18 Summers: Podcast for Parents – Details, episodes & analysis

The debate around education is everywhere right now. With so many families championing a return to public school so children can "face adversity," we decided it was time to sit down and share our honest thoughts on the modern education system.

In this episode, we explore the pros, cons, and missing elements of both traditional and alternative education. We discuss why the current school model often fails to teach practical life skills, like financial intelligence, and how the pressure to follow a traditional path can sometimes feel like a race to nowhere. We also talk about the influence of standardized testing and why learning should be about true understanding rather than just memorizing dates for a test.

Most importantly, we dive into the one non-negotiable factor that matters more than any curriculum or classroom setting. Whether you choose public school, private school, micro-schools, or homeschooling, we discuss exactly how to ensure you remain the loudest, most influential voice in your child's head.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 The current debate around public school versus alternative education.

0:55 Are traditional education models antiquated?

2:25 The practical life skills missing from the classroom.

6:20 What happens when you step outside the traditional education path.

8:20 Breaking down the college stigma and the corporate ladder.

11:19 Who is really prioritizing the students in the current system?

15:16 Overcoming the fear of choosing an alternative education route.

17:04 The ultimate rule for parents: Be the loudest voice in your child's life.

20:39 True learning versus rote memorization.

Join the 18 Summers Family!
We are talking all things family, parenting, and living intentionally. If you found this episode thought-provoking, please tap the follow button and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Your reviews truly help other families find our community.

There is not just one path to growing a family. In this episode of 18 Summers, we sit down to share our honest, firsthand experiences with the different types of adoption.

From navigating the uncertain and beautiful mess of foster care to pursuing a private open adoption and completing a step-parent adoption, we are laying it all out there. We discuss how we built a standout adoption profile, the reality of unwrapping the "unknown present" of unexpected medical needs, and the importance of setting healthy boundaries.

We also tackle a deeply frustrating comment that blended and adoptive families hear far too often: "Just wait until you have your own kids."

Whether you are actively considering adoption, curious about the process, or navigating a blended family of your own, we hope our story offers clarity and encouragement for your journey.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 The Different Paths to Growing a Family

0:32 Our Honest Experience with Foster to Adopt

2:45 The Hard Decision to Stop Fostering

5:16 Pivoting to Private Adoption

7:23 How We Built a Profile That Stood Out

9:30 Proactive Steps to Speed Up the Waiting Process

11:20 Unwrapping an "Unknown Present" (Navigating Medical Needs)

14:05 Open vs. Closed Adoption Explained

16:53 Setting Healthy Boundaries in Open Adoption

18:53 Why Adoption is Not a Charity Project

21:23 Step-Parent Adoption and Blending Families

23:45 Dealing with the "Have Your Own Kids" Comment

26:10 Final Words of Wisdom for Prospective Parents

Join the 18 Summers Family!
We are talking all things adoption, family, and life. If you found this episode helpful or relatable, please tap the follow button and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! It is the absolute best way to help other families find our community.

What if your kid's lemonade stand became a legit business? In this episode, we crack the "Education Matrix" code, turning allowances into assets, guiding kids to buy real estate, launch ventures, and master money without brewing entitlement. Get ready-to-use tools and stories to make you their first business coach.

Key takeaways to listen for

• Why everyday financial topics in conversations are vital for kids
• How a simple visual can change kids' learning curve around money
• Mastering one specialized skill vs. being well-rounded
• The best financial lessons you can give your kids
• A way to give money a deeper purpose in a child's life

Resources

• Education Matrix

Connect with Us
To learn more about us, visit our website at www.18summers.com or email us at info@18summers.com. To get a copy of our book "The Family Board Meeting", click here.

Subscribe to 18 Summers Podcast and leave a rating and written review!

Social Media Channels

• Facebook Group: 18 Summers
• LinkedIn: Jimmy Sheils
• Instagram: @18summerstribe

There is a growing recognition that the child welfare system cannot provide all of the services needed by the families and children who seek assistance from child welfare agencies, but thanks to Rhonda Paulson, who genuinely offers adequate support and services to the children and families she serves. Listen to today's motivational episode and become one of the many chosen few to give love and support to those in need!

