Homeschooling and Parental Rights, with Jim Mason

This week we talk with Jim Mason, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association and former president of ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation.

In this episode, Jim explains how homeschooling has grown from its fringe roots in the 70’s into an enduring education option today, with abundant resources to help parents best educate their children. He also explains what he believes is next for the homeschooling movement.

Advocating for Parents with Erin Phillips

This week, we talk with Erin Phillips, president of Power2Parent, an organization uniting parents who want to advocate for their children’s education. Erin discusses her journey in advocating for her parental rights in her own children’s education and how Power2Parent was formed to give parents in her home state of Nevada and across the country the power to speak up for themselves and their children in our public schools.

Challenging CPS Overreach with Peter Kamakawiwoole

This week, Homeschool Legal Defense Association staff attorney Peter Kamakawiwoole returns to the Eppic Broadcast. Peter tells us about a case that he litigated on behalf of a mom who found herself dealing with an invasive CPS investigation including strip searches of her young children – all because she left her children in the car for a few minutes to buy coffee and muffins.

Putting Parents in the Driver’s Seat, with Patrick Garrison

This week, we talk with Patrick Garrison, founder and president of True Corrective, an education curriculum to help parents teach their children about America’s shared principles. Patrick explains what led him to found this curriculum program, including his background as a public school teacher. Plus, he explains how True Corrective can help parents reconnect with their children’s education.

Restoring Classical Learning, with Jeremey Tate

This week, we talk with Jeremy Tate, founder of the Classic Learning Test. The Classic Learning Test, an alternative to the ACT and the SAT standardized tests, emphasizes classical texts and key threads of Western culture that have been neglected in mainstream American education. Jeremy breaks down the history of public education for us and explains why the CLT is needed. He also gives us his perspective on what’s missing from our public education and how we can improve our schools in the future.

The Power of Classical Learning, with Robert Bortins

This week, we talk with Robert Bortins, the CEO of Classical Conversations since 2012, and a member of the board of directors of Homeschool Now USA. Robert tells us how Classical Conversations went from a single homeschooling classroom in a basement to the world’s largest classical homeschooling organization. Robert explains the process and philosophy of classical education, which aims to prepare students for whatever they may face in life and give them the tools they need to learn anything.

Black Children’s Bodies Are Sanctuaries

Educators can legally hit students at school in 19 states, but school-based violence is forcing young people with marginalized identities out of school everywhere. Ashley Sawyer joins us to discuss the legacy of racial discrimination in education policy and systems of school-based violence. She lays out how the school-to-prison pipeline, pushout, sexual harassment, and corporal punishment force young people with marginalized identities out of school, and she calls attention to the demands of Black and Latina girls who are organizing to create safe, healing, and supportive schools. Finally, Ashley urges policymakers to make radical investments in young people, schools, families, and communities to address the root causes of violence and harm. Trigger Warning: Ashley shares graphic stories about what’s happening to young people in schools. This conversation also includes topics that may not be appropriate for young children. Guest: Ashley Sawyer (@ACSawyerJustice) is a Senior Staff Attorney on the Opportunity to Lead (Education) team at Advancement Project. Ashley’s life work is situated where education and the criminal justice system collide, and she has previously served at Girls for Gender Equity, Youth Represent, and the Education Law Center.

Why School Choice Matters, with Quisha King

This week, we talk with Quisha King. Quisha is the host of the Quisha King Show podcast and the founder of the Mass Exodus movement, which aims to get children into better learning environments. She’s a national speaker on education issues and parental rights and she’s the mother of two daughters. Today, Quisha tells us about her journey to embracing parental rights issues and how she’s working to draw awareness to the importance of school choice and improving education for children.

In Defense of Yeshiva Schools, with Jason Bedrick

The New York Times ran an article entitled “In Hasidic Enclaves, Failing Private Schools Flush With Public Money”, attacking the Yeshivas (religious schools) of New York’s Hasidic Jews. But what’s the real story? This week, we talk with Jason Bedrick, a former member of the New Hampshire state legislature, and now a Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation. Jason explains the tradition of Yeshivas; some teach secular subjects in addition to religious texts, while some schools focus solely on religious instruction. And he tells us the other side of this story – the perspective of Hasidic Jews in New York who want to give their children an education in their religion and history.

A History of Homeschooling, with Jim Mason

This week’s episode features an interview with Jim Mason, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association. Jim has represented homeschooling families in a wide range of challenging situations and has set precedents that have expanded freedom for the homeschool community. Today, he tells us about HSLDA’s work in protecting the right of parents to teach their children at home. Plus, learn about the future of the parental rights movement and why families choose to school their children at home.

Narrowing Neglect in The Law with Diane Redleaf

On this week’s episode, we discuss some alarming high school graduation data for foster youth in one of America’s largest cities; Oregon’s move away from an algorithm; and how the bipartisan gun bill could bring accountability to Medicaid services for children. 

Guest Interview Details

Longtime child welfare legal expert (and poet!) Diane Redleaf joins to discuss her career, recent legislation to change neglect statutes in state law, and how they tie into her recent work on children’s rights. 

Reading Room

New York City Foster Youth Graduation Rates Found Far Lower Than Previously Known https://bit.ly/3HQu77L Oregon Is Dropping An Artificial Intelligence Tool Used in Child Welfare System https://bit.ly/3HSFhZr An Algorithm That Screens for Child Neglect Raises Concerns https://bit.ly/3xU4BJZ Findings from a Qualitative Analysis of Racial Disproportionality and Disparity for African American Children and Families in Michigan’s Child Welfare System https://on.ny.gov/3HQKAZy Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment https://bit.ly/3btZ3yt Youth Advocates Eye 2020 for Revolution on Children’s Mental Health in California https://bit.ly/39TWBkc When the Backlash Came for Title IX, She Fought Back https://nyti.ms/3bxS1ZH Former Rep. Patsy Mink’s comments on the Adoption and Safe Families Act https://bit.ly/3u2pvps The Challenge of Changing America’s Amorphous, Limitless Neglect Laws https://bit.ly/3PhFQ2t Building Resilience: Group Pushes for Looser Neglect Laws, More Child Autonomy https://bit.ly/3xSuNot

More Choices for Parents, with Julie Gunlock

This week, Will talks with Julie Gunlock, director of the Independent Women’s Network and IWF’s Center for Progress and Innovation. Before joining IWF, Julie served as a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and on the House Homeland Security Committee. Julie tells us about the importance of school choice, how parents can advocate for their rights with local school boards, and how to get organized with like-minded parents to affect change. Julie also hosts the Bespoke Parenting Hour—a podcast that explores parenting issues and encourages parents to custom tailor their parenting to best fit them, their families, and their kids! Note: this episode concludes Season 4 of the EPPiC Broadcast!

Education Transparency, with Tony Kinnet

This week, we talk with Tony Kinnet, who made headlines for posting a video about the school he worked at teaching Critical Race Theory. Now, Tony is the Executive Director of the Chalkboard Review, an education commentary website that promotes diverse views in education. Tony tells us about what prompted him to post the now-viral video, what the reaction to it was, and why he believes so strongly that transparency and parental choice matters in education.

An Education Commissioner’s Perspective, with Frank Edelblut

This week, we talk with Frank Edelblut, New Hampshire’s Education Commissioner since 2017. An accountant and entrepreneur and a former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Edelblut now administers the state’s Department of Education. Frank tells us about his work representing the interests of New Hampshire’s parents and taxpayers in the public school system and how he has helped make education more accessible to low income families.

Digital Artist Karl Wyatt on Foster Care, NFTs and The Blockchain

We discuss what’s in the $1.5 trillion federal spending deal for youth and families, a court challenge to Canada’s new Indigenous child welfare law, and Colorado seeking to “raise the floor” for juvenile justice.

Guest Interview Details

Digital artist and poet Karl Wyatt joined the podcast and talked about his own experience as a youth in foster care, his more recent adventure as a foster parent, and took us into the world of NFTs and how that technology might have value in child welfare. 

Reading Room

“When 911 Isn’t Your Only Option,” brought to you by Fostering Families Today Register for free: bit.ly/ToughConversations0324 What’s in the 2022 Federal Spending Deal for Children and Families https://bit.ly/3qcZ26w Ottawa backs Indigenous child welfare law after Quebec court declares parts of it unconstitutional https://bit.ly/3IpPknq Ottawa appeals Quebec court decision finding parts of Indigenous child welfare law unconstitutional https://bit.ly/37LKYdS “Decolonization Is Only The Beginning”: Indigenous Child Welfare in Canada https://bit.ly/3rNEP8x Colorado Considers a Raise the Age Youth Justice Bill https://bit.ly/3qlfG3W Humanitarian Support in Ukraine Should Prioritize Children Without Stability https://bit.ly/3qaiiBo This is Not How You Fix Things: Testimony from A Transgender Teen in Texas https://bit.ly/3CJ7Kyz The Orphan’s Plea NFT Collection, by Karl Wyatt https://opensea.io/collection/orphansplea

A School Board Member’s Perspective, with Willie Deutsch

This week, we’re talking with Willie Deutsch, who served for four years on the school board of Prince William County, Virginia. A parent himself, Willie focused on making parents’ voices heard in the local school system. Hear about how he worked to pass parent-focused policies and what it’s like to serve on a school board, plus tips for parents looking to engage with their local school board and advice for those interested in running for local school boards themselves. This episode is hosted by Will Estrada, president of the Parental Rights Foundation and ParentalRights.org!