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Three Moms, One Podcast: Conversations on Unschooling and Parenting
In Season Two of The Ladies Fixing the World, Cecilie Conrad is joined by renowned unschooling pioneers Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis to redefine what learning can truly look like. Together, they explore the philosophy and practicalities of unschooling—where curiosity, trust, and relationships replace rigid curricula—and how this approach transforms both families and personal growth.
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In this episode, Cecilie, Sandra, and Sue unpack the popular—but often misleading—idea of freedom in unschooling. What does it really mean to live freely, and what’s the cost when freedom becomes the goal instead of a tool? They discuss how some families rush into radical unschooling, letting go of all structure without understanding the role of guidance, responsibility, and deschooling. Sandra shares stories of families who confused “freedom” with letting go too fast—leaving children overwhe...
What happens when unschooling parents trade control for genuine connection? In this deep and honest conversation, Cecilie Conrad (Denmark), Sandra Dodd (USA), and Sue Elvis (Australia) tackle the big questions of attachment, freedom, and how trust transforms the parent-child relationship. Many parents fear that giving their children more freedom will mean losing influence over values and choices—or that it will lead to chaos. But as these three unschooling pioneers explore, true freedom isn't...
Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd, and Sue Elvis discuss doubt and fear in unschooling—where they come from, how they spread, and how to move through them without defaulting to school-based thinking. They explore the pressure of responsibility, the impact of lingering fears, and why letting go of outcomes helps build trust in both learning and relationships. They talk about how fear can be reinforced through casual conversation, especially when parents share worst-case scenarios or compare their ch...
In this episode, we explore one of the most persistent questions in unschooling: What about math? Cecilie, Sandra, and Sue examine the widespread belief that children can’t learn math without formal instruction — and explain why that belief doesn’t hold up. Cecilie reflects on the early years of home education in her family, the pressure to “cover” math, and the quiet fear of doing too little. Sandra shares examples of how her children developed mathematical thinking through games, practical...
Dinner tables, car rides, bedtime chats, café corners—this episode dives into the real places where unschooling lives and grows. Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd, and Sue Elvis examine how conversations—often unscheduled, informal, and unplanned—become the central structure of a learning life. They discuss the Danish tradition of the daily family dinner, the rigid rituals of American mealtime culture, and the café catch-ups that shaped Sue’s large family. The conversation travels through memories...
What’s the value of doing the same thing more than once? In this episode of Ladies Fixing the World, Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis unfold repetition—how it shows up in our lives, why it matters, and what it reveals. Together, they examine how children tend to gravitate toward watching the same films, reading the same stories, or playing the same games. Rather than dismissing these habits, they unpack the deeper role of repetition in building understanding, creating comfort, ...
Sandra Dodd, Sue Elvis, and Cecilie Conrad come together to discuss their personal journeys into unschooling, focusing on natural learning, curiosity, and redefining educational expectations. Sandra shares her transition from a public-school teacher to embracing unschooling with her family, exploring how her upbringing influenced her parenting choices. Sue reflects on her experiences returning to unschooling after attempts to follow structured educational methods, and how her understanding ev...
Traditional education is built on judgment—constantly measuring children’s progress against rigid standards. Unschooling offers a different path, one that values curiosity over evaluation. In this episode, Cecilie Conrad, Sue Elvis, and Sandra Dodd discuss why letting go of expectations leads to deeper, more natural learning. Reading becomes a key theme, as they challenge the idea that children must read by a certain age. Cecilie shares how her son resisted reading until fourteen, only to bec...
How do children learn math without lessons, textbooks, or worksheets? Sandra Dodd, Sue Elvis, and Cecilie Conrad talk about the ways kids pick up mathematical thinking—through games, shared meals, money management, and real-world problem-solving. They discuss what happens when learning is driven by curiosity rather than instruction, sharing stories of children who mastered math in unexpected ways. Their experiences with unschooling reveal how learning develops naturally, often outside the str...
