The Ladies Fixing the World

What if we abandoned the question "How do we know they're learning?" and trusted that they are? In this conversation, Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd, and Sue Elvis look closely at the fears that drive many unschooling parents to seek proof of learning—and why those fears may come from old conditioning rather than real concerns.They explore how learning in an unschooling context doesn’t always look like progress, mastery, or academic benchmarks. Instead, it often appears as play, conversation, curiosity, or even stillness. The episode also addresses the "big mix-up in the mind of the parent" who must navigate between their children's authentic learning experiences and the official education system's expectations, the pressure parents feel to produce results, the danger of clinging to school-based frameworks, and the importance of stepping back and observing life as the curriculum.Sandra, Sue and Cecilies invite parents to shift their perspective away from questioning if their children are learning enough, toward cultivating environments rich in trust, conversation, and genuine curiosity.🗓️ Recorded March 20, 2025. 📍 Barcelona, Spain 🔗 Links & Resourceshttps://sandradodd.com https://storiesofanunschoolingfamily.com https://cecilieconrad.comSend a message Support the showIn season 3 of Ladies Fixing the World, host Cecilie Conrad is joined by longtime unschooling voices Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis to explore unschooling as a lifestyle.

Sandra Dodd, a renowned unschooling pioneer, shares how her children naturally developed mathematical thinking through games and real-life problem-solving. Unschooling advocate Sue Elvis discusses the importance of trusting children's unique approaches to math, moving away from rigid structures. They challenge the misconception that children can't learn math without formal lessons and emphasize embracing math as it appears in everyday life. By focusing on playful learning and real-world applications, they reveal how unschooling can foster genuine curiosity and understanding in mathematics.

Dinner tables, car rides, bedtime chats, café corners—this episode dives into the real places where unschooling lives and grows. Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd, and Sue Elvis examine how conversations—often unscheduled, informal, and unplanned—become the central structure of a learning life.They discuss the Danish tradition of the daily family dinner, the rigid rituals of American mealtime culture, and the café catch-ups that shaped Sue’s large family. The conversation travels through memories, cultural habits, and practical insights into how families can hold space for curiosity, connection, and growth—without curriculum, tests, or set agendas.From Barbie movies to Shakespeare, from family language to late-night moral debates, this episode makes a clear point: talking is the work. The learning isn’t beside the conversation—it’s inside it.🗓️ Recorded February 20, 2025. 📍  Finhan, France 🔗 Links & Resources https://sandradodd.com/latenightlearning https://sandradodd.com https://storiesofanunschoolingfamily.com https://cecilieconrad.comSend a message Support the showIn season 3 of Ladies Fixing the World, host Cecilie Conrad is joined by longtime unschooling voices Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis to explore unschooling as a lifestyle.

What’s the value of doing the same thing more than once? In this episode of Ladies Fixing the World, Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis unfold repetition—how it shows up in our lives, why it matters, and what it reveals.Together, they examine how children tend to gravitate toward watching the same films, reading the same stories, or playing the same games. Rather than dismissing these habits, they unpack the deeper role of repetition in building understanding, creating comfort, and developing personal interests.They explore repetition in unschooling: how revisiting material or ideas becomes a natural part of learning when children are trusted to follow their own curiosity. The conversation weaves through stories of old VHS collections, gaming habits, repeated drawings, Shakespeare, and art museums, highlighting how adults also rely on rhythm, ritual, and recurrence.The episode explores what it means to share stories across generations, how collections shape identity, and how repetition becomes a part of a family’s language. Whether it's a child rewatching Barbie movies or a parent replaying Beatles records, this is a conversation about attention, trust, and the rhythms we all rely on. 🔗 Sandra, Sue and Cecilies websiteshttps://sandradodd.com https://storiesofanunschoolingfamily.com https://cecilieconrad.com 🔗 Links & Resources mentioned:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._D._Q._Bachhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Weird_Al%22_YankovicVermeer's Hat: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermeer%27s_Hat 🗓️ Recorded January 16, 2025. 📍  Åmarksgård, Solrød, DenmarkSend a message Support the showIn season 3 of Ladies Fixing the World, host Cecilie Conrad is joined by longtime unschooling voices Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis to explore unschooling as a lifestyle.

