The Well-Trained Mind podcast

Responding to Listener Questions (or Things We Should Talk About More in the Homeschool Community!)

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett respond to listener questions. We also asked listeners to send us their thoughts about things we should be talking about more in the home education community. This episode has a video version! Check it out on YouTube! Note: around 51:27, Susanna mentions this episode, about choosing the right online school.

Education and AI w/ Jose Vargas

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett welcome Jose Vargas to the podcast to discuss the future of education in the wake of the AI revolution. (00:00) - Intro with Jose Vargas (02:42) - The onset of Generative AI (04:51) - Example uses of AI and the drawbacks (09:03) - The levels that Jose works with (10:56) - AI in animation (15:50) - The Student-Teacher dynamic (or lack thereof) (20:24) - What has changed for teachers and students (28:06) - Break (28:08) - Safeguards for final work (36:26) - What to know before kids hit freshman year of college (42:18) - Learning HOW it's happening (45:58) - Learning how to maintain your sovereignty over your work (50:10) - We could keep going! (52:19) - Outro

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RE-RELEASE: Homeschooled by Susan Wise Bauer w/ Chris Bauer

This week we're re-releasing one of our most popular episodes from last season - we'll be back to new episodes next week! In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett interview Susan’s son, Chris Bauer, for the inside scoop on what it was like to be homeschooled by the author of The Well-Trained Mind. As promised, here is the "Daniel fingers!" blog post Chris mentions. At 50:53 Susan mentions her history growing up in a fundamentalist cult, for more on her story check out Season 1, Episode 1: Our Education Journeys, or Season 4, Episode 1: Honest Reflections on My Homeschool Experience w. Susan Wise Bauer (00:00) - Intro with Chris (Christopher) Bauer (01:25) - Chris was the test case (02:52) - Who is Chris? (09:45) - Chris' homeschool experience in 3 words | Consistent, flexible, and varied (10:30) - Earliest homeschool memories (16:23) - Typical homeschool days (23:51) - Susan invites negativity (27:07) - The rest of Chris' homeschool day (30:19) - Break (30:21) - Chris' biggest challenges (34:05) - How homeschooling shaped Chris' life (39:17) - Beta testing WTM (45:32) - What would Chris change? (47:00) - What Chris is passionate about (48:03) - Definite do and don't for Chris' hypothetical future children (52:04) - Outro

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The Label Debate w/ Heather Quintero

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett are joined by Heather Quintero to discuss the pros and cons of getting your children diagnosed with learning differences or “labels.” NPR article Susanna mentioned: Younger children in a grade are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Other studies referenced: A 2025 study on diagnostic labels found that students labeled with a learning disability were seen as “lower in academic competence,” which led to lower performance expectations. A 2025 qualitative analysis found that labels can lead to negative self-perception. Rethinking School by Susan Wise Bauer (00:00) - Intro with Heather Quintero (00:43) - Talking about labels (04:37) - Medical label vs school plan (05:53) - Why this is important (09:28) - Why are there hesitations to get labels (15:34) - Natural differentiation and over diagnosis (26:49) - Break (26:50) - What a diagnosis can unlock (39:49) - Think about the gut check (48:11) - Rule out vision and hearing issues (52:49) - Distress is not a moral failing (53:35) - Outro

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Nationalism and Classical Education w/ Nendir Noel

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett welcome Nendir Noel to the podcast to discuss classical education, its connection to the proverbial “West,” and a few alarming trends we’ve noticed in the American classical education community. Website recommended by Susan: https://pharos.vassarspaces.net/ Correction: Cannon Press published Stephen Wolfe “The Case for Christian Nationalism,” not William Wolfe. (00:00) - Intro with Nendirmwa Noel (03:23) - Nendirmwa's background (07:13) - Looking back on Nendimwa's education (12:11) - Difference in American education (23:15) - Break (23:16) - Classical education being portrayed as superior (30:12) - Homeschooling's false link to racist ideology (36:18) - Curriculum red flags (45:58) - Defining what classical education is to us (49:35) - In the Conversation Co-op

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Choosing Homeschool Curricula Without Anxiety, Noise, or Peer Pressure w/ Mel Moore and Bridget Nickerson

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett welcome two of our colleagues, Mel Moore and Bridget Nickerson, for a conversation about ignoring peer pressure and choosing homeschool programs that work for your students. (00:00) - Intro with Bridget Nickerson and Mel Moore (03:23) - The problem with lists (16:45) - Fear of explusion? (18:28) - Common gatekeeping tactics (25:59) - Break (26:00) - The myth of "safety" (33:42) - Hidden ideologies? (37:31) - Will I accidentally turn my child into [x] (39:24) - Pushing back against "sneaky" (42:41) - How to choose the "right" curricula (48:42) - Outro

