The Homeschool Feast

thehomeschoolfeast.com
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Welcome to 'The Homeschool Feast' podcast, where we empower modern moms to design a life and homeschool they truly love. Join us as we explore the art of creating a lifestyle founded on the values of family, freedom, and FUN. Our episodes are packed with inspirational stories, practical tips, and expert insights to help you embark on a homeschooling journey that not only educates your children, but also enriches your life. Join Julie Ross, creator of the homeschool curriculum A Gentle Feast and certified life coach, to discover how you can make everyday moments a celebration of learning, love, and laughter. If you need help escaping survival mode and want to create a thriving life and homeschool- Pull up a chair, you are welcome at this table! Find out more at thehomeschoolfeast.com

  1. 6d ago

    #106 Healing Childhood Eczema from the Inside Out with Andra McHugh of Eczema Kids

    What if eczema is not just a skin issue, but a signal that something deeper in the body needs attention? In this episode of The Homeschool Feast, Julie sits down with Andra McHugh, founder of Eczema Kids, to talk about her family’s journey through severe childhood eczema and how that experience led her to a root cause, whole body approach to healing. After conventional treatments left her feeling discouraged, Andra began searching for a better way and now helps families support their children through nutrition, environment, topical care, and practical steps that address eczema from the inside out. This conversation explores what eczema really is, why it often goes deeper than the skin, how gut health and inflammation may play a role, and what parents can do when they feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice. Julie and Andra also talk honestly about the emotional toll eczema can take on families, especially the guilt, exhaustion, and helplessness many parents experience when watching a child suffer. EczemaKids.com 7 Eczema Friendly Meals and Snacks Kids Will Actually Eat https://eczemakids.com/pages/7-eczema-friendly-meals-and-snacks-kids-will-actually-eat https://www.instagram.com/eczema.kids/ Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason Workshops to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool inside our new Homeschool Feast app. http://www.thehomeschoolfeast.com/app Connect with Us: Website: The Homeschool Feast Facebook: The Homeschool Feast Community Instagram: @agentlefeast Prefer video or closed captions? Watch all our episodes on YouTube. http://youtube.com/@AGentleFeast Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days inside our new membership at http://www.thehomeschoolfeast.com/table

    29 min
  2. #105: Parenting, Atmosphere, and the Power of Repair with Wendy Snyder

    Jun 6

    #105: Parenting, Atmosphere, and the Power of Repair with Wendy Snyder

    In this episode of The Homeschool Feast, Julie welcomes back Wendy Snyder, founder of Fresh Start Family and author of Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home. Together, they explore the beautiful overlap between Wendy’s positive parenting work and Charlotte Mason’s philosophy, especially the ideas that children are born persons, education is an atmosphere, and parents are called to guide the will rather than overpower it. Julie and Wendy discuss what it looks like to move from managing behavior to understanding what children are communicating through their behavior. Wendy shares how parents can begin to see resistance, sibling conflict, and strong-willed behavior not as personal attacks, but as opportunities to teach life skills, build connection, and create a home atmosphere where it is safe to be imperfect and grow. 5 Key Takeaways Misbehavior is communication, not proof that a child is bad.Wendy explains that many of us inherited the belief that “a misbehaving child equals a bad child equals a bad parent.” Instead, she invites parents to see misbehavior as communication from a child who needs help with belonging, power, value, or love. This shift helps parents respond with curiosity instead of shame or irritation. Strong-willed children are future leaders who need mentorship, not breaking.Wendy shares how her own strong-willed daughter taught her to nurture the will rather than crush it. Instead of seeing pushback as rebellion, parents can see it as a child’s need to feel powerful and then help that child learn healthy ways to use that power. This connects beautifully with Charlotte Mason’s understanding of the will as something to be strengthened and guided. Homeschool resistance often improves when parents share power wisely.When a child says, “I hate math” or “I don’t want to do this,” Wendy encourages parents to look beneath the resistance. Instead of entering a power struggle, parents can offer choices, use creativity, give the child a meaningful role, or change the way the work is approached while still holding the boundary that the work needs to be done. Sibling conflict can become training in peaceful conflict resolution.Rather than trying to raise children who never fight, Wendy encourages parents to teach children how to fight fairly. She introduces the idea of a “win-win,” where children learn to say, “I feel…” and “I want…” and then work together toward a solution. For homeschool families, where siblings are together much of the day, this is especially important heart work. The atmosphere of the home is shaped by how we handle mistakes and repair.Julie connects Wendy’s work to Charlotte Mason’s teaching that education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life. Wendy explains that children’s nervous systems are shaped by the “temperature” of the home, especially how mistakes are handled. When parents model repair, humility, and emotional regulation, they create a home where children learn that mistakes are opportunities to grow. Connect with Wendy: https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/ Podcast: https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/show/ Instagram: @freshstartwendy  / https://www.instagram.com/freshstartwendy/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@wendysnyder-freshstartfamily Get Wendy's new book: Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home!   Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason Workshops to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool inside our new Homeschool Feast app. http://www.thehomeschoolfeast.com/app Connect with Us: Website: The Homeschool Feast Facebook: The Homeschool Feast Community Instagram: @agentlefeast Prefer video or closed captions? Watch all our episodes on YouTube. http://youtube.com/@AGentleFeast Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days inside our new membership at http://www.thehomeschoolfeast.com/table

