Read-Aloud Revival ®

Sarah Mackenzie
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Sarah Mackenzie helps your family fall in love with books, and helps *you* fall in love with homeschooling.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    How to Actually Connect with Our Kids, Dr. Matthew Breuninger

    We all want to build those meaningful and lasting connections with our kids.  Around here, we’re usually talking about doing that through books and reading aloud. But how do we extend these connections into our everyday, ordinary parenting moments?   Today, I’m talking to one of my favorite people to listen to when it comes to relationships. Dr Matthew Breuninger is a clinical psychologist and author of Finding Freedom in Christ: Healing Life’s Hurts and in this episode he shares how safe, secure attachment forms the foundation of close relationships with our kids and how to repair them when we inevitably mess up.  He also unpacks the very common tendency a lot of us have to view our children’s behavior as a reflection on us, and offers a beautiful reminder of where our deepest identity as parents comes from (spoiler alert: it’s not your performance. ❤️) In this episode, you’ll hear:  What foundational perspective parents can offer to shape our kids relationships with us and othersWhy ruptures are inevitable in all our relationships, and how we can approach repairHow our kids become mirrors for the wounds and self-protection strategies we need to work on in ourselves Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/connecting-with-your-kids/

    45 min

  2. 5 MAR · BONUS

    Best of RAR: How a “Best Moments” List Can Help You Love Your Homeschool featuring Jon Acuff

    Today, we’re revisiting a listener-favorite episode that has some advice and an activity that I think are perfect for this time of year in our homeschools. Jon Acuff, author of All It Takes Is a Goal, joined me a while back for a perspective-shifting conversation about setting and achieving goals for our homeschools, and how looking back at our best moments, from major milestones to pockets of joy, helps us envision the kind of future we really want.  Jon also shares some practical tips for reframing the urge to compare ourselves to others, especially on social media, giving ourselves credit for what we’re already doing–because it’s definitely more than you think–and approaching goals with a “some is better than none” mindset. In this episode, you’ll hear:  How taking stock of your past best moments helps you be more grateful and present for the moments happening right nowWhy having dreams and goals bigger than your calendar is actually a gift A simple key to finding goals that work for you and your family  Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/jon-acuff

    42 min

  3. 19 FEB

    RAR #277: Inspiring Heroic Virtue in Our Kids

    We talk a lot around here about the incredible impact stories have on our kids. They build empathy and connection, letting us walk a mile in another’s shoes. And some stories also help us see what it looks like to be brave and courageous, even in the face of fear or daunting challenges. Today, Audrey is back to talk with me about how stories inspire courage in our kids and ourselves and can connect us to profound truths, no matter how fantastical the setting. In this episode, you’ll hear:  How stories become companions to us through challenging seasons Which stories have shaped Sarah and Audrey’s own lives The ways myths can echo profound truths to us that feed our hearts and minds and inspire heroic virtue Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/inspiring-heroic-virtue

    36 min

  4. 5 FEB · BONUS

    Best of RAR: Why Read Aloud to Kids Who Can Read Themselves

    Why do we read aloud to our kids? Especially those who can read to themselves?  This is a topic that comes up all the time at Read-Aloud Revival and it’s one I’m super passionate about. It’s foundational to what we do around here and I firmly believe it’s vital to our kids becoming lifelong readers.  In this episode, we’re talking about the impact reading aloud has on our children, regardless of their independent reading level. Research shows that there are many benefits to reading aloud to your kids, and today, we’re going to focus on five of the most important ones. In this episode, you’ll hear: How books educate the heart as well as the mind, growing perspective and empathyThe incredible impact of reading aloud on academic performance, language development, information processing, expression (the list goes on!)How reading aloud builds community, strengthens family bonds, reduces stress and anxiety, and enriches time spent together Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/why

    25 min

  5. 22 JAN

    RAR #276: Learning to Ask Good Questions (Audrey’s Back!)

