30. How to choose the right school with Michael Carberry
Parents often have so many questions when it comes to choosing a school, and it’s easy to get confused about what is important and what isn’t. These days, kids are usually measured by report cards and behavior standard benchmarks that rarely reflect who they are or how they’re actually growing. But underneath all of that is the real question we should be asking as parents: What is school actually for? And, How will we know if it’s fulfilling that purpose?
To speak to this, I bought on Michael Carberry, the visionary founder the Whole Life Learning Center in Austin, which the school my daughter Della attends. I did a HUGE amount of research to find this school and believe whole heartedly in everything they’re doing.
We dig into how children truly learn — not through worksheets or test prep, but through everyday life. We explore what school is really teaching beneath the surface: how to feel (or repress feelings), how to relate, how to trust themselves (or not), how to struggle, and how to stay curious (or give up and comply).
In this episode, we explore:
How to think about the purpose of school
How identity forms through everyday play, challenge, and emotional moments
What school may really teaching our children beneath the surface
Why emotional intelligence drives lifelong learning even more than academics
What to look for when choosing a school environment
How dads can support curiosity, confidence, and self-trust at home
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Lovebird cares about cleaning up cereal at school too - they offer a price match guarantee - meaning, your school can swap from junk cereal to clean, organic cereal for the same price - google "lovebird k-12 cereal swap" or check out lovebirdfoods.com for more information.
Learn more about Whole Life Learning Center: https://www.wholelifelearningcenter.com/
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholelifelearning/
This episode was brought to you by our favorite Cereal Love Bird, who provides healthy cereal to schools, matching the same price they pay currently. Discount code bla bla bla
Watch the Full Episode
Joe Carr is an entrepreneur, advocate, and passionate educator on fatherhood and partnership. Driven by a desire to provide high-quality, nutrient-dense baby food for his daughter Della, Joe and his wife founded Serenity Kids baby food brand after experiencing their own health transformations through clean eating. Now, alongside his work in revolutionizing baby nutrition, Joe is on a mission to help new dads navigate the transformational journey of fatherhood. Through his podcast and social media platform Dadicated Joe, he shares real, honest conversations about showing up for your children, supporting your partner, and embracing the identity shift that comes with becoming a dad.
👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/
Michael Carberry is the Founder of the Whole Life Learning Center in Austin, Texas. As an educational visionary and innovator he has developed a holistic pedagogy focused on environmental sustainability, social justice, personal growth and empowerment. When he’s not at the Whole Life Learning Center, Michael can be found spending quality time with his family, playing music, taking care of the animals, working out, or turning the compost.
