Let ‘em go Barefoot Missy Willis

Erin wears many hats and brings so much wisdom and reflection to the conversation!
As the mother of four, veteran unschooling mom who is also employed outside of the home, writer and podcast host, we discuss what life looks like as an unschooling family in the older years. 
We address societal pressure to conform even when our kids become young adults and we talk about how community isn't necessarily an option, but in many ways an absolute need.
We talk about how our kids change and grow and how it's important for us to stay flexible through their development. We discuss how mentors and work can be great for our teens and young adults and why some unschooling kids want to pursure academics and the standard schooling model when they get older. 
If you have a teen or young adult or will soon, this is a wonderful conversation. I think will give you comfort, things to think about, and ideas to consider as you navigate this part of your parenting journey. 
How to stay in touch with Erin:
https://www.everlearning.ca/
Instagram:  @_everlearning_
Podcast:  Virtual Kitchen Table
How to stay in touch with Missy:
Instagram and Facebook: @letemgobarefoot
Website: www.letemgobarefoot.com
eBook: Life Unschooled: A Guide to Living and Learning Without School
 
 

Adam Cohen is a father or two and the creator of Brain Based Parent. You can find him on social media @brainbaseddad. 
In this episode, Adam shares his journey from a discontent school kid to a circus student, performer, then circus skills teacher. He shares how coming across a mentor who introduced him to Applied Neurology changed the course of this life. 
In this fascinating conversation about the power and purpose of our brain, we dive into: 
how our brain is (negatively) impacted in our modern day world,
why play is vital for ALL of us, adults included,
why eye movement impacts brain health, 
how brain-based training can improve ailments such as tremors and incontinence,
breath work and nervous system regulation,
how to become a more patient and aware person and parent
and why unschooling can ultimately be a low stress state of living and learning.
Adam brings a unique perspective to the parenting conversation. Don't miss this one! 
How to stay in touch with Adam:
Website: https://www.brainbaseddad.com/
or follow him on YouTube or Instagram @brainbaseddad.
How to stay in touch with Missy:
Instagram and Facebook: @letemgobarefoot
Website: www.letemgobarefoot.com
eBook: Life Unschooled: A Guide to Living and Learning Without School
 
 
 

Kirsten Cobabe is a therapist and “teen whisperer”, and I believe she is doing what she was put on this earth to do: support teens and parents during this unique time.
Although Kirsten had not planned on living in Hawaii, she was called there. Water surrounds her literally, but it is also a consistent theme in the work she does.
In this episode we talk all things TEENS (and get some solid reinforcements from a neighboring rooster!) Kirsten shares insights from the work she has been doing for over 20 years. Here are some things we discuss:
Conflict and Struggle and Misunderstanding teens
How parents can be a bridge instead of a barrier
Being grounded in relationship first by using the C.A.R.E formula
Family dynamics and environment
The different pathways to “success”
Social media and online world
Why teens want REAL TALK
Talking with your teens about being a producer and creator vs a passive consumer
Dopamine and the teen brain
The importance of Critical Thinking
And Kirsten shares about some exciting things coming this summer!
Tune it for a lovely conversation that explores living with teens, parenting, awareness, relationship, curiosity, and connection. Let us know what resonated. We’d love to hear from you!
How to stay in touch with Kirsten:
Instagram @kirstencobabe
Website:  www.kirstencobabe.com
How to stay in touch with Missy:
Instagram and Facebook: @letemgobarefoot
Website: www.letemgobarefoot.com
eBook: Life Unschooled: A Guide to Living and Learning Without School
Books and People mentioned during the episode:
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
The Bonds that Make Us Free by C. Terry Warner
The Arbinger Institute https://arbinger.com/
Untethered Soul By Michael Singer
Dr. Becky Good Inside:  https://www.goodinside.com/
Erik Erikson: https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/erik-erikson
 