    Today’s episode is a special treat featuring the return of a listener-favorite guest who happens to be one of my favorite people, too. 😉 Back on episode 209, my eldest daughter, Audrey joined me to share her perspective on what it was like growing up in our bustling homeschool family. Ever since that episode aired, listeners have asked for updates on what she’s up to and how she’s doing. Suffice it to say, she’s had a few more adventures since we recorded that episode! So I’m delighted to welcome Audrey back to the podcast to talk through some of your frequent questions about what has shaped her as a writer, the importance of boredom and wonder, and how simple conversations lay the foundation for imaginative language and writing.  In this episode, you’ll hear:  How read-alouds, audiobooks, and poetry shaped Audrey’s love of languageWhy having experiences out in the world (even in your own backyard!) is essential for budding creativesOur favorite way to help kids make connections and ask better questions and become better writers  Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the Newsletter Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/catch-up

    32 min

  6. 8 JAN

    RAR #275: Could We Have Tranquility by Tuesday? Laura Vanderkam

    If I were to ask you if your life ever felt tranquil, you would probably do one of two things: bust out laughing or look at me like I was from another planet. I get it, I really do.  Which is why I’m so excited to have the author of one of my absolute tippy-top recommended books with me today. Laura Vanderkam is a time management expert, mother of five, and the author of Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters.  Laura suggests that to bring more tranquility to our abundant, unpredictable lives, we don’t need a perfect schedule, what we need is a resilient schedule. In the book, she outlines nine ways that will help us manage the chaos and live joyful, sustainable lives.  It sounds much more accessible, right? Today, we’re going to talk about how we can actually achieve tranquility in our lives, even in the busiest phases of our lives. In this episode, you’ll hear:  How to reframe the way you think about how much time you have (hint: it might be more than you think!) Why doing something three times a week counts as a habitThe rule that gets the most resistance, and why sticking to it is so essential Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/laura-vanderkam

    35 min

  7. 04/12/2025 · BONUS

    Best of RAR: Jolabokaflod

    What if I told you there’s an Icelandic Christmas tradition where the whole point is to spend an evening sitting around, sipping hot cocoa, and reading books? Sign me up, right? Today, we’re talking about Jolabokaflod, which loosely translates to “Yule Book Flood,” how it started, and how you can bring the magic of this bookish tradition into your home this Christmas. In this episode, you’ll hear:  Where the Icelandic Yule Book Flood first beganHow Jolabokaflod is an invitation to slow down and connect with each other during the busy Christmas seasonThe only three things you need for your Jolabokaflod, plus tips from RAR members on how they celebrate  Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/icelandic-christmas

    16 min

  8. 13/11/2025

    RAR #274: Behind the Scenes of One of My Favorite Christmas Picture Books

    We all know there is no shortage of Christmas picture books out there.  But for a book to make it onto my kids’ Christmas stack or onto a Read Aloud Revival Christmas Book List, it has to be excellent.  And the books we choose for Christmas School? Those are the ones that go above and beyond excellent and are some of our most treasured, tippy-top favorite Christmas read-alouds. Today, I have the author-illustrator of one of my all-time favorite Christmas picture books, Red and Lulu, with me.  You might recognize Matt Tavares from his beloved books Zachary's Ball, Becoming Babe Ruth, or Growing Up Pedro or from his delightful Christmas books in the Dasher series. He’s here to tell us all about his writing and illustrating process, why he loves writing Christmas picture books, and how he created the enchanting journey of Red and Lulu.   In this episode, you’ll hear:  How he sets the mood for creating snowy, winter scenes even in the middle of summer  What Matt always keeps in mind about his audience when writing picture booksThe inspiration behind the tale of Red and Lulu and their journey to New York City Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/matt-tavares

    36 min
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4.9
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

Sarah Mackenzie helps your family fall in love with books, and helps *you* fall in love with homeschooling.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Mackenzie
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    301
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2015-2024 Sarah Mackenzie Media LLC
  • Show Website
    Read-Aloud Revival ®

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