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Are Homeschool History Programs Accurate? w/ Dr. Warren Throckmorton

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett welcome Dr. Warren Throckmorton onto the podcast to review accuracy of various homeschool curricula. Links to Warren Throckmorton’s work elsewhere: Substack: The Throckmorton Initiative Book: Getting Jefferson Right: Fact-Checking Claims About Our Third President Upcoming book: The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths that Hijack History Podcast: The Christian Past That Wasn't: Formerly Telling Jefferson's Lies X: @wthrockmorton Facebook: warrenthrockmorton Bluesky: @wthrockmorton.bsky.social Excerpt links: Our American Heritage by Judy Hull Moore, Abeka. Quotations come from pages 1, 3, and 53 The Mystery of History blog by curriculum author Judy Hull Moore “Benjamin Franklin – A Jack of All Trades” US Constitution and Government Course Book, The Good and the Beautiful. See sample from the publisher’s website. Quotations come from page 2, History Case File page 1, and page 2. A Young People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn and Rebecca Stefoff. Quotations come from 52, 54, 58, and 88. Why Learn History When it is Already On Your Phone by Sam Wineburg The Story of the World Volume 3: Early Modern Times Revised Edition by Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind Press. Quotations come from 258-259, 260-262. History Quest: United States, Pandia Press. Quoted passages come from pages 52, 76, and 248. Snapshots of Early Modern History, Volume 2 by Vivian Meyers, Curiosity Chronicles. Quoted passages come from page 40. View samples on the publisher’s website. (00:00) - Intro with Warren Throckmorton (06:59) - What we're doing today (07:56) - Our American Heritage (16:10) - Mystery of History Vol. 4 (23:37) - The Good and the Beautiful US constitution course (34:27) - Break (34:28) - A Young People's History of the United States (40:19) - The Story of the World (46:05) - History Quest: United States (52:22) - Curiosity Chronicles: Early Modern Times (55:29) - How to evaluate the honesty of histories? (01:01:12) - Outro

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Should Christians Attend Secular Universities? W/ Dr. Karen Swallow Prior

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett are joined by Karen Swallow Prior to discuss selecting university education, particularly for Christians homeschool graduates. Dr. Prior’s substack Dr. Prior’s website You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful by Karen Swallow Prior The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis by Karen Swallow Prior (00:00) - Intro with Dr. Karen Swallow Prior (00:35) - The purpose of this conversation (02:47) - Susan and Karen's backgrounds (05:48) - Personal experiences (12:34) - How to evaluate universities with your student (17:26) - Differences between secondary and university Christian roles (20:48) - Education being "safe" (25:06) - The four-year degree and the readiness of a student (27:29) - The college litmus test (29:54) - Break (29:56) - The fear of indoctrination (43:55) - How to ensure a vigorous education (48:17) - "The search for truth" as a basis for education (50:14) - Looping back around to Karen's tenure as a principal (52:14) - Going back to teaching at an institution? (53:42) - What Karen's up to now (55:18) - Outro

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Homeschool and Abuse, Discipline Strategies, and Parental Authority w/ Rachael Denhollander

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett welcome Rachael Denhollander to the podcast to discuss homeschooling and abuse. Illinois case mentioned in the episode Book mentioned: Homeschooled by Stefan Merrill Block Links on biblical counseling movement When Restoration Hurts via Christianity Today The Rise of Biblical Counseling via Pacific Standard (00:00) - Introduction with Rachael Denhollander (03:36) - Understanding abuse in homeschooling (05:10) - Defining the categories of abuse (08:38) - Isolation and ultimate authority (17:33) - How to teach when authority is overstepping (22:48) - How to teach when and how to say "no" (27:40) - Break (28:17) - Authority is not absolute (32:04) - What to look for (36:52) - What is reasonable government oversight? (54:23) - What to look out for (57:38) - What should we be asking ourselves? (01:01:31) - Outro

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Parenting Styles, Discipline Strategies, and Homeschooling w/ Dr. Melanie Wilson

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett talk about parenting styles and discipline strategies with psychologist and homeschool veteran Dr. Melanie Wilson. Dr. Wilson has her own podcast, The Homeschool Sanity Show. She also sells curricula and homeschool tools at Fun to Learn Books. (00:00) - Intro with Dr. Melanie Wilson (00:47) - Revisiting FlyLady (01:50) - Discipline and parenting style in homeschooling and how it has changed (10:04) - "Too hard" vs "Too soft" discipline styles (14:38) - How to set boundaries in a non-authoritarian way (20:38) - Break (20:39) - How to setup healthy boundaries? (27:46) - How to model behavior for a toddler (38:55) - Acknowledging childhood trauma (45:35) - Try to relax. Pay attention. Make tweaks. (48:54) - Outro

