Homeschooling IRL

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Homeschooling IRL on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast NetworkHomeschooling IRL

Honest homeschool conversations for real life

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Homeschooling IRL with Andy and Kendra Fletcher is one of the most beloved shows on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network—and for good reason.

With humor, honesty, and a whole lot of grace, Andy and Kendra tackled the kinds of homeschool topics most people don’t talk about enough: struggling learners, family tension, homeschool expectations, hard seasons, and the sacred cows of Christian homeschooling.

Though this show is no longer actively recording new episodes, we continue to feature and replay favorite episodes because the conversations are still just as relevant, helpful, and funny today.

🎧 Listen & subscribe: Apple Podcasts  ·  Spotify

🎧 New Here? Start With These Favorite Episodes

These are the conversations families come back to — grouped by what you might be walking through right now. Every one is evergreen, honest, and still worth your time.

💬 The honest conversations (the topics most shows won’t touch)

💍 Marriage & the home

🥲 For the weary parent

✟ Faith, character & convictions

What You’ll Find on Homeschooling IRL

This show is for homeschool parents who want real talk—not just polished advice.

You’ll find episodes about:

  • 😅 Homeschool struggles and frustrations
  • 🧠 Hard questions and unconventional topics
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Family dynamics and parenting
  • 📚 Struggling learners and learning differences
  • 🙏 Grace-filled Christian homeschooling
  • 😂 Humor, honesty, and freedom in the homeschool journey

Why We Still Replay Homeschooling IRL

Some homeschool conversations don’t expire.

That’s why we continue to feature favorite Homeschooling IRL episodes on the front page and throughout the network. These conversations are funny, thoughtful, honest, and still incredibly relevant for homeschool families today.

If you’ve never listened before, this is a great place to start.
If you’ve been here before… welcome back.

Listen to the Podcast Archive

You can still enjoy Homeschooling IRL episodes anytime through the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network archive and replay releases.

SUBSCRIBE: Please subscribe to our podcast feed at iTunes and each of our shows will magically arrive on your listening device as soon as it is released.

LISTEN ONLINE: Every one of our shows can be found listed below. Just click on the show title and you will find the sound file of the show available in a simple click.

Where to Find Kendra Now

Kendra Fletcher is still teaching, writing, and working with students and families.

You can connect with her here:

On her current site, she shares teaching opportunities, literature and writing classes, editing support, and independent class options for students.

🏡 Homeschooling in real life is messy — you’re not alone.

Grab our free Christian Homeschool Starter Kit for honest, real-world help, and find more encouragement across the network.

Homeschooling IRL Episodes

Sweet 13 Bonus: Somebody Says You Are Doing It Wrong

The Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network turns thirteen. Every host answers one real question — and Fletch and Kendra take the one nobody else on the network would touch.

From “Not Tonight” to Talking It Out: Intimacy in a Christian Marriage

⚠️ Grown-ups only. This episode contains mature content — guard little ears before you press play. Most homeschool families are great at talking to their kids about sex. Talking to each other? That’s where things get quiet. In this Homeschooling in Real Life encore, Fletch and Kendra open a listener email from “Jenny” — a […]

When Your Child Sees Something They Shouldn’t Online: A Parent’s Guide

When Your Child Sees Something They Shouldn’t Online: A Parent’s Guide Parent note: this episode discusses pornography and its effect on kids and families. The conversation is frank but never graphic — it’s meant for grown-up ears, so you may want to listen before the little ones are in the room. It’s not a question […]

I Love Homeschooling, But I’ll Tell You Its Flaws

📚 Part of our guide: How to Start Homeschooling Special Replay: The Flaws and Benefits of Homeschooling Homeschooling IRL — Episode 15 | Updated replay for 2026 From the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network. This episode is a special replay, updated for 2026. In it, veteran homeschooling parents Fletch and Kendra sit down with homeschool graduate […]

Homeschooling The Struggling Learner

Are you homeschooling a struggling learner? Fletch and Kendra share three practical ideas for you as you consider homeschooling a child who struggles. Join us for this week’s episode as we answer a listener’s question about how to give struggling learners the time and attention they need. EPISODE TIMELINE :50 Fluff – shout out to John Wilkerson  […]

Homeschooling The Struggling Learner – HIRL Episode 102 Replay

Are you homeschooling a struggling learner? Fletch and Kendra share three practical ideas for you as you consider homeschooling a child who struggles. Join us for this week’s episode as we answer a listener’s question about how to give struggling learners the time and attention they need. EPISODE TIMELINE :50 Fluff – shout out to John Wilkerson  […]

How to Raise a Pagan Kid in a Christian Home (Replay)

How to Raise a Pagan Kid in a Christian Home (with Barrett & Jennifer Johnson) Sponsored by CTCMath.com Episode Snapshot What happens when “good behavior” gets mistaken for gospel transformation? In this episode, Fletch and Kendra sit down with Barrett and Jennifer Johnson to talk about how Christian families (especially homeschool families) can unintentionally raise […]

Special Replay: HomeschoolingIRL Episode 6: I’m Thinking About Homeschooling, But…

📚 Part of our guide: How to Start Homeschooling Thinking about homeschooling? Have a friend who is?  Are you thinking about homeschooling? On this episode of Homeschooling IRL, we’ll answer your burning questions about homeschooling, such as, “Will my kids have to raise their hands to ask to go to the bathroom?”, “What about the […]

Special Replay: What To Do About Sibling Relationships?

Special Replay:  We received a message on the HomeschoolingIRL Facebook page that said, “Please, please, please do an episode on siblings fighting. Thanks!” Sibling relationships. Sibling rivalries. Siblings fighting. We put out the question to our listeners and they responded with story after story of siblings who know how to tease, fight and use sarcasm like […]

Back to School (Replay)

Are you starting your school year?  In this Best of HIRL, we gather around the teacher’s lounge and gear up for another year of teaching our kids at home. When this episode first ran, Fletch and Kendra were starting their 19th year of homeschooling with a bang and letting you in on the fun. In […]

HomeschoolingIRL Episode 4: Homeschooling Will Save Your Kids, Part One

Homeschooling Will Save Your Kids? Sponsored by CTCMath.com Most of us won’t say outright that we think homeschooling will save your kids, but many of us pack this idea in the back of our minds: if we only do it right, our kids will turn out to be good, godly adults. Is that true? Can […]

Talking With Kids About Tragedy – Special Replay

Talking with Kids About Tragedy Tragedy. In terms of media and social media, tragedy has become a staple of our daily diet. The world seems to be going crazy and the news is full of stories that are difficult for kids to process and understand. How do we talk to our children about race issues, murder, terrorism, […]

Special Replay | Can Your Homeschooler Go To College – HIRL Episode 27

Can Your Homeschooler Go To College? The answer to this question is obvious: we all know that homeschoolers can go to college! This episode is brought to you by CTCMath.com – a wonderful math curriculum for all of your homeschool needs, or to brush up on new skills. On this episode of Homeschooling In Real Life, Fletch and […]

Affording College – HIRL Episode 126 (Replay)

When our students hope to go to college, the perennial question remains: how in the world will they pay for it? We decided to return to the topic of affording college with College Prep Genius Jean Burk because we know she has valuable information to share. We think you’ll be encouraged and feel equipped as you […]

Best of HIRL: Loving the Unlovable (Replay)

A special replay!  We all have those people in our lives who prove to be a challenge to love: a grumpy toddler, a brooding teen, an irritable spouse, a controlling parent. How do we love them in spite of their unloveliness? What does the gospel tell us about our own unloveliness, and God’s love for […]

Special Replay: How Do I Make Homeschooling Fun?

This week on Homeschool IRL, Fletch and Kendra answer a question submitted from a listener, “How Can I Make My Homeschool Fun?”

Special Replay: 5 Ways To Rock Your Homeschool

Need some motivation? Encouragement? Tips? Join us for 5 Ways to Rock Your Homeschool! 

Homeschooling The Struggling Learner – HIRL Episode 102 Replay

Are you homeschooling a struggling learner? Fletch and Kendra share three practical ideas for you as you consider homeschooling a child who struggles. Join us for this week’s episode as we answer a listener’s question about how to give struggling learners the time and attention they need. EPISODE TIMELINE :50 Fluff – shout out to John Wilkerson  […]

Special Replay: Launching Your High Schooler Into Life

Back in Episode 25, we talked about launching your kid into college. During that discussion, we explained how we have chosen to launch our kids during their senior year of high school, which allows them the freedom to begin making life decisions before they even leave our home. One of our listeners wrote in and asked if […]

I Love Homeschooling But I Hate Teaching Math – HIRL Episode 31

Hate math? And I hate teaching science. And writing. Or . . . Let’s get real homeschoolers. Most of us have at least one subject we don’t enjoy teaching. What? That is difficult to justify when we are the ones in charge of teaching all the subjects. So what is a homeschooling parent supposed to do when there are […]

HomeschoolingIRL Episode 2: Homeschooling is a Buzzkill

HomeschoolingIRL Homeschooling Is A Buzzkill sponosred by NOW Programs. On this episode of Homeschooling In Real Life, Fletch and Kendra introduce you to one of the  phrases used often around their home: Homeschooling Is A Buzzkill! Listen in as they discuss what happens when expectations do not match reality. Follow Kendra into their schoolroom as […]

Can Your Homeschooler Go To College – HIRL Episode 27 (replay)

The answer to this question is obvious: we all know that homeschoolers can go to college! On this episode of Homeschooling In Real Life, (sponsored by Judson College) Fletch and Kendra get real and challenge their listeners to join them in a difficult discussion about fear and trusting God as they contemplate sending their children onto […]

Let Go So They Can Launch: The Truth About College Admissions for Homeschool Grads

Let Go So They Can Launch: The Truth About College Admissions for Homeschool Grads Special Thanks to Our Network Sponsor – Judson College Judson College offers biblical and practical training wherever a student is called, equipping them to live all of life for Christ. You’ve heard it—the unmistakable whirring of helicopter blades. The sound of well-meaning parents […]

What Homeschooling Does To A Marriage – HIRL Episode 17

What Homeschooling Does to a Marriage You are going to want to grab your spouse for this episode! Fletch and Kendra dive right into the middle of the topic and discuss how the stress of homeschooling can leak into your marriage relationship. Throughout this episode, you will hear live interviews conducted with couples on the […]

Best of HIRL Holiday Series – Traveling With Kids

Join us on this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life as we talk about the ins and outs of traveling with kids. On this episode we are NOT talking about vacation planning. Instead we are talking about giving your family a love for travel, a love for God’s world and a love for taking your love for Jesus […]

Why The Rise In African American Homeschooling, Part 1 (Replay)

The Rise of African American Homeschooling Last month, Fletch read an interesting article in The Washington Post called, Racism in Schools is Pushing More Black Families to Homeschool Their Children. The title alone was enough to get him interested, but in the article the writer discussed why there has been such a sharp rise in African […]

Affording College – HIRL Episode 126 (Replay)

When our students hope to go to college, the perennial question remains: how in the world will they pay for it? We decided to return to the topic of affording college with College Prep Genius Jean Burk because we know she has valuable information to share. We think you’ll be encouraged and feel equipped as you […]

HomeschoolingIRL Episode 3: Homeschooling, Halloween and Harry Potter

Homeschooling, Halloween, and Harry Potter Homeschooling, Halloween, and Harry Potter? Are we nuts? Well, yes, but that didn’t stop us from tackling two hot-potato topics that homeschoolers traditionally love to argue over. You, too? In this episode, replayed in honor of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast’s 11th Birthday and sponsor,  Fletch and Kendra talk about Halloween […]

Special Replay! Homeschooling Will Save Your Kids, HIRL

Homeschooling Will Save Your Kids? Most of us won’t say outright that we think homeschooling will save our kids, but many of us pack this idea in the back of our minds: if we only do it right, our kids will turn out to be good, godly adults. Is that true? Can we trust that […]

I Love Homeschooling But I Hate Teaching Math – HIRL Episode 31

Hate math? And I hate teaching science. And writing. Or . . . Let’s get real homeschoolers. Most of us have at least one subject we don’t enjoy teaching. What? That is difficult to justify when we are the ones in charge of teaching all the subjects. So what is a homeschooling parent supposed to do when there are […]

Homeschooling Through Hard Times

Hard times! As much as we might like it to be, life is not all ponies, rainbows, and watercolor daisies. On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL we discuss the issue of homeschooling when life gets hard. Difficulties can look different in every family – marital stress, tragedies, health challenges, financial loss – and we’ll consider how each […]

What Homeschooling Does To A Marriage – HIRL Episode 17 (Replay)

You are going to want to grab your spouse for this episode! Fletch and Kendra dive right into the middle of the topic and discuss how the stress of homeschooling can leak into your marriage relationship. Throughout this episode, you will hear live interviews conducted with couples on the floor of the Teach Them Diligently […]

Homeschooling Through Hard Times

Hard times! As much as we might like it to be, life is not all ponies, rainbows, and watercolor daisies.