Key takeaways to listen for

• Isaiah 117: What is it and how it started
• The purpose of foster care and why it is so important
• Promoting child safety through partnerships with communities
• The impact of telling your genuine experience about foster care to people
• What is the greatest need in foster care?
• The rewarding life experiences of a foster parents

Resources mentioned in this episode

Mike Rowe: Returning the Favor (The Woman Changing the Foster Care System)

About Rhonda Paulson

Rhonda and her husband went through Path Training to become foster parents in 2014. They took a class at the Washington County DCS office as part of their training. They were reminded during that lesson that when children are removed from their homes, they frequently have to come to the DCS office and wait for placement. She couldn't imagine a fearful child sitting in such a sterile, frigid environment, as she peered about the cubicle-filled facility. That's when she realized God had placed the Isaiah 117 House on her heart.

The Isaiah 117 House is her dream and Isaiah 1:17 says, "defend the cause of the fatherless," which she believes is what God is asking her to do. She envisions a house with a girl's bedroom, a boy's bedroom, a completely equipped bathroom, a playroom, a nursery, and so on. She sees a group of volunteers, two at a time, on standby to greet "the least of these" when they are in need of love the greatest. She sees a sanctuary that is always ready to take in the children of this region in their time of need and assist them through what is unavoidably a difficult adjustment. She believes that this facility has the ability to favorably impact the children who are being held in custody in ways that we could never anticipate.

Connect with Rhonda

• Website: Isaiah 117 House
• Facebook: Isaiah 117 House
• Instagram: @isaiah117house

Connect with Us

To learn more about us, visit our website at www.18summers.com or email us at info@18summers.com. To get a copy of our book "The Family Board Meeting," click here.

Subscribe to 18 Summers Podcast and leave a rating and written review!

Social Media Channels

• Facebook Group: 18 Summers
• LinkedIn: Jimmy Sheils
• Instagram: @18summerstribe

Whether you have a blended family or not, what matters is that you have a home to which you can belong. Dive in as Brett Snodgrass shares his extraordinary story of immersing himself in the Guatemalan community and the bond that binds his children's relationships. Tune in and discover the meaningful experiences of being a father and entrepreneur in this episode!

Key takeaways to listen for

• Why adopting a child is a blessing  
• The transformational impact of an immersion experience for your kids
• What you need to know about the core of fatherhood
• How to retire successfully from running a business
• Purpose and fulfillment of building life-giving activities
• Advice on awakening your desire and life purpose

Resources mentioned in this episode

• The Freak Factor for Kids by David J. Rendall | Paperback and Kindle
• Simplicity Parenting | Kim John Payne
• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry John Mark Comer and John Ortberg | Hardcover and Paperback

About  Brett Snodgrass 

Brett Snodgrass has been a real estate investor for 15+yesr. He specializes in wholesaling, creative financing, and business scaling. His team at Simple Wholesaling buys and sells 250+ properties per year, and builds passive streams of income by creating 50+ creative financing deals per year.

THE BRETT SNODGRASS CHANNEL is Brett's YouTube channel. Its aim is to help entrepreneurs focus past business profits to live a life of true significance. Which means creating healthy family, work, and spiritual lives with real impact? Brett desires to create healthy community entrepreneurs by creating helpful video content, business as mission trips, retreats and events, mentor connecting, and more.

Brett is the father of 4 children, and husband to his lovely wife, Karen. Brett enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and partnering with impactful ministries like TRANSFORMING FUTURES in Guatemala.

He also enjoys participating in the mastermind group COLLECTIVE GENIUS where he helps lead their charity branch.

Connect with Brett

• Website: Simple Wholesaling
• Podcast: The Brett Snodgrass
• Youtube: Brett Snodgrass

Connect with Us

To learn more about us, visit our website at www.18summers.com or email us at info@18summers.com. To get a copy of our book "The Family Board Meeting," click here.

Subscribe to 18 Summers Podcast and leave a rating and written review!

Social Media Channels

• Facebook Group: 18 Summers
• LinkedIn: Jimmy Sheils
• Instagram: @18summerstribe

Having wonderful parents is a huge blessing, but how can you teach your children that life isn't perfect? This episode is filled with inspiration as Dan Martell shares his remarkable experience as a child on how he utilizes his challenges to reclaim his future. 

