E22: Homeschooling, AI & Working Moms: A Deep Dive with Recess Founder Ben Somers

In this episode of SaaSy Moms, Anya and Wendy sit down with Ben Somers, co-founder of Recess (https://recess.gg) — the project-based learning platform redefining modern education.

We explore why homeschooling is exploding, how AI is reshaping childhood learning, what schools fail to teach, and why entrepreneurial thinking is now a core life skill.
This conversation is a deep dive into how kids learn, how to prepare them for an AI-driven future, and why traditional schooling is no longer enough.

If you're a working mom in tech balancing career, burnout, and raising future-ready kids — this episode is for you.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Intro: Why We’re Suddenly Thinking About Homeschooling
(21st Episode of SaaSy Moms about AI inspired the homeschooling curiosity)

(00:01:50) What Is Homeschooling Today? Not the 1980s Version
Modern homeschooling vs old religious models, rise in popularity

(00:03:50) Why 1 in 16 Families Are Now Homeschooling
Status signaling, tech parents, better tools, school trust decline

(00:07:50) Policy, ESAs & Why States Are Paying Parents to Homeschool

(00:11:10) Math Gaps: Is this true with homeschooling?
Concerns about math gaps in homeschoolers, tutoring, mastery learning

(00:15:34) Becoming Top 1% in Math: Ben’s Exact Formula for homeschooled kids
Beast Academy, Math Academy, spaced repetition, mastery-based learning

(00:19:10) Gaps in Soft Skills, Socialization & Reddit Horror Stories
Does homeschooling create socially awkward kids?

(00:23:50) Why Bullying Exposure Still Matters
Parents over-protecting → long-term resilience challenges

(00:27:50) Does the Legal System Protect Homeschooled Kids?
State-by-state oversight & child protection

(00:32:00) Building a “Whole Day” for Your Child: Curriculum, AI Agents & Customization
How Recess automates curriculum creation

(00:37:24) AI in Education: How Recess Curates Teachers, Materials & Skill Paths
From NVIDIA engineers to top YouTubers

(00:42:00) Cost of Homeschooling: Is It Really $15,000 a Year?
Actual averages and misconceptions

(00:45:55) Can a Full-Time Working Mom Actually Homeschool?
The honest answer for dual-career households

(00:52:00) Final AMA + AI Ethics in Child Learning Apps
QA, accuracy, and safety in AI-curated curriculum

#Parenting #Education #AI #WorkingMoms #Homeschooling #EdTech #MomsInTech #ChildDevelopment #FutureSkills