Santa Claus is gearing up his sleigh to deliver an early Christmas present – this special holiday episode of Good Kids. He’ll admit, 2020 has been a rough year for everyone, even Santa. “I’ve talked to millions of children behind plexiglass in outdoor arenas because the poor malls can’t open. Rudolph is once again being shunned by the other reindeer! But this time he deserves it. He won’t wear a mask.” But something that’s made Santa’s year a little brighter has been listening to all of his favo...
Dec 22, 2020•9 min
Yumi Shim always knew she wanted to have kids. But after a muscular dystrophy diagnosis in her early 20s and a frank conversation with her doctor about parenting with a progressive muscle disease years later, Yumi’s hopes of becoming a mom were waning. “So we left that appointment and we got in my car and I cried and I cried and I cried.” Now, ten years after that appointment, Yumi is the proud mom of two kids. In this episode, she shares the challenges, triumphs, and joys of raising two able-bo...
Dec 15, 2020•9 min
Hillary Frank, author and host of the award-winning parenting podcast The Longest Shortest Time , takes us on a journey to the wonderful world of weird parenting. You won’t find any of these tips in a traditional parenting book. Instead, Hillary says, weird parenting is real advice from real parents born out of moments of sheer desperation. “One of my favorites is a game called ‘What's on My Butt?’ You lie down face-down on the couch or on the floor, and then you tell them to get some random obj...
Dec 08, 2020•14 min
Kati Morton, YouTube star and licensed marriage and family therapist, talks about how our mental health has changed during the pandemic. She offers practical, usable advice on how to release the anxious energy that’s been building up inside of us these past 9 months. Plus, why we need to start having open, honest conversations with our kids about what’s going on with the pandemic. “I'd encourage you to not sugarcoat it. You can say it's really scary. I don't understand a lot of things. I'm not a...
Dec 01, 2020•12 min
This Thanksgiving we’re throwing it back to the very first episode of Good Kids featuring writer/producer/podcast host Jaime Primak Sullivan. She reflects on an impulse decision she made years ago to trash her kids’ ice cream at a Dairy Queen in an effort to teach them gratitude and the importance of human connection. “The human connection for me is making a conscious decision to look at people and connect with them.” You can follow Jaime Primak Sullivan on Instagram @jaimepsullivan, on Twitter ...
Nov 24, 2020•16 min
In honor of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris becoming the highest-ranking woman ever elected in U.S. history, we talk with music industry matriarch Sophia Chang about how we can help women of color ascend in every industry: from music, film, and television to technology, medicine, law, and of course, politics. Sophia talks about the importance of mentorship, and why she created Unlock Her Potential, a free mentorship program for women of color in the United States. “You should have women of co...
Nov 10, 2020•12 min
Dr. Shefali Tsabary, clinical psychologist, author, and world-renowned parenting expert outlines the many ways anxiety manifests itself in our lives – from perfectionism to overeating and even watching too many shows on Netflix. With one in five children being diagnosed with anxiety even before the pandemic, Dr. Shefali says it’s about time we revolutionize the way anxiety is viewed: as a superpower rather than a setback. That’s why she wrote her new book Superpowered: Transform Anxiety Into Cou...
Nov 03, 2020•12 min
Lily Cornell Silver, mental health activist and daughter of the late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, recounts her less-than-conventional childhood — on the road, missing school to go to rock concerts, and learning to play poker on the Alice in Chains tour bus. Lily talks candidly about her early introduction to the world of mental health, after a harrowing panic attack at just 12-years-old. “I felt the heat flood my body. I was sweating. I was shaking. And my 12-year-old brain immediately we...
Oct 27, 2020•12 min
June Diane Raphael, actress, writer, and co-founder of The Jane Club, opens up about her own struggle with new motherhood. “It was very painful for me because I didn't feel like I had a lot of support.” She tells the story of her first week on the set of Grace and Frankie when, at just 10 weeks postpartum, she wound up with a *very painful* clogged duct in her breast. “I would walk away and back to my trailer and cry because it was so painful.” Plus: how she balances taking care of two small chi...
Oct 20, 2020•11 min
Nic Stone, best-selling young adult author, says she never saw characters like herself in books growing up. That’s why she’s on a mission to make sure every child feels represented by the books on their bookshelf. Her latest book, Dear Justyce , tells the story of a Black boy who ends up in juvenile detention after confessing to the murder of a police officer. Plus, Nic shares her #1 piece of parenting advice. “I think that the best thing that we can do for our children is to create in them a de...
Oct 13, 2020•14 min
Climate activist and founder of Plus 1 Vote, Saad Amer, talks about his leap from nature lover to climate activist at just 14 years old. Frustrated with the lack of meaningful climate action from lawmakers, Saad came up with a simple solution: “Let’s get rid of them.” That’s why Saad is encouraging you (yes, you) and all your friends -- "your smart friends, your woke friends, your highly educated friends," as he says -- to get out there this November and VOTE! “A democracy will only represent th...
Oct 06, 2020•12 min
Rachel Bloom, the Golden Globe-winning co-creator/star of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend , reveals what it was like giving birth during the pandemic at the same moment her friend and music collaborator, Adam Schlesinger, was losing his battle with the virus. With COVID-19 as a humbling denominator, she confronts mortality with the same out-of-body clarity in a way that she hasn’t since that one time she took way too many mushrooms in Amsterdam. “There's nothing more on the nose about as one person enters, ...
Sep 29, 2020•10 min
We could all use a little more goodness in our lives right now. That’s why Good Kids is back for Season 2, bringing you 10-minute audio delights on how we can all raise better humans, together. This season, we talk to parents, experts, and good kids themselves about everything from climate change and mental health to race and mentoring. Launches Tuesday, September 29th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 22, 2020•2 min
If you’ve ever sat through professional development as an educator, you’ve heard of Angela Duckworth. Both her research and personal experience in the classroom suggests that IQ isn’t always helpful in determining successful outcomes for students. Rather, a more important predictor of success is “grit,” a growth mindset, and feeling like you have a purpose that’s bigger than yourself. So how do we unlock grit and resilience in our kids, especially when the world is so uncertain and unpredictable...
Jul 07, 2020•15 min
Great British Bake Off and Food Unwrapped star Briony May Williams reflects on the COVID19 pandemic and recent Black Lives Matter uprising, and what she can do as the parent of a young child to have these uncomfortable conversations in a way that feels safe and loving. Also, baking! She talks about baking. “It's uncomfortable and it's awkward, but it's so important...and I think it's finding that moment where it's appropriate to have that conversation. It’s so important to have it because we can...
Jun 30, 2020•13 min
Stay-at-home dad Peter Rider shares his experience--the good, the bad, and the funny--with being detailed and clear when talking to his kids about all sorts of things. From having two gay dads to contracting head lice and more, he believes being explicit is the way to go. “One thing that I've been thinking about a lot over the past year, especially as my kids get a little older, is the balance between modeling behaviors vs. being really explicit and explaining things. I think I started out think...
Jun 23, 2020•13 min
Brit Prawat, host of Crime Junkie podcast, talks candidly about being adopted and how the emotions and even loss around that never really goes away. However, she had an incredibly positive experience as a child and always felt loved, supported, and chosen. Ultimately, the experience influenced her to adopt and foster children of her own when it came time to build her own family. For those who may be interested in doing the same, she pulls the curtain back and gives listeners tons of good informa...
Jun 16, 2020•18 min
Rebecca Carroll is a cultural critic, host of WYNC’s Come Through podcast, and critic at large for the Los Angeles Times . TL;DR: She is qualified to talk about television. But during quarantine, she’s found herself reexamining the role TV plays in her own family and how it’s actually a pretty good thing when times are particularly tough. “I just don't think that this whole screen time thing is as negative as a lot of folks do. So long as I can have a conversation with my kid about what he is co...
Jun 09, 2020•17 min
In this critical episode, Dr. Nzinga Harrison outlines ways to talk with kids of all ages about racism and shares ten action steps on raising kids who are anti-racist. “Anti-racist kids are kids that don't have to pretend to be free of racism, but kids who make the commitment to fight racism wherever they see it, including when they see it in themselves.” You can follow Dr. Nzinga Harrison on Twitter at @naharrisonmd Be sure to check out this episode’s fantastic sponsors: Looking for ways to tak...
Jun 02, 2020•18 min
Practical tips abound in this phenomenal episode for kids and parents alike! Bestselling author, podcaster, and mental health advocate Niall Breslin strips away the woo-woo-ness of mindfulness and teaches us how we can actually use it to improve quality of life for ourselves and our kids, especially in today’s world. Niall draws from practical, scientific, and spiritual methods to explain that we can’t keep going at the pace we’ve been going because we've got “an old brain for a new world and ou...
May 26, 2020•21 min
JoAnna García Swisher ( Sweet Magnolias ) is a mother, actor, and founder of The Happy Place , a website dedicated to design and self-care. Her philosophy of “creating and celebrating the spaces, places, and moments that bring the greatest joy” has actually helped her navigate the difficult moments of her life, most recently the loss of her father, with whom she was incredibly close. This profound loss was a primer for the world we’re living in today, as we all learn to cope with feeling utterly...
May 19, 2020•13 min
Dani Shapiro puts deep-rooted family secrets under a microscope in both her New York Times bestselling memoir, Inheritance , and her podcast, Family Secrets . In today’s episode, Dani provides some insight for parents into striking a delicate balance between “the sky is falling” and “we got this.” She also discusses how toxic it can be for families to keep secrets (even those with the best of intentions) and how it’s ultimately better to address tough or painful topics head-on. You can find more...
May 12, 2020•16 min
Bess Kalb is an Emmy-nominated writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live, a regular contributor to The New Yorker , and author of Nobody Will Tell You This But Me , a laugh/cry book based on her close relationship with her late grandmother. Bess talks about recently becoming a mother herself, raising an infant in isolation, and the wisdom she continues to derive from her grandma: “There's a refrain that my grandma said frequently throughout her life. It's, ‘Bessie, when the earth is cracking behind your feet...
May 05, 2020•14 min
Dr. Jennie Weiner is both a parent and an associate professor of educational leadership at the University of Connecticut, so she has a unique perspective on the plight of parents, particularly mothers, and teachers who have to suddenly educate kids from home. In this eye-opening episode, she looks at what it means to be a “parent-teacher,” a remote educator, and the many roles schools play in our everyday lives, many of which we took for granted until now. You can follow Dr. Weiner on Twitter an...
Apr 28, 2020•14 min
Devorah Heitner, Ph.D. and author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World , guides us through some of the push-and-pull challenges we’re facing with screen time and technology while kids and parents are stuck at home. “I don't think of media and tech as evil, I just think that most of us do well when our screen experiences and tech time is more balanced.” Check out “ Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World ” and raisingdigitalnatives.c...
Apr 21, 2020•17 min
As an entrepreneur, actor, and solo parent, having to suddenly homeschool his kid wasn’t the easiest transition for Jonas Chartock, but finding time every night for him and his son to say what they're thankful for has helped ease stress for them both. “It's something that I want to model for him so that he is able to use it as a counter to some of the anxiety and stress that that comes up.” Follow Jonas on Twitter and Instagram . Also check out: Literati.com/goodkids Daily Harvest (promo code: G...
Apr 14, 2020•15 min
During this time of social isolation, activist DeRay Mckesson ( Pod Save The People ) wants to inspire people to get involved and organize from home. This led to the creation of WhileAtHome.org , a regularly updated website that compiles all sorts of COVID-related resources and tools for American citizens of every demographic, including parents and students. “While you're at home, there are resources to help you get out of this mess, and we will make it out of this mess. While you're home, there...
Apr 07, 2020•15 min
**New Lemonada Media Show Alert** In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt. We are now in the early stages of something we’ve never seen before: a global pandemic. In addition to our health, social isolation and economic uncertainty have left us scrambling to understand our new normal and wondering what the future holds. From his own bubble, health care leader, turnaround expert and #stayhome architect Andy Slavitt is making it his mission to give Americans critical information in real-time but also hope...
Apr 06, 2020•3 min
California’s Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, joins us remotely to share advice on how to talk to your kids about COVID-19, what all of us can do to help, and how to mitigate stress while stuck at home. “We're all feeling a lot of stress right now. And I think for adults, we can kind of recognize it and say it. But for kids, oftentimes it doesn't show up in the same way.” You can follow Dr. Nadine Burke Harris on Twitter at @DrBurkeHarris and @CA_OSG . For information, resources and sup...
Mar 31, 2020•18 min
In the midst of a quarantine, Stephanie Wittels Wachs (Last Day, Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful ) talks about living in the unknown as a parent and being okay with all that it brings. “I accepted a really long time ago that I have no control over anything. I can put my best foot forward. But ultimately, what's gonna happen is gonna happen.” Follow Stephanie on Instagram and Twitter . Listen to Last Day from Lemonada Media betterhelp.com/goodkids Mercari Transcriptions available shortly aft...
Mar 24, 2020•21 min
