loader from loading.io

The Trades Are Calling: Why College Isn’t the Only Smart Option Anymore

It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Release Date: 08/05/2025

Life Skills and Leadership Skills | Feat. Kerry Beck show art Life Skills and Leadership Skills | Feat. Kerry Beck

It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Episode Sponsors:  🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Life Skills and Leadership Summit founder Kerry Beck joins Lisa as they delve into how to prepare students for the future and offer advice for building a strong foundation in students' lives. 📚 Episode Resources  – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families.  for students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree simultaneously.  EVERY mom can confidently, competently and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. The Life Skills...

info_outline The Case for Trades show art The Case for Trades

It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Episode Sponsors:  🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Lisa discusses why the trades are rising in importance and tips for starting students on the pathway to learning trade skills. 📚 Episode Resources  – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families.  for students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree simultaneously.  EVERY mom can confidently, competently and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. 🧾 Related Resources 👉

info_outline Trends in Education show art Trends in Education

It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Episode Sponsors:  🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) So, what is trending in education? So many things! Students learning AI, dual enrollment, and other skills that you and your students need to know. Join Lisa as she explains what is changing in education nowadays and how you can prepare as a homeschooler.  📚 Episode Resources  – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families.  for students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree simultaneously.  EVERY mom can confidently, competently and contentedly provide...

info_outline 7 Things Moms Should Know show art 7 Things Moms Should Know

It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Episode Sponsors:  🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Calling all retiring homeschool moms! Taking the steps to enter the workforce can be intimidating. But don't worry, you have what it takes! Join Lisa as she walks through the 7 things all homeschool moms should know to feel better prepared and encouraged to start off strong.  📚 Episode Resources  – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families.  for students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree simultaneously.  EVERY mom can confidently, competently and...

info_outline 6 Hard Truths in Education show art 6 Hard Truths in Education

It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Episode Sponsors:  🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) In this episode, veteran homeschooler and master of education, Lisa Nehring, explores the hard truths about education you may not know. Let's dive into teaching your students skills in AI, college closings nationwide, and more. 📚 Episode Resources  – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families.  for students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree simultaneously.  EVERY mom can confidently, competently and contentedly provide the complete high school education...

info_outline College for All and Where it Came From show art College for All and Where it Came From

It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Episode Sponsors: 🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Why is everyone attending college nowadays? A big question that Lisa explores in this week's episode. Decades ago, graduating high school and going straight to work wasn't uncommon, and only part of the student base headed off to start college courses. Now, it seems the reverse. How did that happen, and how does it affect us today? 📚 Episode Resources  – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families.  for students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree simultaneously....

info_outline Eat Together: How Meal Time Builds Connection show art Eat Together: How Meal Time Builds Connection

It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Episode Sponsors:  🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Did you know that eating together could help your kids' development? In this episode, Lisa dishes up the real-deal info on how eating as a family isn't just about fueling our bodies—it's the ultimate glue for building unbreakable connections. We're talking vulnerability over veggies, laughter laced with marinara, and those "aha" moments. Join Lisa to hear why choosing the dinner table over the TV is so important, and how it can impact your kids' lives. 📚 Episode Resources  – Live online classes, advising, and resources...

info_outline School in the Cloud: What Sugata Mitra Got Right show art School in the Cloud: What Sugata Mitra Got Right

It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Episode Sponsors: 🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) What if children could learn almost anything—just by being curious? In the last episode, we discussed how the 19th-century Prussian education model—designed to produce punctual, obedient workers and loyal soldiers—shifted the educational system in America.  In 1999, Sugata Mitra embedded a computer in a wall in a Delhi slum and watched as street kids, with no prior exposure to technology, taught themselves to browse the internet, play games, and even grasp complex concepts—all without a teacher in sight! Today, Lisa explores...

info_outline From Factory Floor to The Cloud show art From Factory Floor to The Cloud

It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Episode Sponsors:  🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) The public school system was designed in the 19th century to churn out workers for an industrial empire that vanished decades ago. Today, those same teaching tactics are keeping kids stuck in a world that no longer exists. In this episode, Lisa discusses the outdated roots of modern schooling, shows why it’s failing our children in a rapidly changing world, and hands homeschool parents the blueprint to build something better. 🚀 📚 Mentioned in This Episode  – Live online classes, advising, and resources for...

info_outline The Gratitude Gap show art The Gratitude Gap

It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) In this episode of It’s Not That Hard to Homeschool, veteran homeschool educator Lisa Nehring (of True North Academy) discusses living in a world overflowing with options—and for today’s teens, that can be paralyzing. What should I study? Should I go to college or start a business? What if I make the wrong choice? In a culture that glorifies hustle, comparison, and constant choice, gratitude is the grounding force our kids need. It quiets the noise. It helps them see that having choices is a gift—and that gift comes with...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Episode Summary

College is a path—but it’s no longer the only path to a thriving future. In this episode, host Lisa Nehring breaks down why skilled trades (think welding, plumbing, HVAC, coding, and more) are exploding in demand and offer solid pay, zero college debt, and AI-proof job security. You’ll hear real-world salary numbers, success stories, and how True North Academy’s Trades & Tech Track can launch teens straight from high school into meaningful, well-paid work.

Quick Listen Guide

Timestamp Segment
0:00 Welcome & episode tease—“the trades are calling”
0:55 Sponsor Break: Medical Transcription work-from-home opportunity (email info@medtranscription.com)
2:15 Why skilled trades beat the outdated “college or bust” mindset
2:34 Josh’s story—$60K HVAC salary vs. debt-heavy communications degree
3:09 Eye-opening stats: 40 % college dropout rate, 650K+ trade openings
3:41 Salary snapshot: electricians $60K, plumbers $63K, HVAC $55–85K, welders $50–90K, diesel mechanics $57K, elevator installers $88K
4:07 “Golden Age of Trades”: why AI can’t crawl under a house to reroute a sewer line
5:03 Cost & timeline to certify (many in 6–12 months; paid apprenticeships available)
6:05 Inside True North Academy’s Trades & Tech Track—two-year fast track, cognia-accredited diploma, hands-on academics
6:47 Ava’s story—19-year-old welder earning $58K and saving to start her own shop
7:31 Signs your teen might be born for the trades (and how to support them)
7:47 Call to action: Learn more at https://truenorthhomeschool.academy/true-north-trade-tech-diploma/ 
8:07 Closing encouragement & share request

Key Takeaways

  • Trades are booming: 650,000+ skilled-trade jobs are open in the U.S., many with starting salaries above $50K and strong growth projections.

  • Faster, cheaper path: Most certifications take < 1 year; many employers pay you to learn via apprenticeships.

  • AI-proof careers: Robots can draft an email, but they can’t fix a diesel engine or install solar panels on your roof.

  • Debt-free launch: Skip six years of college and tens of thousands in loans—start earning while your peers are still in lecture halls.

  • True North Academy solution: The Trades & Tech Track pairs accredited academics with hands-on trade exploration, preparing students for immediate entry into high-demand fields or further certification/associate degrees.

Links & Resources

Connect With Us

If this episode challenged your thinking, share it with a friend and leave a review—it helps more homeschool families discover fresh paths to success!

Keywords: trades education, skilled trades careers, homeschool high school, alternative to college, True North Academy, welding salary, HVAC apprenticeship, AI-proof jobs, homeschool podcast