This week we're talking to Jenny Lawson . and we can't even believe we hadn't done it before! The best-selling author, humorist, new indie bookstore owner , and all around amazing human is joining us in time for National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month for a candid discussion about...well depression. And anxiety. And other mental health issues that so many of us experience but are sometimes scared to talk about. If you know Jenny, you know that you'll laugh, you'll learn, you'll get...
Oct 20, 2021•37 min
For ages, we've wanted to cover the topic of raising LGBTQ+ kids with kindness, compassion, understanding... and we have the absolute perfect guest for that: Kristin Russo, the honest, hilarious and incredibly helpful author of This is a Book for for Parents of Gay Kids. So basically the 3 H's. We know you'll love this chat, which is like an entertaining audio FAQ for parents -- or anyone who wants to be more supportive (and less awkward) with the LGBTQ+ kids in your own life. And as always, we ...
Oct 14, 2021•31 min
It's a big Spawned milestone as we welcome our first ever aerospace engineer, Keji Sojobi, who chats about her work with the new Netflix show, Ada Twist, Scientist . She shares how she's working hard to make STEM more accessible to girls, particularly girls of color. And of course, we close out our show with our Cool Picks of the Week. You can find us on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook . Let us know what you thought of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Oct 05, 2021•30 min
We parents feel the pressure of social media, so it's no surprise that our kids are feeling it too. And according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, it's young women and the effect of Instagram on their body image that's a huge problem that Facebook is not talking about. So... we are! We chat about the problem, but better, offer possible solutions for parents. And as always, we share our cool picks of the week (which is now an email, which you can subscribe to right here ). Follow us on so...
Sep 29, 2021•36 min
As we watched the York Central School District make national news with their recent book ban, we thought it was important to reshare this fantastic episode with author Meena Harris, who chats with Liz about the importance of diverse books for kids. Even though YCSD overturned the ruling, many school districts around the country are following suit. SPONSORS: Sign up for a free 7-day trial plus save 20% off with code CMP21 at ParentEducate.com . And don't miss saving over $150 off an ECOVACS Deebo...
Sep 22, 2021•51 min
We get some of our best topic ideas from YOU -- like this week's episode on how to manage step-parenting, divorce, and welcoming new kids into your heart We're so happy to chat about this with dynamic Certified Parenting Coach, author and educator, Naja Hall . She's the founder of the popular community Blended and Black as well as the force behind VIP Stepmom and we know you'll love her frank, often hilarious wisdom. As always, we close out our show with our Cool Picks of the Week -- let's just ...
Sep 14, 2021•53 min
Especially during these challenging times, we're finding that what matters to us when it comes success with our kids has changed vastly. And we're not the only ones. Author Madeline Levine spoke with everyone from CEOs to military leaders to discover what they're looking for in candidates, and what they said might surprise you! As always, we close out our show with our Cool Picks of the Week, and be sure to stick around after the show; we've got a fun little surprise for you! Madeline's book, Re...
Sep 08, 2021•49 min
Sibling conflict has ramped up a lot over the past year. And don't we know it. So when several listeners asked for help, we invited back family therapist, psychologist, and best-selling parenting author Dr. Sheryl Ziegler to help us figure out how to break up the sibling fights, manage behavior we don't like, and create some rules to foster better sibling relationships int he first place. Yay for peace and love! And for being less miserable at home! We also share our Cool Picks of the Week, of c...
Sep 01, 2021•38 min
We often ask ourselves what it takes to raise strong, wonderful kids who are kind, empathic (aka not assholes), which is why we were so excited to chat with Melinda Wenner Moyer , author of the new book How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes . She's a science journalist (and parent herself), and looked to the science of character and research to share insights into what works and what doesn't. Yay science! We also share our Cool Picks of the Week, of course. Our sponsors are awesome: Save $10 off...
Aug 26, 2021•46 min
Just when you thought that back to school 2021 would be easier than 2020... here we are, trying to figure out, once again, what to do with our kids as many school districts are mask optional and the Delta variant is greatly affecting kids. Liz and Kristen chat about their own experiences, as well as offer advice on what actions you can take, from advocacy to talking to your kids. And as always, we share our Cool Picks of the Week. Huge thanks to our sponsors: Vitapod , a healthy way to keep your...
Aug 17, 2021•39 min
When Kristen wrote a viral post last week about wearing crop tops in response to a conversation with her daughter, the comments from our readers were so inspiring, we knew we wanted to discuss body positivity further on Spawned. Please join us for a very honest, and probably very relatable conversation about owing our shapes (especially as we age), why we think we "can't" wear certain things, words we're trying to avoid around our kids, and why we might want to lose the word "flattering." Plus, ...
Jul 14, 2021•37 min
If you need a laugh as much as we need a laugh, you'll appreciate this vintage Spawned episode with author and Twitter superstar James Breakwell. And hey, maybe his parenting tips will help us survive this summer! Meet our sponsor: Notes from the Backpack , a parenting podcast from the PTA. Subscribe now while you're listening to Spawned. You can find all the links from the show over on our podcast page on CoolMomPicks.com . Follow us on social: Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Learn more ab...
Jul 06, 2021•31 min
It's one of our all-time favorite, most-listened-to episodes, which isn't that surprising considering how much Dr. Ken Ginsburg has changed the way we approach parenting our teenagers. In this vintage Spawned episode, Liz asks him some of your (and our) tough questions about parenting teenagers. It's an episode we bet you'll keep listening to over and over again. Thanks to our sponsors: Notes from the Backpack , a parenting podcast from the PTA. Subscribe now while you're listening to Spawned. A...
Jun 30, 2021•38 min
On our very special Father's Day episode, we're thrilled to welcome Christopher and Camilla "Pepper" Persley. You may have heard about Pepper, who at just 10-years old is making her mark in the world of professional women's sports as a podcaster and journalist. We chat with them both about Pepper's exciting journey, as well as how to parent your kids towards their passions. And as always, we close out our show with our Cool Picks of the Week, and wow, this week, we have LOTS! Meet our sponsors: ...
Jun 19, 2021•37 min
We read a fair amount of parenting books, and lately we've seen the idea of "influence" popping up when it comes to the role we play with our children. That's why we were so excited to welcome author Kelly Rippon as a guest on Spawned with Kristen and Liz this week. You may recognize her as the mom of Olympic medalist Adam Rippon, but as a single mom of six kids, along with being a corporate speaker and college instructor, she's taken everything she's learned and turned it into a fantastic new p...
Jun 11, 2021•31 min
The issue of division of labor and mental load are not new problems in relationships, but the pandemic has certainly exacerbated them. On this episode, we chat with author Eve Rodsky about her book Fair Play, which addresses these exact challenges with a helpful system that actually saved her marriage. Hooray for advice that really works! And as always, we close out our show with our Cool Picks of the Week. **Language warning** Yes, we curse in this episode! Earmuffs! Follow us on social! We're ...
Jun 03, 2021•36 min
When we talk about inclusion and representation, the 1 in 5 people with disabilities are often left out of the discussion. Especially kids. So it's a thrill to get some thoughtful insight from Broadway star and disability advocate Ali Stroker, who is best known as the first Tony-winning actor who uses a wheelchair for mobility. (Her Ado Annie was perfection!) We chat about how she came to be proud of her community, ways to create more opportunities for kids with disabilities, and her wonderful n...
May 27, 2021•25 min
Overcoming the Mom-Life Crisis: Ditch the Guilt, Put Yourself on the To-Do List, and Create A Life You Love, by entrepreneur and MomAgenda founder Nina Restieri is not the book I thought it would be. At all. Nina reveals some really personal, difficult details about seeming like you have it all together when you don't, and "hitting bottom" before she could rebuild and get to a better place. In our chat, she's sharing so much helpful advice to help us re-center ourselves in our own lives, includi...
May 19, 2021•34 min
Should your 8th grader be taking PSATs? Will your high schooler fail life if they don't take 12 AP classes? Are you even thinking about college too late -- or too early? ACK! We know the college application process can be stressful, so we're thrilled to be joined by Betsy Cadel, a member of the NY State Association for College Admissions Counseling and founder of College Essay Helpers to talk us down and give us really solid, actionable tips. You'll want to take notes on this one! // Thanks so m...
May 12, 2021•42 min
Particularly if you're non-Black, it can be hard to know the "right way" to speak up about racism -- or what we can do at all, when the idea of dismantling racist system seems so overwhelming. So we're grateful for the time, guidance, and incredible insight of author, veteran broadcast journalist, and Black mom of two, Rene Syler. // Thank you so much for listening and subscribing. Your kind reviews really help support us. // Brought to you with the gracious sponsorship of Trade Coffee , whose c...
Apr 27, 2021•43 min
Growing up in rural Sweden, Helena Dahlgren always felt like an outsider. But when she discovered female protagonists, like Anne, from Anne of Green Gables, her life changed and she finally felt seen. It's, in part, what inspired her to become a writer. On this episode, she shares her thoughts on how books play an important role in shaping tweens' and teens' perceptions of themselves. And as always, we close our show with Cool Picks of the Week. Find all the links from our show on CoolMomPicks.c...
Apr 23, 2021•26 min
After author Judith Warner's New York Times article about adolescents and the pandemic went viral with parents reacting very strongly one way or another, we invited her on Spawned to talk about it with Liz! Join us for an enlightening conversation about why the majority of kids are more resilient than you might think, recognizing the difference between unhappy and "impaired," what we can say and do to help our kids get best through this, and why honesty is the best policy with kids -- even when ...
Apr 21, 2021•38 min
Welcome to our first kids and addiction episode of Spawned. It's long overdue. And; thanks to our guest Jessica Lahey, columnist and author of The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence , you'll come away feeling encouraged, empowered, with detailed guidance on what we can do and say that makes a difference. You won't want to miss this extremely important, honest discussion stemming from Jessica's own life raising kids as a recovering alcoholic. (Plus a few bonus ...
Apr 13, 2021•48 min
Spawned listener favorite Jordan Shapiro is back! He totally changed the way we think about kids and tech, and now he's joining us to challenge our ideas about gender roles in parenting, and chat about his new book, Father Figure: How to Be a Feminist Dad . Is such a thing even possible? Well... We learn a whole lot about our own preconceptions here, how we can help change things -- and we get to laugh while doing it. (See why we love him so much?) Plus, some very cool Cool Picks of the Week. //...
Apr 08, 2021•45 min
We love this talk with Kate Eberle-Walker, author of The Good Boss, on what's good and bad for women in the workplace right now, how we can better support women, how we can even change the game entirely. (And of course, some fun bad boss stories!) Whether you're a manager or have one yourself, whether you're temporarily out of the workplace, you'll love this helpful discussion, filled with inspiring tips. // Thanks to our sponsors Google Families , providing parents the help to raise healthy dig...
Mar 31, 2021•40 min
This week, we're joined Rachel Miller, journalist and author of The Art of Showing Up: How to Be There For Yourself and Your People to chat about how we can take better care of ourselves and our friendships, especially during a time when we're all feeling extra depleted. And as always, we'll share our cool picks of the week. Hey, follow us on social! We're on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . We'd love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Mar 25, 2021•31 min
As parents, we have an idea of what sorts of things we need to be talking to our kids about, but author Michelle Icard really lays them out and offers helpful guidance in her new book: Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen. She shares how to (and how not to) have these conversations, and offers insight into when to have them, and more. As always, we close our show with our Cool Picks of the Week. Join our We Time Project with our sponsor The Great Courses Plus . It's like all of us taking a course with...
Mar 12, 2021•36 min
We were so honored to sit down with Kate DiCamillo, the wildly popular author of The Tales of Despereaux, Because of Winn-Dixie, and Flora & Ulysses, to talk about kids, reading, writing, imagination, superheroes, the need for diverse protagonists, and so much more. And we especially love her answer to the question: Should we make kids read the book before seeing the movie? Wow, she is a joy! // Shownotes and Cool Picks of the Week:: Cool Mom Picks podcast page // Brought to you by Outschool...
Mar 10, 2021•34 min
Fair warning: This episode may really make you miss your IRL get togethers with your favorite mom friends, because that is exactly what this conversation with Dr. Janice Johnson Dias feels like. We knew that talking to Janice -- you might know her as "mom of Marley Dias" -- would be helpful, but we had no idea it be SO funny, so honest, so inspiring, and just so nourishing! (Also a little NSFW if you have little ones around.) Enjoy her tips about parenting and caregiving, joy, raising activists,...
Mar 02, 2021•42 min
This week, in honor of Black History Month, Liz has an incredible chat with Dr. Martin Luther King's goddaughter, activist and actress Donzaleigh Abernathy. Her stories about "Uncle Martin" and her childhood memories of the segregated south are simply riveting -- plus we talk current events, politics, racial justice, and being more engaged as anti-racist parents. She shares her honest views about what's changed in America, what hasn't, and what she finds incredibly encouraging. (Hint: it has to ...
Feb 23, 2021•54 min
