Archive for the ‘Podcasts’ Category

[Podcast #313] Perspective in Learning

Brave Writer Podcast

What if the key to helping your kids love learning is simply seeing the world through their eyes?

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we explore perspective as the secret sauce of education and connection. We begin with Steven’s unforgettable appreciation letter to UPS (and the jaw-dropping chocolate response!) then move on to practical ways to help kids imagine other points of view:

  • through microscopes and magnifying glasses,
  • collaborative storytelling,
  • fan fiction,
  • and rich books that stretch their empathy.

We also talk about “wasted” time, sandbox learning, and why pleasure matters more than performance.

Tune in and choose one new perspective shift to try with your kids this week.

Show Notes

Perspective is one of the most powerful tools we have as parents and educators, and it’s astonishing how often we forget to use it. We want our kids to care about math facts, handwriting, history timelines, and essay structure, but they don’t yet share our vantage point. From where they sit, those priorities can feel arbitrary, tedious, or even hostile. When we slow down enough to see through their eyes, everything about learning begins to change.

Perspective Begins with Appreciation

One of our favorite stories about perspective started with a simple thank-you note. Steven wrote an appreciation letter to UPS after a particularly skillful delivery experience. That handwritten note climbed the corporate ladder until it reached an executive response team member who tracked the family down to send a tower of gourmet chocolates specially tailored to his love of marshmallows (see below pic!). Buried in her original email was the subject line “customer complaint response” because there wasn’t even a category for appreciation.

Brave Writer Podcast

That tiny glimpse into the UPS system reminded us how rare genuine gratitude is. Most structures are built to handle complaints, not thanks. When our kids learn to imagine the human being behind the uniform, inbox, or name tag, they begin to see the world differently. The same is true in our homeschool. When we respond to their writing with specific, heartfelt praise—“This image is going to stay with me”—we energize them. That positive feedback doesn’t just feel good; it makes them more willing to take risks and more open to gentle critique later.

Changing the Lens—Literally and Figuratively

Perspective-taking often begins with the body. When we hand a child a magnifying glass or jeweler’s loupe, they suddenly notice details they never knew were there: sparkles in a rock, tiny veins in a leaf, the texture of paint on a canvas. A microscope, telescope, or pair of binoculars does the same thing on a different scale. Change the tool, and you change what’s visible.

We can do this with our own bodies, too. Lie on the floor and look at the room from a four-year-old’s height. Pretend to be the dog: crawl on all fours, drink from a bowl, “eat” from a plate with just your mouth. These playful exercises aren’t about perfect imitation; they’re about discovering how different the world feels from another vantage point.

Literature offers a similar invitation. When we read a book like Watership Down, Dogsbody, or the essays in Disability Visibility, we borrow other lives for a while—rabbit lives, dog lives, disabled lives. Fanfiction lets our kids practice this same skill: writing from a villain’s point of view, retelling a fairy tale from the “bad” character’s side, or exploring side characters who rarely get a voice. Over time, this habit of asking, “How does the world look from where you stand?” becomes a form of intellectual and emotional muscle memory.

Becoming Beginners Again

Perspective also means interrogating our own assumptions about learning. Traditional schooling tends to smush content (what kids should know) and skills (what they must do to access that content) into a single, non-negotiable package. Homeschoolers have the luxury of separating them. We can strew interesting books, tools, and experiences that ignite curiosity before we insist on skills like note-taking, outlining, or formal lab reports.

To really understand our children’s struggles, we have to become beginners ourselves. Try doing copywork with your non-dominant hand, learning a new musical clef, or playing with a base-12 number system. It’s humbling and illuminating to feel your brain work that hard again. Suddenly, the seven-year-old balking at handwriting doesn’t look lazy; they look exactly like you, sweating over a brand-new challenge.

When we make room for sandbox learning, such as failed cookie experiments, homemade parachutes for action figures, and invented number systems, we’re teaching something far more valuable than any single fact set. We’re showing our kids that time spent asking questions and trying things is never wasted. It’s how understanding is built. Mastery will come later; for now, we’re cultivating pleasure, curiosity, and the confidence to keep experimenting.

