The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast

Episode 297 - Should You Homeschool Your Child, Even if They Don't Want to?

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are back with a great new episode this week! Todd just got back from a convention in Fort Worth Texas,...

Episode 296 - Enjoying God's Creation as a Family - With 1000 Hours Outside - Genny Yurich

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Todd is speaking at a homeschooling convention in Texas this week. So we are replaying an awesome episode...

Episode 295 - The 8 Great Smarts with Dr. Kathy Koch

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! My name is Ben wilson, and today we are playing an episode from a while back, where we were joined by Kat...

Episode 294 - What Has Been the Hardest Part of Homeschooling Right Now?

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! My name is Ben wilson, and this week we asked our listeners, what is the hardest part of homeschooling fo...

Episode 293 - Understanding Our Children’s Unique Personalities

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Ben had his son this past week, so he starts the episode to talk about how the birth went, and trying to ...

Episode 292 - Be Your Child's Cheerleader - Equipping Them to Dream

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! On this week's episode, our topic is equipping your child to find their own way as they grow older, and b...

Episode 291 - Valuing The Gift of Being a Woman

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! It is currently National Women's History Month, and because of this, we decided to talk about how importa...

Episode 290 - How to Help Your Child Plan for the Future

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are replaying a great episode from a few years ago. We had a great discussion about how to equip and e...

Episode 289 - Distinguishing Between Your Child's Learning Hurdles and Laziness

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! In this episode we are talking about a question we hear often from our listeners,  how do you know the d...

Episode 288 - Homeschooling During Hardship

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! In this episode, we talk about homeschooling during hardship. It is part of every person's life, and havi...

Episode 287 - How to Be Happy While Homeschooling - With Charline Notgrass

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are playing an episode from a couple of years ago, where Charlene Notgrass joined us from No...

Episode 286 - Why Homeschooling Conventions Are Amazing!

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are getting closer to Homeschool convention season, which is one of our favorite times of the year! So...

Episode 285 - Standing Strong Against the Worlds Philosophy in Homeschooling

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we are talking about standing strong against the world's philosophy in homeschooling. There is so m...

Episode 284 - Homeschool Curriculum Changes, Successes, and Beating the Winter Doldrums - With Debbie Wilson

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! My name is Ben Wilson, and we have a great episode for you this week! We are joined by Todd's wife,  Deb...

Episode 283 - Homeschooling Can's and Can'ts

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are discussing what homeschooling can do, and what it can't do. This episode was inspired by...

Episode 282 - Are Extracurricular Activities Essential?

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week our topic of discussion is extracurricular activities. There are so many options and pressures ...

Episode 281 - The Ten Most Important Things We have Ever Learned

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are back with our first episode of 2024! So to start this year off, we created lists of the top 10 mos...

Episode 280 - Homeschooling and Parenting Are the Same!

27 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler We are taking a short Christmas break, so this week we are playing an episode from a couple of years ago. We discu...

Episode 279 - Take a Christmas Break!

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week join Todd for a short Christmas episode! We hope you enjoy this quick shot of encouragement and...

Episode 278- Favorite Christmas Traditions

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! It is less than 2 weeks until Christmas! We can hardly believe it! This week we want to keep with the fes...

Episode 277 - The Pitfalls of Homeschooling and How to Avoid Them

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week are talking about the fact that although we believe homeschooling is amazing and something that...

Episode 276 - What is More Important?

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are talking about what really matters, Math or science? History or Spelling? Cursive, or pri...

Episode 275 - A Unique Way to Teach Science - With CrossWired Science

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we were joined by homeschooling veterans and the creators of CrossWired Science, Don and Renita...

Episode 274 - Valuing the Gift of Time With Your Children - With Renee Miller

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are joined by a veteran homeschooling mom of four, Renee Miller. Renee and her husband Ran...

Episode 273 - The Most Frequently Asked Questions by Homeschooling Moms

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are going to answer the most frequently asked questions by Homeschooling Moms. Over the year...

