Skip to content
PodcastsEducationThe Unschool Space

The Unschool Space

Esther Jones
The Unschool Space
Latest episode

114 episodes

  • The Unschool Space

    #114 From Germany to Peru, taking the path less travelled, with Alex Kons

    01/10/2026 | 34 mins.
    In this episode, I am with Alex Kons. Alex is originally from Germany, but is currently living in Peru and has spent many years travelling the world with her now-13 year old son. Alex tells us why she chose initially not to send her son to school, and the isolation from friends and family that came with that decision. And she shares what life has looked like for her and her son and why she has never regretted taking the route that always felt most free and authentic for her. 

    Connect with Alex
    https://linktr.ee/wildlifeunschooling
    If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you!

    The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child

    You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at:
    www.esther-jones.com

    Or, connect with me on
    Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_esther.jones
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace
  • The Unschool Space

    #113 From school burnout to unschooling: reconnecting and building capacity, with Sharon & Heidi in North Yorkshire

    16/09/2026 | 39 mins.
    In this episode, I am joined by Sharon and Heidi, two unschooling mothers from North Yorkshire. Both have neurodivergent children who eventually burned out at school. They describe how incredibly depleting it was to try get their children in to school each day and to advocate for the support they needed. We talk about how the transition was from school to home and the relief of stepping away from a system that isn’t working. And, we talk about why our capacity is so important and how we can keep tending to ourselves.
    Connect with Sharon and Heidi (The Oxygen Mask)
    Instagram
    Facebook
    Tiktok

    If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you!

    The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child

    You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at:
    www.esther-jones.com

    Or, connect with me on
    Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_esther.jones
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace
  • The Unschool Space

    #112 From maths teacher to a life without school, with Ruth Rinaldi in Cumbria, UK

    02/09/2026 | 51 mins.
    Today I am chatting with Ruth Rinaldi, a former maths teacher now unschooling parent of two. We talk about what led Ruth not only to home educate her children but also to leave her career as a maths teacher and head of department, which she had worked so hard at. Ruth shares how the experience has looked for her and her family, and what it felt like to make such a huge change. We also talk about maths, of course, and the problems with how it is approached in schools. And Ruth gives us all some great tips for approaching maths without fear! I hope you enjoy the conversation!
    Connect with Ruth
    www.joyfulmathswithruth.co.uk
    https://www.instagram.com/joyfulmathswithruth/
    If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you!

    The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child

    You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at:
    www.esther-jones.com

    Or, connect with me on
    Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_esther.jones
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace
  • The Unschool Space

    #111 Calling us home to our truth, with Olivia Roff, Sussex, UK

    04/08/2026 | 37 mins.
    My guest today is Olivia Roff who lives in Sussex with her husband and two children, who are 10 and 5, and both neurodivergent. Olivia had wanted to try home educating some years ago, but wasn’t able to. She talks about how it feels to finally jump into it, the joy of seeing her daughter start to flourish again, and the realisation that she has always been an unschooling parent. I hope you enjoy the conversation!
    Connect with Olivia
    https://www.instagram.com/mystical_birthing
    https://www.facebook.com/share/1DJvVngxfs/?mibextid=wwXIfr
    https://linktr.ee/oliviaroff

    If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you!

    The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child

    You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at:
    www.esther-jones.com

    Or, connect with me on
    Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_esther.jones
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace
  • The Unschool Space

    #110 The lifelong journey of living and learning, with May Ling Thomas in London, UK

    22/07/2026 | 43 mins.
    My guest in this episode is May Ling Thomas. May Ling lives in London with her husband and two daughters, who are 13 and 10, and who have always been unschooled. May Ling came across the idea of unschooling when her oldest was still a baby, and it felt a natural fit with how she and her husband wanted to raise their children. We talk about what this all looks like and, of course, all the unlearning we have to do. I hope you enjoy the conversation.
    Connect with May Ling:
    https://www.maylingthomas.com/

    May Ling co-organises the Freedom to Learn forum, which will take place August 13th-17th in the Peak District, UK. See the links below for more information and to book your ticket. 
    Tickets: https://dandelion.events/e/c27is
    Website https://www.freedomtolearn.uk/

    If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you!

    The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your Child

    You can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at:
    www.esther-jones.com

    Or, connect with me on
    Substack: https://substack.com/@estherjones
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_esther.jones
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace
More Education podcasts
About The Unschool Space
Unschooling isn't just about education, it's a life choice! For most parents, embracing unschooling requires some serious unravelling of old paradigms around parenting, learning and childhood, and that can be both challenging and exhilarating. Join me, Esther Jones, a mindful parenting coach and unschooling mother-of-three, as I take a look at the many opportunities for reflection that naturally arise in an unschooling home. Each episode, I chat with other parents about their family’s experiences. From self-care, neurodiversity and mindfulness, to how to live consensually and trust our children, this podcast is here to help parents navigate the everyday challenges so they're free to create a healthy, nourishing and enriching space for themselves and their family. Thanks for listening!Join my mailing for regular offerings and updates at: www.esther-jones.comor get in touch with me at: contact@esther-jones.com.Instagram: @_esther.jonesFacebook:@theunschoolspace
Podcast website

Listen to The Unschool Space, The Rich Roll Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features