Homeschooling IRL

Andy and Kendra Fletcher

4.8 (219)
RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
UPDATED WEEKLY

Homeschool Podcasts and Family Learning

MAR 24

HomeschoolingIRL Episode 2: Homeschooling is a Buzzkill

HomeschoolingIRL Homeschooling Is A Buzzkill sponosred by NOW Programs. On this episode of Homeschooling In Real Life, Fletch and Kendra introduce you to one of the phrases used often around their home: Homeschooling Is A Buzzkill! Listen in as they discuss what happens when expectations do not match reality. Follow Kendra into their schoolroom as she gives you a glimpse into real life during Adventures in Mangoland. Finally, tune in to Pillow Talk as Fletch and Kendra wrap up this episode and share a few final thoughts on the topic. For more information about this podcast or to connect with Fletch and Kendra directly you can follow HomeschoolingIRL on Facebook and Twitter.
MAR 17

Can Your Homeschooler Go To College – HIRL Episode 27 (replay)

The answer to this question is obvious: we all know that homeschoolers can go to college! On this episode of Homeschooling In Real Life, (sponsored by Judson College) Fletch and Kendra get real and challenge their listeners to join them in a difficult discussion about fear and trusting God as they contemplate sending their children onto higher education. Along the way, they sit down with two college admissions counselors and ask them to share the experiences they have had when homeschoolers apply to college. How are we doing when it comes to academic preparedness, pride and preparing our kids for college? Finally, Fletch and Kendra wrap up their show with a special edition of the HIRLer's Treasure Chest. Tune in to see what these two are recommending for you now! Episode Timeline 03:45 - Fletch/Kenj talk begin the discussion about parenting from a place of fear. 15:13 - Grand Canyon University Admission reps Nick Chandler and Carrie Fox-Buttram join the discussion. 45:29 - HIRL'ers Treasure Chest Show Notes for Can Homeschoolers Go to College? Homeschooling In Real Life – Episode 27: Can Your Homeschooler Go To College?Produced by the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network [Intro] Sponsor: Judson College In this episode, we tackle the question, "Can your homeschooler go to college?" We've heard from many homeschooling parents who carry significant fear about sending their kids off to college. We'll talk about this fear openly, invite two college admissions counselors into our conversation, and discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses they see in homeschool applicants—including a key issue: pride. "We really don't care if you're homeschooled. What we care about is you as an individual student. Homeschooling is just a means to an end." — Admissions Counselor, GCU We also listen to a listener voicemail and dive into a special edition of the Hurler's Treasure Chest. Keep listening—this is Homeschooling in Real Life! Fletch: Welcome to the Homeschooling in Real Life podcast. I'm Fletch. Kendra: And I'm Kendra. As veteran homeschooling parents, we tackle the topics that divide and distract Christian homeschoolers from each other—and from the gospel. Fletch: At Homeschooling IRL, we promise honesty, transparency, and a sense of humor as we discover together what homeschooling looks like in real life. Can Homeschoolers Go to College: Episode Start Fletch: Today, we continue our discussion on college. Previously, we talked about launching our oldest off to Grand Canyon University. Tonight, we tackle the big question: Can your homeschooler go to college? Kendra: Short answer—yes, absolutely! Fletch: End of the show! [laughs] But seriously, homeschoolers worry about this. We've seen a lot of fear among parents regarding sending their kids to college. Let's dive into that. Kendra: Right. I remember hearing a speaker warn homeschooling parents years ago about the dangers of college life—parties, drugs, promiscuity. And you know what? It worked! I felt genuine fear about college for my kids. Fletch: Exactly. We experienced these things ourselves in college, didn't we? But here's the thing: sometimes this fear comes from parents who don’t want their kids making the same mistakes they made. Kendra: Definitely. Especially if you've come to faith later in life, you might be tempted to shelter your children from your own past mistakes. Noble intention—but fear-based decisions aren't the way to go. The gospel frees us from living in fear. Fletch: Right. We’ve covered the topic of hope shifting before—placing our hope in homeschooling to protect our ki...
MAR 10

Let Go So They Can Launch: The Truth About College Admissions for Homeschool Grads

