Tried and True Homeschooling

Dr. Claire Honeycutt🕊️❤️
  • 5.0 (2)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Real Parents, Real Stories, Real Results. A podcast where we interview veteran homeschool parents who have actually graduated their kids. No influencers - just real parents, like you, sharing their wisdom. www.clarified.life

  1. 🎙️Parenting Through Crisis: A Single Mom’s Hard-Won Path to Hope and Resilience

    JAN 20

    🎙️Parenting Through Crisis: A Single Mom’s Hard-Won Path to Hope and Resilience

    ✨What if the hardest season of your family’s life became the foundation for your children’s greatest strengths? This episode is special friends. Kim began homeschooling back in 2002, not because she had a perfect plan or abundant resources, but because her family was facing profound hardship and she wanted to keep her children close while everything else felt uncertain. What followed was a long, gritty journey—driving a public school bus to make ends meet, turning field trips into the backbone of learning, and choosing, again and again, to keep going when quitting would have been understandable. This conversation is full of hard-won wisdom: * Why emotional health has to come first—especially in seasons of illness or divorce. * How thriving yourself as a parent quietly gives your children permission to thrive too. * And what it really means to be rigidly flexible in homeschool life. But more than anything, Kim offers something many parents need to hear: you don’t have to be cheerful in hard seasons. You just have to keep moving. Sometimes progress is small. Sometimes all you can do is breathe and put one foot in front of the other. That still counts. If you’re in a difficult chapter—emotionally, financially, or relationally—this episode is for you. Not because it offers shortcuts, but because it offers hope and some beautiful advice. Connect with Kim Douglas at her Substack Commas and Goings. ✨ClarifiEd is for parents who are serious about raising thinkers, leaders, and lifelong learners. We support you through courses, workshops, this podcast, and weekly essays going deep into how children learn best. If you’d like to join our phenomenal community of thousands of parents who are giving their kids not just a great education—but a truly remarkable life, subscribe below! Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

    1h 6m
  2. 🎙️Why I Quit My Tenured Professor Job for My Family (And Never Regretted It)

    JAN 6

    🎙️Why I Quit My Tenured Professor Job for My Family (And Never Regretted It)

    Happy New Year, homeschool friends! It’s 2026, and we’re kicking off the year with something I’ve never done before on the Tried & True Homeschooling Podcast. For this special episode, the tables are turned. Brooke Zoller — veteran homeschooler and one of my all-time favorite people—interviewed me. I share our family’s unexpected homeschool beginning, the heart-wrenching decision to walk away from my tenured professor job, and why, years later, I have no regrets. We cover…. * What leaving my career was like & how I made the decision * My biggest advice for overwhelmed beginners * Where I think homeschooling is headed next * What real rewards and my favorite parts of homeschooling after five years at home * We also cover what I’ve learned from interviewing veteran homeschoolers — since then I’ve put together a really special post that goes into a lot more detail: What I Learned From 15 Veteran Homeschoolers This Year Listen above or on your favorite podcast provide just search “Tried and True Homeschooling” If you’ve ever been curious about the behind-the-scenes of my family’s journey—or how hosting this podcast has shaped my own homeschooling—this episode offers a window inside. This conversation wouldn’t be possible without my incredible paid supporters. Your support covers production costs and makes it possible to keep sharing real, honest stories like this one. Thank you, truly. If this podcast has encouraged you, I’d love for you to join us below. Here’s to a year of thriving families and irreplaceable moments,~Claire P.S. What’s been your biggest homeschool “aha” moment—or toughest decision? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

    34 min
  3. 🎙️How One Forest School Founder Covered All of K–2 Common Core—Outside

    12/16/2025

    🎙️How One Forest School Founder Covered All of K–2 Common Core—Outside

    ✨Ever wonder what would happen if you just… let nature be the teacher? Today I’m joined by Roman — longtime homeschool dad, nature mentor, and one of the people who helped launch one of the very first K–12 forest schools in the U.S. His homeschool journey started in the best way imaginable: one day in third grade his daughter came home from public school and casually announced, ‘Tomorrow I’m homeschooling.’ And that was that. Their days filled with river-picnic lunches, tandem-bike rides, bird-watching, and lessons that grew straight out of whatever sparked her curiosity that morning. We get into what truly child-led learning feels like in real life, how to teach a whole group of different-aged kids with one simple stick (seriously), how to weave nature connection into city apartments or desert winters, and why building community is messy, sometimes lonely, but absolutely worth it. Roman has this quiet, been-in-the-woods-a-long-time confidence that makes the whole thing feel… doable. Simple, even. You’ll finish this episode feeling lighter, braver, and probably ready to take tomorrow’s school outside. If you want to connect more with Roman you can find him on X and on his website. If you found this episode helpful, please give me a 5 star✨ rating on your favorite podcast platform! It helps the podcast grow and reach more families. Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

