Check out Sara & Audrey's Raise Thriving Kids Course! Join the Sunshine Parenting PATREON squad for bonus perks, including bonus podcast episodes and exclusive posts and resources! Join Audrey's email subscriber community for resources and ideas for happier, more connected families. This week on the podcast, Sara Kuljis and I talk about the challenges of having young adults (high school and college age) stuck at home during a season of their lives when they are most wanting to separate from ...
Oct 09, 2020•45 min
SHOW NOTES Join the Sunshine Parenting PATREON squad for bonus perks, including bonus podcast episodes and exclusive posts and resources! Join Audrey's email subscriber community for resources and ideas for happier, more connected families. Bethany Saltman, this week's guest, is the author of Strange Situation: A Mother's Journey into the Science of Attachment. Bethany is an author, award-winning editor, and researcher. Her work has been in The New Yorker, New York Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, Pa...
Sep 25, 2020•45 min
SHOW NOTES Are you a Super Fan of Sunshine Parenting? I'd love to connect with you and share patron-only podcast episodes and resources and exclusive early content from my next book! Check out my brand-new Patreon tiers and join me for as little as $5 per month! Become a Patron! "Those things that are really, really important are generally the things that you wouldn't be able to take in a fire."Audrey Monke Hi Podcast Friends, This week I share a personal update and some insights. Among other th...
Sep 18, 2020•24 min
SHOW NOTES Monitoring our kids' tech use is one of our biggest challenges as parents. In this episode, I chat with Dr. Shimi Kang about strategies for raising our kids with a healthy "tech diet." We discuss several of the concepts from her new book, The Tech Solution: Creating Healthy Habits for Kids Growing Up in a Digital World. ABOUT DR. SHIMI KANG Dr. Shimi Kang is an award-winning, Harvard-trained doctor, researcher, media expert, writer, and keynote speaker who specializes in how the mind...
Sep 11, 2020•33 min
SHOW NOTES This week's conversation is with Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D., the trusted, down-to-earth parenting expert many of us have grown to trust over the years due to her pragmatic, research-based approach and advice. Tina has researched and written the reference book every new parent needs to combat the anxiety from competing advice from family and friends. In The Bottom Line for Baby , Tina boils down the actual scientific research in short, 2-4 page spreads. She covers many topics including v...
Sep 04, 2020•44 min
SHOW NOTES This week on the podcast, I bring you my conversation with Dr. Courtney Thomas Tobin, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the UCLA School of Public Health. You may remember Courtney from Episode 145 , when I spoke with her and her husband Danny about welcoming a black son in 2020. Courtney has a PhD in Sociology and studies issues of race-based stress, coping, and mental health among Black Americans. In this episode, we talk about her research and ...
Aug 28, 2020•27 min
SHOW NOTES This episode is the second in my two-part conversation with Sara Kuljis. Last week, in Episode 152 , Sara and I discussed what we need to do for ourselves as we transition into more pandemic disruption in our families this fall. This week, we discuss strategies for dealing with the continued uncertainties, issues, and concerns about our kids and their education during the pandemic. Sara Kuljis' focus as a camp owner and director has been on youth and staff development. Sara has served...
Aug 21, 2020•50 min
In this episode, I'm chatting with my friend and camp professional colleague, Sara Kuljis. Sara has been a regular guest on the podcast (links to our other episodes below). This is the first of a two-part series to help parents prepare for the fall now that we know that our life - and our kids' lives - will not be returning to "normal" any time soon. This week, we're talking about strategies for taking care of ourselves so that we can be present and positive (as much as possible!) for our kids a...
Aug 14, 2020•38 min
Show Notes In Episode 150, I catch up with Karen Lock Kolp, M.Ed. of the We Turned Out Okay website and podcast . Karen is an early childhood development expert and parent coach. Karen helps worried and hovering parents by bringing reassuring, helpful advice and conversations. She offers simple strategies and guidance in her book, 10 Secrets Happy Parents Know: How to Stop the Chaos, Bring Out Your Child’s Good Behavior, and Truly Enjoy Family Time. Big Ideas • Making little tweaks in our parent...
Jul 31, 2020•37 min
In Episode 149, I’m talking with repeat podcast guest Stephen Gray Wallace about his new book, Impact: An Introduction to Counseling, Mentoring, and Youth Development. The book offers insightful commentary on the important role of mentors in the lives of children and teens. While it specifically addresses camp counselors, Impact is equally relevant for all key youth influencers, including parents, teachers, and coaches. Ep. 27: Raising Teens who Thrive with Stephen Wallace Ep. 92: Creating Stron...
Jul 24, 2020•34 min•Ep. 149
This week I'm bringing you my chat with long-time camp director Ariella Rogge of Sanborn Western Camps. Ariella has a TON of amazing ideas for activities we can do to encourage our kids to explore nature. She also shares connection tips families can use to stay close during COVID-19. About Ariella Ariella began her career at Sanborn when she was twelve. After five years as a camper and five years as a staff member she continued her work with young people as a high school teacher. She and her fam...
Jul 17, 2020•28 min•Ep. 148
SHOW NOTES This week I'm talking with my friend Jill Stribling. Jill's family has first-hand experience with COVID-19. If you're a longtime listener, you may remember my chat with Jill back in Ep. 35 about her decision to unplug her family, including her 10-year-old son, whose behavior around screens had started to concern her. About Jill Jill is a teacher and is the owner and founder of English for Fun , a school in Madrid, Spain. English for Fun is a learning laboratory where children and adul...
Jul 10, 2020•41 min•Ep. 147
Show Notes My family's favorite word to use is 'unprecedented,' because everything is unprecedented this year. We try to use the word as much as possible. -Audrey Hi Friends, How are you doing? I mean, how are you really doing? Many of us - kids and adults alike - are really struggling right now - physically, emotionally, and financially. So much is uncertain, and much has been lost. This pandemic has been devastating. This week (July 2 to be exact) is the mid-point of 2020. What a year this has...
Jul 03, 2020•38 min•Ep. 146
Show Notes This week I'm chatting with brand new parents Danny & Courtney Tobin about their thoughts and insights about being new parents in 2020 to their Black son. They share advice for white parents about how to raise anti-racist kids. Courtney Thomas Tobin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the UCLA School of Public Health. She has a PhD in Sociology and studies issues of race-based stress, coping, and mental health among Black Americans. Danny To...
Jun 26, 2020•28 min•Ep. 145
Show Notes Parenting in Place Masterclass Series Alex Gamboa Grand - Co-founder of Good Intent -- an online shop offering sustainable alternatives to everyday essentials like home goods, cleaning supplies, and personal care products. Program Manager at Portland State University's School of Business providing support for underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Portland area who want to grow their businesses. Links: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson Book & Movie Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi...
Jun 12, 2020•46 min•Ep. 143
Listening & Learning How to be Anti-Racist (Links) The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it. Albert Einstein Long after the topic of racism stops trending, white people (including me) need to be actively anti-racist. Let's listen, learn, ask how we can support POC, and do the work to make our world, our country, and our communities places where children and adults of every color and religion feel ...
Jun 05, 2020•3 min
Show Notes Tap into the camp values of gratitude, attitude, and courage to help you and your family cope during COVID-19! This week on the podcast, I'm chatting with camp professional and podcaster Cole Kelly about summer camp and how his family is coping with sheltering at home. Cole and his wife Kate are the owners and directors of Camp Weequahic in Lakewood, Pennsylvania. Cole spends his summers setting the tone for camp, joining in on the fun with the kids, and supporting both the staff memb...
May 29, 2020•29 min•Ep. 142
In this episode, I'm chatting with "Happy Science Mom" Sandi Schwartz about how we can use nature to help us - and our kids - feel happier during COVID-19 and beyond. At the time of our recording, Sandi was on Day 66 of her "Ecohappiness" Challenge, and she's shooting for 100 days of doing something nature-related to improve her well-being. We talk about some of the very doable, simple activities she's tried as well as the benefits of getting ourselves outside. Grab Sandi's FREE 30-Day Ecohappin...
May 22, 2020•33 min•Ep. 141
Link to show notes for this episode. Katherine Reynolds Lewis is an independent journalist, author and speaker based in the Washington D.C. area on topics including parenting, children, education, mental health, technology, work, entrepreneurship, caregiving, diversity, equity and inclusion. Her award-winning book, The Good News About Bad Behavior (PublicAffairs, April 2018), explains why modern kids are so undisciplined and tells the stories of innovators who are rebuilding lost self-regulation...
May 15, 2020•41 min•Ep. 140
Show notes & links. In this episode, Audry is joined by Alyssa Westring, co-author of Parents Who Lead: The Leadership Approach You Need to Parent with Purpose, Fuel Your Career, and Create a Richer Life . Alyssa is an associate professor of management at the Driehaus College of Business, DePaul University, and has studied organizational psychology, particularly work-life integration. Parenting life isn't easy and many people feel guilty, stressed, and on autopilot, instead of being present ...