Episode 272 - Cherish Every Moment

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are back with a new episode! After a great family vacation, we've been thinking a lot about the spee...

Episode 271 - How to Manage Learning Frustration and Prevent Burnout - With Debbie Wilson

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We just got back from vacation today, so we are currently recovering! So we are replaying an episode from...

Episode 270 - What to Do When You Feel Like Crying

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are on vacation this week, so we are replaying an episode from a while back. If you homeschool, then c...

Episode 269 - Learning Gaps Happen, and That is Okay!

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week our topic is the fact that every child will have learning "gaps" and that is okay! This is one ...

Episode 268 - Breaking Free From the Fear of Failure

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we have a fantastic episode for you! We were joined by Ashley Wiggers with Homeschooling Today Maga...

Episode 267 - How to Handle Interruptions to Homeschooling

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Our topic this week is a major aspect of life, interruptions. We talk about how to handle them, and wheth...

Episode 266 - Should Your Kids Have a Say in How you Homeschool Them?

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week talk about whether or not your child should have a say in how you homeschool them. We receive q...

Episode 265 - Taking a Leap of Faith - With Jan Smith

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are joined by homeschooling veteran, speaker, and leader, Jan Smith. She shares her wisdom a...

Episode 264 - What to Expect When You’re Homeschooling

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we are talking about what you can actually expect when it comes to homeschooling. Whether you are n...

Episode 263 - What Should Our Priorities Be?

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we have a great episode for you! We discuss what the actual priorities look like for each subje...

Episode 262 - Fun Questions with The Big Bash from World Watch News!

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we are joined by Brian The Big Bash Basham from World Watch News! We talk about World Watch News, a...

Episode 261 - How to Handle a Rough Start to the School Year

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week was a fantastic episode! We were joined by Debbie Wilson, to talk about dealing with a rough st...

Episode 260 - The Four Whys Behind Homeschooling

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week Todd gives the four whys behind why we homeschool!  These are important to know and remember, ...

Episode 259 - Don’t Start the School Year Yet! + Favorite Curriculum

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are back with a brand new episode! We have been hearing rumors of lots of moms that are thinking about...

Episode 258 - How to Have a Great Homeschooling Co-op Experience!

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are busy enjoying summer, and hopefully, you are too! It isn't time to start school yet, but one thing...

Episode 257 - Teaching Your Kids About Money - With Charla McKinley

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! On today's episode, we are joined by Charla McKinley creator of Beyond Personal Finance and the Artisan o...

Episode 256 - It’s summertime!

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week Todd is flying solo! He talks about spending time at the county fair, and answers some summer-r...

Episode 255 - Family Friendly Movie Night Recommendations

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This is the week of the 4th of July, so this episode is a day late! Summer is a fantastic time to have fu...

Episode 254 - Celebrating the Freedom of Homeschooling

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are only a few days away from the 4th of July, so we are talking about the freedom we have to homescho...

Episode 252 - Celebrating Our Children

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we are talking about taking time to celebrate your kids and letting them know how important they ar...

Episode 252 - Parenting is Hard!

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are doing something a little bit different, we talk about the origins of Familyman Ministrie...

Episode 251 - Fostering a Love of Homeschooling in Your Children - With Ashley Wiggers

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! It is Ben's wedding anniversary on the day we normally record, so we decided to replay an awesome episode...

Episode 250 - All Homeschoolers Have the Same Struggles

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are back this week for episode 250! We have a great show for you! We talk about some of the conversati...

Episode 249 - Are You Actually Behind in Homeschooling?

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We talk to and hear from so many homeschool moms, and one of the most common things they say, is that the...

Episode 248 - End of the School Year Review and Listener Questions Answered - With Debbie Wilson

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we were joined by Debbie Wilson to talk about how her school year has gone. What she has enjoye...

Episode 247 - One of the Best Things You Can Do For Your Child is Homeschool

10 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!  This week we talk about homeschool appreciation week, the impact putting your kids in public school cou...