    54 min

  3. Jun 1

    #104: Why Homeschool Families Are Craving a Slower, Richer Life with Andrea Burke

    What if the most powerful thing you could do for your family right now is slow down? In this deeply encouraging conversation, Julie sits down with author, homeschool mom, and women’s ministry leader Andrea Burke to talk about her new book, The Quiet Resistance: An Invitation to Slow Down and Find a Richer Life. Together they explore the beauty of ordinary rhythms, the power of stories and history, and how wonder, books, nature, and home shape the souls of both children and adults. Andrea shares why she believes many families are quietly longing for a different way of living and how simple practices like reading deeply, noticing beauty, gathering around the table, and paying attention to the world around us can become a form of holy resistance in a hurried culture. Key Takeaways 1. Small rhythms shape the soul Andrea reminds us that meaningful change does not usually happen through dramatic overhauls, but through small daily practices repeated over time. Lighting a candle at dinner, looking at the stars, reading good books, gardening, or sharing meals together can slowly transform the atmosphere of a home. 2. Stories help us become more human One of the most powerful parts of the conversation centers around the role of literature and story in forming empathy, compassion, and understanding. Julie and Andrea discuss how books allow children to emotionally connect with people, cultures, and experiences far beyond their own lives. 3. Wonder is essential for both children and adults From watching ants on the sidewalk to chasing the moon late at night, wonder helps pull us out of hurry and back into the presence of God. Andrea shares how paying attention to beauty and creation cultivates humility, worship, and joy. 4. Home should feel lived in, not performed Andrea beautifully describes home as a place of welcome, rest, safety, and belonging. Rather than striving for perfection, she encourages families to create homes filled with hospitality, beauty, stories, music, and real life. 5. Slowing down is not failure In a culture obsessed with productivity and constant motion, slowing down can feel uncomfortable or even irresponsible. But Andrea encourages listeners to see quiet living not as laziness, but as intentionality and faithfulness. Connect with Andrea Burke Website: AndreaGBurke.com Instagram: @AndreaGBurke Substack: Andrea G. Burke Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason Workshops to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool inside our new Homeschool Feast app. http://www.thehomeschoolfeast.com/app Connect with Us: Website: The Homeschool Feast Facebook: The Homeschool Feast Community Instagram: @agentlefeast Prefer video or closed captions? Watch all our episodes on YouTube. http://youtube.com/@AGentleFeast Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days inside our new membership at http://www.thehomeschoolfeast.com/table

    46 min
  4. #103 Bringing Charlotte Mason To Life

    May 29

    #103 Bringing Charlotte Mason To Life

    In this encouraging and practical conversation, we explore what it really looks like to implement a Charlotte Mason education in everyday homeschool life. From the early uncertainty of getting started to the long-term fruit of confident, self-directed learners, this episode offers both vision and real-life application. You’ll hear how simple shifts like short lessons, living books, and narration can transform not just your homeschool, but your entire family culture. Want to study Volume 6 with us? Join our virtual Book Club! Get our Free Homeschool Feast App http://www.thehomeschoolfeast.com/app Find Shay at https://www.passersbywelcome.com/ Join The Feast Table Membership at www.thehomeschoolfeast.com