Let Go So They Can Launch: The Truth About College Admissions for Homeschool Grads Special Thanks to Our Network Sponsor – Judson College Judson College offers biblical and practical training wherever a student is called, equipping them to live all of life for Christ. You’ve heard it—the unmistakable whirring of helicopter blades. The sound of well-meaning parents hovering, anxiously guiding their homeschool graduate into college life. You want the best for them. You’ve sacrificed, taught, and prepared them. But deep down, you might be wondering: Am I helping them—or holding them back? The truth? Your teen is ready for this next step—if you let them take it. Join us as we sit down with Aimee Stauf, a homeschool graduate, former resident advisor, and now an admissions counselor at Patrick Henry College. Aimee has seen it all—from confident students who take ownership of their college experience to those still tethered to their parents’ safety net. In this episode, she shares what homeschool parents really need to know about college admissions, independence, and preparing their teens to thrive. Listen in and learn why stepping back might be the best gift you give your graduate. It’s time to land the helicopter—your teen is ready to fly. College Admissions and Helicopter Parents (Replay of Episode 105) EPISODE TIMELINE :50 Fluff - Graduations, Baseball, 1970's Summer, Big Announcement 8:15 College Admissions - Aimee Stauf, Patrick Henry College 27:25 The show is over. Goodbye! SHOW NOTES: Recommended Resources: Patrick Henry College Admissions Betty the Surf Dog - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Website Rasta The Chocolate Lab - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Website Fletch Twitter Kendra Twitter Previous Episodes Mentioned: All of them Music clips used on this episode: None SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE AN iTUNES REVIEW: Allow the magic of the internet to deliver Homeschooling In Real Life to your tablet or smart phone. Let us show you how easy it is: * Follow this link to our iTunes page. * IMPORTANT STEP: Under our big red HomeschoolingIRL logo, just click on View in iTunes * The iTunes program will automatically launch and take you to our podcast page. * FIRST - Click SUBSCRIBE. Voila! All or our podcasts will come directly to your computer and smart phone. * NEXT - Click RATINGS AND REVIEW. Remember the best reviews are 5-stars (hint hint!). * Thanks for being one of our listeners! HIRLers rock! WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO LISTEN TO HomeschoolingIRL? * You can listen right on this page. There is an audio player below. * You can listen on your iPod, Smartphone or tablet.
FEB 7

What Homeschooling Does To A Marriage – HIRL Episode 17

What Homeschooling Does to a Marriage You are going to want to grab your spouse for this episode! Fletch and Kendra dive right into the middle of the topic and discuss how the stress of homeschooling can leak into your marriage relationship. Throughout this episode, you will hear live interviews conducted with couples on the floor of the Teach Them Diligently Conference in Nashville, TN. Be prepared for answers that you might not expect! Fletch and Kendra also talk and laughing with TTD conference founders and directors, David and Leslie Nunnery, about the challenges we've seen in our own marriages and some helpful ideas on how to preserve intimacy in the middle of family, life and school. Pull up a chair and prepare to get real with Fletch and Kendra as we look at What Homeschooling Does To A Marriage. For complete show notes and links to what we discussed on this episode, go to our website: HomeschoolingIRL.com Join Fletch (from theMangoTimes) and Kendra (from Preschoolers and Peace) podcast every two weeks as they interview guests and talk through some of the goofiness they have experienced in nearly two decades of Homeschooling In Real Life.

49 min
11/19/2024

Best of HIRL Holiday Series – Traveling With Kids

Join us on this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life as we talk about the ins and outs of traveling with kids. On this episode we are NOT talking about vacation planning. Instead we are talking about giving your family a love for travel, a love for God's world and a love for taking your love for Jesus around the world as a family ambassadors living on mission. Live from the Teach Them Diligently convention floor in Nashville, TN, Kendra interviews family travel expert Jen Reyneri from WordTraveling.com. Listen as they discuss about traveling and finding the Glory of God all over the world. This episode will encourage you and motivate you as a homeschool family to show your children something more than your own backyard. SHOW NOTES: Recommended Resources: WordTraveling with Jen Reyneri Betty The Surf Dog Twitter Feed - Home of Betty the Surf Dog Fletch Twitter Kendra Twitter Previous Episodes Mentioned: Music clips used on this episode: Jet Airliner - Buy it on iTunes Here Special Thanks to our Network Sponsor, Now Programs! LISTEN HERE Are you ready to listen to Fletch and Kendra get real about homeschooling? Press the PLAY button below.
11/07/2024

Why The Rise In African American Homeschooling, Part 1 (Replay)

The Rise of African American Homeschooling Last month, Fletch read an interesting article in The Washington Post called, Racism in Schools is Pushing More Black Families to Homeschool Their Children. The title alone was enough to get him interested, but in the article the writer discussed why there has been such a sharp rise in African American Homeschooling. We thought this was a good discussion to have with our listeners, so we pursued the author for an interview. Thanks to our sponsor! NowPrograms.com – visit the website for more information. Dr. Ama Mazama, professor of African American Studies at Temple University and homeschooling parent, joins us for an important discussion. In our interview, Professor Mazama discusses her research and shares with us why she believes there has been a distinct rise in homeschooling among black families. You will want to listen to this interview and join us as we explore the questions and challenges that this discussion creates. Timeline 3:00 - Introduction 9:30 - Interview Part 1 35:20 - Interview Part 2 Show Notes Dr. Mazama's Biography Racism in Schools is Pushing More Black Families to Homeschool Their Children. Music clips used on this show: "Night Cave" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Join Fletch (from theMangoTimes) and Kendra (from Preschoolers and Peace and KendraFletcher.com) for the HomeschoolingIRL podcast every week as they interview guests and talk through some of the goofiness they have experienced in nearly two decades of Homeschooling In Real Life.
10/29/2024

