Episodes

  • 323. Silent Reading Parties

    323. Silent Reading Parties
    Jan 21 2026

    What if the most powerful way to strengthen focus, creativity, and connection in your home is…quiet? In this episode, we explore the growing trend of silent reading parties and why shared, sustained reading helps both kids and adults reclaim attention in a scrolling world. We talk about body doubling, device fatigue, reading rituals that actually work, and how simple practices like DEAR time or candlelit reading can change the rhythm of a homeschool day. If your family struggles to settle into books, this conversation offers gentle, practical ways to read together again. Join us—and then grab a book.

    Resources:

    1. Grab a discounted copy of our Brave Writer Guide to the Winter Games!
    2. Big props to Christopher Frizzelle, whose Silent Reading Parties are one of the inspirations for this episode.
    3. Find Sue Monk Kidd’s Writing, Creativity, and Soul in the Brave Writer Book Shop. And don’t miss our selection of books that make great companion reads for the Winter Games!
    4. Brave Writer class registration is open! Our Building Brave Writers classes are a great pick for a winter jumpstart.
    5. Check out the Boomerang for Jack London’s The Call of the Wild and White Fang
    6. Share William Wordsworth’s sonnet “The World Is Too Much With Us” with your kids
    7. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
    8. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
    9. Find community in our membership forum, the Brave Learner Home
    10. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
    11. Start a free trial of
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    40 mins
  • 322. Parenting a Spicy One with Mary Van Geffen

    322. Parenting a Spicy One with Mary Van Geffen
    Jan 14 2026

    What if your child’s hardest behaviors aren’t a problem to fix, but an invitation to grow? In this episode, we sit down with Mary Van Geffen, author of Parenting a Spicy One, to explore what it really means to raise a strong-willed, sensitive, or explosive child. We talk about nervous systems, repair after blow-ups, and why slowing down is often the most effective parenting move. You’ll hear practical strategies, deeply humane insights, and a reframing of “difficult” kids that just might change everything. Join us, and let’s rethink what supportive parenting can look like.

    Resources:

    1. Preorder Parenting a Spicy One for special bonuses! Details at Mary Van Geffen’s website: https://www.maryvangeffen.com
    2. Follow Mary on Instagram @maryvangeffen
    3. Find books mentioned in this episode in the Brave Writer Book Shop
    4. Brave Writer class registration is open!
    5. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
    6. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
    7. Find community in our membership forum, the Brave Learner Home
    8. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
    9. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
    10. Give your child the gift of music! Sign up for a free month of private lessons with Maestro Music and let your child discover their own musical voice: www.maestromusic.online/brave
    11. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • 321. No Paper Trail? No Problem!

    321. No Paper Trail? No Problem!
    Jan 7 2026

    If your homeschool doesn’t produce stacks of worksheets, does that mean learning isn’t happening? We explore why meaningful education often leaves very little paper behind. From embodied grammar lessons to spontaneous moments of insight, we talk about how children actually learn and why traditional record-keeping can miss the point. We also share practical, low-pressure ways to document growth without turning your home into a classroom clone. If you’ve ever worried that your homeschool doesn’t “look like enough,” this conversation offers reassurance, clarity, and permission to trust what you see unfolding every day. Join us and rethink what counts as real evidence of learning.

    Resources:

    1. Find delicious reading selections for kids and adults in the Brave Writer Book Shop
    2. Brave Writer class registration is open!
    3. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
    4. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
    5. Find community in our membership forum, the Brave Learner Home
    6. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
    7. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
    8. Give your child the gift of music! Sign up for a free month of private lessons with Maestro Music and let your child discover their own musical voice: www.maestromusic.online/brave
    9. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
    10. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
    11. Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
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    50 mins
  • 320. An Important Message from Julie about Brave Writer

    320. An Important Message from Julie about Brave Writer
    Dec 31 2025

    What happens when you realize the mission can grow even as your energy changes? This week, we share a heartfelt update about Brave Writer’s next chapter—why protecting the “sacred trust” matters, how strong culture makes change possible, and what it looks like to move from doing it all to mentoring new leadership. Along the way, we revisit a long-held Florence dream (Santa Croce + A Room with a View), talk about training replacements, and offer a “January gift” idea: online writing classes kids experience as a treat. Come listen—and then join us at bravewriter.com/online-classes.

