The Well-Trained Mind podcast

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett respond to listener questions. We also asked listeners to send us their thoughts about things we should be talking about more in the home education community.
This episode has a video version! Check it out on YouTube!
Note: around 51:27, Susanna mentions this episode, about choosing the right online school.

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett welcome Jose Vargas to the podcast to discuss the future of education in the wake of the AI revolution. 

(00:00) - Intro with Jose Vargas

(02:42) - The onset of Generative AI

(04:51) - Example uses of AI and the drawbacks

(09:03) - The levels that Jose works with

(10:56) - AI in animation

(15:50) - The Student-Teacher dynamic (or lack thereof)

(20:24) - What has changed for teachers and students

(28:06) - Break

(28:08) - Safeguards for final work

(36:26) - What to know before kids hit freshman year of college

(42:18) - Learning HOW it's happening

(45:58) - Learning how to maintain your sovereignty over your work

(50:10) - We could keep going!

(52:19) - Outro

This week we're re-releasing one of our most popular episodes from last season - we'll be back to new episodes next week!
In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett interview Susan’s son, Chris Bauer, for the inside scoop on what it was like to be homeschooled by the author of The Well-Trained Mind. 
As promised, here is the "Daniel fingers!" blog post Chris mentions. 
At 50:53 Susan mentions her history growing up in a fundamentalist cult, for more on her story check out Season 1, Episode 1:
Our Education Journeys, or Season 4, Episode 1: Honest Reflections on My Homeschool Experience w. Susan Wise Bauer 

(00:00) - Intro with Chris (Christopher) Bauer

(01:25) - Chris was the test case

(02:52) - Who is Chris?

(09:45) - Chris' homeschool experience in 3 words | Consistent, flexible, and varied

(10:30) - Earliest homeschool memories

(16:23) - Typical homeschool days

(23:51) - Susan invites negativity

(27:07) - The rest of Chris' homeschool day

(30:19) - Break

(30:21) - Chris' biggest challenges

(34:05) - How homeschooling shaped Chris' life

(39:17) - Beta testing WTM

(45:32) - What would Chris change?

(47:00) - What Chris is passionate about

(48:03) - Definite do and don't for Chris' hypothetical future children

(52:04) - Outro

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett are joined by Heather Quintero to discuss the pros and cons of getting your children diagnosed with learning differences or “labels.” 
NPR article Susanna mentioned: Younger children in a grade are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. 
Other studies referenced:A 2025 study on diagnostic labels found that students labeled with a learning disability were seen as “lower in academic competence,” which led to lower performance expectations. 
A 2025 qualitative analysis found that labels can lead to negative self-perception. 

Rethinking School by Susan Wise Bauer 

(00:00) - Intro with Heather Quintero

(00:43) - Talking about labels

(04:37) - Medical label vs school plan

(05:53) - Why this is important

(09:28) - Why are there hesitations to get labels

(15:34) - Natural differentiation and over diagnosis

(26:49) - Break

(26:50) - What a diagnosis can unlock

(39:49) - Think about the gut check

(48:11) - Rule out vision and hearing issues

(52:49) - Distress is not a moral failing

(53:35) - Outro

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett welcome Nendir Noel to the podcast to discuss classical education, its connection to the proverbial “West,” and a few alarming trends we’ve noticed in the American classical education community. 
Website recommended by Susan: https://pharos.vassarspaces.net/ 
Correction: Cannon Press published Stephen Wolfe “The Case for Christian Nationalism,” not William Wolfe. 

(00:00) - Intro with Nendirmwa Noel

(03:23) - Nendirmwa's background

(07:13) - Looking back on Nendimwa's education

(12:11) - Difference in American education

(23:15) - Break

(23:16) - Classical education being portrayed as superior

(30:12) - Homeschooling's false link to racist ideology

(36:18) - Curriculum red flags

(45:58) - Defining what classical education is to us

(49:35) - In the Conversation Co-op