5 Helpful, Encouraging & Fun Podcasts For Homeschoolers

Feeling overwhelmed trying to find a good homeschooling podcast? Discover five inspiring podcasts for different types of homeschoolers, including Waldof-inspired, nature-based, Christian, unschooling and gifted/neurodivergent kiddos.

Homeschooling may have more flavors than a modern ice cream-gelato-sorbet-frozen-custard shop, but there are three things nearly all types of homeschoolers need:

1. Connection with other homeschoolers.
2. Ideas on how to make homeschooling work for your family.
3. Encouragement from those who have come before us and who are experiencing similar challenges, failures, and wins.

This is especially true after the novelty of a new school year starts to wear off, and the real work and routines begin.

As a first-generation newer working-homeschooler (year two, woo hoo!), I know I wouldn’t have developed the confidence I needed to homeschool our son without stumbling across some homeschool veterans via podcasts.

I would listen in the car, on my walks and even when cleaning up after the kids went to bed.

For me, homeschooling podcasts provided a solid foundation on how to homeschool and create a curriculum, rhythm and culture  we could genuinely love and stick with.

Here, I’m sharing five helpful, encouraging and fun podcasts for homeschoolers to help keep things fresh, light and moving in the right direction.

A Quick Background On Our Homeschooling Journey

Like many Gen Xers and Millennials, we never intended to homeschool.

My mother was an early childhood education professor, and I started my educational journey at age five in a public Montessori school, which I loved and intended to share with our future children.

We have a girl and a boy who are six years apart. When my daughter was almost five, we sent her to Montessori school for Pre-K, which she loved, then didn’t love (darn it!) and then grew to love once more. 

At the time, homeschooling her was not an option, so we had to work through those weeks she begged to stay home, cried at drop-off, etc. It was rough, but our work schedules wouldn’t allow what we thought homeschooling would entail.

Fast-forward five years, she was established in school and it was time for her little brother, who was just 4, to continue the Montessori tradition…

…except that he struggled with the transition.

He didn’t want to go back; he missed us, he stayed up at night worrying to the point of tears (which he never did before school), he wasn’t getting enough sleep and he was just, well, looking sad and defeated.

All this despite the fact that he’d made friends and we knew he was in good hands.

Then one night, after several talks with my husband, it hit me. Our life circumstances had changed, and we could now homeschool him.

We didn’t know exactly what that meant, but we now knew several families who were homeschooling and looked at it very differently than when my daughter had started school.

So, we pulled him out and never looked back.

That was the easy part. The tricky part was figuring out how to homeschool, and that’s where the podcasts came in and made everything so digestible, simple and approachable for us.

Here, I’ll share a couple of the podcasts I found most helpful for our journey, along with other popular podcasts for homeschoolers with varying education philosophies, approaches and needs.

Please note that some of these Podcasters tackle topics beyond homeschooling, such as religion, political issues and health. These views do not necessarily reflect those of the author, Rethink:Rural, Raydient Places or its subsidiaries.

5 Inspiring, Encouraging And Helpful Podcasts for Homeschoolers

1. The Art of Homeschooling Podcast with Jean Miller (Waldorf-Inspired)

This was the first homeschooling podcast I came across. It took about nine months to listen to all the episodes, and I credit Jean Miller with training me to be a competent homeschool teacher. 

This podcast is focused on Waldorf-inspired education, is secular and does not promote the use of a standard curriculum, making it unique.

Jean has a master's in education and homeschooled her children before there was a Waldorf homeschooling curriculum available. Like us, she never intended to homeschool, so even with her educational background, it was a steep learning curve.

In The Art of Homeschooling, she shares how to design your own curriculum using block learning (covering one subject in-depth over a course of weeks versus jumping around to different subjects) or how to use boxed curriculum (not just Waldorf, but any curriculum) as a resource without getting overwhelmed.

Unlike other Waldorf-based podcasts and mentors, Jean doesn’t judge, expect parents to become Waldorf gurus or hold everyone to the same standard of what Waldorf-style education “should” be.

She also offers a lot of encouragement and tools for homeschooling parents to avoid burnout through self-care practices.

This is still my favorite podcast, with most episodes lasting around 10-30 minutes, making it easy to listen to while driving, exercising, cleaning up or doing other activities.

I also like that Jean keeps things very focused on homeschooling, very positive and encouraging.

2. 1000 Hours Outside with Ginny Yurich (Outdoor-inspired)

1000 hours outside fluctuates between being the #2 and #3 parenting podcast in America.

Although it’s not a homeschool-only podcast, the host, Ginny Yurich, homeschools her four children, talks with many of the world’s leading child development and mental health experts, and has just written a book, “Homeschooling: You’re Doing It Right Just By Doing It”.

Her mission is to help families spend more time outside, 1000 hours a year to be exact, but her podcast tackles a range of parenting and homeschooling topics like AI, the influence of screens on children, how free play benefits children, bullying, discipline, how parents can keep their happiness and sanity in a crazy world, how to talk to your children about pornography, the specific needs of girls and boys at various developmental stages, different styles of education, unschooling, Christian topics, art, science, health and hundreds of other episodes.

Ginny also has a master's in education, and left her teaching position to homeschool her children after becoming disillusioned with public education.

This is one of the rare podcasts that, in my opinion, can benefit and resonate with all types of homeschoolers and parents in general, making it a real gem.

