The Ultimate Homeschool Community Podcast

ultimatehomeschool

Welcome to The Ultimate Homeschool Community Podcast where you will learn about all things homeschool! You will enjoy interviews with new and veteran homeschool moms as well as coaches, artists, authors, non-profits and other co-op founders and creators. We will be sharing what it takes to start your own homeschool community group as well as, tips and tricks for your own family homeschool journey. Homeschooling is tough but when you have a village to support you, it enriches your entire family experience.

  1. 2d ago

    The Conversations We Can’t Avoid: Preparing Kids for Relationships, Digital Safety & Healthy Choices with Teri White

    **Share and Subscribe** In This Episode, We Discuss: * Why parents shouldn’t wait for difficult situations before starting important conversations * Sexual risk avoidance and age-appropriate relationship education * Helping children navigate digital safety and online influences * Creating opportunities for open communication between parents and children * Using conversation starters when you don’t know what to say * Incorporating trauma-informed principles into sensitive discussions * How AIM progresses from elementary through high school * Using the curriculum in homeschools, co-ops, Christian schools, and churches * Equipping children to make thoughtful, healthy choices as they grow About Teri White:  Teri White is the author of Acknowledging Integrity Matters (AIM), a Sexual Risk Avoidance program for preteens, teenagers, and young adults — now available in versions for schools, homeschool families, and churches. A Certified SRA Specialist, Life Coach, and Trauma-Informed Care Coach, Teri's teaching experience includes public and private school classrooms as well as homeschooling her own children. She currently serves as an SRA educator, trainer, and private coach with The Still Waters Counseling group, coaching teens and adults nationwide, and is passionate about helping people of all ages understand their God-given value and worth. Teri has been married to her husband, David, for 36 years. They have raised three children and enjoy their new role as grandparents to one granddaughter. Website link: https://stillwaterslife.com/counselors/teri-white   Social Media Links: • Personal Facebook: facebook.com/teri.p.white.9 • AIM Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/994337828938426 • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/teri-white-85771026a • Personal Instagram: instagram.com/teripickardwhite • AIM Instagram: instagram.com/aim_for_integrity   Connect with The Ultimate Homeschool Community:  https://linktr.ee/ultimatehomeschool

  2. Oct 9

    Student Leadership and mindset training at home with Matthew Arua

    Like share and subscribe!!!  This podcast episode featured Matthew from Upbeat Global discussing leadership and mindset development for homeschooling families. Matthew, a professor and former public school teacher, shared his journey from transforming a toxic high school band program through student leadership to founding Upbeat Global, which helps high-performing individuals move from exhaustion to energization. He explained his "Upbeat" philosophy, which focuses on choosing positive attitudes and focusing on what can be created rather than what's wrong, and introduced the GET principle (Gratitude, Enthusiasm, Treasure) to help shift perspectives on daily tasks from "have to do" to "get to do." Matthew discussed practical applications for parents and students, including his leadership workbook. About Our Guest: Dr. Matthew Arau is a speaker, author, conductor, and the founder and CEO of Upbeat Global. For more than 30 years, he has helped educators, parents, and leaders shatter limiting beliefs, move from exhausted to energized, and lead with confidence and joy. His bestselling book, Upbeat! Mindset, Mindfulness, and Leadership in Music Education and Beyond, is built on a simple idea: gratitude and joy create lasting change from the inside out. Matthew is an Associate Professor of Music Education and Symphonic Band Conductor at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. Before that, he spent fifteen years as a middle and high school band director in Loveland, Colorado, where he learned firsthand what it takes to build a positive culture where young people thrive. He has since led workshops and conducted honor bands in 42 states and on four continents. He lives in Neenah, Wisconsin, with his wife Merilee, a sugar glider named Flash, and two Dachshunds, Savannah and Eli. Links: Website: https://www.upbeatglobal.com/ Take the free G.E.T. Leadership Quiz https://powerofget.com/ Join the free Upbeat Leaders Skool Community https://www.skool.com/upbeat-leaders-7817/about Join the Upbeat! Leadership Academy Membership Group https://joinget.com/academy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthew.arau/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthew_arau/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-arau-92801346/ Purchase Matthew's Upbeat! book, leadership workbook, journal, and planner at: https://giamusic.com/upbeat and on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Matthew%2BArau&crid=1HBMMEXJXCZ23&sprefix=matthew%2Barau%2Caps%2C152&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

