In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Christopher Willard, a clinical psychologist at Harvard Medical School and co-author of College Mental Health 101 , to explore how parents can support college-bound teens through the transition to campus life. We get practical with research-backed basics like sleep, movement, medication management, and executive function supports, along with a simple “support map” for finding the right people and resources on campus. We also clarify how to tell crisis from...
Aug 15, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 104
In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Marc Berman, the pioneer of environmental neuroscience, to explore the surprising science behind how nature enhances cognitive, physical, and social wellbeing. We dive into how spending time in nature—whether it’s a walk in the park or simply looking at nature photos—can boost attention, memory, and mood. Dr. Berman also shares practical tips for how to incorporate nature’s benefits into your daily routine, even if you don't have easy access to green space...
Aug 08, 2025•50 min•Ep. 103
What is gentle parenting, really? And why is it annoying so many parents? I’m joined by Dr. Tina Payne Bryson to unpack the truth behind the trend, clear up major misconceptions, and explain why the real gold standard—authoritative parenting—still matters most. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: dral...
Aug 01, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 102
In today's episode I sit down with Dr. Dave Anderson from the Child Mind Institute to discuss cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). We delve into the misconceptions, tools, and techniques of CBT, and how parents and children can benefit from these strategies. Dr. Anderson explains the importance of understanding emotions, practicing mindfulness, and cognitive restructuring. We also share practical advice for incorporating CBT principles into everyday life (with some tips for those with flight anxi...
Jul 25, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 103
In today’s episode I am joined by Yale neuroscientist Dr. Dylan Gee for a fascinating look at what’s actually happening in our children’s brains when we offer support, warmth, and connection. We delve into the neurobiology and neurobiological mechanisms that underpin parent-child interactions, particularly focusing on emotional development. We also dive into the individual differences in children's needs, the concept of 'safety signals,' and the balance between parental support and fostering ind...
Jul 18, 2025•45 min•Season 5Ep. 102
In today's episode I speak with activist Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, about her new book 'Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age'. Shannon shares her journey from corporate PR to leading a grassroots movement against gun violence and discusses how women can discover their core values, ignite personal and professional transformations, and find a sense of belonging. We talk about the importance of taking small, consistent actions, identifying perso...
Jul 11, 2025•49 min•Season 5Ep. 102
In this episode, Tina and I discuss personal moments of our parenting missteps, explore instances where our reactions didn't align with my expertise and what we might have done differently. We discuss the benefits of imperfections, the power of repair, and the importance of modeling self-compassion for our children. Through our real-life anecdotes, we highlight the challenges and lessons learned from our experiences, and offer practical takeaways on setting boundaries, managing fear-based parent...
Jul 04, 2025•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 27
In this episode, I’m joined by James Kimmel Jr. JD, a lecturer in psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and author of The Science of Revenge , to explore what the latest neuroscience tells us about revenge, grievance, and retaliation. We discuss how the brain’s reward system becomes activated in response to perceived harm—often fueling cycles of conflict that begin in childhood. Together, we examine how understanding these mechanisms can help us teach our children to reframe grievances, regu...
Jun 27, 2025•53 min•Season 5Ep. 26
In today's episode I dive into one of the most triggering parenting challenges: backtalk. From eye rolls to attitude, I’m sharing 10 practical, research-backed ways to respond to backtalk without damaging your connection with your child. From toddlers asserting independence to teens testing boundaries, I’ll share developmentally informed approaches to help you regulate your response, set respectful limits, and foster more effective communication. Let’s turn those moments of sass into opportuniti...
Jun 20, 2025•37 min•Season 5Ep. 25
Today I sit down with Claire Lerner to discuss practical approaches for parents managing highly sensitive, highly reactive, or 'orchid' children. We address common struggles parents face, such as interpreting sensitive caregiving, setting boundaries, and dealing with tantrums. Using real-life case studies, the importance of creating 'positive discomfort' for growth is emphasized. Tips include setting firm limits, using 'mommy/daddy moments' for decision-making, and the concept of sensitive careg...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 5Ep. 24
In today’s episode, brought to you by WaterWipes, co-founders, authors and chemists, Gloria Lu and Victoria Fu of Chemist Confessions crack the case on hidden ingredients that may be found in a parent’s most used product, Baby Wipes. Victoria and Gloria share their expertise from nearly 20 years in the skin care industry and discuss the benefits of leaning towards products with minimal ingredients to protect the baby’s delicate skin microbiome. We conducted a few scientific demonstrations, inves...