College Admissions and the Helicopter Parent

College Admissions and the Helicopter Parent Have you ever heard that sound? The rhythmic whirring of blades as they chop through the air? That is the sound of a helicopter parent hovering over their homeschooled child getting ready for college. That’s right, we are back at it again with an interview and discussion about college […]

Grandparents Who Homeschool (Replay)

During a recent homeschooling convention where we were speaking, an older gentleman approached the Homeschooling in Real Life booth and asked what we might know about grandparents who homeschool. He was planning to help his daughter homeschool her children, and he was there to gather information. The topic of grandparents who homeschool is an exciting one! The […]

Homeschooling Multiple Ages – HIRL Special Replay

📚 Part of our guide: Homeschooling with Toddlers & Little Ones How does a homeschooling parent possibly educate older kids while at the same time juggling preschoolers, toddlers, and babies? Is it even realistic to think we could do a good job while spinning so many homeschool plates? On this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, Fletch […]

Classroom Teachers Who Homeschool (Replay)

Fletch and Kendra sit down with classroom teacher turned homeschool mom to talk about the transition and challenges of leaving the classroom to come home.

Talking With Kids About Tragedy – Special Replay

Talking with Kids About Tragedy Tragedy. In terms of media and social media, tragedy has become a staple of our daily diet. The world seems to be going crazy and the news is full of stories that are difficult for kids to process and understand. How do we talk to our children about race issues, murder, terrorism, […]

Special Replay: How Do I Make Homeschooling Fun?

This week on Homeschool IRL, Fletch and Kendra answer a question submitted from a listener, “How Can I Make My Homeschool Fun?”

I Love Homeschooling, But I’m Totally Disorganized

📚 Part of our guide: Homeschool Organization So you love the idea of homeschooling, but you are totally disorganized? Is this a deal killer? Should you pack up your kids and send them off to the local school house where they will be kept on track by rigid teaching plans that maintain scope and sequence? […]

Cultures and a Heart for the World – HIRL Episode 153

Ever wonder how to give your kids a healthy love for the world and a desire to know other cultures? How about making missions an every day part of your homeschool and home life? What if you can’t travel far from home but want your kids to develop a view that reaches far beyond your […]

Beloved Mess – HIRL Episode 109 (Replay)

Are you a beloved mess? Tired of trying to make your family seem as if you’ve got it all together? Exhausted by external standards that seem unreachable or even crushing?  The Christian life is not about being less of a mess. It’s about admitting that we need to be saved from trying to clean ourselves […]

When Mom Loses Control Of Her Mouth – HIRL Episode 55

Spicy words? Uncontrolled tongues? What do you do when Mom is the one to lose control of her mouth and damages the ones she loves with sharp words? One of our faithful HIRLers called in asking us to answer these questions, so we dove right in. Thanks to our sponsor, A Fanthom Presents Film – […]

Homeless Homeschooling – HIRL Episode 124 (Replay)

Homeless homeschoolers? Sorry for the bait and switch, but this family is anything but homeless! This is a family who decided to take the kids AND the homeschool on the road! Join us and our special guests Megan and Mike Knorpp from KnorppandSouth.com. The Knorpps are homeschooling parents of 9 and cross-country travelers extraordinaire. We discuss the logistics of […]

Replay: When My Convictions Aren’t Your Convictions – HIRL Episode 94

Homeschooling. Health food. Small church. Mom stays home. KJV only. Dresses. Youth group. Public school. No TV. Our convictions, or the things we strongly about, can drive so much of our lives and end up being the choices by which we define ourselves. They can bring like-minded believers together and set the tone for our families […]

Family Devotions with Marty Machowski – HIRL Episode 128

It’s almost the season of Advent, and we have a special gift for you! Join us as we welcome pastor, homeschool father, and family devotions author, Marty Machowski. We talk with Marty about family devotions and why we need to encourage each other as families to gather together around the Word of God.  These are wonderful books […]

Best of Homschooling IRL: Affording College | Special Replay

A special replay in honor of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network’s 10th Birthday! << Click to enter giveaway.   It’s that time of year again – graduation is upon us and college is looming into the future.  In this replay of the Best of Homeschooling IRL, listen in as Fletch and Kendra interview Jean Burke […]

Special Replay: The Desperate Need To Get It Right

On this episode we are talking about how to homeschool when we feel like we just don’t measure up to the other homeschool moms we know.

I Love Homeschooling But I Am Totally Disorganized | Replay

So you love the idea of homeschooling, but you are totally disorganized? Is this a deal killer? Should you pack up your kids and send them off to the local school house where they will be kept on track by rigid teaching plans that maintain scope and sequence? It’s time for us all to get […]

HomeschoolingIRL Replay Homeschooling, Halloween and Harry Potter

Homeschooling, Halloween, and Harry Potter Thank you to this podcast episode sponsor:  Route 60 – The Biblical Highway. In theaters September 18th & 19th only. Please check the website to learn more about this wonderful movie. Homeschooling, Halloween, and Harry Potter? Are we nuts? Well, yes, but that didn’t stop us from tackling two hot potato […]

Homeschooling The Struggling Learner – HIRL Episode 102 Replay

Are you homeschooling a struggling learner? Fletch and Kendra share three practical ideas for you as you consider homeschooling a child who struggles. Join us for this week’s episode as we answer a listener’s question about how to give struggling learners the time and attention they need. EPISODE TIMELINE :50 Fluff – shout out to John Wilkerson  […]

Can We Afford To Homeschool? Understanding Homeschool Finances

Making Homeschooling Work on a Tight Budget In this episode, Fletch and Kendra from the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network are joined by CPA and homeschooling expert Carol Topp to delve into the topic of homeschooling on a limited budget. The conversation covers valuable insights on managing finances while providing a quality homeschooling experience for your […]

Replay: Devotions For The Real Family

We are talking about Family Devotions for the Real Family on this podcast. You know REAL family devotions. The families with the toddler hijacking the deep discussion, the teens are daydreaming, and the mom is falling asleep because it’s been a long, long homeschooling day. Can you relate to family worship that looks like this? […]

HomeschoolingIRL Replay- Homeschooling With Exchange Students

Homeschooling Exchange Students Live on location in Paris, France! One of our very favorite episodes to record, because in this show we record straight from the streets of Paris, France as we interview our former exchange student about life in the home of a large homeschooling family. This episode brought to you by CTC Math. […]

Homeschooling Through Hard Times

Hard times! As much as we might like it to be, life is not all ponies, rainbows, and watercolor daisies.

Replay | The Homeschool Budget – HIRL Episode 97

The Homeschool Budget is part one of a series of three podcast episodes dealing with the topic of financial fear. Thank you to our sponsor, CTC Math. With a family of 8 kids, Fletch and Kendra know that homeschooling can get expensive. On this episode, they share tips and tricks they have used over the years to […]

Affording College – HIRL Episode 126

When our students hope to go to college, the perennial question remains: how in the world will they pay for it? We decided to return to the topic of affording college with College Prep Genius Jean Burk because we know she has valuable information to share. We think you’ll be encouraged and feel equipped as you […]

REPLAY | Back To School – HIRL Episode 116

Are you starting your school year? We are! Let’s gather around the teacher’s lounge and gear up for another year of teaching our kids at home. Fletch and Kendra are starting their 19th year of homeschooling with a bang and letting you in on the fun. In this episode, they are also imparting 5 questions to […]

What Homeschooling Does To A Marriage – HIRL Episode 17

You are going to want to grab your spouse for this episode! Fletch and Kendra dive right into the middle of the topic and discuss how the stress of homeschooling can leak into your marriage relationship. Throughout this episode, you will hear live interviews conducted with couples on the floor of the Teach Them Diligently […]

Homeschooling is a Buzzkill Remix – Episode 83

Wait! This is NOT a rebroadcast of an old episode! Homeschooling is a Buzzkill has been one of our most popular downloads, so we decided to sit down and record a completely new episode. After more than two years of podcasting, it was time to discuss again one of our favorite topics: how homeschooling can be […]

I Love Homeschooling But I Hate Teaching Math – HIRL Episode 31

Hate math? And I hate teaching science. And writing. Or . . . Let’s get real homeschoolers. Most of us have at least one subject we don’t enjoy teaching. What? That is difficult to justify when we are the ones in charge of teaching all the subjects. So what is a homeschooling parent supposed to do when there are […]

Love In The House

Want to know what it takes to have love in the house? What happens when a family goes from relying on rules and rigidity to understanding what it means when Jesus tells us that the grandest commandment is love? Chris and Wendy Jeub are raising (or have raised) 16 children in a home that has […]

Special Replay: Extracurricular Overkill

Extracurricular Overkill on the HIRL Podcast On this week’s special back-to-school replay with Fletch and Kendra, they talk about Extracurricular Overkill.  When is enough too much? On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL, Fletch, and Kendra answer a letter from a listener wondering how to filter extracurricular activities into your homeschool. When should you say yes? When […]

Special Replay | Can Your Homeschooler Go To College – HIRL Episode 27

Can Your Homeschooler Go To College? The answer to this question is obvious: we all know that homeschoolers can go to college! This episode is brought to you by CTCMath.com – a wonderful math curriculum for all of your homeschool needs, or to brush up on new skills. On this episode of Homeschooling In Real Life, Fletch and […]

Special Replay! HomeschoolingIRL Episode 4: Homeschooling Will Save Your Kids, Part One

Homeschooling Will Save Your Kids? Most of us won’t say outright that we think homeschooling will save our kids, but many of us pack this idea in the back of our minds: if we only do it right, our kids will turn out to be good, godly adults. Is that true? Can we trust that […]

Special Replay: HomeschoolingIRL Episode 6: I’m Thinking About Homeschooling, But…

Thinking about homeschooling? Have a friend who is?  Are you thinking about homeschooling? On this episode of Homeschooling IRL, we’ll answer your burning questions about homeschooling, such as, “Will my kids have to raise their hands to ask to go to the bathroom?”, “What about the prom?”, and “Who gets to be the lunch lady?” […]

Holiday Replay |Holiday Series: Stocking Stuffer

Are you stuck in holiday traffic? Are you locking yourself in the bathroom at your family get-together to avoid Crazy Uncle Larry? Are you sick of hearing Christmas music? This quick episode is just for you! Merry Christmas HIRLers! Join Fletch and Kendra in this short and fun episode as we share Christmas laughs with […]

The Quiet Fight Between Women – HIRL Episode 56

There is a quiet fight going on under the surface in homeschooling for a long time. “Let’s face it. The quiet fight between women in homeschooling often comes down to pride.” – Angie Tolpin We dive back into familiar waters on this episode and tackle the issue of competition and pride that we see generally […]

Special Replay | The Working Homeschool Mom – HIRL Episode 141

Are you a homeschooling mom who needs to work? Are you contemplating a job alongside homeschooling? Join us for this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life as we talk with Jimmie Lanley, a mom who found the need to be employed but also wanted to continue educating her daughter at home with excellence. Jimmie is […]

Special Replay | Best of HIRL Christmas Series: Jesus vs. Santa

Does Santa have any place in the celebration of Christmas? If you listen to some homeschoolers talk about it, event the mention of Santa Claus associated with Christmas will land you in the “loner’s corner” of your co-op. Yet, others celebrate good ol’ jolly Santa Claus right next to the baby Jesus. There is also […]

Listener Q&A – Special Replay

On this week’s episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, we’re answering listeners emails on a wide variety of topics.

