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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
Acton Academy
School Choice
Personalized Learning
Joyful Learning
Self-Directed Learning
Self-Directed Education
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. 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 ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes389Founded4 years ago
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Education for KidsEducationKids & Family

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Artwork for LiberatED Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week on the LiberatED podcast, Kerry McDonald talks with Serena Wilkie Gifford and Kate Walker of the Birches School, a nature-based K–8 independent school in the Boston area that began in 2012 with just five students and now serves about 75 lea... more

Kerry McDonald talks with Mary Wells, co-founder and senior partner at Bellwether, a national nonprofit focused on expanding educational opportunity and innovation. Mary shares the story behind Bellwether's founding and discusses the rapid growth of ... more

What happens when homeschooling families want more connection, collaboration, and hands-on learning? In this episode, Kerry McDonald talks with Danika Dunn and Kelly Clearkin of Bramblewood Learning Community, a project-based hybrid homeschool progra... more

In this episode, Kerry McDonald talks with Caroline Allen, Chief Program Officer at the Center for Education Reform and Founding Director of the Yass Prize, about how this prize recognizes and celebrates K-12 education innovation and impact across th... more

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Recent Guests

Danika Dunn
Founder of Bramblewood Learning Community; project-based learning advocate
Bramblewood Learning Community
Episode: Why Families Are Flocking to this Project-Based Pennsylvania Homeschool Program
Kelly Clearkin
Mentor and board member at Bramblewood; creator of Forest Fridays
Bramblewood Learning Community / Forest Fridays
Episode: Why Families Are Flocking to this Project-Based Pennsylvania Homeschool Program
Caroline Allen
Chief Program Officer at the Center for Education Reform and founding director of the Yass Prize
Center for Education Reform; Yass Prize
Episode: How the Yass Prize Powers Permissionless Education
Kelsy Achtenberg
Executive Director of The Innovation School
The Innovation School
Episode: In North Dakota, a small school makes a big impact
Marc Porter Magee
CEO and founder of 50Can
50Can
Episode: What 23,000 Parents Are Telling Us About School Choice
Lexi Hanson
Super guide at Prenda, longtime micro-school leader
Prenda
Episode: A Conversation with Prenda Microschool "Superguides"
Kayla Phipps
Super guide at Prenda, former elementary teacher
Prenda
Episode: A Conversation with Prenda Microschool "Superguides"
Frish Waller
Founder of Brainforest Academy
Brainforest Academy
Episode: Inclusive by Design: How Brainforest Academy Supports Neurodiverse Learners
Ken Troutwine
Former public school teacher and founder of Current Education Center
Current Education Center, Liberated Learners network
Episode: From Public School Teacher to Founder of a Self-Directed Learning Center

Host

Kerry McDonald
Host with focus on educational entrepreneurship and family-centered learning models.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 100 ratings
  • Pioneer Reading

    Awesome information Pam!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KiFam4
    United States10 months 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate practical, founder-focused stories that make non-traditional schooling feel achievable.
Guests and topics are consistently diverse, highlighting a wide range of innovative learning models across states.
The host delivers thoughtful, hopeful perspectives on education reform with a focus on real-world outcomes.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Families Are Flocking to this Project-Based Pennsylvania Homeschool Program
Q: What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a homeschool co-op using project-based learning?
The hosts discuss keeping a clear vision, ensuring parent involvement, and sharing the mission widely to attract like-minded families and mentors.
Why Families Are Flocking to this Project-Based Pennsylvania Homeschool Program
Q: Danika, can you describe the early days and how you expanded from one day to two days?
Danika explains starting at home with a tent classroom, then expanding to multiple classes and days while maintaining a tight-knit co-op feel and introducing paid mentors.
Why Families Are Flocking to this Project-Based Pennsylvania Homeschool Program
Q: Kelly, what do you think is attracting families to Bramblewood?
Kelly points to culture, intentional onboarding (boot camp), community involvement, and the hands-on, collaborative project approach as key draws.
Why Families Are Flocking to this Project-Based Pennsylvania Homeschool Program
Q: Danika, should we start with you?
Danika shares her personal journey into homeschooling, the discovery of project-based learning, and how she conceived Bramblewood as a vehicle to translate PBL for homeschoolers.
How the Yass Prize Powers Permissionless Education
Q: What are the core principles of the Yass Prize and how do they shape eligibility?
The prize rests on four core principles—sustainability, transformation, outstanding performance, and permissionless autonomy—that determine eligibility and how applicants must demonstrate impact. Programs serving students in pre-K to 12, across school types, can apply if they align with these values and can show meaningful outcomes beyond traditional measures.

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 centers on the stories of entrepreneurial parents and educators building innovative K-12 learning options across the U.S., with a steady focus on microschools, project-based homeschooling, district- and policy-level innovations, and the broader spectrum of school choice. Episodes highlight founder journeys, practical implementation of alternative models, funding mechanisms, and community-building efforts that scale personalized, hands-on learning. Unique strengths include a consistent emphasis on real-world entrepreneurship in education, a willingness to cover both micro- and macro-level reforms, and actionable guidance for families and educators considering non-traditional schooling paths.

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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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Which podcasts are similar to LiberatED Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with LiberatED Podcast:

1. The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
2. Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey
3. Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark
4. The Briefing with Albert Mohler
5. Simple Farmhouse Life

How many episodes of LiberatED Podcast are there?

LiberatED Podcast launched 4 years ago and published 389 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?

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What guests have appeared on LiberatED Podcast?

Recent guests on LiberatED Podcast include:

1. Danika Dunn
2. Kelly Clearkin
3. Caroline Allen
4. Kelsy Achtenberg
5. Marc Porter Magee
6. Lexi Hanson
7. Kayla Phipps
8. Frish Waller

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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