The Homeschool How To

Latest Episodes:

#169: Homeschooled, Sheltered & Addicted Young: A Conversation Every Parent Needs to Hear May 09, 2026

Show notes

What happens when someone who hated being homeschooled grows up and chooses to homeschool his own children anyway?

In this deeply honest conversation, Logan Hufford shares what homeschooling looked like growing up in a large family in the 90s, why he resented parts of it for years, and what he’s doing differently with his own kids today.

We also talk about something many parents are afraid to discuss openly: what children are being exposed to online at shockingly young ages — and how silence, shame, and lack of conversation can impact kids long-term.

Inside this episode:
• what Logan wishes his parents had done differently
• how over-sheltering can backfire
• pornography addiction and dopamine-driven behavior
• why vulnerable conversations matter more than perfect parenting
• how to talk to kids without creating shame
• the reality of parenting in the internet era
• resources parents can use to start age-appropriate conversations

This is a sensitive but incredibly important discussion for both homeschooling and non-homeschooling families alike.

Listener discretion advised for younger ears.

Resources:

Good Pictures Bad Pictures

https://www.conquerseries.com- For a man who might be struggling or a woman who is close to a man who struggles, the best single resource to gain an education of how sexual addiction works is the Conquer Series

Follow Logan on Instagram

🎯 Ready to learn how families are actually working + homeschooling?

Cheryl has interviewed 200+ homeschool families—and put a step by step process together for how to work and homeschool (even as a single parent!) Check it out!👉 How to Work & Homeschool (Without Burning Out)

Support the show

Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast
Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

#168: Homeschooling Through Grief: A Former Teacher's Raw and Honest Story May 02, 2026

Show notes

What happens when life completely falls apart — and you still have to show up for your kids? This week Cheryl sits down with Barbara, a former special education teacher turned homeschool mom of four, who opens up about one of the hardest questions in homeschooling: what do you do when you're grieving?

After years of fighting the school system for resources her students deserved, Barbara knew she didn't want that for her own kids. She pulled them out, ditched the rigid curriculum, and built something that actually works for her spicy, high-energy family.

In this episode:

Why connection over perfection changed everything for her family
How she homeschools four kids aged 5–12 using interest-led unit studies
What homeschooling through the loss of her mother actually looked like
South Carolina's homeschool options and funding
Why socialization was never actually a problem

Barbara also shares her memoir and upcoming Bible study guide for homeschooling through grief — because sometimes life takes the rug out from under you, and you still have to be there for your family.

Connect with Barbara here: https://a.co/d/0bMqCMiq

Barbara's Instagram

🎯 Ready to learn how families are actually working + homeschooling? Cheryl has interviewed 200+ homeschool families—and put a step by step process together for how to work and homeschool (even as a single parent!) Check it out!👉 How to Work & Homeschool (Without Burning Out)

Support the show

Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast
Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

#167: When the School Said 'Behind' — One Mom Said 'Watch Me' Apr 25, 2026

Show notes

What happens when a single mom in the Foreign Service gets the double whammy — "your child might have dyslexia" AND profound hearing loss? She figures it out. Katharyn Havens joins Cheryl from outside Nairobi, Kenya, where she's running a multi-age homeschool pod, teaching kids AI ethics, and building her own AI co-pilot for homeschool parents.

In this episode:

How cochlear implant surgery changed everything — and bought them time
Why Katherine walked away from a 14-year Foreign Service career
The year they moved to Florida, ditched the diagnosis, and just learned to live
How her son went from nonverbal to reading Green Eggs and Ham — on his own timeline
Building a homeschool pod in Kenya with kids of all ages
Her AI code of ethics for kids (yes, they have written rules)
What "symphonic thinking" is and why it's the most future-proof skill you can teach

Whether you're just starting out or deep in the homeschool journey, Katherine's story will remind you: you know your kid best. Trust that.

Connect with Katharyn:

Substack: https://substack.com/@kairoslearninglifestyle?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radicallyresetting/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KairosRiseHomeschool

www.KairosRise.com

Support the show

Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast
Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

#166: How Homeschooling Her Only Child Turned Him Into a 9-Year-Old Author & Stock Trader Apr 18, 2026

Show notes

Most parents ask, “Can I homeschool if I still need to work?”

Laresia and her family didn’t just ask that question—they built a life that answers it.

In this episode, we talk about what happens when you choose homeschooling before you even become a parent, and how that decision shaped everything—from family connection to raising a child who is already thinking like an entrepreneur.