Special Replay: 5 Ways To Rock Your Homeschool

Need some motivation? Encouragement? Tips? Join us for 5 Ways to Rock Your Homeschool! 

Special Replay: Launching Your High Schooler Into Life

Back in Episode 25, we talked about launching your kid into college. During that discussion, we explained how we have chosen to launch our kids during their senior year of high school, which allows them the freedom to begin making life decisions before they even leave our home. One of our listeners wrote in and asked if […]

Special Replay: What To Do About Sibling Relationships?

Special Replay:  We received a message on the HomeschoolingIRL Facebook page that said, “Please, please, please do an episode on siblings fighting. Thanks!” Sibling relationships. Sibling rivalries. Siblings fighting. We put out the question to our listeners and they responded with story after story of siblings who know how to tease, fight and use sarcasm like […]

Special Replay: How Do I Make Homeschooling Fun?

This week on Homeschool IRL, Fletch and Kendra answer a question submitted from a listener, “How Can I Make My Homeschool Fun?”

Special Replay – Going Back To School

Are you starting your school year? We are! Let’s gather around the teacher’s lounge and gear up for another year of teaching our kids at home. Fletch and Kendra are starting their 19th year of homeschooling with a bang and letting you in on the fun. On this episode, they are also imparting 5 questions to […]

Classroom Teachers Who Homeschool – Special Replay

Fletch and Kendra sit down with classroom teacher turned homeschool mom to talk about the transition and challenges of leaving the classroom to come home.

Homeschooling Multiple Ages – HIRL Special Replay

How does a homeschooling parent possibly educate older kids while at the same time juggling preschoolers, toddlers, and babies? Is it even realistic to think we could do a good job while spinning so many homeschool plates? On this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, Fletch and Kendra talk about how they’ve managed to homeschool 8 kids, […]

Homeschooling Through Hard Times

Hard times! As much as we might like it to be, life is not all ponies, rainbows, and watercolor daisies.

Special Replay: Babysitting

We’re talking all about leaving younger siblings with older siblings in the role of babysitter: the ins and outs, the expectations, and other various aspects of that realty.

Christ in the Chaos – HIRL Episode 34

Fletch and Kendra sit down with Kimm Crandall, author of Christ in the Chaos, for a transparent discussion of the ugly side of Christian homeschooling.

Special Replay: The Desperate Need To Get It Right

On this episode we are talking about how to homeschool when we feel like we just don’t measure up to the other homeschool moms we know.

What’s Your New Normal? – HIRL Episode 160

What’s Your New Normal?  – HIRL Episode 160 What does life look like post-pandemic? Which activities are you are eager to return to, and what will you change going forward? From changing the family schedule, to changing the pace of life, to learning how to connect through the smart use of technology, these are the […]

Blessed Are The Crisis Schoolers- HIRL Episode 159

Blessed Are The Crisis Schoolers – HIRL Episode 159 How can you support your neighbor who is suddenly learning how to school their kids at home? What does it mean to “Love Thy Neighbor” during this Covid-19 pandemic? We are three weeks into the COVID-19 global crisis and families around us are settling into new […]

Hope Shifting and Covid19 – HIRL Episode 158

Hope Shifting and Covid19 – HIRL Episode 158 What does homeschooling look like in the face of a worldwide pandemic? How does sudden change affect the breadwinner in the home who is unexpectedly out of work? What happens when a homeschooling parent suddenly has everyone in the family home all day long? What do we […]

Best of HIRL: Loving the Unlovable

A special replay!  We all have those people in our lives who prove to be a challenge to love: a grumpy toddler, a brooding teen, an irritable spouse, a controlling parent. How do we love them in spite of their unloveliness? What does the gospel tell us about our own unloveliness, and God’s love for […]

Best of HIRL Replay: The Working Homeschool Mom

Are you a homeschooling mom who needs to work? Are you contemplating a job alongside homeschooling? Join us for this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life as we talk with Jimmie Lanley, a mom who found the need to be employed but also wanted to continue educating her daughter at home with excellence. Jimmie is […]

Best of HIRL Replay: Facetime

Author Kristen Hatton joins us for an important discussion that encompasses the world our teen girls are growing up in. From eating disorders to the impact of social media on a young woman’s self image, Kristen’s latest book, Facetime: Your Identity in a Selfie World, is a significant guide to pointing our teenaged daughters to […]

Grandparents Who Homeschool – HIRL Special Replay

During a recent homeschooling convention where we were speaking, an older gentleman approached the Homeschooling in Real Life booth and asked what we might know about grandparents who homeschool. He was planning to help his daughter homeschool her children, and he was there to gather information. The topic of grandparents who homeschool is an exciting one! The […]

The Disappointed Parent – HIRL Special Replay

We have big dreams when we begin parenting: how many children we’ll have, what we’ll do together, how our relationship will be when they are adults. It doesn’t take long for us to realize that we’re not in control of who or how our children are, and soon we can find ourselves disappointed that we […]

When Homeschoolers Judge – Best of Homeschooling IRL

Homeschooling is a choice born out of the freedom to choose what we feel to be the best educational option for our children. It should follow, then that if a family who has made the choice to homeschool then decides to put a child into a traditional school setting, fellow homeschoolers will support that freedom to choose, […]

5 Apps Every Parent Should Know

Apps! Mobile phones! iPads! Technology! It all moves so fast and changes seemingly overnight. How do we keep up with what our kids are asking to use or are being exposed to, even if we are trying to keep it all in balance? Join us on this highly informative episode of Homeschooling in Real Life […]

Best of Homschooling IRL: Affording College

It’s that time of year again – graduation is upon us and college is looming into the future.  In this replay of the Best of Homeschooling IRL, listen in as Fletch and Kendra interview Jean Burke of College Prep Genius with tips for affording college. —- When our students hope to go to college, the […]

Best of HIRL: Homeschooling Multiple Ages

This week on this replay episode of Homeschooling IRL:  How does a homeschooling parent possibly educate older kids while at the same time juggling preschoolers, toddlers, and babies? Is it even realistic to think we could do a good job while spinning so many homeschool plates? On this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, Fletch and […]

Special Edition of HIRL: Mid-Year Slump

This week on Special Edition – Homeschooling IRL – Enjoy this episode replay sponsored by Christian Standard Bible!  Mid-January. Harumph. Are you feeling the mid-year slump in your homeschool, too?  In this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, Fletch and Kendra talk about how the mid-year slump affects their homeschooling and give several practical ways in which you […]

Family Devotions with Marty Machowski

This week on Special Edition – Homeschooling IRL – Enjoy this episode replay sponsored by Christian Standard Bible!    Join us as we welcome pastor, homeschool father, and family devotions author, Marty Machowski. We talk with Marty about family devotions and why we need to encourage each other as families to gather together around the Word […]

Special Edition of HIRL: Devotions For The Real Family

This week on Special Edition – Homeschooling IRL – Enjoy this episode replay sponsored by Christian Standard Bible!  We are talking about Family Devotions for the Real Family on this podcast. You know REAL family devotions. The families with the toddler hijacking the deep discussion, and the teens are daydreaming, and mom is falling asleep because […]

“Out of Retirement” Update from Homeschooling in Real Life: Leaving Legalism

“Out of Retirement” Update from Homeschooling in Real Life: Leaving Legalism Hey there, HIRLers! We’ve missed you all so much that we decided to come back for one more episode. We’re celebrating the Ultimate Homeschool Network’s 5th anniversary and catching you up on good ol’ Homeschooling in Real Life stuff. It’s fun frivolity and all […]

Best of HIRL: The Educated Parent

We home educators spend a lot of time educating our kids. But what about us? Are we taking the time to learn more, discover more, and be curious? This episode of Homeschooling in Real Life is dedicated to you, the homeschooling parent. We want to see you grow and thrive in your role as parent […]

Best of HIRL: Boys To Men

Our listeners love when we podcast about the process of raising children into adulthood. But every time we talk about raising kids or the transitions into teen years or launching our adolescents out into the world, we are asked constantly for resources. On this episode we introduce our listeners to one of our favorite new resources for young men. Our old friend, Barrett […]

Best of HIRL: When Your Homeschool Owns You

When Cindy West reached out to us and asked to talk about something she’s seeing in the homeschool community at large, we jumped at the opportunity. And it’s this: Some homeschoolers feel they must adhere so closely to a particular homeschool philosophy that they have lost all their homeschool joy. Essentially, their homeschools are owning them. […]

Replay: Devotions For The Real Family

We are talking about Family Devotions for the Real Family on this podcast. You know REAL family devotions. The families with the toddler hijacking the deep discussion, and the teens are daydreaming, and mom is falling asleep because it’s been a long, long homeschooling day. Can you relate to family worship that looks like this? Family worship […]

Back to School Replay: Extracurricular Overkill

On this week’s special back to school replay with Fletch and Kendra, they talk about Extracurricular Overkill.  When is enough too much? On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL, Fletch and Kendra answer a letter from a listener who is wondering how to filter extracurricular activities into your homeschool. When should you say yes? When should you say […]

Back to School Replay: Moms and Teen Boys

Moms of teen boys, this episode was made for you! What happens to those boys when they become teenagers and why are they so hard for moms to manage? Fletch and Kendra have raised three teen boys so far and they have lived to tell the tale . . . Fletch pokes a few sticks at […]

Back to School Replay: I Love Homeschooling But I Am Totally Disorganized

So you love the idea of homeschooling, but you are totally disorganized? Is this a deal killer? Should you pack up your kids and send them off to the local school house where they will be kept on track by rigid teaching plans that maintain scope and sequence? It’s time for us all to get […]

Best of HIRL: Back To School

Are you starting your school year?  In this Best of HIRL, we gather around the teacher’s lounge and gear up for another year of teaching our kids at home. When this episode first ran, Fletch and Kendra were starting their 19th year of homeschooling with a bang and letting you in on the fun. On […]

Summertime Favorites – The Homeschool Budget

The Homeschool Budget is part one of a series of three podcast episodes dealing with the topic of financial fear. With a family of 8 kids, Fletch and Kendra know that homeschooling can get expensive. On this episode, they share tips and tricks they have used over the years to save money and homeschool well within a […]

Summertime Favorites – Can We Afford To Homeschool?

Can you afford to homeschoool? What if your budget is already at its max, and you feel you’re barely scraping by just to provide the basics for your family? Join Fletch and Kendra as we sit down with our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network colleague and CPA Carol Topp for a lively and quick discussion of how […]

Summertime Favorites – Girls, Again

Summertime Favorites – this month replaying some of Homeschooling IRL’s best episodes for the summer! Enjoy! —-This is not the first time we have tackled the topic of girls on the podcast. On Episode 10, we talked about many of the common pitfalls we have observed in homeschool families raising daughters. From restrictive environments to preventing […]

Summertime Favorites – Boys, Again

Back in Episode 9, we sat down with our friends and fellow podcasters, Hal and Melanie Young from Making Biblical Family Life Practical, to discuss the topic of boys. We talked about how these rambunctious little piles of energy can completely undo the unprepared homeschool mom. From peeing on the carpet to falling from the […]

Best of HIRL: Dads Who Homeschool

On this episode of the HomeschoolingIRL podcast, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know about switching roles. What happens when circumstances dictate that mom is the primary breadwinner. What does it look like when dads choose to stay home and do the homeschooling? Fletch and Kendra interview two homeschool dads who […]

Best of HIRL: I Love Homeschooling, But I’ll Tell You Its Flaws

On this episode of Homeschooling In Real Life, Fletch and Kendra discuss what it’s like when your homeschool student abandons your family’s faith and lifestyle. How can this happen in a Christian home where you have created a sheltered homeschool environment? Christian homeschooling is designed to protect our kids. Shouldn’t our children turn out perfect? […]

Best of HIRL: Answering Homeschool Critics

Homeschool critics seem to be everywhere and some of us have had our share of uncomfortable conversations about our choice to homeschool, how we’re going about it, whether or not we’re qualified to teach our own kids, and even what they’re learning. Learning how to answer homeschool critics, especially those who are close to us, sometimes requires […]

Best of HIRL: How The Gospel Makes Us Unoffendable

What if someone told you that you had no right to be angry? What if you could live a life that was defined as unoffendable? What would it look like to not be offended by the things people say and do, or by the way they treat you? And what if you could smile and relax, […]

Best of HIRL: How to Raise A Pagan Kid In A Christian Home

Barrett Johnson wrote a viral sensation entitled, How to Raise a Pagan Kid in a Christian Home. Writing from his heart on a topic he was keenly aware of in the church, he never expected the speedy response he received from parents in the broader Christian community, many of whom were replying with a hearty, “Amen!” […]

The Quiet Fight Between Women (Best Of)

There is a quiet fight going on under the surface in homeschooling for a long time. “Let’s face it. The quiet fight between women in homeschooling often comes down to pride.” – Angie Tolpin We dive back into familiar waters on this episode and tackle the issue of competition and pride that we see generally among […]

Best of HIRL: Heart for the World

Ever wonder how to give your kids a healthy love for the world and a desire to know other cultures? How about making missions an every day part of your homeschool and home life? What if you can’t travel far from home but want your kids to develop a view that reaches far beyond your […]

Best of HIRL: Knights in Training

Raising boys can be tricky business, no? And if we have a heart to see our boys really change the world with solid character, big ideas, and compassionate hearts, we can feel defeated when we see them being goofy and a little out of control as kids. That’s exactly why we wanted to have a […]

Best of HIRL: How To Watch TV Without Selling Your Soul

Should you turn the TV on?  Yes or no? On this episode we  jump into a topic that is quick to divide families as we answer the question: Is there any redeeming value in having television in your home, or should we avoid this portal into American culture? Join along and listen as Fletch and Kendra talk openly […]

How To Deal With Homeschool Burnout – Special Replay

This is our second stab at the topic of homeschool burnout. Back in Episode 39, we interviewed four homeschool moms and discussed the topic: I Love Homeschooling, But I’m Totally Burned Out.  On that episode we verified that homeschooling moms burn out often and regularly. Our listener Anna, wrote in and asked if we would expand the […]

Talking With Kids About Tragedy – Special Replay

Tragedy. In terms of media and social media, tragedy has become a staple of our daily diet. The world seems to be going crazy and the news is full of stories that are difficult for kids to process and understand. How do we talk to our children about race issues, murder, terrorism, and other tragic current events?  […]

When Your Homeschool Owns You – HIRL Replay

When Cindy West reached out to us and asked to talk about something she’s seeing in the homeschool community at large, we jumped at the opportunity. And it’s this: Some homeschoolers feel they must adhere so closely to a particular homeschool philosophy that they have lost all their homeschool joy. Essentially, their homeschools are owning them. […]

Best of HIRL Christmas Series: Jesus vs. Santa

Does Santa have any place in the celebration of Christmas? If you listen to some homeschoolers talk about it, event the mention of Santa Claus associated with Christmas will land you in the “loner’s corner” of your co-op. Yet, others celebrate good ol’ jolly Santa Claus right next to the baby Jesus. There is also […]

Best of HIRL Holiday Series: Stocking Stuffer

Are you stuck in holiday traffic? Are you locking yourself in the bathroom at your family get-together to avoid Crazy Uncle Larry? Are you sick of hearing Christmas music? This quick episode is just for you! Merry Christmas HIRLers! Join Fletch and Kendra on this short and fun episode as we share some Christmas laughs with […]

Best of HIRL Holiday Series: What To Do About Sibling Relationships?

We received a message on the HomeschoolingIRL Facebook page that said, “Please, please, please do an episode on siblings fighting. Thanks!” Sibling relationships. Sibling rivalries. Siblings fighting. We put out the question to our listeners and they responded with story after story of siblings who know how to tease, fight and use sarcasm like professionals. On […]

Best of HIRL Holiday Series – Traveling With Kids

Join us on this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life as we talk about the ins and outs of traveling with kids. On this episode we are NOT talking about vacation planning. Instead we are talking about giving your family a love for travel, a love for God’s world and a love for taking your love for Jesus […]

Homeschooling Multiple Ages

Homeschooling Multiple Ages! How does a homeschooling parent possibly educate older kids while at the same time juggling preschoolers, toddlers, and babies? Is it even realistic to think we could do a good job while spinning so many homeschool plates? On this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, Fletch and Kendra talk about how they’ve managed to […]

I Love Homeschooling But I’m Totally Burned Out

For the rest of the year, we will be running a “Best of” series of the Homeschooling IRL episodes. Many of these episodes were earlier episodes that you might have missed. Enjoy! Let’s be real folks! It’s February and the mid-year homeschooling doldrums can hit any of us. One of our listeners sent us a great email […]

Best of HIRL: Transparent Parenting

For the rest of the year, we will be running a “Best of” series of the Homeschooling IRL episodes. Many of these episodes were earlier episodes that you might have missed. Enjoy! How important is it for us to practice transparent parenting with our children? What should you do when your children ask you questions that are just […]

I Love Homeschooling But My Kids Are With Me All the Time

On this episode of the HomeschoolingIRL podcast, Fletch and Kendra begin a new series called, “I Love Homeschooling But…” and discuss the topic of having your kids with you All. The. Time. We really do love this aspect of homeschooling, and many of us want to spend the best hours of our kids’ days with […]

How Do I Make Homeschooling Fun?

On today’s episode of Homeschooling In Real Life,  Martha called in to ask, “How Do I Make My Homeschool Fun?” We loved this question, so both Fletch and Kendra take a stab at answering. As you have come to expect, their answers line up perfectly with the “have to” parent and the “get to” parent.  Tune in to make […]

Homeschooling Through Hard Times

Hard times! As much as we might like it to be, life is not all ponies, rainbows, and watercolor daisies. On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL we discuss the issue of homeschooling when life gets hard. Difficulties can look different in every family – marital stress, tragedies, health challenges, financial loss – and we’ll consider how each […]

Homeschooling and Marriage

For the rest of the year, we will be running a “Best of” series of the Homeschooling IRL episodes continuing with Homeschooling and Marriage. Many of these episodes were earlier episodes that you might have missed. Enjoy! You are going to want to grab your spouse for this episode! Fletch and Kendra dive right into […]

5 Ways To Rock Homeschool

For the rest of the year, we will be running a “Best of” series of the Homeschooling IRL episodes, starting with 5 Ways to Rock Homeschool. Many of these episodes were earlier episodes that you might have missed. Enjoy!       Need some motivation? Encouragement? Tips? Join us for 5 Ways to Rock Your […]

Best of Homeschooling IRL: I Love Homeschooling, But I Hate Teaching Writing

This week on the Best of Homeschooling IRL:  Do you struggle with teaching writing to your homeschool kids? This is the episode for you. As homeschool parents, some of us were not given great tools for writing in our own education, so when it comes to teaching the subject, we already feel ill-prepared. Others of […]

Best of Homeschooling IRL: Unrealistic Expectations

In this Best of Homeschooling IRL episode, Fletch and Kendra chat with Kathy Lee, mom of many and co-author of The Homegrown Preschooler. Kathy is a child development specialist who has homeschooled and raised kids and now speaks all over the country to parents (often with several of her kids in tow!) We discuss the […]

Best of Homeschooling IRL: The Purity Culture with Sheila Gregoire

This week on the Best of Homeschooling IRL:  Sheila Gregoire is the author of the book, The Good Girl’s Guide To Great Sex. She is also a popular speaker and blogger at To Love Honor and Vacuum. Sheila joins us in the studio again this week as we discuss the phenomenon that is the “purity culture” […]

Best of Homeschooling IRL: What Josh Duggar Forgot

For the next few weeks, we’re playing a few episodes of Our discussion on this episode comes right out of the current headlines. Homeschool graduate and reality TV star, Josh Duggar, has fallen from the spotlight due to his confessions of struggling with adultery, pornography and a history of molestation. We jump into to discuss the […]

HIRL Episode 156: The Goodbye Show

All good things must come to an end, and as such, this is the final episode of the Homeschooling In Real Life podcast. Thank you for hanging in there with us through 155 episodes. It was a great run and we even slipped a final episode in last week before saying goodbye! Celebrate with us […]

What Happened to Joshua Harris and ‘I Kissed Dating Goodbye’?

In 1997, 21-year-old Joshua Harris wrote a revolutionary book on dating. The book would go on to be an international bestseller and catapult Joshua into the Christian spotlight. I Kissed Dating Goodbye was embraced by the homeschool community and the Christian church at large, and continues to shape the consciousness of how Christians view singleness, dating, and relationships. […]

Avoiding Spiritual Abuse – HIRL Episode 154

Spiritual abuse has been alive and well in the homeschool community for years. From early leaders like Bill Gothard/ATI to the deceptive charm of Doug Phillips and the Vision Forum/Family Integrated Church movement, homeschoolers often fall prey to the abuse of misguided leaders. Joining Fletch and Kendra for the last full episode of Homeschooling in […]

Heart for the World – HIRL Episode 153

Ever wonder how to give your kids a healthy love for the world and a desire to know other cultures? How about making missions an every day part of your homeschool and home life? What if you can’t travel far from home but want your kids to develop a view that reaches far beyond your […]

Facetime – HIRL Episode 152

Author Kristen Hatton joins us for an important discussion that encompasses the world our teen girls are growing up in. From eating disorders to the impact of social media on a young woman’s self image, Kristen’s latest book, Facetime: Your Identity in a Selfie World, is a significant guide to pointing our teenaged daughters to […]

Knights in Training – HIRL Episode 151

Raising boys can be tricky business, no? And if we have a heart to see our boys really change the world with solid character, big ideas, and compassionate hearts, we can feel defeated when we see them being goofy and a little out of control as kids. That’s exactly why we wanted to have a […]

Listener Q&A, Part 2 – HIRL Episode 150

Hey! Hey! We’re once again answering listeners’ emails on a wide variety of topics this week. Want to know how not to be a homeschool whackjob? Or how to choose a different schooling option without caving to judgmental responses? Chances are, if you’ve had a question for Fletch and Kendra, you’ll hear the answers you’ve been […]

Listener Q&A, Part 1 – HIRL Episode 149

We’re almost 150 episodes in and the emails keep coming!  On this week’s episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, we’re answering listeners emails on a wide variety of topics. Judgmental homeschoolers? We got that. Homeschooling high school? Yep, that, too. Chances are, if you’ve had a question for Fletch and Kendra, you’ll hear the answers […]

Boys To Men – HIRL Episode 148

Our listeners love when we podcast about the process of raising children into adulthood. But every time we talk about raising kids or the transitions into teen years or launching our adolescents out into the world, we are asked constantly for resources. On this episode we introduce our listeners to one of our favorite new resources for young men. Our old friend, Barrett […]

