The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast

29:43

Episode 405 - Encouraging Your Child to Be Who God...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/05/20

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re bringing back an episode from a while ago where we talked about how to encourage your child to embrace who God made them to be and to value what truly matters when it comes to success. This is one of our favorite topics, and we think it led to a really meaningful conversation that we hope encourages you today!We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math

en

27:56

Episode 404 - Raising Capable Kids for the Real World...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/05/13

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we are talking about raising capable kids. As homeschooling parents, it can be easy to get focused only on academics, grades, and checking boxes, but at the end of the day, we want to raise young adults who can work hard, solve problems, serve others, and confidently step into the real world.This week, we are joined by Lisa Nehring from Truth North Academy, It's Not That Hard to Homeschool, and Blue Collar Homeschool, and we talk about

en

31:36

Episode 403 - Homeschool Moms Are Changing Lives

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/05/06

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re taking some time to encourage moms as we celebrate both National Teacher Appreciation Day and Mother’s Day.Homeschool moms don’t get nearly the recognition they deserve, so today is all about recognizing you and everything you do for your kids. From wiping runny noses and teaching your children to read, to dealing with attitudes, discipline, discipleship, and the countless other responsibilities that come with motherhood and

en

33:50

Episode 402 – Planner Moms, Relaxed Moms, and...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/04/29

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler podcast. We’re having some fun this week talking about the four homeschool personalities and some homeschooling “hot takes.” From planner moms to relaxed homeschoolers and everything in between, we’re seeing just how much our personalities shape the way we homeschool.We’ll read through different homeschool scenarios and decide together which personality they fit best and along the way, hopefully remind you that there’s no one “right” way to homeschool

en

35:50

Episode 401 – Parenting Adult Children (Even If Yours...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/04/22

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler podcast. This week, we’re talking about one of the biggest shifts in parenting, which is what it looks like to move from being in control when our kids are little to slowly letting go as they grow into adulthood. We discuss the tension of parenting older kids, learning when to speak and when to stay quiet, and what it really means to “pass the baton” while maintaining the relationship. Even if you don’t have adult kids yet, this is such an important

en

36:40

Episode 400 – Celebrating 400 Episodes of Encouraging...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/04/15

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler podcast! In this special episode, we’re celebrating 400 episodes of The Smiling Homeschooler and taking some time to reflect on the journey so far.We look back at the very beginning, including our first episode and talk about what led us to start the podcast in the first place. We revisit the heart behind The Smiling Homeschooler—encouraging families, bringing a little humor to the journey, and reminding parents that they’re not alone. We also spend some

en

28:14

Episode 399 - How to Stay Motivated at the End of the...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/04/08

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re talking about something nearly every mom struggles with at the end of the school year: motivation! As the school year winds down, motivation can be hard to find, and it’s easy to start questioning everything. Are we doing enough? Does this even count as school? Are our kids going to be ready for what’s next? We have a great conversation about those fears, and hopefully leave you encouraged to finish the year with confidence and

en

28:45

Episode 398 - Juggling It All & Getting Kids to Care

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/04/01

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we’re talking about something I think a lot of you are going to relate to.We start things off with a message from a homeschool mom who shared that she’s feeling overwhelmed right now—trying to juggle schooling her last two kids, being a grandma, planning a wedding, and everything else life is throwing at her. If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning a dozen plates at once, you are definitely not alone, and we want to encourage you today. We

en

28:17

Episode 397 - Shaping Your Homeschool Approach

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/03/25

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re introducing the newest regular member of our podcast crew, Katherine Petgen!Katherine is Todd’s daughter, a homeschool mom, a wife, and a homeschool graduate. She shares how homeschooling has impacted her life for the better, along with some of the lessons she’s carried into her own family. We also talk about her homeschooling personality type and how that can shape the way we approach teaching our kids. Lastly, we dive into the

en

28:42

Episode 396 - Encouragement Every Homeschool Family...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/03/18

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re bringing back a conversation from a couple of years ago that we think you’re really going to love. We had the opportunity to sit down with two very special guests—homeschooling pioneers David and Shirley Quine from Cornerstone Curriculum.They share so much wisdom from their decades of experience, along with a real heart for family and homeschooling. It’s one of those conversations that’s just packed with encouragement, and is something

en

27:39

Episode 395 – Recharging Your Homeschool Mom...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/03/11