Their 9-year-old son isn’t just learning at home…
He’s writing and publishing books, learning stock trading, and building real-world skills most adults were never taught.

We also get into:

What homeschooling an only child actually looks like (social life + community)
How Classical Conversations works in real life
Why creativity and imagination often get shut down in traditional school
How they approach raising a child without a fixed path
The mindset shift that allows families to “level up” without pressure

And if you’ve ever wondered how families actually make working + homeschooling work…
I break down the patterns I’ve seen from interviewing 200+ families and how you can apply them.

If you’re thinking about homeschooling—but feel stuck on the how—this episode will open your mind to what’s possible.

Find Laresia & Family: https://kidpreneurconnection.com/

- https://www.youtube.com/@areeson2love

- https://corelife365.com/

👉 How to Work & Homeschool (Even as a Single Parent!)

Support the show

Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast
Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

#165: She Left Teaching, Bought Houses Without a Bank, and Homeschools 2 Kids Apr 11, 2026

Show notes

Last week, we heard why teachers are leaving the system. This week, meet one who did — and what she built instead.

Jen Delle Fave spent 8 years as a public school English teacher in upstate New York before walking away to raise her kids, homeschool, and build a real estate portfolio — without ever going to a bank. Now living in Florida with her husband and two kids (11 and 13), Jen runs multiple businesses, travels constantly, and fits homeschooling right into the middle of all of it.

Cheryl and Jen get into the real stuff: the mom guilt, the chaotic seasons, the creative finance deals, and why letting your 13-year-old message sellers counts as school.

This one's for the homeschool moms who are also building something — and the ones wondering if they even can.

In this episode:

How COVID pushed Jen from virtual school to full homeschool
What homeschooling looks like in Florida vs. New York (spoiler: way less paperwork)
How Jen buys real estate without bank loans — and what that actually means
Unit studies, Teaching Textbooks, and letting learning stay fluid
Why your kids calling restaurants and understanding credit matters more than memorizing formulas
How to work, invest, and homeschool without burning out

"Hustle should be a season, not a lifestyle."

Find Jen: Instagram: @jenDelleFave Website: CreativeFinancePlaybook.com

👉 How to Work & Homeschool (Even as a Single Parent!)

Support the show

Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast
Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

#164: Teachers Are Leaving the System—Here’s Why (Homeschool + Work Reality) Apr 04, 2026

Show notes

What happens when a former public school teacher decides she won’t send her own kids to school?

In this episode of the Homeschool How To Podcast, Cheryl sits down with Ashley Martinez—a former teacher turned homeschooling mom of two—who shares what she saw inside the classroom, why she chose a different path, and how her family makes homeschooling and working actually work.

This conversation goes beyond curriculum and schedules. Ashley opens up about:

What teachers see inside schools that most parents don’t
Why more educators are choosing to homeschool their own kids
How to balance working from home while homeschooling
The truth about socialization, co-ops, and hybrid homeschool models
Why homeschooling gives families more freedom, flexibility, and connection
Letting go of “balance” and embracing seasons of life

If you’ve ever thought:
“Can I homeschool if I still need to work?”
or
“I feel called to homeschool but don’t know how to make it work…”

This episode will give you clarity, encouragement, and a real-life look at what’s possible.

🎯 Ready to learn how families are actually doing this? Cheryl has interviewed 200+ homeschool families—and put a step by step process together for how to work and homeschool (even as a single parent!) Check it out below!

👉 How to Work & Homeschool (Even as a Single Parent!)

Find Ashley at:

https://linktr.ee/mrsashleymartinez

Support the show

Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast
Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

#163: The More Self-Sufficient You Are, the Less You Need School Mar 28, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we step outside the traditional conversation around education and take a deeper look at something bigger—how we’re raising our kids in today’s world.

Cheryl sits down with Doug Evans, founder of The Sprouting Company, to talk about self-sufficiency, food, environment, and why more families are questioning the systems we’ve always relied on—from school to the food we eat.

They explore:

Why play-based learning may be more powerful than structured classrooms
How environment (indoor vs outdoor living) impacts children’s development
The connection between food, health, and independence
Simple ways families can become more self-sufficient (even if you’re busy)
What it looks like to raise kids outside the traditional system

While this conversation isn’t just about homeschooling, it touches on a core idea many parents are starting to realize:

We have more control over our children’s lives—and learning—than we’ve been led to believe.

