From Manhattan to the Open Sea: A Family Who Chose to Rewrite Life on Purpose

From Manhattan to the Open Sea: A Family Who Chose to Rewrite Life on Purpose

Erik is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer. Emily is an educator, author, and public speaker.  They are the parents of five. They raised their family in Upper Manhattan, where Erik worked on shows such as Wicked, Les Misérables, and The Phantom of the Opera.  When their kids were 6-16 years old, Erik and Emily bootstrapped life aboard a fixer-upper sailboat in the Caribbean. They sailed as a family from St. Martin back to New York City. Their memoir about the experience (Seven at Sea) is a New York Times Top 10 Travel book.  After life on the boat, they continued to travel the world with their children through Europe, the South Pacific, Africa, and across North and South America by plane, train, boat, and van.  Their life design framework helps you go from fear to freedom one adventure at a time. They host the podcast -- What Could Go Right? They help listeners go from fear to freedom one adventure at a time.  Erik and Emily co-founded The Awesome Factory, a coaching and travel adventure company leading retreats and sailing adventures all over the world. Try Living on a Sailboat for a Week. Perfect for rookies who want to test-drive the live-aboard dream. You drive the boat. Relax, explore, and get as much/little sailing experience as you want with stunning 360-degree views. Sail with us.  Connect with ERIK AND EMILY ORTON Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theawesomefactorynyc [https://www.instagram.com/theawesomefactorynyc] Website: https://www.theawesomefactory.nyc/sailing [https://www.theawesomefactory.nyc/sailing] Newsletter: https://www.theawesomefactory.nyc/#section-1611959807198 [https://www.theawesomefactory.nyc/#section-1611959807198] https://www.theawesomefactory.nyc/sailingBooks: https://www.theawesomefactory.nyc/sailingSeven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention For A Life-Changing Year On A Sailboat https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Sea-Convention-Life-changing-Sailboat/dp/162972551X  [https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Sea-Convention-Life-changing-Sailboat/dp/162972551X/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.H7k-jgmYS9BsEoONdxc5BJ87XOQDn-DP0gh5vVZp6O_cLuSNZeDUPAPFPNrEitTj387KeSeD-1IY6n3VTWc-Bu-k6NI1rhv0H22tlt0tSPozyxAcHUMmnx7NgbgFRJ_JX7-9LTxM2XUeOYCvwGmyh1mJQBTho2t82PPvISqYHmx3UAyDWuYoS4jrCqEwm7UMm2SBp3Y0rKqhmZI06yc8oGIA5aZL4suME8n3JNo4Mvs.jeBLmf-nzxBrH0HPA1jDlysN0wF7CiRL-jIyfqCWHAI\&dib_tag=se\&keywords=seven+at+sea\&qid=1778662781\&sr=8-1] Knock: The Spiritual Journey of a Door-to-Door Salesman https://a.co/d/gpqvCvD [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description\&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnJlMGdFdFltcE1wWVFtazNMNTBNZEJvU2VhUXxBQ3Jtc0tsMzhFRXBoa2lyM2x5ZWk2OTNXZVNuNkJicndWeWc4YlRvTGVxSTNDanAyZk0taDhXbzdIMVZKdnZadzZiSmdUeWVVdmV0VFlFd291SUlZR3J0ODVtRnZHRGF0T29salRGcmlsWnNJb2tPTnd4bFdFTQ\&q=https%3A%2F%2Fa.co%2Fd%2FgpqvCvD\&v=cF2Ut1Agij0]  🧳Want to travel the world for the cost of food and fun? We’ll show you how. 🎒Want a homeschool that fits your family, not the other way around? You're in the right place. So buckle up, take a deep breath, and let’s make this the most joy-filled season of your life. ~~~ Michelle & Natalie ~~~ 👇CHECK OUT WHAT WE'RE UP TO👇 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplifiedhomeschooling [https://www.instagram.com/simplifiedhomeschooling] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Simplifiedhomeschooling/# [https://www.facebook.com/Simplifiedhomeschooling/#] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@simplifiedhomeschooling7248 [https://www.youtube.com/@simplifiedhomeschooling7248] Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/simplifiedhomeschooling/ [https://www.pinterest.com/simplifiedhomeschooling/] Website: https://www.simplifiedhomeschooling.com [https://www.simplifiedhomeschooling.com] Check out our podcast host, Pinecast [https://pinecast.com]. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-6f8ad6 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Simplified Homeschooling.

