Self Directed

Louisa Andrea is a retreat host, educator, and worldschooling advocate based in Egypt. She specializes in creating transformative experiences for families and teens, blending education, conservation, and cultural immersion on Egypt's Red Sea coast while drawing on her mindfulness, spiritual coaching, and energy work background. In this episode, we talk with Louisa Andrea about her move from the UK and Cyprus to Egypt, where she has built a life focused on education and adventure for families and world schoolers. Luisa co-leads community adventures and teen retreats, blending learning with hands-on experiences like conservation with Turtle Watch and cross-cultural exchanges with the local Ababda Bedouin community. We also discuss the practical challenges of balancing personal aspirations with the evolving needs of children, mainly through homeschooling and unschooling. Luisa shares her journey of adapting her approach to education as her teenage son’s needs change, and we talk about the importance of giving children the freedom to explore their own paths. Toward the end, we touch on future plans, including a shared interest in solar eclipses, with a focus on the upcoming event in Egypt in 2027. This episode provides practical insights into worldschooling, family life, and creating educational opportunities outside traditional systems. 🗓️ Recorded October 9th, 2024. 📍 The Addisons, Withyham, United Kingdom ▬ Episode links ▬ * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sunladylou/  [https://www.facebook.com/Sunladylou/ ] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildlifeworldschool/  [https://www.instagram.com/wildlifeworldschool/ ] * Adults & Teen retreats in Egypt Website: www.amentirebirthretreat.com  [http://www.amentirebirthretreat.com ] * Teens Retreats & Programmes in Egypt: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1104096590672734/ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1104096590672734/] Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2103333/open_sms] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2103333/support] PODCAST INFO Podcast website: http://theconrad.family/podcast [http://theconrad.family/podcast] YouTube Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/theconradfamily365 [https://www.youtube.com/theconradfamily365] Apple Podcasts: https://www.theconrad.family/apple [https://www.theconrad.family/apple] Spotify: https://theconrad.family/spotify [https://theconrad.family/spotify] RSS: https://theconrad.family/rss [https://theconrad.family/rss] SUPPORT & CONNECT Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Theconradfamily [https://www.patreon.com/Theconradfamily] Share a review: https://www.theconrad.family/review-our-podcast [https://www.theconrad.family/review-our-podcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family [https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily [https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily] Twitter: https://twitter.com/theconradfamily [https://twitter.com/theconradfamily]

Jack Stewart is a grown-up homeschooler who now homeschools his kids. We met Jack at HEFF in 2024 and enjoyed talking with him. This is our second episode with Jack, and you should consider starting with the first episode we recorded together.  [https://www.theconrad.family/blog/101088-self-directed-88] In this episode, we sit down with Jack Stewart to discuss how technology affects our daily lives and how setting boundaries around internet use can improve emotional well-being. Jack introduces the idea of technology as a "social appetite suppressant," explaining how it can fill emotional gaps but also lead to a lack of real-world connection. Together, we explore strategies for creating healthier habits around technology. We also dive into homeschooling and unschooling, focusing on how families can manage education outside of the traditional system. Jack shares his passion for Plato’s philosophy and explains how it inspired the development of his educational board game. The game combines art, languages, and math to help learners connect different subjects and holistically explore education. If you’re interested in improving your tech habits, learning more about homeschooling, or curious about using educational philosophy in creative projects like game design, this episode offers practical insights and real-life examples. 🗓️ Recorded October 4th, 2024. 📍 The Addisons, Withyham, United Kingdom ▬ Episode links ▬ Jack is no longer active on the internet. If you want to connect, then write to him at jackstewartcontact@gmail.com. If you want to sneak peek at some of Jack's old stuff from when he was active on the internet, then you can check out: * https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jack-stewart5 [https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jack-stewart5] * https://www.youtube.com/@daddyhomeschools5710 [https://www.youtube.com/@daddyhomeschools5710] * https://blog.sonlight.com/author/jack-stewart [https://blog.sonlight.com/author/jack-stewart]   Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2103333/open_sms] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2103333/support] PODCAST INFO Podcast website: http://theconrad.family/podcast [http://theconrad.family/podcast] YouTube Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/theconradfamily365 [https://www.youtube.com/theconradfamily365] Apple Podcasts: https://www.theconrad.family/apple [https://www.theconrad.family/apple] Spotify: https://theconrad.family/spotify [https://theconrad.family/spotify] RSS: https://theconrad.family/rss [https://theconrad.family/rss] SUPPORT & CONNECT Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Theconradfamily [https://www.patreon.com/Theconradfamily] Share a review: https://www.theconrad.family/review-our-podcast [https://www.theconrad.family/review-our-podcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family [https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily [https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily] Twitter: https://twitter.com/theconradfamily [https://twitter.com/theconradfamily]

