Friday 26th of October 2012

I am thrilled to welcome back Diane Flynn Keith this week as my guest. She is an alternative education specialist whose written and spoken words empower families to get the help their children need for a meaningful education at home. Diane claims that when you listen to her speak you won’t hear what’s being presented in high school or by the local school district. As a mother of two sons she had to get creative. In her house volunteer work, flight lessons, and performing in music bands passed as high school. This innovative way of looking at education paid off and her sons are both contributing members of society pursing productive careers in the music industry. Diane’s latest book is a tribute to her father who lived by a set of immutable truths learned through the school of hard knocks. Simply entitled Papa’s Pearls it is a father’s gift of love and wisdom to his children and grandchildren. Join us on Friday with your tea and a biscuit for some new techniques for taming wiggle worms and a look into the life of a beloved parent.

Friday 19th of October 2012

I am going to be talking briefly with Sarita Holzmann, the co-founder and president of Sonlight Curriculum for more than 20 years. Sarita is going to be telling us about a brand new charity project she is offering through Sonlight called a “learning and giving adventure” which has the potential to seriously impact many across the world. You don’t have to participate in the charitable endeavor to access all the free videos and materials available, all you have to do is go to the website and join in the fun as Phoenix Phaxx travels to Russia, Bali, Jakarta, Cambodia and S. Korea to fulfill The Great Commission and bring the gospel to un-reached communities in the Far East through radio! In conjunction with the Far East Broadcasting Company, Sonlight is excited to bring a fund raiser, for homeschoolers, Sunday school classes and Christian families, right into your homes. Join me on Friday to learn more about this travel-filled adventure! I will also be welcoming to my show Dr. Susan Friedman, a behaviourist for more than thirty years and currently a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Utah State University. Dr. Friedman’s area of expertise is learning and behaviour with a special emphasis on children’s behaviour disorders. In the last several years, Susan has pioneered efforts to apply to animals the humane philosophy and scientifically sound teaching technology from the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis, which has been so effective with human learners. Dr. Friedman is a steadfast proponent of changing behaviour through positive re-inforcement rather than force and I am sure you’ll enjoy our conversation this Friday. Bring a cup of tea and discover the connections between environment and behaviour and our children and pets.

I am thrilled today that my brave sons, Ian and Simon McNeny, who lived in our house while my blue eyed cowboy and I were away in England for a year, have managed to happen away from their exciting lives to join me as my guests. It wasn’t until we returned to our home after 13 months that we became aware of The Wildman Experiment that had been taking place while we were away and I’m sure we’re in for a lively conversation. My oldest son, Ian, is a film maker here in Dallas where he is currently working on season 2 of the new series of Dallas, when not hobnobbing with the Ewings he freelances for a creative studio in Deep Ellum called Reel FX, where he has just edited a series of national commercials for Chuck E Cheese, look out for them over the holiday season. Ian also enjoys writing narrative screenplays and coming up with innovative ways to give old foods new tastes. Simon, is a Zoo Keeper at the Dallas Zoo where his special charges are the Okapi, part of the hoof stock. He enjoys giving talks and tours to families and loves the public. Simon is a rock climber and sometimes uses his talents to trim trees. He is sponsored by a climbing shoe company, Evolv, and a local flip flop company called Hari Mari. They have both been featured in their local community college magazine for their motivation to follow their dreams, graduate from college in less than four years and work in their fields thanks to homeschooling! Join me today and hear how the Wildman Experiment brought all of us together as we found out more about each other and how living apart could draw us closer!

Friday 5th of October 2012

I have two guests this week, Tina Smith and her friend Beckie Tetrault both eclectic homeschoolers somewhere smack in the middle of the continuum between unschooling and school-at-home! Beckie found she is more productive when she is busy after careful observation of her three children proved to her that boredom breeds chaos! She laughs when she is mistaken as an organised and patient type claiming to be the most dis-organised, impatient, insane person she knows. Her friend, Tina, is excruciatingly distractible, schedules are a burden to her since she is regularly dreaming up great ideas for cool new things to do that would not fit into her timetable…if she had one that is! Tina admits to thinking big and successfully inveigled Beckie into co-hosting her brain child, Savvy Homeschool Moms, a weekly podcast where they help others along the homeschooling journey. Between them they have established a faithful following of listeners and are taking time out of their hectic day to talk to me about their show. Put the coffee down, these ladies are all you’ll need to get you motivated and energised this Friday.