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LiberatED Podcast

Kerry McDonald
Homeschooling
Education
Micro Schools
Covid-19
Alternative Education
Microschools
Entrepreneurship
Education Reform
Microschooling
Education Entrepreneurship
Education Innovation
Neurodiversity
Project-Based Learning
School Choice
Acton Academy
Personalized Learning
Self-Directed Education
Joyful Learning
Self-Directed Learning
Special Education

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. It is a project of the Education Entrepreneurship Lab at the Foundation for Economic Education. Learn more at edentrepreneur.org.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes402Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationEducation for KidsKids & Family

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Artwork for LiberatED Podcast

Latest Episodes

Education Entrepreneurship Lab Entrepreneur-in-Residence Kym Kent talks with renowned education researcher and author Dr. James Tooley to explore the power of parent-driven, entrepreneurial education.

In his acclaimed book The Beautiful Tree, Toole... more

LiberatED celebrates its 400th episode! Since launching in February 2022, the podcast has featured inspiring conversations with the entrpreneurial parents and teachers who are reimagining K-12 education and building new solutions. We mark this exciti... more

Guest host Denise Lever talks with Emma Rodriguez, a former public school teacher and founder of Lighthouse Christian Academy, a faith-based K–8 microschool in Frisco, Texas. Emma reflects on a remarkable first year in which enrollment grew from 2 to... more

In this episode of LiberatED, host Kerry McDonald speaks with Melody Rider, president of ConnectED Polk, a Florida nonprofit helping build stronger connections between education and industry. Rather than creating programs in isolation, ConnectED Polk... more

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Recent Guests

Melody Rider
President of ConnectED Polk
ConnectED Polk
Episode: How One Community Is Connecting Schools, Students, and Employers
Lynn Swanson
Chief Counsel, Education, Stand Together Edupreneur Resource Center
Stand Together
Episode: Navigating Legal Challenges as an Education Entrepreneur, with ERC's Lynn Swanson
Maysaa Bazna
Education researcher, writer, and advocate; founder and executive director of City to Sanctuary
City to Sanctuary
Episode: From Democratic School Founder to Urban Nature Educator
Tanner Bowman
Founder of Optio
Optio Education
Episode: What If Learning Started with Curiosity Instead of Curriculum?
Catina Sweedy
Founder/Leader of Embark Center for Self-Directed Education
Embark Center for Self-Directed Education
Episode: Inside a Youth-Run Microschool in Virginia
Niki Harris
Founder of Farm School, a place-based micro school built on a working farm
Farm School
Episode: When A Microschool Founder Has To Step Away
Peter Holmstrom
Head of School, Summit School
Summit School, Waco, Texas
Episode: How Summit School Grew from 50 to 140 Students in 3 Years
Katelyn Stone
Founder of EverRoot Academy
EverRoot Academy
Episode: The Ins & Outs of Launching a K-8 Hybrid Learning Community
LaRae Hulsey
Micro-school founder, runs LaRae's Learning Lab
Baker Creek Academy / Trailblaze ED network
Episode: How a Family Crisis Led to a New Educational Calling

Host

Kerry McDonald
Host of the podcast focused on reimagining education through entrepreneurial, family- and educator-led models.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 100 ratings
  • Pioneer Reading

    Awesome information Pam!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KiFam4
    United Statesa year ago
  • Kerry’s Podcast has been our lifeline!

    The concept and essence of Microschooling is always what my husband and I wanted for our kids but we didn’t know that vision had a name, and that so many others were embarking on that path of educational entrepreneurship. Kerry’s podcast has been our lifeline, our flashlight so to speak on a path that felt so dark at one point. One episode at a time, we were able to visualize our own dream of starting a Microschool, and are looking forward to opening our doors to our first group of students this... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sanakhan1984
    United Statesa year ago
  • Inspiration and encouragement for all new founders

    When offered to start my own microschool, I had no idea where to start. I have listened to so many of Kerry’s episodes and have been so inspired by all of the educators she has interviewed. I am so grateful for Kerry and what she is doing for the sake of education. I feel so confident going into the launch of my own microschool in September 2025 because of what I have learned from this show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JackieBo1424
    United Statesa year ago
  • Inspiration other microschool founders

