Homeschooling IRL | Parenting & homeschooling — unfiltered.

The Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network turns thirteen this month, and for the birthday every host sat down and answered one real question from a homeschool parent. One question each, all in one episode. Homeschooling in Real Life is in it — because of course it is. This was always the show that covered what the convention would not. Their question: “Somebody in your homeschool group has made it clear you are doing this wrong.” Fletch and Kendra go to 1 John 5 and land on the thing nobody wants to hear: the passage says pray for them. It does not say write them a letter telling them how wrong they are in 25 points. It does not say lambast them on social media. It does not say keep your kids away from theirs. The clip comes from When My Convictions Aren’t Your Convictions. Felice has something to say about this show in the episode, too: “Their podcast is still getting played and listened to because their message is timeless.” She is right. Also in this episode: Felice Gerwitz on whether to homeschool at all · Hal and Melanie Young on boys who will not sit still · Dr. Melanie Wilson on why you are already behind · the 7Sisters on the high school transcript · Sue Myers on a fever and a two-year-old · Meryl van der Merwe on teenagers and AI · Meredith Curtis on getting the joy back · Lisa Nehring on life skills before they launch. The Sweet 13 Giveaway is open. More than $1,500 in prizes, four drawings across October, and a free party favor for everyone who enters. Enter at ultimateradioshow.com/sweet-13 — October 1 through 29. No purchase necessary, US residents 18+, official rules here. Presented by Eden’s Table. Use code EDEN13. The post Sweet 13 Bonus: Somebody Says You Are Doing It Wrong appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Grown-ups only. This episode contains mature content — guard little ears before you press play. Most homeschool families are great at talking to their kids about sex. Talking to each other? That’s where things get quiet. In this Homeschooling in Real Life encore, Fletch and Kendra open a listener email from “Jenny” — a mom who left a legalistic, fear-based church culture and wrote in with a brave question: you’ve taught us how to talk to our kids, but how do we talk about sex as a couple? To help them go there, they invited back two of their favorite people, Barrett and Jennifer Johnson of InfoForFamilies.com — ministry leaders who speak at marriage conferences on exactly this subject. Together the four of them have an honest, funny, refreshingly real conversation about intimacy in a Christian marriage: why the church stays silent, why God’s design for sex is good, and what to actually do when your marriage isn’t firing on all cylinders. In this episode you’ll hear: Why “our current sex life is a mess” is the unspoken reason many parents freeze up talking to their kids How to raise the subject with your spouse without triggering defensiveness (“we’re the problem, let’s work on this together” instead of “you’re the problem”) Reframing intimacy as the primary way many husbands connect emotionally — and how Jennifer’s shift in perspective changed everything The physical side no one mentions: hormones, exhaustion, nursing, perimenopause, and why a real conversation with your doctor matters Simple marriage disciplines that work — the quarterly 24-hour getaway, being (embarrassingly) affectionate in front of your kids, and making the book or the podcast “the bad guy” that starts the conversation When to bring in outside help, and letting go of the shame around counseling or a therapist This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Part 2 is coming, with another special guest — so subscribe and stay tuned. Resources & books mentioned: Barrett & Jennifer Johnson — InfoForFamilies.com, including their talk Sex & Marriage: Moving from “Not Tonight” to “We Can’t Wait” Intimate Issues — Linda Dillow & Lorraine Pintus A Celebration of Sex — Dr. Douglas Rosenau Sheila Wray Gregoire — To Love, Honor and Vacuum (a listener favorite — more on her in an upcoming episode!) Related listening — the Johnson family arc: When Your Kid Discovers Porn: A Parent’s Guide — the companion conversation on guiding kids through what they stumble into online. Connect with the show: Email [email protected] · Facebook /homeschoolingirl · and if this one helped, leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts — even just the stars. This episode is brought to you by CTC Math — a complete K–12 math curriculum with short, engaging video lessons that fit your family’s schedule. Start a free trial today. The post From “Not Tonight” to Talking It Out: Intimacy in a Christian Marriage appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

