LiberatED Podcast
Kerry McDonald
The LiberatED Podcast tells the stories of the entrepreneurial parents and teachers who are creating innovative K-12 learning options across the US and expanding education options for families.
This twice-weekly podcast is hosted by Kerry McDonald, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education and leader of the Education Entrepreneurship Lab. A regular contributor at Forbes.com and The 74, Kerry is the bestselling author of Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom (Chicago Review Press, 2019), and the author of the forthcoming book, Joyful Learning: How To Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling (Hachette, 2025). She has a BA in economics from Bowdoin College and a master's degree in education policy from Harvard University. A mom of four, Kerry lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter at edentrepreneur.org.
This twice-weekly podcast is hosted by Kerry McDonald, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education and leader of the Education Entrepreneurship Lab. A regular contributor at Forbes.com and The 74, Kerry is the bestselling author of Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom (Chicago Review Press, 2019), and the author of the forthcoming book, Joyful Learning: How To Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling (Hachette, 2025). She has a BA in economics from Bowdoin College and a master's degree in education policy from Harvard University. A mom of four, Kerry lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter at edentrepreneur.org.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 22, 2024 • 37min
Why two tech entrepreneurs created a home-based microschool
Bountiful Microschool is a home-based microschool in Bountiful, Utah created by edtech entrepreneur, David Blake, cofounder and CEO of Degreed, and his wife Mikel, cofounder of Tech-Moms. The couple wanted to bring the innovation and personalization they were seeing in the larger tech sector to the K-12 classroom to benefit their own children and others in their community. "Utah's Emerging Education Ecosystem Is Diverse and Accessible" (Forbes.com) *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Apr 19, 2024 • 40min
Our 200th episode! The podcast's first guest, Jill Perez, returns with a founder update
The podcast's very first guest, Jill Perez, joins us today to celeberate our 200th episode! She gives us an update on her journey as the founder of Tranquil Teachings Learning Center, a pandemic pod turned microschool, in New Jersey. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Apr 17, 2024 • 26min
How Iowa's new school choice program is activating entrepreneurs: Jenson "Fig" Newton on launching Empigo Academy
Jenson "Fig" Newton is the founder of Empigo Academy, a faith-based high school focused on career technical education (CTE) that is opening this fall in Des Moines, Iowa. He expects to launch with 50 students, all of whom will attend tuition-free thanks to Iowa's new universal school choice program. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Apr 15, 2024 • 37min
An Arkansas Microschool Fueled by Choice: Former public school teacher Kanesha Adams shares her founder story
Kanesha Adams is a former public school teacher and founder of The Learning Lounge, a tutoring center and new microschool in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a low-income community outside of Little Rock. In this episode, Kanesha shares her founder story and explains why Arkansas's new universal school choice program propelled her startup decision. In Arkansas, School Choice Is Encouraging Education Entrepreneurship (Forbes.com) *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Apr 12, 2024 • 38min
Professor Angela Watson on the new Johns Hopkins University Homeschool Hub
Angela Watson, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, discusses the evolving landscape of homeschooling data collection and trends, highlighting discrepancies and the growth of homeschooling rates pre- and post-pandemic. They explore the rise of micro schooling, challenges in accreditation, and the evolving motivations for families choosing homeschooling, emphasizing the need for innovation and adaptation in the future.
Apr 10, 2024 • 42min
Trials & Tribulations of Being A School Founder: Entrepreneurship is hard!
On the podcast today, Heather DiNino, a former public school teacher and founder of Elements Academy just outside of Boston, talks about the challenges of running a microschool. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Apr 8, 2024 • 50min
A Waldorf Microschool: A former public school teacher on creating her in-home microschool
Jennifer Kempin taught for more than a decade in public schools in Pennsylvania before launching her home-based, Waldorf-inspired microschool, Fáilte Microschool, earlier this year. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Apr 6, 2024 • 48min
Why one founder created a school fully integrating neurotypical & neurodiverse learners
Jen Granberry is the founder of ARROWS Christian Academy in Phoenix, Arizona that she launched in August 2023. ARROWS is fully-integrated K-8 private school blending neurotypical and neurodiverse students with a focus on individualized learning, meeting each child where they are at academically and developmentally. She currently has 23 students enrolled with 3 teachers and 3 aides with plans for incremental growth. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
10 snips
Apr 4, 2024 • 33min
Mixing Forest Schooling & Self-Directed Learning: A Conversation with Justine Wilson of Curious & Kind Education
Justine Wilson from Curious and Kind Education discusses self-directed learning and Agile Learning Communities, sharing insights on transitioning from planning to execution and launching a nature play program. She also talks about building connections for rapid growth, future plans for programs, and envisioning the future of education through collaborative networks.
Apr 2, 2024 • 32min
Why are families choosing microschools? Christensen Institute Fellow Thomas Arnett discusses Jobs To Be Done Theory
Thomas Arnett, Senior research fellow at Christensen Institute, discusses Jobs To Be Done Theory in parent decision-making for microschools. Topics include understanding demand based on life circumstances, motivations driving parents to choose micro schools, alleviating family anxiety, leveraging social proof, impact of COVID-19 on schooling norms, and technology's role in enabling new schooling models.
