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 Nov 22, 2024
142: Alternatives to College
Friday Nov 22, 2024
Friday Nov 22, 2024
Is college the best path for every student? In this episode, we explore alternatives to college that may be ideal for homeschooled students, including trade schools, entrepreneurship, and more. We also dive into the challenges of traditional college education, such as high costs and impractical degree options. Join us for an insightful discussion on finding the right path for every learner!
SHOW NOTES:
Visit our website at www.happyhomeschoolerpodcast.com
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial! And use code BLACKFRIDAY24 for 30% at checkout from November 22nd through December 2nd!
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 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 08, 2024
141: Getting Kids Outside (w/ Barefoot University)
Friday Nov 08, 2024
Friday Nov 08, 2024
Nothing helps soothe a difficult day of homeschooling like taking a journey to the great outdoors. Whether you're in your backyard or a national park, the outside can provide a refresh for parents and children alike. Today, we're joined by the founders of Barefoot University, a forest school organization passionate about getting kids of all ages outside.
SHOW NOTES:
Visit our website at www.happyhomeschoolerpodcast.com
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!
Find Barefoot University Online:
YouTube
Pinterest
Facebook
Instagram
Barefoot University Book Recommendations:
Free to Learn, by Peter Grey
Unschooled, by Kerry McDonald
Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv
100 Things To Do in a Forest, by Jennifer Davis
The Foragers Guide to Wild Foods, by Nicole Apelian
These are Amazon Associate links. If you order through these links, you’ll be helping to support us at no additional cost to you.
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 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 Oct 25, 2024
140: Handling Doubts About Homeschooling
Friday Oct 25, 2024
Friday Oct 25, 2024
Everyone has doubts about homeschooling. It's a big job, and a hard one too. Maybe you're not sure you can teach certain subjects, or maybe you're worried about important things getting lost in the shuffle. But you're not alone. Many homeschooling moms and dads have had doubts before you, including our own hosts. Listen to our hosts years of experience and learn how you can handle doubts about homeschooling to make your learning lifestyle a joy!
SHOW NOTES:
Visit our website at www.happyhomeschoolerpodcast.com
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!
074: Handling Family Resistance to Homeschooling
086: Speaking with Homeschool Graduates
Home - Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Federal Student Aid
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 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 (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!