A Long Game: The Homeschool Effect (Part 2)

Imagine homeschooling before it was even a "thing": no groups, few resources, and no curriculum fairs. Now toss in 11 children, and you have Annette's journey. Annette's mother, Mimo, escaped from Hungary during the final year of the war when the Nazis marched in. Her father, Didi, did not escape immediately; he was held in a prison work camp doing forced labor, rebuilding enemy bridges bombed by the Allies. He eventually escaped to one of Raoul Wallenberg's safe houses, where he went undercover in the resistance. With his blue eyes, blond hair, and a stolen Nazi uniform, he helped secure vital supplies for others. Nazi occupation resulted in the murder of 500,000 Jewish Hungarians. Didi left Hungary just before the Russian communists fully took over the government in 1947. Mimo had escaped to the French part of Switzerland in 1944, returned to Hungary after the war, and left not long after her father. She first joined her mother in Paris before moving on to Seattle, Washington, where Didi was studying at the University of Washington. Didi and Mimo gave their children a stellar education. Annette went on to earn degrees from both Stanford and Yale. Though Annette's children have accomplished a great deal, she is most proud of the wonderful, well-rounded lives they are living. Her son Corbi attended the US Air Force Academy, and their family now holds the record for the most children from one family to have graduated from Yale and other prestigious schools.  And you can do it too! 🧳Want to travel the world for the cost of food and fun? We’ll show you how. 🎒Want a homeschool that fits your family, not the other way around? You're in the right place. So buckle up, take a deep breath, and let’s make this the most joy-filled season of your life. ~~~ Michelle & Natalie ~~~ 👇CHECK OUT WHAT WE'RE UP TO👇 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplifiedhomeschooling [https://www.instagram.com/simplifiedhomeschooling] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Simplifiedhomeschooling/# [https://www.facebook.com/Simplifiedhomeschooling/#] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@simplifiedhomeschooling7248 [https://www.youtube.com/@simplifiedhomeschooling7248] Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/simplifiedhomeschooling/ [https://www.pinterest.com/simplifiedhomeschooling/] Website: https://www.simplifiedhomeschooling.com [https://www.simplifiedhomeschooling.com] Check out our podcast host, Pinecast [https://pinecast.com]. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-6f8ad6 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Simplified Homeschooling.

A Long Game: The Homeschool Effect (Part 1)

Imagine homeschooling before it was even a "thing": no groups, few resources, and no curriculum fairs. Now toss in 11 children, and you have Annette's journey. Annette's mother, Mimo, escaped from Hungary during the final year of the war when the Nazis marched in. Her father, Didi, did not escape immediately; he was held in a prison work camp doing forced labor, rebuilding enemy bridges bombed by the Allies. He eventually escaped to one of Raoul Wallenberg's safe houses, where he went undercover in the resistance. With his blue eyes, blond hair, and a stolen Nazi uniform, he helped secure vital supplies for others. Nazi occupation resulted in the murder of 500,000 Jewish Hungarians. Didi left Hungary just before the Russian communists fully took over the government in 1947. Mimo had escaped to the French part of Switzerland in 1944, returned to Hungary after the war, and left not long after her father. She first joined her mother in Paris before moving on to Seattle, Washington, where Didi was studying at the University of Washington. Didi and Mimo gave their children a stellar education. Annette went on to earn degrees from both Stanford and Yale. Though Annette's children have accomplished a great deal, she is most proud of the wonderful, well-rounded lives they are living. Her son Corbi attended the US Air Force Academy, and their family now holds the record for the most children from one family to have graduated from Yale and other prestigious schools.  And you can do it too! 🧳Want to travel the world for the cost of food and fun? We’ll show you how. 🎒Want a homeschool that fits your family, not the other way around? You're in the right place. So buckle up, take a deep breath, and let’s make this the most joy-filled season of your life. ~~~ Michelle & Natalie ~~~ 👇CHECK OUT WHAT WE'RE UP TO👇 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplifiedhomeschooling [https://www.instagram.com/simplifiedhomeschooling] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Simplifiedhomeschooling/# [https://www.facebook.com/Simplifiedhomeschooling/#] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@simplifiedhomeschooling7248 [https://www.youtube.com/@simplifiedhomeschooling7248] Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/simplifiedhomeschooling/ [https://www.pinterest.com/simplifiedhomeschooling/] Website: https://www.simplifiedhomeschooling.com [https://www.simplifiedhomeschooling.com] Check out our podcast host, Pinecast [https://pinecast.com]. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-6f8ad6 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Simplified Homeschooling.

