The Homeschool Show by NCHE is available weekly via video and podcast. You can watch or listen to the show on this page. You can also watch and subscribe on the NCHE YouTube channel, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast apps. 

As with everything NCHE does, our goal for the show is to help you homeschool with confidence and joy! Join us each week for information and encouragement. Email us and let us know what questions you have or topics you would like for us to discuss. 

226 Budgeting for Homeschooling and Teaching Kids Financial Responsibility

In episode 226 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie discuss budgeting for homeschooling, including ways to reduce expenses, find free curriculum and educational resources, and plan for costs such as field trips, printing, and co-ops. They also consider how families can make homeschooling work within different budgets, involve children in financial decisions, and explore available homeschool funding in North Carolina.

In the Real World Readiness segment, Amanda and Melanie discuss teaching children financial skills as they grow, from recognizing and spending money in elementary school to budgeting, saving, managing bank accounts, and understanding taxes, insurance, loans, and household expenses as teenagers. They also share practical ways to involve children in family finances and help prepare them for financial independence.

Homeschool Happenings

  • Special needs parents Zoom meeting
  • Dads Zoom meeting 
  • Fall field trips
  • Thrive! graduation ceremonies and Graduate Central 
225 Dual Enrollment, Fall Crafts, and Graduation at Thrive!

In episode 225 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda talks with Aaron Mabe about Career and College Promise and the opportunities available to North Carolina homeschool students through dual enrollment. They discuss early college, career and technical education, college transfer, and the new Career and College Readiness pathway, along with ways families can connect with their local community college.

Melanie also shares several simple fall art projects, including a bird feeder, leaf butterfly, and two kinds of twine pumpkins. The episode also includes information about the upcoming graduation ceremony at Thrive!, graduation applications and diplomas, and submitting graduate announcements to GREENHOUSE Magazine.

Homeschool Happenings

224 Alternatives to College: Helping Your Teen Find Their Path

What can life after high school look like when college is not the only option? In episode 224 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie talk about trades, apprenticeships, entering the workforce, entrepreneurship, military training, gap years, missions, and other ways students can explore their interests and prepare for the future. They also discuss job shadowing, volunteering, dual enrollment, the ASVAB career exploration program, and giving students time and space to discover what fits them.

Amanda and Melanie also introduce board advisor Rhonda Marshall and hear about her homeschooling journey, including her favorite homeschool memories and what she learned about not trying to replicate school at home. Rhonda shares how allowing a homeschool to look different from others can make a meaningful difference for families.

Homeschool Happenings: 

223 AI in Homeschooling: Responsible Use, Human Connection, and Learning

AI is becoming part of everyday life, including education and homeschooling. In episode 223 of The Homeschool Show, Jeff and Luke Ertzberger join Melanie to discuss how homeschool families can approach AI with discernment, understand what the technology can and cannot do, and use it as a tool without allowing it to replace thinking, learning, or human connection.

The conversation also considers how homeschooling prepared Luke for a rapidly changing technology field, how families can introduce AI through shared experiences, and why skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and human connection remain essential. The episode also includes information about upcoming NCHE sports events and field trips, including the NCHEAC annual cross-country, girls’ volleyball, and boys’ soccer events, a Western North Carolina Nature Center field trip, the Charlotte Ballet’s Nutcracker performance, and NCHE’s takeover of the Hive for a Charlotte Hornets game.


Homeschool Happenings

222 Life After Homeschooling, Notice of Intent Hours, and Driver Eligibility Changes

In episode 222 of The Homeschool Show, Melanie talks with author and former homeschool mom Kim Griffin about the challenges of homeschooling, advice for new homeschoolers, and the transition into life after homeschooling. They also consider what comes next when homeschooling has been such a significant part of family life, along with Kim’s transition into writing Christian fiction.

Melanie and Amanda also discuss what they’ve been seeing online, including North Carolina’s notice of intent submission hours and a change to the driver eligibility certificate requirement for teen drivers.

Homeschool Happenings

221 Your Learning Environment, Learning from the Classics, and Homeschool Research

In this episode of The Homeschool Show, Andrew Pudewa joins Matthew McDill at Thrive! for a conversation about creativity, classical and Renaissance education, and the role of a child’s environment in learning. They discuss drawing from the ideas and work of those who came before us, the value of classics, and how good content can provide a foundation for creativity.

The episode also considers homeschool research discussed in a Wall Street Journal editorial by Brian Ray, including findings on academic achievement, social and emotional development, and later adult outcomes. Amanda and Melanie also introduce a new board highlight featuring Brian Garrett.

Homeschool Happenings

News Resources 

 

220 Dad’s Role, Hormones, & Teaching How to Keep a Calendar

In episode 220 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie continue their conversation about hormones and homeschooling with an interview featuring Mike Dixon, the Fit Farmer, recorded at Thrive! Mike shares a father’s perspective on helping children navigate the physical and emotional changes of adolescence, the role of fathers in homeschooling, supporting a wife through demanding seasons, and the idea of “life schooling.”

Melanie’s Real World Readiness segment focuses on teaching children how to use a calendar, schedule appointments, make phone calls, plan for travel time, and handle cancellations and rescheduling. Amanda and Melanie also reflect on how these practical skills continue to matter as children grow into young adults.

Homeschool Happenings:

219 Homeschooling with Flexibility through Hormones; Special Needs Testing

Homeschooling can shift when hormones, fatigue, family needs, or unexpected challenges change the day. In episode 219 of The Homeschool Show, Jessica Frierson, a mother of ten and second-generation homeschool mom, shares what she has learned about recognizing those moments, pulling back when needed, and using flexibility to make room for relationships, character, and everyday life. The episode also includes a Spanish-language segment from Luz Velázquez about normalizing conversations around hormones, communicating with family members, and using these experiences as opportunities to teach and disciple children.

