In this bonus episode of The BIG Home Ed Conversations, Kelly Rigg is joined by Dr. Chris Bagley — educational psychologist, musician, author, and co-founder of States of Mind (with B. Herbert). Together, they unpack why so many young people are “not ok at school” — and what happens when an education system prioritises compliance, metrics, and control over human development, agency, and real connection. Chris shares why States of Mind is “allergic” to tokenistic ideas like “pupil voice” when the

This week on The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, we’re talking about activism, justice, and how to help our kids use their voice — without overwhelming them.Because so many of us are already doing something quietly radical.“…

In this week’s episode of The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast , Kelly Rigg and Ashley Vanerio dive into a big question many home educating UK families wrestle with: how do we teach our children about activism, justice, and using their voice — without overwhelming them? We talk honestly about: Why “quiet protest” (like choosing elective home education ) is still activism How kids can learn courage, integrity, and a strong moral compass through everyday life Exploring activism through books, doc

In this chatty catch-up episode, Kelly Rigg and Ashley Vanerio reflect on what home education can look like as summer approaches — when clubs pause, routines shift, and the calendar suddenly feels wide open. Together, they explore the different ways families plan (or don’t plan) through summer, how guilt can creep in around “what we’ve achieved this year,” and why many home educating parents eventually find a calmer rhythm — especially when they start trusting that learning doesn’t stop just bec

Welcome back to The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast with Kelly Rigg and Ashley Vanerio. This week’s topic: Feelings and journaling (real life edition) We recorded in the middle of a heatwave, so we’re talking dysregulation, grumpy kids, and how hard it can be to “do the right thing” when everyone’s overstimulated. What we actually found helpful: A feelings wheel (free printable) to help kids find more precise words than just “angry/sad” A simple empathy prompt: “How do you think your sibling f

In this episode of The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley continue their weekly home education UK “topic challenge” — choosing a theme and exploring it with their children through real-life learning, conversation, and curiosity-led activities. This week’s topic: Town planning and street furniture — and it turns into a brilliant mix of project-based learning, local community awareness, and practical thinking about how towns work (and who decides what gets built). Whether you’re h