How do we teach our children to pray without turning prayer into just another item on the to-do list?

In this heartfelt and deeply moving episode, Kaitlin Zara sits down with Shannon Wendt—founder of Chews Life, author, speaker, and homeschooling mom of eight—to talk about cultivating a prayer life that feels natural, authentic, and sustaining for the whole family.

Shannon shares powerful insights from her own journey through grief, miscarriage, and spiritual desolation, revealing how the Rosary became a lifeline not only for her healing, but for the spiritual culture of her home. Together, Kaitlin and Shannon explore how prayer can become a constant conversation with God throughout the homeschool day, how to persevere when prayer feels dry or messy, and why simply showing up matters more than doing it “perfectly.”

This episode offers encouragement for moms who feel overwhelmed, stuck in a prayer rut, or worried they’re not “doing enough.” If you long to help your children experience prayer as peace rather than pressure, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why prayer works best when it’s woven into daily life, not scheduled perfectly

• How simple, spoken prayer throughout the day forms children spiritually

• Letting go of Pinterest-perfect expectations for family prayer

• Teaching kids to turn instinctively to prayer during struggles and conflicts

• Praying the Rosary in small, realistic ways—especially with busy families

• What to do when prayer feels dry, awkward, or emotionally difficult

• Shannon’s powerful testimony of healing through the Rosary after miscarriage

• How Our Lady gently leads hearts back to Christ during seasons of suffering

• Why the “only ineffective prayer is the one you never start.”

Sponsor: 💙 Fiat Life Coaching Emily Brown from Fiat Life Coaching offers premium support for Catholic homeschooling moms to learn essential skills to manage their time, other people’s behavior, and their own mental and emotional wellbeing. 👉 Learn more about the Happy, Holy Mama Membership at fiatlifecoaching.com

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Chews Life: https://chewslife.com/

• Rosary Bracelets: https://chewslife.com/collections/rosaries-rosary-bracelets

• The Way of the Rosary (Book & Journals): https://chewslife.com/collections/the-way-of-the-rosary

• Follow Shannon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chewslifeshannon/

• Homeschool Connections Prayer Classes: https://caravel.homeschoolconnections.com/catalog/table?tableSearch=pray

To discover more support for your Catholic homeschool adventure, here are some valuable resources for you:

• Catholic Homeschool Blog, https://homeschoolconnections.com/blog/
• Catholic Homeschool Podcast, https://homeschoolconnections.com/podcast/
• The Catholic Homeschool Conference, https://catholichomeschoolconference.com
• Homeschool Connections Community, https://community.homeschoolconnections.com/

Grab your coffee, and let’s homeschool together!

What does homeschooling look like after 30 years—and what has really changed?

In this encouraging and honest conversation, Kaitlin Zara sits down with veteran homeschool mom, author, and mentor Susie Lloyd, who homeschooled seven children over three decades. Together, they reflect on how homeschooling has evolved, what challenges remain timeless, and why perseverance, patience, and prayer matter more than ever.

From building community from scratch to resisting curriculum overload, from navigating skepticism to trusting God’s long game, Susie offers wisdom and reassurance for today’s homeschool parents—especially those feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. This episode is a reminder that homeschooling is not about perfection, but about faithfulness.

Franciscan University of Steubenville

At Franciscan University of Steubenville, students live the truth of the Gospel in a vibrant Catholic community that unites faith and reason in every major. Did you know that 20% of Franciscan students come from a homeschool background?

High school juniors and seniors can also earn college credit online through Franciscan’s Dual Enrollment Program.

🔗 Learn more at Franciscan.edu

Additional resources: • Franciscan High School Advantage Program: https://franciscan.edu/franciscan-high-school-advantage-program-partnerships/ • Homeschool Connections Dual Enrollment with Franciscan: https://homeschoolconnections.com/resources/college-credit/

Susie Lloyd homeschooled seven children over 30 years and is a longtime mentor, speaker, author, and consultant in the Catholic homeschooling world. Her books, articles, and conference talks emphasize that you don’t have to homeschool perfectly to homeschool successfully. Susie has a special heart for mentoring new and struggling homeschoolers.

🌐 Website: https://susielloyd.com/

Homeschooling “Then and Now” • What it was like homeschooling before widespread support and resources • How early homeschoolers built co-ops, field trips, and networks from scratch • Why today’s abundance of options can feel overwhelming

Curriculum Wisdom Across Generations • Why chasing the “next best” curriculum often causes burnout • The value of sticking with what works • Adapting when a child truly needs something different

Community, Perseverance, and Minority Culture • Why homeschoolers are still a cultural minority—even today • The importance of continuing to build and invest in community • How patience and perseverance change hearts over time

Faith at the Center of Homeschooling • Why homeschooling must be rooted in prayer, not pressure • How morning prayer and read-alouds shaped Susie’s family life • Letting go of rigid school models and embracing the human reality of learning

Encouragement for New Homeschool Moms • Why feeling misunderstood is part of the calling • “Wait ten years”—how fruit becomes visible with time • Living the witness instead of arguing for it

• Little House on the Prairie series – Laura Ingalls Wilder https://amzn.to/4qOnHvd • The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis https://amzn.to/3MXjIxB • With God in Russia – Fr. Walter J. Ciszek https://amzn.to/4qxS60A • All Creatures Great and Small – James Herriot https://amzn.to/4baYBSr

• Hillside Education: https://www.hillsideeducation.com/ • Hillside Education Language Arts: https://www.hillsideeducation.com/index.php/language-arts/

You’ll also find the Homeschool Connections Podcast on 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hsc_online/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolingsaints

📝 Catholic Homeschool Blog: https://homeschoolconnections.com/blog/ 🎧 Catholic Homeschool Podcast: https://homeschoolconnections.com/podcast/

Sponsor: Homeschool Connections

How do we teach our children to serve—especially when the needs around us feel overwhelming?

In this powerful and practical episode, host Kaitlin Zara sits down with Clara Davison, Brand Manager at Holy Heroes, to discuss faith-filled service, local responsibility, and raising children who are ready to “raise their hand” when help is needed. Drawing from Clara’s firsthand experience organizing Hurricane Helene relief efforts in North Carolina, the conversation explores what meaningful volunteerism really looks like—and how Catholic homeschooling families can live it out daily.

From disaster response to meal trains, Clara shares wisdom on responding with intention, guarding against compassion fatigue, and forming children in authentic charity rooted in faith, family, and community. This episode will inspire you to look right where you are and ask: Who needs me today?

riverside clara & kaitlin — tak…

Clara Davison is the Brand Manager at Holy Heroes, a Catholic apostolate dedicated to helping families grow in faith through prayer, service, and joyful devotion. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Clara helped mobilize large-scale relief efforts across North Carolina—coordinating supplies, fundraising, and community action while pregnant and caring for her family.

Holy Heroes: https://www.holyheroes.com/

• Hurricane Helene & Immediate Response

  • What made this disaster uniquely devastating for Western North Carolina

  • How power outages and lost infrastructure delayed relief efforts

  • The importance of local knowledge during emergencies

• Faith in Action During Crisis

  • Seeing service as a response to God’s call

  • Balancing action with prayer—especially for the dead and missing

  • Lessons learned about presence, limits, and trust in God

• Local Responsibility vs. Global Tragedy

  • Why we feel overwhelmed by constant exposure to worldwide suffering

  • Clara’s insight: our first responsibility is to the people in front of us

  • Avoiding paralysis by focusing on actionable, local needs

• Teaching Children to Serve

  • Simple, family-friendly ways to practice service

  • Meal trains as a powerful, practical ministry for homeschool families

  • How everyday acts of charity shape children’s understanding of community

• Raising Kids Who “Raise Their Hand”

  • Modeling generosity through ordinary sacrifices

  • Helping children see service as a normal part of Catholic life

  • Building a culture where no one expects to be forgotten

This episode is brought to you by Homeschool Connections—offering live and recorded online classes for Catholic homeschooling families, taught by expert instructors who love their faith.

🔗 Learn more at: https://homeschoolconnections.com/

You’ll also find Homeschool Connections Podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hsc_online/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolingsaints/

Catholic Homeschool Blog: https://homeschoolconnections.com/blog/

Catholic Homeschool Podcast: https://homeschoolconnections.com/podcast/

Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more homeschool inspiration each week!

Guest: Paul McCusker Sponsor: Homeschool Connections

Award Winning Homeschool Writing Program: https://awa.homeschoolconnections.com/

Award-winning writer and dramatist Paul McCusker joins host Kaitlin Zara for a rich conversation on how storytelling forms the imagination, strengthens family culture, and elevates your homeschool. Drawing from decades of work on Adventures in Odyssey, Augustine Institute Radio Theatre, and his many books, Paul explains why stories matter, how they bypass our defenses, and how parents can intentionally use fiction, audio dramas, oral storytelling, and even family history to educate the heart as well as the mind.

He also addresses the challenges of screens and short attention spans, offering practical ideas for nurturing attention, vocabulary, and critical thinking in an age of distraction.

Whether you're a longtime fan of Paul’s work or new to his storytelling genius, this episode will transform the way you think about the role of story in your homeschool.

Paul McCusker is a writer, director, and producer best known for:

• Adventures in Odyssey

• Augustine Institute & Focus on the Family Radio Theatre

• Into the Catacombs, The Adventures of Nick & Sam, The Virtue Chronicles, and more

Website: https://www.paulmccusker.com/ Books: https://catholic.market/books/hope-springs/ Adventures in Odyssey: https://www.adventuresinodyssey.com/

• Stories bypass defenses and speak to the heart in ways facts cannot.