Jack Stewart is a grown-up homeschooler. We explore how self-paced learning has shaped his social life and personal development. Jack’s upbringing was guided by his mother’s approach to homeschooling, which fostered meaningful friendships and an entrepreneurial spirit that set the stage for his success. These early experiences of forming deep connections outside traditional settings have carried through to his adult life. Jack also shares his thoughts on the balance between structured activities and free play and how family-centered, attachment-based learning can sometimes offer advantages over conventional schools. His reflections challenge common perceptions of education and the social structures that accompany it. Additionally, Jack talks about his move away from technology and how reducing his internet use has helped him form deeper, more authentic connections. From managing technology within his family to pursuing hands-on projects like music and board game development, Jack gives insight into a lifestyle that emphasizes focus, personal growth, and real-world interactions. This conversation covers voluntary learning, the influence of community and nature in education, and the effects of living with less reliance on technology. 🗓️ Recorded September 19th, 2024. 📍 The Addisons, Withyham, United Kingdom ▬ Episode links ▬ Jack is no longer active on the internet. If you want to connect, then write to him at jackstewartcontact@gmail.com. If you want to sneak peek at some of Jack's old stuff from when he was active on the internet, then you can check out: * https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jack-stewart5 [https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jack-stewart5] * https://www.youtube.com/@daddyhomeschools5710 [https://www.youtube.com/@daddyhomeschools5710] * https://blog.sonlight.com/author/jack-stewart [https://blog.sonlight.com/author/jack-stewart] Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2103333/open_sms] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2103333/support] PODCAST INFO Podcast website: http://theconrad.family/podcast [http://theconrad.family/podcast] YouTube Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/theconradfamily365 [https://www.youtube.com/theconradfamily365] Apple Podcasts: https://www.theconrad.family/apple [https://www.theconrad.family/apple] Spotify: https://theconrad.family/spotify [https://theconrad.family/spotify] RSS: https://theconrad.family/rss [https://theconrad.family/rss] SUPPORT & CONNECT Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Theconradfamily [https://www.patreon.com/Theconradfamily] Share a review: https://www.theconrad.family/review-our-podcast [https://www.theconrad.family/review-our-podcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family [https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily [https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily] Twitter: https://twitter.com/theconradfamily [https://twitter.com/theconradfamily]

Erin Loechner is a writer, speaker, and the founder of The Opt-Out Family, a movement dedicated to helping families reduce screen time and foster deeper connections. She is the author of The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can’t, a guide offering practical strategies to reclaim family life from the grip of technology. Erin's other books include Chasing Slow, a memoir about embracing mindfulness. A former social media influencer, Erin now lives a low-tech lifestyle with her husband and three children, sharing insights on her blog, Design for Mankind. In this episode, Erin shares her journey of opting out of the technological influences and the American dream to form a family life centered around what they truly value. She discusses how her previous life as a social media influencer led her family to reevaluate their relationship with technology, resulting in a substantial reduction in tech use. Erin shares advice on creating engaging family activities free from screens, encouraging intrinsic motivation, and fostering a community supportive of low-tech living. This conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of maintaining a balanced family life in an increasingly digital world. 🗓️ Recorded September 17th, 2024. 📍 The Addisons, Withyham, United Kingdom  ▬ Episode links ▬ Erins website: https://designformankind.com [https://designformankind.com] Books by Erin Loechner: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01IREYLUU [https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01IREYLUU] Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2103333/open_sms] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2103333/support] PODCAST INFO Podcast website: http://theconrad.family/podcast [http://theconrad.family/podcast] YouTube Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/theconradfamily365 [https://www.youtube.com/theconradfamily365] Apple Podcasts: https://www.theconrad.family/apple [https://www.theconrad.family/apple] Spotify: https://theconrad.family/spotify [https://theconrad.family/spotify] RSS: https://theconrad.family/rss [https://theconrad.family/rss] SUPPORT & CONNECT Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Theconradfamily [https://www.patreon.com/Theconradfamily] Share a review: https://www.theconrad.family/review-our-podcast [https://www.theconrad.family/review-our-podcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family [https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily [https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily] Twitter: https://twitter.com/theconradfamily [https://twitter.com/theconradfamily]

Shannon Hayes is a sustainable farmer, author, and chef from Sap Bush Hollow Farm in Upstate New York, where she and her family raise grass-fed livestock using regenerative agriculture. In addition to managing the family farm and café, Shannon homeschools her children and explores themes of slow living, sustainability, and joyful living in her writings and podcast. In this episode, Shannon shares her unique perspective on balancing family life, homeschooling, and running a farm while reflecting on her daughters’ passion for sustainable fashion. Raised with thrift shopping and creative expression, her daughters have embraced fashion as an artistic and ecological statement. Together, we dive into how they challenge mainstream consumerism and what this means for our families' homeschooling journey. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on slow travel, family farming, and how to create a meaningful life rooted in joy, sustainability, and personal contentment. 🗓️ Recorded September 12th, 2024. 📍 The Addisons, Withyham, United Kingdom Connect with Shannon Hayes: * Website: http://theradicalhomemaker.net/ [http://theradicalhomemaker.net/] * Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B005ZD9C6U/allbooks [https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B005ZD9C6U/allbooks] Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2103333/open_sms] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2103333/support] PODCAST INFO Podcast website: http://theconrad.family/podcast [http://theconrad.family/podcast] YouTube Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/theconradfamily365 [https://www.youtube.com/theconradfamily365] Apple Podcasts: https://www.theconrad.family/apple [https://www.theconrad.family/apple] Spotify: https://theconrad.family/spotify [https://theconrad.family/spotify] RSS: https://theconrad.family/rss [https://theconrad.family/rss] SUPPORT & CONNECT Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Theconradfamily [https://www.patreon.com/Theconradfamily] Share a review: https://www.theconrad.family/review-our-podcast [https://www.theconrad.family/review-our-podcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family [https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily [https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily] Twitter: https://twitter.com/theconradfamily [https://twitter.com/theconradfamily]