Karema Akilah is witty, a visionary, a force, and an inspiration. She is a widowed mother of six children, a trained teacher turned unschooling mom and the creator of The Genius School and GeniiDAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization).  
This episode is full of insight and ideas for creating foundational, supportive frameworks in our homes, communities, and online spaces. Karema shares the “x factor” of the Genius School which is guided by the 5 Pillars of Invitation:
Know Thyself,
Know Thy Source,
Know How to be Financially Self-Sustainable,
Know they World,
Serve Thy Community with Thy Genius
And we discuss the next big frontier in education: Web3 and cryptocurrency!
Karema’s community is thinking big and taking action to find a solution to the micro school funding problem. They have developed their own crypto, the $BeMe token, and aim to fund seven micro schools and their staff, support self-directed learners, and revolutionize education.
As she says, “we can do what we’ve always done, and we’ll get what we’ve always gotten” or you can do things differently and that’s what Karema and her community are doing. Plus, you are invited to join the education revolution, too!
To learn more about how to get involved and to provide support for the children and families who wish to utilize self-directed education communities, here are a few steps you can take:
Join the GeniiDao Mighty Network community here: https://genii-5pillargeniuscommunities.mn.co/share/RYP4dE_7Rxi-z36G
Read more about The Genius School here: https://www.thegeniusschool.org/about
Purchase the merch kids have made here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/genii/
If you already have a crypto wallet, be on the lookout for the $BeMe token
If you don’t have a crypto wallet and want to create one, this is a great read for beginners: https://financebuzz.com/set-up-crypto-wallet
Here is where to follow token performance: https://coinmarketcap.com/
Follow Karema on Instagram @geniidaocommunity
Help create $BeMe memes and/or SHARE to raise awareness and funds!
Also mentioned, Dr. Glenn Doman: https://iahp.org/about-glenn-doman/
For more of Missy's writing and work, follow along on Instagram @letemgobarefoot and Substack: https://substack.com/@letemgobarefoot
To purchase a copy of Life Unschooled, click here.
 

Karla Marie Williams is an author, speaker, and global advocate of children and families. She is also an unschooling mother of six. I invited her back on the podcast to dive deeper into a conversation around academics in unschooling, supporting the unique needs of our teens, freedom in the teen years, and launching them into the world. (You can listen to her family’s journey into unschooling and her inspiration for writing Teens Unleashed in episode 14.)
Karla brings a joyful spirit to our discussion. Her love for mothering and supporting her teens is undeniable. The great, real-life examples she shares about the power of conversation, planning, listening, and resourcing our teens, even on a budget, allows us to see unschooling in practice.
We address the concerns that unschooling might not be “intellectual”, walk through ways to guide each of kid as they develop their skills, talents, and goals, and discuss the important roles we play as parents, including when to get out of the way.  If you have teens or will, don’t miss this one!
Learn more about Karla’s books and work here:
https://www.karlamariewilliams.com/
and on social media @simplykarlamarie
To find more of my writing and musings, visit @letemgobarefoot on social media and my website: www.letemgobarefoot.com
You can now download the ebook I co-wrote with a fellow unschooling mom, Life Unschooled: A Guide to Living and Learning Without School
 

In this powerhouse episode, I talk to Teva Johnstone, a licensed clinical social worker and a psychotherapist, a homeschooling parent, and Instagram influencer who aims to empower parents and families to parent "their particular child".
Teva and I discuss the road she took to get to this particular moment in time including the race riots and violence she experienced and witnessed in high school and her successful ten-year career as a hair dresser before going back to school to become a therapist.
The overarching theme of our conversation is children's mental health so we touch on a variety of relevant topics, including:
the roles of social workers
what it means to be "safe" and the weaponization of safety to shut down conversation
the family unit and it's importance for child well-being
toxic environments and how environmental changes can "cure" mental distress
current public school model being misaligned for children's well-being
special considerations for praising children
what neurodiversity means and the side effects of the neurodiversity paradigm and movement
importance of being honest and clear about a child's clinically significant disordered behavior
separating the person from the behavior
the power of internal motivation
making decisions that are right for "your particular child"
and more!
Connect with Teva:
Instagram: @rebel.parents
https://www.tevajohnstone.com/
Information mentioned in the show:
https://www.tevajohnstone.com/blog/is-my-child-disordered
The Free Press essay on autism:
https://www.thefp.com/p/the-autism-surge-lies-conspiracies
Dr. Nick Walker on neurodiversity:
https://neuroqueer.com/neurodiversity-terms-and-definitions/
Connect with Missy:
on Instagram @letemgobarefoot
Website: www.letemgobarefoot.com
on Substack: https://letemgobarefoot.substack.com/
and download "Life Unschooled: Living and Learning without School"