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[Podcast #299] Would You Let a Chatbot Homeschool Your Child?
Do you ever wonder what’s at stake when we hand over our children’s education to automation and AI?
In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we explore how the rise of influencer-driven resources and tech-powered learning tools is reshaping homeschooling—and what we risk losing when we outsource the most human parts of education.
We discuss:
- why real learning thrives on meaningful connection,
- hands-on experiences,
- and the expertise of educators and parents who care deeply about kids, not just content.
As homeschooling changes, let’s remember to center our children’s education on relationships, shared adventures, and the joy of learning together.
Show Notes
Recently, the homeschooling landscape has been transforming at a dizzying pace. Gone are the days when the core of home education was built on the vision, commitment, and daily involvement of parents. Instead, we see a new wave of influencer-driven, affiliate-marketed resources—and now, the encroachment of AI-powered learning tools promising to teach our children for us.
The Shift from Community to Commodity
Not so long ago, homeschooling meant seeking out the wisdom of real educators and passionate parents. We read thoughtful blog reviews, weighed the merits of various curricula, and engaged in robust debates about educational philosophy. The focus was always on our children’s unique personalities and the adventure of learning together.
Today, much of that has been eclipsed by a rapid, influencer-fueled affiliate culture. Homeschooling resources are promoted in quick, soundbite formats, and the lines between thoughtful review and advertising have blurred. Social media is awash with sponsored content and programs designed to sell—not necessarily to educate.
This commodification of home education has left some parents feeling lost. We see families looking for shortcuts—solutions that require less direct involvement. The rise of AI tutors and automated programs seems to answer that call, promising personalized, tireless instruction without demanding much from the parent. But is that really what we want for our children?
What We Lose When We Hand Off the Human Element
The true heart of homeschooling is relational, not transactional. The greatest educational gains don’t come from outsourcing to an algorithm, but from the day-to-day adventure of learning together as a family. It’s the shared jokes, spontaneous science lessons at the kitchen sink, reading aloud on the couch, or the comfort of a parent’s encouragement after a tough day. These are the memories and connections that shape not just a child’s education, but their sense of self and belonging.
AI can be a useful tool—it can drill math facts, organize schedules, or help find resources quickly. But it cannot replicate the irreplaceable magic of human connection: a parent noticing the spark in a child’s eye, adapting a lesson on the fly, or celebrating small wins with a hug. We believe that education is a life, not just a checklist of subjects completed.
The Value of Expert Voices and Shared Wisdom
When we support resources created by experienced educators and passionate parents, we invest in the richness of our children’s learning experience. These small businesses may not have the marketing muscle of tech giants, but their offerings are shaped by real-world experience and a genuine love of learning. Let’s continue to champion companies whose expertise and values align with our own.
A Call to Meaningful Connection
As homeschooling continues to evolve, let’s not lose sight of what drew many of us to it in the first place: the joy of learning together, the freedom to explore, and the deep bonds we build with our children. AI and automation will never replace the life-giving, relationship-driven heart of home education.
Resources
- Brave Learner Home: https://bravewriter.com/brave-learner-home
- Fall class registration is open!
- Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing!
- Check out Julie’s new author website: juliebogartwriter.com
- Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters: Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic
- Try out our Brave Writer Practice Pages
- Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
- Read all Brave Writer class descriptions
- Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
- Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
- Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
Connect with Julie
- Instagram: @juliebravewriter
- Threads: @juliebravewriter
- Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter
Connect with Melissa
- Website: melissawiley.com
- Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
- Instagram: @melissawileybooks
- Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social
Produced by NOVA
9 Ways You Get in Your Own Way
A little reminder to be present.
Ways You Get in Your Own Way:
- Enforcing a program you don’t like
- Yelling
- Overbooking a day’s activities
- Forgetting to plan a meal and snacks
- Not following through
- Losing your sense of humor
- Relying on your kids to be in a good mood
- Not trusting your curiosity and intuition
- Thinking about tomorrow more than today
Which one is your achilles heel?
This post is originally from Instagram and @juliebravewriter is my account there so come follow along for more conversations like this one!
Brave Learning: Home-learning
Recently on Brave Learning…
Home-learning
Let’s change the name from homeschooling to home-learning.
I’m all for innovation! We’ve got micro schools, online classes, and a huge array of co-op options in the homeschool space. Homeschooling is having a moment!
In this big shift, I want to be sure we remember one of the golden purposes of home education: we’re not just moving the location of the education, we’re also changing how that education is experienced by the child.
This morning I stumbled on an article I used as research for one of my books. It’s an academic paper studying the effects of play and joy on learning in Finland. One of the initial assertions is that “emotions in the school world have been studied surprisingly little.” Anxiety and negative emotions get some attention, but happiness? Forget about it.
Yet joy, it turns out, is tied to a child’s experience of success. Joy in learning is the subject of this paper.