  3. Oct 2

    Can AI Actually Teach Your Child? Inside the Future of Personalized Learning with Bloomy

    **Share and Subscribe* So more families can find our resources!! AI is quickly becoming part of education—but can it actually help children learn without simply giving them the answers? In this episode of The Ultimate Homeschool Community Podcast, Tiffany sits down with Alex, a former teacher and creator of Bloomy, an AI-powered learning platform designed to personalize instruction in English, math, and writing. Alex shares how Bloomy uses diagnostic assessments to identify where a student is academically and then creates an individualized learning path that adapts as the student progresses. Tiffany and Alex also dig into some of the biggest questions parents have about AI in education, including accuracy, quality control, accommodations for different learners, and whether too much AI could interfere with critical thinking. The conversation also explores how personalized AI tools could fit into homeschooling, microschools, and co-ops while allowing educators and parents to remain actively involved in the learning process. Episode Highlights: How AI can create a more personalized learning experience How Bloomy identifies a student's starting point through diagnostic assessments Adapting lessons based on student performance and mastery Using AI to teach rather than simply give students answers Addressing concerns about AI accuracy and quality assurance Supporting different learning needs, including read-aloud accommodations How Bloomy approaches math, English, and writing instruction Aligning personalized learning with state academic standards The benefits and potential risks of bringing AI into education How AI-powered learning could support homeschools, microschools, and co-ops All About our Guest Alex Southmayd: Website link: bloomylearning.com/families Social media- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bloomy-yc-s26/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590258284564 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomylearning/ X: https://x.com/bloomylearning   Alex Southmayd is the Founder & CEO of Bloomy, which provides AI-powered K–12 curriculum for English Language Arts, math, and writing. He began his career as a 7th-grade ELA and writing teacher with Teach For America before joining Manhattan Prep, where he developed quantitative and verbal curriculum for the GRE and GMAT. Most recently, he served as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, where he led AI and digital transformation initiatives. Alex holds a bachelor's degree in Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought from Amherst College, a Master of Education from Boston University, and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Bloomy serves homeschool families and microschool leaders across the country, including Prenda and Apogee schools. Bloomy is also eligible for reimbursement in most states that provide ESAs. Bloomy is backed by Y Combinator, the founders of Clever, and the co-founder of Rocketship Public Schools. Find out more about The Ultimate Homeschool Community Podcast: https://linktr.ee/ultimatehomeschool

  4. Sep 3

    The Mom Balancing Act Is Exhausting—Here’s What to Do Instead - Shelley Mechette

    In this episode of The Ultimate Homeschool Community Podcast, I’m chatting with Shelley Mechette about something so many moms struggle with—the pressure to somehow balance it all. Motherhood, homeschooling, work, relationships, personal goals, and everything in between can leave us constantly trying to keep all the plates spinning. But what if balance isn’t actually the goal? Shelley encourages moms to throw the idea of the perfect balancing act out the window and instead focus on creating harmony—recognizing that different areas of our lives will need more of us in different seasons. We talk about releasing unrealistic expectations, becoming intentional about what deserves our attention, and creating rhythms that allow us to experience more peace instead of constantly feeling pulled in every direction. If you’ve been trying to “do it all” and wondering why you still feel overwhelmed, this conversation is an invitation to stop chasing balance and start building a life that works together in harmony.   Shelley Meche’tte  In'tl Speaker | Certified Coach | Best-selling Author | Mom-life Strategist  As Seen On: ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, FoxSoul, Peace of Mind  Grab Your FREE Gift: 7 PowHERful Ways to Fulfill Your Goals and be a GREAT Mom Too Contact: www.ShelleyMechette.com Email: Shelley@ShelleyMechette.com Book ME for Your Next Event  Shelley@ShelleyMechettel.com VIEW MY Speaker Reel   About The Ultimate Homeschool Community: https://linktr.ee/ultimatehomeschool Listen and Subscribe on YouTube! https://youtu.be/TjZy21hoMQA

  5. Aug 27

    When Kids Push Back: Why Buy-In Matters More Than Compliance With Deborah

    What if resistance isn’t defiance—but information? In this episode, we explore why true educational success requires more than getting kids to comply, and how parents can create greater buy-in by giving children meaningful choices, understanding what may be behind their resistance, and building an educational ecosystem where they can thrive. From homeschool and microschools to mentors, co-ops, community programs, and traditional schools, the goal isn’t finding the “perfect” model—it’s continually asking, “What does this child need to thrive right now?”  About Deborah: Deborah DeLisle is the founder of Regenerate Education Lab, where she helps families, educators, and schools create optimal learning environments that inspire curiosity, capability, and a lifelong love of learning. With more than 25 years of experience between public education, alternative education, nature-based learning, homeschooling support, and microschool and teacher tool development, Deborah believes that meaningful learning happens when children engage with the real world through authentic experiences, relationships, and purposeful work. She is currently helping launch Foothill Frolic Farm & Forest School in Kingsport, Tennessee, while also coaching homeschooling families and developing innovative tools that make project-based learning and educational documentation more accessible for educators. Leading a movement she calls:  Regenerate Education, her passion is helping adults rethink what education can be—not by adding more curriculum, but by intentionally designing environments where children naturally become curious, confident, capable, and deeply connected to both their communities and the natural world.  Free Resources: https://regen-lab-flow.base44.app/resources About The Ultimate Homeschool Community: https://linktr.ee/ultimatehomeschool

  6. Aug 20

    Is Technology Stealing Your Child’s Creativity? Building Confidence & Self-Belief in the Age of AI with Wylde Scott

    **SUBSCRIBE AND SHARE** Tiffany sits down with Wylde to explore how parents can raise creative, confident children in a world increasingly shaped by AI, gaming, and screens. They discuss balancing technology with real-world experiences, helping kids learn through failure, and intentionally building the self-belief they need to thrive. About Wylde Scott: Wylde Scott — A World of Imagination: https://www.wyldescott.com/ Literacy Non-Profit | The Imagination Project: https://imaginationproject.org/ check out our first episode about imagination: https://youtu.be/QY05BkFDWeE?si=ZI2dYPWfac-bWkFM About The Ultimate Homeschool Community plus FREE Resources! https://linktr.ee/ultimatehomeschool About our Podcast Partner the Homeschool Counseling Network: Kimberly Bennett, LPC, is a seasoned clinician (20+ years in professional counseling), a homeschool parent (8 years), a nonprofit leader, and the founder/CEO of the Homeschool Counseling Network, where she champions culturally responsive allied health, mental health, coaching, and consulting support for homeschooling families. The Homeschool Counseling Network is a national nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to homeschool‑friendly care by training professionals in cultural responsiveness, ethics, and best practices, and supporting families through advocacy, resources, and community education. HCN equips providers with specialized training and offers families practical tools, guidance, and a vetted directory of professionals who understand the homeschool experience. Website: www.homeschoolcounselingnetwork.com Homeschoolers' Mental Health Toolkit: https://www.homeschoolcounselingnetwork.com/mental-health-toolkit Find Mental Health Providers by Category - homeschool counseling network: https://www.homeschoolcounselingnetwork.com/categories

Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Ultimate Homeschool Community Podcast where you will learn about all things homeschool! You will enjoy interviews with new and veteran homeschool moms as well as coaches, artists, authors, non-profits and other co-op founders and creators. We will be sharing what it takes to start your own homeschool community group as well as, tips and tricks for your own family homeschool journey. Homeschooling is tough but when you have a village to support you, it enriches your entire family experience.