How Homeschooling Sparked a Creative Career in Art & Animation

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This week on the Ex-Homeschoolers Club, I had an absolutely joyful conversation with artist, teacher, and former homeschooler Noah Fontana. From the moment we hit record, it felt like two longtime friends reconnecting. We dove deep into Noah's unique homeschool upbringing, how his love of comic books and creativity shaped his early education, and how homeschooling helped him lean into his artistic talents. We also explored Noah's journey from animation work at DreamWorks to discovering his true passion in art therapy and teaching. If you've ever wrestled with the intersection of creativity, identity, and education, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways:

• How Noah's homeschool environment nurtured his passion for art and comics

• The connection between storytelling, animation, and emotional expression

• The challenges of people-pleasing, code-switching, and growing up in a controlled homeschool bubble

• How art therapy changed Noah's career trajectory and how he connects with students through creative expression

• The value of reframing "bad" traits like people-pleasing into useful tools when used mindfully

Connect with Noah

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teacher.noah/

• Grab a copy of his book Mixed-Up Metaphors: https://a.co/d/gHFVTq6

Resources Mentioned:

• Jeneve Dube's podcast "Homeschooled": https://solo.to/homeschooled
• "Creativity, Inc." by Ed Catmull: https://a.co/d/h4CuAiQ

• "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell: https://a.co/d/cfhPqpy 

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

01:16 Meet Noah: New Guest Introduction

02:38 Noah's Homeschooling Journey

06:33 Artistic Passions and Early Influences

12:49 Public Speaking and Personal Growth

27:48 From High School to Career Beginnings

28:06 Reflecting on SATs and Standardized Tests

29:58 SAT and ACT Experiences

31:22 College Application Process

34:00 Choosing Between BA and BFA

36:12 College Life and Education System Critique

39:29 Exploring Art and Creativity

50:05 Art Therapy and Career Shift

01:00:48 Teaching and Art Therapy in Practice

01:03:18 Debating Art Therapy Practice

01:03:46 Impact of Teachers on Kids

01:04:44 Incorporating Art Therapy in Classrooms

01:05:05 Engaging Kids Through Art

01:08:37 Homeschooling Insights and Advice

01:11:59 Challenges and Rewards of Teaching

01:17:46 Parents Learning to Teach

01:24:42 Nostalgic Homeschool Memories

01:32:08 Final Thoughts and Promotions

Enjoying the show? Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode. If you found Noah's story inspiring, leave us a review and share this episode with a friend who loves creativity or is on their own journey of self-discovery post-homeschooling. And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for updates, resources, and behind-the-scenes extras from the podcast!