Issy is speaking his truths as an unschooling parent. We share some we can all evolve. I love his shares and his reminders that we all do it our own way. Highly recommend subscribing to his annual membership as there are weekly podcasts sent out that are also as helpful as these podcasts here. Recommend for anyone considering deschooling themselves.

I can’t say enough about this podcast! Full of wisdom, practical tips, and boldness to follow your own path vs. the expectations of the society!

I can’t praise this podcast enough for the knowledge and empowerment it has given me. I am fresh on this journey but couldn’t deny that I was incredibly unfulfilled in my life calling of being a mom. When I sat down and figured out what I really wanted, pair that with the issues my kids were having in school, I realized what I wanted was to have better relationships with them and see them succeed and have joy; and be part of it. This podcast has put paint to the picture I was already seeing unfold in my kids lives. It is everything I needed to hear at the exact time I needed to hear it. Izzy is absolutely inspired and I am so grateful. This podcast has given me the tools to believe in myself, my kids and break the societal norm. Good stuff.

So helpful and encouraging. It can feel lonely in this new journey of putting traditional schooling in the rear view. Podcasts like this are such a blessing!

Love this podcast and really hope to see more content soon. Any chance you’ll do more episodes???

Everything in episode 1 hit me right in the heart. We brought our son home from public education in 4th grade, as a completely distressed child, the lie that he is stupid buried so deep in his little heart and mind. We’ve been in what feels like an uphill battle to rebuild his heart, sense of self, safety and belief that he is good and good enough! I admit I am so new to questioning the system and I struggle to get pulled back in to the fear that he is behind or that we are not doing enough and somehow messing him up. I am so thankful for your voice. And can I say it is super refreshing to hear from a dad! I subscribe to so many mamas who have helped me immensely, but there is such a need to hear from dads- men who are truly bought in to home education and the beauty and goodness of allowing differences between children. They are not one-size-fits-all! Thank you!!!

The content, Issy’s voice, everything about this podcast is so refreshing and liberating. I know he had a lot on his plate but so hopeful this podcast continues. It breathes fresh air into this space. I’m actually listening to the episodes again because they bring so much meaning to our way of life.

The calming voice you use in your podcast is beyond relaxing. It really drives home a lot of your points. We are beginning homeschooling next year and with all the podcasts out there relating to it, this is absolutely my favorite. I honestly feel like this will be so much more doable after listening and taking in a lot of the info you provided. I’ve cried and nodded my head yes so often that I KNOW this is the right path for us. Please keep making these, they are awe-inspiring. Wish I didn’t just finish the last one!

Finding Issy has been completely life changing. He inspires the confidence and courage necessary to overcome fear and doubt, and finally take that journey down the road less traveled. I sincerely hope he continues this podcast and all the work he is doing in the world to inspire families to choose their life with intention. Thank you Thank YOU THANK YOU!

I have struggled with the idea of potentially homeschooling my child, but after listening to this, it was like a breathe of fresh air! It opened my eyes and in so many ways, our family can relate! Thank you for this!!!

Thoughtful, insightful, inspiring - one of my favorites

This is by far one of the best homeschool podcasts I’ve ever heard. So well spoken, so concise, and so so encouraging!!! Now my new favorite podcast. Sums up all my homeschooling thoughts and goals and addresses concerns. Thank you for such a great insight and encouragement to keep pursuing the best route for our family.

I've listened to so many different homeschool podcasts and this is by far the best. Somehow he manages to put all my beliefs about why homeschool is the best and only path for our children into well-researched, thought provoking words, that make sense to those who have chosen this path AND to those who haven't. I feel more reassured, supported and encouraged with every listen. I only wish I lived close to him so our families could be friends. That's how amazing I think this podcast is.

I’m late to discovering this podcast, but I’m binge listening. Really wonderful and thought provoking. Thank you!

Love it

Hope more content comes soon ❤️

This podcast is so encouraging and informative. I’ve learned so much! Keep it going!

I wish I could give more than five stars, this podcast has become one of my all time favorites! I love all the content, it’s been a huge inspiration in my own homeschooling journey. Keep up the good work!

Issy has helped me see that it is possible to let go of the stress and anxiety of having our homeschooling life live up to the standards set by public school teaching. This is my third year homeschooling and I was feeling so overwhelmed and tired with everything I felt I needed to do to help my kids be successful. I was also very close to just sending my kids back to public school because I didn’t feel I was the right person to teach them. This podcast has completely changed the course for my family in that it has helped me feel capable and committed to homeschooling indefinitely. I have listened to the first several episodes, and one of the more recent ones titled “You are enough”. I have cried, or held back the tears, on every single episode. I could yell it from the rooftops that a life without school is the way!! Thank you Issy for having the courage to get past whatever insecurities you had before starting that first episode. You have positively changed our lives!

