Find Your Freaks cover art

Find Your Freaks

Find Your Freaks

By: Tonya Kubo
Listen for free

LIMITED TIME OFFER

£0.99/mo for 3 months - terms apply. Offer ends 31 August 2026.
Ever felt too weird, too loud, too soft, too real — or just too complicated to belong? This podcast is your proof that you’re not alone. Find Your Freaks features raw, unfiltered conversations with people who are building belonging in unexpected places — and doing it by showing up exactly as they are. Hosted by community strategist Tonya Kubo, this show digs into the messy, beautiful truth of what it takes to find your people. New episodes on Thursdays starting June 2025. Come for the stories. Stay for the humanity. And if something hits home? Tell your weirdest friend and visit Ever felt too weird, too loud, too soft, too real — or just too complicated to belong? This podcast is your proof that you’re not alone. Find Your Freaks features raw, unfiltered conversations with people who are building belonging in unexpected places — and doing it by showing up exactly as they are. Hosted by community strategist Tonya Kubo, this show digs into the messy, beautiful truth of what it takes to find your people. New episodes on Thursdays starting June 2025. Come for the stories. Stay for the humanity. And if something hits home? Tell your weirdest friend and visit https://findyourfreaks.com/Copyright 2026 Tonya Kubo Economics Personal Development Personal Success Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 030 – The Hidden Life of Working Homeschool Moms with Jen Mackinnon

    030 – The Hidden Life of Working Homeschool Moms with Jen Mackinnon
    Aug 6 2026
    030 – The Hidden Life of Working Homeschool Moms with Jen MackinnonWhy belonging should never require you to split yourself in twoWorking moms are often told they cannot give enough to their children.Homeschool moms are often told they should give everything to their children.So what happens when you are both?In this episode of Find Your Freaks, Tonya Kubo sits down with Jen Mackinnon, founder of Practical by Default and the Working Homeschool Mom Club, to talk about living at the intersection of two communities that were never designed to overlap.Jen shares why she began homeschooling reluctantly, what it was like to return to work outside the home, and how advice from both sides often amounted to the same thing: quit your job or put your kids in school. What began as one mom looking for people who understood eventually became a worldwide community of more than 30,000 working homeschool moms.Together, Tonya and Jen explore the judgment these moms face, the practical systems that make an unconventional life sustainable, and why the answer is rarely giving up one of the things that matters most.If you have ever been told that two important parts of your life cannot coexist, this conversation is your reminder that belonging does not require you to split yourself in two.You’ll hear how:Working homeschool moms can feel like outsiders in both working-mom and homeschool-mom spacesAdvice becomes judgment when the proposed solution requires abandoning your valuesThe pandemic changed public perceptions of homeschooling and created new challenges for familiesGrace and empathy make room for families to choose what actually works for themPractical systems should support your life instead of asking you to organize your life around themA buffer block creates breathing room when plans, deadlines, and family needs changeBudgeting your energy can be just as important as budgeting your timeOnline and asynchronous connections can provide meaningful community for busy momsListening without judgment is more helpful than assuming work or homeschooling is the problemTeaching children how to learn matters more than getting every lesson perfectEpisode Highlights[01:30] Meet Jen Mackinnon and the working homeschool moms who are her kind of freaks[09:50] Why judgment doubles when moms work and homeschool[15:50] Realizing this was not just one mom’s problem[20:00] What makes a system practical and sustainable[24:50] The buffer block and why leaving space in your week matters[30:50] Rethinking what community can look like for working moms[38:00] Why making mistakes does not mean you are failing your childrenResources & MentionsPractical by DefaultWorking Homeschool Mom ClubThe Canadian HomeschoolerMeet Our GuestJen Mackinnon is the founder of Practical by Default, where she helps working homeschool moms balance their careers, their children’s education, and everyday life with confidence. After struggling to find advice that did not tell her to quit working or stop homeschooling, Jen created the Working Homeschool Mom Club to connect with other moms making both work. What began as a small Facebook group has grown into a worldwide community of more than 30,000 members. Through practical resources, flexible planning tools, and honest conversations, Jen helps working homeschool moms create systems that support their real lives.Meet Your HostTonya Kubo is a community strategist, writer, and rebel with a cause: helping people find the place where they truly belong. She’s spent nearly two decades building online spaces that feel more like chosen family than comment sections, and she’s not afraid to call out the fluff in favor of real connection. As the founder of Find Your Freaks, Tonya brings together unconventional thinkers, builders, and bridge-makers who believe that “normal” was never the point. When she’s not hosting the show, she’s raising two daughters, leading client communities, and making meaning out of the mess.Support the ShowIf Find Your Freaks matters to you, help us keep it ad-free by buying us a coffee (or two!). Every dollar goes to production so more weirdos can find their people.You can purchase Find Your Freaks merchandise online through Abilities and Attitudes.Let’s Stay FreakyFacebook GroupLinkedInInstagramPodcast HubWhat’s NextSince recording this conversation with Jen, Tonya has started homeschooling her twelve-year-old again, this time with more experience and a different perspective. Next episode, she explores a question that keeps becoming more important online: When everyone sounds like an expert, who do you trust?
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • 029 – You're Not Lonely Because You're Alone

