Tune in to sage parenting tips and incredible tales, plus enriching conversations about relations beyond the nuclear family. Take one (or all) of these podcasts for a spin.
Feeling a bit isolated and in need of fellowship? Try We Are Family, a new storytelling platform from Parents magazine that celebrates the multi-layered experiences of building a family. Co-hosts Shaun T, creator of the Insanity workout and dad to twins, and Julia Dennison, executive editor of Parents.com and single mom, open the floor to parents to talk about what makes their families unique. The mic is centered on the guest, with brief input from the hosts to keep the narrative flowing; in total, the project sounds like a warm circle of parents coming together from all over life to share and reflect. Receive insights from parents with disabilities and chronic illness, those who’ve undergone IVF and surrogacy, happily divorced parents, single parenting heroes, and model foster parents.
Looking for ideas to nurture and empower both parent and child? Try Parenting for Liberation, hosted by Trina Greene Brown, which invites Black parents to leave fear behind and instead “parent for liberation.” Activist parents, single parents, young parents, grandparents, spiritual parents, co-parenting parents, and all types of everyday parents contribute. Listen in to conversations about decolonized education, caring for caregivers, and pleasure in parenting, all “rooted in an Afro-futuristic vision of connectivity and inspiration.”
Interested in exploring parenthood through a Christian perspective? Try For The Love With Jen Hatmaker, a podcast by the NYT bestseller and speaker, Jen Hatmaker. She loves a lot (People, home, stories, shoes, family, Jesus, community, TV, accessories, food, culture) and shares the good vibes on her weekly show that covers these topics and more. Season 10 focuses on parenting, specifically how to keep work-life satisfaction, parent through all stages, parent graciously, and “shoot up prayers like little arrows” for your kids, like Jen’s mom, Jana, did.
Need a little “me time” to look inward and redefine yourself as a mother? Try Happy As A Mother, with host and psychotherapist Erica Djossa, who shares her knowledge and interviews professionals in pediatrics, fertility, lactation, and more. Conversations range from conscious boundary setting, loving postpartum bodies, and managing perfectionism. Recognize the “invisible load of motherhood” as it shows up in your particular experience, and learn how to carry it better while caring for yourself.
Wondering what’s behind those big emotions that make parenting difficult? Try Voices of Your Village, a project with the goal to “create a modern parenting village” and support kids in building emotional intelligence. Parents, caregivers, teachers, and experts come together for honest conversations in an attempt to create some ease. Host Alyssa Blask Campbell, an emotional development expert, invites guests to speak on impulse control, lying, potty training, regaining sleep, and secure attachments. Need more hands-on help? Check out Seed and Sew’s courses.
Want to go deeper into the daily trials and triumphs of parenting? Try Raising Good Humans, with Dr. Aliza Pressman. Jump into her intentional conversations with special guests including therapists, psychologists, authors, and researchers. Whatever your parenting dilemma or desire, be it creating a safe environment for a child to express their gender or sexuality, or finding ways to co-regulate when a child’s big feelings are taking up lots of space, you’ll find a word of wisdom plus practical actions here. It’s a podcast that will “not make you feel awful for not having all the answers.”
Got a strong love for your child(ren) who has a disability? Try Mama Bear Podcast, a place for sharing highs and lows while keeping things candid — so, pop on those headphones. Host Dr. Mary Susan McConnell is a coach to women raising kids with special needs and invites guests to an open space to share personal stories, explore life hacks, and find insights and energy to show up well for the family. You’ll laugh, cry, and nod your head in solidarity with pieces of each story.
Can’t get enough of bedtime stories? Try The Picture Bookstagang Podcast, a series of discussions with the creators of Inclusive Story Time, Read with River, and The Tiny Activist. Go deep on early literacy, education, and parenting. Find a new way to love PB&J, in this case, that’s “Picture Books and Justice,” which are special episodes featuring authors and illustrators, who share their creative processes and intentions for their works.
Want to find community and understanding as an LGBTQ+ family or ally? Try Outspoken Voices: a Podcast for LGBTQ+ Families, a project by Family Equality. Beginning with the question, “Who is in your family, and how was it formed?”, the monthly podcast pulls guest speakers and listeners alike into thoughtful exchanges covering topics such as inclusivity in education, conception by donor, gender transitions, and intersecting identities.
Seeking deep connection with fellow Native people, or desiring to learn more about topics facing Native folks today? Try All My Relations Podcast, an exploration of relationships with land and place, a people, nature, and one another; hosted by Matika Wilbur, member of the Tulalip and Swinomish people, and Adrienne Keene, member of the Cherokee Nation. Guests from different Indigenous nations offer perspectives and stories, wrapping the listener in a contemplative reflection on matters including the power of Indigenous artists, finding healing through healing the land, wisdom held by ancestors, and Indigenous feminism. Don’t miss the episode with Well For Culture founders Thosh Collins; of the WhaZhaZi, Haudenosaunee and O’otham people, and Chelsea Luger, member of the Anishinaabe and Lakota people, who talk about whole family wellness.
Eager to develop your understanding of leaving a good legacy, even beyond the immediate family? Try Good Ancestor Podcast with Layla F. Saad, author of Me and White Supremacy: A 28-Day Challenge to Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor. Saad begins conversations with guests with the same question: “Who are some ancestors, living or transitioned, familial or societal, who have influenced you on your journey?” Episodes cover freedom work, self-healing, the arts, education, and more, all centered around the experiences of BIPOC individuals. The goal: for listeners to answer for themselves, “How can I be a good ancestor? How can I create a legacy of healing and liberation for those who are here in this lifetime, and those who will come after I’m gone?”