Episode 246 - Creating a Biblical Alternative to Disney - With Davy Liu - Kendu kids

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are joined by Davey Liu, founder of Kindu Kids! He is an animator, author, and visionary. Hi...

Episode 245 - Reasons Not to Homeschool and a Homeschooling Check-in

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week Ben was joined by his wife Rissa to check in on how their homeschooling year has gone. They dis...

Episode 244 - When Should You Graduate Your Child?

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we talk about when it is a good time to graduate your kid and what does a homeschool graduation eve...

Episode 243 - Homeschooling Community is Important!

12 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are playing an episode from a couple of years ago where we were joined by David and Leslie N...

Episode 242 - What To Do When You Feel Like You’re Behind in Homeschooling

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we are talking about what to do when you feel like you are behind in your homeschooling, some of th...

Episode 241 - Can You Be Too Relaxed in Homeschooling?

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we discuss if it is possible to be too relaxed in your homeschooling and what to do if your chi...

Episode 240 - The Best Homeschooling Advice We’ve Been Given!

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are replaying an episode from a couple of years ago. We asked our listeners what the best Ho...

Episode 239 - Energizing Your Homeschooling, and Motivating Teens

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we are talking about how to energize your homeschooling, how to deal with attitudes and character i...

Episode 238 - Balancing a Clean House and Homeschooling, Fighting the Feeling of Failure, and More Listener Questions

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we answer some listener questions. These include how to balance a clean house, kids, and school...

Episode 237 - Socialization and Homeschooling Conventions

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! My name is ben Wilson, this week we talk about the age-old topic of socialization, and we also discuss ho...

Episode 236 - What is Okay to Let Slide?

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! There is so much pressure on homeschooling moms to teach it all, hit every subject, and start while their...

Episode 235 - Every Child is Unique, and That is a Good Thing - With Pat Mills

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's day! This week we are replaying an episode from a couple of ...

Episode 234 - Playing Outside is School! - 1000 Hours Outside - Genny Yurich

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we have an awesome episode for you! We were joined by Genny Yurich from 1000 Hours Outside! She is ...

Episode 233 - Every Child is Smart! - With Dr. Kathy Koch

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we have an amazing episode for you. We were joined by Author, and speaker Dr. Kathy Koch to tal...

Episode 232 - Dealing With Attitudes!

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we are talking about something that every parent and homeschooling mom has had to deal with, and th...

Episode 231 - Audio Drama For the Entire Family - With Brinkman Adventures

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This we were joined by Ian Bulton of Brinkman Adventures. They create absolutely incredible audio dramas ...

Episode 230 - Starting the Second Half of the School Year - With Debbie Wilson

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are joined by Debbie Wilson, to talk about how to beat the dreaded winter doldrums. She also...

Episode 229 - Encouraging Homeschool Goals and Hopes for 2023

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are back with a new episode this week! It is 2023, and in honor of this, we go over our listeners' hop...

Episode 228 - How to Squash Doubt in Your Homeschooling - With Jamie Erickson

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We hope you and your family had an amazing Christmas! We are going to take one more week off without a li...

Episode 227 - The Stranger - A Christmas Story

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! To celebrate Christmas we decided to replay an episode from last Christmas, Todd reads one of his Christm...

Episode 226 - Slowing Down for Christmas

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We love Christmas here at the Smiling Homeschooler! It is an amazing time of year to make memories with y...

Episode 225 - A Fun Show Your Entire Family Can Watch - With Sam Wilson

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are joined by Todd's son, Sam, to talk about a new Christian-based animated show he is worki...

Episode 224 - Is It Even Possible to Have a Stress Free Christmas?

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are officially in the Christmas season! This is one of our favorite times of the year, but it can also...

Episode 223 - The Homeschooling Things Our Listeners are Thankful For

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Thanksgiving is in just a couple of days, so we asked our followers what homeschooling things they were t...

