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, Melody Gillum, 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 Sep 08, 2023
108: How We Teach Science
Friday Sep 08, 2023
Friday Sep 08, 2023
Science is one of the most enjoyable subjects you can learn at home, and there's so many ways to teach science that put the subject right in the hands of your students. Today, we discuss how our different educational philosophies informed how we taught science and reminisce about our favorite science projects and experiments! And be sure to stay to the end, when we discuss a big homeschooling news story!
SHOW NOTES:
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!
A Drop Of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder, by Walter Wick
Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe, by Theodore Grey
Mystery of the Periodic Table, by Benjamin D. Wiker
Thames and Kosmos - Chemistry and Science Sets
Carolina Biological Supply
Parents explain why they homeschool kids: covid, ADHD, race, religion - The Washington Post
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach, Melody Gillum, and Jennifer Jones, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our graphic design is by Pete Soloway 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 Aug 25, 2023
107: Youth Civic Organizations
Friday Aug 25, 2023
Friday Aug 25, 2023
Youth civic organizations like scouting can be a great opportunity to foster your child’s independence while bolstering their education. But where do you start? How do you find the right organization for your child? And are there any downsides? We answer all these questions and more today, so join us and learn all about youth civic organizations!
SHOW NOTES:
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!
Youth Civic Organizations Mentioned Today:
4-H
Boy Scouts of America
Girl Scouts of the USA
Keepers of the Faith
Civil Air Patrol
Camp Fire
Wild Explorers Club
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach, Melody Gillum, and Jennifer Jones, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our graphic design is by Pete Soloway 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 Aug 11, 2023
106: Back to School… Homeschool!
Friday Aug 11, 2023
Friday Aug 11, 2023
Back to school can be a stressful time, even for homeschoolers! But with the homeschooling boom still going strong, there’s lots of new homeschooling families that are getting back to school in a whole new way. So today, we’re discussing back to school in two parts. First, we talk about back to school for new homeschoolers. We discuss tips to allow it to go smoothly, and we speak frankly about what challenges you may face — and how to overcome them! In the second part, we discuss how we’re prepping for the new school year. Whether beginner or old pro, today’s episode is stuffed full of great ideas for how to get back to school… Homeschool!
SHOW NOTES:
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!
Previous episodes you might find helpful:
031: Low Cost, No Cost Homeschooling
068: How to Start a Co-Op
079: 5 Questions to Answer Before Starting the School Year
80: Help for the New Homeschooler
084: Homeschooling on a Budget
Jennifer recommends ChatGPT to help with your lesson planning, check out the AI tool that’s sweeping the nation here.
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach, Melody Gillum, and Jennifer Jones, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our graphic design is by Pete Soloway 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 (center) 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 (right) and her husband Jon embraced a learning lifestyle back in the early days of the modern home school movement. Teaching and training seven children in all of life, from birth to graduation, was a grand adventure! While the learning lifestyle continues as their family heritage, 34 years of home schooling drew to a close in 2018. Melody seems unable to stop teaching, and currently supports her local community as the elementary director for a wonderful homeschool hybrid program. She is delighted to be a part of The Happy Homeschooler Podcast team!