When Homeschoolers Judge – HIRL Episode 147

Homeschooling is a choice born out of the freedom to choose what we feel to be the best educational option for our children. It should follow, then that if a family who has made the choice to homeschool then decides to put a child into a traditional school setting, fellow homeschoolers will support that freedom to choose, […]

Babysitting – HIRL Episode 146

Some of our best episodes have been created as the result of our listeners’ great ideas, and this is one of those episodes! We’re talking all about leaving younger siblings with older siblings in the role of babysitter: the ins and outs, the expectations, and other various aspects of that realty. We hope it sets […]

Marriage and the Gospel: Undone and Redone

  Tray and Melody Lovvorn were married for 11 years before his struggle with pornography and sexual addiction tore their family apart. The appearance of the “perfect” Christian life that they both worked so hard to maintain came crashing down all around them. They divorced, but God wasn’t yet finished with their marriage. Tray and Melody […]

When Your Homeschool Owns You – HIRL Episode 144

Sometimes an idea for an episode comes along and we throw the regular recording schedule out the window!  When Cindy West reached out to us and asked to talk about something she’s seeing in the homeschool community at large, we jumped at the opportunity. And it’s this: Some homeschoolers feel they must adhere so closely to […]

5 Apps All Parents Should Know – HIRL Episode 143

Apps! Mobile phones! iPads! Technology! It all moves so fast and changes seemingly overnight. How do we keep up with what our kids are asking to use or are being exposed to, even if we are trying to keep it all in balance? Join us on this highly informative episode of Homeschooling in Real Life […]

Parenting: Principles Over Formula – HIRL Episode 142

Parenting formulas tend to make us feel safe: Do it this way, and your children will grow up to be godly/good citizens/intelligent/productive, etc. But is this what God has in mind when he gives us children in our homes? Join us and author Heather Haupt as we talk homeschooling (she’s a homeschool grad), parenting promises, […]

The Working Homeschool Mom – HIRL Episode 141

Are you a homeschooling mom who needs to work? Are you contemplating a job alongside homeschooling? Join us for this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life as we talk with Jimmie Lanley, a mom who found the need to be employed but also wanted to continue educating her daughter at home with excellence. Jimmie is […]

Love, Honor, and Virtue – HIRL Episode 140

Two of our favorite guests, Hal and Melanie Young, join us on this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life for a candid discussion about technology, temptation, addiction, and culture. We talk about the false sense of security that homeschooling can give us and how we can equip our kids to make choices that set them […]

Homeschooling and Adoption – HIRL Episode 139

Since the very beginning of the Homeschooling in Real Life podcast, our listeners have been requesting that we do an episode on homeschooling and adoption. Why did it take us so long? Because just the right person to address the topic came along and we feel we couldn’t have given you anyone better! Guest Tricia […]

Mr. D Math: An Online Math Option for Homeschoolers

Should homeschooling parents attempt to teach higher level math around the kitchen table? Most homeschooling parents don’t like to have their teaching abilities challenged. It sounds like the perfect place for the Homeschooling IRL team to dig in and ask tough questions. Join us as we talk with Dennis DiNoia about his online math program and debate the […]

The Educated Parent – HIRL Episode 137

We home educators spend a lot of time educating our kids. But what about us? Are we taking the time to learn more, discover more, and be curious? This episode of Homeschooling in Real Life is dedicated to you, the homeschooling parent. We want to see you grow and thrive in your role as parent […]

How To Watch TV Without Selling Your Soul – HIRL Episode 136

Should you turn the TV on?  Yes or no? On this episode we  jump into a topic that is quick to divide families as we answer the question: Is there any redeeming value in having television in your home, or should we avoid this portal into American culture? Join along and listen as Fletch and Kendra talk openly […]

Mid-Year Slump – HIRL Episode 135

Mid-January. Harumph. Are you feeling the mid-year slump in your homeschool, too?  In this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, Fletch and Kendra talk about how the mid-year slump affects their homeschooling and give several practical ways in which you can beat the mid-year slump, too. SHOW NOTES: Recommended Resources: Lost and Found, by Kendra Fletcher Key Life […]

Real Encouragement – HIRL Episode 134

Well, hello 2017! We’re back with a brand new season of episodes that we hope will inspire, inform, and encourage you as you walk this homeschooling path with your family. And what better way than to start with an episode meant to encourage you right off the bat? We’re joined by one of our most popular […]

Rebroadcast – Unrealistic Expectations – HIRL Episode 133

This is our last week of our mid-season break. We enjoyed our hiatus and the time we had away from the microphones (not to mention the fact that they have been packed into our moving supplies. We are finishing up our rebroadcasts of our most downloaded shows of 2016. This final week is the MOST […]

Rebroadcast – Multiple Ages – HIRL Episode 132

Happy New Year! We are still enjoying our Christmas/New Year/Season Break hiatus and sharing our Top-5 Most Downloaded Shows from 2016. This week we are sharing the 2nd most downloaded show from 2016. On Episode 108, we talked through the issue of how to homeschool multiple ages. SHOW NOTES: Recommended Resources: Episode 108: Homeschooling Multiple Ages Follow Fletch/Kendra: Fletch Twitter Kendra […]

Rebroadcast – Beloved Mess – HIRL Episode 131

As we head into the last week of Advent, the team here at HomeschoolingIRL is preparing for Christmas, a wedding, New Years and a massive home move! Whew! During this season break, we are sharing our Top-5 Most Downloaded Shows from 2016. This week we are sharing the 3rd most downloaded show from 2016. On Episode 109, […]

Rebroadcast – Classroom Teachers – HIRL Episode 130

We are two weeks from Christmas and enjoying our season hiatus. We are still sharing our Top-5 Most Downloaded Shows from 2016. This week we are sharing the 4th most downloaded show. On Episode 111, we sat down with one of our favorites, Jolanthe Erb, to discuss the topic of Classroom Teachers Who Homeschool. You loved it […]

Rebroadcast – SexEd For Parents – HIRL Episode 129

Hey HIRLers! While we are on our season hiatus, we wanted to share our Top-5 Most Downloaded Shows from 2016. We are starting with #5. This week listen in again as we spend time with Barrett and Jenifer Johnson from INFO for Families as we talk about Sex Ed for Parents! SHOW NOTES: Recommended Resources: Episode 115 – […]

Family Devotions with Marty Machowski – HIRL Episode 128

It’s the season of Advent, and we have a special gift for you! Join us as we welcome pastor, homeschool father, and family devotions author, Marty Machowski. We talk with Marty about family devotions and why we need to encourage each other as families to gather together around the Word of God.  These are wonderful books for […]

The Desperate Need To Get It Right – HIRL Episode 127

When we talk about the desperate need to get it right, Fletch is quick to say, “Oh! You mean homeschooling in the age of Pinterest?” On this episode we are talking about how to homeschool when we feel like we just don’t measure up to the other homeschool moms we know. We are joined in the […]

Affording College – HIRL Episode 126

When our students hope to go to college, the perennial question remains: how in the world will they pay for it? We decided to return to the topic of affording college with College Prep Genius Jean Burk because we know she has valuable information to share. We think you’ll be encouraged and feel equipped as you help your college-bound […]

The Purity Culture, with Sheila Gregoire

Sheila Gregoire is the author of the book, The Good Girl’s Guide To Great Sex. She is also a popular speaker and blogger at To Love Honor and Vacuum. Sheila joins us in the studio again this week as we discuss the phenomenon that is the “purity culture” and its affect on the Christian homeschooling community. […]

Homeless Homeschooling – HIRL Episode 124

Homeless homeschoolers? Sorry for the bait and switch, but this family is anything but homeless! This is a family who decided to take the kids AND the homeschool on the road! Join us and our special guests Megan and Mike Knorpp from KnorppandSouth.com. The Knorpps are homeschooling parents of 9 and cross-country travelers extraordinaire. We discuss the logistics of […]

What’s The Deal With Charter Schools – HIRL Episode 123

So, what’s the deal with charter schools? We received an email from a listener who works in a local charter school that serves homeschooling families, and he has been surprised by the suspicion homeschoolers tend to bring to the table when the conversation turns to charters. Yes, we’re having that conversation, and we’re having it with a husband and […]

Loving the Unlovable – HIRL Episode 122

We all have those people in our lives who prove to be a challenge to love: a grumpy toddler, a brooding teen, an irritable spouse, a controlling parent. How do we love them in spite of their unloveliness? What does the gospel tell us about our own unloveliness, and God’s love for us? Tun in to […]

Grandparents Who Homeschool – HIRL Episode 121

During a recent homeschooling convention where we were speaking, an older gentleman approached the Homeschooling in Real Life booth and asked what we might know about grandparents who homeschool. He was planning to help his daughter homeschool her children, and he was there to gather information. The topic of grandparents who homeschool is an exciting one! The […]

The Disappointed Parent – HIRL Episode 120

We have big dreams when we begin parenting: how many children we’ll have, what we’ll do together, how our relationship will be when they are adults. It doesn’t take long for us to realize that we’re not in control of who or how our children are, and soon we can find ourselves disappointed that we […]

How To Be A Good Sister – HIRL Episode 119

Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters . . . except when they’re not. Sister relationships come with their own unique dynamics and drama. On this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, the three Fletcher sisters join Kendra in the studio for a lively chat about what’s difficult about being so close in age, […]

Homeschooling In Hawaii – HIRL Episode 118

What would it look like to homeschool under the palm trees and island breezes of Hawaii? Attention HIRLers! We have arrived at the center of Fletch’s dream. Actually, this is not a dream. We do love Hawaii, but this time we have a studio discussion with Dave and Amy Jordan who homeschool their 7 kids on […]

Happy Labor Day HIRLers!

The Great Fletcher 1970’s Summer is coming to a close, so we are taking a break this week to celebrate Labor Day as a family! Listen in for a quick message and we will be back next week! Fletch and Kenj SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE AN iTUNES REVIEW: Allow the magic of the internet to deliver […]

Talking Sex With Sheila Gregoire – HIRL Episode 117

DISCLAIMER: WE DEAL WITH MATURE TOPICS ON THIS EPISODE; DECIDE IF YOUR LITTLE ONES SHOULD LISTEN ALONG. In Episode 115, we answered a listener’s email and discussed sex education for parents with Barrett and Jenifer Johnson.  Your emails and comments started pouring in. We are realizing that there are many couples out there who just don’t know […]

Back To School – HIRL Episode 116

Are you starting your school year? We are! Let’s gather around the teacher’s lounge and gear up for another year of teaching our kids at home. Fletch and Kendra are starting their 19th year of homeschooling with a bang and letting you in on the fun. On this episode, they are also imparting 5 questions to […]

Sex Ed for Parents, Part 1

DISCLAIMER: WE DEAL WITH MATURE TOPICS ON THIS EPISODE; DECIDE IF YOUR LITTLE ONES SHOULD LISTEN ALONG. On previous episodes we have encouraged you to talk with your kids about sex, but how do you have that conversation if you don’t know how to talk about it as a couple? How do you have emotional conversations out […]

When Your Kid Discovers Porn: A Parent’s Guide

DISCLAIMER: WE DEAL WITH MATURE TOPICS ON THIS EPISODE. DECIDE IF YOUR LITTLE ONES SHOULD LISTEN ALONG. What do you do when your kid stumbles upon pornography? Most of us homeschool for a reason, but we assume that the vast majority of us are homeschooling because we take our responsibility of shepherding our children very seriously. With […]

I Love Homeschooling, But I Hate Teaching Writing

Do you struggle with teaching writing to your homeschool kids? This is the episode for you. As homeschool parents, some of us were not given great tools for writing in our own education, so when it comes to teaching the subject, we already feel ill-prepared. Others of us are great writers and love to write, […]

I Love Homeschooling, But I Hate Teaching Science – HIRL Episode112

Most of us have at least one subject we don’t love to teach, and that’s a tricky thing to reconcile when we’re in charge of all the subjects. So what’s a homeschooler to do when there are core subjects that must be covered but mom or dad either aren’t motivated to get that subject done every […]

