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Join us for RAR's Summer Adventure.  When you think about the various work that goes into making a children's book, research probably isn't at the top of your list. It might not make it on your list at all!But research is often an essential part of the process. And I can tell you from personal experience that research can be a time-intensive, sometimes overwhelming, but often the most delightful task. Today on the show, we're hearing from some incredible authors and illustrators about the research that goes into children's books. Whether you're an aspiring author or a curious reader, you're in for some surprises.In this episode, you'll hear: Two big reasons why authors do research, whether they're writing a biography, historical fiction, or even fantasy!How every research question can be a doorway, from talking with subject matter experts to primary sources to searching your own heart and mindThe challenges and opportunities in having too little or too much information available about a person or topicLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/sparking-creativity-with-research

This week on the pod, J. Hunter Bennett, author of "More Punk than the Public Library" joins Joe and Elly to talk curating Little Free Libraries, writing the books YOU want to read, and why policing other folks' tastes is anti-punk behavior.Get the book: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/62128************Thank you for catching the People's Guide to Publishing vlogcast!  We post new episodes every Thursday about publishing, authors, and the book industry. You can also listen via your preferred podcast app, or by visiting linktree.com/microcosmGet the People's Guide to Publishing book: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/3663Get the workbook: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/zines/10031More from Microcosm: https://microcosmpublishing.comSubscribe to our monthly email newsletter: https://microcosm.pub/newsletterFind us on social media:Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@microcosmpub/BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/microcosm.bsky.socialInstagram: http://instagram.com/microcosm_pubFacebook: http://facebook.com/microcosmpublishing************

Join us for RAR's Summer Adventure. When I mention Shakespeare, a lot of people immediately conjure up visions of high school English class, struggling through Julius Caesar line by line.Which is an absolute shame, because Shakespeare's plays are meant to be experienced–performed, seen, heard, felt. And experiencing Shakespeare with your kids is truly one of the most joyful things you can do together.Today, I'm returning to my conversation with one of my favorite Shakespeare lovers, Ken Ludwig.Ken is the author of How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare and one of our most celebrated, widely-performed playwrights. His plays are performed every single night of the year, and his enthusiasm for Shakespeare is utterly contagious and in this episode, we not only nerd out about our favorite plays, but share how to make teaching Shakespeare a true delight for you and your children.In this episode, you'll hear: Easy tips for breaking down passages for young kids to make them fun and memorableWhy Shakespeare is the best way to introduce children to complex, inventive, and beautiful language  How Shakespeare's work informs all of the English literature (and plays and TV and movies!) that followed itLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/joy-of-shakespeare

Join us for RAR's Summer Adventure. How do we homeschool high school? It's *the* question, isn't it?A lot of us go into homeschooling ready and excited for the younger years. Then as high school approaches, things start to feel… a little more complicated. To say the least. Navigating difficult subjects, transcripts, college applications, and alternatives to college if that isn't a good fit for your child can be intimidating.It's no wonder that homeschooling high school is one of the most-asked topics here at RAR.As many of you know, I have three kids who I homeschooled through high school who are now in college and beyond. My guest today is also an experienced homeschool mom who's had two of her six children graduate high school and move on to college. Rachel Kovac is a speaker, educator, and the author of the new book, Their Future is Shining Bright: A Guide to Homeschooling High School. I invited her to talk with me about the nitty gritty details of getting your kids through high school, as well as to share some big-picture encouragement as you face the challenges of the high school years.In this episode, you'll hear: Why the high school years feel so intimidating and what you can do to support a growth mindset for your teenHow your role shifts as your kids enter high school (and why it's something to look forward to!)Balancing doing less in your homeschool with keeping doors and paths open for your kidsLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/rachel-kovac

Join us for RAR's Summer Adventure. One of the very best ways to travel with your children is through books.Physically travelling as a family isn't always possible for a variety of reasons, but by reading with our kids, we give them the gift of windows into unfamiliar worlds. Stories develop empathy and invite us to engage with another's experiences in ways that can even go deeper than visiting a place in real life. Today, RAR's Creative Director (and my eldest daughter) Audrey is with me to talk about the power of books to take us places, even when we're not able to go far from home ourselves. In this episode, you'll hear: How stories help us engage with creativity, community, and our CreatorHow books can give us deeper connections to the places we do travelHow reading–and especially reading aloud!–cultivates curiosity and wonderLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/books-take-us-places

 What would happen if you decided to be your child's mentor rather than their teacher? What if you awakened their wonder and curiosity so that they became the kind of people who thirst for knowledge and understanding?Today, I'm revisiting a conversation about those very questions that I had a few years ago with Sally Clarkson. I'm lucky to count Sally as a dear friend and I know that her work has been transformational for me and for so many of you.In this episode, Sally shares how we can inspire our kids to become lifelong readers and learners right in our own homes.In this episode, you'll hear: How to make your homeschool a place of resources for your unique childrenWhat is different about being your child's mentor, rather than their teacherWhy modeling curiosity and excitement about learning in your homeschool matters more than any curriculumLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/becoming-your-childs-mentor

What is your calling in life? For poet, songwriter, and academic, Malcolm Guite, it's unequivocally clear–to be a storyteller. Today on the podcast Audrey and I chat with Malcolm about the first volume in his new retelling of the classic King Arthur stories, Galahad and the Grail, illustrated by the incredible Stephen Crotts and published by our friends over at Rabbit Room Press. Not only is Malcolm adapting the legends of King Arthur, he's doing it in poetic ballad form, which means they are basically designed to be read aloud. In our conversation, he tells us about the epic journey he and his publisher and illustrator undertook to visit sites connected to the Arthurian legends, how a childhood surrounded by books and stories led him to his lifelong love and study of literature and poetry, and the impact his own mother had on his journey to becoming a poet and storyteller. In this episode, you'll hear: Why Malcolm chose to write this story in ballad form How woodland walks inspire Malcolm's writing and why he knew it was time to “take up the tale”What elements and parallels of Biblical stories Malcolm wanted to restore that have often been left out of modern Arthurian retellingsLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/malcolm-guite

Learning to read can be hard. And when our kids are still learning to read fluently and well, helping them fall in love with books can feel impossible.But it doesn't have to be that way.Today on the show, I'm sharing some strategies to help hook your developing reader. And of course, I have some suggestions for books that they won't be able to resist.In this episode, you'll hear: Why helping your kids fall in love with story is the the key to helping them fall in love with reading The way short, frequent phonics and reading sessions propel budding readers toward fluency and easeHow to become a book-matchmaker for your child Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/child-resists-reading

We all want to build those meaningful and lasting connections with our kids. Around here, we're usually talking about doing that through books and reading aloud. But how do we extend these connections into our everyday, ordinary parenting moments?  Today, I'm talking to one of my favorite people to listen to when it comes to relationships. Dr Matthew Breuninger is a clinical psychologist and author of Finding Freedom in Christ: Healing Life's Hurts and in this episode he shares how safe, secure attachment forms the foundation of close relationships with our kids and how to repair them when we inevitably mess up. He also unpacks the very common tendency a lot of us have to view our children's behavior as a reflection on us, and offers a beautiful reminder of where our deepest identity as parents comes from (spoiler alert: it's not your performance. ❤️)In this episode, you'll hear: What foundational perspective parents can offer to shape our kids relationships with us and othersWhy ruptures are inevitable in all our relationships, and how we can approach repairHow our kids become mirrors for the wounds and self-protection strategies we need to work on in ourselvesLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/connecting-with-your-kids/

Today, we're revisiting a listener-favorite episode that has some advice and an activity that I think are perfect for this time of year in our homeschools.Jon Acuff, author of All It Takes Is a Goal, joined me a while back for a perspective-shifting conversation about setting and achieving goals for our homeschools, and how looking back at our best moments, from major milestones to pockets of joy, helps us envision the kind of future we really want. Jon also shares some practical tips for reframing the urge to compare ourselves to others, especially on social media, giving ourselves credit for what we're already doing–because it's definitely more than you think–and approaching goals with a “some is better than none” mindset.In this episode, you'll hear: How taking stock of your past best moments helps you be more grateful and present for the moments happening right nowWhy having dreams and goals bigger than your calendar is actually a gift A simple key to finding goals that work for you and your family Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/jon-acuff

We talk a lot around here about the incredible impact stories have on our kids. They build empathy and connection, letting us walk a mile in another's shoes. And some stories also help us see what it looks like to be brave and courageous, even in the face of fear or daunting challenges.Today, Audrey is back to talk with me about how stories inspire courage in our kids and ourselves and can connect us to profound truths, no matter how fantastical the setting.In this episode, you'll hear: How stories become companions to us through challenging seasons Which stories have shaped Sarah and Audrey's own lives The ways myths can echo profound truths to us that feed our hearts and minds and inspire heroic virtueLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/inspiring-heroic-virtue

Why do we read aloud to our kids? Especially those who can read to themselves? This is a topic that comes up all the time at Read-Aloud Revival and it's one I'm super passionate about. It's foundational to what we do around here and I firmly believe it's vital to our kids becoming lifelong readers. In this episode, we're talking about the impact reading aloud has on our children, regardless of their independent reading level. Research shows that there are many benefits to reading aloud to your kids, and today, we're going to focus on five of the most important ones.In this episode, you'll hear:How books educate the heart as well as the mind, growing perspective and empathyThe incredible impact of reading aloud on academic performance, language development, information processing, expression (the list goes on!)How reading aloud builds community, strengthens family bonds, reduces stress and anxiety, and enriches time spent togetherLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/why Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

Today's episode is a special treat featuring the return of a listener-favorite guest who happens to be one of my favorite people, too.

If I were to ask you if your life ever felt tranquil, you would probably do one of two things: bust out laughing or look at me like I was from another planet.I get it, I really do. Which is why I'm so excited to have the author of one of my absolute tippy-top recommended books with me today. Laura Vanderkam is a time management expert, mother of five, and the author of Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters. Laura suggests that to bring more tranquility to our abundant, unpredictable lives, we don't need a perfect schedule, what we need is a resilient schedule. In the book, she outlines nine ways that will help us manage the chaos and live joyful, sustainable lives. It sounds much more accessible, right? Today, we're going to talk about how we can actually achieve tranquility in our lives, even in the busiest phases of our lives.In this episode, you'll hear: How to reframe the way you think about how much time you have (hint: it might be more than you think!) Why doing something three times a week counts as a habitThe rule that gets the most resistance, and why sticking to it is so essentialLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/laura-vanderkam Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

Have you ever worried that you're not meeting all of your child's needs—academically, emotionally, spiritually, or even socially? Pretty much every day, right? You're not alone. Most of us have asked ourselves if we are giving our kids everything they need at one time or another.In this episode, I'm sharing a replay from one of our Circle with Sarah live sessions where RAR Community Manager Kelsey Murphy and I dug into what education is really for, because if we know what it's for, we're better able to answer if we're meeting our children's needs.I hope this conversation helps you reimagine your kids' education in a way that eases your worries and reminds you that education is about relationships, not checklists, and that is very good news.Circle with Sarah is my homeschool mentoring program within RAR Premium. Every Monday, members get a quick five to ten minute podcast with just the encouragement they need to be the peace-filled, joyful homeschool mom they're called to be. Learn more here. In this episode, you'll hear: Why education is not about meeting all of your child's potential needs, but about love and relationshipsThe three pillars of connection that form the bedrock of our homeschoolsSimple, practical ways to weave those three pillars into your daily lifeLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/education-is-for-love Order Flora and the Jazzers by Astrid Sheckels!

