The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast

Episode 395 – Recharging Your Homeschool Mom Batteries - With Brandee Gillham

Hey everybody, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we’ve got a fun episode for you!

We are joined by Brandee Gillham from the Colorado State Homeschool Organization, and we’re going to be talking all about homeschool conventions. Whether you’ve been to one before or you’ve never even considered going, we’re going to unpack why they can be such a valuable part of the homeschool journey.

We also talk with Brandee about how she got started homeschooling, when she went to her very first homeschool convention, and what her takeaway was from that experience. She also gives tips to the Type A homeschooling moms out there. It is a great conversation, and we are sure it will leave you encouraged!

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 here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL6M0

Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Episode 394 - The Power of Books and Audiobooks in Homeschooling - With Jim Hodges

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!

Episode 393 – Homeschooling Through Difficult Seasons – A Life Update with Rissa Wilson

This week on The Smiling Homeschooler, Rissa joins Ben for a life update and a really honest conversation about homeschooling through different seasons.

A few months ago, Rissa shared that she was walking through a very difficult time. During that season, homeschooling didn’t look the way it normally does in their home. It felt heavier. Slower. Survival-mode some days.

In this episode, they talk about what it looks like to homeschool when you’re not at your best — when expectations have to shift, when grace has to grow, and when “just getting by” is actually enough.

They also share encouragement for families who may be in a hard season right now, and the reminder that seasons do change. What feels overwhelming today won’t last forever.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing enough… if you’ve ever felt behind… or if homeschooling looks different than you thought it would — this episode is for you.

we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making what we do possible. let them know that you appreciate their support of us and check them out at teachingtextbooks.com 

Today’s show was also underwritten by
Samaritan Ministries and Redem 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 by clicking this link https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7q0

Have a great week and don't forget to smile! 

Episode 392 - Homeschooling Without Support

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!

Episode 391 - Help! Am I Qualified to Homeschool High School?

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler! This week we are talking about something that makes a lot of homeschool parents nervous… high school.

High school often seems different. It feels heavier. The subjects get harder, the stakes feel higher, and suddenly all those quiet doubts start getting louder. Am I qualified? What about chemistry? What about advanced math? What about sports and social opportunities? Are we keeping them from something important?

A lot of families say, “We’ll homeschool… but probably not for high school.” And tonight we want to talk about that. Where does that fear come from? Is it actually justified? And what are we really giving up if we decide to send them in just because it feels intimidating? 

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 Redeem 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 at https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7q0. 

 

Have a great week and don't forget to smile! 

 

Episode 390 - Home Is Where They Belong - A Conversation With Gena Suarez and Deborah Wuehler

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!

Episode 389 - When Life Gets in the Way of Finishing the Curriculum

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler! Today’s topic is something that resonates with just about every homeschooling family: the pressure to finish the curriculum while still saying yes to all the amazing opportunities around us.

We recently asked our followers over on Facebook what feels hardest right now, and another one of the most common responses was feeling torn between making steady progress through textbooks, lesson plans, and checklists — and making time for sports, church events, friendships, and real-life learning. It can leave parents feeling behind, stressed, and wondering if they’re measuring success by completed pages instead of true learning. We had an encouraging converstation and we hope you enjoy!

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 the show here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL4d0

Have a great day and don't forget to smile!

Episode 388 - Balancing It All: Homeschool, Work, Church, and Family Time

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! 

Episode 387 - Is All This Arguing and Bickering Normal?

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 drained and without much joy by the end of the day. So this week, our goal is to bring some encouragement and perspective around this topic. B

efore 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 the show through this link https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL4d0

Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Episode 386 - Resetting Your Homeschool Mindset for the New Year

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!