All the podcasts for homeschooling, unschooling and partnering with your children (that I love).
Radical Mothering No. 38
Hey!
I don’t know about you, but I LOVE a good podcast - I listen while I take long walks, cook, clean, fold laundry.. I mean, there are a ton of opportunities to put a podcast in your ears!
Here’s another thing about podcasts: when we choose to take the road less travelled, whether that’s homeschooling or counter-cultural parenting or whatever it is for you, we need someone in our ear reaffirming that what we’re doing is okay.
Podcasts have been my source of inspiration, encouragement, validation and support through much of my journey to do things a little differently.
So here we go. I’ve made a list of my favorite homeschool, unschool and peaceful parenting pods. These are all aligned with my own values - inclusive, Neurodiversity-affirming, and so on. They might not be everyone’s cup of tea and that’s okay!
As always, I only recommend podcasts I’ve actually listened to.
Parenting against the grain pods:
Sage Family - hosted by Rachel Rainbolt, and all about homeschooling, unschooling and gentle parenting
Your Parenting Mojo - this is a parenting podcast that is really a mixed bag of interviews and chats to researchers, coaches, academics - all related to parenting (not necessarily peaceful/gentle parenting! although it leans that way)
TILT Parenting - hosted by Debbie Never, the focus is on Neurodiversity and “differently wired” kids.
Out of Line podcast - a pod about stepping outside of the beaten path - def unschool-leaning but also looks at how we live with our children no matter whether they are school-going or not.
The Montessori Notebook podcast - hosted by Simon Davies and all about parenting and educating from a pretty non-dogmatic Montessori perspective
Consent-based Everything - I guess I should mention that I have a podcast!! I chat to people about all things consent and living in consent-based relationship.
Burnt Toast podcast - I can’t recommend this pod enough. It’s all about dismantling diet culture through parenting.
Home education & Unschooling:
The Unschool Files - Meghan loves to go deep and her conversations are always super inspiring and encouraging.
Virtual Kitchen Table - I love these long chats about common homeschool topics!
Rethinking Self-directed Education - Bria and Daveed are brilliant and I have learned so much from their conversations.
Honey I’m homeschooling the kids - Robyn is such a wealth of knowledge and her guests are always really interesting!
Off-Trail Learning - hosted by Blake Boles, this is one of the first pods I listened to, even before we started homeschooling. Really fab for self-directed folk!
Fare of the free child Podcast - sooo much goodness here, I’m still working my way through this one. Essential if you’re wanting to look beyond unschooling as an educational method (which I highly encourage everyone to do!)
Bookend Homeschoolers - okay this is very middle of the road homeschooler vibe, but there are some fun convos and ideas if you’re an eclectic homeschooler and feel less drawn to unschooling or SDE
Exploring Unschooling Podcast- Pam is the real deal in the unschooling world, and this pod is so worth delving into.
Radical Learning Talks - Sari and Becka are super fun and cool and smart and their convos always leave me feeling inspired!
The Unschool Space - Esther is so thoughtful and a wonderful host, and this is the perfect pod if you’re wanting to hear from other families and their journey. Really affirming and encouraging.
The Life Without School Podcast - delves into some popular misunderstandings and doubts around home education and debunks the myths.
Brave Writer podcast - hosted by Julie Bogart, a delightful, if not always unschool-aligned, mix of inspiration for homeschoolers of all stripes!
Unrelated but totally relevant:
Nice White Parents - this pod was so helpful in understanding why public school is not the great equalizer we might all think it is. US-based.
Sold a Story - about the debate between balanced literacy and Science of Reading. It’s super interesting but not without its flaws.
I’d love to hear your recommendations!