Affording College – HIRL Episode 126 (Replay)

When our students hope to go to college, the perennial question remains: how in the world will they pay for it? We decided to return to the topic of affording college with College Prep Genius Jean Burk because we know she has valuable information to share. We think you'll be encouraged and feel equipped as you help your college-bound student get the education they are pursuing! Affording College EPISODE TIMELINE 1:32 - Fluff : Discussion on tragedy, college visits, real life. 8:01 - Interview with Jean Burk, Part 1 25:43 - Interview with Jean Burk, Part 2 34:30 - Goodbye! The Show Is Over! SHOW NOTES: Recommended Resources: College Prep Genius Follow Fletch/Kendra: Fletch Twitter Kendra Twitter Follow the Studio Dogs: Betty the Surf Dog - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Website Rasta The Chocolate Lab - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Website Previous Episodes Mentioned: None Music clips used on this episode: None SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE AN iTUNES REVIEW: Allow the magic of the internet to deliver Homeschooling In Real Life to your tablet or smart phone. Let us show you how easy it is: * Follow this link to our iTunes page. * IMPORTANT STEP: Under our big red HomeschoolingIRL logo, just click on View in iTunes * The iTunes program will automatically launch and take you to our podcast page. * FIRST - Click SUBSCRIBE. Voila! All or our podcasts will come directly to your computer and smart phone. * NEXT - Click RATINGS AND REVIEW. Remember the best reviews are 5-stars (hint hint!). * Thanks for being one of our listeners! HIRLers rock! WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO LISTEN TO HomeschoolingIRL? * You can listen right on this page. There is an audio player below. * You can listen on your iPod, Smartphone or tablet. Open the PODCAST app on your device, search podcasts for "HomeschoolingIRL" and click subscribe. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. * Subscribe to the HomeschoolingIRL website and you will be notified when every new episode is released. Follow this link and begin your FREE SUBSCRIPTION. ADVERTISERS/SPONSORS: CTC Math | Homeschoolers can save 50%! Details here. LISTEN HERE Are you ready to listen to Fletch and Kendra get real about homeschooling? Press the PLAY button below. Join Fletch (from theMangoTimes) and Kendra (from a href="http://pr...

40 min
10/24/2024

HomeschoolingIRL Episode 3: Homeschooling, Halloween and Harry Potter

Homeschooling, Halloween, and Harry Potter Homeschooling, Halloween, and Harry Potter? Are we nuts? Well, yes, but that didn’t stop us from tackling two hot-potato topics that homeschoolers traditionally love to argue over. You, too? In this episode, replayed in honor of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast's 11th Birthday and sponsor, Fletch and Kendra talk about Halloween and the opportunity to love the places where God has put our families. We discuss fear and the life of the believer, and then Fletch elaborates about a character in the Harry Potter series that taught him a valuable lesson. We promise if you listen, you won’t turn into a newt. You won’t be made fun of or persuaded to change your mind (unless the Holy Spirit does that), and we won’t send you out into the neighborhood looking for the scariest costume this year. We just thought we’d put it all out on the table, with a big bowl of candy corn just to make sure we keep it sweet. Join us? Show Notes for Episode #3 70 Vintage Halloween Costumes That Were Really Creepy, from Stuff You Should Know From Christians and Halloween, Grace to You: Evil spirits are no more active and sinister on Halloween than they are on any other day of the year; in fact, any day is a good day for Satan to prowl about seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). But "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). God has forever "disarmed principalities and powers" through the cross Christ and "made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them through [Christ]" (Colossians 2:15). Dolores Umbridge Speech (YouTube clip) from Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix For more information about this podcast or to connect with Fletch and Kendra directly you can follow HomeschoolingIRL on Facebook and Twitter. Fletch blogs regularly on theMangoTimes and is a monthly contributor to the Homeschool Post. Kendra can be found on either of her blogs Preschoolers and Peace or on her author site, KendraFletcher.com.

1h 38m

See All (265)

4.8

out of 5

219 Ratings

A new favorite

10/14/2021

nickname jules

The podcast I never knew I always needed! Listening to these two always leaves me feeling encouraged and HOPEFUL, even when the topics are tough. I so appreciate the perfect blend of humor, humility and hard hitting honesty!
Real People, Really Relatable, and Really Gospel Driven

09/25/2021

TerriArtisTree

I have been listening to the Fletcher's for a few months now. It's so refreshing to hear a veteran homeschool family discuss real life situation in such a down to earth manner and voice that homeschooling isn't the magic bullet to save your kids. I think every homeschooler regardless of your style or philosophy should add this to your playlist.
Great show

02/07/2020

omcrider

You will find helpful encouragement for you as a parent and as a couple. Andy and Kendra are awesome together and speak from the heart.
Great podcast

03/07/2019

ValZoeOli

Thanks for sharing this podcast. It’s very helpful. We are planning to homeschool our kids and we are clueless where to start. It feels so overwhelming. Listening to your podcast helps us a lot.