On this week’s show, two very funny moms and I take a look at parenting behind the scenes: what most of us are really thinking and feeling as we spend our days wiping noses and checking for ear wax. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Karen Bergreen is a stand-up comic who you may have seen on Comedy Central or at one of the comedy clubs in New York City. As a married mom of two boys and a couple of hermit crabs, she turned to writing as a means of cutting back on travel time...
Dec 30, 2013•50 min
If you are going to listen to just one of my shows, this may be the one. On this week’s episode, I talk with author and educator, Tony Wagner, and entrepreneur and documentary filmmaker, Robert Compton , about the disconnect between what our kids are learning in schools and what they should be learning to be competitive in our new innovative, global economy. If our education system isn’t instilling the creativity, passion, problem-solving, entrepreneurial spirit that our children will need, then...
Dec 23, 2013•1 hr 4 min
Vacation time is almost upon us. If you have children in school, pre-school, or day care, that can mean a lot of days off for them and a lot of time to fill you for you! Scheduling a few playdates may be your answer. On this week’s show, Multiple Mayhem Mamma Samantha Kemp-Jackson and I exchange our best strategies for handling all things playdate related. We cover everything from what questions to ask before you drop off your precious child to how to handle a misbehaving guest. After listening ...
Dec 09, 2013•55 min
This week’s show explores what it’s like to be the odd man out. Literally. I talk with TV producer and writer, now also stay at home dad, David Wallach , about his experience as a minority in a world of mostly moms. You won’t want to miss this funny and eye opening look at what may be the newest playground wars. After listening to the show, you can learn more about David and follow his fathering adventures at his blog, Dad All Day . Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS The pos...
Dec 02, 2013•50 min
Want your child to learn to think like an engineer? Want your couch potato kid to get moving? How about helping your reluctant reader get engaged with words? Want to accomplish this while having fun with your children? On this week’s show, we discuss how to use toys and goals to accomplish these goals and more. My guest, Jenn Choi, is the toy reviewer behind ToysAreTools . She works with child development experts and other specialists, as well as children testers, to find toys and games that kid...
Nov 19, 2013•1 hr 1 min
Get ready for the holiday season and a whole new year of play by hearing from several powerhouses in the business of play about what is hot in toys and games for kids. My guests on this week’s very fun episode are: Mary Couzin, CEO and founder of the Chicago Toy and Game Group, which includes the Chicago Toy & Game Fair (“ChiTag”), the largest public toy and game fair in the country; Reyne Rice, the leading toy trends expert and commentator; and Traci Paige Johnson, co-creator of Nickelodeon...
Nov 11, 2013•1 hr 8 min
Hundreds of millions of people follow blogs written by parents just like you. Have you thought about blogging yourself, but don’t know how to begin? Do you read blogs and want the inside scoop about what is going on in the blogging industry? Or perhaps you’re just a fan of Scary Mommy, one of the most popular mom bloggers on the Net. If so, then this show is sure to end up one of your favorites. On this week’s episode, I talk with Lisa Stone, the co-founder and CEO of BlogHer, a hugely successfu...
Nov 04, 2013•54 min
The New York Times said of my guest this week, that “she is bigger than Justin Bieber, if you happen to be four or five,” and People Magazine calls her “the queen of kids’ music.” If you are a parent of young children, and you haven’t heard of Laurie Berkner , you’ll want to listen to this week’s show to find out what makes her so special and hear her sing some of her music, both old and new. If you already are a Laurie Berkner fan, then you know you are in for a special treat. During our conver...
Oct 28, 2013•51 min
Our country’s drop-out rate is appalling and our students are performing well below those in many other countries. Many kids are distracted from schooling by the constant allure of their cell phones, video games, television, and the Internet so how can schools compete? Maybe instead of trying to distract kids from all this technology, we would be best served by using gaming principles and game designing itself to get kids re-engaged. My guest on this week’s show, Nikki Nava, is the CEO of Zulama...
Oct 21, 2013•59 min
As parents, we all look for and take joy in our child’s important “firsts” – first word, first time rolling over, first time sitting up unattended, first steps . . . But although these noted benchmarks are significant and memorable, there are lots of other small developmental milestones that may be even more important indicators of whether our baby is on track towards success. The key is knowing what these are and how we can help our children attain and surpass these milestones. On this week’s s...
