The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast

34:16

Episode 385 - You Don’t Have to Do It All: Letting Go...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/12/31

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we’re taking a short break to celebrate the New Year. But don’t worry—we’ve got a fantastic episode from our archives for you!Today we’re talking about the pressure so many homeschooling moms feel to teach it all… to hit every subject… and to start earlier and earlier with their kids. Our hope is to take some of that pressure off and remind you that it’s okay to let a few things slide. Before we get started, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks

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20:57

Episode 384 - The Moments Our Kids Will Remember

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/12/24

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler. We’re really glad you’re here with us today!We’re talking about memories. Not just big moments or picture-perfect days, but the kinds of memories our kids will carry with them when they’re grown—the feeling of being safe, known, and loved; the traditions we repeat year after year; and the time we choose to simply be together. We also want to talk honestly about how our minds often let the hard parts fade, while connection and relationship seem to last. If

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33:23

Episode 383 - When Friendship Is Hard (For Moms and...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/12/17

Hey everybody, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler podcast. Today we’re spending some time talking about friendships—for moms and for kids. This conversation was prompted by a message we got from a mom whose son is really struggling to find meaningful connection, even though they’re involved in church, homeschooling, and community. So we want to talk honestly about why friendships can be harder than we expect, the fears that drive us as parents, and what we can—and can’t—control when it comes

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27:23

Episode 382 - Simple Ways to Encourage a Mom This...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/12/10

Hey everybody, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler podcast. Christmas is coming fast, and today we’re spending some time talking about something super practical—what to actually get your husband for Christmas. Not the gimmicky stuff, but the quality gifts dads really appreciate, the things that last and feel meaningful.We’re also talking about gifts you can give other homeschooling moms, and not the things you buy from a store. Christmas can be overwhelming for a lot of homeschool moms, so

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32:36

Episode 381 - Breaking Free From the Lies of Fear

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/12/03

Welcome to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast. This week we’re focusing on something every homeschooling mom faces but isn’t always willing to talk about: fear. The fear of not measuring up, the fear of failing our kids, the fear that we aren’t enough for our children, and so many more. We walk through the most common fears parents carry, how those fears shape our decisions, and how to replace the lies with the truth, hope, and confidence that God provides. It’s a great conversation, and we hope you

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33:47

Episode 380 - Guarding Their Hearts: What Should Our...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/11/26

Welcome to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re diving into a topic every homeschooling family wrestles with: deciding what content, movies, and shows we allow into our homes. We talk through how we make those decisions, what standards guide us, and share a few recommendations that have worked well for our families.We are also joined by a very special guest — Todd's son, Sam Wilson, lead animator for Season 3 of The Wingfeather Saga. He gives us an inside look at the new season and

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22:11

Episode 379 - The Lessons That Stick Aren't From a...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/11/19

Hey everyone, welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast. Todd flies solo this week and he shares an honest look at homeschool basketball season — the joys, the exhaustion, and the commitment to showing up for our kids. He encourages parents not to feel guilty about what they aren’t doing, but to celebrate the memories they are making.Todd then dives into the idea of “electives” in homeschooling — and why in a homeschool environment, everything can be an elective! From animation to hair styling

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34:39

Episode 378 - Homeschooling During a Hard Season of...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/11/12

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast. We are really glad you’re here today, because this week’s episode is going to be a little different. Ben's wife, Rissa, is joining him, and she’s opening up about some of the struggles she’s been walking through over the past few months. She’s going to share honestly about what homeschooling can look like when life feels heavy, and offer encouragement to any mom who’s in a tough season right now.So if you’ve been feeling worn out or like you’re not doing

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33:38

Episode 377 - Making Math Less Miserable

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/11/05

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!We’re glad you’re here. This week, we’re talking all about math—what really matters, how we actually use it in everyday life, and how you can help your kids (and maybe yourself) smile a little more while doing it. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. Their match curriculum helps thousands of homeschoolers smile each and every day, and we would encourage you to check it out for next school year over at

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30:18

Episode 376 - Investing in Family: Why Vacations and...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/10/29

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!This week on The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast, we’re back from vacation and talking about why family trips are worth every penny. Vacations can be expensive and a lot of work — especially with kids — but we believe they’re an incredible investment in your family’s relationships and memories. We also chat a bit about taking breaks during the homeschooling year and share a few thoughts about Halloween. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making