Apr 24, 2020•40 min•Ep. 137
Show notes & links . Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D. has encouraging advice to share during COVID-19. We talked in January ( Ep. 121: The Power of Showing Up with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson) about her new book with Dr. Daniel Siegel, The Power of Showing Up , and the message of the book is so relevant to our intense time with our kids during this pandemic. We chatted again last week (during Week 4 of "Iso for the Rona") on a Facebook Live interview. This week's podcast is the audio from that interview. ...
Apr 17, 2020•26 min•Ep. 136
Show notes & links. I've spent the past weeks talking with youth development experts who are sharing their advice and encouragement for parents during this crazy time of social distancing, sheltering at home, or what I like to now call "Iso for the Rona" (the Australian term for "Isolation for the Coronavirus" that I learned from my email friend Vicki). Over the next several episodes, I'll be sharing excerpts from those interviews, as well as links to the resources and ideas my guests shared...
Apr 10, 2020•43 min•Ep. 135
Show notes & links available here. In this episode, I'm speaking with Apryl Krakovsky, founder and CEO of My School in Motion , an award-winning program that promotes fitness, nutrition, wellness and health education for school communities. Moving together every morning for healthier minds, bodies, and attitudes! Big Ideas Apryl started the program when she noticed the need for more physical education at her kids' school. The program is now in 53 schools in five states benefitting as many as...
Apr 04, 2020•49 min•Ep. 134
Show Notes Hi Friends, I hope you are staying healthy and somewhat sane during these unbelievably unpredictable and anxiety-inducing times. Life continues to be completely different from normal, and I'm gathering and sharing resources I think you'll find helpful and encouraging. Below, find notes and photos about what I talked about in this week's episode! Let me know what's working for you during COVID-19 quarantine! I'd love to share your ideas with our community. audrey@sunshine-parenting.com...
Mar 27, 2020•26 min•Ep. 133
Show notes & links available here . In this podcast episode, I interview college professor and author Dr. Jennifer Etnier about the importance of having a positive impact on kids when coaching youth sports. Her book, Coaching for the Love of the Game: a Practical Guide for Working with Young Athletes , outlines simple strategies that coaches can use to be sure that a kid's experience is positive, while also promoting sports and continued physical activity. As a sport and exercise psychologis...
Mar 13, 2020•47 min•Ep. 131
Show notes & links available here. In this episode, my friend Sara Kuljis and I are back together talking about uncluttering our schedules and our homes. Sara and her husband Steve Kuljis are the owners and directors of Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp and Emerald Cove Day Camp . Sara is also a certified Gallup Strengths Coach. Sara and I have been friends for two decades, and she has been a regular guest on the podcast talking in past episodes about strengths , sibling conflicts & relationsh...
Mar 06, 2020•36 min•Ep. 130
Show notes & links available here. In this episode, I'm talking to Steve Baskin about raising strong, anti-fragile kids. Steve and his wife, Susie, are the owners and directors of Camp Champions in Marble Falls, Texas. For over 27 years, Steve has studied the camp experience and how to make it the best possible growth opportunity for kids. In his new essay, A Manifesto to Strength (published below for the first time) and in this interview, Steve shares his thoughts on what we can do as paren...
Feb 28, 2020•46 min•Ep. 129
In this episode, I'm joined by my good friend and longtime camp industry colleague, Brooke Cheley-Klebe. Both of us have three daughters, so we've had a lot of discussion over the years about raising girls. In this episode, Brooke and I talk about how she stays close to her daughters, currently ages 14, 11, and 7. She has many insights both as a mom and from her 25 years working with campers and staff at Cheley Colorado Camps. Parenting girls today is more challenging than ever. We can all use n...
Feb 07, 2020•32 min•Ep. 126
Show notes & links available here. In this episode, I'm speaking with Niki Spears, the co-founder of the Energy Bus for Schools Leadership Journey . She started this organization to bring the positive messages of Jon Gordon's book, The Energy Bus , to schools everywhere. Niki has spent over 15 years working in education. Once an elementary school principal, she now works full time as a teacher educator and change leader. Big Ideas Educators have the power to transform the culture of their sc...
Jan 31, 2020•33 min•Ep. 125
Show notes & links available here. In this episode, I'm talking about my theme for this month: Connection ! All month long, my posts and podcast episodes are centered around this topic, and it's one that I feel is critically important to raising thriving kids. In fact, the first chapter of my book Happy Campers (Secret #1) is Connection comes first. 6 Tips for Creating Connection #1 Ask good questions. As Chris Thurber shared in last week's episode ( Ep. 122: How to Connect with Your Teen wi...
Jan 17, 2020•23 min•Ep. 123
