If you spend much time with me, you will certainly hear this phrase….
“I heard on a podcast….” and then a story or fun fact. As a child, I was an avid reader and information seeker. When I traveled via car quite a bit for my first job, I remember the excitement of discovering audiobooks on CD. The fact that endless amounts of information from experts across the world is simply a few finger swipes away- mindblown!
Now, off my soapbox and onto week 2. If you are new to this series, read about my plan here.
Science
Short Wave
Wildfire Season is Here To Stay
This week’s selection is a quick episode- only about 10 minutes. Here in the Midwest, we hear about the fires in California and it looks super scary. But why is it happening? I truly benefited from the expert’s discussion on this topic, and my kids were intrigued by how it could be better managed in the future.
History / Geography
Stuff You Should Know
What Were the Freedom Schools?
Both of my kids are currently studying American history, so real-world examples and descriptions of events or initiatives are perfect for us to listen to. This is a longer episode- about 45 minutes. The history behind Freedom Schools isn’t something any of us were familiar with, and we found this topic inspiring.
Math / Personal Finance
Listen Money Matters
How to Make Your Kid a Money Master With Eva Baker
Motivate your tween / teen by hearing about a 16 year old who started a blog on shopping smart, getting a part-time job, going to college debt-free, and more.
Computer / Technology
For Dummies: The Podcast
Alexa! Play My Favorite Podcast
In about 25 minutes, your tween and teen will gain a better understanding of the pros and cons of Alexa, including some of her unique features they might not be aware of.
Personal Development
The Marie Forleo Podcast
How To Overcome Fear of Public Speaking w/ Josh Pais
What tween or teen likes public speaking? Not mine! However, this is such an important skill and one that can be taught and practiced. This 15 minute episode contains tips and tricks from experts to overcome fear and shyness in public speaking.
Language Arts / Grammar
Grammar Girl
How to Write a Conclusion. ‘Rebut or Refute’.
Honestly, essay writing can get boring. To a tween or teen in today’s fast-paced world, writing a conclusion seems redundant and unnecessary. Despite their impatience, the art of writing a strong conclusion is so important! Easy tips are found in this short, 11 minute episode.
General / Current Events
Ted Talks
The Transformative Power of Video Games (Herman Narula)
My teenage son loves his Xbox- anyone have a similar situation? According to this episode, 2.6 billion people play around the world, and the interactions opened through gaming present the power to change the world.
Listen up, provide feedback, and share!