Although some of her topics may resonate with everyone, I find the podcast overall to be beneficial for me as a homeschooler and a critically thinking parent.

Be sure also to check out the 1000 Hours Outside website, which offers a curriculum, the 1000 Hours Challenge, tools to help you get outdoors more with your kids, merchandise and much more.

3. The Homeschool Made Simple Podcast (Christian homeschooling)

Christians are one of the largest groups of homeschoolers in America, which can make sifting through podcasts a challenge.

However, the Homeschool Made Simple podcast stands out based on host, national speaker and educational consultant Carol Joy Seid’s simple method of making homeschooling effective, achievable and affordable, using literature-based learning.

Carol, a retired teacher turned homeschool mom, took much of her inspiration from Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore, considered the grandparents of homeschooling and Christian homeschooling.

The podcast covers a wide variety of religious and secular topics, including  AI, books, social media, sex-ed from a Christian perspective, homeschooling multiple ages, teaching the Bible, information on different types of homeschooling (unschooling, classical, etc.), self-care, family culture and over 200 episodes more.

She also regularly interviews other authors and well-known figures in the homeschooling and Christian homeschooling space.

This podcast is great for beginners and veteran homeschoolers, and has valuable information on parenting, education, discipline, technology and homeschooling for Christians and non-Christians.

4. Unschooling Mom2Mom (For Unschoolers)

Unschooling may seem simple, but it requires a lot of courage, planning, trust, unknowns and a willingness to be scrutinized and doubted without giving up.

There are also endless ways to unschool, which can make getting started seem overwhelming.

Unschooling Mom2Mom is hosted by a veteran unschooling mom of three successful adult children, Sue Patterson, and covers a wide range of topics, including transitioning to unschooling (deschooling), how to unschool, unschooling red flags, encouragement for unschooling parents and (the best part) the episodes are all bite-sized at 10-15 minutes a pop.

We’re not unschoolers, but I appreciate listening to the experiences and advice of other unschoolers, as it gives me ideas for lessons, finding learning opportunities in everyday life, helping children find and cultivate their gifts and passions and encouraging independent life-long learning.

It’s also inspiring to listen to the success stories, as it reminds me that kids are always learning, even if you think they’re not or that you’re not doing enough.

Whether you’re an unschooler, unschooling-curious or just looking for some inspiration for your homeschool, this is an excellent podcast to turn to with an open mind and when you have just 10-15 minutes.

5. Raising Lifelong Learners (For parents of the neurodivergent, gifted & kids who are differently wired)

Homeschooling can create a learning curve for every parent, but for parents of neurodivergent and kids who are differently wired (think gifted, ultra-creative and a-typical learners) it can be especially challenging.

If that sounds like you, then educational consultant, gifted specialist, author and speaker, Colleen Kessler’s podcast, Raising Lifelong Learners, could be your lifeline.

Colleen has become well-known for her gift of helping parents of neurodivergent, gifted and differently-wired kiddos create a homeschooling curriculum and rhythms that really work and make learning fun and natural, versus a battle.

She also helps restore confidence for parents and children, who may have had a rough go of public, private or even attempting home education.

Examples of topics include: busting myths about homeschooling neurodivergent children, how to cultivate emotional intelligence in learning, understanding executive function skills in gifted and twice-exceptional children, how to connect with neurodivergent children through learning, keeping up with gifted children and dozens more episodes.

Homeschooling kids who learn differently can be a lonely experience, as people judge harshly, and parents often struggle with doubts about their ability to do this. Colleen’s podcast can be a breath of fresh air and encouragement, whatever your season of homeschooling.

Final Thoughts on Finding Helpful Podcasts for Homeschoolers & Finding Connection, Ideas & Encouragement

These podcasts represent just five of hundreds of homeschooling podcasts and dozens of homeschooling methods and philosophies.

Whether you’re doing classical learning, nature-based learning, unschooling, world-schooling or a hybrid, there is undoubtedly a podcast to help you stay inspired, motivated and on track.

I also want to emphasize that although podcasts have helped me tremendously, they're only one, of many, resources we use.

For example, we’ve also gone to great lengths to cultivate a solid community of homeschoolers and friends with whom we meet weekly for co-op, classes, field trips and general fun.

The moms have become as close as the kids, and having the support and friendship of like-minded families makes the whole thing so much easier.

Despite the prevalence of homeschoolers in our area, we didn’t have much luck finding a co-op that aligned with our needs, so we created one!

The first year, we hired a teacher to teach a forest class and nature study for our Pre-K/Kindergarteners, and this year, the moms and dads are doing their own co-op lessons once a week. 

So, if you can’t find the in-person opportunities you’re looking for in your area, chances are others are looking too, so don’t be afraid to get out there, make connections and create your own community, co-op and resources.

Looking For More Homeschooling Inspiration?

Many families go rural as a way to complement their homeschooling plans and journey---because what better place to learn than immersed in a natural setting & the great outdoors!

Find more stories and inspiration on homeschooling and the benefits of rural living for children in the following articles:

•     Bringing The Homestead into Your Homeschool
•     How Country Living Builds Strong And Resilient Children (free eGuide)
•     Tips For Implementing Nature Journaling With Children Of All Ages
•     Homeschooling On The Florida Homestead
•     How Country Living Can Boost Brain Health in Adults, Children and Seniors