Making History Fun for Kids: Zack Edwards on Games That Stick
What if history class felt more like an epic battle royale than a dusty monotonous textbook? In this episode, homeschooling game innovator Zack Edwards flips the script on boring education.

From his own school-day dread of dates and timelines to crafting Historical Conquest—a card game where historical heroes, villains, and disasters clash in custom societies—Zack's all about gamification that sticks. We dive into his college dorm brainstorm, the family-friendly multiplayer magic, and how it pairs with custom curricula to spark real excitement for history.

Then, enter Xogos, Zack's digital playground expanding the fun into interactive learning with safe, community-driven rewards (think: coins for real-world service gigs!). Safety first—no sketchy chats here—and it's built for homeschool crews craving engagement without the screen-time guilt. Whether you're battling mom-burnout or just want kids who love learning, Zack's got the playbook: fun > force, every time.
Key Takeaways (Steal These for Your Next Lesson Plan!)

* Zack's Origin Story Fuels the Fire: His school-time disdain for history? Total inspiration. Now, he crafts tools that turn "boring" into "battle-ready" for kids everywhere.
* Historical Conquest: Card Game Meets History Heroics: Born in his college dorm room, it's all about mixing real figures/events into wild strategies—perfect for 2-6 players and family game nights that teach without preaching.
* Fun First, Facts Follow: Zack's mantra? Engage 'em with play, and history sticks. The companion curriculum's designed to thrill, not drill.
* Xogos: Safe, Rewarding Digital Deep Dive: This platform amps up the game with interactive modules, strict chat controls, and incentives like earning for volunteer hours—blending education with real-life impact.
* Gamification = Engagement Gold: From homeschool co-ops to solo quests, Zack proves fun learning connects families, builds skills, and makes history meaningful. No more myths about "screen time bad"—done right, it's revolutionary.

Resources & Links (Level Up Your Homeschool Game)

* Grab Historical Conquest: Starter decks, expansions, and how-to vids at historicalconquest.com. QR code tutorials make setup a breeze!
* Dive into Xogos: Explore the platform and snag free trials for educators at xogos.com (or check Zack's YouTube @myXogosGames for demos).

 

Watch this episode on Spotify or YouTube

The Unschooling Homeschooler: Raven Kramer’s Journey from Tough Childhood to Thriving Kids
Join Morgan Bergstrom as she chats with Raven Kramer, a fierce mom who's been homeschooling her four kids for 5 years—blending philosophies as an "unschooling homeschooler." From a tough childhood that fueled her fire to be a better parent, Raven reveals how outdoor play supercharges development, why kids need hours outside for real learning, and how socialization in homeschooling beats traditional schools with diverse, real-world connections.

Discover how the pandemic exposed schooling flaws, why building community is homeschooling's secret sauce, and pro tips for working parents eyeing the leap. Plus, the surprising truth: marriage gets stronger with effort, communication, and family-first vibes!

Key Takeaways:

* Outdoor play = brain booster
* Diverse socialization wins
* Community support is everything
* Pandemic wake-up call for education.

If you're into unschooling, homeschooling, parenting, family dynamics, outdoor adventures, marriage growth, or community building—this episode will ignite your rethink on raising resilient kids!

For inspiring motherhood and homeschooling content, follow Raven on Instagram

Watch this episode on Spotify or YouTube

Episode Title: No Tech Degree Needed with Meryl van der Merwe
Podcast: The Homeschool Curious PodcastHost: Morgan BergstromGuest: Meryl van der Merwe, founder of Fundafunda Academy and host of Homeschooling with Technology podcast




Episode Summary
Can you homeschool confidently in today’s tech-driven world—without a tech degree? Absolutely. In this energizing episode of The Homeschool Curious Podcast, host Morgan Bergstrom sits down with veteran homeschool mom and tech-savvy educator Meryl van der Merwe to explore how families can use everyday technology to make learning more engaging, flexible, and future-focused.
Meryl shares her journey from reluctant homeschooler to digital innovator, revealing how she turned free tools like Google Maps, Canva, live webcams, and even AI into powerful teaching allies. Her message to parents is simple but profound: you don’t need to be an expert to raise curious, capable, tech-ready kids—just willing to learn alongside them.

What You’ll Learn


Necessity sparked innovation: Meryl began homeschooling because of limited school options, but it became a passion for lifelong learning.


Homeschool success stories: Her kids earned college acceptances, proving that homeschoolers can thrive academically with creativity and consistency.


Tech as a co-teacher: Discover how tools like Google Earth and AI writing assistants make lessons interactive and real-world relevant.


Free tools, big impact: Turn everyday apps like Canva and Google Maps into virtual field trips and creative project studios.