    Resources:

    1. Find A Room With a View in the Brave Writer Book Shop
    2. Brave Writer class registration is open!
    3. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
    4. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
    5. Find community in our membership forum, the Brave Learner Home
    6. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
    7. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
    8. Give your child the gift of music! Sign up for a free month of private lessons with Maestro Music and let your child discover their own musical voice: www.maestromusic.online/brave
    9. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
    10. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
    11. Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
    12. Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to
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    36 mins
  • 319. How to Grow Writing Skills as an Adult

    319. How to Grow Writing Skills as an Adult
    Dec 24 2025
    Have you ever wished you could grow as a writer—not just help your kids write, but find your own voice on the page? In this episode, we explore practical, gentle ways to build an adult writing life from scratch. We talk about tiny daily practices, “write or do nothing” sessions, using poems and memories as prompts, and reading as the best antidote to writer’s block. We also share favorite craft books, quirky revision tricks, and how community can transform your confidence.Join us as we map out five concrete steps to start (or restart) your writing practice this year.Resources:You can find all the books mentioned in this episode in the Brave Writer Book ShopBrave Writer class registration is open! Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!) Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates WritingFind community in our membership forum, the Brave Learner Home Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programsStart a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attentionGive your child the gift of music! Sign up for a free month of private lessons with Maestro Music and let your child discover their own musical voice: www.maestromusic.online/braveSubscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of EnthusiasmsSign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to media@bravewriter.comConnect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterBluesky: @bravewriter.comFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterConnect with Melissa:Website: melissawiley.comSubstack: melissawiley.substack.comInstagram:
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    54 mins
  • 318. For the Kids: Meet the Lighthouse Family

    318. For the Kids: Meet the Lighthouse Family
    Dec 17 2025
    What happens when we slow down and really listen to the language of a story? In this special episode for kids and parents, we cozy up with Cynthia Rylant’s Lighthouse Family series and unpack a delicious opening passage from The Storm. We notice how sound, mood, adjectives, and even compound words work together to paint Pandora the lighthouse cat’s lonely world—and we share simple ways to turn those discoveries into copywork, scavenger hunts, and rich family discussion.Join us as we read, notice, and play with language—then keep the magic going in your own read-aloud time.Resources:Order the Lighthouse Family issue of the Dart here (available Jan. 1st)Find the Lighthouse Family books in the Brave Writer Book ShopBrave Writer class registration is open! Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!) Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates WritingFind community at Brave Learner HomeLearn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programsStart a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attentionSubscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of EnthusiasmsSign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to media@bravewriter.comConnect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterBluesky: @bravewriter.comFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterConnect with Melissa:Website: melissawiley.comSubstack: melissawiley.substack.comInstagram: @melissawileybooksBluesky:
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    41 mins
  • 317. Hygge Homeschool for the Holidays

    317. Hygge Homeschool for the Holidays
    Dec 10 2025
    As the leaves turn and the days shorten, there's a distinct shift in the air – it's the cozy season, a time for warmth, reflection, and connection. This season, we're revisiting one of our favorite conversations about embracing the Danish concept of hygge (pronounced “hoo-ga”) in our homeschooling journey. Hygge is all about creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. It's the warmth of morning light streaming through the window, the comfort of a hot cup of cocoa, the joy of a shared story.In this replayed episode, we delve into how hygge can transform the homeschooling experience. As the season changes, so does the rhythm of our homes and our approach to education. It's a time to slow down, to savor, and to connect more deeply with our children through learning and play.Resources:Hero Kids: https://www.heroforgegames.com/hero-kids/Amazing Tales: https://amazing-tales.net/Expedition (free pdf): https://expeditiongame.com/print-and-playYour Very Own Village (free pdf): https://www.onwardheroes.com/yourveryownvillageMouseGuard RPG: https://www.mouse-guard.net/rpgEnglish Tea Store: englishteastore.comFind books mentioned in this episode in the Brave Writer Book ShopBrave Writer class registration is open! Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!) Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates WritingFind community at the Brave Learner HomeLearn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programsStart a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attentionSubscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of EnthusiasmsSign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Connect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads:
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    57 mins
  • 316. When Your Middlers Lack Interest

    316. When Your Middlers Lack Interest
    Dec 3 2025
    What do we do when our tweens and teens don’t seem “into” anything? In this episode, we explore how to revive interest, curiosity, and motivation in the middle school years—without forcing artificial enthusiasm. We talk about why middlers may seem disengaged, how risk and adventure replace the “magic” of early childhood learning, and how deep dives, conversation, boredom, and flexibility can open doors to authentic passion. We also share practical scripts, examples from our own families, and tools for nurturing critical thinking and connection.Text us your questions using the link in the show notes!Resources:Listen to our interview with Chris Balme, and find his book Challenge Accepted: 50 Adventures to Make Middle School Awesome in the Brave Writer Book ShopBrave Writer class registration is open! Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!) Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates WritingFind community at Brave Learner HomeLearn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programsStart a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attentionSubscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of EnthusiasmsSign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Connect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterBluesky: @bravewriter.comFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterConnect with Melissa:Website: melissawiley.comSubstack: melissawiley.substack.comInstagram: @melissawileybooksBluesky:
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    47 mins