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The Myth of Good Christian Parenting w/ Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett talk to Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis the authors of The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families. Find the book on Amazon Order directly from Baker Bookshop book link Audible link Instagram: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcginnis Threads: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcginnis Facebook: @mburtwrites | @kelsey.kramermcginnis Bluesky: @mburtwrites | @kkramermcginnis TikTok: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcg Substack: @mburtwrites | @kelseykramermcginnis YouTube: @mburtwrites Website: Marissa In the Church Library podcast Links to additional interviews with Marissa and Kelsey Marissa’s novels: Storybound, Story’s End, A Sliver of Stardust, A Legend of Starfire, and The 12 Dares of Christa (00:00) - Introduction with Marissa and Kelsey (06:14) - Children are human beings (07:16) - How a certain kind of theology can impact parenting (19:59) - Break (20:00) - Talking about sin (35:46) - The myth of instilling a worldview in adults (42:14) - Things Christians need to rethink (44:54) - Impactful stories (52:27) - Evaluating resources (53:42) - Check out "The Myth of Good Christian Parenting" (55:11) - Outro

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A Special Announcement! (The Story of the World Volume 1: 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition)

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett announce the upcoming release of The Story of the World, Volume 1: Ancient Times, 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition! Available everywhere February, 2026! The audiobook and/or PDF of the main text are available NOW at welltrainedmind.com Learn more about the Story of the World Vol 1: 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition HERE (00:00) - An announcement! (04:14) - What is different? (08:27) - More new features! (10:25) - The Instructor Guide and Student Book (15:29) - We're excited!!!

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The Joys and Challenges of Homeschooling w/ Our Podcast Listeners

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett react to listener responses to this season’s interview questions! Note on Audio: Due to a technical issue, Susanna’s audio in this episode isn’t as clear as usual. Thanks for bearing with us—we think you’ll still enjoy the conversation! (00:00) - Intro (02:05) - How we're organizing the episode (02:39) - Favorite memories being homeschooled (02:49) - Cake doughnuts on snow days (05:16) - Hands-on projects (06:57) - Co-ops can be good!!!! (08:10) - One of the biggest challenges of homeschooling (08:45) - Hard relationships with parents (12:11) - The story of socialization (14:43) - Making the transition out of homeschooling (19:56) - Being self-motivated in a subject you hate (26:29) - Break (26:31) - If you could change one thing, what would it be? (26:38) - Us vs. Them (32:21) - Structure and technology (37:11) - Biggest challenges as a homeschool parent (37:24) - Career/school balance (44:02) - One piece of advice (44:12) - It will not look like the picture in your mind (45:15) - Try things!! (47:07) - Trust your gut (48:35) - Outro

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A Life of Learning w/ Colleen Sharpe

In this episode, Susan, Susanna (and Susanna's teething one-year-old), interview Colleen Sharpe who went college for the first time after graduating two students from homeschool. Article by Colleen about her experience starting college at 55 years old. Research Susan Mentioned: A twenty-year study found that the amount of books available in a home had a bigger impact on a child's level of education than parent income, nationality, or parent level of education. (00:00) - Intro with Colleen Sharpe (and another special guest!) (00:42) - How Colleen and Susan know each other (04:29) - Colleen's homeschooling journey (07:19) - Fears and worries (09:20) - A Susanna check-in (09:51) - Colleen's second act (16:45) - How is homeschooling in Canada? (19:14) - Break (19:15) - Evolutions that stand out (23:37) - "Staying steady by staying curious" (26:16) - The role of books (28:50) - Finding room for curiosities and hobbies (30:59) - Instilling wisdom (34:06) - Colleen brags (37:43) - Outro

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RE-RELEASE: Is Classical Education Necessarily Eurocentric w/ Dr. Anika Prather

We will be back next week with a new episode! In the meantime, enjoy this re-release of our episode featuring Dr. Anika Prather. Show notes: Dr. Prather’s Website Dr. Anika's Suggested Authors to Include in Your Study of the Cannon: Octavia Butler Anna Julia Cooper James Baldwin Martin Luther King Corretta Scott King Ralph Ellison Richard Wright Alain Locke Langston Hughes Carter G. Woodson Other Harlem Renaissance Author (00:00) - Intro with Dr. Anika Prather (02:22) - Is there Eurocentrism in classical education? (09:01) - Finding a better word than "eurocentrism" (12:33) - Marxist philosophy in classical education (15:42) - How to get to synthesis (38:58) - Classical education is understanding the human condition (43:02) - Wrapping up (43:21) - Outro

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The Call to Homeschool, Freedom in Routine, and Hobbies as a Homeschool Mom w/ Dr. Melanie Wilson

CONTRIBUTE your own response to this episode's interview questions for a chance to be featured on the final episode of this season! In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett interview Dr. Melanie Wilson who has her own podcast for homeschoolers, The Homeschool Sanity Show. She also sells curricula and homeschool tools at Fun to Learn Books. A book that inspired Melanie: A Field Guide to Homeschooling by Christine Field The Fly Lady website! (00:00) - Intro with Dr. Melanie Wilson (00:35) - Melanie's history with homeschooling (03:16) - Melanie's call to homeschooling (13:09) - Setting expectations (15:18) - Habits, routines, and Fly Lady (28:11) - Break (28:12) - Back to the outline (28:24) - Changing styles (32:59) - Not losing yourself while homeschooling (40:22) - A pride point and sore point (45:43) - Outro

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Multilingual, Multicultural, Multigenerational Homeschooling w/ Rachel G. from Seven in All

CONTRIBUTE your own response to this episode's interview questions for a chance to be featured on the final episode of this season! In this episode, Susan and Susanna chat with Rachel from Seven In All on YouTube! Check out Rachel's YouTube Channel here. She also has her own curriculum and resources available here. (00:00) - Intro with Rachel (01:38) - Rachel's history and experience with homeschooling (07:49) - One thing to be thankful for (10:27) - What works and what doesn't (15:08) - Break (15:10) - How well did homeschool prepare Rachel? (17:26) - Was homeschooling a given? (18:38) - Difference between homeschooling offspring vs. siblings (20:22) - Fears and differences (22:41) - Any particular style? (28:28) - When and why did Rachel decide to start sharing? (29:48) - One piece of advice (33:35) - Outro

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The Loneliness of Motherhood, Finding the Right Community, and Adapting Curricula For Your Kids W/ Tammy Deneb, Kat Stelly, and Amy Plank

CONTRIBUTE your own response to this episode's interview questions! In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett interview three homeschool veteran moms who also happen to be members of our incredible customer service team here at The Well-Trained Mind Press! 1. Kat discovered homeschooling through the writing of early homeschool thought leader John Holt. Check out his organization and books here. 2. TedXTalk on renaming postpartum depression recommended by Susanna 2. Articles on the loneliness of motherhood, recommended by Susan: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/aug/21/it-felt-shameful-the-profound-loneliness-of-modern-motherhood https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/07/the-captivity-of-motherhood/398525/ https://msmagazine.com/2023/05/11/motherhood-mom-lonely-mental-health/ https://www.mother.ly/life/motherly-stories/motherhood-is-lonely/ (00:00) - Intro with the Customer Service team (03:29) - Discovery of Homeschooling (10:35) - Biggest homeschooling fears (15:17) - Keeping the fear at bay (22:19) - Break (22:20) - Homeschooling evolution (27:49) - Biggest challenge as a homeschool parent (39:21) - Homeschool pride (40:51) - Adapting curriculum (50:04) - One piece of advice (53:44) - Outro

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Homeschool Sibling Relationships, Homeschoolers and The Sciences, And Learning How to learn w/ Nathan and Shelby Otto

On this episode, we have two guests, Nathan Otto and Shelby Otto. Nathan and Shelby are homeschool graduates who are both doing amazing work in the sciences. We talk about homeschooling and sibling relationships, community college, and pursuing passions that your parents (and educators) don't have expertise in. CONTRIBUTE your own response to this episode's interview questions for a chance to be featured on the final episode of this season! (00:00) - Intro with Nathan and Shelby Otto! (03:16) - How the Ottos ended up in the Sciences (10:40) - The community college experience (13:40) - How homeschooling prepared for what came next (19:24) - Break (19:26) - Post-homeschool FOMO (27:45) - Haunted by misconceptions? (31:20) - Things that could've been done differently (34:27) - One thing they're thankful for from homeschooling

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"Your Kids Are Not Your Report Card," The Origami Rebellion, and a Homeschool Math Redemption Arc w/ Heather Quintero

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett interview Heather Quintero, an early homeschool graduate and homeschool veteran parent. Heather shares her inspiring, and sometimes hilarious, experiences and joins us for a discussion on the importance of allowing your children to fail. (00:00) - Intro with Heather Quintero (00:43) - Heather's homeschool history (14:45) - Journey from then to now (18:38) - Decision to homeschool her own kids (25:39) - Break (25:40) - Homeschool doesn't have to be to excel beyond in school education (36:45) - Regrets and things Heather would've done differently (45:11) - One piece of advice (47:45) - Outro

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