Whereas traditional school models can rely on conformity, competitiveness, and one-size-fits-all curricula, Unschooling strives to create nurturing spaces where students can be themselves, work in community, and collaborate to pursue the information they need because of their genuine interest. During this pandemic time when kids are trying to navigate remote learning and so many parents are worried about their children falling behind and growing disenchanted with schoolwork, Akilah joins Ronit to talk about what Unschooling looks like, how she and her family have made it work, and how this unconventional model fosters compassion, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning in children.

Akilah S. Richards hosts a widely celebrated podcast, Fare of the Free Child, that features more than 150 episodes on Self-Directed Education among Black, non-Black Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. She is a public speaker who also writes for and has conducted live stream sessions with publications including Mater Mea, My Brown Baby, Mutha Magazine, and Tipping Points, the online magazine of the Alliance for Self-Directed Education, of which she is a founding board member. Akilah is the author of the forthcoming book Raising Free People, and she and her partner, Kris, are raising two self-directed daughters.