Perspective, in the end, is a practice. It’s choosing to ask, “What does this feel like from your side?” whether we’re talking to a child, a customer-service rep, or a fictional rabbit. When we approach learning from that angle, our homeschools become less about forcing outcomes and more about walking alongside real human beings as they discover the world.

Resources

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Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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[Podcast #312] Writing Stations

Brave Writer Podcast

What if your child’s next writing breakthrough started with a stamp and an envelope?

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we explore how simple handwritten letters can become powerful “writing stations” in your home. We share stories of Melissa’s son, Stephen, whose praise letters to companies have sparked remarkable, human responses—and how that practice turned into rich, authentic writing.

We talk about:

  • building inviting stationery kits,
  • helping kids learn the mechanics of mail,
  • and finding meaningful people to write to.

Join us as we rediscover letter writing as a joyful, doable way to nurture real-world writing skills at home.

Show Notes

Do you ever wonder if handwriting still matters in a world of texts, DMs, and disappearing messages? We see it every time a child sends a real letter: ink on paper has a way of slowing the moment down and making connection tangible. A simple note of appreciation can travel across the country, land in someone’s hands, and be tucked away in a drawer for years. That’s powerful writing.

Turning Companies into People

One of our favorite ways to invite kids into meaningful writing is to encourage them to send praise letters to the companies behind the products they love. Instead of treating big brands as faceless entities, we help our children see that there are actual human beings opening mail on the other end.

We can start small. At breakfast, read the label on a cereal box together and look for the mailing address. Ask your child what they genuinely like about this cereal: the crunch, the flavor, the silly mascot. Then help them turn those thoughts into a short note: “Dear Cheerios people, I love your cereal because…” The goal isn’t to fish for coupons or freebies (though those sometimes appear!); it’s to practice gratitude and to experience the thrill of sending kind words into the world.

This practice works beautifully for kids who have big feelings and unique communication styles. Some children, especially neurodivergent kids, may share more of themselves on paper than they do out loud. A letter gives them time, space, and structure to express what’s on their minds without the pressure of a live conversation.

Letter Writing as a Gentle Path to Writing Skills

We know many kids who insist, “I’ll never use handwriting in real life.” Letter writing lets us gently prove otherwise. Instead of a worksheet or a forced assignment, they’re learning:

  • How to shape letters more clearly, because someone else has to read them.
  • How to organize thoughts into sentences with a beginning, middle, and end.
  • How to adjust tone for a real audience outside the family.

We don’t need to nitpick spelling or punctuation for these letters. A few quirky spellings and crooked margins only highlight that a real child wrote this note. The point is authentic purpose, not perfection. When a reply arrives—a handwritten card, a thank-you note, even a small sample or coupon—kids see in concrete form that their words mattered enough for a stranger to respond. That’s writing feedback you can’t get from a grade at the top of a page.

Handwritten letters also create a record of family life that email simply doesn’t. Grandparents and older relatives, especially, tend to treasure cards and notes. They save them in boxes and pull them out years later. Our children get to experience their writing as something that lasts.

Creating a Home Writing Station

To make all of this easy, we love setting up a writing station at home. It doesn’t have to be fancy. A shoebox or small drawer works beautifully if it’s stocked with inviting materials:

  • Notecards, postcards, and small pads of decorative paper  
  • Envelopes in different sizes  
  • A supply of stamps (including fun designs kids help choose)  
  • Pre-printed address labels for relatives and close friends  
  • A few good pens, markers, or even watercolor postcards

When everything is gathered in one place, letter writing can happen spontaneously: after a birthday, during quiet time, on a rainy afternoon. Children can paint on one side of a postcard and dictate a message for us to write on the back. Older kids can take full ownership, from composing the note to affixing the stamp.

If we’d like inspiration for what to include, we can raid our own desk drawers, browse a bookstore for pretty stationery, or explore curated collections like the “Tools for the Art of Writing” list in the Brave Writer Bookshop. The point isn’t to create a perfect Pinterest corner, but to make writing feel possible, accessible, and even a little bit luxurious.

When we treat handwritten letters as small acts of kindness rather than assignments, kids begin to discover what we’ve known all along: their thoughts are worth sharing, their words have weight, and there are people in the world eager to hear from them. That’s the heart of writing we want to nurture—one stamp, one envelope, one delighted recipient at a time.

