The kids will be back in school soon, but they aren’t the only ones in the family who could benefit from additional education. It’s a smart idea for parents to be continually learning, too, even if they aren’t formally enrolled in class. Podcasts are a convenient way to get education on the go. Listen to them from the phone in your pocket, in your car on the way to work or while scrubbing the kitchen sink. Here are five easy-on-the-ears podcasts that pack a grown-up educational punch:
1. “Happier with Gretchen Rubin”
In these quick half-hour podcasts, New York Times Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin and her TV writer sister Elizabeth Craft chat about how to build happier habits into everyday life. Rubin draws on research from her three books, including the recent “Better than Before” and the sisters combine pop culture, cutting-edge science and accidental wisdom into succinct tips listeners can immediately apply to their lives. Listen here.
2. “The Simple Show with Tsh Oxenreider”
Fans of simple living will thoroughly enjoy this longtime podcast, which was recently rebranded into “The Simple Show.” Blogger and author Oxenreider interviews thought leaders about their passions, be it food, travel, parenting or books. The conversational podcast always offers concrete takeaways and ideas for a more deliberate life. Listen here.
3. “Power of Moms Radio”
“Power of Moms” is an online gathering place for deliberate mothers, and the brand’s radio show follows that theme. Co-hosts April Perry and Saren Eyre Loosli interview special guests and discuss topics such as how to talk to kids about sex, road trip tips and back-to-school routines. Listen here.
4. “This American Life”
Around a million people each week download the latest episode of “This American Life,” making it one of the most popular podcasts in the country. Episodes tackle a wide range of topics and don’t shy away from tough, thought-provoking issues. Recent podcasts discussed the idea of desegregation in schools, a car plant in California that might have saved the U.S. auto industry and took listeners behind the scenes at an amusement park in Kansas. Listen here.
5. “Freakonomics Radio”
Discover the hidden side of everything with host Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of the bestselling “Freakonomics” books. Since 2010, Dubner has explored the weird wrinkles of human nature through interviews with Nobel laureates and provocateurs, social scientists and entrepreuneurs. Some of the more popular episodes to date include “Is College Really Worth It?” and “How Much Does the President of the U.S. Really Matter?” Listen here.