Best parenting podcasts for every stage

Parenting advice is everywhere, but most of it is either too vague to be useful or too specific to apply to your kid. The best parenting podcasts sit in the middle ground: practical, evidence-based, and honest about the fact that no one has this completely figured out.

TL;DR

Best overall: Good Inside with Dr. Becky for practical psychology
Best for new parents: The Longest Shortest Time, The Mom Hour
Best for dads: Dads Who Try, Dadpreneurs
Best for teens: Parenting Teens & Tweens, Your Parenting Mojo
Best for evidence-based advice: Your Parenting Mojo, Respectful Parenting

Good Inside with Dr. Becky

Best for: Understanding why your kid does what they do
Host: Dr. Becky Kennedy (clinical psychologist)
Episode length: 20-40 minutes
Where to listen: All major platforms

Dr. Becky Kennedy breaks down common parenting struggles (tantrums, sibling fights, defiance, screen time battles) through the lens of attachment psychology. She doesn't lecture; she explains what's happening in your child's brain and gives you specific phrases to use in the moment. Episodes are short enough to listen to during a school pickup line.

The Longest Shortest Time

Best for: New parents who want honest, unfiltered stories
Host: Hillary Frank
Episode length: 25-40 minutes
Where to listen: All major platforms

Hillary Frank combines storytelling with practical advice in a format that feels more like a conversation with a friend than a lecture. The show covers the messy, unglamorous side of early parenthood: sleepless nights, relationship strain, identity shifts. It's validating in a way that social media parenting content rarely is.

Your Parenting Mojo

Best for: Parents who want to read the research but don't have time
Host: Jen Lumanlan (M.S., M.Ed.)
Episode length: 40-60 minutes
Where to listen: All major platforms

Jen Lumanlan reads the actual developmental psychology studies so you don't have to. Each episode tackles a specific parenting question, like "Does praise actually motivate kids?" or "When should children start doing chores?" She cites her sources and is transparent when the evidence is mixed. If you find yourself Googling parenting questions at midnight, this show will save you time.

The Mom Hour

Best for: Practical, age-spanning parenting conversations
Hosts: Meagan Francis and Sarah Powers
Episode length: 45-60 minutes
Where to listen: All major platforms

With ten kids between them, Meagan and Sarah cover the full range from toddlers to teenagers. They tackle screen time, work-life balance, school choice, and sibling dynamics with personal anecdotes and listener questions. The tone is relatable without being preachy. Good for parents who want company, not just advice.

Dads Who Try

Best for: Dads who want real talk, not the bumbling-dad stereotype
Episode length: 30-50 minutes
Where to listen: All major platforms

A refreshingly honest show about fatherhood that skips the tropes. Episodes cover topics like maintaining friendships after having kids, dividing household labor fairly, and managing work guilt. The hosts are candid about their mistakes, which makes the advice feel earned rather than handed down.

Parenting Teens & Tweens

Best for: Navigating the years everyone warns you about
Episode length: 25-40 minutes
Where to listen: All major platforms

Adolescence changes everything: communication patterns, boundaries, independence, risk-taking. This show focuses specifically on the 10-18 age range, covering topics like social media use, academic pressure, mental health conversations, and letting go gradually. If your kid just got a phone or started middle school, start here.

Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled

Best for: Calm, boundaried parenting for young children
Host: Janet Lansbury
Episode length: 15-25 minutes
Where to listen: All major platforms

Janet Lansbury's approach is simple: set clear boundaries while respecting your child as a whole person. Her episodes are short and laser-focused, usually responding to a single parent question. She's especially good on topics like setting limits without yelling, handling bedtime resistance, and navigating playground conflicts. The brevity makes this one easy to fit into a busy day.

Dadpreneurs

Best for: Dads balancing business and family
Episode length: 30-45 minutes
Where to listen: All major platforms

For dads running businesses or working demanding jobs, this show tackles the specific tension between professional ambition and being present at home. Topics range from time management and guilt to teaching kids about money and entrepreneurship. Practical without the hustle-culture messaging.

One Bad Mother

Best for: Parents who need to laugh about it
Hosts: Biz Ellis and Theresa Thorn
Episode length: 60-75 minutes
Where to listen: All major platforms

The core message of One Bad Mother is simple: you're doing a great job. Each episode combines personal stories, guest interviews, and a "Genius/Fail" segment where listeners share their parenting wins and disasters. It's therapeutic listening for anyone having a rough week.

Raising Good Humans

Best for: Mindful parenting strategies grounded in psychology
Host: Dr. Aliza Pressman (developmental psychologist)
Episode length: 20-35 minutes
Where to listen: All major platforms

Dr. Aliza Pressman translates child development research into clear, actionable strategies. Episodes are focused and concise, usually tackling one specific challenge (managing screen time, handling lying, supporting a shy child). She avoids judgment and acknowledges that parenting is messy. If you want a calm, evidence-based voice in your ear after a tough day, this is the one.

How We Chose

We prioritized podcasts with hosts who have relevant credentials or extensive parenting experience, consistent publishing schedules, and a focus on practical advice over theory. We also looked for shows that cover a range of family structures and parenting styles, avoiding those that push a single rigid methodology.

For more recommendations, browse our lists of the best podcasts for kids and the best self-improvement podcasts.

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Best Parenting Podcasts for Every Stage