Tip of the Week #352: Another Way to Think About Education (No Degree Required)

by | Jan 10, 2026 | Education, Tip of the Week

Hey, Everyone!

This year, I’m focusing on walking more. I keep telling myself I’ll go to the gym—and sometimes I do—but walking turns out to be the habit that actually sticks.

While walking, I’ve been listening to podcasts.

Lately, I’ve been binge-listening to the Degree Free Podcast, hosted by Ryan and Hannah Maruyama.

Their podcast explores:

  • how to learn outside the classroom

  • how to get work or build businesses without student debt

  • real strategies for skills, certifications, and experience that actually matter in today’s job market

The episodes cover everything from job search hacks and side hustle ideas to helping young adults navigate life after high school—all while challenging the old “degree = success” rule.

I have five kids. Some have gone to college; some have not. All of them are trying to figure out how to navigate life in their 20s. I wish I had discovered this podcast when they were younger.

If you’ve got teens in your life and they’re feeling the pressure to buy a college degree, this podcast may help.

If you’re familiar with Andrew Pudewa and the Institute for Excellence in Writing, he interviews Hannah Maruyama on his own podcast here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmE7suUn1Vk

By the way, I’m not necessarily opposed to buying what college sells. I’m simply opposed to going into debt to buy what college sells. If you feel the same, the Degree Free Podcast may help.

(By the way, I’m not affiliated with the Degree Free Podcast—just a listener.)

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Almost every Saturday, I send out a Tip of the Week.  The tip of the week is usually something I have picked up along the way that may make your life a little easier.

If you would like to hear from me (almost) every Saturday, just go to the home page of my site and plug in your name and email.   You will also get a free digital copy of my book on learning Latin (and almost anything else).  Just go here: https://dwanethomas.com/ and enter your name and email.

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If you are interested in learning Latin, you can go through the classes on my site 24/7.  I recommend the book Lingua Latina by Hans Ørberg.

If you tackle the book and find yourself bogged down, you may find the classes on my site helpful.  To join, just click here: https://dwanethomas.com/join/

If you want a more professionally filmed Latin learning experience, check out the best-selling DVD series: Visual Latin.

Or, if you want to skip Latin, and just jump right into learning English words from Latin and Greek roots, you may enjoy the series Word Up!  Warning.   Word Up! is a bit wacky.  You will learn a lot… but, you may find yourself rolling your eyes, too.

I teach other languages on my site, too.  The current schedule is here: https://dwanethomas.com/schedule/

By the way, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Not trying to pull a fast one on you. I only promote what I believe in. Not only that, but commissions from affiliate links allow me to continue offering training and books at low prices and sometimes free.