The BIG Home Ed Conversations

Kelly Rigg & Ashley Vanerio
  • 5.0 (7)
  • EDUCATION FOR KIDS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The BIG Home Ed Conversations is one of the top active 'home education' podcasts for parents who want to move past the myths and dive deep into what we actually want to talk about as alternative educators. Join Kelly (home ed mum of 2 and home education coach & mentor) and Ashley (ex-primary teacher & home ed mum of 3) as they debunk myths, tackle real challenges, and share honest, empowering, mindset-shifting conversations for families choosing alternative education. Whether you’re new to home educating or looking for fresh perspectives to support your child’s learning journey, this podcast offers practical advice, mindset shifts, and heartfelt stories from UK-based parents and experts. We go beyond the basics—helping you handle the ups and downs of home education, break free from generational patterns, and build confidence in your own path. Tune in for weekly episodes packed with reassurance, motivation and community for mums, dads, and anyone passionate about holistic, alternative, project-led, or eclectic education. Find out why we’re one of the top-rated home ed podcasts, and feel less alone on your journey. Find us at www.bighomeedpodcast.com Ps. We only use the term homeschooling from time to time to help US, European and new to home ed families find us!

  1. Topic Challenge: Lesser Known Sports (Weird & Wonderful Games, What Counts as a Sport, and Why Movement Matters)

    15 HR AGO

    Topic Challenge: Lesser Known Sports (Weird & Wonderful Games, What Counts as a Sport, and Why Movement Matters)

    In this episode of The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley explore this week’s “topic from the hat” challenge: lesser known sports.   They start by going down the rabbit hole of strange and wonderful sports from around the world (and even a few from right here in the UK), and it quickly opens up bigger conversations about creativity, culture, community, and what sport is actually for.   We chat about: The weird and wonderful sports humans have invented (and why some of them are genuinely shocking) Chess boxing (yes, really): alternating rounds of chess and boxing, and what that says about “mental” vs “physical” sport The difference between a sport and a game (and using the dictionary to define it properly) How quickly a sport can grow once people actually see it (media, Olympics, exposure, and suddenly everyone wants to try it) Why “lesser known” doesn’t mean “less valuable” — it might just mean it hasn’t had the PR yet How sport can be about fun, community, identity, tradition, and entertainment (not just winning) Making space for movement in other areas of their education (especially for neurodivergent kids), and why physical activity supports mental health too How this topic can branch into loads of learning: history, geography, PE, science (heart rate/pulse), maths (scoring), literacy (writing rules), and even coding-style logic (if this happens, then what?) Kelly and Ashley also share some of the real-life ways this topic showed up in their week — from hobby horsing and play-based competitions, to watching Paralympic sport and noticing how many different bodies and abilities can be included in athleticism.   If you’re joining in with the weekly topic challenge, we’d love to hear what you did with it — and remember, this is never about pressure or “doing enough”. It’s just a fun way to spark ideas, follow curiosity, and bring a bit of variety into your home ed rhythm.   To try Strew (our Season 5 sponsor), head here: Strew home education logging app - on IOS and Android and use code: bighomeed   Don't forget to subscribe, share an episode with a friend or drop us a rating - every one helps more people like you to find us!

    49 min
  2. Topic Challenge: Food Around the World

    3 MAY

    Topic Challenge: Food Around the World

    Welcome back to another episode of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast. Kelly and Ashley are continuing Season 5’s “topic from a hat” home education challenge — where they pick a theme, explore it with their kids for the week (without telling each other what they’re doing), then come back to compare notes, resources, and real-life learning.   This week’s topic: Food Around the World — and it takes them way beyond “trying new recipes”, into geography, history, climate, farming, food miles, hunger relief, and how food choices impact communities and the planet.   Season 5 Sponsor: Strew (and the feature we’re loving this week) This season is sponsored by Strew — a home education logging app developed by a UK home educating mum and her brother. They’ve given us access to the app and we’re using it to track what we’re doing and share what we’re enjoying as we go.   This week, Ashley has been focusing on the book tracking function: You can scan a book and log it as an activity (great for read-alouds and independent reading) Ashley created a “dummy child” called Library to track her home education book collection She tags books with keywords (country, geography, history, etc.) so she can quickly see what she already owns It helps prevent over-buying or borrowing loads from the library when you don’t need to Kelly’s also using Strew to support a reading challenge with her kids and to look back over time at: What they’ve read How their reading level and text complexity is developing You can download Strew on iOS and Android. https://strew.app/  Use code bighomeed when you subscribe (so it links back to where you found it).   In this episode, we chat about: Why “Food Around the World” can go in a million directions (and why that’s the magic of it) Food, travel, culture, and how communities grow/produce food differently How climate, geography, and environment shape what people eat How food connects to history (including Roman influences in Britain) Why this topic can be tricky with neurodivergent / selective eaters — but still totally doable Food miles, carbon impact, and the surprising footprint of an everyday breakfast Soil health, farming, and how modern agriculture affects nutrients, rivers, and habitats Hunger relief, food banks, and how food distribution works behind the scenes Local economy: where your food money goes (and why local matters)   Listen to find out next weeks topic! Follow + connect Instagram + TikTok: @bighomeedpodcast Website + weekly blog/resources: bighomeedpodcast.com   If you’re joining in with our weekly topic challenge, come and tell us what you did — we’d love to hear your ideas and share them with the community.