Jun 11, 2025•42 min•Season 5Ep. 23
In today’s episode I sit down with Dr. Thomas Boyce, professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at UCSF, about his 40 years of research on temperamental differences in children, specifically focusing on his concept of 'orchid' and 'dandelion' children. Dr. Boyce explains how while most children are resilient like dandelions, a significant minority are sensitive 'orchids' who react more strongly to their environments. We discuss Boyce's research, the biological underpinnings of these temperamental di...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 23
In today’s episode, we sit down with Professor Rob Turrisi, a leading expert in behavioral decision-making and substance misuse prevention, to discuss teen drinking. With decades of research, Turrisi shares insights on the developmental factors influencing alcohol use among adolescents and emerging adults, exploring the transition from high school to college, peer environments, and alarming data on blackout drinking and alcohol use disorder. We discuss the impact of positive communication, effec...
May 30, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 22
This week I sat down with New York Times bestselling author Melinda Wenner Moyer about her new book Hello, Cruel World . We explore the fear that drives so much of modern parenting, how to help kids build self-compassion, what the research really says about tech and substance use, and why a little discomfort might be exactly what our kids need to grow. Buy her book HERE . I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here:...
May 23, 2025•44 min•Season 5Ep. 21
In today’s episode Yale professor and The Happiness Lab host Dr. Laurie Santos breaks down the science of happiness, sharing what research actually shows boosts our wellbeing—and what doesn’t. We explore the difference between feeling good in your life and feeling good about your life, and how strategies like social connection, movement, sleep, time affluence, and self-compassion can make a measurable impact. We also dive into helpful insights for parents, explaining how well-intentioned efforts...
May 16, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 20
Pelvic health is often ignored until something goes wrong—but it’s essential at every stage of a woman’s life. In this episode, Dr. Sara Reardon, also known as the Vagina Whisperer, breaks down what every woman needs to know about her pelvic floor. From painful sex and postpartum recovery to perimenopause, proper toilet habits, and how we talk to our kids about their bodies. Purchase her book HERE I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to...
May 09, 2025•50 min•Season 5Ep. 19
In this powerful and refreshingly playful conversation, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson returns to talk about The Way of Play —her newest book and a much-needed reminder that play isn't just fun, it's foundational. We dive into the science and soul of play—from its impact on brain development and emotional intelligence to how it builds lifelong connection and resilience. We also discuss why roughhousing isn’t risky, how to play when you’re too tired to try, and why letting kids lead the way in play is so ...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 18
In today’s episode I sit down with Dr. Blaise Aguirre, renowned Harvard psychiatrist to explore the roots of self-hatred and how it differs from everyday self-criticism. We unpack how early experiences—often subtle and unintentional—can shape a child’s sense of worth, and what it takes to unlearn those damaging lessons. We talk about how to respond when your child says “I hate myself,” why curiosity matters more than reassurance, and how to help sensitive kids build emotional resilience. Plus: t...
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 17
In today’s episode I sit down with with Dr. Tom Hildebrandt, clinical psychologist and director at Mount Sinai’s Center for Excellence in Eating and Weight Disorders, to unpack the difference between disordered eating and eating disorders—and why that distinction matters. We dive into how to foster healthy food environments at home, when (and how) to talk to your kids about food and body image, and why regular family meals might be your best defense against future struggles. Plus: the impact of ...
Apr 18, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 16
I’m so excited to welcome back Dr. Ethan Kross, psychologist, neuroscientist, and author of Chatter , for a fascinating conversation about the inner voice we all live with—and how it can help or hurt us. We talk about how to support our kids (and ourselves) when that voice gets loud, critical, or overwhelming. Ethan shares incredibly helpful, science-backed tools for calming the chatter, building resilience, and knowing when support turns into co-rumination. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your cop...
Apr 11, 2025•46 min•Season 5Ep. 15
How can doodling and daydreaming - when your child might otherwise be paying attention - be a good thing? How does art support our child's health? What skills do our kids acquire in art class that help them later in life? This week, join me in conversation with Susan Magsamen, author of Your Brain On Art. She serves as executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab, part of the Brain Science Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She also co-directs the Aspen Institute's Neu...
Apr 04, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 14
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by clinical neuropsychologist Dr. William Stixrud, co-author of The Self-Driven Child and the brand new Seven Principles for Raising a Self-Driven Child workbook. We talk about how to nurture internal motivation, what it really means to be autonomy-supportive, and how to step back without checking out. We also explore the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, how to support kids with executive function challenges, and why doing less as a parent...
Mar 28, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 13
In today's episode I sit down with bestselling author Gretchen Rubin to talk about her new book, The Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives . We dive into the power of short, impactful wisdom, how to pass life lessons to our kids without sounding like we’re lecturing, and why accepting ourselves while still expecting more of ourselves is the key to growth. Gretchen shares some of her favorite aphorisms—those quick, thought-provoking truths that can change the way we parent, wo...
Mar 21, 2025•45 min•Season 5Ep. 12
How do children learn to understand and regulate the emotions? In this episode, I sit down with professor and psychologist Kristen Lindquist to explore how kids develop the ability to recognize, label, and regulate their emotions. We talk about the power of language in shaping emotional growth, the fine line between validating feelings and overwhelming kids with labels, and how temperament plays a role in emotional development. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Par...
Mar 14, 2025•41 min•Season 5Ep. 11
In this solo episode, I’m diving into the different ways you can help your child develop collaboration and teamwork skills. I break down ten actionable strategies that encourage kids to work together, navigate group dynamics, and build a sense of community. From engaging in team sports and group projects to practicing conflict resolution and celebrating shared achievements, I go through simple yet powerful ways to foster these essential life skills. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The ...
Mar 07, 2025•36 min•Season 5Ep. 10
In this episode we sit down with clinical psychologist Dr. Caroline Fleck to talk about the power of validation—what it really means, why it’s so important, and how we can use it to strengthen our relationships with our kids, others, and even ourselves. Dr. Caroline Fleck breaks down the science behind validation, shares practical tools from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and clears up common misconceptions—like how to validate without reinforcing bad behavior. She also opens up about her o...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 9
In this special episode, we feature a chapter of "The 5 Principles of Parenting," focusing on the foundational aspects of discipline. Tune in to learn the keys to discipline that respect both the child’s feelings and the parent’s expectations, how to navigate discipline at different ages, and how to understand your child’s moral development stage. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL S...
Feb 21, 2025•36 min•Season 5Ep. 8
In this solo episode I discuss the different ways you can cultivate adaptability and flexibility in children. I break down ten actionable strategies for parents to encourage these skills, such as modeling adaptability, introducing new experiences, encouraging problem-solving, and practicing mindfulness. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting ...
Feb 14, 2025•34 min•Season 5Ep. 7
In today’s episode I am joined by Neha Ruch, author of The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break after Kids and Come Back Stronger Than Ever , to unpack the long-standing tension between stay-at-home and working moms. Together, we explore the myths, societal pressures, and hidden labor behind both choices—while challenging the idea that ambition and motherhood are at odds. Neha shares how taking a career pause can be a power move, why it’s time to end the shame around different parenting paths...
Feb 07, 2025•39 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Emotions are a fundamental part of being human—but how do we help kids navigate them without rushing to fix or suppress their feelings? This week, we sit down with emotion regulation expert Ethan Kross, author of Shift: Managing Your Emotions So They Don’t Manage You , to break down the science of emotions and self-regulation. From handling anger and anxiety to fostering emotional resilience, this conversation is packed with practical tools and insights for parents and kids alike. I WROTE MY FIR...
Jan 31, 2025•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 5