Catch the wonderful message on converting your mistakes into an outstanding example for your children in this episode!

Key takeaways to listen for

• What can happen when you don't listen to your parents
• How a prison guard may make a major difference in the life of a kid
• Transforming your uncertainty to shape a remarkable life's work
• Embracing ADHD can be detrimental or beneficial
• Powerful tips to win with ADHD 
• Effective practices for coping with guilt and focusing on what you can control
• How to help children understand the benefits of making mistakes

Resources mentioned in this episode

Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell | Paperback & Hardcover

About Dan Martell

Dan is a serial entrepreneur from Canada and is the CEO and founder of SaaS Academy. He specializes in coaching and advising B2B SaaS founders to grow to success similar to his previous founded companies, Spheric, Clarity.fm, and Flowtown. He is also a current Managing Partner at High Speed Ventures and in 2013, he was awarded as Canada's angel investor of the year. He is an investor, triathlete, husband, and a father who is dedicated in making an impact to the world.

Connect with Dan

• Website: Dan Martell
• Instagram: @danmartell
• Youtube: Dan Martell

Connect with Us

To learn more about us, visit our website at www.18summers.com or email us at info@18summers.com. To get a copy of our book "The Family Board Meeting," click here.

Subscribe to 18 Summers Podcast and leave a rating and written review!

Social Media Channels

• Facebook Group: 18 Summers
• LinkedIn: Jimmy Sheils
• Instagram: @18summerstribe

Do you have any reservations for your much-anticipated family vacation? Traveling with a special-needs child can be challenging, but with the assistance of Dawn Barclay, who demonstrates how to plan and prepare strategically, and how beneficial it is to connect with a skilled professional as your guide, you can make your vacation more exciting and memorable. Tune in to learn how to make quality and unforgettable experiences!

Key takeaways to listen for

• Things to do when traveling with a special needs family
• How to introduce the concept of travel to special needs children
• Neurodivergent-friendly transportation and destinations
• Why we need a reciprocated understanding of autism
• What to do if a special needs child has a meltdown

Resources mentioned in this episode

Traveling Different by Dawn M. Barclay | Hardcover and Kindle

About Dawn Barclay

Dawn Has spent a career working in different aspects of the travel industry, She started as an agent with her parents' firms, Barclay Travel Ltd and Barclay International Group Short-Term Apartment Rentals, and then branched out into travel trade reporting with senior or contributing editor positions at Travel Agent Magazine, Travel Life,Travel Market Report, and most recently, Insider Travel Report. She is a mother of two and resides in New York's scenic Hudson Valley. She also writes fiction as D.M. Barr and holds leadership roles in several writer organizations.

Connect with Dawn

Website: Dawn Barclay

Connect with Us

To learn more about us, visit our website at www.18summers.com or email us at info@18summers.com. To get a copy of our book "The Family Board Meeting," click here.

Subscribe to 18 Summers Podcast and leave a rating and written review!

Social Media Channels

• Facebook Group: 18 Summers
• LinkedIn: Jimmy Sheils
• Instagram: @18summerstribe

Do you think that getting a college degree is the only way to succeed? Today, we invited James Altucher, a computer programmer turned entrepreneur, to share a powerful and inspiring lesson about choosing your path to create a new world from the fragments of the old.

Stay tuned to find out how you, as a parent, can assist your child in making a life-changing decision!

Key takeaways to listen for

• What role do parents have in the "Choose Yourself" quest?
• Parenting tips for making a blended family work more effectively
• Why it is important to align your passion and profession?
• The powerful secret of embracing vulnerability 
• Teaching children to value their aspirations over a college education
• Best parenting approach to strengthening the relationship between parents and children

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Choose Yourself | Paperback and Hardcover
• Skip the Line | Paperback and Kindle
• Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail | Paperback and Hardcover

About James Altucher

James is an investor, writer, entrepreneur, podcaster, and chess master. He is the author of more than 20 books, including The Wall Street Journal bestselling book "Choose Yourself" and is a contributor to publications including The Financial Times, TechCrunch, and The Huffington Post.

