Welcome to Episode 34 of the Next Level Voices Series on Kultivation w/ Kevie!
In this empowering conversation, I sit down with author and storyteller Calvin Bagley, whose memoir Hiding from the School Bus chronicles an extraordinary journey of reclaiming identity, healing from religious trauma, and finding freedom after an isolated and unconventional upbringing.
Calvin opens up about growing up “no-schooled,” cut off from traditional education and broader society, and how that environment shaped his understanding of the world, himself, and faith. He shares the emotional and psychological challenges that followed him into adulthood and what it was like stepping into the world for the first time without a roadmap.
We talk deeply about redefining faith on his own terms, unlearning beliefs that no longer served him, and the courage it took to question the systems he was raised in. Calvin reflects on how curiosity, intentional healing, and self-compassion helped him rebuild his sense of self-worth and create a life rooted in purpose rather than fear.
This episode explores resilience, reinvention, and the power of choosing yourself even when it means rewriting everything you thought you knew. Calvin’s story is eye-opening, deeply human, and a reminder that transformation is possible no matter where you begin. You can listen to this episode in full on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or stream it directly here on the blog.
📱 Connect with Calvin Bagley
