The Happy Homeschooler Podcast
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a digital support group for everyone interested in a learning lifestyle. Join us the second and fourth Friday of each month as our hosts Holly Williams Urbach and Jennifer Jones discuss topics like the benefits of homeschooling, finding the right curriculum for you, navigating the line between parent and teacher, and more!
Episodes

Friday Dec 12, 2025
172: What To Do When Your Homeschooling Feels Stuck (w/ Leslie M. Martino)
Friday Dec 12, 2025
Friday Dec 12, 2025
Today, we sit down with author Leslie M. Martino to discuss what to do when your homeschooling feels stuck. Learn all about about breaking through homeschool burnout and finding your momentum again. Leslie shares insights from her own experience as both a homeschooling parent and writer, offering gentle guidance for recognizing when things aren’t working, understanding the root causes, and taking meaningful steps toward a refreshed learning environment. From small mindset shifts to simple daily practices, this episode is filled with reassuring wisdom to help you regain clarity, confidence, and joy in your homeschool.
SHOW NOTES:
Visit our website!
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial!
Like our page and join our group on Facebook!
Follow us on Instagram!
Visit Leslie's Website!
Buy The Joy of Slow, by Leslie M. Martino on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through the Amazon links in these show notes. This does not affect your price or our recommendations.
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach and Jennifer Jones, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our logo is by Norah Williams and our music is by The Great Pangolin.
If you liked this episode, and you’d like to help us grow, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Friday Nov 28, 2025
171: The Top Homeschooling Trends For 2026
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Today, we're looking at the top homeschooling trends of 2026. We'll be looking ahead to the ideas, tools, and approaches shaping the future of home education. From AI tools to project based learning, we break down what parents can expect in the coming year. Whether you’re planning your first homeschool semester or refining a long-standing routine, this episode offers insight and inspiration to help you stay ahead of the curve and make 2026 your most confident homeschooling year yet.
SHOW NOTES:
Visit our website!
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial!
Like our page and join our group on Facebook!
Follow us on Instagram!
055: What Is Gameschooling?
123: Project-Based Homeschooling134: Homeschooling with Technology (w/ Meryl van der Merwe)
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach and Jennifer Jones, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our logo is by Norah Williams and our music is by The Great Pangolin.
If you liked this episode, and you’d like to help us grow, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Friday Nov 14, 2025
170: How To Use RPGs In Homeschooling
Friday Nov 14, 2025
Friday Nov 14, 2025
In this episode, we explore how tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) can become powerful tools in your homeschool. From boosting creative writing and problem-solving skills to strengthening teamwork, communication, and critical thinking, RPGs offer far more than imaginative fun. We’ll share how to choose age-appropriate systems, weave campaigns into your lessons, and support kids of all personalities, from shy storytellers to bold adventurers. Join us as we talk about bringing collaborative storytelling, character creation, and world-building into your homeschool in meaningful, educational, and joy-filled ways.
SHOW NOTES:
Visit our website!
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial!
Like our page and join our group on Facebook!
Follow us on Instagram!
Check out these resources for starting your first RPG game with your students:Instant Game
Paizo
Fudge RPG Rules
Pathfinder Beginner Box on Amazon
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through the Amazon links in these show notes. This does not affect your price or our recommendations.
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach and Jennifer Jones, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our logo is by Norah Williams and our music is by The Great Pangolin.
If you liked this episode, and you’d like to help us grow, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

About Our Hosts
Jennifer Jones (left) is a dedicated homeschool advocate and community leader with over two decades of experience homeschooling her eight children in Marble Falls, Texas. After joining The Happy Homeschooler Podcast as a guest, Jennifer was thrilled to join the podcast as a co-host in 2022. She hopes that by sharing her own experiences on the podcast she is able to make homeschooling more approachable for new families. She believes homeschooling is truly a lifestyle, not just an educational choice, and encourages listeners to embrace it as an adventure for the entire family.
Holly Williams Urbach (right) is a dedicated homeschooling mother of six wonderful people (five of whom are now adults). She began homeschooling in Texas in 1993 when homeschooling was not yet fully legal. She is passionate about the benefits of the homeschooling lifestyle and shares her passion by mentoring new homeschoolers in person, through the local Facebook group she moderates with other seasoned homeschoolers in her community, and by being a co-host of The Happy Homeschooler Podcast.
Melody Gillum (not pictured) was a founding host of The Happy Homeschooler Podcast. In 2025, she retired from the show to spend more time with her husband Jon, with whom she homeschooled her seven children.