• Jesus Himself used stories to illuminate truth.

• Kids often perceive the deeper meaning of a story faster than adults.

  riverside paul & kaitlin dec 01…

• Strong characters, a compelling plot, and meaningful themes.

• Stories shouldn’t “talk down” to kids.

• Parents should consider both craft and moral worldview when selecting books.

• A well-told story teaches naturally — without sacrificing good writing.

• Stories reveal worldview, morality, and human nature.

• They help children discuss emotions and experiences they might otherwise hide.

• Read-alouds, audio dramas, dramatizations, and family memories all belong in education.

• Storytelling provides context, connection, and a sense of belonging in history.

• Family stories foster identity and gratitude.

• The hierarchy of imagination: reading → live storytelling → audio drama → screen.

• The more a medium “fills in,” the less the imagination works.

• Parents must balance devices with imaginative disciplines.

• Meals and family time should be sacred spaces without screens.

• Good authors don’t write down to kids.

• Rich storytelling exposes children to higher-level vocabulary organically.

• Stories help kids analyze motives, consequences, virtue, and vice.

  riverside paul & kaitlin dec 01…

Homeschool Connections – Live and recorded online courses taught by experts who love their faith. Learn more at https://homeschoolconnections.com

You'll also find Homeschool Connections Podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hsc_online/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolingsaints/

Catholic Homeschool Blog: https://homeschoolconnections.com/blog/

Catholic Homeschool Podcast: https://homeschoolconnections.com/podcast/

Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more homeschool inspiration each week!

What happens when a Catholic mom turns a handful of goats and chickens into a thriving family farm?

Kaitlin Zara sits down with Christina Mula of MooLa Farm to discuss how homesteading, healthy eating, and hands-on learning can beautifully enrich your homeschool life.

From gardening with kids to sourcing real food on a budget to embracing small beginnings, Christina offers practical, joyful wisdom every family can use—no acreage required!

Plus, don’t miss her encouraging reminder at 19:38: “Start small…and you will get there.”

Today's Sponsor is Homeschool Connections: Live and recorded online courses for Catholic homeschooling families, taught by expert instructors who love their faith. Learn more at https://homeschoolconnections.com/

Show Notes

Meet Our Guest:

Christina Mula Christina is a Catholic wife, homeschooling mom, and the founder of Moola Farm, a family-run, organic-only farm created to nourish her home and community. What began with a dream and a few animals has grown into a source of fresh produce, baked goods, and inspiration for families seeking a more intentional way of living.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moolafarm/

Website: https://moolafarm.org/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moolafarm

Canning Basics: https://www.ballmasonjars.com/canning-and-preserving-101.html

In This Episode We Discuss:

How Moola Farm Began

Starting with goats, chickens, and a simple desire to feed her family well

The unexpected growth into a community-serving farm business

Homesteading as a Homeschool Lifestyle

How gardening becomes a natural, hands-on science curriculum

Easy ways to involve your kids—even little ones—in growing food

Connecting daily chores with responsibility, gratitude, and stewardship

Healthy Eating for Real Families

Simple tips for sourcing better food affordably

Christina’s go-to strategies for meal planning, homemade basics, and reducing processed foods

Teaching kids where food comes from and why it matters

Getting Started—Even If You Don’t Have a Farm

Container gardening

Small-space and suburban options

How to take “the next right step” for your family

Faith, Family, and the Rhythm of the Seasons

How farming life naturally integrates with prayer, liturgical living, and formation

Seeing God’s hand in the slow, beautiful work of growing and tending

You'll also find Homeschool Connections Podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hsc_online/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolingsaints/

Catholic Homeschool Blog: https://homeschoolconnections.com/blog/

Catholic Homeschool Podcast: https://homeschoolconnections.com/podcast/

Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more homeschool inspiration each week!

Author and cultural commentator Noelle Mering joins host Kaitlin Zara to unpack the true meaning of femininity, domestic life, and the “trad wife” conversation, beyond aesthetics and online trends.

From the power of stability in the home to the beauty of complementarity in marriage, Noelle offers rich, faith-filled encouragement for Catholic homeschooling moms. This inspiring conversation will uplift your vocation and remind you why your work in the home matters more than ever.

Fiat Life Coaching – Premium support for Catholic homeschooling moms from Emily Brown. Learn essential skills for time, emotions, and family management in the Happy, Holy Mama Membership. Visit fiatlifecoaching.com

Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center · Author of Awake, Not Woke and the Theology of Home series · Commentator on culture, politics, and religion · Wife and mother of six.

