by Jacob Gooden
Welcome to the Ex-Homeschoolers Club! This is the place where we talk about the Good, Bad, and Ugly of growing up inside the homeschool world. Each episode showcases personal stories and experiences around social development, religious influence, family dynamics, education gaps, identity formation, and rebuilding community in adulthood. Whether homeschooling shaped your life in helpful ways, harmful ways, or something in between, this show welcomes the full spectrum of experiences.
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7/18/2024
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June 26, 2026
<p>Where does online school fit into the homeschooling conversation? In this week's episode, I sat down with Mindy to explore that question while unpacking the similarities and differences between public online education and traditional homeschooling. We discuss educational gaps, socialization, student safety, and why the rapid growth of homeschooling is forcing us to rethink how we define home-based education.<br>We also dive into the broader cultural and political influence of the homeschooling movement, the role of regulation, and why nuanced conversations are essential if we want to improve educational outcomes without losing the flexibility that makes alternative education valuable. Whether you were homeschooled, attended online school, or are simply interested in education policy, this episode offers plenty to think about.</p><p><strong>Resources we mentioned</strong></p><ul><li>Lifetime Prevalence of Investigating Child Maltreatment Among US Children: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303545?journalCode=ajph</li><li>How a true believer’s flawed research helped legitimize home schooling: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/12/11/brian-ray-homeschool-student-outcomes/</li><li>The Christian home-schooler who made ‘parental rights’ a GOP rallying cry: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/aug/31/the-christian-home-schooler-who-made-parental-righ/</li><li>Ten Homeschooling Parent Myths Debunked: https://rlstollar.com/2025/06/06/ten-homeschooling-parent-myths-debunked/</li><li>Online schools 'worse than traditional teachers': https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34671952</li><li>Coalition for Responsible Home Education: https://crhe.org</li><li>Homeschooled by Stefan Merrill Block: https://bookshop.org/p/books/homeschooled-a-new-york-times-bestselling-memoir-and-read-with-jenna-pick-stefan-merrill-block/7e9b1465fdf608ff?ean=9781335000989&next=t</li></ul><p><strong>Connect with Me</strong></p><ul><li>Newsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/</li><li>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Ex-HomeschoolersClub</li><li>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/</li><li>TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclub</li><li>Email me at exhsclub@gmail.com</li><li>Substack: https://exhsclub.substack.com</li></ul><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 Welcome and Introductions<br>01:14 Mindy’s Early Schooling<br>01:47 Middle School Pressures<br>05:23 Bullying and High School Fears<br>07:57 Homeschool vs Online School<br>10:28 Online School Day to Day<br>11:21 Tutoring Center Realities<br>13:11 Did Online School Work<br>15:55 Why Study Homeschooling Now<br>22:15 Guardrails and Learning Gaps<br>26:22 Homeschooling Political Pipeline<br>30:45 Shiny Happy People Connections<br>32:54 Homeschool Political Grooming<br>33:24 Lobby Days And Fake Scores<br>35:14 HSlda And Child Safety Gaps<br>39:20 Online School Under Homeschooling<br>40:44 Mandated Reporters And CPS Fear<br>43:32 Bullying And Queer Panic<br>46:58 Unlearning Homophobia<br>51:31 Defining Laws And New Models<br>55:51 Parental Rights And Anti Vax Roots<br>01:02:06 Research Myths And Data Needs<br>01:04:29 Former Homeschoolers Speak Up<br>01:07:37 Wrap Up And Community Invite</p>
June 19, 2026
<p><strong>Want to hear Liz's homeschool experience? Check out this episode:</strong> https://youtu.be/rvHUlhOM9hI?si=j7JGWwCJAMwtrChb</p><p>Liz is back in the clubhouse to explore the role religion played in our homeschool upbringings and how those beliefs shaped our identities long after childhood. Liz shares what it was like growing up in an intensely Catholic homeschool environment, from her involvement in the Legion of Mary to embracing modesty culture, purity culture, and the expectation that she might one day become a nun.</p><p>Together, we unpack the complicated process of questioning long-held beliefs, navigating religious trauma, and separating personal faith from the cultural expectations that surrounded us. We discuss purity culture, the lack of sex education in many homeschool environments, the experience of deconstruction, and the grief that can accompany rebuilding your worldview. Whether you're still religious, no longer religious, or somewhere in between, this conversation is about finding space to ask questions, heal, and better understand the stories that shaped us.</p><p><strong>Resources We Mentioned</strong></p><ul><li>When Religion Hurts You: https://drlauraeanderson.com/book</li><li>Homeschooled: A Memoir: https://bookshop.org/p/books/homeschooled-a-new-york-times-bestselling-memoir-and-read-with-jenna-pick-stefan-merrill-block/7e9b1465fdf608ff?ean=9781335000989&next=t</li><li>The Body Keeps the Score: https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score</li><li>Interview with D.L. Mayfield: https://youtu.be/ohzrQqPq0Dw?si=vi3cp1QPt8fy3wfi</li></ul><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 Welcome Back Liz</p><p>01:07 Homeschooler Connection</p><p>03:32 Catholic Roots And Belonging</p><p>06:21 Evangelical Upbringing</p><p>08:33 Confirmation And Commitment</p><p>11:11 Legion Of Mary Explained</p><p>13:30 Conference Culture And War Talk</p><p>19:37 Performing Faith Publicly</p><p>21:29 Christian Mime And Evangelism</p><p>24:00 Modesty Purity And Shame</p><p>28:29 Deconstruction And Questioning</p><p>31:55 Where Beliefs Came From</p><p>33:11 Silence Around Sex And Expectations</p><p>34:56 Nunhood and Holiness</p><p>35:41 Purity Books Osmosis</p><p>36:40 Period Shame Lesson</p><p>37:51 Apple Pie Purity Talk</p><p>41:06 No Sex Ed Basics</p><p>43:27 Bridgerton Level Ignorance</p><p>45:20 Study Abroad Cracks Bubble</p><p>47:43 Grief and Quiet Deconstruction</p><p>54:34 Naming Religious Trauma</p><p>01:01:30 Inner Child Healing</p><p>01:04:20 Finding Community Through Stories</p><p>01:06:50 Closing Thoughts and Resources</p><p>If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might benefit from hearing this story. Follow Ex-Homeschoolers Club on Instagram and TikTok for updates, and send us a message – we’d love to hear from you!</p><p><strong>Connect with Me</strong></p><ul><li>Newsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/</li><li>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/</li><li>TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclub</li><li>Email me at exhsclub@gmail.com</li></ul>
June 12, 2026
<p>Grab a copy of Homeschooled for yourself: https://bookshop.org/p/books/homeschooled-a-new-york-times-bestselling-memoir-and-read-with-jenna-pick-stefan-merrill-block/7e9b1465fdf608ff?ean=9781335000989&next=t</p><p>This week I have the honor of sitting down with author Stefan Merrill Block to discuss his memoir Homeschooled, his years in an isolating homeschooling environment, and the complicated relationship he shared with his mother. </p><p>Stefan opens up about being pulled out of public school at age nine, the isolation that followed, the pressure of being told he was a prodigy, and the difficult transition back into traditional school after four and a half years of homeschooling.</p><p>We also explore themes that will resonate with many former homeschoolers: loneliness, identity, friendship, family enmeshment, educational neglect, and the long-lasting effects of childhood narratives. Beyond homeschooling, Stefan shares how books became a lifeline, how writing helped him process grief after his mother's death, and why he believes storytelling can be one of the most powerful tools for healing.</p><p>Whether you're an ex-homeschooler, current homeschool parent, educator, or simply interested in memoir and family dynamics, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at the complicated realities behind one family's homeschool experience.</p><p><strong>Connect with Stefan</strong></p><ul><li>Grab a copy of the book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/homeschooled-a-new-york-times-bestselling-memoir-and-read-with-jenna-pick-stefan-merrill-block/7e9b1465fdf608ff?ean=9781335000989&next=t</li><li>Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanmblock/</li><li>Check out his website: https://www.stefanmerrillblock.com</li></ul><p>If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might benefit from hearing this story. Follow Ex-Homeschoolers Club on Instagram and TikTok for updates, and send us a message – we’d love to hear from you!</p><p><strong>Connect with me</strong></p><ul><li>Newsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/</li><li>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/</li><li>TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclub</li><li>Email me at exhsclub@gmail.com</li></ul><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro</p><p>01:35 How Homeschooling Began</p><p>02:53 Bluff Called Leaving School</p><p>04:57 Unschooling Day to Day</p><p>07:30 Math CDs and Drifting</p><p>09:05 Isolation and Genius Myth</p><p>12:02 Decision to Return</p><p>16:06 High School Culture Shock</p><p>20:01 Success Versus Scars</p><p>24:35 Friendship After Homeschool</p><p>25:54 2020 Isolation Flashbacks</p><p>31:16 Owning the Homeschool Identity</p><p>33:03 Sanity Is Consensus</p><p>34:34 Finding A Writer Voice</p><p>35:45 Books As Empathy</p><p>39:35 Fiction Versus Memoir</p><p>42:47 Writing After Loss</p><p>47:42 Choosing Homeschooled Title</p><p>52:18 Calling For Homeschool Reform</p><p>53:54 Finding CRHE Community</p><p>57:14 Hate Mail And Defensiveness</p><p>59:15 Next Novel New Focus</p><p>01:03:11 Stories Change Laws</p><p>01:04:16 Wrap Up And Farewell</p>
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Welcome to the Ex-Homeschoolers Club!
This is the place where we talk about the Good, Bad, and Ugly of growing up inside the homeschool world.
Each episode showcases personal stories and experiences around social development, religious influence, family dynamics, education gaps, identity formation, and rebuilding community in adulthood. Whether homeschooling shaped your life in helpful ways, harmful ways, or something in between, this show welcomes the full spectrum of experiences.
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