My Top 5 Favorite Podcasts

I love listening to Podcast because it is an easy way to take in information while I am working around the house. I can listen while I wash dishes, pull weeds, or fold laundry. Today I thought I would share with you a list of my favorite podcast that have been a resource to me on my unschooling journey. Some are specific to unschooling, while others aren’t but still have been places of encouragement. 

1. Wild and Free

Wild and Free is a podcast meant to encourage homeschooling mothers who “want their children to not only receive a quality education, but also to experience the adventure, freedom, and wonder of childhood.” (https://www.bewildandfree.org/about)  They discuss what it means to let our children have a childhood and preserve their innate curiosity. They value time spent outdoors, following the child’s interests, and prioritizing family relationships. While they don’t uphold a single homeschool style, I’ve heard them referred to as geared towards Charlotte Mason and Unschooling styles of homeschoolers. While the organization is not specifically christian or faith-based, many of the contributors are, and discuss the role of faith in their homes. This podcast is the one I go to when I need some general encouragement towards the slow-paced, relationally-oriented home/homeschool I am trying to create. It holds a picture of the beauty of this season to remind me why I am choosing to prioritize a wonder-filled childhood.  

1. Unschooling Unleashed

This is a new podcast that just started publishing episodes recently, and is one I’ve very much enjoyed so far. The host of the podcast is very articulate about the benefits of unschooling and the advantages of choosing to educate our children without the restraints of the school system. This is a voice I find some comradery in listening to, as he is not a radical unschooler, and shares the Christian faith. He frequently reminds us how much new technology is going to change our world, and believes that creativity will be the necessary skill needed in the future.  I’m looking forward to see what the future episodes turn out. 

1. Life Without School

This is the podcast that helped me to make the plunge into unschooling. While the host is not a Christian, this was the first resource I found that didn’t present unschooling as radical unschooling, and instead presented unschooling as a journey where our children could follow their passions and maintain their curiosity in learning. He compares the parents role to that of a coach, and provides space for the child to press into their giftings, while not negating the parent’s influence.  I also think he does a fantastic job taking the questions that people ask us as unschoolers and homeschoolers, and instead of directly answering them, turns the question around and asks it of the traditional school system. He handles these topics that can otherwise feel sensitive in a respectful way that helps strengthen the case for unschooling without vilifying the questioner. 

1. Read Aloud Revival

There are so many great things about this podcast as a resource for parents looking for ideas related to reading aloud to our kids. My personal favorites are Sarah’s interviews of professionals on the science behind reading aloud to our kids, and researchers discussing the benefits. She also has great ideas for talking with our children about books, and lists of good wholesome books to read as a family. If you are passionate about reading with your kids, this is a great resource.

1. Brave Writer

This is one of the first podcast that I started listening to when I began to consider pulling my oldest out of school to homeschool. Julie, the founder of Bravewriter, has done a mix of relaxed homeschooling and unschooling with her own children, who have all graduated. So many of her ideas about homeschooling and teaching are very inspiring in creating a learning-rich environment. While she often discusses traditional teaching techniques, she clearly differentiates the difference between a child completing schoolwork and a child gaining understanding of a topic. She has so many ideas that get me thinking outside the box on how to help a child connect to ideas that we want our children to understand. She sprinkles her episodes with little information nuggets about the science of learning which have slowly helped to deschool. Julie often talks about how to help out kids to find value in what they are learning. While she does not talk from a Christian perspective, she does come from one of an experienced homeschool mom who can help you bring learning to life in your family. 

I would love to hear what your favorite Podcasts are. Which podcasts encourage you? Which do you find informative and helpful?