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26:18

Episode 375 - The Reward of Investing Time in Your...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/10/22

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Thank you for joining us! This week, our family is on vacation, so we’re bringing you an episode from the archives. In this conversation, we were joined by Renee Miller, founder of Miller Pad and Paper. She’s a veteran homeschool mom of four with a passion for encouraging moms to invest time in their children—because the fruit that homeschooling produces is truly amazing. Please enjoy! We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling

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33:05

Episode 374 - Surviving Spelling and English Without...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/10/15

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!We’re so glad you’re joining us. This week, we’re talking about a topic that can trip up just about every homeschool family at some point — spelling and English! Whether your kids are natural readers and writers or still struggling to remember “i before e except after c,” we’re going to talk about what really matters, what doesn’t, and how to keep a smile on your face through it all. But Before we begin We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making

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32:53

Episode 373 - Hard Days Happen: You’re Not Alone

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/10/08

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re revisiting a powerful episode all about those tough days — when homeschooling feels overwhelming, parenting feels heavy, and sometimes… you just need to cry. It’s something every homeschooling mom experiences at some point, and we want you to know — you’re not alone. So sit back, take a deep breath, and join us for a conversation that’s honest, real, and hopefully, encouraging. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The

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30:20

Episode 372 - Does Science Have to Be So... Scientific?

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/10/01

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!This week we’re asking a big question: Do all those scientific terms, formulas, and technical details really matter in everyday life? Sure, they have their place—but when it comes to homeschooling, maybe our real job isn’t drilling vocabulary words or memorizing the periodic table. Instead, what if the best gift we can give our kids is a love of discovery? A sense of wonder about how the world works, and the freedom to chase the questions that spark

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32:33

Episode 371 – The Smiling Homeschooler’s Guide to...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/09/24

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re tackling a subject that can feel a little overwhelming for many parents: teaching literature. What’s the actual point of it? How much is really enough? Do we need to check off a long list of classics and assignments, or is there a simpler way to nurture a love for great stories? We’ll talk through what matters most, what you can let go of, and how to make literature something that brings joy rather than stress in your homeschool.We

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27:52

Episode 370 - Education or Indoctrination? -...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/09/17

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today, we’re diving into a big question: Is college really the best path for everyone? For decades, it’s been presented as the obvious next step after high school, but in today’s world, is that always true?We’ll be talking about the risks, the challenges, and even some of the dangers of college—especially in light of recent events—while also looking at alternatives that might better fit your family. Our goal isn’t to make the decision for you, but

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26:33

Episode 369 - Does Learning Have to Be Fun to Be...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/09/10

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re asking the question: Does learning always have to be fun to be valuable? In today’s world, it feels like everything has to be exciting, engaging, and entertaining to matter. But what about the times when things feel… well, boring?Can kids still learn deeply even when they aren’t entertained? And is it possible that growth and learning are still happening, even during those boring moments? We’ll dig into these questions and more—and

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32:07

Episode 368 - Our Non-Negotiables: Setting Priorities...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/09/03

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we’re talking about something that can make or break your school year — your non-negotiables. Every family has different priorities, but if you don’t know what’s most important to you, it’s easy to get distracted by all the extras and other peoples opinions. Today we’re going to share some of our own non-negotiables, talk about why they matter, and hopefully help you think through what you want to hold onto in your homeschool this

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32:25

Episode 367 - A Real Life Start to a New Homeschool...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/08/27

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!This week Ben is joined by his wife, Rissa, as they talk about the start of a brand-new homeschool year. They'll dive into the curriculum she’s using, how the first week didn’t go exactly as planned, and what it looks like to adjust when some of the material turns out to be too advanced for one of their kids. He is also joined by his cousin Perry to talk about a new audio drama from the Jesus Film Project, which he had a hand in creating. This is

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47:28

Episode 366 - From Curiosity to Conviction: Our...

The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast ·

2025/08/20

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!This week we’re joined by a brand-new homeschooling dad, Dustin Garrett, who’s just getting ready to start the adventure. We’ll be talking about what led his family to homeschool, What they are hopeful for, their approach to homeschooling so far, and a whole bunch more. We’re also excited to have Todd's daughter, Katherine Petgen, with us to share about her upcoming online story writing class for homeschoolers. These were fun and encouraging

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