    58 min
  4. ✨Change How You See Failure

    11/11/2025

    ✨Change How You See Failure

    ✨What if letting your teen fail could be the key to their success? In this episode, Bea shares her bold decision to pull her high school–aged daughter out of public school and begin a transformative homeschooling journey. What started as a response to bullying and lack of academic rigor became a story of resilience, freedom, and growth. Bea describes the early challenges of relying on a restrictive public homeschool program before finding the confidence to create her own curriculum. A turning point came when she let her daughter fail a math class—an experience that taught responsibility and grit. Today, that same daughter owns land, thrives in her job, and is on track for management at just nineteen. Bea’s message to parents is powerful: don’t fear failure, trust your child’s initiative, and shape education to fit their unique path. ✨If you need encouragement to trust your instincts or give your teen more ownership of their learning, this episode is for you. If you found this episode helpful, please give me a 5 star✨ rating on your favorite podcast platform! It helps the podcast grow and reach more families. Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

    1h 6m
  5. ✨Empowering Kids to OWN Their Education

    10/28/2025

    ✨Empowering Kids to OWN Their Education

    ✨What If Your Kids Could Take the Control of Their Education? This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alison and William, who homeschooled all three of their children through to college. Their greatest strength lies in how intentionally they taught their kids to take ownership of their education, building discipline slowly while nurturing a genuine love of learning. All three children made a smooth transition to college, and Alison and William share the thoughtful steps they took to ensure that success. Along the way, we talk about how much curriculum you really need to complete and how sports became a vital part of their children’s education. One of them even went on to play college baseball. I left this conversation feeling deeply encouraged by Alison and William’s calm confidence and authenticity. They’re truly special, and I hope you enjoy learning from them as much as I did. 🖋️If you want to learn more from Alison and Will, you can find them on X @myHomeSmithsER. If you found this episode helpful, please give me a 5 star✨ rating on your favorite podcast platform! It helps the podcast grow and reach more families. Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

    1h 7m
  6. ✨Helping Kids Catch Up and Cope with Anxiety

    10/14/2025

    ✨Helping Kids Catch Up and Cope with Anxiety

    ✨Are you trying to catch your kid up from a poor public school experience? OR Trying to help a child with severe anxiety find their way in the world? OR Are you interested in hybrid homeschooling? This episode packs a punch friends! Today, I talk with Pepper, a Las Vegas homeschooling mom, about the real, messy, beautiful work of guiding three very different kids. First, she tell us how she caught her oldest son up from a bad public school experience, helping him find his way back to curiosity and confidence so much so that he ended up teaching a lot of the high school classes he attended. Pepper also successfully navigated her youngest crippling anxiety by going basics and using unschooling as a guide. Finally, she talks how she used hybrid homeschooling to create a well rounded education for all three. Pepper’s story is raw, real, and deeply instructive. It shows parents how to meet children where they are, reignite their love of learning, and build resilience. Her story reminds parents that homeschooling isn’t about perfection—it’s about helping each child learn in the way that works best for them. PS.🔥Did you know there are downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, and more?!? Click below for show notes from this and all episodes👇 Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

    58 min
  7. ✨How to Balance Tough Academics with Kids’ Unique Interests

    09/30/2025

    ✨How to Balance Tough Academics with Kids’ Unique Interests

    ✨Do you ever wonder how to give your kids more independence—without letting academics slip? In this episode, I talk with Michelle Brock—a second-generation homeschool mom who educated her three children from kindergarten through high school. Michelle strikes a rare balance: she nurtured her kids’ individual interests while maintaining a strong academic foundation. When her son was interested in birds, she got him a college level textbook. Michelle talks about what it means to be an “educational broker” for your kids, how she helped find outside resources to fill in her gaps, and how personalized learning doesn’t have to mean anything-goes. Michelle’s approach is a masterclass in giving kids freedom within structure—producing learners who are joyful, self-directed, and deeply prepared for life after homeschool. If you’ve ever wondered how to do child-led learning without sacrificing depth, this one’s for you. 🖋️If you’d like to connect with Michelle, you can find her on her website and X. If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us! 🔥Did you know there are downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more?!? Click below for show notes from this and all episodes. Exclusively for my favorite people👇 Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

    1h 21m
  8. ✨How to Stay-the-Course When Homeschooling Gets Hard

    09/16/2025

    ✨How to Stay-the-Course When Homeschooling Gets Hard

    ✨What does it look like to be the steady one—the grounding force—in a homeschool? In today’s episode, I talk with Chris, a father of four who homeschooled his kids through high school while juggling military relocations, teen dynamics, and unexpected life turns. Chris shares how he learned to support his wife through annual burnout, to offer consistency in a constantly changing world, and to keep showing up even when homeschooling felt uncertain or off-track. This is a story of quiet leadership—the kind that doesn’t seek the spotlight, but builds a strong foundation. We talk about structure, character, trust, and the long arc of parenting kids who grow into their own stories. I recorded this episode during a particularly hard time and Chris’s words of wisdom telling me that they wanted to quit every spring rang true to me. It helped me think about how I could run our homeschool life differently to reduce burnout and focus on creating beautiful memories. Whether you're in a season of doubt or just trying to bring steadiness to your homeschool, this one’s for you. If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us! 🔥Did you know there are downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more?!? Click below for show notes from this and all episodes. Exclusively for my favorite people👇 Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
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About

Real Parents, Real Stories, Real Results. A podcast where we interview veteran homeschool parents who have actually graduated their kids. No influencers - just real parents, like you, sharing their wisdom. www.clarified.life

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Claire Honeycutt🕊️❤️
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Claire Honeycutt🕊️❤️
  • Show Website
    Tried and True Homeschooling