If you’ve ever questioned the way things are “supposed” to be done, this episode will give you a lot to think about.

Episode Resources:

The Sprouting Company

Instagram- The Sprouting Company

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSproutingCompany

Cheryl’s eBook- The Homeschool How To: Complete Starter Guide

Support the show

Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast
Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

#162 Dr. Peter Gray: What Schools Get Wrong About Learning Mar 21, 2026

Show notes

What if the biggest problem with education isn’t your child… but the school system itself?

In this episode of the Homeschool How To Podcast, Cheryl sits down with Dr. Peter Gray, author of Free to Learn, to talk about what schools get fundamentally wrong about how children actually learn.

They discuss the hidden history of schooling, why shame and obedience are still built into the system, how kids learn to read and do math when they’re actually ready, and why self-directed learning may be far more effective than most parents have been led to believe.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your child is really “behind,” whether school is preparing kids for life, or whether there’s a better way to learn, this conversation will challenge the way you think about education.

In this episode, we discuss:

what schools were originally designed to do
why forced learning often backfires
reading without a rigid timeline
math anxiety and real-life math
why motivation changes everything
how children learn when they’re trusted

About Dr. Peter Gray:
Dr. Peter Gray is a research professor, psychologist, and author of Free to Learn. His work focuses on self-directed education, play, and the ways modern schooling conflicts with children’s natural development.

Resources mentioned:

Free to Learn by Dr. Peter Gray
Dr. Gray's website: https://www.petergray.org/
Check out Dr. Gray's Substack
Cheryl’s eBook- The Homeschool How To: Complete Starter Guide

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a parent who needs to hear this.

Support the show

Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast
Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

#161: When School Failed Her Neurodivergent Kids, She Built a Worldschooling Life in Spain Mar 14, 2026

Show notes

What if the problem isn’t your child—but the environment they’re expected to learn in?

In this episode, Cheryl talks with Corianda “Corey,” a homeschooling mom of six living in Spain, about raising neurodivergent kids and what happened when traditional school stopped working for her family. With three sons on the autism spectrum and experiences with ADHD, Corey began questioning whether the system was actually designed to help children like hers thrive.

She shares how her family transitioned from the UK school system to homeschooling, how environment and freedom dramatically changed her children’s confidence, and why self-directed learning can be especially powerful for neurodivergent kids. Cheryl and Corey also discuss worldschooling, socialization outside the classroom, learning to read when children are truly ready, and why giving kids agency over their time can unlock creativity and real-life skills.

Today Corey runs a worldschooling community in Spain where homeschooling families gather to learn, explore, and grow together.

If you’re a homeschooling parent—or considering home education for a neurodivergent child—this conversation will open your mind to what’s possible.

Find Corey here: www.shepherdsrest.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/shepsrest

Instagram: www.instagram.com/shepsrest

📌 New here? Grab my free 30-day homeschool quick-start guide

🎹 Looking for a fun, simple way to introduce piano at home?
We’ve loved using Simply Piano. It turns lessons into interactive challenges so kids can start playing real songs right away — without pressure or frustration.
👉 Click here to check it out!

📘 Feeling overwhelmed about where to start with homeschooling?
After three years of interviewing homeschooling families, I compiled the best advice, practical tips, key questions, and trusted resources into one clear, actionable e-book: The Homeschool How To Complete Starter Guide.
👉 Grab it here!

Support the show

Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast
Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

#160: Homeschooling 5 Kids While Running a Business (And Navigating Dyslexia) Mar 07, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Homeschool HowTo Podcast, Cheryl sits down with Stephany Rios — a homeschooling mom of five — to talk about building a business from home, navigating dyslexia, and learning to let go of school timelines.

Stephany shares:
• The preschool bus moment that made homeschooling non-negotiable
• Running a jewelry business while homeschooling
• What to do when curriculum isn’t working
• Discovering her daughter’s dyslexia
• Practical tools that helped
• Why being “behind” isn’t failure
• Creating a morning rhythm that works
• How real-life learning beats rigid schedules

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing enough…
If your child struggles with reading…
If you’re juggling work and homeschooling…

This conversation will remind you that you have time — and that love of learning matters more than checklists.

Find Stephany:

IG @ivianaandco; @stephriosblog

www.stephriosblog.com (Blog)

www.ivianaandco.com (Jewelry)

Home(school) with Steph Podcast

📌 New here? Grab my free 30-day homeschool quick-start guide

Support the show

Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast
Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast