Before my husband and I had children, I read every parenting book I could find from front to back to prepare. I was convinced that, armed with this knowledge ahead of time, I would be on top of the parenting game before my children were even sleeping in their cribs. Oh how naive I was!

These days my three small children don’t leave much room for reading, but I found another invaluable resource for getting my parenting advice in – podcasts. A podcast can sweeten your “me time” and make you feel a little saner during those seemingly never ending early days of childrearing. The right parenting podcast can make you laugh and cry in all the right ways, and leave you feeling validated and supported.

Recently, I asked our Bucks County Community for their very favorite parenting podcasts that bring them practical advice and relatable stories. Here’s what they said!

Good Inside With Dr. Becky

Dr. Becky has gained quite a following among mom circles these days. A clinical psychologist and mom of three, on her weekly podcast Dr. Becky Kennedy uses her experience with mindfulness, emotion regulation and internal family systems theory to answer tough parenting questions and delivers actionable guidance — all in short episodes, because we know time is hard to find as a parent. Her breakthrough approach has enabled thousands of people to get more comfortable in discomfort, make repairs after mistakes, and always see the good inside both our kids and ourselves.

3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms

This podcast’s formula for success is in its name, in every episode you get three practical takeaways in under 30 minutes. You are a busy mom with a full schedule and an even fuller brain. You don’t have time to listen to an hour-long podcast, featuring a meandering conversation and lots of small talk. You need the takeaways, and you need them yesterday. In every episode, the host, Rachel, utilizes her expertise as a former high school English teacher to craft episodes that are concise and actionable. 

“I love 3 in 30 takeaways for moms. I love to go through the archives and pick a topic that applies to whatever situation I’m in,” says Indira Geist, adding that the podcast is just as relevant for dads.

Tales from the Toolbox

The Tales from the Toolbox team understand that parenting was never meant to be done alone. Join them as they share stories of how connection-based parenting can transform family life to be sweeter and stronger. These judgment-free and down-to-earth conversations will inspire and nourish you; full of laughter, learning and compassion, they get real about the ups and downs of family life. Listen in to feel part of a worldwide community of parents who put connection at the core to build warm, trusting relationships where everyone can thrive.

Ask Lisa

Dr. Lisa Damour, the author of bestsellers Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, brings her sane, informed, and practical perspective to your timely and timeless parenting questions. Co-host and journalist Reena Ninan, a former White House and foreign correspondent, gets the answers parents need. In each episode, Dr. Lisa and Reena blend expert knowledge with their experience and struggles as parents themselves to tackle real-life questions sent in by listeners.

“It’s focused on tweens and teens and it is so good! – Gabrielle Grode

Your Grandparents Did What?

When we asked our readers about some of their favorite parenting podcasts, it turned out we had more than one talented mom out their hosting their own!

“I’m the host of a parenting history comedy podcast called Your Grandparents Did What? We cover a range of parenting topics both past and present. We have lots of parenting stories that will make you laugh and cry! Both myself and the other host are both local Philly moms. You can find us on Apple and Spotify!” – Maggie Wachter

Securely Attached

Securely Attached is your source for psychologically informed, research-based information about parenting, child development, and the fundamentals of fostering secure attachment relationships with our kids. Through deep dives into specific topics, engaging interviews with specialists and Q&A sessions that answer real listener questions, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Sarah helps caregivers understand the building blocks of children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. Securely Attached is for anyone who wants to peek under the hood of their child’s behaviors and gain an understanding of the brain science and psychology that drives and shapes the parent-child relationship. Parents to children of all ages, from birth to the teen years, as well as anyone who needs to reparent their own inner child, will find something useful in this podcast!

The Longest Shortest Time

The Longest Shortest Time is an award-winning podcast about parenthood in all of its forms. Though it’s no longer cranking out new content (its host and creator Hillary Frank has moved on to other projects), you can peruse their archives to listen to stories about the surprises and absurdities of raising other humans — and being raised by them. The best part about this podcast? The stories are accessible and relatable to everyone, not just parents.

“In a world of unedited, unfocused, way-too-long podcasts on every subject, LST is pithy, emotional, well-hosted, and makes me care about something I knew nothing about: the day-to-day and night-to-night experience of raising a baby.” — Ira Glass, This American Life

The Motherly Podcast

This one comes recommended by myself. Much like the content on its website, the Motherly Podcast is the voice of modern motherhood, bringing honest conversations with some of the world’s most interesting mothers—entrepreneurs, actresses, politicians and authors — straight to you. Get ready to feel inspired, energized, understood and seen like never before. Motherly’s goal is to redefine motherhood by sharing our diverse experiences to uplift and inspire mothers everywhere.

I Will Teach You to be Rich

At first glance, this one might not seem like a parenting podcast, but it offers a treasure trove of information on a topic many parents are unprepared to discuss with their children, financial stability.

“Money is a part of parenting… how it’s earned, how it’s allocated, etc. I feel like a lot of the parenting podcasts deal with one side of parenting (sleep when the baby is sleeping, fed is best, etc.) but few talk about money. Ramit Sethi’s podcast talks about automating some financial decisions and deliberately steering money where it matters most TO YOU. As a mom now to older kids, the podcast has reaffirmed the choices I’m making are in line with my family’s values. I often turn the podcast on while I’m driving my 8 year old to travel soccer – I’m hoping it normalizes talking about money and making decisions about money. Part of being a parent is preparing our kids for life after they leave home, and helping them gain basic financial literacy is a part of that prep – things like how much a new car loan can end up costing, the joy of compound interest can all have huge financial impacts. – Steph Mayer

The Baffling Behavior Show

If you’re parenting a child who has experienced trauma or toxic stress or a child with a neuroimmune disorder, sensory processing, or other nervous system vulnerability, this show will let you know you are not alone. Formerly the Parenting after Trauma podcast, internationally recognized children’s mental health expert Robyn Gobbel decodes the most baffling behaviors for parents of kids with vulnerable nervous systems.

One Bad Mother

Get ready to laugh out loud (you might want to save this one for when the kids aren’t in the car). Biz Ellis hosts this wildly entertaining comedy podcast about motherhood — the good, the bad and the ugly. Come here whenever you suspect your mom group isn’t keeping it real and you want the unvarnished truth (and more than a few laughs).

Risen Motherhood

For the mom who needs a little scripture with her morning cup of coffee. On each episode of the Risen Motherhood podcast, hosts Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler discuss relevant topics to everyday motherhood, through the lens of the gospel. In-depth, topical mini-series are released periodically as they explore how ancient scripture applies to modern motherhood.

Respectful parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled

This podcast is here to make you a more patient parent. In the 25 plus years Janet Lansbury has worked with children and parents, she’s learned a lot and she’s here to share it with you. In each episode of Unruffled, Janet addresses a reader’s parenting issue through the lens of her respectful parenting philosophy, consistently offering a perspective shift that ultimately frees parents of the need for scripts, strategies, tricks, and tactics. For more tips and advice on gentle parenting, check out her website, www.JanetLansbury.com, which is visited by millions of parents annually. Or you can read her book, “No Bad Kids.”

The Running Wine

Local mom Samantha Cieslinski, founder and host of the Running Wine podcast, started this show as a way to support individuals striving to strike a balance between their roles as parents while also pursuing personal fulfillment.  The podcast features conversations with experts in the fields of fitness, nutrition, and parenting, as well as inspiring moms who share their own experiences and insights, covering a range of topics related to motherhood and fitness, including pre- and postnatal fitness, managing stress, and balancing self-care with parenting responsibilities. Samantha was recently awarded a Family Focus Media Women of Influence Award for her efforts.

“The Running Wine Mom podcast serves as a platform to amplify the stories of these remarkable individuals, as well as men who contribute to this shared journey, highlighting their accomplishments, challenges, and the positive changes they bring to society. I aim to dispel the notion of isolation, proving that no one walks this path alone.” – Samantha

Parenting without Power Struggles

Maybe you’re looking for tips on how to get your middle schooler to empty the dishwasher without asking. Or maybe you’re just looking for a peaceful drop off where you don’t have to pry your toddler out of his car seat. This podcast offers tips, tools, and practical guidance for raising joyful, resilient kids while staying cool, calm, and connected. The podcasts host, Susan Stiffelman, is a licensed psychotherapist that delivers practical strategies to help parents become the calm, connected “captain of the ship” in their children’s lives. A lifelong meditator, Susan’s guidance reflects an understanding that as we raise our children, we are also raising ourselves; growing, stumbling, healing, and becoming more of our true and wisest selves.

Mom and Mind

Listening to this podcast will make you feel like you’re sitting on your therapist’s couch, only you’ll come away with the same knowledge and much more in your pocket. Dr. Kat, psychologist and specialist in perinatal mental health, teaches parents how to cope, manage and recover from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. She talks with moms, dads, experts and advocates about postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety and so much more. Dr. Kat invites you to put on your stigma crushing boots with her and address the realities of the transition to motherhood and parenthood.

Postpartum University

In the past, the postpartum years have been greatly misunderstood, if not overlooked entirely. We’ve been conditioned to believe that dysfunction, disease, and dysregulation are a normal part of motherhood. Postpartum University’ Podcast ‘s mission is to debunk these so called myths as truths so that you can reclaim your wellness, find yourself again, and experience a joyful motherhood.

Ambitious and Balanced Working Moms

Ever wonder how other moms juggle it all? This is a show for working moms who want to balance their ambitious career goals with their life as a mom. Being a career driven woman is hard and confusing after having kids but each week, Certified Professional Life Coach Rebecca Olson shares bite-size stories, tips and strategies to help you regain your confidence, make decisions you trust and create a positive mindset that supports the ambitious life you want to live. Rebecca remembers how challenging it was after returning from maternity leave and will teach you how to be both productive at work and present with your family. If you never want to choose between your career and being a great mom, you’ll find answers and support right here.

Power Your Parenting Moms with Teens

Our teens are growing up in a very different world than we did, which can leave many moms feeling like they’re parenting in the dark. Colleen, known as the parent-teen relationship expert, helps you raise the bar of what’s possible for the teenage years. Colleen not only knows this professionally she has been a mom in the trenches with her own teenage daughter. Colleen also has rich conversations with the top leaders, researchers, authors, and scientists in the adolescent and young adult field to keep you current on trends, and research. Every episode is full of encouragement, inspiration, relatable stories and practical takeaways.

“I have gotten great advice from this podcast.” Shari Stern Sonta

Parent Data By Emily Oster

If you’re a parent that likes your parenting decisions to be backed by research, then this one’s for you. For the past decade, economist Emily Oster has guided pregnant people and parents through these challenges using data. She translates the latest scientific research into answers to the questions people have in their day-to-day lives. ParentData brings Emily together with other experts in areas of pregnancy and parenting to talk about some of the most complicated of these issues, from labor induction to food allergies to parenting through a divorce. Each conversation brings us closer to Emily’s mission: to create the most data-literate and informed generation of parents yet.

Feature Photo Courtesy of Pexels