I can’t thank you enough for creating this most amazing, inspiring, enlightening, heart-string-pulling podcast. My two boys sound exactly like your two eldest boys and it reaffirms every decision we have made for our family to hear the journey your family set out on. Every home educating family needs to hear what you have to share. Well done!

I have enjoyed all your podcasts so far. Thank you for providing such a simple to understand and inspiring pep talk for the nervous and new unschooling parents.

I’ve listened to thousands of podcasts on homeschooling, and have been homeschooling my three children for 4+ years. this is one of THE. BEST. podcasts I’ve ever come across!! beautifully written, and spot on with content that speaks to my soul. we need more voices like this in our homeschooling community. Can’t recommend this highly enough! Keep up the great work!

As a former 1st grade teacher, those little creepy doubts started entering my thoughts, particularly about my 6 year old. If she had ever gone to public school, she’d be starting 1st grade in 3 weeks. My heart would be breaking, the pit of my stomach tightening- but we homeschool so thankfully those feelings aren’t permeating our family as the aisles of Target fill with school supplies. But instead, here come the little doubts…“she should be reading, right? I should teach her now.” ENTER this podcast. At the exact moment when I needed it most, and coincidentally had a few hours alone cutting the grass, this Stark Raving Dad delivered exactly what I needed to hear and how I needed it. Clear and concise podcasts, to the point, no time wasted, and so heartfelt. I’ve never teared up while doing yard work, but hearing the calming affirmations of Issy really brought me back to my biggest “why” for raising our 3 children without school and helped shush those doubts. So now, we continue to live and thrive without school, and I’m so thankful for this podcast & the instant connection with a family so much like ours.

This podcast is one of the best resources I’ve come across in our very early homeschooling/unschooling journey. Thank you for taking the time to reassure us every episode that we aren’t crazy or wrong for doing what works for our families.

This podcast puts all the most important education decisions a family makes into perspective. If your thinking about homeschooling/ homeschooling currently / trying to understand a friend / family member who us gravitating towards homeschooling, this podcast is SO worth listening too. As a home schooling family, this podcast inspires us on our journey AND puts words to “the why” that are sometimes hard to find when discussing with people who don’t understand the homeschooling choice.

Listening to this podcast has given me so much to think about in the most wonderful way. We’ve homeschooled for 2 years but are transitioning to more interested led learning. Stark Raving Dad asks really good questions that have helped my husband and I process through what we want our life and our childrens education to look like. Also good resources for talking with others about why we’ve chosen a life that looks so different from the norm. Clearly his responses are very thought out and respectful. Each episode leaves me feeling so encouraged and not alone in this journey.

I am so thankful for the wisdom, praxis, and encouragement to take a wondrous journey of learning with my kids. My wife and I, growing up in a traditional western learning environment, have been so blessed by your brilliant answers to questions, ideas to consider, and inspiration to continue the journey. Thank you so much for being part of our journey on the other side of the world.

I'm definitely considering strongly not putting my kid in kindergarten this fall. I've also noticed myself saying "yes" more and letting my kids lead me since I have listened to this podcast. And I've read 2 of the books recommended since I found this podcast two weeks ago. Thank you for all you do! I am inspired every time I listen.

Great job. I’m on pod one. Can’t wait to listen to more.

This is such a great podcast - resonates with my experience, champions and supports the free/homeschool initiative ❤️

Thank you for daring to share your experiences so openly and honestly! You never claim to know the “right way” but offer wonderful support and new lines of thinking for parents.

I have been thinking this way for years. So glad that it is now mainstream. I pulled my kids out in 2018, way before COVID. They were in first and kindergarten. I have never once regretted my decision. The negative comments I received from my family where awful. The day all the schools closed down because of COVID, I didn’t say anything, I just smiled and was so happy that my kids did not have to transition to distant learning. You rock for putting this info out there for the world to hear. I pray for many blessings for you and your family.

I found your podcast through Instagram… learn about unschooling is unlocking something from within me, that I hadn’t known was there. As a young child I remember loving learning, but the anxieties of school not so much. Now as a parent myself I am questioning EVERYthing and realizing it isn’t too late to forge our own paths.

I am a new mama and had a bad run in my school experience, also watching my own brother be unsuccessful yet extremely “smart”. My very talented husband saying school was simple to him he just past the test and never did the homework, he claims he did fine. But what if they both had the time, freedom and support to follow their passion and curiosity. How would their life be different. Would my brother have become the creator that’s only just emerging at the age of 47 or my husband be the entrepreneur of fitness and money instead of it just being a dream, while he works away waiting for retirement. Who knows. All I know is what I want for my son. He has just turned 3 and is amazing and I want to keep that spark burning. At times I am scared and uncertain but this podcast filled with Issy’s heartfelt words intentionally chosen, have inspired me to dig deeper and work towards my goal of connection, freedom, curiosity, and joy. I feel like it’s possible and I can take a breath and trust in my heart with a clear direction created by my family’s needs and desires not anyone else. I move slow and am calmer when I can go at my pace this just feels right and I feel so supported by this beautiful space Issy has cultivated. Thanks so much for all that you do and all that you and your loved ones are. It takes courage to blaze anew, thank you!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, experience and honesty. Your podcasts inspire me to continue on this journey with confidence.