My tag line, “Joy is the best teacher” is validated by the research! [Keep reading]
Subscribe to Brave Learning on Substack where we chat, discuss, problem-solve, and create together. Here’s what you can expect: weekly themed content, freewriting prompts, and a podcast for kiddos called Monday Morning Meeting (first 6 are free)!
[Podcast #298] Wise Effort with Diana Hill
Have you ever felt exhausted from giving your all, yet still worried you aren’t doing enough?
In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we’re joined by Dr. Diana Hill, clinical psychologist, podcast host, and author of Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most. Diana shares her refreshing, science-based approach to reclaiming our natural strengths and using our “genius energy” wisely, rather than trying to fix ourselves or do more.
We explore:
- how our gifts can sometimes get off track,
- why honoring paradox and values leads to better solutions,
- and how building wise habits starts with small moments of self-awareness.
Diana’s wisdom encourages us to embrace interdependence and resilience, transforming not just ourselves but our communities.
Listen to the full episode for more practical strategies and inspiration from Diana Hill on how to bring wise effort—and more joy—into your family and life.
Show Notes
A New Approach to Genius Energy
Diana Hill challenges the cultural obsession with self-improvement. Rather than suggesting we “fix” ourselves, she encourages us to notice and honor the unique “genius energy” already present in each of us—those qualities and strengths that come naturally, whether it’s emotional sensitivity, persistence, idea generation, or being a calming presence. Her approach blends psychological science with a touch of the mystical, encouraging us to see our personalities not as problems to be solved but as gifts to be directed with wisdom.
When Our Gifts Go Off Track
One of Diana’s key insights is that our greatest strengths are often double-edged swords. That genius quality—be it creativity, responsibility, or drive—can help us flourish, but when we overuse or misuse it, we risk burnout and disconnection. Diana outlines how our genius can go off track: when we get stuck in old stories about ourselves, when we use our strengths to avoid discomfort, or when we cling too tightly to familiar roles and routines. The solution is not to abandon these gifts but to become more skillful and flexible in their use.
Embracing Paradox, Prioritizing Values
Through her Wise Effort podcast and writing, Diana encourages us to welcome the paradoxes of life. We can hold multiple values at once—creativity and order, solitude and connection, responsibility and rest. Instead of treating these as conflicts to be resolved, she guides us to experiment and reflect, finding creative solutions that align with our values and our family’s needs. Sometimes, as Diana shares from her own homeschooling experience, that means brainstorming ways to honor both a child’s creative messiness and a parent’s need for calm, perhaps by moving the activity outside or creating new routines together.
Building Wise Habits, Moment by Moment
Diana’s “wise habits” framework is a refreshing alternative to traditional habit advice. Rather than rigid routines, she focuses on “choice points”—those moments when we notice ourselves drifting from our values. By pausing and checking in with our inner awareness (what Diana calls the “heart-mind”), we can make small, compassionate shifts that lead to more meaningful, regenerative effort.
The Beauty of Interdependence
Perhaps Diana’s most powerful message is the importance of interdependence. Drawing on ideas from Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, she reminds us that resilience and growth come from our connections with friends, family, and community. When we seek help, offer support, and allow others to shine in their genius, we all thrive.
Through Diana Hill’s lens of wise effort, we’re invited to move beyond exhaustion and perfectionism, discovering more joy, creativity, and connection in our daily lives. Her work is a timely reminder that our energy is precious, and when directed with wisdom, it can transform both ourselves and those we love.
Resources
- Learn more on Diana’s website: https://drdianahill.com/
- Check out Diane’s books: https://drdianahill.com/books/
- Find Wise Effort and How to Love the World at the Brave Writer Bookshop
- Brave Learner Home: https://bravewriter.com/brave-learner-home
- Fall class registration is open!
- Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing!
- Check out Julie’s new author website: juliebogartwriter.com
- Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters: Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic
- Try out our Brave Writer Practice Pages
- Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
- Read all Brave Writer class descriptions
- Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
- Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
- Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
Connect with Julie
- Instagram: @juliebravewriter
- Threads: @juliebravewriter
- Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter
Connect with Melissa
- Website: melissawiley.com
- Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
- Instagram: @melissawileybooks
- Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social
Produced by NOVA
Small Doses of Delight
You’re child won’t fall in love with every subject. You won’t manage to make all learning magical. If you and your kids discover the beauty in a single subject at any point in time, you’ve shown your child how to find it for themselves.
You don’t have to turn every aspect of childhood into an enchanted experience.
- Sometimes you swing and you miss.
- Sometimes your energy fails.
- Sometimes you can’t find the angle.
Not to worry.
Once in a while, if you set the intention to make learning meaningful and you manage to bathe the subject in a little whimsy or surprise, your kids will learn how to do that for themselves.
Small doses of delight in learning lead to powerful educations that sustain kids for a lifetime!
You’ve got this!
This post is originally from Instagram and @juliebravewriter is my account there so come follow along for more conversations like this one!
