In the last few years, podcasts have really taken off in popularity, all but pushing aside the “mommy blogs” that took over the internet about ten years ago. According to recent statistics, nearly half of all podcast listeners fall somewhere in the age range of 25-44, which is when people are most likely to become parents. Perhaps due to the portability of podcasts (after all, they live on your phone) and the fact that they’re easy to consume in snippets throughout the day, it only makes sense that busy parents likely comprise a huge chunk of the podcast listening community.
Whether killing time during your commute to the office or listening with headphones while you rock the baby to sleep, podcasts can help us feel less alone in the everyday struggles and joys that come with parenting. But with so many podcasts out there (there are currently over 700,000 active podcasts available), it can be hard to sift through all that content to find a show you like. As a mom and an avid podcast listener myself, I’ve put together a list of my favorite mom podcasts. Every one of these shows offers real, honest perspectives on parenthood with plenty of laughs in between. Here are my five top picks.
The Coffee + Crumbs Podcast is probably my favorite podcast on this list. It originated from the Coffee + Crumbs blog, a wonderful place on the internet filled with real, raw stories about motherhood. The show is hosted by ex-actress and fashion blogger Indiana Adams, who interviews April Hoss and Ashlee Gadd (the blog’s founder). Warm and honest, this show feels like you’re sitting in your living room, gabbing with your mom friends about anything and everything. The trio talks about everything from tough parenting topics, to making friends, to managing your own business—and there is no shortage of laughter!
Meagan Francis and Sarah Powers have eight kids between them, ranging from little to grown. Encouraging and funny, they admit openly to not being experts, but rather, parents who’ve “been there.” This show features topics that range from dating as a divorced mom to screen time strategies to tips for flying with toddlers. For me (as a relatively new mom to a toddler, with another on the way), Meagan and Sarah feel like a pair of cool, older sisters who can offer real-life advice on the realities of raising kids. I am a loyal listener to this podcast and listen every week!
Another weekly favorite of mine, this podcast is cohosted by the hilarious Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson, two moms who come from backgrounds in comedy. In each episode, Margaret and Amy tackle a parenting topic, tell you what the “experts” say (and then what they actually do, whether or not the experts would approve) and then offer takeaways at the end of each episode. Real, funny and insightful, this is a podcast I look forward to every week.
The struggle is real—and so is this podcast. Host Emily Thomas is probably one of the most relatable gals I’ve ever met—er, I mean listened to. Emily walked through an abusive marriage before she found her now wonderful husband, and endured years of infertility before adopting her two awesome kids. Some topics she covers are infertility, adoption, the pitfalls of comparison, faith and body image, as well as her own life struggles. My favorite episodes are the monthly “problem solved” episodes where Emily is joined by author Rebecca Smith, and together the two of them offer advice to a random “problem” offered up by a listener (think: “My toddler won’t stop smearing his poop on the walls. What should I do?”). These monthly episodes are my favorite because they make me laugh the most!
I just started listening to this one this week, and I have to say—I am gobbling it up! This podcast is hosted by Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase of CoolMomPicks.com. These two moms are candid and funny as they interview celebrity guests and offer non-judgy parenting tips. I just finished the episode titled, “Kids and nutrition: The good, the bad, and what we can do better,” and thought it was so helpful and practical. I also dug into the archives from June and found “Why you might need to break up with your phone,” and BOY, was I blown away! I will definitely be implementing some of the strategies that guest speaker (and author) Catherine Price suggested for people looking to foster healthier boundaries with their phones. I definitely hit that “subscribe” button after listening to this episode!