Oct 14, 2013•55 min
This week’s very special show gives parents and their children an inside look into how their favorite children’s books, TV shows, characters, toys and games are created. You might want to have your child with you as you listen to award-winning illustrator, author, and TV producer, Dan Yaccarino describe how he has developed some of our kids’ favorite books and television shows. He also shares tips for how parents can bring out their chid’s artistic and writing talents and you’ll find out the ins...
Oct 07, 2013•1 hr 1 min
When we have children, we never imagine that the relationship with our partner may not last. But it’s a sad reality that many of us face. if you are a parent unhappy in your marriage or partnership, what should you ask yourself before making a decision to split? And if you do decide to go forward with a separation or divorce, how can you best protect the emotional and psychological well-being of your kid during and after the end of your relationship? Subscribe with your favorite podcast player A...
Sep 30, 2013•1 hr 4 min
If men are from Mars, and women from Venus, then where in the world are teenagers from? If you are parenting a teen, you know that they are far from the person they might have been just a year or two ago. How do we communicate with this new breed? And what can we do when our children are younger to prepare for this difficult time? On this week’s show, Sarah Newton , know as the “teenage Super Nanny,” shares her unique wisdom on this topic. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS ...
Sep 23, 2013•57 min
Books truly are a child’s bridge to the future and the past, and to imagination and reality. However, with competition from television, video games, the Internet, and apps, are children still reading books? How are things changing in the publishing industry and will modern technological developments help or hurt the field of children’s literature? On this week’s show, I have fascinating conversations with three different guests to help address these questions: Steve Geck is the Editorial Manager...
Sep 16, 2013•1 hr 3 min
My guest Kristine Barnett, author of The Spark: A Mother’s Story of Nurturing, Genius, and Autism , pulled her 3 year old severely autistic son out of his special education pre-school in an attempt to return his childhood and try to re-connect him to the world by nurturing his passion for the stars. HIs special ed teacher thought that he would never learn to read or even communicate very much. Fifteen year old Jacob is now beginning a master’s program in theoretical physics at one of the top uni...
Sep 09, 2013•1 hr 7 min
For lots of children, the most important, and most anxiety provoking, aspect of starting the new school year is the social component. Making and keeping friends and developing strong social skills is harder today than it was when we were growing up. And some kids find making friends especially challenging. On this week’s show, you will get some incredible expert advice on how to help your child conquer his social challenges from mom, psychologist, and author, Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore . Eileen ha...
Aug 26, 2013•51 min
Is your child anxious about starting a new school year? Are you? The back to school time is a challenging transition period for everyone involved, and the important subject of this week’s show. My return guest, author and educator, Rick Ackerly, and I talk about how we can partner with our child and the school to make this transition a positive learning experience for all involved. If you’re a parent, you either are in the midst of getting ready for your child to begin school, or you will be dow...
Aug 19, 2013•57 min
Becoming a biological parent is the miraculous result of the successful completion of a complex process that includes ovulation, conception, and carrying a baby to term. For a significant minority of folks, however, this journey to parenthood is fraught with challenges. Whether you are struggling with getting pregnant or staying pregnant, the disease of infertility is an incredibly difficult challenge to face. On this week’s show, I talk with Barb Collura, the CEO of RESOLVE , the national infer...
Aug 05, 2013•1 hr 14 min
Those last days of summer break before school or pre-school resumes can be tough! On this week’s show, my guests and I talk about great summer activities that can help you and your children survive, have fun, and even learn, during this transition time. Jennie Ito is a development psychologist and play consultant for Leap Frog. She shares her favorite ideas or beating the summer doldrums including using recycled household objects and where she goes online to get inspiration for new play suggesti...
Jul 29, 2013•55 min
Last week, the New York Post reported that some rich Manhattan parents have begun paying $400 an hour for consultants to arrange and oversee play dates for their pre-school children so they can learn how to properly socialize with others and fare better in their applications to New York’s elite private schools. This is such a sad commentary on the decline of unstructured play in this country that I decided to devote this week’s show to talking directly to my listeners about why it is critical th...
