logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
46m 36s

Brainless Education: A Conversation Abou...

Ned Johnson
About this episode
Welcome to The Self-Driven Child podcast! In this episode, I chat with Dr. William Stixrud, co-author of The Self-Driven Child, to explore the concept of “brainless education” and why the way we approach learning in schools often overlooks the very organ meant to do the learning: the brain. We explore how prioritizing stress reduction, sleep, and autonomy fo ... Show More
Up next
Aug 11
An interview with Juliette Blake: the teen tech founder who became a mom and built a safer social media platform for girls
All of us worry about the potentially negative impacts of technology. We worry our kids are online too much, that social media is disrupting their sleep, academics, mental health, and relationships—and frankly, taking away good time outdoors. And it doesn’t feel good to have the ... Show More
57m 39s
Jul 24
Teens Talk: Teen Takeovers and Third Spaces
What do teens really need to grow into confident, capable adults? In this episode, I sit down with two remarkable young advocates—Rona Majumder and Faris Smith—to explore why today's teens are asking for more autonomy, more trust, and more places where they can simply exist. Toge ... Show More
55m 29s
Jun 19
Grade A+ Deception: student journalists on the academic pressure to cheat
What happens when academic pressure becomes so intense that cheating starts to feel normal? In this conversation, I’m joined by student journalists Ethan Chan and Meryem Orazova from Palo Alto High School’s award-winning newspaper, The Campanile. Their investigation into academic ... Show More
45m 41s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
Brain Optimization for Educators with Dr. CK Bray
We know more about the inner workings of the human brain than ever before, but is our educational system taking advantage of what we've learned? Cognitive behavioral researcher Dr. CK Bray joins us on the podcast today to explore the intricate relationship between neuroscience, e ... Show More
40m 3s
Sep 2021
213. Back To School! How To Talk With Kids To Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance and A Happy Home with Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson
Parenting and education experts, Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson, discuss how to talk with kids about anxiety, stress, motivation and technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee P ... Show More
1h 5m
Sep 2025
6 Ways to Engage Kids in Learning & Personal Growth with Jim Kwik
What if the key to unlocking a child’s potential isn’t about forcing more facts, but about sparking more joy? Too often, learning feels like a chore—but it doesn’t have to. In this episode, I’ll show you how to make learning irresistible, not just for children but for learners of ... Show More
9m 17s
Oct 2024
Case Study: How Unschooling Helps Create Independent Kids
Are you tired of the traditional school system stifling your child’s natural curiosity? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to trust your child to lead their own learning journey?Today, I am joined by Leah McDermott, a homeschooling expert and advocate for unschooling. L ... Show More
19m 29s
Mar 2024
How building executive functions can support your child's motivation in school with Dr. Stephanie Carlson
Send us Fan MailLet's talk about executive functions and how these skills support your child's academic performance! In today's episode, I chat with Dr. Stephanie Carlson, Tedx speaker and Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Institute of Child Development at the Un ... Show More
1h 1m
Nov 2025
572. Navigating Education, Ideology, and Children | Answer the Call
Dr. Peterson discusses education challenges, praising homeschooling over the flawed K-12 system, exploring new learning models, and stressing critical thinking in a world dominated by low-attention span media environments. He also highlights the importance of teacher passion, cha ... Show More
59m 35s
Oct 2024
6 Ways to Personalize Your Child's Educational Journey with Jim Kwik
How can you create an educational path that is ideal for your child?Education can be a complex topic and it’s easy for parents to become overwhelmed. Between traditional school, home school, private school, and hybrid programs, there are more options than ever before. No matter w ... Show More
8m 14s
Oct 2025
1588 || why learning sucks
Curiosity is fragile. Learning is difficult as hell. Our brains are built for efficiency, not thinking. We can trick our brains into motivation by worrying about the difficulty of the challenge, rather than the topic or the content. We rely on our memories more than our thinking ... Show More
9m 56s
May 2024
[Episode 91] Unlocking Student Success Through Cognitive Skills (w/ Dr. Greg King)
This episode of Teaching Channel Talks features a conversation between Dr. Wendy Amato and Dr. Greg King, the Director of Research from Mindprint Learning, discussing how different cognitive skills in students impact how they process information. They delve into the importance of ... Show More
20m 53s