When Your Child Sees Something They Shouldn’t Online: A Parent’s Guide Parent note: this episode discusses pornography and its effect on kids and families. The conversation is frank but never graphic — it’s meant for grown-up ears, so you may want to listen before the little ones are in the room. It’s not a question of if your child will see explicit content online — it’s when. That’s a hard sentence to read, but it’s the honest starting point of this conversation. Andy “Fletch” and Kendra Fletcher sit down with Barrett and Jenifer Johnson of INFO for Families to talk about what actually helps: not panic, not shame, and not a false confidence that the right filter will keep the world out. Filters and boundaries matter, but the real protection is an ongoing, calm, gospel-shaped conversation you start long before you think you need to. Whether you’ve just discovered something on a device and your heart is pounding, or you simply want to get ahead of it, this episode gives you language, resources, and hope. In this episode: Why exposure is a matter of “when, not if” — and why no fence or filter is enough on its own How to respond in the moment without freaking out or shaming your child Starting the conversation early (yes, even with young children) so you’re the first voice, not the last Where filters and accountability tools genuinely help — and where they fall short Teaching wisdom and compassion, including seeing the people in the industry as exploited rather than villains Bringing the gospel into it: “hope shifting” and the path to restoration Why restoration is spiritual, relational, and physical — retraining a brain that’s been wired by exposure Why this isn’t “just a boy problem” — girls and young women are affected too What it means to “run into the burning building” for your kids instead of away from it Chapters (approximate): 0:00 — Fresh intro & parent heads-up 0:30 — Fletch & Kendra: the “when, not if” reality (and a nod to The Village) 4:00 — Why no filter or fence is enough by itself 7:30 — Meet Barrett & Jenifer Johnson, INFO for Families 11:00 — Don’t freak out: how to respond in the moment 15:00 — Talk to your kids before the world does — starting young 20:00 — Filters and tools that help (Circle, accountability software) — and their limits 25:00 — Wisdom & compassion: the people behind the industry are exploited 30:00 — The gospel and “hope shifting” 35:00 — Restoration: spiritual, community, and retraining the brain 41:00 — It’s not just boys — girls and young women too 45:00 — “Run into the burning building”: encouragement for weary parents 49:00 — Next week: Sex Ed for Parents (for couples) A couple of lines worth remembering: “It’s not if your kids will be exposed — it’s when. And the best filter you have is the conversation you’re already having with them.” “Don’t freak out. If your kid feels like they can come to you with the hard thing, you’ve won something no software can give you.” Resources mentioned: Barrett & Jenifer Johnson — INFO for Families (“Imperfect Normal Families Only”): infoforfamilies.com The Talks — book and companion 6-part DVD series from the Johnsons Good Pictures, Bad Pictures — a read-aloud book for introducing this topic to young children Brain Buddy — an app supporting recovery and retraining Circle — a home device for managing screens and filtering across your network If you’re a parent in the thick of this right now: take a breath. You are not behind, and you are not alone. Start the conversation, keep it going, and lead with hope. Thank you to the sponsor of this episode, CTCMath.com The post When Your Child Sees Something They Shouldn’t Online: A Parent’s Guide appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

📚 Part of our guide: How to Start Homeschooling Special Replay: The Flaws and Benefits of Homeschooling Homeschooling IRL — Episode 15 | Updated replay for 2026 From the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network. This episode is a special replay, updated for 2026. In it, veteran homeschooling parents Fletch and Kendra sit down with homeschool graduate Matthew Mason for one of their most-talked-about conversations — an honest, gracious look at the good, the hard, and the complicated of growing up in the Christian homeschool world. Sponsor This episode is brought to you by CTC Math. Finding a math curriculum that works for your family can be a challenge! With CTCMath, all of your kids from K–12 can learn at their own pace with one family subscription. With a CTCMath membership, you have access to all grades and lessons, which means your children can work at whatever level is best for them — whether they need to catch up, keep up, or move ahead. CTCMath is offering listeners a half-price discount plus a bonus 6 months when you register for a 12-month membership. That means a complete online homeschool math curriculum for all your kids for 18 months! Learn more and claim the offer → About This Episode Matthew Mason is a homeschool graduate and a longtime friend of Fletch and Kendra’s family. Homeschooled K–12 and adopted before birth by a pro-life activist mother, Matthew grew up inside what he calls “the bubble” — a reformed, close-knit Christian homeschool community. As a young adult he came out as gay, left that community, and began searching for truth on his own terms. In this candid studio interview, he reflects on what homeschooling gave him and where it fell short. Together they dig into the questions a lot of homeschool families are afraid to ask: What do we do when a child walks away from the faith or the lifestyle they were raised in? How do we love well when we disagree deeply? And how do we keep our hope anchored in Christ rather than in our parenting? What Fletch & Kendra Talk About The fear