    029 – You're Not Lonely Because You're Alone
    Jul 23 2026
    Why belonging is built through alignment, not proximityMost people think loneliness is a math problem. More friends. More invitations. A busier social calendar. But what if loneliness has nothing to do with how many people surround you? What if it's actually about whether the people around you understand who you are?In this solo episode, Tonya Kubo reflects on her conversation with Alicia Shidler and unpacks one of the biggest misconceptions about belonging: that proximity creates connection. Alicia's story of leaving California for rural Michigan demonstrates that being physically close to people isn't the same as feeling known. Instead, belonging comes from finding people who share your values, understand your priorities, and make space for you to be fully yourself.Building on that conversation, Tonya explores how intentional living often challenges the expectations of others. Whether it's choosing a different lifestyle, raising a family differently, or pursuing goals that don't make sense to the people around you, living in alignment with your values can feel lonely at first. But that discomfort often becomes the pathway to finding the people who truly understand you.Tonya also examines the role community plays in that journey—both online and offline. Drawing from Alicia's experiences navigating homesteading groups and her own work as a community strategist, she explains why healthy communities aren't defined by their size but by their purpose, consistency, and ability to make people feel safe enough to participate. Because belonging isn't about collecting people. It's about finding the ones who feel like home.You’ll hear how:Loneliness is more about alignment than physical proximityFeeling understood creates deeper belonging than simply being includedIntentional living often challenges the expectations of othersOnline communities can become powerful places to build meaningful connectionIn-person and online communities each serve different but equally valuable purposesStrong community leadership creates trust through consistency and accountabilitySilent members are often paying the closest attention before they choose to engageClear purpose and healthy moderation help communities thriveAuthenticity helps you recognize the people who truly understand youBelonging begins when you stop trying to fit in and start living in alignment with your valuesEpisode Highlights[01:12] Why loneliness isn't simply a numbers problem[04:05] Alicia's move to Michigan and how alignment replaced proximity[07:50] What Tonya's front yard garden revealed about other people's assumptions[11:40] Why intentional living often makes others uncomfortable[15:05] Online communities aren't a consolation prize—they're often where belonging begins[18:45] What healthy communities do differently to create trust and safety[22:15] Why silent community members may be paying the closest attention[25:20] Finding your people by living authenticallyResources & MentionsEpisode 028 – What If It's Not Normal… But It Works? with Alicia ShidlerSustaining Humanity by Phil McKayMeet Your HostTonya Kubo is a community strategist, marketing consultant, and rebel with a cause: helping people find the place where they truly belong. For nearly two decades, she’s built online spaces that feel less like comment sections and more like chosen family. She’s the fixer you call when your Facebook group has gone straight-up Lord of the Flies and the bouncer at the door of internet nonsense. As the host of Find Your Freaks, Tonya brings together unconventional thinkers and bridge-builders who know “normal” was never the point. Her favorite spaces? The ones where the freak flags fly high.Support the ShowIf Find Your Freaks matters to you, help us keep it ad-free by buying us a coffee (or two!). Every dollar goes to production so more weirdos can find their people.You can purchase Find Your Freaks merchandise online through Abilities and Attitudes.Let’s Stay FreakyFacebook GroupLinkedInInstagramPodcast HubWhat’s NextNext time, Tonya sits down with Jen Mackinnon to explore what it means to belong in two worlds at once. Together, they unpack the unique challenges of balancing career and homeschooling, building community at the intersection of both, and why choosing a practical path doesn't mean settling for less—it means creating a life that works for your family.
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • 028 – What If It's Not Normal… But It Works? with Alicia Shidler

