Wonderfully Human Podcast
Conversations about Waldorf education, homeschooling, childhood, parenting, and becoming...
5.0from 2 ratings
- 18
- Episodes
- 2
- Ratings
- Weekly
- Cadence
- 2026
- First episode
About Wonderfully Human Podcast
Join Waldorf teachers, Donovan Gay and Sarah Barrett, for conversations on childhood, education, homeschooling, parenting, and becoming.... wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
- Publisher
- Conversations about Waldorf education, homeschooling, childhood, parenting, and becoming...
- Category
- education · kids & family
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 24 Jul 2026
- Latest episode
- 5 Nov 2026
Latest episodes
18 episodes in the feed.
5 Nov 2026
S2, Episode 4: What Are Our Children Being Exposed to through the Senses of Taste, Smell, Sight, and Warmth? (Steiner’s Middle Senses)
In part two of our three-part series on Steiner’s Twelve Senses, we move from the lower senses, which give us an inner connection to our bodies, to the middle senses which allow us to interact with the world through taste, smell, sight, and warmth. In this episode, Donovan helps us to be more mindful of what we are exposing our children to in order to grow their capacities, curiosities, and connection with the world. To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
29 Oct 2026
S2, Episode 3: What Do Touch, Balance, Life, and Movement Have to Do With Child Development?
In this episode, Donovan and Sarah discuss the first four senses of Steiner’s twelve senses in relation to child development. Supporting the development of these senses in each child is foundational for the child’s optimal growth, learning, and engagement in the world. All healthy development builds on the strengthening of the senses. To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
22 Oct 2026
S2, Episode 2: How Do We Navigate Too Much Sensory Input?
When we are overwhelmed by the immense sensory stimulation in today’s world, our cortisol raises and we live our days in a state of constant stress. In this episode, Sarah and Donovan discuss practical ways to balance this state of being so that we can better care for ourselves and teach our children to care for their minds as well. We must strive to own our minds, our focus, and our attention. And remember that we are beings of nature, not of technology. To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
15 Oct 2026
S2, Episode 1: When Should My Child Have a Cell Phone
Season 2 of Wonderfully Human Conversations is centered on how home and family life can better support the child’s education. In this first episode, Sarah and Donovan discuss smart phones, social media, internet, and the digital world’s access to children. To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
8 Oct 2026
Special Episode: Michaelmas Deeds
This Wonderfully Human Conversations begins on a special festival day - Michaelmas. Donovan and Sarah share what the festival means to each of them and how we can go into this next season with intentions for steadiness, courage, and planting seeds for the future. To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
1 Oct 2026
Episode 13: Practical Ways I Can Support My Child’s (and My Own) Growth
In Season 1 of the Wonderfully Human Conversations podcast, Sarah’s and Donovan’s conversations centered on how we can create conditions for a beautiful life. In this final episode of Season 1, we discuss practical ways to support these conditions. From simply lighting a candle at mealtime to establishing rhythm to not paying a child for household chores, we have the responsibility as parents and teachers to create these conditions as best we can to provide an environment that nurtures their highest growth. To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
24 Sept 2026
Episode 12: How Do We Cultivate Wonder, Awe and Reverence in Children and in Ourselves?
In last week’s episode, we touched on the importance of cultivating wonder, awe, and reverence because these feelings ripen us for inspiration, transformation, courage, strength, and can live deep within us as seeds for future. Cultivating wonder, awe, and reverence sharpen our sense for purpose and meaning in our lives, or our destiny as Rudolf Steiner refers to it. Wonder, awe and reverence are not things that can be taught, but things we must leave space for in our daily lives. Cultivating these things in our children requires us to find them within ourselves, so we can fulfill our own purpose and give meaning to our lives, thereby contributing to the great progression of humanity.To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
17 Sept 2026
Episode 11: As Parents and Teachers, What Are We Striving to Become?
In this episode, Donovan and Sarah shift the focus from the children to the adults. What are we striving for in our life journey? We discuss the ideas of destiny and finding purpose and meaning in one’s life. We touch on the stages of life, biography work, and how balancing past experiences with imagination for the future can help us become more aware of our destiny. We bring up the idea of cultivating wonder, awe, and reverence in the adult’s life. To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
10 Sept 2026
Episode 10: How Do I Help My Teen Find More Purpose and Meaning in Their Life?
How do we help our teenagers discover purpose and meaning in an increasingly distracted and self-absorbed world? In this episode, Sarah and Donovan explore why purpose can’t be handed to our children—it must be discovered through meaningful work, reflection, community, and authentic conversations. They discuss the importance of giving teens opportunities to serve others, limiting the pull of technology and social media, sharing our values without imposing them, and creating the space for young people to uncover the unique path that is truly their own.To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
3 Sept 2026
What is the Best Thing I Can Do for My Child Today?
In Episode 8, Sarah and Donovan offer guidance and practical advice on the next step a parent can take when striving to support their child. While there is not one right answer to this question, being present, spending creative time together, and supporting them in times of struggle are steps you can take today that are simple and carry a big impact. Parents are the artists, choosing thoughtfully from the “colors, materials, and forms” available to create the conditions for their child to flourish. To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
27 Aug 2026
How Can I Help My Child to Be More Resilient?
In episode 7, Sarah and Donovan discuss resilience as not something to teach as an idea but something children must acquire along the journey. How do we offer the conditions and environments that will encourage situations where they can acquire resilience? The conversation dives into aspects of will forces, inner steadiness, the child’s temperament, confidence, and risk as we explore answers to this question. ***** To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
20 Aug 2026
How to Support a Child with Anxiety
In episode 6, Sarah and Donovan offer insights and ideas for teaching and parenting children who experience anxiety. When we ask what children need, rather than what we should teach them, we help support their inner capacities for feeling safe and grounded in their body. We have the responsibility as parents and teachers to observe what each individual child needs to feel safe, healthy, and to feel a sense of belonging. We discuss using the extraordinary pedagogical tools of sleep, rhythm, working with one’s hands, and sometimes getting creative in our curriculum to help create balance in the body and mind. To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
5 Aug 2026
How Can I Support My Child in Becoming a Good Person (Part 2)
In Part 2, Sarah Barrett and Donovan Gay continue to explore how parents and teachers can support children’s moral capacities. They discuss how stories, imagination, festivals, and meaningful experiences contribute to a child’s moral development, and they reflect on how children learn through living pictures rather than lectures, how adolescence calls for empowerment, and the steady presence of the parent and teachers as worthy of imitation. ***** To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
31 Jul 2026
How Can I Support My Child in Becoming a Good Person?
In this episode, Donovan Gay and Sarah Barrett explore how children develop character through stories, meaningful experiences, and an education that nurtures the whole human being. Together, they discuss the original vision of Waldorf education, the transformative power of storytelling, and how parents and teachers can help children grow into compassionate, thoughtful, and responsible adults. ************ To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com/) and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com/). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
24 Jul 2026
Episode 3 - How Can I Help My Children Uncover Their Gifts?
In this episode, Sarah Barrett and Donovan Gay explore what it really means to be “gifted,” why every child has multiple gifts, and how parents can create the conditions for those gifts to emerge. Together, they discuss the importance of keeping childhood full of exploration, resisting the urge to label children too early, and preparing them for a future filled with possibilities. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or homeschooler, this conversation will encourage you to see your child with fresh eyes—and perhaps discover gifts you hadn’t noticed before. ************ To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com) and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
24 Jul 2026
Meet Donovan and Sarah
To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com) and Lotus & Ivy, Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
24 Jul 2026
Episode 2 - What Do Children Really Need?
In this episode, Sarah Barrett and Donovan Gay explore a deeper question: What creates the conditions where children can truly flourish? Together they discuss why a parent’s own inner work matters more than we often realize, the importance of meeting children according to their stage of development, and how rhythm, observation, trust, imaginative play, and meaningful work all nourish a child’s growth. They also explore why children are not projects to be optimized, but human beings who unfold in their own time—and why our role is not to rush that process, but to create the conditions where it can happen. Whether you’re a parent, homeschooler, teacher, or simply someone who cares deeply about children, this conversation offers a hopeful vision of education that begins not with curriculum, but with becoming. In this episode, you’ll discover: * Why your own personal growth is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. * How rhythm creates security and helps children flourish. * Why observation is one of the most powerful tools a parent or teacher can develop. * The role of trust in child development. * Why imaginative play, storytelling, and quiet work are essential—not optional. * How understanding child development changes the way we meet children every day. ************ To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com) and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
24 Jul 2026
Episode 1 - What is Education Really For?
In the very first episode of Wonderfully Human, Donovan Gay and Sarah Barrett explore one of the biggest questions in education today. In this conversation, they will contemplate what it really means to educate a child and that perhaps education is about more than academic achievement. After all, the time of academic achievement for a young person is only a short portion of a lifespan. You’ll hear why freedom in thinking, imagination, resilience, creativity, and wisdom are important qualities to develop as we enter a new age of technological advancements, and how every child carries unique gifts waiting to be called forth rather than molded into generic expectations. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, homeschooler, or simply someone who cares deeply about children, this episode offers a hopeful vision of education—one that prepares young people to build meaningful, beautiful lives. Because perhaps the greatest purpose of education is not to produce successful students, but to help human beings become fully themselves. ************ To learn more about Waldorf education and what we are doing to further the movement of an educational approach that develops the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”, visit us at Waldorf Ways (https://waldorfways.substack.com) and Lotus & Ivy Waldorf-Inspired Virtual Classes (http://www.lotusandivy.com). Read Donovan’s and Sarah’s bios here. (https://www.lotusandivy.com/podcasts) Get full access to Wonderfully Human Podcast at wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe (https://wonderfullyhumanpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
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