Sandra Dodd, an unschooling pioneer and author, along with Sue Elvis, an advocate and blogger from Australia, share their transformative experiences with unschooling. They discuss how children naturally learn to read and challenge conventional educational milestones, questioning standardized testing and rigid timelines. Through personal anecdotes, they highlight the importance of curiosity, individual learning paths, and the supportive community that fosters personal growth. Their insights provide parents with practical ideas for nurturing true learning beyond traditional methods.

Traditional education is built on judgment—constantly measuring children’s progress against rigid standards. Unschooling offers a different path, one that values curiosity over evaluation. In this episode, Cecilie Conrad, Sue Elvis, and Sandra Dodd discuss why letting go of expectations leads to deeper, more natural learning.Reading becomes a key theme, as they challenge the idea that children must read by a certain age. Cecilie shares how her son resisted reading until fourteen, only to become an avid reader once the pressure was gone. Sandra and Sue add their own stories, showing how literacy develops when children are given space and trust.Repetition in learning also comes up—whether it’s rewatching movies, rereading books, or replaying games. What looks like stagnation is often mastery in progress. The conversation extends to Shakespeare, storytelling, and the power of learning through real experiences rather than forced instruction.Unschooling isn’t about avoiding education—it’s about trusting that learning happens everywhere. This episode is a reminder that children thrive when given the freedom to explore life on their own terms.🔗 Links & Resources:Sandra Dodd’s Website: SandraDodd.com – Explore Sandra’s favorite unschooling definitions and in-depth discussions.Sue Elvis’ Blog: Stories of an Unschooling Family – Practical advice and insights into Sue’s unschooling journey.Cecilie Conrad’s Website: CecilieConrad.com – Learn about Cecilie’s experiences with unschooling, worldschooling, and a life of freedom and curiosity.🗓️ Recorded December 16, 2024. 📍  Whityham, United KingdomSend a message Support the showIn season 3 of Ladies Fixing the World, host Cecilie Conrad is joined by longtime unschooling voices Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis to explore unschooling as a lifestyle.

How do children learn math without lessons, textbooks, or worksheets?Sandra Dodd, Sue Elvis, and Cecilie Conrad talk about the ways kids pick up mathematical thinking—through games, shared meals, money management, and real-world problem-solving.They discuss what happens when learning is driven by curiosity rather than instruction, sharing stories of children who mastered math in unexpected ways. Their experiences with unschooling reveal how learning develops naturally, often outside the structures designed to teach it.Meanwhile, schools—with their insistence on rigid, standardized learning—often disconnect children from their natural curiosity, sometimes to the point where they avoid learning altogether after being pushed too hard.🔗 Links & Resources:Sandra Dodd’s Website: SandraDodd.com – Explore Sandra’s favorite unschooling definitions and in-depth discussions.Sue Elvis’ Blog: Stories of an Unschooling Family – Practical advice and insights into Sue’s unschooling journey.Cecilie Conrad’s Website: CecilieConrad.com – Learn about Cecilie’s experiences with unschooling, worldschooling, and a life of freedom and curiosity.Connections: Connect the Dots: https://sandradodd.com/connections/How Elvis Appears to Unschoolers: https://sandradodd.com/dot/elvis.html 🗓️ Recorded December 5, 2024. 📍  Whityham, United KingdomSend a message Support the showIn season 3 of Ladies Fixing the World, host Cecilie Conrad is joined by longtime unschooling voices Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis to explore unschooling as a lifestyle.

What is unschooling? What is it not? And why defining it is so difficult? Sandra Dodd, Sue Elvis and Cecilie Conrad explore how unschooling is not just about rejecting school but fundamentally shifting how families approach learning, trust, and daily life.Sandra shares her decades of experience and the challenge of explaining unschooling in simple terms, emphasizing that true understanding takes time. Sue reflects on her evolution from believing unschooling meant being hands-off to realizing the importance of parental engagement and invitations. Cecilie challenges the assumption that learning must be the goal, arguing instead that curiosity, passion, and necessity drive real education.The conversation moves beyond definitions into the practical realities of unschooling—how parents create environments where natural learning happens, how families navigate the uncertainty of non-traditional education, and why the success of unschooling isn’t measured by standardized academic milestones but by confidence, curiosity, and strong relationships. They also tackle the common fear: Will unschooling work? And, just as importantly, Is sending a child to school actually the bigger risk?🔗 Links & Resources:Sandra Dodd’s Website: SandraDodd.com – Explore Sandra’s favorite unschooling definitions and in-depth discussions.Sue Elvis’ Blog: Stories of an Unschooling Family – Practical advice and insights into Sue’s unschooling journey.Cecilie Conrad’s Website: CecilieConrad.com – Learn about Cecilie’s experiences with unschooling, worldschooling, and a life of freedom and curiosity.🗓️ Recorded November 28, 2024. 📍  Krakow, PolandSend a message Support the showIn season 3 of Ladies Fixing the World, host Cecilie Conrad is joined by longtime unschooling voices Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis to explore unschooling as a lifestyle.

