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!

Kerry McDonald sits down with Kerry Baldwin, co-founder of Vita Nova Academy, a micro-high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico built on Socratic practice and passion-driven learning. Baldwin shares how Vita Nova pairs seminar-style inquiry with a skills-based framework and a partnership with the Mastery Transcript Consortium, helping teens show real evidence of mastery—communication, research, critical thinking—tied to their interests. The conversation digs into aligning parent expectations with what colleges and employers actually value, why Vita Nova includes an alumni board seat for continuous feedback, and how the school plans to grow while retaining its small, community feel. Baldwin also previews a Creative Commons Socratic curriculum other founders can adopt, plus ideas for shared microschool proms and sports. If you're curious about innovating at the high-school level, this episode is your playbook.

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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!

John Danner, co-founder and CEO of Flourish Schools, joins Kerry McDonald to discuss how his new Nashville-based microschool network is reimagining middle school education. Drawing on his experience founding Rocketship Public Schools, Danner explains how Flourish uses AI to automate foundational learning while empowering teachers to focus on students' "superpowers" — curiosity, communication, and leadership. He and Kerry explore the balance between technology and humanity in education, the promise of microschools in ESA states, and what it takes to build joyful learning environments that truly help children flourish.

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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!

In this episode of the LiberatED podcast, Kerry McDonald is joined by Professor Eric Wearne, director of the National Hybrid Schools Project at Kennesaw State University, to explore the rapid growth of hybrid schooling. They discuss the historical roots of hybrid schooling, the post-COVID surge in new school launches, and what makes hybrid schools distinct from both traditional schools and homeschooling.

Professor Wearne shares new research on teacher hiring preferences, school size and structure, and why hybrid models are resonating with more families today. The conversation also dives into key challenges, from teacher supply and accountability measures to succession planning for founders and the potential impact of AI on education.

Whether you're a parent, educator, or entrepreneur, this episode offers a deep look at where hybrid schools are headed—and how they're reshaping the educational landscape.

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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!

In this episode of the LiberatED Podcast, Kerry McDonald welcomes Jamie Musacchio, founder of Wisdom Warehouse, a microschool that began in Dubai and now thrives in Miami. Jamie shares her journey from over a decade in public school classrooms in New York City and Washington, DC to launching an innovative microschool model that blends rigorous academics with daily creative workshops.

She discusses the philosophy behind Wisdom Warehouse—child-centered, project-based learning in small class sizes—and how students achieve strong academic outcomes without the stress of test prep. Kerry and Jamie also explore the rapid growth of microschools in South Florida, the role of school choice programs in expanding access, and Jamie's vision for future expansion, including curriculum replication, nature-based programming, and additional locations in Florida and beyond.

If you're curious about how microschools are reshaping education—and what it takes to turn a tutoring center into a thriving full-day school—this episode offers inspiration and advice.

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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!

Kerry McDonald welcomes Charles and Charissa Mitchell, two of the four co-founders of the Threefold Schoolhouse, an Acton Academy located outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They share their inspiring story of building a learner-driven microschool that launched with just 10 students in 2019 and today serves 65 learners from pre-kindergarten through high school.

The Mitchells talks about the entrepreneurial challenges they’ve faced—from zoning restrictions and temporary spaces to navigating outdated education regulations—while staying true to Acton Academy’s philosophy that embraces curiosity, experimentation, and failure as essential parts of the learning process. They also discuss their vision for helping young people discover their calling and make a global impact, and why they believe we are living through an education revolution.

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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!