Many of you will already know that I am a huge fan of The Chronicles of Narnia. Today, I want to introduce my fellow Narnia lovers to a new book that jumped right off the shelf as soon as I saw it. Giant is a middle-grade novel by debut author Judith McQuoid where we meet Davy, a fictional working class boy from East Belfast, Ireland who is sent to work in the wealthy Lewis household in 1908. There, he forges a friendship with Jacks–as C.S. Lewis was known to his friends and family–over books, stories, and building worlds of imagination and adventure.Giant is a must-read for Narnia fans that adds a whole new depth of experience to C.S. Lewis's world and will help you read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in a fresh way. And today, I'm chatting with the author about what inspired her to write the book, how much of the story is fictionalized, and how the process of writing the book shaped her identity. And you're going to love her Irish accent! In this episode, you'll hear: The way her dad's love of Narnia and Lewis's Belfast heritage inspired Judith to write this story How Judith started with a “skeleton” draft and added layers of detail and depth with revisionsThe faith that carried Judith through the ups and downs of creating GiantLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/judith-mcquoid Order Flora and the Jazzers by Astrid Sheckels!

Astrid Sheckels continues the wit and whimsy of childhood through her marvelous and magnificent illustrations and storytelling. You might recognize her from the Hector Fox and Friends series or Sea Dog and Sea Dog Rescue, and she created the gorgeous cover and interior illustrations for Beyond Mulberry Glen by Millie Florence. Today we're chatting about her new book, Flora and the Jazzers, which Kirkus called “sumptuously illustrated” in their starred review and I couldn't agree more. This jazz-age Cinderella story starring a ferret named Flora and set in a 1920s New York hotel is going to blow you away, I just know it. Astrid is a New Englander who loves to paint animals in clothes, so clearly she is a woman after my own heart, and I just know you'll fall in love with her too.In this episode, you'll hear: How childhood family read-alouds instilled a love for stories in AstridThe way one of Astrid's earliest childhood drawings became the inspiration for FloraWhy a sketchbook is an ideal tool for budding creatives Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/astrid-sheckels Don't forget to pre-order your copy of Flora and the Jazzers and then tell us you did so you get your pre-order bonus mail! 

Peace. It sounds lovely, right? It's what so many of us want more than anything else in our homeschools. We long for peace, even if it often feels unattainable.But what does peace actually look like in the midst of a real, chaotic homeschool day?Last month in Circle with Sarah–my mentoring program for homeschool moms inside RAR Premium–we had a retreat. And our theme? Maintaining Peace in Your Homeschool.Over four sessions, we walked through practical tips for letting go of guilt and holding onto peace when your day doesn't go as planned–which we all know is basically every hour of every day, right? Today, I'm sharing the first session of the retreat, called “What Do We Mean by Peace?”I hope you find encouragement for maintaining peace within the everyday rhythms of homeschooling and that you get a better picture of the peace that's available to you right here, right now, regardless of the circumstances you find yourself in.And if you want to check out the rest of the retreat, all of the sessions are available now as part of RAR Premium (Join us right here!).In this episode, you'll hear: The real definition of peace (hint: it's not always calm and quiet!) Our primary responsibility as moms and homeschoolersHow our fears cause us to lose hold of peaceLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/peace Don't forget to pre-order your copy of Flora and the Jazzers and then tell us you did so you get your pre-order bonus mail! 

What does having a happy homeschool mean to you? How would you describe it? What would you be doing?Our homeschools are all unique. We have different kids, different spouses, different resources, different homes, different demands on our time and energy. And yet I have a hunch that when we think about what having a happy homeschool means, our answers would be remarkably similar.As many of us are getting into the swing of a new school year, I want to revisit a topic that I think is incredibly important to keep in mind so that you can actually enjoy your homeschool this year.In this episode, you'll hear: The one word we want our homeschools to emulate Why your peace and contentment as a homeschool mama matters more than curriculumThe five things moms told us again and again about having a happy homeschool (with a handy acronym!)Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/homeschool-habits

Today, I have a very special treat for you! This spring, our publishing imprint here at RAR, Waxwing Books, celebrated the release of Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien at one of my favorite bookstores, Fabled Bookshop in Waco, Texas.I had so much fun talking to Painting Wonder's incredibly talented author and illustrator, Katie Wray Schon, about this picture book biography of the fascinating woman behind the iconic illustrations in the works of C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. We knew this conversation would be too good to keep to ourselves, so we recorded it, and now we're sharing it with you!In this episode, you'll hear: Why Katie wanted to write and illustrate a picture book about Pauline Baynes Katie's process for writing, illustrating, and revising a page-turning book What Katie would go back and tell her younger self, plus her favorite resources for aspiring authors and illustratorsLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/painting-wonder-launch