Creativity over memorization: The future belongs to problem-solvers—so let your kids design, build, and explore their way to understanding.


Parent as learner: You don’t need to know it all—just model curiosity, flexibility, and a growth mindset.


Perfect For


Parents who feel “non-techy” but want to introduce digital tools with confidence


Families looking for creative, hands-on learning ideas


Anyone preparing their kids for a tech-driven future while keeping education personal and purposeful


Resources Mentioned


Fundafunda Academy – Online classes for homeschoolers in coding, science, graphic design, and more


Homeschooling with Technology Podcast – Meryl’s show offering 15-minute tech tips for homeschool parents


Tools: Google Maps, Google Earth, Canva, AI writing tools, and live webcams for real-time exploration


Key Quote

“You don’t have to be a tech expert to help your kids thrive—you just need to be curious enough to explore the tools together.” – Meryl van der Merwe




Watch or Listen
Watch on YouTube or Listen on Spotify and your favorite podcast apps.Don’t forget to subscribe to The Homeschool Curious Podcast for more inspiring conversations that help you homeschool ...

Show Notes: Melodies of Resilience: How Music Shapes a Child’s Mind with Adrian Edward
Podcast: Homeschool CuriousHost: Morgan BergstromGuest: Adrian Edward, Founder of Color Me Mozart

Topic:
Adrian Edward founder of Color Me Mozart smiling with colorful musical instruments, symbolizing early music education for children




Episode Summary
In this inspiring episode of the Homeschool Curious podcast, Morgan Bergstrom sits down with Adrian Edward, the founder of Color Me Mozart, to explore how music transforms a child’s brain and builds resilience.
Adrian shares his journey from discovering music as a teenager to creating an engaging, family-friendly curriculum that helps parents bring music into their homes—no prior experience required!
Through Color Me Mozart, Adrian has helped thousands of children—including those with autism, Down syndrome, and developmental delays—find a voice through melody and rhythm. The conversation highlights the connection between music education and brain development, emphasizing that learning music is like learning a new language, sparking creativity, communication, and joy.

What You’ll Learn


How Adrian Edward’s teenage passion for music grew into the Color Me Mozart movement.


Why early exposure to music has profound effects on cognitive development.


How music engages the brain like a second language, building adaptability and resilience.


The importance of diverse musical genres in shaping emotional and cultural intelligence.


Why parents don’t need to be musicians to teach their children music.


How Color Me Mozart began as a tool for special needs education and became a global resource.


Practical tips for creating a musical environment at home that’s about joy, not perfection.


Entrepreneurial lessons from Adrian’s journey—humility, persistence, and asking for help.


About Color Me Mozart
Color Me Mozart makes music accessible for every family through an innovative, color-coded system that turns learning into play. Originally developed for children with special needs, this program now helps thousands of families discover the joy of music together.
Check out Color Me Mozart: https://colormemozart.com Follow them on Instagram and Facebook Find them in BaseCampEd! — Connect and learn inside the app.
 

Homeschooling, Hustle, and Heart: A Chat with Felice Gerwitz
In this episode of the Home School Curious podcast, Morgan interviews Felice Gerwitz, a seasoned homeschooling mother of five and a pioneer in the homeschooling podcasting space. Felice shares her journey of homeschooling, the challenges she faced, and the triumphs she experienced along the way. She discusses the importance of building a supportive community, the entrepreneurial spirit that led her to start various businesses, and the joy of creating lasting memories with her family. Felice also offers practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and couples navigating the decision to homeschool. This conversation is filled with insights, encouragement, and heartfelt stories that resonate with homeschooling families.

 
What to expect:

* The decision to homeschool was influenced by her children's needs and her husband's support. If there is resistance in a marriage regarding whether or not to homeschool, Felice also offers great advice for these couples. They should communicate openly about homeschooling decisions and attend conferences together.
* Building a community of like-minded friends is crucial for homeschooling success.
* Entrepreneurship runs in Felice's family, influencing her journey into business. Felice started podcasting to address common questions in the homeschooling community, and this eventually was the inspiration behind her podcasting empire, The Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
* Felice offers great tips for parents who also want to homeschool and start a business. Starting small is key for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially with young children.
* Family traditions and bonding activities are essential for a strong family unit. She offers tips and tricks for creating joyful experiences in homeschooling to help maintain enthusiasm and engagement.
* One of the best quotes Felice says: “The worst day of homeschooling can still be better than the best day in traditional school.”

 

Watch this episode on Spotify or YouTube, or listen to the audio version anywhere you get your podcasts!

Keywords: homeschooling, family dynamics, podcasting, entrepreneurship, parenting, education, family traditions, homeschooling community, support, advice