Resources

Connect with Julie

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Produced by NOVA

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[Podcast #311] An Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life

Brave Writer Podcast

Julie Bogart and Melissa Wiley reunite to reflect on one of Charlotte Mason’s most enduring ideas: that education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life. What begins as a heartfelt story about a cozy childhood home becomes a rich conversation about the environments we create for learning—spaces that invite participation, curiosity, and joy.

Together, Julie and Melissa trace how atmosphere extends far beyond decor: it’s about invitation and accessibility—baskets of art supplies, blocks within reach, and time to be alone with one’s imagination. They explore:

  • the balance between discipline and freedom,
  • how attention and process nurture joy,
  • and what today’s parents can learn from slowing down in an age of distraction. 

From Charlotte Mason’s 19th-century wisdom to 21st-century challenges, this episode is a practical and deeply reassuring guide to cultivating meaningful education that feels alive, attentive, and full of enchantment.

Show Notes

Charlotte Mason once wrote that “education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life.” More than a century later, her words still point us toward a gentler, truer approach to learning—one that honors the whole child and the home that surrounds them.

An Atmosphere That Invites Participation

Atmosphere isn’t about how your home looks—it’s about how it feels. It’s the warmth of being invited to join in, to create, to make, to wonder. When we fill our homes with tools for exploration—paintbrushes within reach, books in easy stacks, a cleared table for projects—we invite our children to participate in learning rather than simply receive it. An atmosphere rich in invitation nurtures curiosity far more deeply than a picture-perfect space ever could.

Discipline as Gentle Habit

Discipline, in Mason’s sense, isn’t about control or rigidity. It’s about forming life-giving habits that allow focus and flow to emerge naturally. A few minutes of consistent practice—writing, sketching, tending a bird feeder—teaches persistence and attention in ways that worksheets cannot. Discipline provides the rhythm that helps curiosity take root and blossom into skill.

A Life Infused with Joy

When atmosphere and discipline work together, learning becomes a way of life. Children discover joy in attention itself—in getting lost in a book, a hobby, or an idea. In our world of constant distraction, this joy is revolutionary. It reminds us that education isn’t the pursuit of outcomes, but the cultivation of wonder, purpose, and delight.

When we slow down enough to notice what truly matters—time, focus, shared curiosity—we rediscover education as it was meant to be: an atmosphere of love, a discipline of growth, and a life of continual discovery.

Resources

Connect with Julie

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Produced by NOVA

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[Podcast #310] High Tide Homeschooling with a Teen

Brave Writer Podcast

Melissa Wiley takes the mic solo this week for a heartwarming look inside her current homeschool life with her youngest, sixteen-year-old Huck.

Drawing from her decades of experience as both author and homeschooling mother of six, Melissa walks listeners through a day in the life of their family’s “tidal homeschooling” rhythm—where structured “high tide” study meets creative “low tide” exploration. She shares how her son’s outdoor program, their history-and-literature studies, and rich family traditions—film club and nightly read-alouds—keep learning alive and joyful.

If you’ve ever wondered how homeschooling evolves through the teen years—or how to nurture curiosity and connection as your family grows—this episode offers both inspiration and practical insight. Melissa also touches on her creative work, finding balance as a writer and parent, and how rhythms of learning shift with each new life chapter.

Show Notes

As homeschooling parents, we come to recognize that family learning moves in tides. There are seasons of high energy—bursting with projects, discussions, and discovery—and quieter times when we drift, recharge, and let curiosity find its own way back to shore.

For Melissa Wiley, these rhythms are a source of peace rather than pressure. After years of homeschooling a bustling household, she now finds joy in the slower, one-on-one days with her son Huck. Their mornings start quietly, often with reading or reflection, before easing into studies of history, science, and literature. The rest of the day flows with creative play, outdoor adventures, and unhurried conversation. It’s homeschooling that breathes—steady, flexible, and deeply human.