Classroom Teachers Who Homeschool – HIRL Episode 111

What happens when classroom teachers decide to homeschool their own children? How do they make the transition from classroom management to managing the personalities around their kitchen table?  If you are a classroom teacher considering homeschooling your own kids, you’ll appreciate this episode and the conversation with former classroom teacher Jolanthe Erb, who brings ten years of […]

Talking With Kids About Tragedy – HIRL Episode 110

Tragedy. In terms of media and social media, tragedy has become a staple of our daily diet. The world seems to be going crazy and the news is full of stories that are difficult for kids to process and understand. How do we talk to our children about race issues, murder, terrorism, and other tragic current events?  […]

Beloved Mess: Encouragement for Weary Parents

Tired of trying to make your family seem as if you’ve got it all together? Exhausted by external standards that seem unreachable or even crushing?  The Christian life is not about being less of a mess. It’s about admitting that we need to be saved from trying to clean ourselves up. Guest Kimm Crandall frees you to […]

Quick Announcement – HIRL June 2016

Kendra is on the road this week, leaving Fletch home to run the 1970’s summer adventure with a handful of Fletcher kids. In between sugar cereal, grilled cheese and episodes of Scooby Doo, Fletch popped into the HomeschoolingIRL studio to make an executive decision and a quick announcement about what’s happening this week at Homeschooling In […]

Homeschooling Multiple Ages – HIRL Episode 108

How does a homeschooling parent possibly educate older kids while at the same time juggling preschoolers, toddlers, and babies? Is it even realistic to think we could do a good job while spinning so many homeschool plates? On this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, Fletch and Kendra talk about how they’ve managed to homeschool 8 kids, […]

Give Your Child The World – HIRL Episode 107

Is there a way to give our kids a global perspective and a heart for people living very different lives all across the globe? Author and homeschooling mom Jamie Martin not only believes so, she’s written the guide! Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Children One Book at a Time is the ultimate book list […]

Art, Films, Naked Statues, and Hitler: Teaching Hard Topics

Is there a role for art in the curriculum for every homeschool family? What should you do if your strength is not art or art education? We know that art most often reflects the current state of culture, so how do we decided what sort of art to expose our kids to?  On this episode of Homeschooling […]

College Admissions and the Helicopter Parent – HIRL Episode 105

Have you ever heard that sound? The rhythmic whirring of blades as they chop through the air? That is the sound of a helicopter parent hovering over their homeschooled child getting ready for college. That’s right, we are back at it again with an interview and discussion about college admissions and the need to keep […]

Dads Who Homeschool – HIRL Episode 104

On this episode of the HomeschoolingIRL podcast, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know about switching roles. What happens when circumstances dictate that mom is the primary breadwinner. What does it look like when dads choose to stay home and do the homeschooling? Fletch and Kendra interview two homeschool dads who […]

Unrealistic Expectations – HIRL Episode 103

Join us for this week’s episode as we chat with Kathy Lee, mom of many and co-author of The Homegrown Preschooler. Kathy is a child development specialist who has homeschooled and raised kids and now speaks all over the country to parents (often with several of her kids in tow!) We discuss the growing trend […]

Homeschooling The Struggling Learner – HIRL Episode 102

🎧 Listen & subscribe: Apple Podcasts  ·  Spotify Are you homeschooling a struggling learner? Fletch and Kendra share three practical ideas for you as you consider homeschooling a child who struggles. Join us for this week’s episode as we answer a listener’s question about how to give a struggling learner the time and attention they need. […]

Homeschooling in Alaska

Have you ever wanted to pack up your kids and take them on the road for a homeschooling adventure? On this episode we interview a family who spent 3 months on the road adventuring in Alaska. Corey and Jessica Hulen and their 4 children drove from their home in California and spent the summer traveling the Alaska […]

Celebrating 100! – HIRL Episode 100

Welcome to the 100th episode of Homeschooling In Real Life! Did you know that most podcasters lose steam and stop at 7 episodes? Not only have we kept going, but we have shows planned that will push us past the century mark! Thanks for joining us as we hit this symbolic landmark in podcasting. On this episode […]

Finances and Hope Shifting – HIRL Episode 99

In this final installment of our three-part series on financial fear, we’re returning to our roots and discussing how hope shifting can factor into our fear when it comes to finances. More regularly described as idolatry, “hope shifting” simply means that we’re putting our hope in something other than God for our well-being and care, […]

Affording College – HIRL Episode 98

Part two of our series on financial fear, Affording College hits the topics we’re all nervous about if we have a student who is eyeing a college career: How do we help them pay for four years of schooling? What things can we do to assist with the application process? And finally, should every kid […]

The Homeschool Budget – HIRL Episode 97

The Homeschool Budget is part one of a series of three podcast episodes dealing with the topic of financial fear. With a family of 8 kids, Fletch and Kendra know that homeschooling can get expensive. On this episode, they share tips and tricks they have used over the years to save money and homeschool well within a […]

Extracurricular Overkill – HIRL Episode 96

When is enough too much? On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL, Fletch and Kendra answer a letter from a listener who is wondering how to filter extracurricular activities into your homeschool. When should you say yes? When should you say no? We invite good friends Nate and Ali Miller into the studio to talk through the topic […]

Traveling With Kids – HIRL Episode 95

Join us on this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life as we talk about the ins and outs of traveling with kids. On this episode we are NOT talking about vacation planning. Instead we are talking about giving your family a love for travel, a love for God’s world and a love for taking your love for Jesus […]

When My Convictions Aren’t Your Convictions – HIRL Episode 94

Homeschooling. Health food. Small church. Mom stays home. KJV only. Dresses. Youth group. Public school. No TV. Our convictions, or the things we strongly about, can drive so much of our lives and end up being the choices by which we define ourselves. They can bring like-minded believers together and set the tone for our families […]

Homeschooling For The Short Term – HIRL Episode 93

Are you homeschooling for the short term? Committing to a brief season of educating your children at home? This episode, encouraged by an email we received from a Homeschooling in Real Life listener, is just for you. Don’t let the short title fool you, though. We quickly get into quite a lively discussion and face some mighty large homeschooling […]

Moms and Teen Boys

Moms of teen boys, this episode was made for you! What happens to those boys when they become teenagers and why are they so hard for moms to manage? Fletch and Kendra have raised three teen boys so far and they have lived to tell the tale . . . Fletch pokes a few sticks at […]

Is “Me Time” Necessary? – HIRL Episode 91

Do you ever feel like there just isn’t enough time in your life to take care of yourself? In the midst of your life do you fail to remember to do the things you want to do? Do the demands of parenting and homeschooling make you feel guilty if you take time for yourself? We think this is […]

Spiritual Abuse, Part 2 – HIRL Episode 90

On last week’s episode, we sat down with Dale and Jonalyn Fincher from Soulation/Freedom Builders to begin an important discussion on the topic of spiritual abuse. We just scratched the surface of the discussion by talking about how homeschoolers are prime targets for “movements.” On this episode, we continue the conversation, but we focus on the practical issues surrounding the topic of spiritual […]

Spiritual Abuse, Part 1 – HIRL Episode 89

Spiritual Abuse. It doesn’t just happen in South American cults. If we are not careful, we can find ourselves involved in movements where the focus quickly turns to behavior modification or blind obedience to personalities and personas. On this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Dale and Jonalyn Fincher from Soulation/Freedom Builders to discuss spiritual […]

What Is Homeschooling In Real Life? – HIRL Episode 88

The season break is over! We are kicking things off with an episode that answers the question: Just what is Homeschooling in Real Life? We have noticed over the years that new listeners come to our show wanting us to answer practical questions about homeschooling. Once they listen to an episode, most of our listeners realize […]

Rebroadcast – Losing Our Religion – HIRL Episode 87

The HomeschoolingIRL team is taking a break between seasons to prepare and produce new shows. In the meantime, we are rebroadcasting our most popular and most downloaded episodes. On this week’s episode, we are replaying our 2nd most downloaded episode. This is our story. It is very personal, but very important to share. We discuss how our family […]

Rebroadcast – How The Gospel Makes Us Unoffendable – HIRL Episode 86

The HomeschoolingIRL team is taking a break between seasons to prepare and produce new shows. In the meantime, we are rebroadcasting our most popular and most downloaded episodes. On this week’s episode, we are replaying our interview with radio personality and author, Brant Hansen. Brant is the author of Unoffendable, where he discusses how the gospel takes the fuel out […]

Rebroadcast – Black Sheep Homeschoolers – HIRL Episode 85

The HomeschoolingIRL team is taking a break between seasons to prepare and produce new shows. In the meantime, we are rebroadcasting our most popular and most downloaded episodes. On this week’s episode, we are replaying our discussion about Black Sheep Homeschoolers.  What do you do when you have ‘that kid.’ You know, the one that just doesn’t fit in with […]

Rebroadcast – Christ in the Chaos – HIRL Episode 84

The HomeschoolingIRL team is taking a break between seasons to prepare and produce new shows. In the meantime, we are rebroadcasting our most popular and most downloaded episodes. Join us this week as we replay our interview with Kimm Crandall,  author of the book Christ in the Chaos.  Kimm walks us through her story and reminds the listener what happens when we […]

Homeschooling is a Buzzkill Remix – Episode 83

Wait! This is NOT a rebroadcast of an old episode! Homeschooling is a Buzzkill has been one of our most popular downloads, so we decided to sit down and record a completely new episode. After more than two years of podcasting, it was time to discuss again one of our favorite topics: how homeschooling can be a […]

Stocking Stuffer – HIRL Episode 82

Are you stuck in holiday traffic? Are you locking yourself in the bathroom at your family get-together to avoid Crazy Uncle Larry? Are you sick of hearing Christmas music? This quick episode is just for you! Merry Christmas HIRLers! Join Fletch and Kendra on this short and fun episode as we share some Christmas laughs with […]

Hope Shifting – HIRL Episode 81

After 80 episodes, we are finally returning to the topic that has defined this podcast since the very beginning. Join Fletch and Kendra as they sit down in the studio with Jim Applegate to discuss the topic of Hope Shifting. Jim is the lead pastor at Redeemer Church in Modesto, CA and the author of […]

Raising Kids, Losing Yourself – HIRL Episode 80

On this episode, HIRLer Chris calls in and asks us: “How can I be a good homeschooling parent raising kids and still take time for the things that feed my soul and bring me joy?” We jumped on this topic, because we love to remind homeschoolers not to “lose themselves”in the midst of schooling the family. […]

Jesus vs. Santa – HIRL Episode 79

Does Santa have any place in the celebration of Christmas? If you listen to some homeschoolers talk about it, event the mention of Santa Claus associated with Christmas will land you in the “loner’s corner” of your co-op. Yet, others celebrate good ol’ jolly Santa Claus right next to the baby Jesus. There is also […]

Devotions For The Real Family – HIRL Episode 78

We are talking about Family Devotions for the Real Family on this podcast. You know REAL family devotions. The families with the toddler hijacking the deep discussion, and the teens are daydreaming, and mom is falling asleep because it’s been a long, long homeschooling day. Can you relate to family worship that looks like this? Family worship […]

Spread Too Thin – HIRL Episode 77

This is our final installment in our mini-series of episodes called: Surviving the Holidays. This episode is all about being spread too thin during the holidays. We begin the discussion talking about the unique aspect that holidays can bring to a homeschooling mom. You are already dealing with a full plate and often the holiday season is […]

Family Feud: Handling Conflict in Your Home

We are in the middle of producing a mini-series of episodes called: Surviving the Holidays. What happens when you are forced to spend time during the holidays with a tricky family situation. On this episode, we focus on what to do when your family does not accept your choices or you struggle with the choices they have […]

