In this episode of LiberatED, Kerry McDonald is joined by Heike Larson, Vice President of Programs at the Roots of Progress Institute, and Dr. Laura Mazer, a surgeon and curriculum lead for the Institute's new summer program, Progress in Medicine 2026. Together, they explore a bold new model for summer teen learning that blends medical history, future innovation, mentorship, and personal development.

Designed for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, Progress in Medicine 2026 combines five weeks of live virtual seminars with a multi-day in-person experience at Stanford University. Students examine landmark moments in medical progress, grapple with today's healthcare challenges, and explore diverse career pathways—from medicine and biotech to research, policy, and entrepreneurship.

Heike shares the vision behind the Roots of Progress Institute and its mission to foster a culture of human progress in the 21st century. Laura reflects on her own journey from surgeon to education innovator and discusses how her Montessori-inspired work shapes the summer program's inquiry-driven, student-centered approach.

This episode offers an inspiring look at how summer learning can help teens connect their interests to real-world impact—and begin imagining ans building lives of purpose.

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

On this episode of LiberatED, host Kerry McDonald sits down with Emily Barnitz, founder of Zoe Learning House, a fast-growing hybrid homeschool program in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Emily shares her journey from being homeschooled herself to becoming a public school teacher—and ultimately launching Zoe Learning House in fall 2024 with just 10 students in her living room. Eighteen months later, the program now serves 50 students across kindergarten through fourth grade, with plans to expand to fifth grade while maintaining small class sizes and an 8:1 student-teacher ratio.

The conversation explores Zoe's Charlotte Mason–inspired, hands-on learning model; flexible enrollment options for families; and the intentional decision to prioritize educational quality over rapid scaling. Emily also offers practical insights for aspiring education entrepreneurs—on starting small, building visibility through word-of-mouth and SEO, navigating state homeschool regulations, and staying grounded in your "why" as your program grows.

This episode is a must-listen for educators, homeschoolers, and founders interested in hybrid learning models that are both sustainable and deeply student-centered.

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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!

What if high school was designed more like a creative studio than a traditional classroom?

In this episode of LiberatED, Kerry McDonald spotlights NuVu High School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a distinctive, studio-style school for students in grades 7 to 12. Kerry speaks with NuVu co-founder Saba Ghole and NuVu Director of Admissions Karen Sutton about NuVu's remarkable evolution—from a community laboratory partnering with local schools and homeschoolers to a fully recognized private high school.

Founded in 2010 by MIT graduate students Saba Ghole and Saeed Arida, NuVu was inspired by the architectural studio model: immersive, hands-on, interdisciplinary work driven by real-world problems. Today, students spend much of their time engaged in multi-week design studios—building, testing, iterating, and presenting projects that demonstrate deep mastery across disciplines.

With more than 100 graduates over 16 years—many heading to selective colleges in design, engineering, and the arts—NuVu offers a compelling example of how today's innovative high schools can prepare students not just for college, but for meaningful work and life beyond school.

For families and founders seeking or building something fundamentally different from conventional high school, this episode offers a powerful glimpse of what's possible.

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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!