Tidal Homeschooling and Daily Rhythms

Melissa describes this way of learning as tidal homeschooling: alternating between “high tide” periods of structure and “low tide” stretches of exploration. In practice, that might look like a week of focused writing lessons followed by days spent outdoors, tinkering, sketching, or diving deep into a new interest. It’s not about balance as much as trust—trusting that learning is always happening, even when it doesn’t look like school.

Connection, Creativity, and Family Culture

At the heart of Melissa’s homeschool life is connection. Whether it’s the family’s “film club,” her husband’s rock-and-roll history sessions, or daily read-alouds that spark lively debate, these shared rituals nurture both imagination and relationship. Learning isn’t a checklist; it’s a conversation that keeps evolving as her kids grow.

Melissa reminds us that education doesn’t end when the formal lessons do. It continues in laughter around the dinner table, in curiosity during a walk, in the stories that knit a family together. Homeschooling, at its best, is simply life—rich, rhythmic, and full of wonder.

Resources

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Produced by NOVA

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[Podcast #309] Redefining Homeschool with Alisha Brignall from Canada

Brave Writer Podcast

Welcome back to the Brave Writer Podcast! This week, Julie sits down with Alisha Brignall, a Canadian homeschooling veteran and educational leader with over 15 years of experience guiding families through their unique learning journeys.

With a Master’s in Education and her work as a Home Education Manager at an independent school, Alisha brings a wealth of knowledge about both the philosophy and the practical realities of homeschooling. She’s also the founder of INSPIRED, Alberta’s only secular homeschool conference, dedicated to creating inclusive and supportive communities for families.

Alisha Brignall
Alisha Brignall

In this warm and deeply insightful conversation, Alisha and Julie explore how homeschooling has evolved over the past two decades—from early pedagogical pioneers to today’s eclectic mix of families seeking flexibility and connection. They:

  • unpack the differences between Canadian and American approaches to home education,
  • discuss how to cultivate confidence as a parent educator,
  • and highlight the growing landscape of hybrid models and secular learning spaces.

Together, they reflect on what it truly means to measure success in education, nurture a love of learning, and prioritize family relationships as the foundation for meaningful growth.

Show Notes

Homeschooling Then and Now

Alisha began homeschooling when her oldest child—now a thriving young adult—needed something different than what traditional education could offer. What began as a personal experiment grew into a lifelong vocation of understanding and supporting diverse learners. Julie and Alisha discuss how homeschooling’s motivations have transformed since the early 2000s: where once parents were often pedagogically motivated, steeped in John Holt or Charlotte Mason, many families today are driven by necessity, seeking refuge from overstretched systems or wanting a more flexible, inclusive approach.

The conversation delves into how these changing motivations affect the homeschool experience. Alisha observes that modern families often come to homeschooling unsure of their educational philosophy, juggling dual careers and new hybrid models. Yet, even amid the complexity, both she and Julie see the same spark of possibility—parents rediscovering confidence as educators and children finding joy in self-directed learning.

Confidence and Connection in Learning

A recurring theme throughout the episode is trust—trusting children, trusting yourself, and trusting that meaningful education looks different for every family. Alisha shares stories from her work as a mentor and from her own homeschool, where allowing her son with dysgraphia to create his own set of Pokémon-style “Gogemon” cards led him to become a film student with a love of storytelling. These moments, Julie reflects, are the heart of learning: when curiosity is met with freedom and encouragement, growth naturally follows.

Julie and Alisha also explore how the metrics of “success” in homeschooling can differ widely among family members. Alisha recalls a time when her family realized they each defined success differently—mom wanted growth, dad wanted measurable progress, and the kids just wanted peace and joy. Recognizing those different values became the turning point for their homeschool harmony, and Julie encourages listeners to ask their own families what success truly looks like.

The Future of Home Education

Looking forward, Alisha sees both challenge and promise in the future of education. The landscape is expanding: AI tools, hybrid programs, and microschools are changing how families approach learning. But what remains constant, she says, is the relationship at the center of it all. Whether schooling at home or within new systems, children thrive when they feel connected—to their parents, their communities, and their curiosity.

Julie echoes that sentiment, reminding listeners that homeschooling has always been an act of faith in connection: parent to child, learner to subject, family to world. As more families experiment with what education can look like, that foundation of love and trust will continue to guide the way.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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