    48 min
  3. Topic Challenge: Capital Allocation & Investment with Kids

    26 APR

    Topic Challenge: Capital Allocation & Investment with Kids

    Welcome back to the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast. In this episode, Kelly and Ashley share how they tackled a surprisingly big topic with their kids: capital allocation and investing — including spending vs saving, risk, impulse buying, and how money habits form early (for better or worse). In this episode, we chat about: Why this topic matters (and why most of us weren’t taught it!) Helping kids understand spend / save / invest / give Kelly’s “family token currency” experiment (spend pot, save pot, investment pot + family pot) How risk works (and why investing can go up or down) Monopoly as a not-so-surprisingly good money-learning tool Bank accounts, budgeting, and setting realistic goals Impulse buying (and a family challenge to reduce it) Why values matter: experiences vs “stuff” (and how everyone prioritises differently) Every week we will be picking a new topic from the hat that we wouldn't often choose to cover with our kids - we go away and give it a whirl, coming back to share what we did - bit like home ed topic speed dating! Listen to find out next week's topic! Resources mentioned:Finance With Kids Podcast (Episode 24: Practicing Smart Spending Habits and Avoiding Impulse Buying)FI for Kids podcast (Financial Independence for Kids)Teachers Pay Teachers: “Personal Financial Literacy” (3rd grade math unit)Usborne Lift-the-Flap Questions & Answers About MoneyKnow Nonsense Guide to Money: An Awesome Fun Guide to the World of FinanceInvesting for Kids: From Piggy Banks to PortfoliosWhy Money Matters (Deborah Meaden)Monopoly - any version   Season 5’s paid sponsor is Strew — a home education logging app developed by a UK home educating mum and her brother. They’ve given us access to play around with the app over the next few weeks, and we’ll be reviewing it honestly as we go. So far, we’re especially loving:The feed (a scrollable timeline of what you’ve been up to)Uploading photos and adding notes (so your memories don’t just sit in your camera roll with no context)The ability to scan books (and other learning) into the appThe optional AI feature that can help categorise what you’ve logged (e.g., literacy, maths, etc.) and generate “study points” If you want to try Strew, use code 'bighomeed' when you subscribe. - Head to https://strew.app/ to download it now on IOS and Android. Follow + connectInstagram + TikTok: @bighomeedpodcast Website + weekly blog/resources: bighomeedpodcast.com If you’re joining in with our weekly topic challenge, come and tell us what you did — we’d love to share your ideas with the community.

    51 min
  4. Season 5 - Welcome Back! New Season, New Topic, New Sponsor!

    19 APR

    Season 5 - Welcome Back! New Season, New Topic, New Sponsor!

    Welcome back to Season 5 of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast. In this short “we’re back!” episode, Kelly Rigg (home ed mum of two, qualified mindset + ADHD coach) and Ashley Vanerio (home ed mum of three, former primary teacher) share what’s been happening behind the scenes, why we took a break, and what’s coming up next. This season we’re doing something a bit different: each week we’ll pick a random topic out of a hat, go away and explore it with our kids (without telling each other what we’re doing), then come back to compare notes. We’ll share what worked, what flopped, what resources we found, what questions our kids asked, and what unexpected learning popped up along the way. We’re also excited to share that Season 5 is sponsored by Strew — a UK-built home education app created by brother and sister duo, Kayley & Woody as fellow home educators - they really know what we need from a home ed app! We’ll be trying out features across the season (photos, activity logging, book scanning and more) and reporting back honestly as we go. Take a listen to find out what we pulled from the hat first then come and join the conversation on social media, and tell us what you do with this week’s topic. Season 5 is Sponsored by: Strew App - Download here: https://strew.app/ and use code: 'bighomeed' so they know where you found it! Follow Strew on Social media - @strewapp on Instagram and TikTok.  Follow us: Instagram + TikTok: @bighomeedpodcast Website: bighomeedpodcast.com

