The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler podcast! In this special episode, we’re celebrating 400 episodes of The Smiling Homeschooler and taking some time to reflect on the journey so far.We look back at the very beginning, including our first episode and talk about what led us to start the podcast in the first place. We revisit the heart behind The Smiling Homeschooler—encouraging families, bringing a little humor to the journey, and reminding parents that they’re not alone. We also spend some time sharing a few of our favorite guests and moments over the years, and how those conversations have impacted us personallyFinally, we talk about where we hope to go from here and what we’d love the next 400 episodes to look like as we continue encouraging homeschoolers to smile. Before we get started, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making what we do possible. They help thousands of homeschoolers smile every day, and if you haven’t checked them out yet, you can do so at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and redeemhealthshare, where members are committed to honoring Christ through a community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bill. Redeem HealthShare helps families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7B0 about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries. Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we’re talking about something I think a lot of you are going to relate to. We start things off with a message from a homeschool mom who shared that she’s feeling overwhelmed right now—trying to juggle schooling her last two kids, being a grandma, planning a wedding, and everything else life is throwing at her. If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning a dozen plates at once, you are definitely not alone, and we want to encourage you today. We also discuss something that multiple listeners brought up: how do you get your 10–12-year-olds to actually care about what you’re teaching? Sometimes they just don’t see the value in what they’re learning. We offer some tips and encouragement for that as well. As always, we hope this episode leaves you feeling encouraged! Before we get started, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making what we do possible. They help thousands of homeschoolers smile every day, and if you haven’t checked them out yet, you can do so at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and redeemhealthshare, where members are committed to honoring Christ through a community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bill. Redeem health share helps families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL6M0 about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re bringing back a conversation from a couple of years ago that we think you’re really going to love. We had the opportunity to sit down with two very special guests—homeschooling pioneers David and Shirley Quine from Cornerstone Curriculum. They share so much wisdom from their decades of experience, along with a real heart for family and homeschooling. It’s one of those conversations that’s just packed with encouragement, and is something every mom needs to hear! We hope you enjoy! Before we start we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for Making what we do possible! They help thousands of homeschoolers smile each and every day, and if you haven't checked them out, you should, over at teachingtextbooks.com Today’s show was also underwritten bySamaritan Ministries and redeem healthshare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL6M0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Hey everybody, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler! This week we had a really fun conversation with Audiobook reader Jim Hodges. We talk about something that has been incredibly powerful in our homeschooling over the years… books and audiobooks. There is something special about the way stories engage our kids’ imaginations when they are listening or reading, picturing the characters, the places, and the adventure in their own minds. It’s a very different experience from just watching something on a screen. We talk about why imagination matters, some of our family’s and Jim's favorite books and audiobooks, and why he has been so passionate about creating content that is not only entertaining but also completely family-friendly. If you’re looking for ways to encourage reading, build imagination, and find great content your whole family can enjoy together, I think you’ll really enjoy this conversation. You can stream his amazing audiobooks here https://stream.jimhodgesaudiobooks.com/ Before we get started, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. They’re an amazing math curriculum, and we encourage you to check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show is also being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redem Healthshare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and are A community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bills…helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries at this link https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL6M0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler! This week, we’re talking about something that almost every homeschool family faces at some point… what do you do when the people around you just don’t understand homeschooling? For a lot of parents, choosing to homeschool doesn’t just come with lesson plans and curriculum decisions — it comes with questions, raised eyebrows, and sometimes even criticism. Maybe it’s extended family. Maybe it’s friends. Maybe it’s your culture or community. Maybe someone you love is saying, “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Those moments can make you second-guess yourself. You start wondering… am I doing the right thing? Do I have to prove something? Do I need to do this perfectly so no one can point fingers? Tonight we want to talk about that pressure. Where it comes from, how to handle it, and why you don’t have to be perfect to be effective. We’ll talk about being real, being confident in your conviction, and what it looks like to keep going even when support isn’t there yet. Before we get started, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. They’re an amazing math curriculum, and we encourage you to check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show is also being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and A community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bills…helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7q0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Hey everybody, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler! This week we have a great episode for you. We’re joined by Gena Suarez and Deborah Wuehler from The Old Schoolhouse. They are longtime homeschooling veterans with a deep passion for encouraging and supporting moms throughout their homeschooling journey. We talk about why home is one of the best places for your kids, how homeschooling is truly an act of discipleship, and the kind of fruit you can see grow in your children over time. It’s an encouraging and meaningful conversation, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. If you would like to hear more from The Old School House, visit https://www.theoldschoolhouse.com/ We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. They’re an amazing math curriculum, and we encourage you to check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. We’d also like to thank Samaritan Ministries—a community of Christians who help one another with medical bills. They make it possible for families to take steps of faith, whether that’s a career change, a ministry opportunity, or bringing mom home. You can learn more and support the show through this link https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7q0. Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

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. It can leave parents feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, and wondering if they’re focusing on the right things So this week, our goal is to bring some encouragement as we talk about busyness versus importance, when it’s okay to say yes — and when it’s okay to say no — and how to guard your family time in a world that never seems to slow down. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. They’re an amazing math curriculum, and we encourage you to check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. We’d also like to thank Samaritan Ministries — a community of Christians who help one another with medical bills. They make it possible for families to take steps of faith, whether that’s a career change, a ministry opportunity, or bringing mom home. You can learn more and support the show here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL4d0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

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 doesn’t bring joy, or simplify a little. Co-ops are starting back up, routines are getting back in place, and before you know it, spring and summer will be here—whether you’re ready or not! We will also be answering a listener's question and reading some of our listeners' highlights of 2025 and what they are looking forward to in 2026! It should be a fun and encouraging episode. Before we get started, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. They’re an amazing math curriculum, and we encourage you to check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. We’d also like to thank Samaritan Ministries—a community of Christians who help one another with medical bills. They make it possible for families to take steps of faith, whether that’s a career change, a ministry opportunity, or bringing mom home. You can learn more and support us through the link https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL4d0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

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 you’ve ever worried that you’re not doing enough, or that the difficult seasons might overshadow everything else, this conversation is meant to be encouraging. Because choosing relationship, presence, and togetherness—especially in the ordinary moments—has a way of paying off in the long run. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making the Smiling Homeschooler possible. They are an amazing math curriculum, and we would encourage you to check them out over at teachingtextbooks.com Lastly, Thank you to Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bills…helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more and support us by clicking the link https://hubs.ly/Q03VZKNS0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

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 we’re sharing some simple, thoughtful ways you can encourage another mom right now. Nothing big or perfect—just real reminders that she’s doing a good job and she’s not alone. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making the smiling homeschooler possible. They are an amazing math curriculum and we would encourage you to check them out over at teachingtextbooks.com Thank you to Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bills…helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more and support us by clicking the link https://hubs.ly/Q03VZKNS0

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 why this series stands out as a great option for families.It’s an encouraging and practical conversation about media, discernment, and enjoying thanksgiving together as a family We also want to thank teaching textbooks for making the smiling homeschooler possible. They are an amazing math curriculum and we would encourage you to check them out over at teachingtextbooks.com Lastly, we want to thank Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians that pay one another’smedical bills…helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’sLeading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more at https://hubs.ly/Q03CR00H0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

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 enough — you’re not alone. This episode is full of grace and hope, and we think it’s going to really encourage you. 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 teachingtextbooks.com. Also, today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who pay one another’s medical bills, helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s leading in career or ministry changes, or in bringing moms home. You can learn more at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman Have a great week and don't forget to smile!