The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast

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...

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 dra...

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 do...

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 y...

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...

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 hard...

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...

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 l...

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...

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...

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 t...

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 homeschooler...

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 homesc...

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 pr...

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...

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 t...

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 di...

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 le...

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 looki...

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 lear...

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 m...

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 tal...

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 abo...

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re joined by a very special guest — Ashley Wiggers from Homeschooling Today magazine. Ashley is a homeschooling mom and graduate who has a heart for helping families homeschool boldly. Our topic this week is: What should preschool look like, skipping kindergarten, and the road to reading. It was an amazing conversation, and we know you’ll...

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we're tackling the dreaded question: When should I start the school year? The answer isn’t always one-size-fits-all, so it should make for a great conversation. We’re also reminiscing about some of our family RV travels and talking about the lasting value of making memories together as a family. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making T...