Financial Strain – HIRL Episode 75

For the next few weeks, we are producing a mini-series of episodes called: Surviving the Holidays. On this first episode, we are focusing on the financial strain the holidays can cause. How do we look at our holiday spending in light of the gospel? How do we communicate as a family the importance of the […]

Homeschooling Gifted Kids – HIRL Episode 74

On this episode, we discuss the topic of homeschooling gifted kids. Do you think your child might be gifted? Off the charts? An outlier? We are going to jump into the discussion on this episode together. Join Fletch and Kendra as they sit down with educator and homeschooling mom of exceptional kids, Colleen Kessler, for a conversation that […]

Raising Adults – HIRL Episode 73

When is the right time to start giving your kids freedom in the area of their finances? At what age should they have a checking account? What about a credit card? And when should we trust them with the internet, social media, and a smart phone? Hal and Melanie Young, authors of Raising Real Men […]

Teens And Social Media – HIRL Episode 72

We are beyond the days of speculating about whether social media will last. Instead social media continues to morph and reinvent itself into new platforms with new target audiences. Whether it focuses on 140 characters of shared data or photos or just modified chatting with friends, social media is invasive. Are you wondering how to […]

Homeschooling With Dyslexia – HIRL Episode 71

If your child has dyslexia — or you suspect it — take a deep breath. Homeschooling is one of the best things that can happen to a child who learns to read differently. At home you can move at your child’s pace, teach the way their brain actually learns, and protect the confidence that a […]

Let’s Talk About Sexual Abuse – HIRL Episode 70

The statistics say it all, 1 in 5 children will be sexually abused before the age 18. A child is much more likely to be abused by a trusted adult than a stranger. We teach our kids fire safety. We teach them about water safety. We teach them about traffic safety.  Somehow the conversation about personal […]

Courtship In Crisis – HIRL Episode 69

On this episode, we welcome back a favorite guest on this podcast. Thomas Umstaatd, Jr. joined us on Episode 26 when we discussed his viral blog post: Is Courtship Fundamentally Flawed?  On this episode, we return to the topic and discuss again if courtship is better than dating? Are families who practice courtship instead of dating out […]

Girls, Again – HIRL Episode 68

This is not the first time we have tackled the topic of girls on the podcast. On Episode 10, we talked about many of the common pitfalls we have observed in homeschool families raising daughters. From restrictive environments to preventing any access to higher education, we dove into tough topics. On this episode, we are getting […]

Boys, Again – HIRL Episode 67

Back in Episode 9, we sat down with our friends and fellow podcasters, Hal and Melanie Young from Making Biblical Family Life Practical, to discuss the topic of boys. We talked about how these rambunctious little piles of energy can completely undo the unprepared homeschool mom. From peeing on the carpet to falling from the […]

What Josh Duggar Forgot – HIRL Episode 66

Our discussion on this episode comes right out of the current headlines. Homeschool graduate and reality TV star, Josh Duggar, has fallen from the spotlight due to his confessions of struggling with adultery, pornography and a history of molestation. We jump into to discuss the frequent failures we have seen by men in the homeschooling movement. […]

Adoption and the Homeschool Family, Part 2

On the last episode we sat down with our good friends Jeremy and Michele White to have a serious discussion about adoption. We discussed the beginning of their homeschool journey, why they chose to adopt and the changes that happened as a homeschool family. On this podcast we dig just a little bit deeper. The White’s second […]

Adoption and the Homeschool Family, Part 1 – HIRL Episode 64

We have had several listeners ask us to address the topic of adoption, and while it would be really easy for us to produce a podcast explaining how to adopt and the benefits involved when a family adopts, we wanted to tackle all of the issues a family might be experiencing when bringing a child into the home. […]

I Love Homeschooling But My Kids Don’t – HIRL Episode 63

So, you’ve decided that homeschooling is the best option for your kids this year, but the response from your kids has been less than positive. You want to follow God’s calling, but your kids are threatening a mutiny. What do you do now? Fletch and Kendra dive right into this discussion, because it is very […]

Can We Afford To Homeschool? – HIRL Episode 62

Can you afford to homeschoool? What if your budget is already at its max, and you feel you’re barely scraping by just to provide the basics for your family? Join Fletch and Kendra as we sit down with our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network colleague and CPA Carol Topp for a lively and quick discussion of how […]

Organizing Your Homeschool – HIRL Episode 61

As we head into another homeschool year, it is so easy for many of us to get behind before we even get started. If we are not careful, we can get buried in the details and never get our heads above water. On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL, we dive into the discussion about organizing your homeschool. You know that […]

Depression and the Homeschool Mom

As homeschooling moms, some subjects are very difficult to talk about, especially if we are feeling pressure to put on a facade that our lives are polished and life at home is picture-perfect. Struggling with depression in the homeschooling community can very quickly lead to shame and loneliness. Let’s face it folks, the pressure to have everything all […]

What to Do When Your Spouse Doesn’t Want to Homeschool

We love to sit down in the studio and discuss the questions sent in from listeners. On this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, Fletch and Kendra we respond to a listener who asked how she can homeschool when her non-supportive spouse is skeptical and negative about her efforts. Here’s the deal: we don’t have the answers […]

How To Deal With Homeschool Burnout – HIRL Episode 58

This is our second stab at the topic of homeschool burnout. Back in Episode 39, we interviewed four homeschool moms and discussed the topic: I Love Homeschooling, But I’m Totally Burned Out.  On that episode we verified that homeschooling moms burn out often and regularly. Our listener Anna, wrote in and asked if we would expand the […]

Launching Your High Schooler Into Life – HIRL Episode 57

Back in Episode 25, we talked about launching your kid into college. During that discussion, we explained how we have chosen to launch our kids during their senior year of high school, which allows them the freedom to begin making life decisions before they even leave our home. One of our listeners wrote in and asked if […]

The Quiet Fight Between Women – HIRL Episode 56

There is a quiet fight going on under the surface in homeschooling for a long time. “Let’s face it. The quiet fight between women in homeschooling often comes down to pride.” – Angie Tolpin We dive back into familiar waters on this episode and tackle the issue of competition and pride that we see generally among […]

Why The Rise In African American Homeschooling, Part 2 – HIRL Episode 54

This is the second installment in our two-part series, Why the Rise in African American Homeschooling? In part one we sat down for a rich discussion with Dr. Ama Mazama to discuss the  issues of racism in our school system and why so many African American families were choosing to leave the public school system to begin homeschooling. […]

What To Do About Sibling Relationships? – HIRL Episode 53

We received a message on the HomeschoolingIRL Facebook page that said, “Please, please, please do an episode on siblings fighting. Thanks!” Sibling relationships. Sibling rivalries. Siblings fighting. We put out the question to our listeners and they responded with story after story of siblings who know how to tease, fight and use sarcasm like professionals. On […]

Why The Rise In African American Homeschooling, Part 1 – HIRL Episode 52

Last month, Fletch read an interesting article in The Washington Post called, Racism in Schools is Pushing More Black Families to Homeschool Their Children. The title alone was enough to get him interested, but in the article the writer discussed why there has been such a sharp rise in African American Homeschooling. We thought this was […]

Celebrating 50 Episodes – HIRL Episode 51

Whether it’s burnout or lack of content, the average “brand new” podcast will not survive beyond 7 episodes. At Homeschooling In Real Life, we are NOT average. That is why we are celebrating the past 50 episodes of our podcast with you! You have to join us for this fast paced run down memory lane. […]

How The Gospel Makes Us Unoffendable – HIRL Episode 50

What if someone told you that you had no right to be angry? What if you could live a life that was defined as unoffendable? What would it look like to not be offended by the things people say and do, or by the way they treat you? And what if you could smile and relax, […]

Homeschooling With Special Needs – HIRL Episode 49

If you’re homeschooling a child with special needs — or wondering whether you can — here is the truth: you can do this, and your child may well do better at home than anywhere else. No one loves your child like you do, no one is more motivated to help them flourish, and no classroom […]

The Real Marriage Podcast – HIRL Episode 48

As homeschoolers, many of us do a great job taking care of our children, their schoolwork and all of their curriculum, but often we miss taking care of our own marriages. That is where Barrett and Jenifer Johnson come in. We know the Johnsons from their ministry at I.N.F.O for Families and their past visits on the HomeschoolingIRL podcast. Now […]

Transparent Parenting – HIRL Episode 47

How important is it for us to practice transparent parenting with our children? What should you do when your children ask you questions that are just too personal or too painful to answer? If we do practice transparency, will our kids simply follow our example? In this episode, we sit down with marriage and family therapist, Chris Oneth, […]

Top 10 Lessons From TV Dads, Part 2 – HIRL Episode 46

Join Fletch once again as he travels back into television history and shares the second half of his top 10 lessons he has learned from the TV dads he was raised with. In the middle of getting their home ready to sell, Fletch heads back into the studio alone for this episode (don’t worry, Kendra pops in to say hello!). […]

Losing Our Religion – HIRL Episode 45

On the HomeschoolingIRL podcast, we have spent 44 episodes  telling stories of other homeschooling  families. We continue to share one major theme: Live in the gospel and stop shifting your hope onto the world or religion. On this episode, we shift gears and finally share our own story of losing our religion and our recovery from “gospel […]

Top 10 Lessons From TV Dads, Part 1 – HIRL Episode 44

Top 10 lessons from TV dads? What could we possibly learn from a bunch of characters on television? Join Fletch as he takes a trip into television history and shares his top 10 lessons he has learned from the TV dads he was raised with. This episode was recorded straight from the Teach Them Diligently Homeschool Convention in […]

I Love Homeschooling, But I Hate Homeschool Conventions – HIRL Episode 43

What comes to mind when you think of homeschool conventions? Most people either love them or hate them! In the span of a few days at a homeschooling convention, you can easily get overwhelmed by the huge vender halls and rows upon rows of curriculum choices. The workshops span topics all over the homeschooling spectrum, not to […]

Answering Homeschool Critics – HIRL Episode 42

Homeschool critics seem to be everywhere and some of us have had our share of uncomfortable conversations about our choice to homeschool, how we’re going about it, whether or not we’re qualified to teach our own kids, and even what they’re learning. Learning how to answer homeschool critics, especially those who are close to us, sometimes requires […]

Some Dads Have All The Fun – HIRL Episode 41

It’s very common for homeschooling moms to feel as if we spend all day telling the kids what they have to do, and then at the end of the day, dad swoops in and saves the day! And while we love that our kids are excited to see dad (or mom, if it’s reversed in […]

Ask Us Anything You Want, Again – HIRL Episode 40

Fletch and Kendra are back in the hot-seat for another round of questions. On this 40th episode of Homeschooling In Real Life, we are answering questions from our listening audience again. Questions we tackle in this episode include: What do you do with the college kids that live in your home and interrupt your homeschool life? Any […]

I Love Homeschooling…But I’m Totally Burned Out – HIRL Episode 39

Let’s be real folks! It’s February and the mid-year homeschooling doldrums can hit any of us. One of our listeners sent us a great email with five questions all about homeschool challenges and wanting to throw in the towel. As we read through the questions he asked, we decided to combine all of them into one podcast […]

Balancing Home Business and Homeschool – HIRL Episode 38

We were contacted a few weeks ago by HIRLer Derek Anderson who asked: Could you talk about the challenges of owning a home business as a homeschooler?  For many homeschoolers, owning a home business is the dream. The idea that small business ownership provides the ultimate in freedom and flexibility for a homeschool family is sought by […]

Can We Be Friends With Our Kids – HIRL Episode 37

We are talking about relationships and asking the question, “Is it possible to be friends with our homeschool kids?” Most homeschooling families seem to have a good understanding of curriculum to use with their kids. Conventions and conferences often address how to teach math, writing and language. As parents we also have a natural understanding for […]