What is unschooling? What is it not? And why defining it is so difficult? Sandra Dodd, Sue Elvis and Cecilie Conrad explore how unschooling is not just about rejecting school but fundamentally shifting how families approach learning, trust, and daily life. Sandra shares her decades of experience and the challenge of explaining unschooling in simple terms, emphasizing that true understanding takes time. Sue reflects on her evolution from believing unschooling meant being hands-off to realizin...
What if education wasn’t confined to classrooms but instead flourished naturally through life’s experiences? In this episode of Ladies Fixing the World, renowned unschooling pioneers Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis join Cecilie Conrad to redefine what learning can look like. We explore the philosophy and practicalities of unschooling—where curiosity, trust, and relationships replace rigid curricula. Sandra shares her journey to define unschooling, describing it as "creating and maintaining an atmos...
In this final episode of the first season of "Da Ladies", Cecilie joins Luna, Sara, and Carla as they wrap up their journey. The group reflects on embracing change, honoring priorities, and staying true to their unschooling principles. From navigating life transitions to balancing personal aspirations and family commitments, this episode is a beautiful exploration of growth, authenticity, and fluidity in self-directed living. Looking ahead, Cecilie teases the start of a new season with a fres...
Can the question "Does unschooling work?" be inherently flawed? Join us in Episode 11 of Da Ladies Fixing the World as we challenge conventional thinking and explore the philosophy of unschooling. We examine societal pressures and the need for validation that often accompany this question and provide insights from various unschooling and homeschooling communities. By exploring parental concerns and celebrating their triumphs, we underscore the importance of focusing on individual growth and h...
In this episode, we explore the balance between personal freedom and societal expectations in unschooling. We discuss the Danish homeschool union, revealing the paradox anarchists face when complying with formal requirements. We also discuss how unschoolers can maintain freedom while fulfilling the need to belong within a community. Our conversation delves into the psychological aspects of compliance and the desire for state approval, encouraging reflection on how this mindset influences self...
Join us as we dive into parenting conflicts and discover how embracing disagreements can strengthen family bonds. We share our insights on handling conflicts, especially within unschooling and conscious parenting. We discuss Luna's journey toward a conflict-free home, proving that avoiding conflicts doesn't mean suppressing emotions. Sarah challenges the myth that attachment parenting leads to perfectly well-behaved children, revealing the real dynamics behind it. We discuss traditional aut...
Watching my children one lazy afternoon, unburdened by timetables and homework, I was struck by their innate curiosity. We embrace and celebrate this very authenticity in our little ones in our latest podcast episode. With my fellow wise women Carla, Sarah, and Luna, we weave a conversation around the unschooling movement—a radical shift from traditional education that nurtures a child’s natural inclination towards learning. We delve into the essence of childhood, free from the assembly line ...
We explore practical strategies for nurturing our children's natural curiosity and love of learning. Together with my three friends—Sarah Bealel, Carla Martinez, and Luna Maj Vestergaard, we get hands-on, shedding light on how unschooling unfolds in daily life. We share insights into how children learn to read without formal lessons and discuss parents' vital role as facilitators rather than traditional teachers, providing an environment rich with opportunities for self-directed learni...
Join Cecilie, Carla, Luna, and Sarah for a heartfelt and insightful discussion about the complexities of Christmas, as we delve into its many layers. In this episode, we confront the often overwhelming emotions associated with the holiday season, from the stress of consumerism to the intricate family dynamics. We candidly share our experiences with financial democracy within families, the various perspectives on gift-giving, and the challenge of balancing societal expectations with personal v...
Have you ever considered that societal norms and structures may be limiting your autonomy? Join Cecilie, Carla, Luna, and Sarah as they challenge these conventions and explore the empowering nature of leading a values-based life. We discuss how unschooling, a deviation from the norm, sparks enlightening conversations and insights. We thoroughly investigate how our values, culture, and upbringing guide our decision-making and how these elements influence our ability to make unconvention...
Join us in exploring attachment parenting, respectful parenting, and unschooling, where we examine the strong biological connections and implications in our parenting choices. We unpack the misconceptions around attachment parenting and discuss how a values-based unschooling life can emerge. This episode helps you understand the nuances of attachment parenting and the importance of forming secure attachments for a child's growth and development. Listen in as we tackle the challenges of main...
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