The Unschool Space

Esther Jones
  • 4.8 (18)
  • Education
  • Updated Semimonthly

Unschooling isn't just about education, it's a life choice! For most parents, embracing unschooling requires some serious unravelling of old paradigms around parenting, learning and childhood, and that can be both challenging and exhilarating. Join me, Esther Jones, a mindful parenting coach and unschooling mother-of-three, as I take a look at the many opportunities for reflection that naturally arise in an unschooling home. Each episode, I chat with other parents about their family’s  experiences. From self-care, neurodiversity and mindfulness, to how to live consensually and trust our children, this podcast is here to help parents navigate the everyday challenges so they're free to create a healthy, nourishing and enriching space for themselves and their family. Thanks for listening!Join my mailing for regular offerings and updates at: www.esther-jones.comor get in touch with me at: contact@esther-jones.com.Instagram: @_esther.jonesFacebook:@theunschoolspace

  1. 1h ago

    #111 Calling us home to our truth, with Olivia Roff, Sussex, UK

    My guest today is Olivia Roff who lives in Sussex with her husband and two children, who are 10 and 5, and both neurodivergent. Olivia had wanted to try home educating some years ago, but wasn’t able to. She talks about how it feels to finally jump into it, the joy of seeing her daughter start to flourish again, and the realisation that she has always been an unschooling parent. I hope you enjoy the conversation! Connect with Olivia https://www.instagram.com/mystical_birthing https://www.facebook.com/share/1DJvVngxfs/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://linktr.ee/oliviaroff If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you! The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at: www.esther-jones.com Or, connect with me on Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estherjones.beyondschool Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace

  2. Jul 22

    #110 The lifelong journey of living and learning, with May Ling Thomas in London, UK

    My guest in this episode is May Ling Thomas. May Ling lives in London with her husband and two daughters, who are 13 and 10, and who have always been unschooled. May Ling came across the idea of unschooling when her oldest was still a baby, and it felt a natural fit with how she and her husband wanted to raise their children. We talk about what this all looks like and, of course, all the unlearning we have to do. I hope you enjoy the conversation. Connect with May Ling: https://www.maylingthomas.com/ May Ling co-organises the Freedom to Learn forum, which will take place August 13th-17th in the Peak District, UK. See the links below for more information and to book your ticket.  Tickets: https://dandelion.events/e/c27is Website https://www.freedomtolearn.uk/ If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you! The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at: www.esther-jones.com Or, connect with me on Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estherjones.beyondschool Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace

  3. Jul 8

    #109 Helping teenagers find their path beyond school, with Dr Naomi Fisher, UK

    Today I am joined by Naomi Fisher, a child psychologist and parent of two unschooled teenagers. So, we are talking about the teenage years and how hard it can be particularly for those young people who have left the school system after some stress and difficult experiences. Naomi tells us about her soon-to-be-published book, The Teenager's Guide to Taking Control of Your Education: Learning Beyond School. And we talk about what parents can do to help their teenagers reconnect with themselves and their interests and feel more empowered in their learning and their lives beyond school. Join Naomi's online book launch on Saturday July 18th! https://naomifisher.co.uk/ If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you! The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at: www.esther-jones.com Or, connect with me on Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estherjones.beyondschool Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace

    #109 Helping teenagers find their path beyond school, with Dr Naomi Fisher, UK

  4. Jun 24

    #108 Living in partnership with our young people, with Meghan Suniga-Davies in Austin, Texas

    In this episode I am joined by Meghan Suniga-Davies. Meghan has three unschooled children who are now all teens and young adults and she also has extensive experience working with young people in self-directed learning spaces. We talk about her family’s journey to unschooling and her particular deschooling journey. And we talk about what it means to live in partnership with our young people and prioritise our relationship, particularly when they are feeling challenged by something. I hope you enjoy the conversation! About Meghan Meghan is a born and raised Austinite partnered with adult and teen unschoolers, a long time youth rights advocate, community builder and facilitator of alternative programming to conventional school. She has worked with youth for over 15 years and is passionate about youth liberation, promoting autonomy, self-directed education and anti-oppression through collaborative exploration of the city.  She supports  adults moving away from control and toward partnership in both education and relationships. She believes empowering youth in collaborative decision-making within the community paves the way for a future where the personhood of all youth are not reduced to "adults in training" but recognized as fully capable of contributing meaningfully to society.  She has been involved with the unschooling community for more than a decade.  The Alliance for Self-Directed Education and  Mosaic  are organizations she’s been a part of where she brings energy and momentum around  making SDE more accessible to people around the world!  atxflyingsquad.com  itsjusmeghan.com If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you! The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at: www.esther-jones.com Or, connect with me on Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estherjones.beyondschool Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace

    #108 Living in partnership with our young people, with Meghan Suniga-Davies in Austin, Texas

  5. Jun 10

    #107 Tending the relationship and tending ourselves, with Megan Arevalo in Michigan, US

    In this episode, I am chatting with Megan Arevalo, who lives in Michigan with her husband and two children, who are three and eight. After initially homeschooling, Megan came to unschooling after her daughter’s burnout, when she realised she needed to focus entirely on connection and wellbeing. Megan talks about the subsequent autism diagnoses and her own path from feeling like she had to hold everything together to understanding her own neurodivergence. And we talk about what it looks like to embrace connection over control, let go of perfectionism, and keep learning from our children. I hope you enjoy the conversation.  Connect with Megan: https://megantarevalo.substack.com/ If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you! The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at: www.esther-jones.com Or, connect with me on Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estherjones.beyondschool Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace

    #107 Tending the relationship and tending ourselves, with Megan Arevalo in Michigan, US

  6. May 26

    #106 Navigating the recovery from burnout, with Carey Kirkella in New York City

    In this episode, I am chatting with Carey Kirkella who lives with her husband and eight-year-old son in New York City. They came to unschooling after her son had many struggles at pre-K then in Kindergarten. Though on the outside he seemed to be doing fine, Carey saw how he was becoming more anxious and stressed and had increasing sensory issues.  Carey shares how her son is doing now and how their lives look, along with all the challenges that come with accompanying a child as they recover from burnout, and how that impacts her too. I hope you enjoy the conversation! Connect with Carey instagram.com LinkedIn www.careykirkella.com If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you! The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at: www.esther-jones.com Or, connect with me on Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estherjones.beyondschool Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace

    #106 Navigating the recovery from burnout, with Carey Kirkella in New York City

  7. May 12

    #105 Community, trust and growth—two self-directed learners’ experiences, with Victor and Eitan of Alcove Learning, Los Angeles

    Today’s episode is a little different as I am chatting with Victor and Eitan, who are 16 and 15 and attend Alcove Learning, a self-directed learning space in LA. They both came to Alcove after many years in public school, and after some mental health struggles. It was really such a joy to talk with them about what it has meant to them to have choice and agency over what they do in their days, and to be part of a supportive community that places wellbeing above all else. They really have so many wonderful and thoughtful insights to share. I hope you enjoy the conversation!  https://www.alcovelearning.org/ If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you! The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at: www.esther-jones.com Or, connect with me on Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estherjones.beyondschool Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace

    #105 Community, trust and growth—two self-directed learners’ experiences, with Victor and Eitan of Alcove Learning, Los Angeles

  8. Apr 29

    #104 Trusting in the teen years, with Munira Adenwalla in London

    In this episode I am chatting with Munira Adenwalla, who is an occupational therapist and lives in London with her 14-year-old son. Munira realised when her son was young that school would not be a good fit for him. We talk about how our school conditioning runs deep and the worries that can come when we step away from it. And Munira tells us what unschooling looks like for her son, and how in hindsight she can see how his particular path has unfolded as he has followed his interests. We also talk about why unschooling allows neurodivergent children far more space to understand themselves and to forge a path that feels right for them.  Connect with Munira FB page: https://www.facebook.com/ot4kidswithmunira Parents' FB Group: www.facebook.com/groups/helpingkidswrite Website: https://www.ot4kids.co.uk If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you! The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at: www.esther-jones.com Or, connect with me on Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estherjones.beyondschool Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace

    #104 Trusting in the teen years, with Munira Adenwalla in London
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4.8
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Unschooling isn't just about education, it's a life choice! For most parents, embracing unschooling requires some serious unravelling of old paradigms around parenting, learning and childhood, and that can be both challenging and exhilarating. Join me, Esther Jones, a mindful parenting coach and unschooling mother-of-three, as I take a look at the many opportunities for reflection that naturally arise in an unschooling home. Each episode, I chat with other parents about their family’s  experiences. From self-care, neurodiversity and mindfulness, to how to live consensually and trust our children, this podcast is here to help parents navigate the everyday challenges so they're free to create a healthy, nourishing and enriching space for themselves and their family. Thanks for listening!Join my mailing for regular offerings and updates at: www.esther-jones.comor get in touch with me at: contact@esther-jones.com.Instagram: @_esther.jonesFacebook:@theunschoolspace

Information

  • Creator
    Esther Jones
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Unschool Space
  • Show Website
    The Unschool Space

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