How Do I Make Homeschooling Fun? – HIRL Episode 36

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! We love to surprise our listeners with fun stuff! We are super excited to announce that Homeschooling In Real Life has become a WEEKLY podcast. That’s right! Each and every week we plan on releasing a brand new show for you. But here’s the deal: great content and interviews take a lot of time and we are […]

Black Sheep Homeschoolers – HIRL Episode 35

Sometimes our listeners ask tough questions of us, and then our most meaningful episodes are created.  On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL, Fletch and Kendra respond to listener Cindy, who asked, “What if your child is the black sheep of the homeschool group, the one the kids won’t play with?” It’s a tender topic, and one that […]

Christ in the Chaos – HIRL Episode 34

Kimm Crandall was the perfect homeschooling mom: she had her curriculum chosen carefully, her children lined up quietly and obediently in the church pew, and her home-ground wheat bread delivered piping hot from her oven. She was doing everything “right”. Still, God seemed angry with her, and she felt as if nothing she did would make Him […]

I Love Homeschooling, But I’m Not A Good Teacher – HIRL Episode 33

So you don’t have a teaching credential and you’ve never been to college. Does this make you unqualified to teach your kids at home? Continuing our series of “I Love Homeschooling But…”, we get real with the idea of feeling inadequate to teach your children and discuss, “I Love Homeschooling, But I’m Not A Good Teacher.” Join us […]

I Love Homeschooling But I Am Totally Disorganized – HIRL Episode 32

So you love the idea of homeschooling, but you are totally disorganized? Is this a deal killer? Should you pack up your kids and send them off to the local school house where they will be kept on track by rigid teaching plans that maintain scope and sequence? It’s time for us all to get […]

I Love Homeschooling But I Hate Teaching Math – HIRL Episode 31

And I hate teaching science. And writing. Or . . . Let’s get real homeschoolers, most of us have at least one subject we don’t enjoy teaching. What? That is difficult to justify when we are the ones in charge of teaching all the subjects. So what is a homeschooling parent supposed to do when there are core subjects that must be covered […]

I Love Homeschooling But My Kids Are With Me All the Time – HIRL Episode 30

On this episode of the HomeschoolingIRL podcast, Fletch and Kendra begin a new series called, “I Love Homeschooling But…” and discuss the topic of having your kids with you All. The. Time. We really do love this aspect of homeschooling, and many of us want to spend the best hours of our kids’ days with […]

All The Single Ladies – HIRL Episode 29

Homeschooling can be a difficult choice for families to make. It takes time, planning and hard work when you decide to school your children at home. That decision is made even more difficult when you are doing it alone. LaToya Edwards and Mary Jo Tate are single homeschooling moms who have successfully learned how to keep their children home […]

The Internet In Real Life – HIRL Episode 28

What are the best tools for technology in your homeschool? Has the internet become any safer for your kids to surf? What precautions should you take to guard your kids from life online? On this episode of Homeschooling In Real Life, Fletch and Kendra sit down with John Wilkerson from The Wired Homeschool Podcast and Blog to […]

Can Your Homeschooler Go To College – HIRL Episode 27

The answer to this question is obvious: we all know that homeschoolers can go to college! On this episode of Homeschooling In Real Life, Fletch and Kendra get real and challenge their listeners to join them in a difficult discussion about fear and trusting God as they contemplate sending their children onto higher education. Along the way, they sit […]

Is Courtship Fundamentally Flawed – HIRL Episode 26

On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL, Fletch and Kendra tackle the topic of courtship and dating in the homeschool family. They interview Thomas Umstattd, Jr. to discuss his popular viral blog post:  Why Courtship Is Fundamentally Flawed. Timeline for this episode: 13:45 – Thomas talks about his blogpost and why he wrote it. 26:38 – Fletch […]

Launching Your Kid to College – HIRL Episode 25

Do you have a student whose dream is to head to college? How do you know if she’s ready? Have you imparted everything you wanted to teach him before he heads off to work on a degree, live on campus, and make all of his own choices? Join Fletch and Kendra on this episode as […]

5 Ways To Rock Your Homeschool – HIRL Episode 24

      Need some motivation? Encouragement? Tips? Join us for 5 Ways to Rock Your Homeschool! We originally titled this one “The Practical Episode”,  and that is exactly what we’re talking about. Let’s go back to school with some tips that will hopefully bring you some freedom and joy this year! After 17 years of homeschooling, we’ve picked […]

Homeschooling in New York City – HIRL Episode 23

Have you ever watched a TV sitcom where the characters live in a cool New York City apartment? Have you ever dreamed of walking down Park Avenue or strolling leisurely through Central Park? Has the thought ever crossed your mind about living and homeschooling in a big city? On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL, Fletch and Kendra […]

Homeschooling Through Hard Times – HIRL Episode 22

Hard times! As much as we might like it to be, life is not all ponies, rainbows, and watercolor daisies. On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL we discuss the issue of homeschooling when life gets hard. Difficulties can look different in every family – marital stress, tragedies, health challenges, financial loss – and we’ll consider how each […]

Let’s Talk Sex… Again

It seems that we can’t stop talking about sex! This week’s episode is our response to Episode 16: How Do I Talk to My Kids About Sex?, where we heard from several young adults who shared how their parents failed or succeeded in teaching them about sex. This time we also respond to a few […]

Ask Us Anything You Want – HIRL Episode 20

HomeschoolingIRL is celebrating our 20th episode! We’ve interviewed, asked questions, listened, discussed, and laughed a lot along with you. Now it’s your turn — if you could ask Fletch and Kendra anything you want, what would you ask? Join us for Episode 20: Ask Us Anything You Want for questions our listeners sent in and answers that […]

What Homeschooling Dads Wish Their Wives Knew – HIRL Episode 19

It’s time for an episode that’s all about the men.     On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL, Fletch talks with three other homeschooling dads about what they wish their wives knew . They discuss the trap of micro-managing, the pressure to perform that their wives feel acutely, and what they really think about making curriculum choices and attending […]

Homeschool Grads Tell All – HIRL Episode 18

What are you doing to prepare your homeschool graduates for life in the real world? A listener called into the podcast and shared a story of how his son had his homeschooled eyes opened at his first job. World views, coarse language, sexual innuendo were all present in abundance.   In a world full of […]

What Homeschooling Does To A Marriage – HIRL Episode 17

You are going to want to grab your spouse for this episode! Fletch and Kendra dive right into the middle of the topic and discuss how the stress of homeschooling can leak into your marriage relationship. Throughout this episode you will hear live interviews conducted with couples on the floor of the Teach Them Diligently Conference […]

How Do I Talk to My Kids About Sex?

Sex. The one topic that seems to leave us questioning our parenting, pushing a lot of us into an embarrassing presentation of the basics with our kids. We’ve discovered that so many of us don’t like the way our own parents talked to us about sex, or we feel like they gave us no boundaries […]

I Love Homeschooling, But I’ll Tell You Its Flaws – HIRL Episode 15

On this episode of Homeschooling In Real Life, Fletch and Kendra discuss what it’s like when your homeschool student abandons your family’s faith and lifestyle. How can this happen in a Christian home where you have created a sheltered homeschool environment? Christian homeschooling is designed to protect our kids. Shouldn’t our children turn out perfect? […]

Love In The House – HIRL Episode 14

What happens when a family goes from relying on rules and rigidity to understanding what it means when Jesus tells us that the grandest commandment is love? Chris and Wendy Jeub are raising (or have raised) 16 children in a home that has seen both the letter of the law and the sweetness of grace and […]

How to Raise a Pagan Kid in a Christian Home

Last fall, Barrett Johnson wrote a viral sensation entitled, How to Raise a Pagan Kid in a Christian Home. Writing from his heart on a topic he was keenly aware of in the church, he never expected the speedy response he received from parents in the broader Christian community, many of whom were replying with a […]

Give Them Grace – HIRL Episode 12

Tune into this light and serious, fun and deep discussion about grace and raising kids with author Jessica Thompson. You won’t want to miss this episode! Great advice and practical suggestions are offered on this episode when we discuss: What do we do when a child seems unrepentant, or when we feel all of our […]

Start A Rock Band With Your Daughter – HIRL Episode 11

Put on your crazy wigs and plug your favorite electric guitar into your amp, because  this show is all about rock and roll.   On this episode, Fletch and Kendra interview Brian Tompkins, an old friend from their days in college (and fraternity brother of Fletch).   Brian is a single father and one half […]

GIRLS! – HIRL Episode 10

On the last episode we talked about boys. This week it’s all about the girls! We love our girls and we love homeschooling them. On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL, we’re talking all about girls. How does homeschooling girls differ than boys? Does college and career planning look the same? Should girls have a “fall back” plan, […]

BOYS! – HIRL Episode 9

BOYS. Do you have them in your home? We do, too! On this episode of HomeschoolingIRL, we’re talking boys and boy stuff and the funny antics that come with raising boys and the difficult topics, too. You know us: we won’t skirt the trickier subjects. Hal and Melanie Young, authors of Raising Real Men, join us for today’s […]

HomeschoolingIRL Episode 8 – Homeschooling With Exchange Students

Live on location in Paris, France! One of our very favorite episodes to record, because in this show we record straight from the streets of Paris, France as we interview our former exchange student about life in the home of a large homeschooling family. Tune in as we talk about homeschooling with exchange students and […]

HomescholingIRL Episode 7 – Christmas Party!

Merry Christmas from Homeschooling In Real Life! On this very fun episode, Fletch and Kendra discuss the real life issues of holiday stress and how to avoid Christmas burnout. They also get into the Christmas spirit by handing out several gifts to their listeners. Gift #1 – A New Website We are so excited to […]

HomeschoolingIRL Episode 6: I’m Thinking About Homeschooling, But…

Thinking about homeschooling? Have a friend who is?  Are you thinking about homeschooling? On this episode of Homeschooling IRL, we’ll answer your burning questions about homeschooling, such as, “Will my kids have to raise their hands to ask to go to the bathroom?”, “What about the prom?”, and “Who gets to be the lunch lady?” […]

HomeschoolingIRL Episode 5: Homeschooling Will Save Your Kids, Part Two

Money. Sex. Popularity. Cars. Perfect bodies. Homeschooling. Wait. Homeschooling? When we look to something like money or sex to provide us with a sense of worth or value, if we’re hoping that our popularity will make us feel more loved, if we’re striving for sex appeal, and yes, even if we’re placing our hope in homeschooling, […]

HomeschoolingIRL Episode 4: Homeschooling Will Save Your Kids, Part One

Homeschooling Will Save Your Kids? Most of us won’t say outright that we think homeschooling will save your kids, but many of us pack this idea in the back of our minds: if we only do it right, our kids will turn out to be good, godly adults. Is that true? Can we trust that […]

HomeschoolingIRL Episode 3: Homeschooling, Halloween and Harry Potter

Homeschooling, Halloween, and Harry Potter Homeschooling, Halloween, and Harry Potter? Are we nuts? Well, yes, but that didn’t stop us from tackling two hot-potato topics that homeschoolers traditionally love to argue over. You, too? In this episode, Fletch and Kendra talk about Halloween and the opportunity to love the places where God has put our […]

HomeschoolingIRL Episode 2: Homeschooling is a Buzzkill

HomeschoolingIRL Homeschooling Is A Buzzkill On this episode of Homeschooling In Real Life, Fletch and Kendra introduce you to one of the  phrases used often around their home: Homeschooling Is A Buzzkill! Listen in as they discuss what happens when expectations do not match reality. Follow Kendra into their schoolroom as she gives you a […]

HomeschoolingIRL Episode 1: What is Homeschooling IRL?

On this first episode of HomeschoolingIRL, Fletch and Kendra introduce you to their podcast and provide a glimpse into the types of discussions you can expect to hear in upcoming podcasts. Join them on this episode as they talk about what it means to Homeschool in Real Life. For more information about this podcast or to […]

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