    I have enjoyed hearing from many microschool founders, their ups and downs, wins and loses, and connecting with several of them through this podcast! Thank you, Kerry, for your work and your encouragement for all non-traditional schools and leaders!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mrs Maggie's Mom
    United Statesa year ago
  • Informative and inspiring

    Kerry brings fresh curiosity to each founder’s story and helps elicit those nuggets that make each story unique. I have been inspired by every episode and have gleaned both practical tips and deeper insights into how to approach the tremendous endeavor of educating young people in the 21st century.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LoveLearningNC
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows are described as inspiring and informative for parents and educators exploring innovative learning options.
Listeners value the practical, founder-focused storytelling and actionable takeaways for starting or growing microschools and alternative education models.
The host is praised for asking insightful questions and highlighting a diverse range of edupreneurs and policy perspectives.

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How One Community Is Connecting Schools, Students, and Employers
Q: If listeners want to learn more about ConnectED Polk, what is the best way to reach you?
Email Melody at connectEDPolk.org or visit connectedpolk.org for more information.
Inside a Youth-Run Microschool in Virginia
Q: What does Embark Center look like on a daily basis, and how do students participate in class design?
Students are the drivers of their learning: they decide what classes exist, can pitch new classes like a murder-analyses group, and participate in budgeting, scheduling, and staff hiring. The day is shaped by as-needed sessions, with a focus on a weekly plan, student-generated activities, and access to mentorship and one-on-one support when desired.
Navigating Legal Challenges as an Education Entrepreneur, with ERC's Lynn Swanson
Q: What insights have you gathered about the most common founders' struggles or needs?
The primary issues include finding coherent information about regulations, understanding which regulatory bodies govern them, and the big hurdles around facilities, zoning, fire codes, occupancy, and employee classification.
Navigating Legal Challenges as an Education Entrepreneur, with ERC's Lynn Swanson
Q: So, what gaps or challenges were you hoping ERC would address for founders?
Lynn explains that ERC targets the knowledge gap in legal and regulatory compliance and the need to defend edupreneurs from overreach, providing information and connections to resources rather than lawyer-client representation.
From Democratic School Founder to Urban Nature Educator
Q: What does the program actually entail on a monthly basis, and how is it structured to ensure impact over time?
A same-group cohort visits the sanctuary once a month from October to June, each visit following a nature-centric program tied to current conditions, with a focus on hands-on exploration (bird banding, pond ecology, ice fishing, etc.), pre/post assessments to measure change, and a deliberate emphasis on long-term exposure rather than one-off field trips.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About LiberatED Podcast

What is LiberatED Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show highlights entrepreneurial parents and educators who are building innovative K-12 options across the U.S., with episodes often focusing on microschools, hybrid and project-based models, policy and deregulation, and practical startup guidance. Guests range from school founders and policy analysts to education entrepreneurs, sharing real-world journeys, scaling challenges, funding avenues, and community-building strategies. The show is notable for its hands-on, family- and maker-focused approach to education reform, a willingness to discuss regulatory hurdles, and practical frameworks that listeners can adapt to launch or grow alternatives to traditional schooling.

Where can I find podcast stats for LiberatED Podcast?

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How many listeners does LiberatED Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for LiberatED Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does LiberatED Podcast have?

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Which podcasts are similar to LiberatED Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with LiberatED Podcast:

1. The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
2. Calm Parenting Podcast
3. Raising Good Humans
4. The Wellness Mama Podcast
5. All It Takes Is A Goal

How many episodes of LiberatED Podcast are there?

LiberatED Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 402 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact LiberatED Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for LiberatED Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on LiberatED Podcast?

Recent guests on LiberatED Podcast include:

1. Melody Rider
2. Lynn Swanson
3. Maysaa Bazna
4. Tanner Bowman
5. Catina Sweedy
6. Niki Harris
7. Peter Holmstrom
8. Katelyn Stone

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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