Amanda and Melanie also discuss testing requirements for North Carolina homeschool students with special needs, including options that may be more appropriate for children who cannot read, write, or respond to a traditional standardized test. They answer a question from a homeschool parent and point to NCHE resources for families navigating special needs homeschooling.

Homeschool Happenings

  • Charlotte Museum of History American Revolution augmented experience
  • NCHE Charlotte field trip
  • NCHE online chess workshop
218 Homeschooling Through Hormonal Seasons: Caring for Yourself and Simplifying Homeschool

In Episode 218 of The Homeschool Show, Melanie and Amanda begin the new season with a conversation about homeschooling through seasons of hormonal change. Amanda interviews Dana McDill about her experience homeschooling nine children while navigating postpartum changes, thyroid and adrenal issues, and perimenopause. Dana shares how she simplified homeschool during difficult seasons, gave herself grace, sought support, and learned to focus on what was most important.

Homeschool Happenings

  • American Revolution Augmented Experience Exhibition
  • NCHE field trip to the Charlotte Museum of History
  • Free online Chess Network workshops
  • Harris Teeter VIC card support for NCHE
217  Food in Homeschooling, Season 6, and NCHE Activities

In episode 217, Amanda and Melanie discuss how food can be a natural part of homeschooling, from geography and cooking to math, reading directions, and even chemistry. They also look ahead to Season 6 of The Homeschool Show, including topics for the whole family and the importance of communication within a homeschooling household.

They also talk about NCHE activities and resources around North Carolina, including cultural and educational outings, the new music and arts network, and Capitol Fest. They share ways families can stay informed through NCHE’s weekly email and learn about member benefits, including mentor sessions and discounts.

Homeschool Happenings

  • Season 6 of The Homeschool Show
  • The Nutcracker at the Charlotte Ballet
  • Candle Tea at Old Salem
  • Transportation museum airplane program
  • Charlotte Museum 250 years of America exhibit
  • NCHE music and arts network
  • Capitol Fest
216 Parental Rights, Personalized Homeschooling, and Encouraging Families

In Episode 216 of The Homeschool Show, Michael Farris joins Matthew McDill for a conversation about parental rights, homeschooling freedom, and the challenges families may face as they make educational decisions. They discuss government funding, the importance of understanding and exercising parental rights, and why preserving the freedom to direct a child’s education matters.

The conversation also explores practical encouragement for homeschooling families, including adapting education to each child’s gifts and interests, strengthening marriage throughout the homeschooling years, the spiritual influence of mothers, and meaningful ways fathers can support both their children and their spouses. Michael also shares why homeschool conferences can encourage families in every season of the journey.

215 Homeschooling Special Needs Learners and Understanding the ESA Plus Scholarship

In Episode 215 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda talks with Nikki Cooper (specialneeds@nche.com) about homeschooling children with special needs, offering practical encouragement for families who are just getting started or are looking for additional support. Their conversation covers common questions about IEPs, choosing curriculum, finding community, and giving yourself permission to adjust your approach as your child’s needs change. Nikki also shares how families can connect with NCHE’s special needs support resources.

Melanie also talks with Katherine Marker from the North Carolina Educational Assistance Authority to explain the ESA Plus Scholarship for students with disabilities. They discuss who may qualify, how eligibility is determined through the public school evaluation process, what the application timeline looks like, and how homeschool families can prepare before applying.

Helpful Links: 

214 Starting Homeschooling, Homeschooling Through High School, and Finding the Right Mentor

Thinking about homeschooling for the first time? In episode 214 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie sit down with Stephen and Jean-Marie Lee to hear how their family came to homeschooling, why they chose to continue year after year, and how attending Thrive! helped shape their homeschool journey. They also discuss practical encouragement for families who are considering homeschooling and share why understanding your family’s “why” can provide direction through every season.

The conversation continues with guidance for parents who are opening a homeschool for the first time, including where to find free NCHE resources and what to expect during the process. Amanda and Melanie also talk about the transition into high school: recordkeeping, transcripts, and helping students prepare for life after graduation. They wrap up by introducing NCHE’s updated mentor page and explaining how families can connect with experienced homeschool mentors for support in every stage of homeschooling.

NCHE News

213 Homeschool Dads, Family Relationships, and Creative Homeschool Projects

In this revisited episode of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie kick off Season 5 with the first installment of a series focused on homeschool dads. Through conversations with Matthew McDill and Tom Gurganus, they explore how fathers contribute to homeschooling in different seasons of family life, the importance of spiritual leadership, supporting a homeschooling spouse, and the lasting impact of simply being present with their children.

Amanda and Melanie also share a simple art activity that helps children build creativity using everyday objects and their imagination.

Resources 

NCHE Dads Community

212 Homeschool Testing, Reading Readiness, Curriculum Questions + Starting a Homeschool

In episode 212 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie revisit some of the most common questions homeschool families ask, especially those finishing their first year or preparing to begin. They discuss annual testing requirements, when children need to be tested, options for standardized testing, and what families should know about filing a notice of intent in North Carolina.

They also talk about accredited curriculum, how much time young children typically spend on schoolwork, reading readiness, and why learning timelines can vary widely from child to child. Along the way, they offer practical perspectives on reducing pressure and helping children learn at a pace that fits their development.

Resources

Thrive! 2026 Recordings