Best podcasts for parents

I love a good podcast, and they are frequently my go-to on the way home from drop off when there is no child in the car demanding Cocomelon songs or “Princess” music. I’ll admit though, when I am riding solo I’m not necessarily in the mood for podcast doctors to tell me how I should be parenting. I usually just want to commiserate with some fellow parents in the trenches, and hopefully get a laugh. Note that the title is podcasts for parents, not necessarily parenting podcasts. As such, my list leans more towards entertaining than instructional, with a few notable exceptions. Here are some of my favorites, depending on what I’m in the mood for.

Like having drinks with friends: #IMomSoHard The Podcast

Back when I was pregnant with my daughter, a wise friend gifted me with the book #IMomSoHard by Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley, which gave me a glimpse into my parenting future, and several great laughs. Last year, I was privileged to see the dynamite duo live in Durham with two friends in tow, and talk about the perfect mom’s night out! The theater was packed with moms ready for a good time, and the ladies did not disappoint. Especially memorable was the bit where they collected mom bags from around the theater, and examined them and commenting on their contents on stage. After cracking up the entire show, I immediately went home and started following their weekly #IMomSoHard podcast.

I have since binge-listened to most of their over 170 episodes covering every topic from hormones, their obsession with true crime, travel, skin care, pranking their kids, making friends, and every conceivable topic in-between. Episodes include the ladies' weekly “hot flash” of what’s getting them all steamed up, and a “mom box” of messages from listeners. While Kristin and Jen (yes, I’m pretty sure we’re on a first name basis by now,) will be the first to tell you that they love to have male listeners as well, especially ones who find them super hot, where they excel most is at expressing the thoughts and struggles of their predominantly female audience. Listening to #IMOMSOHARD can best be compared to hanging out and drinking a glass (or bottle) of wine with your two best mom friends.

Best for Big Laughs: I Love My Kid, But…

This podcast is relatively new and fortunately I’ve been listening to it from the beginning (Is that kind of like saying you listened to a band before they were discovered?) The only con that comes with listening to a podcast from the start, is that there aren’t any back episodes to binge.

As such, I have to eagerly wait for each week’s latest episode to drop. Listening to the show has legitimately made my Monday mornings more bearable.

The podcast is hosted by comedians Kurt Braunohler, Meghan Gailey and Chris Garcia, all parents of young children. The podcasts appeal equally to both moms and dads, and my husband and I both get a kick out of them. Each week the hosts welcome a guest, usually fellow comedians, with which to explore the struggles of parenthood. Recent episodes have included guests like Tiffani Theissen of Saved by the Bell fame, Danielle Fishel (aka Tapanga Lawrence,) and Jack Osborne.

With episodes like “It’s like living with your worst internet trolls,” “Oh, I got to do this for another 18 years,” and “ One is an accessory, two is a lifestyle,” the show is big on laughs, and has me rolling through my Monday morning post drop off. Note: This only on the way HOME from drop-off without my child in the backseat, as there is a fair share of explicit language.

Segments of the show include “circle time,” the passing of the “struggle wand” (they found it in a dumpster) to air their latest difficulties, and putting their current parenting grievances in “time out.” The hosts tout the show as a safe and judgment free escape for parents, which is exactly what they’ve managed to create.

They will be the first ones to tell you that they are NOT parenting experts, and NOT there to provide advice. They are only there to commiserate with others struggling in the trenches of parenthood, and honestly that’s the thing that I need most.

A Local Gem for Mom’s health and well-being: Mama Needs a Moment

Looking for something a little more local, with practical advice and resources on topics important to moms? Raleigh moms Crissy Fishbane and Cindi Michaelson, founders of the local HER Health Collective, host Mama Needs a Moment with the goal of giving listeners a place to get their burning questions answered by visiting experts. However, rather than lessons on raising your kids, the podcast focuses more on moms' health and wellness than on parenting itself. Besides, what better way to take on the challenges of parenting than as a healthy self-actualized parent?

