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!
Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow the Ex-Homeschoolers Club for more stories every week. And share it with a friend who might benefit from hearing this story.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclubEmail me at exhsclub@gmail.com
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