    33 min
  5. Season 4 Finale – Our Home Ed Year in Review

    19/12/2025

    Season 4 Finale – Our Home Ed Year in Review

    It’s the final episode of Season 4 of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, and we’re keeping up our (now official!) yearly tradition: a relaxed, honest Year in Reflection.   Kelly and Ashley look back on what’s worked in their home education lives this year—what’s felt joyful, what’s been challenging, and what they want to carry forward into next year. Expect a cosy, chatty recap filled with real-life wins, lessons learned, and practical ideas you can borrow for your own home ed.   In this episode, we talk about: Why travel (UK trips, camping, and overseas adventure) brings built-in novelty and learning—especially for neurodivergent families Using different modes of transport (ferries, trains) as learning opportunities and curiosity fuel The ongoing juggle of routines, energy and extracurriculars (pony share, forest school, climbing, online classes) How read-alouds, audiobooks and book studies have shaped learning, sparked big conversations, and supported reluctant readers Regulation tools, movement, and mixing up learning mediums (chalk pens, drawing on glass, sensory supports) Enterprise learning through craft fairs and kid-led projects What we’re adjusting next year: social rhythms, responsibilities/chores, games, and finding a better balance We also share a huge thank you to everyone who’s listened, reviewed, shared, and supported Season 4—and we’ll be taking a short break before returning for Season 5 in the spring. Don't forget to subscribe and catch up on earlier episodes while you wait!   Keywords: home education UK, home ed year in review, neurodivergent home education, unschooling, eclectic homeschooling, home ed travel, home education routines, read alouds, audiobooks for kids, home ed resources   Stay connected: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @bighomeedpodcast, and catch up on any episodes you’ve missed while we’re on break. We’ll also be dropping the occasional book review over the winter.

    53 min
  6. Challenging Adultism, Respecting Children & Rethinking the Power Dynamic in Parenting

    30/11/2025

    Challenging Adultism, Respecting Children & Rethinking the Power Dynamic in Parenting

    In this episode of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley get real about adultism—the often-unquestioned power imbalance between adults and children. Inspired by fellow home educating mum and respected expert on Adultism, Eloise Rickman and her book 'It's Not Fair', they reflect on how even the most conscious parents can slip into controlling patterns, and what it means to truly respect kids as full people. They discuss: What adultism is, and how it shows up in everyday family life. The challenge of letting go of control as kids grow and assert themselves. Why children’s rights and autonomy matter (and why most of us never learned about them.) The impact of language, discipline, and school structures on children’s self-worth. Personal stories about food battles, bodily autonomy, and learning to find a balance between protection and control. How to balance safety, boundaries and respect—without losing your mind as a parent! Kelly and Ashley share honest moments of vulnerability, cringe from some seriously eye opening moments experienced whilst reading, and how important growth is in this area, as well as offering practical ways to shift from a power-over dynamic to a more collaborative, compassionate approach. They highlight the importance of compromise, self-reflection, and community support for parents doing this work. Take it further: Listen in for inspiration, solidarity, and practical ideas to help you rethink your own patterns and raise more empowered, respected kids. Join the conversation on Instagram or TikTok @bighomeedpodcast, or via the blog www.offroadingmotherhood.co.uk/blog Don't forget to grab a copy of Eloise Rickman's book, 'It's Not Fair' to take your journey down this road further Keywords: adultism, respectful parenting, children’s rights, home education UK, conscious parenting, autonomy for kids, power dynamics, BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast

    50 min
  7. Refugee Education, Prejudice & Shared Humanity: Learning From Displaced Young People

    24/11/2025

    Refugee Education, Prejudice & Shared Humanity: Learning From Displaced Young People

