Self Directed

The Conrad Family
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Self Directed

Self Directed - A Podcast on Life, Learning, and Raising Free Thinkers. Hosts Cecilie and Jesper Conrad, full-time travellers since 2018 and parents of four, invite a new guest on the podcast every Thursday.

  1. 111: Anne Kirketerp | Craft Psychology: The Link Between Crafting & Wellbeing

    2D AGO

    111: Anne Kirketerp | Craft Psychology: The Link Between Crafting & Wellbeing

    Send us a text The moment you carve, knit, bake or start folding paper, something remarkable happens in your brain. The anxious spiral of thoughts quiets, stress hormones recede, and you enter a state that Dr. Anne Kirketerp calls "meaningful self-forgetfulness." Dr. Anne Kirketerp is a psychologist, researcher, and craftsperson who pioneered Craft Psychology—the study of how hands-on creative activities impact mental well-being. With a background in both psychology and craftsmanship, she ha...

    1h 13m
  2. 110: Asger Leth | Beyond the 9 to 5 – Finding Freedom & Creating a Space for Deep Conversations & Real Connections

    MAR 5

    110: Asger Leth | Beyond the 9 to 5 – Finding Freedom & Creating a Space for Deep Conversations & Real Connections

    Send us a text What does it mean to truly connect in a world that’s becoming more digital by the day? Asger Leth is a Danish filmmaker, writer, and creative visionary known for his documentary and feature filmmaking work. He gained international recognition for Ghosts of Cité Soleil (2006), a gripping documentary set in Haiti, and later directed the Hollywood thriller Man on a Ledge (2012). Asger has spent years living and working globally with a background deeply rooted in storytelling and c...

    1h 7m
  3. 109: Dennis Nørmark | Are We Really Free? Pseudo-Work & Unfreedom: How Work & Society Keep Us Trapped

    FEB 26

    109: Dennis Nørmark | Are We Really Free? Pseudo-Work & Unfreedom: How Work & Society Keep Us Trapped

    Send us a text Much of modern work is defined by routine, efficiency targets, and the need to appear productive. But how much of it is actually necessary? Dennis Nørmark, Danish anthropologist, author, and speaker, argues that a significant part of today’s work culture is built on pseudo-work—tasks that maintain appearances rather than create real value. As the co-author of Pseudo-Work: How We Ended Up Being Busy Doing Nothing, he examines why unnecessary work persists and how it shapes our p...

    57 min
  4. 108: Manisha Snoyer | Unschooling, Community & Rethinking Education

    FEB 19

    108: Manisha Snoyer | Unschooling, Community & Rethinking Education

    Send us a text Traditional education often fails to nurture curiosity, creativity, and deep engagement. In this episode, we explore a different path—one that is flexible, self-directed, and built around each child’s unique interests. We discuss homeschooling, unschooling, and modular education, breaking down how families can step away from rigid school structures and embrace learning that feels natural and meaningful. Our guest, Manisha Snoyer, is an entrepreneur, educator, and founder of Mod...

    1h 2m
  5. 107: Jessica Joelle Alexander | Danish Parenting Secrets: Raising Happy & Confident Kids

    FEB 12

    107: Jessica Joelle Alexander | Danish Parenting Secrets: Raising Happy & Confident Kids

    Send us a text What makes Danish parenting unique, and how does it raise happy, resilient kids? In this episode, we talk with Jessica Joelle Alexander, bestselling author of The Danish Way of Parenting, about Denmark’s highly regarded child-rearing approach. The Danish approach to raising children is shaped by principles from Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig (1783–1872), a Danish pastor, philosopher, and educator who emphasized personal formation ("Dannelse") as equally important as academi...

    1h 28m
  6. 106: Essie Richards | Breaking Free: Unschooling and Reimagining Education in the UK

    FEB 5

    106: Essie Richards | Breaking Free: Unschooling and Reimagining Education in the UK

    Send us a text How can unschooling create a safe and empowering educational path for children? In this episode, we talk with Essie Richards about her transformative journey from traditional schooling to unschooling in rural Cornwall, UK. Essie shares how her family chose this path after her son faced bullying, leading them to embrace self-directed education as a way to foster curiosity, confidence, and emotional well-being. Our conversation delves into the principles of unschooling, focusing ...

    1h 1m
  7. 105: Sugata Mitra | How Learning Emerges Naturally Through Self-Organizing Systems

    JAN 29

    105: Sugata Mitra | How Learning Emerges Naturally Through Self-Organizing Systems

    Send us a text Sugata Mitra is a renowned educational researcher and innovator best known for his revolutionary "Hole in the Wall" experiment, which demonstrated the incredible capacity of children to teach themselves when provided with access to technology. A TED Prize winner and creator of the "School in the Cloud," Sugata’s work challenges traditional educational systems and advocates for self-organized and emergent learning as the future of education. After a lighthearted opening about we...

    1h 8m
  8. 104: Dola Dasgupta | Unschooling in India: Embracing Choice and Navigating Challenges

    JAN 22

    104: Dola Dasgupta | Unschooling in India: Embracing Choice and Navigating Challenges

    Send us a text How does homeschooling fit into India’s diverse cultural and educational landscape? In this episode, Dola Dasgupta shares her perspective on the challenges and freedoms of homeschooling and unschooling in a country where formal education is highly valued. We examine the legal uncertainties, cultural factors, and personal decisions that lead families to choose alternative education. The conversation explores unschooling as a lifestyle focused on personal growth and curiosity, by...

    47 min
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Self Directed - A Podcast on Life, Learning, and Raising Free Thinkers. Hosts Cecilie and Jesper Conrad, full-time travellers since 2018 and parents of four, invite a new guest on the podcast every Thursday.

Information

  • Channel
    The Conrad Family
  • Creator
    Cecilie & Jesper Conrad
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 TheConrad.Family
  • Show Website
    Self Directed

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