed-learning-on-your-own/]

Making the College Process Human Again

The Mosaic Collective [http://mosaic-collective.org/membership] is an online membership for families creating learner-led paths outside conventional school. Members access practical resources, live events, thoughtful discussion, and personalized guidance in a welcoming, supportive community. A values-driven look at how teens can choose a next step that truly fits who they are. With Jen Vallieres and Jared Eplet. In this conversation, the founders of Forget the Rankings and Pathway Forward talk about helping teens choose a next step that feels aligned with who they are—whether that’s a four-year college, a two-year program, or a technical path. We focus on values, clarity, creativity, and the emotional side of decision-making. You’ll also hear grounded advice on using summers, internships, and short-term experiences to explore interests and build confidence about what comes next. For more information on this episode follow the link below: Episode Resources [https://weareborntolearn.org/resource/podcast-making-the-college-process-human-again/]

Affording a Different Path: The Economics of Self-Directed Learning

The Mosaic Collective [https://mosaic-collective.org/membership] is an online membership for families creating learner-led paths outside conventional school. Members access practical resources, live events, thoughtful discussion, and personalized guidance in a welcoming, supportive community. Self-directed learning offers flexibility and freedom, but it also comes with real financial questions that families have to navigate every day. In this episode, we chat with unschooling mom and author, June Duran to take a practical look at the economics of learning outside conventional systems. We talk openly about what families are actually paying for, including time, childcare, learning spaces, materials, and lost or flexible income. We explore common models families use to make self-directed learning more affordable, from shared childcare and cooperatives to microschools, part-time work, and creative scheduling. We also discuss how families weigh tradeoffs, plan for uncertainty, and adjust expectations without abandoning their values. This conversation offers clear examples, honest reflections, and concrete considerations for families trying to make learner-led education work within real financial constraints. It’s especially relevant for parents and caregivers who are weighing options, transitioning out of school, or looking for ways to sustain self-directed learning over time. If you’re seeking realistic insight rather than idealized narratives, this episode is designed to help you think through what’s possible — one practical step at a time. For more information on this episode follow the link below: Episode Resources [https://weareborntolearn.org/resource/podcast-affording-a-different-path-the-economics-of-self-directed-learning/]