Life has been a little wild over here and I haven’t had the bandwidth to do a proper newsletter in a few weeks so get ready for a lot of cool things.

I’m so thankful to have Lauren, creator of the Un•Religiously YouTube channel, grace the podcast to talk about growing up homeschooled in a deeply evangelical environment and what it was like stepping outside that bubble. Lauren shares how her family initially turned to homeschooling because of learning challenges, but over time became immersed in the larger homeschool culture that often framed public school as dangerous or corrupt. As a kid, she remembers joking that school buses were “prison buses,” never imagining that just a few years later she’d be sitting in community college classrooms encountering ideas that completely challenged the worldview she was raised with.

Lauren walks through the intense culture shock of being introduced to topics like evolution, gender identity, and even yoga for the first time in a college setting while still trying to reconcile those experiences with her faith. We talk about the tension many homeschoolers feel when navigating new perspectives, the benefits and limitations of homeschooling, and how those early experiences shaped the work she’s doing today on her YouTube channel discussing religion, evangelical culture, and deconstruction. It’s fun and hopefully re-occuring conversation about growing up homeschooled, expanding your worldview, and figuring out who you are on the other side of it

Two weeks ago, my wonderful cousin Amanda, a second-grade public school teacher with over a decade of experience in the classroom, joined me on the show. We talked about what it’s really like teaching in today’s public school system and why second grade is such a pivotal year for students. Amanda shares stories from her journey into education, what keeps her passionate about teaching young kids, and the challenges she faces when advocating for students who need extra support.

We also explored homeschooling from the perspective of someone who has spent her career in public education. Amanda reflects on how her views about homeschooling have changed over the years and why she and her husband have even started considering it for their own children. Our conversation steered into the strengths and struggles of both education paths, and a reminder that no matter which route families choose, the most important thing parents can do is stay involved in their child’s learning.

That’s right folks, little ole me was invited to talk about my homeschool experience on Lauren’s (yes the same Lauren from above), show Un•Religiously. Not only did I get to talk about my experience but we talked about the current state of homeschool. It was another fun conversation that I’d love for you to check out.

New legislation is being introduced in Connecticut regarding homeschooling and the safety of kids. The great folks over at the Coalition for Responsible Home Education sent out an email this week highlighting bills HB 5468 and SB 6 and they need our support. I’d highly encourage you to do your research and sign their petition if it aligns with your beliefs around homeschooling.

You can learn more about their policy recommendations here.

Until next time, I wish you all a wonderful week. Remember to be kind to yourself and to others.

With peace and love,

Jacob G