Jul 23, 2013•53 min
If you’re tired of hearing about the problems in our education system and in our homes, and would rather learn what teachers and parents can do now to return the love of learning to their students and children, than this is the show for you. My guest, Dara Feldman, M. Ed. was Disney’s 2005 Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the year. She is also on a personal mission to enhance the lives of children by teaching educators how to get kids excited again about learning. To this end, she wrote a wonde...
Jul 15, 2013•1 hr 4 min
In our difficult economy, more and more teenagers seeking employment are unable to find a job. If we want our children to become financially self-sufficient, perhaps starting and growing their own business is our best bet. On this week’s show, I speak with author and teen counselor, Julia Neiman . After years of working with foster youth, Julia realized the best way to empower her clients and help them achieve independence was to give them the tools and skills to become young entrepreneurs. She ...
Jul 01, 2013•1 hr 2 min
Each of our children is unique and wonderful, but how should we maximize our child’s potential? Who better to answer that question than someone who has helped raise thousands of children and coached teachers, school leaders and parents for many years. Rick Ackerly has been a headmaster of four independent schools and is a nationally recognized leader in the field of education. He is also the author of one of my favorite books for parents: The Genius in Every Child: Encouraging Character, Curiosi...
Jun 24, 2013•1 hr
Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Moms who work outside of the home, or from their home, talk about the challenge of work-life integration all the time. But this is not just an issue for moms. As the economy has changed, more dads are becoming the primary caretakers for their children and more and more families have two working parents. Dads may not talk about this issue as much as moms, but the challenge remains. On this week’s show, I speak with executive coach and the au...
Jun 17, 2013•55 min
Summer is just around the corner and that means summer break for your children. The sun, the fun . . . but also the complaints of boredom. And don’t forget the whining! On this week’s show, my guest Robert Nickell (AKA “Daddy Nickell”), founder of Daddy Scrubs, and I share lots of great ideas for what you can do with those long summer days. Be sure to listen in because we have you covered with a whole host of activities and ideas (everything from our own take on geocaching to airport excursions)...
Jun 10, 2013•59 min
On this week’s show, we explore one of parenting’s greatest challenges: how to get your child to enjoy a healthy, varied diet. My guest is Dr. Jennifer Gardner , a pediatrician and mom with a special interest in pediatric nutrition, fitness, weight management, and pediatric obesity. She founded an online child wellness and pediatric weight management company called Healthy Kids Company and her advice may surprise you. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS She explains: Why chil...
Jun 03, 2013•1 hr 6 min
Parenting is life changing for all of us. But for my two guests on this week’s show, parenting actually brought them a new career as well as a new baby. Dr. Rosina McAlpine is an award winning education professor at the University of Sydney. After the birth of her son, she applied her research prowess to reading and distilling the latest studies on a vast array of parenting related subjects from psychology to neuroscience to biology. She went on to interview leading experts from around the world...
May 27, 2013•1 hr 11 min
On this week’s show, I interview Brain Insights founder and early brain development specialist, Deborah McNellis about how parents can best foster the developing brains of their babies and young children. During a child’s first years of life, 90% of brain development takes place. What can parents do to maximize this window of opportunity? Make sure to listen in to learn: Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS How the brain’s development is affected by external factors The role a...
May 20, 2013•46 min
Play is essential to every aspect of a child’s healthy development and an amazing teaching vehicle. So why are schools cutting back or eliminating recess and why has unstructured play for kids declined drastically in the last decade? It’s time to reverse this disturbing trend. On this week’s show, I talk with Darell Hammond, the Founder and CEO of Kaboom.org , Sarah Stern, Deputy Director of Development for Right to Play’s Canadian office, and Jill Amery, founder of UrbanMommies.com and a recent...
May 13, 2013•1 hr 14 min
In honor of the holiday, this week’s show offers a very special look at Mother’s Day that you will not want to miss! Listen in to hear from psychologist and in-law relationship expert, and author of the book: RELUCTANTLY RELATED: Secrets to Getting Along With Your Mother-In-Law or Daughter-Law, Dr. Deanna Brann , about how to handle the relationship challenges that may arise during Mother’s Day or any other special holiday or family get-together. You will also laugh along with my favorite funny ...
May 06, 2013•1 hr 9 min