of raising a “prodigal” — and why hope shouldn’t rest in your parenting or results “Hope shifting”: where homeschool parents quietly place their trust Matthew’s story: adoption, the pro-life movement, speech competitions, and leaving the bubble The pros of homeschooling — a tailored, interactive education from the person who knows the child best The flaws — filtered books and music, a single worldview, and kids who never learn to think for themselves How the church and homeschool community can respond with compassion instead of rejection Listening to your kids — really listening — and keeping the lines of communication open A Listener Note This is one of Homeschooling IRL’s more honest, “hot potato” conversations. Fletch and Kendra interview a guest whose beliefs and choices differ from their own and from many listeners’ — not to endorse, but to model gracious, open dialogue. As they put it, when your identity is anchored in Christ, you can listen to anything without fear. More From Homeschooling IRL If this episode resonated, here are other Homeschooling IRL conversations referenced in it: Love in the House — with Chris Jube, on a large homeschool family that decided to “figure out the love thing.” How to Raise a Pagan Kid in a Christian Home (Ep. 13) — with Barrett & Jennifer Johnson. Homeschooling Will Save Your Children — the two-part series on where our hope for our kids really belongs. How Do I Talk to My Kids About Sex? (Ep. 16) — the follow-up episode, again featuring Barrett & Jennifer Johnson on their book The Talks. More Shows on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network There’s a homeschool podcast for everyone on the network. A few you may enjoy: The Homeschool Sanity Show — Melanie Wilson on keeping your sanity while you homeschool. Vintage Homeschool Moms — Felice Gerwitz with practical, been-there encouragement. Making Biblical Family Life Practical — Hal & Melanie Young on faith and family. Finish Well — Meredith Curtis on homeschooling through high school and beyond. The Homeschool Highschool Podcast — Vicki Tillman on navigating the high school years. Homeschooling with Technology — Meryl van der Merwe on tech tools and tech wisdom. Creation Science Podcast — faith-based science for curious families. Homeopathy for Mommies — Sue Meyer on natural remedies for the home. Homeschool Curious Podcast — for families just exploring the homeschool path. Ultimate Homeschool Radio Show — foundational help for getting started. Browse the full lineup at ultimateradioshow.com. Connect With Homeschooling IRL Website: HomeschoolingIRL.com Facebook: facebook.com/HomeschoolingIRL Email: [email protected] The Homeschooling IRL podcast is a production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network. This 2026 replay is sponsored by CTC Math. The post I Love Homeschooling, But I’ll Tell You Its Flaws appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Are you homeschooling a struggling learner? Fletch and Kendra share three practical ideas for you as you consider homeschooling a child who struggles. Join us for this week’s episode as we answer a listener’s question about how to give struggling learners the time and attention they need. EPISODE TIMELINE :50 Fluff – shout out to John Wilkerson 6:33 Homeschooling the Struggling Learner 23:25 Wrapping it up 25:41 The show is over. Goodbye! SHOW NOTES: Recommended Resources: Betty the Surf Dog – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Website Fletch Twitter Kendra Twitter Previous Episodes Mentioned: All of them Music clips used on this episode: None SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE AN iTUNES REVIEW: Allow the magic of the internet to deliver Homeschooling In Real Life to your tablet or smartphone. Let us show you how easy it is: Follow this link to our iTunes page. IMPORTANT STEP: Under our big red HomeschoolingIRL logo, just click on View in iTunes The iTunes program will automatically launch and take you to our podcast page. FIRST – Click SUBSCRIBE. Voila! All or our podcasts will come directly to your computer and smartphone. NEXT – Click RATINGS AND REVIEW. Remember the best reviews are 5 stars (hint hint!). Thanks for being one of our listeners! HIRLers rock! WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO LISTEN TO HomeschoolingIRL? You can listen right on this page. There is an audio player below. You can listen on your iPod, Smartphone or tablet. Open the PODCAST app on your device, search podcasts for “HomeschoolingIRL” and click subscribe. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Subscribe to the HomeschoolingIRL website and you will be notified when every new episode is released. Follow this link and begin your FREE SUBSCRIPTION. ADVERTISERS/SPONSORS: CTC Math | A Great Math Curriculum for Homeschool Families LISTEN HERE Are you ready to listen to Fletch and Kendra get real about homeschooling? Press the PLAY button below. Join Fletch (from theMangoTimes) and Kendra (from Preschoolers and Peace and KendraFletcher.com) for the HomeschoolingIRL podcast every week as they interview guests and talk through some of the goofiness they have experienced in nearly two decades. The post Homeschooling The Struggling Learner appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.