Hey everybody, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we’ve got a fun episode for you!We are joined by Brandee Gillham from the Colorado State Homeschool Organization, and we’re going to be talking all about homeschool conventions. Whether you’ve been to one before or you’ve never even considered going, we’re going to unpack why they can be such a valuable part of the homeschool journey. We also talk with Brandee about how she got started homeschooling, when she went to her

en

32:38

Episode 394 - The Power of Books and Audiobooks in...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/03/04

Hey everybody, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler! This week we had a really fun conversation with Audiobook reader Jim Hodges. We talk about something that has been incredibly powerful in our homeschooling over the years… books and audiobooks.There is something special about the way stories engage our kids’ imaginations when they are listening or reading, picturing the characters, the places, and the adventure in their own minds. It’s a very different experience from just watching something

en

27:01

Episode 393 – Homeschooling Through Difficult Seasons...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/02/25

This week on The Smiling Homeschooler, Rissa joins Ben for a life update and a really honest conversation about homeschooling through different seasons.A few months ago, Rissa shared that she was walking through a very difficult time. During that season, homeschooling didn’t look the way it normally does in their home. It felt heavier. Slower. Survival-mode some days. In this episode, they talk about what it looks like to homeschool when you’re not at your best — when expectations have to shift,

en

26:56

Episode 392 - Homeschooling Without Support

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/02/18

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler! This week, we’re talking about something that almost every homeschool family faces at some point… what do you do when the people around you just don’t understand homeschooling?For a lot of parents, choosing to homeschool doesn’t just come with lesson plans and curriculum decisions — it comes with questions, raised eyebrows, and sometimes even criticism. Maybe it’s extended family. Maybe it’s friends. Maybe it’s your culture or community. Maybe someone you

en

29:16

Episode 391 - Help! Am I Qualified to Homeschool High...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/02/11

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler! This week we are talking about something that makes a lot of homeschool parents nervous… high school.High school often seems different. It feels heavier. The subjects get harder, the stakes feel higher, and suddenly all those quiet doubts start getting louder. Am I qualified? What about chemistry? What about advanced math? What about sports and social opportunities? Are we keeping them from something important? A lot of families say, “We’ll homeschool… but

en

38:34

Episode 390 - Home Is Where They Belong - A...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/02/04

Hey everybody, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler! This week we have a great episode for you. We’re joined by Gena Suarez and Deborah Wuehler from The Old Schoolhouse. They are longtime homeschooling veterans with a deep passion for encouraging and supporting moms throughout their homeschooling journey.We talk about why home is one of the best places for your kids, how homeschooling is truly an act of discipleship, and the kind of fruit you can see grow in your children over time. It’s an

en

28:24

Episode 389 - When Life Gets in the Way of Finishing...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/01/28

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler! Today’s topic is something that resonates with just about every homeschooling family: the pressure to finish the curriculum while still saying yes to all the amazing opportunities around us.We recently asked our followers over on Facebook what feels hardest right now, and another one of the most common responses was feeling torn between making steady progress through textbooks, lesson plans, and checklists — and making time for sports, church events,

en

30:07

Episode 388 - Balancing It All: Homeschool, Work,...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/01/21

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler!Today’s topic is something that resonates with just about every homeschooling family: busyness and balance. We recently asked our followers over on Facebook what feels the hardest to manage right now, and another common answer was trying to juggle school, work, church, activities, social events, and still find meaningful family time in the middle of it all. It can leave parents feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, and wondering if they’re focusing on the

en

31:04

Episode 387 - Is All This Arguing and Bickering Normal?

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/01/14

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler! Today’s topic is something that resonates with just about every homeschooling family: arguing and bickering. We recently asked our followers over on Facebook what the hardest part of homeschooling is right now, and the overwhelming answer was children arguing, bickering, and fighting. It makes getting school done difficult and often leaves moms feeling drained and without much joy by the end of the day. So this week, our goal is to bring some encouragement

en

28:32

Episode 386 - Resetting Your Homeschool Mindset for...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2026/01/07

Hey everybody, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler! We are kicking off our very first new show of the year. This is that time of year when everything just feels fresh again. Your brain gets a little reset, the stress of the holidays is gone, and it’s a great chance to rethink the things that didn’t work so well last semester. Maybe it’s time to change a routine, toss some of the stuff that doesn’t bring joy, or simplify a little. Co-ops are starting back up, routines are getting back in place,

en

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Edutainment Learning

Ralph Krauss

Daily Facts

Amalia Dupray and Montgomery Jones.

Les dents et dodo

BFMTV

Education Futures

Svenia Busson & Laurent Jolie

Out In The Hall

NHSA