    49 min

  5. Feb 24

    #102: Small Steps, Real Change: Transforming Your Homeschool in 2026

    Transformation doesn’t begin with a fresh planner or a perfect system. It begins when you stop trying to fix everything at once and start listening to what actually matters. So many homeschool moms feel an unspoken pressure to reinvent themselves—to find the right rhythm, the right schedule, the right version of home and learning that will finally make everything click. But lasting change doesn’t come from force or hustle. It comes from clarity, trust, and the courage to take one honest step forward. In this episode, Julie invites you into a gentler, more grounded path of transformation. One rooted in reflection rather than self-criticism, vision rather than pressure, and small, faithful steps rather than dramatic overhauls. Drawing from faith, lived experience, and coaching wisdom, this conversation creates space to breathe, recalibrate, and move forward with intention. Julie shares her simple three-step framework—Reflect, Reach, Resolve—to help you see where growth is already happening, discern what truly needs to change, and choose the next right step without overwhelming your nervous system or abandoning yourself in the process. If you’re ready for transformation that feels life-giving, sustainable, and aligned with who you’re becoming—not who you think you should be—this episode is for you.   5 Key Takeaways 1. You don’t need to overhaul your life in January The start of a new year doesn’t require a complete reinvention. Real, lasting change comes from starting slow, staying present, and releasing the pressure to have everything mapped out immediately. 2. Reflection builds confidence and clarity Looking back with kindness—not criticism—helps your brain recognize growth and resilience. Gratitude reveals patterns of success and gives you evidence that you are capable and moving forward. 3. Focus on one area that truly matters Instead of trying to improve everything at once, choose the single area that tugs at your heart. The one that feels like a “must,” not a “should.” Depth, not breadth, is how meaningful change begins. 4. Vision comes before action When you can clearly picture what you want an area of your life to feel like—and why it matters—you create motivation that is rooted in purpose rather than guilt or comparison. 5. Small steps calm the nervous system and create momentum Change doesn’t happen through giant leaps. It happens through tiny, doable actions that build trust with yourself. One step leads to the next, and clarity unfolds as you move. Resources Mentioned: Visit thehomeschoolfeast.me/blog/102 for additional resources and links Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews. Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW   Connect with Us: Website: A Gentle Feast Facebook: A Gentle Feast Community Instagram: @agentlefeast Prefer video or closed captions? Watch all our episodes on YouTube. www.youtube.com/@AGentlefeast    Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com.

    38 min
  6. #101: Planting Seeds of Faith: A Conversation on Family Discipleship with Mikyhla Dice

    Feb 17

    #101: Planting Seeds of Faith: A Conversation on Family Discipleship with Mikyhla Dice

    In this heartfelt conversation, Julie Ross sits down with friend and fellow mom Mikyhla Dice to talk about the beautiful and sometimes messy work of family discipleship. Together they unpack what it means to nurture faith at home, how to cultivate rhythms that center on Jesus, and why grace—not guilt—is the foundation of raising kids who love the Lord. Whether you’re just beginning to think about discipleship in your home or you’re looking for fresh encouragement along the way, this episode offers wisdom and hope for every season of motherhood. 5 Key Takeaways: Discipleship is a lifestyle, not a checklist. It happens in everyday conversations, meals, and moments of connection. Your kids learn more from what you model than what you say. Let them see you pray, wrestle with Scripture, and live your faith authentically. Rhythms matter. Simple practices like mealtime prayers, Sabbath rest, or seasonal traditions can anchor your family in God’s story. Grace covers our shortcomings. You don’t have to disciple perfectly—your children need to see the gospel lived out in repentance and forgiveness, too. The goal is legacy. Family discipleship is about planting seeds now that will bear fruit for generations. Connect with Mikyhla: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikyhla  Podcast: Because You Belong Here  Resources Mentioned: Visit thehomeschoolfeast.me/blog/101 for additional resources and links Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews. Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW   Connect with Us: Website: A Gentle Feast Facebook: A Gentle Feast Community Instagram: @agentlefeast Prefer video or closed captions? Watch all our episodes on YouTube. www.youtube.com/@AGentlefeast    Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com.