Episode 222 - How to Help Your Child Feel Smart

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are talking about how every child is smart but in different ways. The world puts a lot of pr...

Episode 221 - How to Avoid a Bad Homeschooling Experience

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are talking about how to avoid a bad homeschooling experience. It is always sad when we talk...

Episode 220 - Big Books and Facts Don’t Equal School!

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are back with a new episode after taking a couple of weeks off for vacation! So this week we are talki...

Episode 219 - Tips for Teaching Writing - With Debbie Wilson

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are out for one more week on vacation and are currently making our way back to Indiana, but we should ...

Episode 218 - Keeping the School Day Short - With Durenda Wilson

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week our family is on vacation! So we are revisiting an episode from over a year ago, where we inter...

Episode 217 - World News From a Biblical Perspective - With Brian Basham from World Watch

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we are joined by, Brian Basham, Also known as the big bash,  from World Watch, to talk about how t...

Episode 216 - You Aren’t Homeschooling Alone - With Tara Bentley

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we were joined by Tara Bentley, from the Indiana Association of Home Educators, to talk about s...

Episode 215 - What To Do When You Are Brought to Tears

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we are talking about what to do when you are brought to tears. This is something every homeschoolin...

Episode 214 - Keep Your Eye on the Prize!

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week Ben was joined by my wife Rissa, to talk about keeping your eye on the prize, and the transitio...

Episode 213 - Are Homeschooling and Parenting the Same Thing?

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we talk about whether or not homeschooling and parenting are the same thing! This is an important t...

Episode 212 - The importance of Encouraging One Another

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we talk about the things that cause the most discouragement for most homeschooling moms, and ho...

Episode 211 - Starting the School Year Strong - With Debbie Wilson

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! On this episode we are joined by Debbie Wilson, to talk about the start of the school year. She explains ...

Episode 210 - Encouraging Advice for New Homeschoolers - With Rissa Wilson

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we posted on Facebook asking for your best advice for new homeschoolers. We had well over 200 h...

Episode 209 - It’s Not About What They Do, But Who They Are

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we are talking about how to help encourage your child who is thinking about the future, and what tr...

Episode 208 - Why We Do What We Do - Our 4 Year Anniversary!

10 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week marks the four-year anniversary of the Smiling homeschooler! We want to thank all of you for li...

Episode 207 - Equipping Your Child Who Learns Differently - With Abe Wilson

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week Ben was joined by his brother Abe to talk about encouraging and equipping a child who learns di...

Episode 206 - Be Happy Homeschooling! - Charlene Notgrass

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we are joined by Charlene Notgrass from Notgrass history. She is a homeschooling veteran, and autho...

Episode 205 - Enjoying The Time You have With Your Kids

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Our family is enjoying summer and we hope yours is too! We decided to reply an episode from a couple of y...

Episode 204 - Listener Questions with Todd and Debbie

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Todd is on his own, and answered a bunch of listener questions, and was even joined by his wife Debbie for one question! This is a great epi...

Episode 203 - Homeschooling Freedoms We are Thankful For!

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week was the 4th of July here in the United States. So we give a list of the homeschooling freedoms ...

Episode 202 - Homeschooling Tips for the 4 Homeschool Personality Types

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we have some homeschooling tips for the four different homeschool personality types. This is a ...

Episode 201 - The Swan and The Piper - Homeschool Personality Test

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we are continuing our deep dive into the homeschool personality test. We are going to be talkin...

Episode 200 - Discover Your Homeschool Personality Part 2 - The Falcon and The Owl

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 200 of the Smiling Homeschooler We can't believe we have made it to this many episodes! We appreciate all of our listeners and than...

Episode 199 - Discover Your Homeschool Personality

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast. Tonight we're going to begin the conversation about our new Homeschool Personality Test. We'll talk about...

Episode 198 - The Fear That Your Children Are Behind

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Smiling Homeschooler podcast! Today we are talking about some observations from the many homeschool moms that Todd talked to over the l...