    In this episode of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley sit down with Catherine Gladwell, founder and CEO of Refugee Education UK, to explore what education really looks like when your whole life has been uprooted.   Catherine shares powerful stories from her work with refugee children and teenagers in the UK – many of whom have been out of school for years, arrived alone as unaccompanied minors, or are trying to learn in a new language while carrying trauma, grief and separation from family.   Together they unpack: Why over half of the world’s refugee children are currently out of school The hidden barriers refugee learners face in the UK (language, trauma, missing records, complex systems) How academic potential is misjudged when language and PTSD get mistaken for “low ability” Incredible resilience and self‑motivation – from teens fighting to sit GCSEs to those dreaming of rebuilding their home countries The emotional impact of prejudice, othering and hostile narratives about refugees How schools can better recognise prior learning (mother‑tongue GCSEs, accelerated learning, subject‑specific language support) What home‑educating families can do to talk about refugees, challenge stereotypes and raise more compassionate kids Kelly and Ashley also reflect on parallels with home education: worries about “translating” a non‑standard educational path into exams, further education and future opportunities – and how our current systems often measure the wrong things while missing character, resilience and lived experience.   Resources mentioned: The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf - Get it here. Refugee Education UK - https://www.reuk.org/donate  Take it further: Use this episode as a springboard to talk with your children about refugees, displacement and shared humanity. Small acts of welcome – a smile, a hello, an invitation to play – can make a huge difference to a young person starting again in a new country.   Keywords: refugee education UK, refugee children in school, asylum seekers and education, prejudice and refugees, inclusive education, trauma‑informed teaching, accelerated learning, home education UK, changing perspectives, empathy for refugees

    47 min
  8. SEND, Ableism & Neurodivergence in Education: Rethinking 'Standard'

    16/11/2025

    SEND, Ableism & Neurodivergence in Education: Rethinking 'Standard'

    In this powerful episode of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley sit down with author, educator and neurodivergent advocate Helen Daniel to unpack ableism in the education system through the lens of SEND and neurodivergence. Drawing on Helen’s experience as a teacher, academic and author of Neurosensory Divergence: Autistic Languages, they explore how a system built on standardisation often fails autistic and otherwise neurodivergent children – and what more equitable, sensory-aware education could look like, both in school and in home ed. Together they dive into: How curriculum changes and raised targets (times tables, Shakespeare, early formal writing) pushed more neurodivergent children “outside the norm.” Why standardisation is the enemy of equity – and why one-size-fits-all schooling doesn’t work for diverse brains. EHCPs, SEND provision and why the system feels broken for so many families. Sensory profiles, overload and meltdowns: what’s really going on beneath “behaviour.” Practical examples of small, powerful accommodations (movement, video learning, headphones, flexible seating.) How home ed groups can unintentionally replicate ableism – and how to design more inclusive spaces. Teaching all children (ND and NT) compassion, curiosity and respect for different needs. This is a validating, eye-opening listen for: Parents of autistic, ADHD, PDA or otherwise neurodivergent children. Home educating families navigating SEND needs. Teachers who feel the system is wrong but don’t know how to change it. Any parent wanting to raise more compassionate, neuro-affirming kids. Guest Spotlight: Find Helen’s book Neurosensory Divergence: Autistic Languages in all the usual places for a deeper dive into sensory processing, autistic communication and building truly equitable lives for autistic children. Find Helen at https://outsidetheboxsensory.com/ or on social media @otbsensory. (New website coming soon though!) Join the conversation: Has this episode resonated with your family’s experience of SEND or neurodivergence? Share your stories or questions with us on Instagram or TikTok @bighomeedpodcast, or head to the blog www.offroadingmotherhood.co.uk/blog for more resources and episode notes. Keywords: SEND and ableism, neurodivergent children, autism and education, EHCPs UK, sensory needs in school, home education UK, inclusive home ed, trauma-informed education, alternative education, autistic-friendly learning, neurosensory divergence

    56 min
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The BIG Home Ed Conversations is one of the top active 'home education' podcasts for parents who want to move past the myths and dive deep into what we actually want to talk about as alternative educators. Join Kelly (home ed mum of 2 and home education coach & mentor) and Ashley (ex-primary teacher & home ed mum of 3) as they debunk myths, tackle real challenges, and share honest, empowering, mindset-shifting conversations for families choosing alternative education. Whether you’re new to home educating or looking for fresh perspectives to support your child’s learning journey, this podcast offers practical advice, mindset shifts, and heartfelt stories from UK-based parents and experts. We go beyond the basics—helping you handle the ups and downs of home education, break free from generational patterns, and build confidence in your own path. Tune in for weekly episodes packed with reassurance, motivation and community for mums, dads, and anyone passionate about holistic, alternative, project-led, or eclectic education. Find out why we’re one of the top-rated home ed podcasts, and feel less alone on your journey. Find us at www.bighomeedpodcast.com Ps. We only use the term homeschooling from time to time to help US, European and new to home ed families find us!

Information

  • Creator
    Kelly Rigg & Ashley Vanerio
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The BIG Home Ed Conversations
  • Show Website
    The BIG Home Ed Conversations

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