I’m a Lady Fixing the World!
Cecilie Conrad kindly invited me to join her and Sandra Dodd for Season 2 of her podcast Da Ladies Fixing the World. We recorded our first unschooling conversation together in November 2024 before life got extra-busy with Christmas, and it has just gone live!
The audio version.
Here’s the audio version:
You can also listen via your favourite podcast app.
The Video Version
If prefer watching, you can see us on YouTube:
The Show Notes
Here’s the podcast description (which I stole from Cecilie’s website).
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 atmosphere where natural learning can flourish.” Sue emphasizes the importance of embracing time with children, noting, “We can’t go back and reclaim those hours as our kids grow up.”
The conversation highlights:
- How unschooling fosters curiosity and resilience.
- The critical balance between freedom and guidance.
- The transformative impact of unschooling on both children and parents.
Through personal stories, we showcase unschooling as a lifestyle that prioritizes connection, flexibility, and natural growth—education as a joyful byproduct of living fully.
Quotes from the Episode:
- Sandra Dodd: “Unschooling is creating and maintaining an atmosphere where natural learning can flourish.”
- Sue Elvis: “We can’t go back and reclaim all those hours if we don’t take advantage of them as our kids are growing up.”
- Cecilie Conrad: “Learning is a byproduct of living with enthusiasm and curiosity.”
Links & Resources:
- Sandra Dodd’s Website: SandraDodd.com – Explore Sandra’s favorite unschooling definitions and in-depth discussions.
- Sue Elvis’ Blog: Stories of an Unschooling Family – Practical advice and insights into Sue’s unschooling journey.
- Cecilie Conrad’s Website: CecilieConrad.com – Learn about Cecilie’s experiences with unschooling, worldschooling, and a life of freedom and curiosity.
Sandra Dodds specific links for this episode
- Definitions of Unschooling
https://sandradodd.com/unschool/definition - What is Unschooling?
https://sandradodd.com/definitions - Origin of the term “Unschooling”
https://sandradodd.com/unschool/theterm - Is unschooling too big a gamble
https://justaddlightandstir.blogspot.com/2011/01/is-unschooling-too-big-gamble.html
Recorded: November 6, 2024, Krakow, Poland
This episode delves into the responsibilities of unschooling, contrasts it with traditional schooling, and celebrates the freedom it offers. Whether you’re curious about alternative education or looking for inspiration to rethink your approach, this conversation invites you to imagine a learning journey led by love, trust, and curiosity.
In season two of Da Ladies Fixing the World, host Cecilie Conrad is joined by renowned unschooling advocates Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis to explore unschooling as a lifestyle.
Tune in for lively conversations, fresh perspectives, and practical insights into the transformative power of unschooling and self-directed learning, spotlighting real-life stories and bold visions for a more curious, empowered future.
In Da Ladies Fixing the World, unschooling mothers come together to explore all things unschooling. Hosted by Cecilie Conrad, each season features a handpicked team of inspiring mothers who share their experiences and insights.
Why I’m Excited
Cecilie, Sandra and I are meeting again this month to record episode 7. Yes, we’ve already had six wonderful conversations together which will be published over the next few months. I’m very excited because I’m going to get the pleasure of Cecilie’s and Sandra’s company every couple of weeks or so for the whole of 2025. Lots of future episodes of Da Ladies Fixing the World to enjoy!
So, I hope you’ll listen to our first conversation together and subscribe to the podcast so you get to hear about episodes as they’re published.
What Do You Think?
If you listen or watch S2 E1, why not stop by and share your thoughts?
I don’t usually get a chance to listen to longer podcasts, but I made the effort for this one even though it took a few days. I enjoyed listening to you bounce ideas and thoughts off each other and, believe it or not, I actually liked that there was a little disagreement. It showed that there is flexibility in what unschooling and its end goals will look like to a particular family.
Oh yes, sometimes it’s hard to find time to listen to long podcasts. I often don’t get around to listening to all the ones I’m subscribed to. But I do enjoy a long podcast while I’m walking our dogs or doing some routine housework.
Disagreements can encourage us to think deeply about our opinions and either defend them or be open to changing them, can’t they? We might also have to accept each other’s positions. As you said, our end goals could be different for our families so not agreeing might be okay.
Maybe disagreements liven up our discussions. I hope so because we each have different ideas in other podcast episodes. We talked about screens and video games in an early episode and shared different thoughts. That was interesting!
Thank you so much for finding time to listen to our podcast and stopping by to share your thoughts!