Who is Kimberly?Kimberly Gawne is a dedicated professional in the field of alternative education, known for her insightful critiques of the traditional public school system. With a focus on Canada and the United States, Kimberley frequently addresses a common concern shared by parents, educators, and observers: the outdated nature of public school curricula, many of which have remained unchanged since the 1990s. Her work highlights the urgent need for educational reform and innovation, as she humorously notes that some educational materials are older than she is. Through her advocacy, Kimberly aims to inspire a modernized, dynamic approach to education that better serves current and future generations.Key Takeaways00:00 Public School Curriculum Criticisms05:11 Parental Involvement in Education Crucial06:59 Thoughtful Outsourcing Responsibilities10:44 Discover Kimberly's Journey & Resources14:17 "Unasked Killer Question"_________________________________________________________________________________________________Subscribe to our newsletter and get details of when we are doing these interviews live at https://systemise.me/newsletterFind out more about being a guest at : link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/beaguestSubscribe to the podcast at https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/podcastHelp us get this podcast in front of as many people as possible. Leave a nice five-star review at apple podcasts : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/apple-podcasts and on YouTube : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/Itsnotrocketscienceatyt!Here's how you can bring your business to THE next level:If you are a business owner currently turning over £/$10K - £/$50K per month and want to grow to £/$100K - £/$500k per month download my free resource on everything you need to grow your business on a single page :systemise.meIt's a detailed breakdown of how you can grow your business to 7-figures in a smart and sustainable way————————————————————————————————————————————-TranscriptNote, this was transcribed using a transcription software and may not reflect the exact words used in the podcast)SUMMARY KEYWORDSAlternative education, public schooling system, homeschooling, outdated curriculum, classroom sizes, private school, parent involvement, educational complaints, teacher frustration, educational outsourcing, parental responsibility, school PTA, student learning styles, burnout in homeschooling, educational support, star students, tutoring services, socialization in homeschooling, educational accountability, flexible learning, educational resources, school system reform, individualized education, factory-style education, John D. Rockefeller education, educational history, digital education, parent educator communication, modern curriculum, real-world preparationSPEAKERSKimberly Gawne, Stuart WebbStuart Webb [00:00:32]:Hi there, and welcome back to five questions over coffee. I have my coffee here in front of me. I need it at the moment because a man has just stopped it started chopping down a tree outside. So if there's a noise, that's what it is. I'm delighted, however, to be here with Kimberly Gorn. Kimberly, is gonna be talking to us about providing alternative education solutions for parents who are dissatisfied with the public schooling system. So, Kimberly, I love I love the attitude you brought with you as well. You've promised me you won't have skate stage fright.Stuart Webb [00:01:06]:You're just gonna do it. So I love the attitude. Let's do it together. How are you doing?Kimberly Gawne [00:01:12]:I'm doing well. It's really nice to be able to chat with you. Thank you for having me on. I appreciate it.Stuart Webb [00:01:17]:No problem at all. So, look, Kimberly, let's start with the the obvious first question. For anybody who is, who is at the moment sort of maybe themselves, struggling with the public schooling system, what are the sort of sort of thoughts that they have? Who who are they? Who is it you're trying to reach, and what is it you're trying to tell them?Kimberly Gawne [00:01:38]:I would say that the I mean, that's a good question. I get that I get asked that a lot is what are the complaints. Right? Because, I work in the alternative education space, and so a lot of people say that, well, you know, what what complaints are there with the public school system? They asked me to specify. And I kind of make a joke of it, and I say, well, a shorter list is what's not wrong with the public school system. The most common ones that I hear from people in terms of complaints, whether they're parents, whether they're educators, or whether they're just kind of on the sidelines of looking at how public education works is the curriculum. The fact that the curriculum itself is so outdated, so outdated, especially in I I can't speak for European education as much, but in Canada and The US, public school education, some of those curriculums have not been updated since nineteen nineties. Like, they're older than me. Not to you know, like, people aging is a different thing.Kimberly Gawne [00:02:36]:Curriculums aging is quite another. I think it's really important to make sure that we have accurate and updated information that we're teaching to children, let alone, you know, with the framework that we're teaching as well, or that from which we're teaching. Mhmm. So curriculum is definitely the biggest one. That's the biggest complaint that I hear. The other complaint is, the classroom sizes. And there's no getting around that no matter how you look at it. Public school or private school, you are typically in a class of anywhere from 15 to 30 plus children.Kimberly Gawne [00:03:10]:And and that's not that you're not able to really talk to the kids. You're not able to really teach them, in the way that they learn best. Right? That's one of the biggest frustrations I see from parents. I also see that from educators, but on the different side of the perspective because they're expected to teach all 30 children to the best of those kids' understanding, and they just can't. It's not possible.Stuart Webb [00:03:33]:Great. So, you know, I think we we can all we can all identify with with people who have you know, if you're you're a business owner, you don't wanna be trying to sort of reach out to 30 customers at a time. So, you know, parents are in the same situation. So tell me, what are these people I often say this about sort of, you know, when somebody sort of sees a a business person that's tried to solve a problem, parents are trying to solve this problem as well. What what are the sort of things you've seen that they've tried to do and maybe made mistakes trying to solve as part of their, desire to get their children better educated as part of their frustrations with with watching this situation at their school?Kimberly Gawne [00:04:20]:I see I see some commonalities when it comes to parents, trying their best. And this is not to say that, you know, parents don't have good, good intentions. Of course, they do. We all have good intentions when it comes to our children, especially when it comes to their education. One of the common mistakes that I see parents making when it comes to their child's education is outsourcing it without any sense of responsibility, without any sense of responsibility. One of my favorite things to say is that the public school system is glorified babysitting. I get a lot of hate for that, but it's true if you think about it. What else are are parents doing other than sending their children to a public school that's going to just babysit their kids all day while the parents are at work.Kimberly Gawne [00:05:11]:If the parent themselves does not have any responsibility, any communication, any sort of, initiative to go and talk to the teachers, to go and get involved with the school activities, to go you know, if there's a PTA, go get involved with the PTA. If there's no responsibility on the part of the parent in terms of getting involved with their kids' education, the children are the ones that suffer because those are the kids that will fall through the cracks. Because the teachers, quite simply, don't have the brain space and or the time, to be quite honest with you, to give all 30 children the the best of what they are able to give them because they have Of course. They have, what, forty five minutes or fifty minutes or, you know, maybe seventy five if you're talking about high school. If you have a child whose parents are not involved and whose parents are not, as active in their school life, that child is going to suffer because nobody's looking out for that kid's best interest in terms of educationally speaking. Right? In in my in that specific context for me, no no one's looking out for their educational interests. So that's a really common mistake that I see parents making is outsourcing without any sense of responsibility. There's nothing wrong with outsourcing, but you still have to be involved because you're you as the parent are your child's first, you're you're the child's first barrier to or the first first guardian to, getting that good education, to be able to to speak for your child if they're, you know, in elementary school, they're in grades one through eight.Kimberly Gawne [00:06:43]:They're not really able to speak for themselves in terms of what's best for their best educational interest. You as the parent, that's your job. And if you're not saying anything because you're not involved, there that no one else is going to do that for you.Stuart Webb [00:06:59]:And I think that's a really good message that you've given with the fact that too much outsourcing is done without thought of the responsibilities you own as the sort of parent or, the the the, you know, if we we think of, you know, too many times people outsource things without really thinking about their responsibilities within the process, which is exactly what you've described. A parent just sort of, you know, says, well, I I don't know what else to do. I'm just gonna I'm just gonna leave it and hope for the best. And that's where things go wrong, isn't it? When you hope for the best, we often we often fail to realize that actually there, you know, there are things we can do. There are things we can the actions we can take in order to improve, if not if not, drastically change the situation.Kimberly Gawne [00:07:50]:Absolutely. Absolutely. And like I said, it's not there's nothing wrong with outsourcing because you can't do it all yourself. That's another mistake I see parents making is that they they can they're like, okay. Well, I'm gonna homeschool my children. I'm gonna do all of it myself. You will burn out so fast. Absolutely.Kimberly Gawne [00:08:07]:Yeah.Stuart Webb [00:08:07]:Yeah. You know, if you if you're if you're busy working or if you don't have the the necessary income in order to be able to afford to sort of have one parent take the time off, then then it becomes very difficult, doesn't it?Kimberly Gawne [00:08:19]:Mhmm. Yeah. Absolutely. Even if you have a parent, we have I have quite a few clients actually who that's a sort of, that's the sort of category that they fall into where there's one parent who is actively working and away from home, and then there's the other parent, usually the mom, because that's just how the dynamic works, who's homeschooling kids, who's chosen to make the time to homeschool the children. But when you have multiple children, I and I'm speaking from experience here, when you have multiple children that you're trying to homeschool in the same household at once, it is a lot. It is a lot. So there's nothing wrong with outsourcing, but you still have to be involved. Right? You can't just outsource with that and say, okay.Kimberly Gawne [00:08:57]:Now it's this person's job. I'm they you know, I'm I'm paying them the money. They'll just they'll just take care of everything. You as the parent still have to be an active participant in your child's journey, whatever that looksStuart Webb [00:09:09]:like. So is there a a piece of advice, an offer you can you can provide people who are currently watching this and going, this is me. This is me. I'm I'm kind of intrigued to know more. What what what is the valuable piece of advice that you would you would offer them?Kimberly Gawne [00:09:24]:I would say that the most valuable piece of advice I could offer parents at whatever stage they might be at in their child's journey, This is perhaps more of a reassurance than advice. It is never too late to start over. It's never too late to say, hey. Something needs to change because this isn't working anymore. Right? Yeah. And in order to say that, it requires a sense of accountability as to, like, hey. This isn't working for me. This isn't working for my child, more importantly.Kimberly Gawne [00:09:57]:What can we do to change it? Instead of sitting there and saying, oh, well, you know, it's already ruined. They're already in public school. You know, they're already in private school. It's it's not working, but whatever. What else do you do? I would encourage people to look outside the box. There's so many different solutions for alternative education these days, and public school is just not it's just not where it's at anymore in terms of preparing children for the real world, in terms of fitting a family's flexible lifestyle. It it is just not there. So my piece of advice, look around you, take stock of what the world is like, ask yourself, is this public school system preparing my child for what this world is going to be like in ten years or even in five years.Stuart Webb [00:10:44]:And I'd encourage everybody to go to the link that I'm just showing at the bottom of the screen at the moment, which is www.systemize.me/free-stuff. We'll have links to Kimberly's website, her LinkedIn profile, and and everything there so that you can you can find out more about what Kimberly's talking about here and and and understand the sort of actions that you can take in order to solve these problems if, you are, who, if you're one of the people that, that that you you feel it's Kimberly is talking to you at the moment. Kimberly, can I just sort of find out a little bit more about how you got to be well who you are today? What was it? Was there a book? Was there a was there a a course, a program, a life situation that eventually brought you to the realization that you need to take this sort of responsibility for stepping into the outsourcing breach, if I can put it like that.Kimberly Gawne [00:11:47]:Mhmm. I I just laugh. I'm just chuckling as you're saying that because it was definitely not a book. It's simply not a book or a course, or program. It was, as we mentioned, a life situation, that brought me to starting like, to to starting star students and to being able to, provide that for families. I graduated teachers college in March or rather in April, of twenty twenty. So ifStuart Webb [00:12:15]:people were to graduate.Kimberly Gawne [00:12:17]:I'm telling you. We went home, and it I I remember it to the day. It was Friday, 03/13/2020, because that was the Friday before March break. To make a long story short, we we decided we were taking two weeks, and I never saw my kids again that I was teaching. That was a that that was the five let me call that the the cherry on the icing on the cake of a long line of complaints that I had, with my with the public school system in my six years of post secondary education. So I really had to take a hard look once I graduated. I did that year. I had to take a hard look at, is this something I really want to do? And the answer was no, quite frankly, because it was not something that I was willing to sign myself up for.Kimberly Gawne [00:13:05]:It was not something that I wanted to have be my fulfillment. I could not I I could not see myself doing the a public school teaching job and coming home every day, Monday to Friday, for the next forty years, looking in the mirror and genuinely saying to myself, I did a good job today with those kids.Stuart Webb [00:13:26]:Yeah. Yeah.Kimberly Gawne [00:13:27]:That was what it came down to. That was what it came down to. I realized I could not do that. I could not look myself in the mirror and say I did a good job with those kids. I said if I can't do it after, you know, two years of being in school, in a school, how am I gonna do that for forty? For the next forty, right, or thirty or whatever my code would be in the public school system. So that I mean, that was where it started because I I was kind of I I said, okay. Well, that's not I I can't I can't do that. What am I going to do instead? And star students was born to make a long story short, star students was born from that.Kimberly Gawne [00:14:04]:It was born from the desire to do something different and the desire to see something different for the kids of this generation and for future generations because they don't deserve what they're getting in the public school system. They don't.Stuart Webb [00:14:17]:And and I think that's a that's a a brave action to take at a very tough time for the world anyway. But, I mean, that is a that was a that was a driving force clearly, and and I guess that's what led you to this, which is kind of what I'm expecting you to be thinking at the moment. Do you know he still hasn't asked me that killer question, which I just don't understand why he hasn't got this? So, you know, I'm obviously unable to think what that killer question is because otherwise, I wouldn't now be asking you to say, what's the question that you think I should be asking you so that you can really sort of get me to understand exactly the next actions I should take. So what's that question that you think you would like to answer? And then, obviously, once you've asked it, you need to answer it, Kimberly, because that's the way this works.Kimberly Gawne [00:15:05]:Right. The I would say the killer question that I always that is always the number one thing that people ask me when it comes to homeschooling. They find out that, you know, we provide homeschooling services and and tutoring services. Tutoring services is something that people can, understand because it's in our cultural schema. Right? When people find out that Star Students is very much about homeschooling and we provide a variety of homeschooling supports, the first question that people always ask without fail, when they when they talk about homeschooling is, oh my goodness. How are you gonna homeschool children? They need to be socialized. What do you mean you're taking it from public school or some sort of variety of that? Right? That is the killer question I get asked. I get asked that on podcast.Kimberly Gawne [00:15:51]:I get asked that by parents. I get asked that by, teachers, public school educators. Right? What do you mean? Are you gonna homeschool your children? You can't you can't do that. They won't be socialized. That's my killer question, I would say. Because the answer, I think, really shakes a lot of people. It really makes a lot of people think about how our world is set up. I very simply respond to that question, and I say, is public school actually educating your children, or is it indoctrinating them into the nine to five factory style workforce? Not one person.Kimberly Gawne [00:16:34]:Every single person has that look on their face. They just oh, you're right. If you look into the public school education, history, if you look into the history of how public school education got started, it was John d Rockefeller that started our public school education. Not to get on a history tip. I am a history fan. I'm a history major, actually. Not to get on a history tip, but John d Rockefeller started the public school education system with the intent with the publicized intent of making sure that he had factory workers and not thinkers. So if that doesn't say to you about the intentions of what the public school system intends to do to your children, if that doesn't say something to you, I I don't know what will.Kimberly Gawne [00:17:25]:That that's my killer that's my question. Gives people a lot to think about.Stuart Webb [00:17:32]:And I was about to say and I think that is an interesting point at which to say, this is where people let's go back once again. Have a look at what Kimberly's, Kimberly says in in her profile and and and the, the the website get and where where you talk about getting getting started with with homeschooling. So, Kimberly, I'm just gonna, I'm gonna leave people with that thought, and ask them to check you out further. And at this point, I'm just gonna say, look. If you would like to get onto the main list so that you get access to that free stuff or if you would like to, to to hear about the people that are coming up on the podcast coming up, go to this form, which is www.systemize, that's with an s, not a a zed or z,systemize.mesubscribed, s y s t e m I s e, Me forward / subscribe. And, you'll just get a it's just simple form, email, first name, and then you get an email once a week, which basically tells you about who's coming up on the podcast. Now outside my window, the tree is being heavily chopped down, so I don't know if you can hear that. So I'm just gonna thank I'm gonna thank Kimberly.Stuart Webb [00:18:48]:Okay.Kimberly Gawne [00:18:49]:So you're good.Stuart Webb [00:18:51]:Thank Kimberly for her time now. Kimberly, thank you so much for coming on to talk about this. I really hope that people do get on and, listen to some of this stuff that you're saying because I think it's important. Kimberly, thank you so much for being with us. I trust, that the kids continue to behave. I I know, I know in the background, you've got quite a lot of activity, so enjoy the time with them. They grow up very fast, and, eventually, they become less educated and less trouble, but an awful lot, a lot of my distant to you. So enjoy the time you got with them now, and thanks for coming on and talking to us.Kimberly Gawne [00:19:29]:Thank you so much for having me. It was a pleasure. Get full access to It's Not Rocket Science! at thecompleteapproach.substack.com/subscribe

One of the all-time most useful things I've implemented in my homeschool is Quiet Reading Time.I did Quiet Reading Time with my three eldest kids, who are now in college and beyond, during the most hectic years when I had all six at home (three of whom were babies at the time!), and I still do it with those younger three today. It has made a bigger difference in our homeschool than almost anything else.It isn't always quiet. And it isn't always reading, in the most traditional sense. But it is incredibly effective, and it's still my kids' favorite part of the day.In this episode, I'm going to talk all about how to bring Quiet Reading Time into your homeschool.In this episode, you'll hear: Why and how Quiet Reading Time can simplify your curriculum What Quiet Reading Time does for your kids (and for you!) How to manage reading time with littles underfootLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/quiet-reading-time

Who is Howard?Howard Polansky is a pragmatic individual who navigates life's financial intricacies with a focus on strategic decision-making. Recognizing common defaults in financial practices, he often critiques the conventional 30-year mortgage system prevalent in the United States. Polansky understands that while many opt to pay extra on their monthly mortgage to reduce the term, the fixed nature of the monthly payment remains unchanged, a topic he frequently discusses. His insights reflect a deep understanding of financial commitments, emphasizing the impact of additional payments and highlighting the etymology of "mortgage" as a lasting "death pledge." Through his observations, Polansky shares his wisdom on making informed financial choices.Key Takeaways00:00 "Cash Flow Chat with Howard"06:03 Pay Yourself First, Always08:01 "Ebook Insights on Home Equity"12:40 "Prepare Financially During Success"16:21 "Key Unasked Question"19:32 "Motivating Business Financial Freedom"_________________________________________________________________________________________________Subscribe to our newsletter and get details of when we are doing these interviews live at https://systemise.me/newsletterFind out more about being a guest at : link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/beaguestSubscribe to the podcast at https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/podcastHelp us get this podcast in front of as many people as possible. Leave a nice five-star review at apple podcasts : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/apple-podcasts and on YouTube : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/Itsnotrocketscienceatyt!Here's how you can bring your business to THE next level:If you are a business owner currently turning over £/$10K - £/$50K per month and want to grow to £/$100K - £/$500k per month download my free resource on everything you need to grow your business on a single page :systemise.meIt's a detailed breakdown of how you can grow your business to 7-figures in a smart and sustainable way————————————————————————————————————————————-TranscriptNote, this was transcribed using a transcription software and may not reflect the exact words used in the podcast)SUMMARY KEYWORDSCash flow, cash flow coach, financially led, debt management, high debt professions, medical debt, student loan debt, mortgage payments, fixed debt payments, paying off debt, interest reduction, offset mortgage, home equity line of credit, business owners, business cash flow, paying yourself first, tax payments, IRS, emergency fund, financial planning, risk management, business continuity, business loans, personal finance education, burnout, work-life balance, entrepreneur finances, insurance planning, financial ebook, income preservationSPEAKERSHoward Polansky, Stuart WebbStuart Webb [00:00:33]:Hi, and welcome back to It's Not Rocket Science, five questions over coffee. I haven't actually got a coffee in front of you at the moment. This is actually fruit tea, because if I drink too much coffee, after lunchtime, I start to go to sleep. And I don't wanna go to sleep right at the moment because I'm really interested in speaking with Howard Polanski. Howard is a he's a cash flow coach, who doesn't need to speak to one of those nowadays. Howard is the cash flow coach at Financially Led, and we're we're gonna get into what that means at the moment. But who doesn't wanna spend some time thinking about cash flow and how to preserve it in these days? So, Howard, welcome to It's Not Rocket Science, five questions over coffee, and I trust you're ready to take us through cash flow and financially led.Howard Polansky [00:01:26]:Thank you, Stuart. Thank you for the opportunity.Stuart Webb [00:01:30]:It's It's terrific. So let's start with, let's just start. You're you're you're a former dentist, so we'll get into how you ended up in this situation. But who is it you're trying to help with your advice on on cash flow and and financial matters overall?Howard Polansky [00:01:47]:Those that don't like being in debt. And if we're talking about people let me just use The US since that's where I'm based. Those professions that are high debt type of professions, medical doctors, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, lawyers, where they just have these massive fixed payments that they're trying to navigate around. And sometimes it feels like all I'm doing is going to work to literally pay off these debts. When do I get to enjoy my life?Stuart Webb [00:02:25]:Yeah.Howard Polansky [00:02:25]:And and I'm not saying that there's not other industries that face that challenge, but those are the obvious ones that if there is a way for us to minimize the impact of those fixed debt payments, get them out of our lives sooner, pay less interest. Now all of a sudden, you have more money freed up at the end of each month.Stuart Webb [00:02:47]:And and and, Howard, I'm I'm sure you can you can sort of, you can help us to understand this, but was that a situation that you were in as a dentist? Did you find yourself wondering every day, why am I doing this? There must be an easier way to make a loss, and that's what you led you to where you are?Howard Polansky [00:03:05]:Well, I didn't know if that was gonna be the question now or it was gonna be question number five in terms of how I got into this. If you wanna wait until then, we can, or you want me to go through the story now, I will.Stuart Webb [00:03:16]:Yeah. I'll put it I'll put it to you as question five. Let's just talk a little bit more about how you, what you the the sort of things that the the people you've helped have got into the sort of trouble they have, and what are they trying to do to get out of it? What is it what is it you see when you sort of they they eventually engage an expert like you and you start dealing with them? So they they recognize eventually they they have a problem and they need to do something about it.Howard Polansky [00:03:42]:Yeah. So, I mean, one of the I hate to call it a mistake, but one of the ways that people are doing it just because it's either it's by default or by design. And so by default, they're like, I've got this mortgage. Let's just say that. And in The US it's a thirty, traditionally a thirty year mortgage. Well, I don't wanna pay on this for thirty years, so let me throw a little bit of additional money against this. So if I've got a $2,000 mortgage, let me put 2,200 and I know that's going to save me some time. The problem is, what's your payment the next month? It's still the $2,000 It does not change when you put extra money against the mortgage because the more mortgage is two French words put together, which literally means death pledge.Howard Polansky [00:04:39]:So the system is set up for you to make payments until the day you die or you're gonna die trying. This allows you and, again, you're we're over on different sides of the pond, so I'm not gonna keep this a secret. Over in The UK and Australia, they're known as offset mortgages. So the open ended mortgages where all of the money can go in to lower the overall balance of the debt. When you lower the overall balance of the debt, you're lowering the amount of interest you pay on a daily basis. And then when the expenses come due, you just take that much out, but you've got the excess now attacking the entirety of the debt versus the way that it's set up in The US. They have a one way street known as your house in front of you. You only make the minimum payment because you're like, if I put more money in, I can't get the money back out.Howard Polansky [00:05:42]:And when we don't have access to money, that's when people don't sleep very well. So that's the common mistake is how I'm just putting more money into this loan, but then if something happens, I get disabled, I get fired, I still have this fixed payment in front of me, and now I have no wiggle room.Stuart Webb [00:06:03]:Yeah. I I'm always very aware that a lot of business owners, disobey, for want of a better word, one of the golden rules which which I think is is something I hope you'll you'll agree with, which is they forget that they need to pay themselves first out of the income into their business. They're putting it against all sorts of other things, and then eventually they realize that there isn't anything left for them. And they they're left in a situation like you've just said where suddenly they are unable to pay the bills that have come in for their family, and they then have to get back on the treadmill and work even harder because they've now forgotten that they've got a life. And and I just think it's it's it's often this the the the the the golden rules of, you know, thinking about your cash flow and how you allocate it are so difficult for many business owners for for reasons because often we are not taught. We are not given the instruction early enough in our lives about how to manage money.Howard Polansky [00:07:04]:What's even worse than not paying yourself first is not only do you pay yourself, you take the money from the IRS that you have to pay them and use that on your expenses too. I've seen that situation happen also. That's never a good situation that I wanna be involved in.Stuart Webb [00:07:23]:Now if there's one thing you should definitely be very aware of is the tax man will find you and will hunt you down if you are if you are diligent in, not diligent in playing that that money off. Howard, look. The the the these must be times at the moment. People are are listening to you and thinking, I think I hear myself in this. This might be me. What valuable piece of advice or or or free free offer can you sort of help people with? And, and how would you sort of, you know, give them that that allow them to sort of access you?Howard Polansky [00:08:01]:Yeah. The probably the easiest way to understand a little bit more of the concept behind this is my ebook. So financiallyled.com, so that's just LEDfinanciallyled.com/ebook. It'll take you maybe about twenty minutes to go through and start to understand the three lessons on how and why this works. The second, if I'm okay if it's okay for me to get a second piece of advice, Stuart, is if you have lived in let's just keep it on the personal side for now. If you've lived in your residence for a number of years now, whether it's in overseas or in The US, it doesn't matter, Your house is probably appreciated substantially, and there is equity. There is cash literally trapped in the bricks. While you're employed, while business looks good, go get a home equity line of credit.Howard Polansky [00:09:08]:Have access to the cash because you just never know what's gonna happen in life. I mean, here's a perfect example. One of my clients is a dentist. She texts me back in November saying, guess what happened to me two months ago? I'm like, this is just out of the blue. I'm like, I don't know. COVID? It's like, no. Two ruptured aneurysms and a mini stroke. Mhmm.Howard Polansky [00:09:34]:Mhmm. She's 40 she's 46 years old, Stuart. I don't think this was in her life plan in terms of, oh, I'm gonna go I wanna be in the ICU and have brain surgery for three weeks sitting in a hospital. If it wasn't for having the business line of credit set up twelve to eighteen months ago, her business would be toast. That buffer of cash is what allowed her to keep paying the bills. Even though there was no money coming in, it was the access to cash that allowed her to pay her team, pay the bills so that she could get back to still having a a functioning business.Stuart Webb [00:10:19]:I've just put a link, on the the screen in front of you, Howard. I'm gonna put that story and the link to your ebook into our vault. Our vault, if you if it listen, guys, it if you're listening to this and you go, I need to do that. If you didn't capture what Howard just said, go to, Systemize, and that's the word systemize, but it's spelled with an s, not a zed, systemize slash free hyphen stuff. There's a vault there with with and and we'll put Howard's link, and we'll put that story in order for you to be able to sort of capture that and come back to it again and again and again because that is really valuable advice. I think that's a truth that everybody should be trying to do, Howard. It's not just dentists that have aneurysms. Anybody can have one of those.Stuart Webb [00:11:03]:You know, I I have a a a a friend who went on a very nice holiday, fell over, skiing, and they were in a similar situation. They were suddenly unable to work. And if they hadn't set up the right systems in place in in his case, it was the fact that his business carried on because he had set up teams that were working. But he had to you have to think ahead, don't you? You have to you do have to do exactly what you said. This might not be in the plan, but there is a risk that this could happen. So, therefore, I need to sort of deal with the risk before it happens, not as it happens because it takes time. These things take time to set up. They don't happen overnight.Stuart Webb [00:11:46]:You have to plan it. You have to think about it. You have to put that into your thinking, don't you?Howard Polansky [00:11:51]:Absolutely. And and look, you know as well as I do, when are banks gonna gonna be most, when are they gonna be most appreciative of giving you money? When you don't need it.Stuart Webb [00:12:06]:When you've got it.Howard Polansky [00:12:08]:That's exactly as soon as you're in distress, they're the last people that wanna help you. So get this set up while things are going goodStuart Webb [00:12:18]:Yeah.Howard Polansky [00:12:19]:And just have it there just in case because stuff happens. I mean, we're live, so I definitely don't wanna say what I normally say, but stuff happens. And it's just far easier to have this all in place before any of this stuff happens because we know it's happened to everyone. It's a it's part of life.Stuart Webb [00:12:40]:It is. And, you know, there's an old there's an old story about a man walking down the road, it's pouring with rain, and he sees a farmer digging a well. And he turned around and said, why are you digging the well when it's raining? And he said, because now the ground is soft and the digging is easy. The last thing you wanna be doing is digging a well when there is no water and the ground is hard. So if you're in a situation at the moment where your business is still doing well, I know we're going into some, economically interesting times at the moment, but if you've got a business that's doing well, now's the time to be digging that well ready for when, perhaps the the ground hardens and it's not quite as easy digging. Howard, I'm I'm I'm gonna gonna, gonna get on with this because otherwise, I think we'll be here for many, many hours talking about this. So was there a sort of we we sort of talked about the the the origin of your sort of, a realization that financially led was the way that you wanted to go. Was there a a books, a course, something that led you from from where you are as a dentist now to being, the guy that tries to advise other people that, they need to think about their cash flow?Howard Polansky [00:13:50]:Yeah. The the one book which really helped in terms of solidifying this whole concept, the author's name is Harsh Gill, h a r j is the first name, g I l l. And it's the book is something like pay off your debt sooner. That was the first time I ever heard in terms of this offset mortgage, they call it the Australian mortgage or whatever. And I was like, oh my god. This is the most logical way I've ever seen in terms of being able to pay off debt. It doesn't have to be a house. It can be student loans.Howard Polansky [00:14:29]:It can be cars. It can be business loans, whatever it is. I just realized that once I was able to utilize this for myself and I got my I got down to a $24 house payment, which might be about £20 for you. I shared that with another dentist and he could not believe what he was seeing and is like, can you help me? And I'm like, I think so. And he ended up paying off his house in eight months instead of thirty years. Wow. Wow. And and that and that's when it really the light bulb went off.Howard Polansky [00:15:07]:And then later on, I was like, wait. I think I can help apply this idea to businesses because if the business has more cash flow, where's it gonna spill over? It's gonna spill over to that owner's personal life, which is where I was trying to make the impact anyway. And the answer is, yeah, it works beautifully, for the average business owner, the cash flow improvements been over $65,000 in year one. SoStuart Webb [00:15:39]:But again, notHoward Polansky [00:15:41]:doing anything crazy.Stuart Webb [00:15:43]:For those that want a personal testimony, I had an offset mortgage. We became mortgage free quite a while ago, and, I'm very grateful for the fact that I found it. So, Howard, perhaps perhaps if I'd got this advice from you many years ago, I'd I'd have to but but I found it myself. So they're a great thing. They're a great thing.Howard Polansky [00:16:03]:For the right person, if you're gonna go and just, you know, spend on Louis Vuitton and Lamborghinis and and trips around the world and you don't have the cash flow to back that up, please don't do this. You are going to get yourself in trouble.Stuart Webb [00:16:21]:I will I will not I will not immediately go out and buy a Lamborghini then. I will I will keep that. I'll keep what I've got at the moment because, clearly, that would be the wrong wrong thing for me. So, Howard, let let me let me let me sort of, help you get back out to helping people do this rather than talking about it. Is there a question that you think I should have asked you in these questions? Is there one thing that you're thinking? I wish you'd hurry up and get to the really important question. And, obviously, once you've posed the question, you need to answer it because I don't know what the question is at the moment.Howard Polansky [00:16:55]:We've kinda hinted at it before. How the heck does someone go from being a dentist to doing this?Stuart Webb [00:17:02]:Let's talk about it.Howard Polansky [00:17:04]:Yeah. So I tell people now sometimes life leaves you little clues and other times life hits you with a two by four. My two by four moment was Sunday morning, Memorial Day weekend twenty eighteen. Jaden, my older son, is 12 years old. I'm sitting next to his bed. He realizes I'm there and he says, Dad. His voice is barely above a whisper. Yeah, buddy.Howard Polansky [00:17:30]:I lean over the bed, I put my ear over his mouth to make sure I can hear him, and he says three words I'll never forget. Am I dying? Oh. Twelve days earlier, Jaden came home with a stomachache. Three days after the stomachache were in the ICU at the Children's Hospital having emergency surgery. Woah. It was a it was appendicitis that turned septic, twenty nine days in the hospital, 19 of them in the ICU, eight straight days of sedation because he went to the Operating Room 5 times. After they take the tube out of his throat, they give him methadone and morphine to bring him down from the drugs he was on. So my 12 year old son looks like a heroin addict coming down from a high, and the very first question he will only ask me are those three little words, am I dying? My first breath was, did I hear him correctly? My second breath was, do not lose it right now.Howard Polansky [00:18:34]:I look him in the eyes, and I tell him, no. You're not dying. You've had prayers from thousands of people all around the world, and you're gonna be just fine. He looks at me, he knows I'm telling him the truth. He closes his eyes to get more rest. I walk outside the room and then I broke. I was already miserable. I was burnt out from sixteen years of dentistry.Howard Polansky [00:18:57]:And one thought seared into my mind, if life is this fragile and I'm unhappy with the path that I'm on, burn the ships, it's over. That's what I did. I sold my practice September 2018, just walked away. And if I didn't make the bold move of walking away from dentistry, I would have never had this $24 house payment and never took the shot to open open a new business and do this. So that's that's the one question, Stuart.Stuart Webb [00:19:32]:Howard, if if if that is the story that motivates people to get and think about their cash flow situation, to manage their business in such a way that they turn it from being a millstone around their neck to something which is actually an asset and something which brings them the financial freedom that you got from making that decision. I trust and pray nobody has to go through what you went through to make that decision, But we can all learn from the fact that you cannot regulate, cannot plan for life to continue being the joy that it is. So if it is currently raining in your business and the ground is soft and you are not currently digging the well and taking advice from people like Howard, I would encourage you, please go and find that stuff in the in what we've said with that, Howard. Get that ebook and get on and listen to some of the brilliant advice. Howard, listen. That is a hugely, humbling story for me to have listened to, and I'm grateful for the fact that you spent just a few minutes with us giving us that story. Let me just let me just be slightly flippant now and just say please come subscribe to our newsletter list because I would love you listening to us now to to be able to get and hear people like Howard talk about these stories and really motivate you to make your business better. If you go to www.systemize.me/subscribe, there's a simple form.Stuart Webb [00:21:06]:It just asks for your first name, your email address, and that's all I want from you. Just so I can send you an email once a week saying we've got this really great guest coming up tomorrow. Come listen to some of the stuff they do, and you can listen to some real truth bombs, like Howard's given us today. Howard, that is a powerful way to end. I'm not really wanting to say very much more other than thank you very, very much for coming on and motivating us to get control of our finances and our cash flow. And and and thank you for taking the steps that you've taken in order to be that, that cash flow coach.Howard Polansky [00:21:41]:Stuart, thank you for the opportunity.Stuart Webb [00:21:44]:It's been brilliant. Thank you. Get full access to It's Not Rocket Science! at thecompleteapproach.substack.com/subscribe

Summer break . . . It's often not much of a break, right?Even if you find yourself with a little less on your plate, anxiety and second-guessing have a way of filling the gaps where we want rest and relaxation to fill.To find peace that lasts throughout the school year, we can't just “take a break.” We need to break free from the stories and fears that keep us mired in anxiety.When homeschooling moms ask me for advice, they rarely need advice. What they're really asking for is reassurance, a chance to take a breath and let go of anxiety or fear, so they can trust themselves and trust that the Holy Spirit will guide them.Today the RAR team selected some of our favorite pieces of wisdom on the theme of rest and reassurance from the RAR Premium private podcast, Circle with Sarah. Think of this episode as a little vacation for your homeschooling heart. In this episode, you'll hear: How acting like we know we're loved helps us let go of anxietyWhat we're actually responsible for when it comes to raising our kids How you know when you're doing enough in your homeschool Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/vacation-for-your-heart

Who is Helle?Helle Brodie is an insightful entrepreneur who intimately understands the challenges faced by business owners in today's fast-paced world. Acknowledging the widespread issue of burnout among entrepreneurs—characterized by stress, overwhelm, and sleepless nights—Helle champions the cause of work-life balance and mental well-being. She recognizes how the pressures of entrepreneurship can spill into personal life, affecting friendships, family, and even self-care routines. Driven by the need to transform chaos into mastery, Helle is committed to helping fellow entrepreneurs navigate these hurdles, ensuring they remain at the top of their game without sacrificing their well-being.Key Takeaways00:00 Entrepreneurial Burnout: A Common Struggle06:08 Beyond Step-by-Step: Entrepreneur Growth08:06 "No Magic Button in AI"10:00 "Overcoming Fear for Better Decisions"13:56 "Entrepreneur Resource Access Steps"_________________________________________________________________________________________________Subscribe to our newsletter and get details of when we are doing these interviews live at https://TCA.fyi/newsletterFind out more about being a guest at : link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/beaguestSubscribe to the podcast at https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/podcastHelp us get this podcast in front of as many people as possible. Leave a nice five-star review at apple podcasts : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/apple-podcasts and on YouTube : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/Itsnotrocketscienceatyt!Here's how you can bring your business to THE next level:If you are a business owner currently turning over £/$10K - £/$50K per month and want to grow to £/$100K - £/$500k per month download my free resource on everything you need to grow your business on a single page :It's a detailed breakdown of how you can grow your business to 7-figures in a smart and sustainable way————————————————————————————————————————————-TranscriptNote, this was transcribed using a transcription software and may not reflect the exact words used in the podcast)SUMMARY KEYWORDSBusiness success coach, Entrepreneurs, Freedom in business, Livelihood, Business transformation, Chaos to freedom, Time freedom, Financial freedom, Internal freedom, Entrepreneurial burnout, Stress, Overwhelm, Sleepless nights, Pressure, Self-doubt, Loss of confidence, Creativity, Business mastery, Safe zones, Working harder, Chasing opportunities, Unconscious blocks, Success mindset, Growth mindset, Conscious mind, Unconscious mind, Entrepreneurs Freedom Formula, Autopilot business, Self-discovery, AlignmentSPEAKERSHelle Brodie, Stuart WebbStuart Webb [00:00:00]:So yes. Hi, and welcome back to It's Not Rocket Science five, questions over coffee. I've had some technical difficulties today, although, to be honest with you, it's probably not the coffee that's causing it. I'm delighted, however, to be here with Hela Brody. Hela is a business success coach. She really specializes in working with entrepreneurs, to create freedom in their business and their livelihood. It sounds absolutely fantastic. She's been an entrepreneur herself for thirty seven years in two vastly different industries.Stuart Webb [00:01:00]:I'm sure we're gonna get into that. And she's really got an intimate understanding of the complexity and, I believe, the simplicity business. So she's gonna help us to understand exactly how we can transform our businesses from a state of chaos to a vehicle for freedom. That's time freedom and financial freedom and the internal freedom to savor the life. So, Hela, welcome to the podcast. I really am looking forward to this, and, I'm looking forward to having a conversation about how you're gonna help us to transform these, these complex piece into something simple we can all enjoy.Helle Brodie [00:01:36]:Absolutely. It's wonderful to be here, Stuart.Stuart Webb [00:01:39]:Terrific. So, Helen, let's start with the the first question I would start with, and that's just try and describe to us, if you can, the the the person you're trying to help. I mean, you've mentioned there are things like freedom, and I think we all can all identify that sometimes as a business, we don't feel as if it's a freeing thing. So tell us about the sort of the sort of person you're trying to reach to help with these, with these problems.Helle Brodie [00:02:02]:Right. So so fifty percent of entrepreneurs admit to struggling with burnout. You know, it's the stress, the overwhelm, the sleepless nights. You know? And the the the pressure can feel exhausting and and all consuming. And, you know, it creeps into your friendships. It creeps into your family life, and it like, it even creeps into that gym membership that you promised that you'd start using next week. So as entrepreneurs, we know that we need to master our business. We know we need to be at the top of our game, and yet we've created a state of chaos in our business.Helle Brodie [00:02:40]:And after a while, it starts to starts to wear on, our our self belief, you know, and and and we we quietly start to doubt whether we can really do this, whether we're really cut out for this. Right? And so, you know, when that self doubt creeps in, we, we start to lose our confidence, We start to lose our clarity, our energy, our drive, and our creativity. And so I'm here to help people get all of that back.Stuart Webb [00:03:18]:Terrific. I'm I'm sure that you find there are, people who try to do things to help themselves in these situations. I know I come across people. I'm a I'm a big fan like yourself who sort of try and help people find ways in which to make their business something which runs on autopilot. And I know they've tried a hundred different things. They've tried the courses. They've tried the books. They've tried, a thousand and one things.Stuart Webb [00:03:41]:What what are you seeing that people, have tried before they sort of find somebody like you to help them to to produce that sort of that sort of, unblocking, in their in their business?Helle Brodie [00:03:53]:That's a great great question, Stuart. So typically what I find is that they go back to what feels safe. You know, they've looked at the courses, they've looked at, read books, they've, you know, gathered all kinds of knowledge. And so they go back to what feels safe because quite often they're feeling like they're sort of on the edge. Right? And so, you know, what feels safe? Well, working longer and harder feels safe.Stuart Webb [00:04:19]:Yeah.Helle Brodie [00:04:20]:Yeah. You know, chasing every opportunity out there feels safe, because this is what's got them to where they are now.Stuart Webb [00:04:28]:Yeah.Helle Brodie [00:04:28]:The challenge is that what's got them to where they are now isn't necessarilyStuart Webb [00:04:33]:It's taken to where they are.Helle Brodie [00:04:34]:To the next level.Stuart Webb [00:04:36]:Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.Helle Brodie [00:04:38]:Yeah.Stuart Webb [00:04:38]:Now I think I think you've got a really valuable free offer that you are gonna give to the and I'm just gonna let everybody know, know that, we're gonna put this in our vault. So you don't have to remember this. This will be in the vault, so you'll see it. But Helen's got a really valuable offer to help people with this. So, Helen, can you tell us about the the really interesting offer that you've got that you're gonna help with today?Helle Brodie [00:05:02]:Yeah. It's called the Entrepreneurs Freedom Formula. Wonderful. What it is, it is it, outlines 10 areas of your business that, I can say you should, you could look at. It would be advisable to look at to create freedom in your business. Time freedom, financial freedom, and the free the internal freedom to really savor your life. Because we know that working longer and harder and chasing absolutely every opportunity isn't necessarily what works. You know? And Mhmm.Helle Brodie [00:05:35]:You know, one of the things that that I can't give you the the 10 steps to is one of the keys is really aligning your conscious and your unconscious mind. Now I I can't I can't offer that as a free resource difficult thing to do on your own. Right? And that's one of the keys to how I'm able to help people, really get to the next level in their business, create that freedom, and, and move forward. Live life with new dreams.Stuart Webb [00:06:08]:So these so the 10 steps that you're you're hearing here, this is this is the outline that people can start to understand. But but, really, that's that's not the end of the journey, is it? What we're talking about here is something which you've gotta partly self discovery, but also that's something that you've got to sort of understand exactly how to apply these things. I often think that that's one of the failures that we have as as entrepreneurs. We see a formula, we see a set of steps, and we go, well, I'll just implement those as they as they are, and they'll just work. And that's not the whole story, is that?Helle Brodie [00:06:36]:Right. Right. Because because, I mean, the so when I talk about the the, unconscious blocks that that that are holding you back from your progress, You know? I mean, so we've heard all all heard about mindset. You have to have a success mindset and a growth mindset, and that's all very true. This goes one level deeper than that because our in our conscious mind, we we set our goals. Our unconscious mind is the part of our mind that acts actually helps us achieve our goals. Mhmm. And until we have those two things aligned, it's gonna be really hard to achieve your goals and do everything that you wanna do without working longer and harder and pushing and struggling.Helle Brodie [00:07:19]:So so it creates ease and flow in your business. Now you still have to have a work ethic because growth and change don't happen on their own.Stuart Webb [00:07:29]:You know what I mean?Helle Brodie [00:07:29]:I'm sure you've heard a lot of people talk about, oh, it's just so easy. You know? You just think it and think positive thoughts, and all the good things in the world will will come to you. Well, that doesn't necessarily happen. And when we I'm I'm trying to be kind. So when we align our with our unconscious minds, then it becomes a lot easier because we're not we're not self sabotaging us ourselves. We're not keeping ourselves from achieving the goals that we really want. I mean, this is what we really want.Stuart Webb [00:08:06]:So Yeah. I I I absolutely know what you mean, and I think it's something we too often, we we too often, we sort of look around and go, oh, there's there must be I'm just looking for the magic formula. And, you know, I was talking to somebody about AI, and they went and, and we were discussing sort of, you know, AI in the business and and how to automate something, and they went and and is that when the magic happens? And I went, no. There's no magic. I'm sorry. There is no magic. There is there is hard work and, you know, there was there is this sort of, you know somehow there was this belief that somehow I I I just push that button. Everything just happens, doesn't it? It just all becomes nice and funky, and that's just not the way the the world works, does it? Right.Helle Brodie [00:08:45]:Yeah. There's no I call it the easy button. There's no easy button. Right? You know, big red button where you just push it and everything happens beautifully and miraculously. You know, wouldn't wouldn't that be nice? And if if there was, everybody would be doing it, and we'd be looking for something else, wouldn't we?Stuart Webb [00:09:03]:Terrific. That's a great message, and that's a great way to great way to segue into my next my next question to you. There must have been something, a a book, and we talked a little bit about it at the beginning when I gave the introduction about sort of your journey from from vastly different, industries. Can you was there a was there a was there a point in your life, a book, or a program or something which brought you to this understanding? How did you get to where you are now?Helle Brodie [00:09:28]:Right. Well, I mean, it it wasn't a book like, I do have a favorite book, or a book that that's been very significant in terms of my beliefs and my growth.Stuart Webb [00:09:39]:Please tell us.Helle Brodie [00:09:40]:And and I'll you know, give me a second. So that my process to get from from one industry to to another was that I real recognized that, my clients in in the other industry were not always making, what I would say, rational decisions.Stuart Webb [00:10:00]:Mhmm.Helle Brodie [00:10:00]:They were making decisions out of out of fear and scarcity. And and I had great solutions to offer them, and they agreed until it came to down to the bottom line. And so until well, and I'm sure you've come across those people as well. And so as I dove into that, I came to understand that that they were living in stress, overwhelm, fear, anxiety. They may not have shown it on the outside, and that's where their decisions were coming from. So in my other business, my goal was to create a better world, you know, and that was more that was primarily environmentally. And I realized that if I wanted to, create a better world through that industry, the best thing I could do will help the people in that in so that's it's kind of a roundabout way for how I got to where I am. And and, you know, I promised you that I would I would tell you about a book that's been particularly significant for me.Helle Brodie [00:11:11]:It's called, Unstoppable Self Confidence by Andrew, by Andrew, Leadham. And so the the most valuable lesson in that, or the most valuable lesson that I've taken from that is wrong with you. As an entrepreneur, when we don't succeed, when something goes wrong, you know, you start thinking, what's wrong with me? Why can't I do this? Why can't I figure it out? Valuable resource that says, really, there's nothing wrong with you. And what he does is he helps us to, think the way the 1% do. The 1% who all who who achieve their goals, who have success, who live life on their terms. And it all comes down to there's nothing wrong with you. And so it's a beautiful resource that that, I mean, it's a it's a great book. It's it's fascinating, and it certainly opened my eyes in in many areas.Stuart Webb [00:12:14]:Well, it's not one I've come across. I'm glad you've introduced it to me. I should be checking it out because that is a hugely valuable step forward for all of us. But let me get to the right to the to the question I've got for you here, which is I'm sure you've been thinking for all this time where you you've been talking away and thinking, well, the the question he question he should be asking me is is so critical. Why when is he gonna get to that one? Well, I'm gonna give you the opportunity of telling me what the question is. And then, obviously, when you've posed the question, well, you're gonna have to answer because I really don't know what the question is. So, therefore, Helen, what's the question I should have asked you in these last few minutes you really think I should have asked?Helle Brodie [00:12:52]:So the question is why do I think it's so important for entrepreneurs to thrive? Because I work with entrepreneurs, So why is it so important for entrepreneurs to thrive? And so I I truly believe that entrepreneurs hold the key to our future. They're a huge part of our economy. They're the movers and shakers of the world. Right? They're nimble. They're resourceful. They're creative. You know? And and and they're great adjusting. They're resilient.Helle Brodie [00:13:28]:They're adjusting to what you've called the the new normal. Right? Big corporations can't adjust. They're they're not as nimble. They're not as creative. They're not they're not as passionate. Right?Stuart Webb [00:13:42]:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.Helle Brodie [00:13:43]:And so I believe that when entrepreneurs thrive, they they create a better world.Stuart Webb [00:13:50]:Wow. What a what a So that'sHelle Brodie [00:13:53]:why I wanna work with entrepreneurs.Stuart Webb [00:13:56]:Hello. That is just such a fantastic just such a fantastic I'm gonna say no more because I think you have ended that, and given us something to think about, during the rest of today and tomorrow. If you're an entrepreneur, you hold the key to the future. So I wanna reach out to you and say, you probably need to go on to, within twenty four hours, we will have Heller's resource at this link, and I would get onto it. I would start looking at those 10 steps immediately because I think you, need the, need to be able to get in and tap into some of this wisdom. But, before you do that, you need to go to this link, which is www.systemize.me/subscribe. That puts you on the newsletter list. You know that you get an email from me just once a week that actually tells you about who's coming up on this podcast recording each week.Stuart Webb [00:14:56]:And you have the opportunity to get on, listen to it live, and if necessary, dive in and ask questions of great experts such as Heller and, really understand how to make your business move that one step forward that you need to make it move each day. But remember to get on and have a look at the stuff that Heller will have, to help you to do that. Heller, I wanna thank you for taking a few minutes out of our of your valuable time and giving us your your wisdom for us to to take away and think about and to really sort of dwell on. And I appreciate the fact that you've, given us that very valuable free advice, today. So thank you very much for doing that.Helle Brodie [00:15:35]:My pleasure. It's been an honor to be here with you today.Stuart Webb [00:15:39]:Brilliant. Thank you, Helen. I really appreciate it. Get full access to It's Not Rocket Science! at thecompleteapproach.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever read a book and thought, “Wow, how did the author do that?!” Or maybe you'd love to sit down with your favorite author and pick their brain about their writing process or tips and tricks for when you get stuck.Today, the Read-Aloud Revival team has compiled some of our favorite advice about getting creative from the archives of RAR Premium's Family Book Clubs. Whether you write, draw, paint, or engage in any other creative pursuit, and whether you're seven or seventy-seven–and every age in between–there's something here to help you get your creative juices flowing.In this episode, you'll hear: Tips for staying with the struggle and keeping the joy in your creativityHow to create a satisfying storyAdvice for getting ideas, when to ignore your outline, and loving the process Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/writing-advice

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!If you've been around the Read-Aloud Revival for a minute, you might know that C. S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters is one of my all-time favorite books. It's the book I have read and re-read the most, and it's also the source of some of my favorite read-aloud memories with my young adult son.Today's guest has written a book in a similar style with the modern woman in mind, and in this episode we talk about how the enemy is working the hearts and minds of women today. Emily Wilson Hussem is the author of Sincerely Stoneheart: Unmask the Enemy's Lies, Find the Truth That Sets You Free, as well as a speaker and YouTuber who shares her faith around the world. It was a delight to have her on the show. In this episode, you'll hear: How Emily adapted C. S. Lewis's format to get to the heart of the most common struggles in women's livesWhy embracing friendship, connection, and community is key to thriving as women and mothersThe ways distraction, comparison, and dissatisfaction all pull us away from living in the truth of our identities as beloved daughters of God Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/emily-wilson

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!On the last episode of the Read-Aloud Revival, we talked about why Shakespeare is not a school subject. I hope we were able to convince you!But if we know that Shakespeare isn't a school subject or an item on a checklist, how do we actually do it? And how do we make Shakespeare not just doable in our homeschools, but delightful?Today, we'll talk through a simple framework your family can use to experience one of the richest and most rewarding literary treasures in the world in a way that is absolutely magical and a whole lot of fun.I'm willing to bet that if you implement the framework that we discuss in this episode, you won't mistake Shakespeare for a school subject ever again!In this episode, you'll hear: Why we don't start teaching Shakespeare with the original textSimple, easy ways to build connections with Shakespeare's works and with each otherHow incorporating performance makes Shakespeare come alive for the whole familyLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/how-to-shakespeare

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!When most of us hear the name “Shakespeare,” we probably think back to a high school classroom, fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, while we struggled through Romeo and Juliet line by line—“wherefore art thou” and all that.But here's the truth: Shakespeare was never meant to be dissected like a frog under a microscope. His work, in fact, was never meant to be read AT ALL. He meant for his plays to be experienced. To be performed, seen, heard, and felt.We tend to think of Shakespeare as a school subject. Or that we should read it as part of a rich literature curriculum in order for our children to be well-versed academically.While Shakespeare's plays are part of a rich literary heritage, I want to make a case today that Shakespeare is not a subject at all. It's not a thing you “should” do in your homeschool to have well-educated kids. Today, I want to talk about why experiencing Shakespeare with your kids might be one of the most joyful things you ever do together. And one of my very favorite people, Ken Ludwig, celebrated playwright, fellow Shakespeare nerd, and author of How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare, joins me to help me make my case.In this episode, you'll hear: What traditional classrooms often get wrong when introducing ShakespeareWhy Ken recommends having kids start with reciting and memorizing passages How Shakespeare provides an entry to point to learning and loving complex languageLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes: readaloudrevival.com/shakespeare-is-not-school

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!Why should we read the classics? So many of us want to read and enjoy them, but we don't want to spend our precious free time feeling like we're incompetent because we just don't get it or that the internet has completely ruined our brains (is this just me?).This winter in RAR Premium, we did a whole retreat about falling in love with your reading life again, and today I'm sharing one of those sessions, called How to Read Classics (and Actually Enjoy Them). RAR Community Manager Kelsey Murphy and I talk all about how to find your way into the classics and *really* begin to relish them.Most of this translates to reading classics with your kids, but this session really is for you. We want you to discover the fun and enjoyment in classic literature because it makes your life richer and better. It also makes you a more peaceful and joy-filled mama to those sweet kids of yours. In this episode, you'll hear: Helpful entry points to reading the classics How to approach classics as an invitation to learning and enjoyment (not like homework)Why watching the movie first will not get your Homeschool Mama card revoked (we promise!)Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/read-the-classics

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!In this episode, RAR Community Manager Kelsey Murphy and I sat down to tackle some of your listener questions. We put our heads together to answer questions about loved ones who don't support your choice to homeschool, curriculum overwhelm, reading aloud with older kids or a wide age range of ages, how to encourage your kids to read high quality literature, and more!In this episode, you'll hear: How to make peace with your choice to homeschool even when loved ones misunderstand Ways to keep connecting with older kids through reading aloud even with busy schedules The importance of “fun” books in developing your child's reading lifeLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/growing-in-confidence

Today, one of my very favorite authors returns to Read-Aloud Revival. You know him as the author of Sweep, The Night Gardener, the Peter Nimble series, and The Fabled Stables. That's right–Jonathan Auxier is back!This time, we're talking about the much-awaited conclusion to the Peter Nimble series, The War of the Maps. In our conversation, we delve into the guiding questions he explores during the writing process, and how each of these questions becomes a doorway for discovering who we are, whose we are, and what our work is here in the world.In this episode, you'll hear: Why Jonathan often explores the tension of the end of childhood in his books How trying to solve a guiding question shapes the narrative of Jonathan's works The best way to write a story Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/jonathan-auxier-is-back

One of my favorite reads of 2024 was The Myth Makers by John Hendrix.This gorgeous graphic novel tells the story of the remarkable friendship of C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. I thought I already knew quite a bit about these Inklings, but there was even more to uncover.Today, I'm delighted to share my conversation with the author and illustrator of The Myth Makers, John Hendrix. We dive into his research and writing process, exploring how the threads of the story came together. In this episode, Jon shares a better definition of myth, and illustrates the differences between a myth, a fairytale, and a story. I even make him choose which series he'd rather bring to a desert island, The Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings. In this episode, you'll hear: John's creative process for creating graphic novels How choose-your-own adventure stories inspired the The Myth Makers Why John chose the Lion and the Wizard as his main characters Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/john-hendrix

What comes to mind when you think of C. S. Lewis's Narnia and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings?There's a good chance a lot of us are seeing very similar pictures. We're seeing images that swept us into the whimsical world of wonder beyond the wardrobe (and into the Shire). The beloved images of these childhood stories remain with us. But it's likely we don't know much about the woman who created the iconic illustrations of the White Witch, Mr. Tumnus and Lucy, and the Pevensie children having tea with Mr. and Mrs. Beaver.Her name is Pauline Baynes, and her artwork brought the worlds of C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien to life.Today, author and illustrator Katie Wray Schon is here to share her gorgeous new book, Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. This stunning picture book biography tells the story of the woman behind the pictures of Narnia that we know and love so much. You're going to want to add it to your shelves!In this episode, you'll hear: How Katie's own creative journey led her to Pauline Baynes's story The joys and challenges of illustrating a book about an illustrator Katie's advice for holding onto creativity as a source of enrichment in your life, even as a busy mamaLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/woman-behind-narnia

Today, I'm thrilled to share a peek at the riches inside RAR Premium, our online community that helps you make meaningful and lasting connections with your books and helps homeschool mamas become the peace-filled, joyful mamas they're called to be.Last summer, our Family Book Club selection was On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, the first book in the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson. And we were lucky enough that Andrew agreed to join us to answer kids' questions about the books.  This episode is spoiler-free, so listen in even if you haven't read the books yet. I'm pretty sure by the end you'll want to! We talk about the inspiration for the Wingfeather Saga, Andrew's ridiculous made-up words (that we actually use in my house), developing a rich fantasy world, and even which Wingfeather character is most like him!In this episode, you'll hear: How reading aloud C. S. Lewis to his children inspired Andrew to go after his dream of writing stories for kidsThe tons of tiny, often behind-the-scenes choices that go into creating a fantasy worldWhy Andrew doesn't write with a specific message in mind, but wants readers to connect with his books in their own wayLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/wingfeather

Have you ever read a book and felt like you'd actually been to that place?Me too. Once, while standing in line at an amusement park, I met a couple who told me they were visiting from Maine. And I almost said, “Oh, I was just in Maine!” Except I've never actually been to Maine. I had just read a book that was set in Maine, and it was so immersive, it felt like I'd been there.That's the power of books. They take you places.Books help us experience different narratives and cultures from all over the world and throughout history. They give us a taste of places and people we might not otherwise encounter. Reading books can enhance our real travel experiences, too.Today, I've invited RAR Premium Coordinator Leilani Curtis to join me to talk about how books take us places. Plus, we'll share a very fun new booklist we've created and plans for a whole new series of lists that will be coming up! In this episode, you'll hear: How stories help us forge connections to placesOur perspective about the way reading can inspire family adventures, big and smallTips for tailoring travel reading around your child's interests and your destinationLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/books-take-you-places

Lately here at RAR we've been talking about reading for refreshment—reading for the pure joy of it—and how our own reading lives can be a source of energy and joy even in the throes of the busiest seasons of motherhood.This week on the podcast, we're revisiting an episode that dives into why reading isn't just good for us and our kids, but why reading for fun is also an important part of our jobs.In this episode, we talk about why it's so important and what it does for our kids and for us. I hope you'll be inspired to ramp up the reading for fun in your own life, no matter what else you have on your plate.In this episode, you'll hear: How modeling your own love for reading helps your kids fall in love with reading for lifeWhy even short reading breaks are beneficial Tools and resources to help you step away from the laundry and make time to readLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/reading-for-fun

Dear Duck, Please Come! is the most fun I've ever had writing a book. But writing the words is only half the story for a picture book. Which is why today, I'm delighted to share my conversation with the illustrator of Dear Duck, Please Come!, Charles Santoso.Charles was born in Indonesia, raised in Australia, and now lives in Singapore. He's illustrated tons of books we love here at Read-Aloud Revival, and I was over the moon that he agreed to illustrate Dear Duck.In this episode, we're diving into the collaborative process of creating a picture book, the inspiration behind Dear Duck, Please Come!, and how illustrations tell a story. In this episode, you'll hear: How Charles decides on the tone and style of his illustrationsThe way the world of Dear Duck developed from first sketches to the final illustrationsCharles's best advice for aspiring illustrators Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/how-illustrations-tell-half-the-story To join us for the "Reading as Refreshment" Retreat on 1/31-2/1, sign up at circlewithsarah.com!

At the start of a new year, we are overwhelmed with the phrase “New Year, new you!” And of course, we want to be better wives, better mothers, and better people. This desire to improve ourselves filters into our reading lives, too. It's easy to justify a lot of our reading if it helps us be better for our families and communities. But what about reading for fun? What about reading fiction? When you're a busy mom, is it worth it to carve out time to read just for the fun of it? And how would you even make that time?But reading for delight is like stopping for water on a long, dusty hike. It's a lifesource for us mamas. Today, RAR Community Manager Kelsey Murphy joins me to talk about how to be refreshed by your reading life.In this episode, you'll hear: How stories nourish us in essential waysWhy you have to give yourself permission to quit books that aren't working for youThe way reframing reading for pleasure will help you make time and model a rich reading life for your kidsLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/you-can-be-refreshed To join us for the "Reading as Refreshment" Retreat on 1/31-2/1, join RAR Premium. 

Gather your aspiring writers and littlest book lovers for this episode. I am so excited to welcome back author Millie Florence to talk about the beautiful book we created together, Beyond Mulberry Glen.Millie and I are chatting about the making of the book from inspiration to final draft with a series of fun questions from what scene was the hardest to write to what character she'd want to hang out with for an afternoon.Beyond Mulberry Glen is a read-aloud novel for the whole family, featuring a gorgeous cover and illustrations by Astrid Sheckels. It's Waxwing Books's very first middle grade novel, and we can't wait to share it with you. In this episode, you'll hear: Why Millie describes her inspiration for the story as a collage of influencesThe challenges of editing the novel with the perspective of age and development as a writerWhat she loves most about middle-grade fictionLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/millie-florence-is-back Order Dear Duck, Please Come! and Beyond Mulberry Glen from Waxwing Books.

What do happy homeschoolers have in common?Over the years, I've spoken with thousands of homeschoolers from all over the world. When I asked experienced moms what they do to cultivate peace and joy in their homeschool lives, I discovered there are five habits happy homeschool mamas often share.The good news is that YOU can adopt these habits, no matter what kind of homeschooler you are, what method or curriculum you use, what your budget is, or how many kids you have. You don't need a new curriculum, schedule, or homeschooling philosophy. You don't need to become a new person. It's possible to feel happier about your homeschool, exactly as it is right now.Today, I'm sharing a recording of a talk I gave at several homeschool conferences last year about the five habits of happy homeschoolers and how they can help you have a happier homeschool today.In this episode, you'll hear: Why building and nurturing relationships is central to a happy homeschoolHow getting clear on your real priorities will help you simplify and do lessThe way comparison–to others, to strangers on Instagram, to public schools–sucks the joy out of our homeschoolsLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/five-habits-of-happy-homeschoolers Order Dear Duck, Please Come! and Beyond Mulberry Glen from Waxwing Books.

What if I told you there's an Icelandic Christmas tradition where the whole point is to spend an evening sitting around, sipping hot cocoa, and reading books?Sign me up, right?Today, we're talking about Jolabokaflod, which loosely translates to “Yule Book Flood,” how it started, and how you can bring the magic of this bookish tradition into your home this Christmas.In this episode, you'll hear: Where the Icelandic Yule Book Flood first beganHow Jolabokaflod is an invitation to slow down and connect with each other during the busy Christmas seasonThe only three things you need for your Jolabokaflod, plus tips from RAR members on how they celebrate Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/icelandic-christmas Get Christmas SchoolOrder a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

"Marley was dead, to begin with."That is one of the most famous first lines in English literature. It comes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, which is perhaps the greatest Christmas ghost story ever told.What is it that speaks to so many of us about this story of Scrooge and his ghosts?Today I want to talk about what makes this story so beloved and enduring–from its original bestselling release in 1843 through countless adaptations–to the place of fondness and tradition it has in so many of our homes today. In this episode, you'll hear from RAR Premium members; Joe Sutphin, who did the beautiful illustrations for Little Christmas Carol; Samantha Silva, author of Mr. Dickens and His Carol; and some RAR kids on the lasting impact of Dickens's tale and what they love so much about A Christmas Carol.In this episode, you'll hear: Why we love A Christmas Carol as a read-aloud for the whole familyHow Joe Sutphin illustrated and populated Scrooge's world for Little Christmas CarolThe real backstory of why Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, which inspired Samantha Silva's novelLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/all-about-a-christmas-carol Get Christmas SchoolOrder a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

How do you know a good book when you see it?I remember walking into the big, beautiful children's section at the library with my oldest, who was a baby. I wanted to find books to read aloud to her, but it was hard to know which ones we would love. That longing to find good books for my children was the spark that eventually became the Read-Aloud Revival podcast and RAR Premium community, where we're always trying to find and share the very best books to read aloud with your family.Today, RAR Premium Coordinator Leilani Curtis joins me to chat about how we select the books for our booklists here at Read-Aloud Revival. We're also going to share our best advice for being more confident in choosing books to bring into your home, whether it's at the bookstore or the library.In this episode, you'll hear: How our booklists can help you choose quality books to share with your familyThree quick questions to help you decide if a book is worth a longer lookThe qualities we look for in books we recommendLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/how-we-choose-books Get Christmas SchoolOrder a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

A library should be a kind of paradise, don't you agree? Author and illustrator Barbara Cooney certainly thought so. Barbara Cooney was an extraordinary author and illustrator of over 100 children's books with stories that span the world, from the shores of Greece to the mountains of Appalachia. The more I learned about Barbara, the more I wanted to tell the story of this beautiful artist who, in every aspect of her life–from raising four children to traveling to gardening to winning awards for her illustrations–was committed to capturing the beauty in (and for!) the world.Because Barbara: Barbara Cooney Paints Her World has been nearly six years in the making. Today, I want to take you behind the scenes and introduce you to the team that made it happen, from the very first draft to the final, beautiful book you'll hold in your hands.In this episode, you'll hear: The many drafts, revisions, critiques, and edits that brought me to the throughline of Barbara's wonderfully full and creative lifeHow the art team took on the daunting task of styling and illustrating the book to echo Barbara's style without directly imitating itHow sound design and animation bring the audio and video books to life Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/making-because-barbara Order a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

Raising creative kids is a beautiful, worthwhile endeavor, but not one that is always neat and tidy! In today's episode, I've invited two of my good friends and fellow creatives—authors S. D. Smith and Carolyn Leiloglou—for a conversation on how our creative work as adults impacts our kids. We discuss everything from the challenges of nurturing creativity in our families to the influence of stories on our hearts and minds.  S. D. Smith is the author of the wildly popular and perennial Let the Kids Speak favorite Green Ember series and is a father to four imaginative children. Carolyn Leiloglou is the author of the middle-grade fantasy series The Restorationists and a homeschool mom to four creative kids.In this episode, you'll hear: How connecting with the wonder in our kids fuels and enhances creativityThe value of boredom (a best-kept creative secret!) The nuances of how we measure creative successLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/fostering-wonder-and-creativity 

What if I told you that your homeschool could be relaxed, bookish, and ordinary? If you're anything like me, that's music to your ears. Our kids thrive–and we do too–when our day-to-day homeschool is relaxed, bookish, and ordinary. In fact, that's what over 726 experienced homeschool moms told me were the three most important qualities. Today, I'm sharing a recording from a session I did at a series of homeschool conferences  earlier this year called “Relaxed, Bookish, and Ordinary”.If you're hoping that your homeschool can be any or all of those things, listen in–I bet you're closer to it than you think.In this episode, you'll hear: How a relaxed approach impacts your child's ability to learn and your peace as a homeschoolerThe academic, personal, and relationship benefits of having a bookish homeschoolWhy you don't need to strive for an extraordinary homeschool to do it wellLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/relaxed-bookish-ordinary Order a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

Which of these two activities would be easier for you? Describe the best life you could achieve over the next twenty years.Describe the best things that have happened to you over the past twenty years.I know that as a busy wife and mama, dreaming for the future can feel daunting. As I was reading Jon Acuff's book, All It Takes Is a Goal this summer, I was struck by how this exercise can shift our perspectives as homeschool mamas and mentors of our children. In today's episode, New York Times bestselling author and speaker Jon Acuff is joining me to discuss how to actually achieve those goals amidst the busyness of daily life (hint: you're probably already doing more than you think!). We'll also chat about the book he wrote with his teenage daughters, How Teens Win: The Student's Guide to Accomplishing Big Goals, which comes out September 10, 2024.In this episode, you'll hear: How looking back at our best moments, big and small, can help us create a vision for the futureWhy it's okay that your imagination for your kids is bigger than your calendarHow auditioning small goals helps you successfully transition from optimism and realism for yourself and your kidsLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/best-moments-in-homeschooling Get a free sample of RAR Premium: https://readaloudrevival.com/sample