46 episodes

on this podcast you will hear from the host, Meghan and other real life unschoolers and homeschoolers on a range of topics around self directed education and living without school. this is not a “how -to” with experts but the lived experiences and some of the more nuanced and intersectional experiences in the unschooling and homeschooling community.

The Unschool Files Meghan

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 16 Ratings

on this podcast you will hear from the host, Meghan and other real life unschoolers and homeschoolers on a range of topics around self directed education and living without school. this is not a “how -to” with experts but the lived experiences and some of the more nuanced and intersectional experiences in the unschooling and homeschooling community.

    2.5 finding their self at ALC NYC with Mel Compo

    2.5 finding their self at ALC NYC with Mel Compo

    in the 5th episode of season 2, a series on SDE spaces and the tools and frameworks they use to meet the unique needs of their communities; Meghan chatted with Mel Compo about Agile Learning Centers and their beautiful story of partnering with youth, finding their self and belonging at ALC New York.



    About Agile Learning Centers: agilelearningcenters.org

    ALF Trainings: alf.agilelearningcenters.org

    • 1 hr 25 min
    2.4 changing the culture with Zena Democratic School

    2.4 changing the culture with Zena Democratic School

    in episode 4 of the community care series, Meghan spoke with two people from Zena Democratic School (formerly Hudson Valley Sudbury School) and the conversation is a MASSIVE 2+ hour episode! they talk all about the Sudbury model as a staff member and student, you get a clear understanding of the model as it was first practiced in the original Sudbury Valley School and the ways the Zena has made shifts.  they discuss several topics deeply, really try to offer balance drop some f bombs and definitely have a lot of fun! they even tackle giving kids the vote! Its a good listen and worth the time, even if you have to break it up in chunks.

    e-mail Charlie at 22morsec@gmail.com is you wanna have a juicy convo about anything he mentioned
    find Zena Democratic School here
    https://www.zenademocraticschool.org
    information on and from the original Sudbury Valley School 
    ⁠https://sudburyvalley.org/theory⁠
    article Charlie mentioned on Sudbury Schools and Neo Liberal Ideology
    https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1478210315610256
    second article charlie mentioned from Tipping Points
    https://www.self-directed.org/tp/the-first-prison/
    Register to Vote in the US here
    https://vote.gov
    Exploring Children's Suffrage- Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Ageless Voting
    https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-14541-4
    Check out the Children's Voting Colloquium
    https://www.childrenvoting.org

    Find all of Meghan's work on theunschoolfiles.com! please take a second to head over to Patreon.com/theunschoolfiles to partner with Meghan on all the work she does.

    • 2 hr 19 min
    2.3 fusing tools and frameworks with Cassidy Younghans

    2.3 fusing tools and frameworks with Cassidy Younghans

    in episode 3 of the series on Community Care within SDE, meghan spoke with Cassidy Younghans. Cassidy speaks about her extensive time interning in various SDE spaces across models and her takeaways that have shaped Wild Roots Learning Community. they cover so many aspect of being in community and even start brainstorming and dreaming up ideas!

    •Find Cassidy at Cassidyyounghans.com
    •Help me get better recording equipment and fund more episodes by partnering with me at Patreon.com/theunschoolfiles
    •Get your copy of Issue 5 of The Unschool Files Community Zine at theunschoolfiles.com/zine

    • 54 min
    2.2 be colleague to young people with Alexander Khost

    2.2 be colleague to young people with Alexander Khost

    in episode 2 of season 2, meghan shares a conversation she had with Alexander Khost after his reading of his article, (Self- Directed) Education is a Political Act for episode 1 - they discuss so much that the chat went well over an hour! tune in to hear a big discussion about, the way society sees children, youth rights, and some nuances that may have been missed around the way education of all flavors and types does infact shape a young persons political lens in our geopolitical world. we tie our conversation together with the ask that other adults see young people as colleagues. 
    Email Alex at AKHOST@gmail.com
    You can find Alex’s writing on, tipping points https://www.self-directed.org/tp/education-is-a-political-act/
    Head to theunschoolfiles.com  to join meghan in community and find resources and other exciting things! 
    partner with her over at patreon.com/theunschoolfiles to support the work they do!

    • 1 hr 31 min
    2.1 self-directed education is a political act

    2.1 self-directed education is a political act

    it's season 2 of The Unschool Files Podcast!
    this series of episodes is dedicated to Self-Directed Education and Community Care - each episode will feature conversations with facilitators, young people, parents, teachers turned SDE practitioners + youth rights advocates on how their centers, schools and co-ops are meeting the unique needs of their communities. we will hear conversations that cover everything from how they make decisions, handle conflict and provide a space for autonomous learning with a focus on community care, and everyone's needs being met. we will be stepping out of theory and into practice.
    the first episode of season 2 is unique, as it is broken in two parts. part 1 is an accessible reading of an article by Alexander Khost, Self- Directed Education is a Political Act, A look at the various current definitions of “freedom” in Self-Directed Education, their historic roots, and their correlation to political ideologies. published in Tipping Points Magazine in January of 2020
    Link to the article here: https://www.self-directed.org/tp/education-is-a-political-act/
    you can find meghan at theunschoolfiles.com
    Become a Patron for as little as $1 patreon.com/theunschoolfiles to help support this work

    • 25 min
    1.40 reverse planning with Andria

    1.40 reverse planning with Andria

    in this conversation with Andria of The Humorous Homeschooler on Tik Tok, we talk about her journey from sex Ed school teacher to this unschoolish, reverse planning, tik tok bestie that she is!
    she talks about attempting to use classroom management style tools to implement pandemic homeschooling for her young people. her self described “neuro spicy" family could not function in that way, but did need rhythm and routine. they also still need to do mandatory reporting - in comes the tool she shares of REVERSE PLANNING! so cool, and a great way to still partner with your young people to spend their days how they want and also find the ways that they are engaging with materials and play that you can later categorize into subjects to meet the state requirements.
    -> Find Andria on Tik Tok and Instagram @thehumoroushomeschooler

    • 1 hr 6 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
16 Ratings

16 Ratings

Sloucks ,

Amazing conversations

I am loving everything about this podcast. The way that the interviewer speaks with such enthusiasm for learning differently in the world, questions that are being asked and the way we are being invited to question how we’re going to bring everyone forward with us. Thank you for creating this resource in the world

Stinky dragon ,

The Unschool Files delivers

I'm so glad to have found this podcast. Meghan offers a compelling entry point into the practice of unschooling. From the first episode she describes foundational concepts in a compassionate and relatable way.
A great listen for new and seasoned unschoolers.

HopiedaBear ,

Resonating

ohhhh all the things you are saying are being echoed here. I don't define our schooling journey as unschool but we are all homeschoolers so we are in the same proverbial boat together. I think its good to remind ourselves we are TOGETHER no matter where we are on that schooling journey! I love hearing the thoughts and refections that you've poured into this podcast. All i can say is GIVE ME MORE!

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