Jungle School: How One Family Took Learning Off-Grid in Belize

Chrissy and Lance Walker are parents of four and founders of Jade Jungle Resort in Belize, who made a deliberate decision to remove their children from traditional schooling and redesign education around freedom, exploration, and real-world value creation. Their homeschool philosophy is child-led and parent-supported, fostering curiosity, ownership, and meaningful contributions from a young age. What began out of necessity has become a deeply intentional way of raising capable, purpose-driven kids who don’t wait until adulthood to begin adding value to the world. Connect with THE WALKER FAMILY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasing.wild_/ [https://www.instagram.com/chasing.wild_/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC8HtAmXLYEmzavAJQaulLg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC8HtAmXLYEmzavAJQaulLg] Website: https://jadejungleresort.com/ [https://jadejungleresort.com/] 🧳Want to travel the world for the cost of food and fun? We’ll show you how. 🎒Want a homeschool that fits your family, not the other way around? You're in the right place. So buckle up, take a deep breath, and let’s make this the most joy-filled season of your life. ~~~ Michelle & Natalie ~~~ 👇CHECK OUT WHAT WE'RE UP TO👇 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplifiedhomeschooling [https://www.instagram.com/simplifiedhomeschooling] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Simplifiedhomeschooling/# [https://www.facebook.com/Simplifiedhomeschooling/#] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@simplifiedhomeschooling7248 [https://www.youtube.com/@simplifiedhomeschooling7248] Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/simplifiedhomeschooling/ [https://www.pinterest.com/simplifiedhomeschooling/] Website: https://www.simplifiedhomeschooling.co [https://www.simplifiedhomeschooling.co] Check out our podcast host, Pinecast [https://pinecast.com]. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-6f8ad6 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Simplified Homeschooling.

Empowered at Home: Homeschooling through a Young Mom's Lens

Shaundi Killpack is a devoted wife and mother of five children from Utah. She is in her fifth year of homeschooling and is loving it. She loves to emphasize faith, play, adventure, and history in her homeschool, but her favorite part has been slowing down and enjoying great books with her kids. She also loves cooking, Disneyland, escape rooms, and photography. You can follow along with their homeschool adventures at @raisingupthepack. 🧳Want to travel the world for the cost of food and fun? We’ll show you how. 🎒Want a homeschool that fits your family, not the other way around? You're in the right place. So buckle up, take a deep breath, and let’s make this the most joy-filled season of your life. ~~~ Michelle & Natalie ~~~ 👇CHECK OUT WHAT WE'RE UP TO👇 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplifiedhomeschooling [https://www.instagram.com/simplifiedhomeschooling] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Simplifiedhomeschooling/# [https://www.facebook.com/Simplifiedhomeschooling/#] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@simplifiedhomeschooling7248 [https://www.youtube.com/@simplifiedhomeschooling7248] Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/simplifiedhomeschooling/ [https://www.pinterest.com/simplifiedhomeschooling/] Website: https://www.simplifiedhomeschooling.com [https://www.simplifiedhomeschooling.com] Check out our podcast host, Pinecast [https://pinecast.com]. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-6f8ad6 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Simplified Homeschooling.