In 1989, James earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from Cornell University. Later, as a doctoral student in computer science, he attended Carnegie Mellon University. Furthermore, he has founded over 20 businesses, 17 of which have failed, and as a result, he is passionate about assisting others in breaking free from a life they do not want in the same way that he has.

Connect with James

Website: James Altucher

Connect with Us

To learn more about us, visit our website at www.18summers.com or email us at info@18summers.com. To get a copy of our book "The Family Board Meeting," click here.

Subscribe to 18 Summers Podcast and leave a rating and written review!

Social Media Channels

• Facebook Group: 18 Summers
• LinkedIn: Jimmy Sheils
• Instagram: @18summerstribe

We live in a society where fitting in is a norm, so people change who they are to the extent of losing themselves. Today, our returning guest Dave Rendall joins us to speak about the difficulties he faced for being different and why magnifying your individuality is the best strategy for success in life.

To increase your confidence in showing who you really are and keep your "freak factor" going, don't miss a beat on today's episode!

Key takeaways to listen for

• Should you change yourself based on well-intentioned people's judgment?
• Benefits of seeing strengths from your weaknesses
• Why prejudice and social categorization must be stopped
• The rewards of recognizing the pros and cons of your personality
• Socializing: Finding the right fit rather than trying to fit in
• What is the impact of valuing your own uniqueness

Resources mentioned in this episode

• The Freak Factor | Paperback and Kindle
• The Freak Factor for Kids | Paperback
• Now, Discover Your Strengths | Hardcover and Kindle
• Mother Teresa | Paperback and Kindle

About David Rendall

During the last twenty years, David Rendall has spoken to audiences on every inhabited continent. His clients include the US Air Force, Australian Government, and Fortune 50 companies such as Microsoft, AT&T, United Health Group, Fannie Mae, and State Farm. Prior to becoming a Certified Speaking Professional, he was a leadership professor and stand-up comedian. 

He also managed nonprofit enterprises that provided employment for people with disabilities. In between presentations, David competes in ultramarathons and Ironman triathlons. David has a doctor of management degree in organizational leadership, as well as a graduate degree in psychology. He is the author of four books: - The Four Factors of Effective Leadership - The Freak Factor - The Freak Factor for Kids - Pink Goldfish.

Connect with David

Website: David Rendall

Connect with Us

To learn more about us, visit our website at www.18summers.com or email us at info@18summers.com. To get a copy of our book "The Family Board Meeting", click here.

Subscribe to 18 Summers Podcast and leave a rating and written review!

Social Media Channels

• Facebook Group: 18 Summers
• LinkedIn: Jimmy Sheils
• Instagram: @18summerstribe

No one has a perfect family, but everyone is willing to work together to build the family that we all want. In today's episode, Chris and Melissa Smith share encouragement about overcoming an almost-divorced experience, rebuilding their marriage, and reclaiming their family time together. Tune in to discover family values that bring more love, joy, and connection at home! 

Key takeaways to listen for

• How to align your business model with your family
• Profound ways to define your family identity 
• 7 family core values that foster excitement
• Impacts of surrounding yourself with successful married people
• Encouraging open communication within the family to strengthen relationships
• Parenting skills to educate children on vices

Resources mentioned in this episode

• The Go-Giver ⏐ Hardcover and Paperback
• DigitalMarketer
• The Campfire Effect
• Gift link: Weekly Check-Ins

About Chris & Melissa Smith

Chris and Melissa Smith are the founders of Family Brand, a podcast and website that helps families figure out what they want to be recognized for. They also help families define who they are and develop a family culture where relationships last and each family member is seen and valued for who they are.

With their 5 kids, they have guided dozens of families through their training, which teaches them how to identify what core values to build their family brand around and how to make their brand inspirational and transformative.

Connect with Chris & Melissa

• Website: Family Brand
• Podcast: Family Brand
• Instagram: @ourfamilybrand
• Facebook: Family Brand

Connect with Us

To learn more about us, visit our website at www.18summers.com or email us at info@18summers.com. To get a copy of our book "The Family Board Meeting", click here.

Subscribe to 18 Summers Podcast and leave a rating and written review!

Social Media Channels

• Facebook Group: 18 Summers
• LinkedIn: Jimmy Sheils
• Instagram: @18summerstribe