Did you know that September is International Podcast Month?

Well now you do and the best way to celebrate is sharing your favorite podcast.

Which is the Ex-Homeschoolers Club obviously!

Right?

On this weeks episode…

I sat down with Julius to hear what it was like growing up as one of 12 siblings in a homeschool family led by a pastor dad. From the chaos of daily life in a big household to navigating the isolation of COVID and the challenges of self-teaching, Julius opens up about faith, identity, and the journey of finding freedom through learning.

In this episode, we covered:

• Growing up in a homeschool family of 12 – sibling dynamics, support systems, and chaos

• Church vs. school – how being a pastor’s kid shaped Julius’ education

• COVID isolation – the impact on socialization, extracurriculars, and mental health

• Questioning faith – Julius’ path through deconstruction and embracing identity

• The love of learning – why curiosity and growth remain central beyond homeschooling

Don’t miss this insightful and heartfelt conversation that highlights both the struggles and the resilience of the homeschool experience.

If you haven’t enjoyed this week episode, you can find it here:

If you’d rather listen, check it out on Spotify or Apple

Previously on the show…

Because it’s been a few weeks since I put out a newsletter, there’s a few other episodes that came out.

I wrapped up our four-part series diving into Joshua Harris’s infamous book I Kissed Dating Goodbye. In this final installment, I take a hard look at the last section, “Now What?”, where Harris lays out his ideas on marriage, intimacy, and what he calls “principled romance.” From my own personal stories of pressure to marry young to critiquing the contradictions of purity culture, this episode brings the series to a powerful close.

And I brought back a fan favorite…CARI FRANTZ! Together, we dive into the funny, frustrating, and sometimes bizarre rules we grew up with as Christian homeschoolers — especially around books, movies, and music. From being banned from Harry Potter to sneaking in Backstreet Boys and eventually singing along at Pitbull concerts, Cari and I reflect on what we missed, what we’ve rediscovered as adults, and how we’re learning to trust our own boundaries when it comes to media and culture.

Or listen, check it out on Spotify or Apple

What I’m reading…

For my birthday, my wife bought me a copy of “How To Stop Time” by Matt Haig. And boy oh boy do I love his writing.

This book is about a man who has a rare condition that slows his aging. So while he may look like a 40 year old, he’s actually 400 and some years old. The story revolves around Tom’s desire to be a normal guy but having to keep his true person a secret for fear that the world won't accept him. We travel to all these amazing points in history and encounter historic figures before they are the greats we know them to be today.

What I’m watching…

Shoutout to the Meandering Movie Podcast because they inspired me to rewatch the Mission Impossible movies with one of their recent episodes.

So far, I’m 5 out of 8 movies in and my ranking sits thusly…

1. Ghost Protocol

2. Mission Impossible

3. Rogue Nation

4. MI3

5. MI2

I’d almost forgotten how INCREDIBLE these films are! If you haven’t seen them, give them a try and let me know what you think.

Until Next Time…

That’s all I’ve got for you.

Peace & Love

Jacob G