Cover of Outside the Box Education Podcast

Outside the Box Education Podcast

Outside the Box Education Podcast

By: Outside the Box Education
Listen for free

Season's Savings | 0.99 €/month for 3 months

5.99 €/month thereafter - terms apply. Cancel monthly.

Outside the Box Education is a podcast for homeschool parents who are ready to let go of the pressure to recreate school at home and discover a more meaningful way to learn.

Hosted by Melissa Whittaker, each episode brings you real homeschool stories, practical ideas, and honest conversations about the challenges and joys of educating your children differently.

We’ll talk about everything from choosing curriculum and helping struggling learners to overcoming comparison, building confidence, and creating a homeschool that fits your unique family.

Because there isn’t one right way to homeschool—and sometimes the best learning happens when we’re willing to think outside the box.

2026 Outside the Box Education
Episodes
  • I Thought I Was Failing at Homeschooling— Until I Saw This | #4 with Bethany Deardeuff

    I Thought I Was Failing at Homeschooling— Until I Saw This | #4 with Bethany Deardeuff
    8 Oct 2026

    Have you ever worried you’re failing at homeschooling because your days don’t look the way you imagined?

    In this episode of the Outside the Box Education Podcast, host Melissa Whittaker talks with Bethany Deardeuff, a homeschool mom of five, about letting go of guilt and finding an approach that fits her family.

    Bethany shares her experience homeschooling in a neurodivergent family, navigating her own ADHD and mental health challenges, and supporting children with different needs. She reflects on the surprise of watching her oldest graduate with knowledge, curiosity, and abilities that grew—even when their homeschool never looked like her ideal.

    Together, they explore:
    • Finding a natural rhythm instead of forcing someone else’s routine
    • Recognizing learning in everyday life
    • Approaching math with curiosity rather than fear
    • Building a supportive homeschool community
    • Helping children feel safe and supported while doing hard things

    If you’ve wondered whether you’re doing enough, this honest conversation offers encouragement to notice what’s growing in your family and make room for your own way of learning.

    For more great homeschool articles, videos, podcasts, and more, visit https://outsidethebox.education.

    Music licensed through Soundstripe.
    Code: FX5MZDNBAVHFJVPU
    Show more Show less
    46 min
  • She Homeschooled 7 Kids—Here’s How They Learned to Teach Themselves » Michelle Jones

    She Homeschooled 7 Kids—Here’s How They Learned to Teach Themselves » Michelle Jones
    1 Oct 2026

    How do you homeschool seven children without trying to teach them all the same way? In this episode, Melissa talks with Michelle Jones, who began homeschooling more than 30 years ago and now has seven adult children.

    Michelle shares how she moved from rigid schedules and workbooks toward an education shaped by each child’s needs and interests. She talks about the spelling tests she let go of, the family routines that helped her manage a busy home, and the health crisis that pushed her older children to become independent learners.

    They also discuss homeschooling through high school, preparing for college, and the question that kept Michelle awake for years: “Am I ruining my children?” Her story offers practical ideas and reassurance for parents who want their children to love learning and feel ready for what comes next.

    Music licensed through Soundstripe.
    Code: FX5MZDNBAVHFJVPU

    Visit us at
    Website: outsidethebox.education
    Instagram: / the.mindful.heart
    Facebook: / outside.the.box.ed
    Show more Show less
    52 min
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet