Yesterday, something unexpected happened: I recorded a new podcast episode!
It had been a long time since I last headed into my closet, set up my mic, and started talking. Yes, I’d been neglecting my podcast. But why?
A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post called Falling Apart. I explained how I was feeling overwhelmed and needed to take a break from some of my regular activities.
I wrote:
It’s been a long time since I made my last podcast episode. I promised to share some stories about passions and interests, but I haven’t. It just seems like a lot of work. I feel bad about disappearing from the podcast world. I keep doing that. I wonder if some people think I’m unreliable, a bit flaky. I can’t stick to things. I give up too easily. But it’s not that at all. I’m just having a crisis. A normal crisis. One that anyone might have. I’m falling apart.
So I work hard and produce posts on the days when I’m feeling fine, and I hide away whenever I don’t feel so great. That seems to be my new normal. And it’s not ideal. But then again, nor is the world. It’s just the way things are. At least for now.
We go with the flow and do our best, and we keep hoping. We’re going to be okay.
You didn’t see that post? That’s because I didn’t publish it! My words felt very negative so I kept them to myself.
I must be feeling better because, as I said, I invited Imogen to join me in my closet: “Shall we share some unschooling thoughts while we talk about what we’ve been working on, what we’ve been reading and watching, and what’s making us feel excited?”
So that’s what we did.
Here’s the content summary for episode 179:
0:00 Intro
00:58 Introducing Imogen
01:47 Returning to Podcasting
05:50 Frost Hands and Writing
14:34 Writing Novels and Unschooling Books
21:57 The Inconvenience of Losing Our Videographer
32:14 Excited About Exercise
41:59 Escaping into a Novel
48:55 Rereading Retold Fairy Tales
53:52 Masterchef and Kids’ Happiness
01:01:29 The Masked Singer and Twonk
01:08:50 End Things
Here are some of the things we mentioned:
Show Notes:
Imogen’s new novel
Podcasts about NaNoWriMo
Episode 153: More Unschool Writing Ideas and Resources
Episode 140: Difficult Things
Imogen’s Music Youtube Channel
Websites
Books
The Lake House by Kate Morton
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
Blog Post
Why We Need to Support Our Kids’ Choices
Video
My 2020 Global Homeschooling Summit interview video
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
Where You Can Find Me
My Stories of an Unschooling Family community
Youtube
Blogs
Stories of an Unschooling Family
Where You Can Find Imogen
Blog
And here are some questions:
Do you like the word twonk? We do!
Do you keep buying books even though you haven’t read all the ones you own?
Will you listen to our podcast and leave some feedback? Should I record more episodes with Imogen? (She said she’d be happy to regularly join me in my cupboard!)
And how have you been feeling recently? Has anyone else felt like they’re falling apart?
Photos
I took these photos of Imogen, Sophie, Charlotte and Gemma-Rose shortly before Sophie left home. Yes, my 4th daughter is no longer here. This is rather inconvenient because who’s going to film the music videos Imogen is planning to make? We’ve lost our videographer!
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling!
Really enjoyed this podcast episode, Sue and Imogen:). It was neat to hear more about the writing process from each of your perspectives and how so many things in life kind of weave together. I keep hearing snippets about NaNoWriMo but have never known much more about it, so good to hear about that again. Maybe we’ll have a look into that a bit more…
Also, I love the word “twonk” so much! As you know, Sue, we are also enjoying The Masked Singer here and with no regrets;).
Erin,
We’re really glad you enjoyed our podcast! We’re getting excited about the next episode. We have lots to talk about!
NaNoWriMo is a wonderful writing challenge. As long as we keep writing and refuse to delete and edit as we go, it’s possible to write a novel in a month. Lots of rewriting needed afterwards though!
You like The Masked Singer too? We are kindred spirits!