• Instagram: @noellemering

• Website: https://www.noellemering.com/

• Theology of Home: https://theologyofhome.com/

• Books:

  • Awake, Not Woke: https://amzn.to/4oCWhXG

  • Theology of Home I: https://amzn.to/3K4AMkj

  • Theology of Home II: https://amzn.to/43WY5Dh

  • Theology of Home III: https://amzn.to/3M2S6a1

• What the “trad wife” trend gets right—and wrong.

• Why domestic life is countercultural and essential to human flourishing.

• How secular ideologies undermine the family and why stability threatens revolution.

• Understanding authentic Christian submission vs. cultural misunderstandings.

• The difference between luxury and beauty in homemaking.

• Encouragement for working moms and homeschooling moms striving for balance.

• Creating a joyful emotional “ambiance” in the home and why fun matters.

You'll also find Homeschool Connections Podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hsc_online/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolingsaints/

Catholic Homeschool Blog: https://homeschoolconnections.com/blog/

Catholic Homeschool Podcast: https://homeschoolconnections.com/podcast/

Kaitlin Zara sits down with law professor, award-winning author, and longtime homeschool advocate Tony Kolenc to unpack some of the most important legal questions homeschooling families face.

From record-keeping and testing requirements to special-needs services, extracurricular access, and protecting your family against unwanted inquiries, Tony offers clear, practical, and empowering guidance for homeschool parents in every state.

With 21 years of military service and decades of legal experience, Tony brings both expertise and compassion to the conversation, plus a memorable story about Tim Tebow’s impact on homeschool sports access.

Whether you’re brand new to homeschooling or many years in, this episode will help you feel confident, informed, and supported.

SHOW NOTES

Learn More About Our Guest:

• Instagram: @antonykolenc
• Website: antonykolenc.com
• Books: https://amzn.to/4rvutqO

HSLDA: https://hslda.org/

Practical Homeschooling: https://www.practicalhomeschooling.com/

What We Cover in This Episode

• Understanding Your State’s Homeschool Laws
• Essential Records Every Homeschool Family Should Keep
• Testing Requirements: What’s Mandatory & What’s Optional
• Special Needs Services for Homeschoolers
• Your Rights If a District or Social Worker Knocks on Your Door
• Extracurriculars, Sports & the “Tim Tebow” Laws

Today's Sponsor: Homeschool Connections - Live and recorded online courses for Catholic homeschooling families from expert instructors who love their faith.

You'll also find Homeschool Connections Podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hsc_online/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolingsaints/

Catholic Homeschool Blog: https://homeschoolconnections.com/blog/

Catholic Homeschool Podcast: https://homeschoolconnections.com/podcast/

In today's episode, host Kaitlin Zara sits down with interior designer, entrepreneur, and author Whitney English to talk about how to create a beautiful, organized, and faith-filled homeschool space, no matter the size of your home.

Whether your “classroom” is the dining room table or a designated schoolroom, Whitney offers practical, budget-friendly advice for reducing clutter, choosing the right storage solutions, and designing a space that truly works for your family.

But the conversation goes deeper than decor, Whitney and Kaitlin discuss how to cultivate peace, spiritual growth, and strong family relationships within the homeschool environment.

With humor, honesty, and plenty of real-life stories, Whitney reminds parents that organization is a process, imperfection is normal, and the heart of a meaningful homeschool space is love, patience, and connection.

Thank you to our sponsor, Benedictine College, which makes this podcast possible! Benedictine College is located in the small, picturesque town of Atchison, Kansas. The college is Newman Guide recommended and ranked as a top college in both U.S. News and The Wall Street Journal. Benedictine is also homeschool-friendly, offering a family-oriented atmosphere, small class sizes, and outstanding ministry and student life programs. Visit benedictine.edu to learn more.

WHAT WE DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

• How to design a multifunctional homeschool area—even if you use your dining room table

• Why rolling carts, china cabinets, and non-plastic containers can transform your space

• The importance of organizing first, decorating second

• How clutter affects a child’s focus—and how parents can maintain clarity during busy homeschool days

• Creative ideas for involving children in home organization and teaching real-life skills

• Why a spiritually nurturing homeschool space is more about relationship and vulnerability than decor

• Fun rapid-fire tips on furniture, fabrics, and refreshing kids’ rooms

• How to display children’s artwork in stylish, meaningful ways

SHOW NOTES AND RESOURCES:

• Three-shelf rolling cart: https://amzn.to/3JNXbSJ
• Whitney on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitneyenglish/
• Whitney on Substack: https://whitneyenglish.substack.com/
• Book: Organize First, Decorate Second (Whitney English): https://amzn.to/44dIbEq

• Book: A More Beautiful Life (Whitney English): https://amzn.to/482rfCa

You'll also find Homeschool Connections Podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hsc_online/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolingsaints/

Make sure to check out our Catholic Homeschool Blog for more homeschooling tips, support, and practical help!

Visit our Podcast page at Catholic Homeschool Podcast.