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Despite being around since the early days of the broadband internet, podcasting really took off in 2005 when Apple added podcasts to their iTunes platform. There are now over 100,000 different podcasts available, and that’s just in English.
Not surprisingly, a great many of these are devoted to parenting. Some specialize in medical issues while others tell lighthearted stories about the joys and challenges of toddlerhood. Some are written for and by parents, and many are produced by early childhood development specialists with links to their websites and print materials.
We’ve selected five podcasts drawn from several different genres, which we found to be thought-provoking and helpful. Next time you stick on your headphones or go for a long car ride, try listening to a podcast for a glimpse at how others see the infinitely engaging world of parenting.
Michelle Gale is a parent, mindful educator, executive coach, and author. Every week, she invites a guest to discuss a different topic of interest to those wanting to build a meaningful connection with their children. Recent podcasts include a conversation with Cassandra Vieten, author of Mindful Motherhood, about pregnancy and your child’s first year. Andrew Newman joins the show to talk about conscious bedtime stories, and George Taylor shares tips for more authentic communication with your children.
The podcast only began in March 2017 but already has a loyal following and 26 episodes under its belt.
Mindful Parenting Podcast in a Messy World
As a well-established parenting advisor and author of several best-selling books, Janet Lansbury shares her respectful parenting philosophy with listeners on this weekly podcast. She discusses issues like setting limits, feeling overwhelmed, what to do when your toddler starts turning into a bully. These podcasts are all about building trust, understanding, and respect in your relationship with your child, and the straightforward advice is reassuring and usually right on point.
Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase run a website that makes recommendations for products which include everything from car seats to clothes to backpacks. They’ve appeared several times on the Today Show, and have a very large following. Does this make them experts on parenting? Actually, yes it does. This show won the 2016 Iris award for best parenting podcast and has been named among the finest by such varying sources as The Washington Post, Mental Floss and the Business Insider. Episodes go back to 2015 and tend to be playful, entertaining and surprisingly insightful.
This podcast has been around since 2014, and while there haven’t been any new postings over the past six months, there are 34 archived podcasts that are well worth a listen. There’s information on conscious parenting, empowering your child, and a really interesting interview with Fonta Hadley on how non-verbal communication affects children. If you’re interested in building mindfulness throughout the other parts of your life, you’ll find that these podcasts speak to a wider arena of conscious intention and spiritual wellbeing.
There are several podcasts specifically aimed at dads, but many seem to be as much about sports as parenting. This one is also about more than just how to be a good father, but the stories are entertaining and usually contain at least one thought-provoking takeaway. The podcasts complement a whole social network where dads can talk to each other, create groups, and start their own blogs. Stick with some of the others if you’re looking for more focused advice, but visit this one now and again if you want to listen to two occasionally eloquent guys shooting the breeze on fatherhood.
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