Kerry McDonald speaks with Julia Bergson-Shilcock and Mike Hilbert, founders of Cupola Academy, a secular learning community in Pennsylvania serving homeschooling families through part-time, in-person programs. Drawing from decades in alternative education—and Julia's own unschooling background—they share how Cupola fosters autonomy, collaboration, and a lifelong love of learning. The conversation explores what's changed in the self-directed education movement over the past 20 years, how alumni thrive in college and beyond, and what advice they offer parents and educators seeking a more human-centered approach to learning.

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Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Kerry's latest book, Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling, is available now wherever books are sold!

Joel Hammon—former public school teacher, founder of Princeton Learning Cooperative, co-founder of Liberated Learners, and author of The Teacher Liberation Handbook—joins Kerry to explore the global rise of self-directed learning centers. These community-based programs, including the Princeton Learning Cooperative and many more within the Liberated Learners network, offer homeschooled tweens and teens a flexible alternative to conventional school: no forced curriculum and an individualized path guided by curiosity and purpose.

Joel shares his transformation from classroom teacher to education entrepreneur, and how the North Star model inspired a movement of “learning cooperatives” that work like a YMCA for education—students choose when to attend, what to learn, and how to grow. We talk about college admissions for self-directed learners, how narrative transcripts help teens transition smoothly to their next step, and why demand for these centers continues to rise.

If you’re curious about self-directed education—or considering starting a center yourself—this conversation offers inspiration, practical guidance, and a look at the future of learner-driven freedom.

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Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Kerry's latest book, Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling, is available now wherever books are sold!

After years as a speech pathologist in public schools, Lauren Capelli founded Sacred Haven Homeschool Collective, a Christian hybrid homeschool program in Camden County, New Jersey. In this episode, Lauren shares how she turned burnout into purpose, building a personalized, community-based program for roughly two dozen students. She and Kerry discuss curriculum design, individualized learning, outcomes and accountability, and advice for entrepreneurial parents and educators ready to create something new.

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Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Kerry's latest book, Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling, is available now wherever books are sold!