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

Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
071: What Are Unit Studies?
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
What are unit studies? They may just be the most versatile educational method out there. By tying all your subjects into a common theme, you can streamline your schooldays and reinforce the lesson all day long. Today, Jennifer, Holly, and Melody discuss everything you need to know to start incorporating unit studies into your learning lifestyle.
Discussion topics include: Why to choose unit studies, our favorite unit study resources, and how to design your own unit studies. And be sure to stay to the end when our hosts discuss some timely news…
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com
SHOW NOTES:
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial!
Like our page and join our group on Facebook!
Follow us on Instagram!
Konos – Learning Made Fun
Progeny Press
UnitStudy.com – Taking Curiosity to New Heights
How to Homeschool by Gayle Graham
How to Create Your Own Unit Study by Valerie Bendt
Confessions of a Homeschooler
Good and Beautiful
Gather ‘Round Homeschool
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!

Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
070: Non-Academic College Readiness
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
When we think about college readiness, we tend to think about studying, extracurriculars, and exams, but there’s another side that’s crucial to preparing your kids not just for college, but for adulthood!
Many college students find themselves needing to learn these skills on the fly, leading to distraction from their studies and unneeded stress. Making sure your children have the best footing possible as they leave the home is crucial. Ranging from small skills like household chores, to more complex skills like budgeting and saving, non-academic college readiness is crucial to not only for college students, but for everyone.
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com
SHOW NOTES:
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial!
Like our page and join our group on Facebook!
Follow us on Instagram!
National Endowment for Financial Education
LibriVox – Free Public Domain Audiobook
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!

Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
069: Handling Homeschooling Burnout
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Are you experiencing homeschooling burnout? You’re not alone! Every year around this time, homeschoolers all over start getting “yellow bus syndrome.” You might think to yourself, “There’s a yellow bus that stops at my corner, maybe we should try that.” We’re here to say don’t do it! Melody, Jennifer, and Holly have been homeschooling for a long time, and they know all the signs of burnout. But better yet, they know how to handle it as well! Listen today and learn how to recognize and resolve your homeschooling burnout. And be sure to listen to the end to hear our hosts answer a big question from a Happy Homeschooler Podcast listener like you!
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com
SHOW NOTES:
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial!
Like our page and join our group on Facebook!
Follow us on Instagram!
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 (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.