Episodes feature guests like registered dietitians and nutritionists, doulas, fertility specialists, pelvic floor therapists, mental health counselors, wellness coaches, obstetricians, and gynecologists among others, many of whom practice in the local area. Content covers topics like diet culture and body image, mental health, being a confident mom raising confident children, and navigating a career and home life just for a start. Occasionally, episodes even tackle social issues like discrepancies in maternal healthcare.

The most popular episodes are their “roundtables” which bring together groups of experts to offer different perspectives on a topic, based on the insights of their respective specialties. Season 4 just premiered on Jan. 17! Mama Needs a Moment is a WRAL Voter’s Choice Award winning podcast, tune in for a dose of self-care and you’ll see why.

Infinitely relatable: Nursing and Cursing

A friend recently turned me on to the archive of episodes by the five ladies of the “Nursing and Cursing” podcast. The hosts declare that they are NOT cool moms, just regular moms.

The group of childhood friends, now flung across the country, started with an inaugural podcast episode about mom friends and it took off from there covering relatable topics like hating your husband postpartum, post-baby bodies, pregnancy sex, and mom guilt. The conversations will have you nodding your head along with what they say.

Episodes include what each host is failing at and nailing, that make me feel immeasurably better about my own parenting fails. Despite the self-admitted difficulty that the ladies have had in getting together to podcast across time zones, and with lives full of kids and work, they have a small arsenal of back episodes to enjoy. If only they would come back and deliver more content!

Practical Tips for Parents of Toddlers: After Bedtime with Big Little Feelings

Toddler experts Deena and Kristin, the masterminds behind the incredibly popular Big Little Feelings Instagram account geared toward problem solving for parents of toddlers, are far from one trick ponies. Their Instagram account has over three million followers, and delivers “big” on parenting tips and tricks. While I’m not a big fan of purported experts and their parenting advice, the duo’s After Bedtime podcast takes a different turn. Rather than dishing advice, the ladies seek to provide a village of support. I have mixed feelings on this podcast depending on the episode.

In episodes about marriage, parent guilt, infertility, pregnancy loss, and maternal anxiety for instance, I felt the bolstering they tout. In some other episodes there was a little too much moralizing on the virtues of better disciplinary techniques than I’d care to hear. However, the casual after-hours vibe of the podcast helps prevent it from coming across as overly instructional. Take from the podcast what you’d like, and you’re sure to find some of the content that put these ladies on the list.

Best for Dads: Dumb Dads’ Podcast

This list, like most parenting podcasts in general, gear themselves more towards moms. Dumb Dads is a notable exception to the trend. The title Dumb Dads doesn’t imply anything about their audience, rather it pokes fun at the dumb dad stereotype popular on family sitcoms. Nevertheless, comedians Kevin Laferriere and Evan Kyle Berger embrace the joke while simultaneously erasing the stigma. As they say, “It’s pronounced dad, the “dumb” is silent.”  The duo are “just a couple of dads trying to have a little fun along the way.”

I discovered this podcast when Kevin and Evan made a guest appearance on the I Love My Kid, But… podcast. I thought they were hysterical and had to check out their show.

While the target audience of the podcast may be dads, I really enjoy listening to parenting experiences from a dad’s perspective. I demanded that my husband give it a listen, and he found the content relating to sick kids, the excitement of getting kids back to school, wives that overplan the family calendar to include every possible activity, and home maintenance disasters to be incredibly relatable.

Don’t get the impression that these guys spend the podcast dumping on their wives, rather they definitely give their significant others their proper due. One only has to listen to their recent episode “Thank God for My Wife,” to infer that much.

Episodes relate to themes like surviving parent teacher conferences, ruining school fundraisers, traumatic trips out of town, doom scrolling, school bullying, and being left to their own devices when their wives leave town. With over 200 episodes in the books, you’re sure to find some topics that resonate.

Whether you're looking for funny, relatable, or even occasionally edifying content, this collection of respectively hilarious, smart, hard-drinking, Bravo obsessed, and occasionally foul-mouthed podcast hosts have got your back. Perfect for listening to on your earbuds, or after the kids go to bed, you’ll find yourself nodding along with their episodes.