Weird Things I Wasn’t Allowed to Do as a Homeschooler | #46
- Aug 7, 2025
- 2:23:10
- Full Episode
This week on the podcast, we’re throwing a birthday party! It's the one-year anniversary of the Ex-Homeschoolers Club, and to celebrate, I brought back my very first guest and longtime friend Cari Frantz for a fun and nostalgic conversation. We dive deep into the media, books, movies, and music we weren’t allowed to consume growing up as Christian homeschoolers—and the surprising ways we found our way to them as adults. From Harry Potter to Pitbull concerts, purity culture to plugged-in reviews, we talk about the weird rules we lived by, what we now enjoy guilt-free, and how we're making peace with our past. Whether you're a fellow ex-homeschooler or just curious about the quirks of conservative upbringings, this episode will have you laughing, nodding along, and maybe even dusting off your old Adventures in Odyssey tapes.
*Key Takeaways:* - The irony of being banned from Harry Potter but encouraged to read Narnia - PluggedIn, Christian DVD players, and other evangelical tools for "safe" media - Watching or reading forbidden content as adults and learning to trust our own boundaries - How music like Pure NRG, Backstreet Boys, and even Pitbull shaped our teenage rebellion - Respecting our parents' intentions while forging our own relationships with pop culture
*Resources Mentioned:* - PluggedIn.com - Adventures in Odyssey by Focus on the Family - The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling - The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis - Crossroads Guitar Festival - Pure NRG, Jump5, Charlie Puth (early covers), Christina Grimmie
Did you grow up homeschooled with strict media rules? What were you not allowed to read, watch, or listen to? Drop a comment with your story. And if you’ve been with the podcast from the beginning, help us celebrate one year by sharing your favorite episode!
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Brief Summary
Jacob and Carrie celebrate the podcast's anniversary by discussing their homeschool experiences, media restrictions, and the challenges of dating under purity culture.
Key points
- Engaging the Audience. Jacob invites listeners to share their favorite moments from the podcast.
- Nightmares from Movies. A childhood experience of nightmares stemming from watching a movie.
- Respecting Parents' Choices. Understanding the reasons behind parental restrictions on movie watching.
- Plugged In Resource. Discussing a resource for understanding movie content before watching.
- Pure Energy Concert Memories. A nostalgic recount of seeing the band Pure Energy in concert, highlighting their impressive performances.
- Connecting Through Music. A heartfelt discussion about sharing music with parents and discovering new favorites together.
Episode highlights
- Engaging the AudienceJacob invites listeners to share their favorite moments from the podcast.“I would love to hear what has been one of your favorite moments of the show.”1:42Aug 7, 2025
- Nightmares from MoviesA childhood experience of nightmares stemming from watching a movie.“I had pretty bad nightmares that I think were involving turning into a monkey and giant alligators.”18:05Aug 7, 2025
- Respecting Parents' ChoicesUnderstanding the reasons behind parental restrictions on movie watching.“It helps me respect my parents and their choices.”20:41Aug 7, 2025
- Plugged In ResourceDiscussing a resource for understanding movie content before watching.“Plugged In was cool. I think it would be cool even today.”29:57Aug 7, 2025
- Pure Energy Concert MemoriesA nostalgic recount of seeing the band Pure Energy in concert, highlighting their impressive performances.“I wanted to meet them so bad!”39:54Aug 7, 2025
- Connecting Through MusicA heartfelt discussion about sharing music with parents and discovering new favorites together.“It’s fun to have those combos.”56:19Aug 7, 2025
- Navigating Dating as HomeschoolersA candid conversation about the challenges of dating and relationships in a homeschool environment.“I was like, "Wait, these people are not like your siblings?"”1:00:24Aug 7, 2025
- Navigating Crushes and ConfusionThe conversation dives into the complexities of teenage crushes and the societal pressures surrounding them.“It's a nothing burger. We're just friends.”1:11:45Aug 7, 2025