    028 – What If It's Not Normal… But It Works? with Alicia Shidler
    Jul 9 2026
    Why choosing an unconventional life often means finding the courage to belong anywayThere comes a moment when you realize that "normal" isn't actually the same thing as "right." Maybe it's reading ingredient labels for the first time. Maybe it's questioning a habit you've never thought twice about. Or maybe it's making a small decision that slowly changes the way you live your entire life.In this episode of Find Your Freaks, Tonya Kubo sits down with Alicia Shidler to talk about what happens after you stop chasing normal. From food and homesteading to parenting, community, and personal conviction, Alicia shares how one simple question—"What if there's a better way?"—led to a life that looks very different from the one she expected.Their conversation isn't really about tallow, sourdough, or raising chickens. It's about what it feels like to make choices that don't fit neatly into other people's expectations. It's about navigating the tension between staying true to your values and wanting to belong in the communities around you. And it's about discovering that living intentionally will almost always look a little strange to someone else.Whether you've questioned what's in your food, chosen a path your friends don't understand, or simply wondered if you're the only one doing life differently, this episode is a reminder that belonging doesn't require becoming more "normal." Sometimes it means becoming more yourself.You'll hear how:One small question can completely reshape the way you liveIntentional living happens one decision at a time, not all at onceCuriosity is more sustainable than fear when making lifestyle changesCommunity becomes more complicated when your values look differentOnline communities can be places to quietly learn before speaking upYou don't have to convince everyone else to validate your choicesModeling your values is often more powerful than arguing for themLiving differently doesn't have to mean living defensivelyBelonging is possible even when your life looks unconventionalEpisode Highlights[00:00] The marshmallow moment that started questioning "normal"[04:30] Building a family that spans very different seasons of life[11:45] Why intentional living happens one choice at a time[19:10] What online communities taught Alicia before she ever spoke up[26:00] Behind the scenes of moderating large Facebook communities[35:35] Belonging when your version of "normal" looks different[39:50] Why you can't force people to change—you can only show themResources & MentionsShidler GoodsHope & Stay by Sonya TuckerMeet Your GuestAlicia Shidler is the founder of Shidler Goods, a Michigan-based small business specializing in handcrafted tallow body care products. Passionate about intentional living, Alicia enjoys baking gluten-free sourdough, caring for livestock, reading ingredient labels, and continually learning how small, thoughtful choices can lead to a healthier and more purposeful life. Through her business and everyday life, she encourages others to question what "normal" means and embrace the practices that align with their values.Meet Your HostTonya Kubo is a community strategist, writer, and rebel with a cause: helping people find the place where they truly belong. She's spent nearly two decades building online spaces that feel more like chosen family than comment sections, and she's not afraid to call out the fluff in favor of real connection. As the founder of Find Your Freaks, Tonya brings together unconventional thinkers, builders, and bridge-makers who believe that "normal" was never the point. When she's not hosting the show, she's raising two daughters, leading client communities, and making meaning out of the mess.Support the ShowIf Find Your Freaks matters to you, help us keep it ad-free by buying us a coffee (or two!). Every dollar goes to production so more weirdos can find their people.You can purchase Find Your Freaks merchandise online through Abilities and Attitudes.Let's Stay FreakyFacebook GroupLinkedInInstagramPodcast HubWhat's NextNext time, Tonya explores why communities often mistake "the right way" for "the only way"—and how belonging begins when we make room for people whose paths look different from our own.
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet