Wonderfully Human Podcast

Conversations about Waldorf education, homeschooling, childhood, parenting, and becoming...

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Join Waldorf teachers, Donovan Gay and Sarah Barrett, for conversations on childhood, education, homeschooling, parenting, and becoming.... wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com

3d ago

Episode 10: How Do I Help My Teen Find More Purpose and Meaning in Their Life?

How do we help our teenagers discover purpose and meaning in an increasingly distracted and self-absorbed world? In this episode, Sarah and Donovan explore why purpose can’t be handed to our children—it must be discovered through meaningful work, reflection, community, and authentic conversations. They discuss the importance of giving teens opportunities to serve others, limiting the pull of technology and social media, sharing our values without imposing them, and creating the space for young people to uncover the unique path that is truly their own.To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes. Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe
Sep 3

Episode 9: What is the Best Thing I Can Do for My Child Today?

In Episode 8, Sarah and Donovan offer guidance and practical advice on the next step a parent can take when striving to support their child. While there is not one right answer to this question, being present, spending creative time together, and supporting them in times of struggle are steps you can take today that are simple and carry a big impact. Parents are the artists, choosing thoughtfully from the “colors, materials, and forms” available to create the conditions for their child to flourish. To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes. Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe
Aug 27

Episode 8: How Can I Help My Child to Be More Resilient?

In episode 7, Sarah and Donovan discuss resilience as not something to teach as an idea but something children must acquire along the journey. How do we offer the conditions and environments that will encourage situations where they can acquire resilience? The conversation dives into aspects of will forces, inner steadiness, the child’s temperament, confidence, and risk as we explore answers to this question. ***** To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes. Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe
Aug 20

Episode 7: How to Support a Child with Anxiety

In episode 6, Sarah and Donovan offer insights and ideas for teaching and parenting children who experience anxiety. When we ask what children need, rather than what we should teach them, we help support their inner capacities for feeling safe and grounded in their body. We have the responsibility as parents and teachers to observe what each individual child needs to feel safe, healthy, and to feel a sense of belonging. We discuss using the extraordinary pedagogical tools of sleep, rhythm, working with one’s hands, and sometimes getting creative in our curriculum to help create balance in the body and mind. To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes. Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe
Aug 5

Episode 6: How Can I Support My Child in Becoming a Good Person (Part 2)

In Part 2, Sarah Barrett and Donovan Gay continue to explore how parents and teachers can support children’s moral capacities. They discuss how stories, imagination, festivals, and meaningful experiences contribute to a child’s moral development, and they reflect on how children learn through living pictures rather than lectures, how adolescence calls for empowerment, and the steady presence of the parent and teachers as worthy of imitation. ***** To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes. Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 31

Episode 5: How Can I Support My Child in Becoming a Good Person?

In this episode, Donovan Gay and Sarah Barrett explore how children develop character through stories, meaningful experiences, and an education that nurtures the whole human being. Together, they discuss the original vision of Waldorf education, the transformative power of storytelling, and how parents and teachers can help children grow into compassionate, thoughtful, and responsible adults. ************ To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes. Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 24

Episode 3 - How Can I Help My Children Uncover Their Gifts?

In this episode, Sarah Barrett and Donovan Gay explore what it really means to be “gifted,” why every child has multiple gifts, and how parents can create the conditions for those gifts to emerge. Together, they discuss the importance of keeping childhood full of exploration, resisting the urge to label children too early, and preparing them for a future filled with possibilities. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or homeschooler, this conversation will encourage you to see your child with fresh eyes—and perhaps discover gifts you hadn’t noticed before. ************ To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes. Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 24

Meet Donovan and Sarah

To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes. Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 24

Episode 2 - What Do Children Really Need?

In this episode, Sarah Barrett and Donovan Gay explore a deeper question: What creates the conditions where children can truly flourish? Together they discuss why a parent’s own inner work matters more than we often realize, the importance of meeting children according to their stage of development, and how rhythm, observation, trust, imaginative play, and meaningful work all nourish a child’s growth. They also explore why children are not projects to be optimized, but human beings who unfold in their own time—and why our role is not to rush that process, but to create the conditions where it can happen. Whether you’re a parent, homeschooler, teacher, or simply someone who cares deeply about children, this conversation offers a hopeful vision of education that begins not with curriculum, but with becoming. In this episode, you’ll discover: * Why your own personal growth is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. * How rhythm creates security and helps children flourish. * Why observation is one of the most powerful tools a parent or teacher can develop. * The role of trust in child development. * Why imaginative play, storytelling, and quiet work are essential—not optional. * How understanding child development changes the way we meet children every day. ************ To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes. Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 24

Episode 1 - What is Education Really For?

In the very first episode of Wonderfully Human, Donovan Gay and Sarah Barrett explore one of the biggest questions in education today. In this conversation, they will contemplate what it really means to educate a child and that perhaps education is about more than academic achievement. After all, the time of academic achievement for a young person is only a short portion of a lifespan. You’ll hear why freedom in thinking, imagination, resilience, creativity, and wisdom are important qualities to develop as we enter a new age of technological advancements, and how every child carries unique gifts waiting to be called forth rather than molded into generic expectations. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, homeschooler, or simply someone who cares deeply about children, this episode offers a hopeful vision of education—one that prepares young people to build meaningful, beautiful lives. Because perhaps the greatest purpose of education is not to produce successful students, but to help human beings become fully themselves. ************ To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes. Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

10 Episodes

Join Waldorf teachers, Donovan Gay and Sarah Barrett, for conversations on childhood, education, homeschooling, parenting, and becoming.... wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com

Creator

Conversations about Waldorf education, homeschooling, childhood, parenting, and becoming...
Years Active

2026
Episodes

10
Rating

Clean
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© Wonderfully Human Podcast
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Wonderfully Human Podcast