What if education wasn’t confined to classrooms but instead flourished naturally through life’s experiences?In this episode of Ladies Fixing the World, renowned unschooling pioneers Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis join Cecilie Conrad to redefine what learning can look like. We explore the philosophy and practicalities of unschooling—where curiosity, trust, and relationships replace rigid curricula.Sandra shares her journey to define unschooling, describing it as "creating and maintaining an atmosphere where natural learning can flourish." Sue emphasizes the importance of embracing time with children, noting, "We can't go back and reclaim those hours as our kids grow up."The conversation highlights:How unschooling fosters curiosity and resilience.The critical balance between freedom and guidance.The transformative impact of unschooling on both children and parents.Through personal stories, we showcase unschooling as a lifestyle that prioritizes connection, flexibility, and natural growth—education as a joyful byproduct of living fully.Quotes from the Episode:Sandra Dodd: “Unschooling is creating and maintaining an atmosphere where natural learning can flourish.”Sue Elvis: “We can’t go back and reclaim all those hours if we don’t take advantage of them as our kids are growing up.”Cecilie Conrad: “Learning is a byproduct of living with enthusiasm and curiosity.”Links & Resources:Sandra Dodd’s Website: SandraDodd.com – Explore Sandra’s favorite unschooling definitions and in-depth discussions.Sue Elvis’ Blog: Stories of an Unschooling Family – Practical advice and insights into Sue’s unschooling journey.Cecilie Conrad’s Website: CecilieConrad.com – Learn about Cecilie’s experiences with unschooling, worldschooling, and a life of freedom and curiosity.Sandra Dodds specific links for this episodeDefinitions of Unschooling https://sandradodd.com/unschool/definitionWhat is Unschooling? https://sandradodd.com/definitionsOrigin of the term "Unschooling"https://sandradodd.com/unschool/thetermIs unschooling too big a gamblehttps://justaddlightandstir.blogspot.com/2011/01/is-unschooling-too-big-gamble.htmlRecorded: November 6, 2024, Krakow, PolandThis episode delves into the responsibilities of unschooling, contrasts it with traditional schooling, and celebrates the freedom it offers. Whether you’re curious about alternative education or looking for inspiration to rethink your approach, this conversation invites you to imagine a learning journey led by love, trust, and curiosity.Send a message Support the showIn season 3 of Ladies Fixing the World, host Cecilie Conrad is joined by longtime unschooling voices Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis to explore unschooling as a lifestyle.

In this final episode of the first season of "Da Ladies", Cecilie joins Luna, Sara, and Carla as they wrap up their journey. The group reflects on embracing change, honoring priorities, and staying true to their unschooling principles. From navigating life transitions to balancing personal aspirations and family commitments, this episode is a beautiful exploration of growth, authenticity, and fluidity in self-directed living.Looking ahead, Cecilie teases the start of a new season with a fresh set of inspiring women, promising new voices and experiences in self-directed learning, travel, and parenting. Please tune in to join Cecilie and the team as they celebrate the end of one chapter and embrace the beginning of another.🗓️ Recorded October 16th, 2024. 📍 The Addisons, Withyham, United Kingdom ▬ EPISODE LINKS ▬Cecilie Conrad: https://CecilieConrad.comLuna Maj Vestergaard: https://altomunschooling.dkCarla Martinez: https://planetaworldschool.comSara Beale: https://www.renegademum.comSend a message Support the showIn season 3 of Ladies Fixing the World, host Cecilie Conrad is joined by longtime unschooling voices Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis to explore unschooling as a lifestyle.