How Homeschooling Sparked a Creative Career in Art & Animation

Subscribe to my email newsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/subscribe This week on the Ex-Homeschoolers Club, I had an absolutely joyful conversation with artist, teacher, and former homeschooler Noah Fontana. From the moment we hit record, it felt like two longtime friends reconnecting. We dove deep into Noah's unique homeschool upbringing, how his love of comic books and creativity shaped his early education, and how homeschooling helped him lean into his artistic talents. We also explored Noah's journey from animation work at DreamWorks to discovering his true passion in art therapy and teaching. If you've ever wrestled with the intersection of creativity, identity, and education, this episode is for you.Key Takeaways:How Noah's homeschool environment nurtured his passion for art and comicsThe connection between storytelling, animation, and emotional expressionThe challenges of people-pleasing, code-switching, and growing up in a controlled homeschool bubbleHow art therapy changed Noah's career trajectory and how he connects with students through creative expressionThe value of reframing "bad" traits like people-pleasing into useful tools when used mindfullyConnect with NoahInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teacher.noah/Grab a copy of his book Mixed-Up Metaphors: https://a.co/d/gHFVTq6Resources Mentioned:Jeneve Dube's podcast "Homeschooled": https://solo.to/homeschooled"Creativity, Inc." by Ed Catmull: https://a.co/d/h4CuAiQ"Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell: https://a.co/d/cfhPqpy Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview01:16 Meet Noah: New Guest Introduction02:38 Noah's Homeschooling Journey06:33 Artistic Passions and Early Influences12:49 Public Speaking and Personal Growth27:48 From High School to Career Beginnings28:06 Reflecting on SATs and Standardized Tests29:58 SAT and ACT Experiences31:22 College Application Process34:00 Choosing Between BA and BFA36:12 College Life and Education System Critique39:29 Exploring Art and Creativity50:05 Art Therapy and Career Shift01:00:48 Teaching and Art Therapy in Practice01:03:18 Debating Art Therapy Practice01:03:46 Impact of Teachers on Kids01:04:44 Incorporating Art Therapy in Classrooms01:05:05 Engaging Kids Through Art01:08:37 Homeschooling Insights and Advice01:11:59 Challenges and Rewards of Teaching01:17:46 Parents Learning to Teach01:24:42 Nostalgic Homeschool Memories01:32:08 Final Thoughts and PromotionsEnjoying the show? Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode. If you found Noah's story inspiring, leave us a review and share this episode with a friend who loves creativity or is on their own journey of self-discovery post-homeschooling. And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for updates, resources, and behind-the-scenes extras from the podcast!