A groundbreaking asynchronous conversation across four continents and five time zones with seven titans of tech and education. Recorded on Naval Ravikant's new social media platform, Airchat, this episode features an all-star panel of homeschool parents, technologists, and entrepreneurs, including Naval himself, best-selling author Nir Eyal, fast.ai co-founder Rachel Thomas, and more. The panelists dive deep into the promise and challenges of decentralized education, addressing concerns like socialization, elitism, and media addiction. Moreover, they explore the transformative role of technology in education, the role of tutors in modern homeschooling, the skills kids need for a rapidly evolving world, and whether parents are qualified to teach their kids…. Want to join the conversation? Head over to the homeschooling room on Airchat. Despite their considerable accomplishments, the panelists convey how personalized education is a viable choice for any family who wants their child to thrive in a rapidly changing world. From debunking myths to discussing the purpose of education, this episode delivers a nuanced, global perspective that promises to enrich your take on homeschooling.

Manisha Snoyer has assembled an extraordinary panel of homeschool parents, teachers, and entrepreneurs. The lineup includes Naval Ravikant, visionary entrepreneur, angel investor, and philosopher; Nir Eyal, an internationally renowned expert in behavioral design and author of the seminal books "Hooked and" "Indistractable"; Rachel Thomas, Ph.D., named one of the top 20 women in AI in the world and co-founder of fast.ai; Alycia Wright, former public school teacher and leader of the rapidly expanding Cultural Roots Homeschool Co-op in Richmond, Virginia serving Black, Brown, and Indigenous families; Shiren Rattigan, the pioneering founder of Colossal Academy, microschool network, and advocate for equitable school choice; Kerry McDonald, FEE scholar and host of the LiberatedED podcast; and Lisa Betts-LaCroix, founder of the Bay Area Gifted Homeschoolers Group, the first and largest group for parents of gifted homeschoolers in the Bay area.


Time Codes

00:01:09 — What is Airchat? Naval Ravikant explains the concept of Airchat, an asynchronous audio-first platform for recording conversations.

00:02:21 — Why Homeschooling? Panelists share their personal experiences and insights into the benefits and challenges of homeschooling.

00:14:58 — Technology and Media Addiction: Naval Ravikant and others discuss the allure and pitfalls of technology, as well as strategies for responsible consumption.

00:25:17 — What About Socialization? An in-depth conversation on how homeschooling impacts social skills, debunking myths, and highlighting benefits.

00:38:34 — Is Homeschooling Only for the Cognitive Elite? Naval Ravikant challenges the stereotype, suggesting that homeschooling can democratize elite education.

00:41:02 — Finding Tutors: The panel discusses the value of specialized education and how to source quality tutors for homeschooling.

00:52:04 — Skills of the Future: Discussion about essential skills for future generations, ranging from numeracy and literacy to adaptability and critical thinking.

00:54:35 — Mathematics: A collective deep dive into the realm of mathematics education, exploring different methods, resources, and philosophies.

01:04:50 — Programming: Naval Ravikant outlines the importance of coding skills and recommends resources for young learners.

01:06:56 — Entrepreneurship: Emphasis on why entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy should be included in a homeschooling curriculum.

01:08:27 — Parents as Teachers: Exploring the challenges and benefits of parents taking on the educational role, providing academic guidance, and emotional support.


This podcast is made possible through a generous grant from the Vela Education Fund

VELA Education Fund is catalyzing a vibrant alternative education ecosystem. VELA provides trust-based funding to entrepreneurs, fosters community-building and knowledge-sharing, and increases visibility through storytelling that promotes cultural awareness and acceptance of the out-of-system space. Today, VELA serves the largest community of out-of-system education entrepreneurs in the country, with over 2,000 community members. About half of VELA’s community members operate small learning environments, and the other half are ecosystem and community builders offering direct services and support across the out-of-system space. Learn more at velaedfund.org.