This podcast makes me feel incredibly hopeful. I’ve had this inner knowing/pull to learn more about homeschooling for my kiddos because my oldest is a mover and a shaker. She does best when moving in her body and recently I’ve noticed how much she changes after I pick her up from school. Listing to this podcast has given me ideas and inspiration to make a change for our family!

Thank you so much! We live in the US and have a 4 y/o and a 2 y/o. We have been tossing around the idea of homeschooling for awhile but your podcast was exactly what we needed to make the decision! My husband and I are both excited to journey down this path and appreciate the concepts and messages you share. Keep up the great work, thank you!

My words are not enough… THANK YOU for sharing this wisdom and insight. I am thankful for this information and confirmation on subjects that were always presented in a way that ‘that is just how things are done’. It feels freeing to know it does not have to be that type of mentality and it does make us feel less than ,that we don’t mark well in every part of academics or how we learn differently but can still go on to be happy and ‘successful’ in what we are passionate about.

This is one of my favorite homeschooling podcasts. Homeschooling or unschooling isn’t an easy choice, but Issy has a way of calming whatever worries I have about screwing up my kid.

I haven’t listened to it yet but the only review is touting Christian stuff. Big turn off for a large number of people.

Thank you for being Christian and everything you’ve done for this world this podcast is awesome it’s the best so many great lessons Christian

I just finished listening to the second episode, and I cried. I cried tears for your boys who were miserable in school. I cried tears of gratitude for realizing my daughter is the EXACT same energy as William, and I cried tears of joy for having made the choice to pull her out of public school next year. thank you so much for telling your story. I can’t wait to listen to the rest and follow your journey.

Thanks for the podcast and your voice in this homeschooling world. Your story on how you became a homeschooling family is similar to mine and it touched my heart when I heard you saying you knew your path all along and how soul crashing it felt leaving your kids in school every morning. My daughter also was the perfect student on paper, she knew how to play the game of being in school but she suffered inside all through the years until recently that I was ready to listen, to really listen and act on it. Unschooling is our path and this podcast makes me feel like I am not alone.

I’m surrounded by homeschoolers in my circle. I’m the odd ball out for NOT homeschooling. My husband asked me to when our first child was a year old (she’s now 8) and I never even really considered it. I had no desire and I saw no point. In the last two years our world (at large and at home) has changed like we never imagined, and for the first time I considered homeschooling, but I still feared it and had no desire to be the one doing it, I wanted my husband to do it but since he’s the main breadwinner that wasn’t an option. I’ve read articles, watched videos, and listened to friends for years...but this podcast is the first thing that’s ever made me WANT to homeschool. I’m not ready to take the dive this second, but with each new episode (I binged all 19 episodes in two weeks time), I’m closer and closer to making that step. Thank you for this treasure of information and perspective I never would have thought of myself!

Issy is so clear, sensible, and gentle in the way he articulates ideas that go completely against the grain of our modern industrial society, that you can’t help but see the absurdity of the way we currently approach education, work, and life. For all of us who’ve felt alone or feared we are crazy for walking such a different path, this is the place for us! It’s like he has articulated every though and idea I’ve ever had on this topic, but in a way that is so much more organized and beautiful than I have ever managed inside my own head.

This podcast has been so life changing. I followed along on Instagram but finally took the time to listen to the podcast and so much clicked for me. I’ve been listening non-stop this past week, and feel so encouraged after almost two years of feeling like I just wasn’t getting what we had hoped for with homeschooling. I feel like this is really for any parents looking to guide their kids to follow t their own paths—homeschooled or not!

Your story is so inspiring. I feel so fortunate that I found you and have been so encouraged by your bravery. Our journey has started out similar to yours. At first believing in public education, but quickly realizing it was not beneficial to all people, and we quickly realized it wasn't going to be the best option for our first born. We are only two years in to this journey, but I can't thank you enough for sharing your story and your knowledge.

Izzy gives practical jumping off points for thinking, discussing and shaping your own homeschool journey.

As someone who has dipped their toe in homeschooling their children, I am now re-committed (committed) to UNschooling them. This can be a little daunting, to say the least. A major paradigm shift! But I have found your podcast so helpful and affirming. Thank you so much for your voice, wisdom, and anecdotes!!

I’m 1.5 years into homeschooling the kids - although I feel like we’ve always been doing it in a way, even when they were in school. It’s just amazing how this podcast’s content feels like it’s inside my head & heart. I’m only on episode 4, but I’ve already been saying out loud, “YES! Yes exactly!” So simply and inclusively written/worded/spoken, no judgement, just an honest take on one family’s journey that is SO relatable to many (if not all) of us in one way or another - homeschoolers or not. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with us!