    53 min
  7. #100: The Overwhelmed Homeschool Mom with Jamie Erickson

    Feb 9

    #100: The Overwhelmed Homeschool Mom with Jamie Erickson

    In this rich and deeply grounding conversation, Julie Ross sits down with Jamie Erickson to explore why overwhelm has become such a defining word for modern motherhood and why it doesn’t have to be. Together, they unpack cultural pressures, spiritual explanations, and practical wisdom that help mothers move from chaos to peace without abandoning responsibility or joy. This episode offers both relief and clarity for homeschool moms who sense that constant overwhelm is not the life God intended. Key Takeaways 1. Overwhelm Is Often a Signal, Not a Verdict Overwhelm acts like a warning light on the dashboard, revealing misaligned priorities rather than personal failure. It invites reflection and recalibration, not self-criticism. 2. There Are Three Types of Overwhelm Jamie explains that not all overwhelm is the same:• Everyday overwhelm caused by neglected routines and lack of systems• Comparison overwhelm from carrying responsibilities that were never yours• Acute overwhelm from life events beyond your control, such as illness, loss, or crisis Understanding which type you’re experiencing brings clarity and direction. 3. Comparison Creates Invisible Pressure Modern moms carry the weight of thousands of other women’s lives through social media. Seeing everyone’s “good ideas” can quietly convince us they are obligations. Staying in your lane restores peace. 4. You Are Not the Holy Spirit for Your Children Taking responsibility for your child’s emotions, outcomes, or spiritual growth places a burden on you that was never yours to carry. Faithfulness does not mean control. 5. Guilt and Shame Are Not the Same Guilt is a response to sin. Shame is rooted in fear of others’ opinions. Saying no to good things is not sinful. Recognizing this distinction helps mothers release unnecessary emotional weight. 6. Every Yes Is Also a No When you say yes to too many things, you often say no to the people who matter most. Clear boundaries protect what is most precious, like marriage, children, and health. 7. Hard Seasons Are Not Meant to Be Escaped Some overwhelm cannot be fixed. These seasons invite surrender, not solutions. Joy is found not in removing hardship, but in drawing closer to God within it. 8. Community Is a Gift, Not a Burden Asking for help allows others to live out their calling. Vulnerability expands community rather than shrinking it.   Resources Mentioned Visit https://www.thehomeschoolfeast.com/blog/100  for additional resources and links The Overwhelmed Mom by Jamie Erickson  Jamie Erickson’s website and community: jamieerickson.com Jamie’s podcast: https://momtomompodcast.com/  Instagram @unlikely_homeschool    Final Encouragement Overwhelm does not mean you are failing. It often means you care deeply. This episode gently reminds mothers that peace is possible without perfection and that joy is reclaimed not by doing less, but by doing what matters most. If this conversation resonated, share it with a friend who needs permission to rest, refocus, and breathe again.

    47 min
  8. Bonus Episode: Managing Emotions For A More Peaceful Home

    12/22/2025

    Bonus Episode: Managing Emotions For A More Peaceful Home

    You can have the most beautifully organized home, the most efficient schedule, and all the best systems in place—but if your mind is in chaos, it will eventually spill into every area of your life. In this episode, we dive into the power of emotions—what they are, how they shape our actions, and why resisting or numbing them only makes things worse.. However you tend to buffer your feelings, you’ll learn how to shift into emotional adulthood—where you can respond rather than react and create a more peaceful, empowered life. Key Takeaways: Emotions Are Energy in Motion: Understanding that emotions are meant to move through us rather than be suppressed or feared. The Creation Cycle: How our thoughts shape our feelings, which then drive our actions and ultimately determine our results. Breaking the Three B’s: The dangers of bottling (suppressing), brooding (overthinking), and buffering (numbing) our emotions—and what to do instead. Emotional Childhood vs. Adulthood: Learning to take responsibility for your emotions rather than blaming circumstances or other people. Practical Steps to Process Emotions: Strategies like identifying feelings, allowing them to move through you, and choosing empowering emotions that align with the life you want to create. Resources Mentioned: Visit www.thefeastlife.me/blog/67  for additional resources and links Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in  Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews. Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW Connect with Us: Website: A Gentle Feast  Instagram: @agentlefeast Prefer video or closed captions? Watch all our episodes on YouTube. http://youtube.com/@TheFeastLife  Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com.

    40 min
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About

Welcome to 'The Homeschool Feast' podcast, where we empower modern moms to design a life and homeschool they truly love. Join us as we explore the art of creating a lifestyle founded on the values of family, freedom, and FUN. Our episodes are packed with inspirational stories, practical tips, and expert insights to help you embark on a homeschooling journey that not only educates your children, but also enriches your life. Join Julie Ross, creator of the homeschool curriculum A Gentle Feast and certified life coach, to discover how you can make everyday moments a celebration of learning, love, and laughter. If you need help escaping survival mode and want to create a thriving life and homeschool- Pull up a chair, you are welcome at this table! Find out more at thehomeschoolfeast.com

Information

  • Creator
    thehomeschoolfeast.com
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    114
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Homeschool Feast

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