Why should you listen to podcasts? Because it’s a wonderful way to be encouraged and learn, while you’re doing something else. You can work out, cook dinner, nurse the baby, fold laundry, take a bath, sweep your floor, or tidy your living room… but engage your mind and heart at the same time!
So, are you missing out on some fabulous audio teaching or encouragement? You might be!! Here are my favorite podcasts, by subject/type (and please share yours in the comments!) :
PODCASTS FOR THE THINKING CHRISTIAN WOMAN:
- Persuasion – with Erin Straza & Hannah Anderson (Christ & Pop Culture podcast) — “where fine ladies and rational minds gather” to discuss important issues of our day.
- Sheologians – with Summer White & Joy Temby – (Apologia Radio) — hot-button cutting-edge Christian cultural topics handled with a zing of snark and solid theology
- Signposts – with Dr. Russell Moore — thoughtful, biblical topic-centered analysis of current issues
- The Briefing – with Dr. Al Mohler — daily news/culture updates from a Christian worldview perspective
PODCASTS FOR HOMEMAKING/MOTHERING:
- Simplified Organization Audioblog – with Mystie Winckler — SUCH great encouragement here– get yourself organized, without the pressure for Pinterest-perfect closets
- Risen Motherhood – with Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler — A Gospel-focused approach to the issues of motherhood– this podcast is particularly relevant for moms of newborns to preschoolers
MY FAVORITE PODCAST FOR HOMESCHOOLING:
- A Delectable Education Charlotte Mason Podcast — SOOOOOOOO inspiring & informative! I love this approach to homeschooling, and I love their encouraging, purposeful way of communicating these timeless truths.
PODCASTS FOR PERSONAL LEARNING/GROWTH:
- Revisionist History – with Malcolm Gladwell — fascinating, off-the-beaten path stories to increase cultural insights and engagement
- Building a Story Brand – with Donald Miller — helpful perspective for evaluating websites, books, and publicly-offered products
- The Smart Passive Income podcast – with Pat Flynn — inspiring, entrepreneurial content to help propel listeners to grow their passive income
- The First 40 Miles – with Heather Legler — hiking and backpacking focused podcasts, with each episode targeted to a particular issue. (This helped us IMMENSELY when we were preparing for our 12-day Wonderland Trail family backpacking trip.)
And then, of course, I just wrapped up season 1 of my new podcast. It’s an interview-style show, where I talk with purposeful moms about a new topic each week. I’ve had so much fun talking with these women, and learning from them.
Many moms have written in (and left reviews) saying it’s been a blessing and encouragement to them– so, check it out!
- Mom On Purpose podcast– hosted by Jess Connell… designed to encourage and nourish Christian women, so you can go the distance in being the intentional mom you want to be.
IN THE COMMENTS, PLEASE SHARE:
- Do you listen to any of these?
- What podcasts do you LOVE?
I don’t listen to any podcasts. Ever. I learn best by reading, not listening. Plus by reading I can scan the words and get to the meat of it instead of being tied up for a certain number of minutes by a recording. I listen to audiobooks but can only handle stories and biographies that way. If it’s instructional, I need to be sitting down with a pen handy to jot down notes to get anything out of it.
OK. You might like the Malcolm Gladwell podcast I mentioned, though. It’s pure story, but told through an interesting (Gladwell-esque) lens. I’ve really enjoyed the ones I’ve heard.
I LOVE Risen Motherhood! That’s been my new favorite podcast of the year. I also really love Ask Pastor John by John Piper. He truly gives such godly and scripture centered responses.
APJ is great! Thanks for mentioning it; it’s a favorite for me too!!
I love to listen to podcasts – there are some very helpful ones with a Creationist veiwpoint here: http://www.icr.org/radio
However I find I am unable to listen while doing housework unless everyone else is out for the day. If I try to listen while the children or my husband are home someone ALWAYS needs to ask or show or tell me something! And while I can pause the talk and give my attention to whoever needs it there is always the sense that the child is interrupting Mummy and I don’t like that. I don’t want them to feel that my attention is elsewhere, or that they are an unwelcome interruption.
The only time for me to listen is driving in the car alone. Which does not happen often but is a precious time of learning and encouragement when it does 🙂
But please don’t think I am criticising anyone who does manage to make this work – please tell me how you do it!! My comment was self-critical, not judgemental.I would LOOOOOOVE to listen while cooking, for instance, it just doesn’t seem to happen for me.
Do others use earbuds or have the podcast playing audibly in the room? Maybe a different method might help me 🙂
I think it probably depends on your kids’ ages/stages, but right now, I’m listening to a lot because I’m up in the evenings sitting and nursing.
At other times, podcasts have waxed and waned in my life. I like listening to them in the car, if I need to drive somewhere. (I have to remember to upload them to my phone first though!)
Sometimes I’ll pop in the earbuds while I cook, or get the kids to where they’re playing quietly/ all have their own thing to do, and then listen. Another time where I use earbuds and listen is when I sit with my 3 year old for about 15 minutes while he falls asleep for his daily nap. That’s a time when I am sitting stationary, and can listen, but don’t have to be tuned in to anything happening in my immediate environment.
A couple other thoughts:
(1) I think part of adjusting to motherhood has been the process for me of learning to accept that some level of interruptions are going to happen in virtually every area of my life. And that’s OK. I can pause, and then return to the thing.
(2) I actually do think it’s good for our kids to feel that our attention is elsewhere sometimes. Not always. But sometimes. It’s OK — and even good — for our kids to see us learning and growing and taking in information purposefully so that we can become more competent and encouraged in the areas God has given us responsibility over. 🙂
I also want them to take an interest in the things I’m interested in, so sometimes I’ll put on a podcast about theology (Russell Moore) or culture (Dr. Mohler) or stories (Malcolm Gladwell) and they can go get some coloring, or a puzzle, or the older kids will just sit beside me, and we all listen to the podcast together.
So some of this is a function of how old your kids are, and what stage of life you’re in (podcast-listening is not a constant in my life… some seasons have more of it than others), but if you WANT to listen, I do think there’s a way to work some in no matter what stage of life you’re in.
I like your thoughts Jess. Some ideas for me to try 🙂
The Read Aloud Revival podcast is so wonderful! It’s a Christian mom with 6 kids discussing the importance and benefits of reading aloud to children, interviewing authors, and “inspiring you to build your family culture around books!” It’s well established at this point and produced with excellence. And there’s a really fun portion at the end of each podcast where you hear from little ones about their favorite books!
It’s so fun and inspiring!
Highly recommended 🙂