Scott and Jess explore anger in children (and adults), breaking down why children get angry, how anger is often masked by other emotions, and the role of genetics and environment in shaping behaviour. The episode provides hope for parents struggling with intergenerational anger and practical tools for helping kids learn to cope with overwhelming emotions. If you want to help your child learn tools to cope with their anger, check out The Anger Toolkit here. Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids'...
Mar 10, 2025•58 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Scott and Jess take a deep dive into the popular "Five Love Languages" concept and reveal why this relationship framework might be too simplistic for real-life emotional connection. Jess and Scott cover topics like: codependency, attachment styles, and building trust in relationships. Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids' printable activities at Nurtured First using the code ROBOTUNICORN. We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email: podca...
Mar 03, 2025•56 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jess and Scott explore the reasons why children lie and how to help them stop lying. Drawing on personal anecdotes and developmental insights, they explain how different forms of lying emerge as natural parts of childhood while also sharing practical strategies to build a trusting, curiosity-driven relationship with your child. Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids' printable activities at Nurtured First using the code ROBOTUNICORN. We’d love to hear from you! Have questions yo...
Feb 24, 2025•50 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast This episode of Robot Unicorn is packed with practical ideas that will help you become a more playful parent. On a deeper note, you’ll also learn how to reflect on your own childhood experiences, make sense of the burnout you are feeling, and learn how to bring play back into your life. This is one of Jess and Scott’s favourite episodes to date! Tune in for laughter, heartfelt stories, and actionable ideas that promise to make family life a little more magical. For easy games and playful tools t...
Feb 17, 2025•55 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast In part 2 of our puberty series, Jess and Scott discuss the critical intersection of social media, body image, and puberty. They explore how parents can navigate challenging conversations around online content, unrealistic body expectations, and protecting children during this vulnerable developmental stage. They provide practical strategies for parents to have ongoing dialogues about puberty even when they haven't personally experienced what their child is going through. Listen to part 1 of our...
Feb 10, 2025•39 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast In part 1 of our puberty series, Jess and Scott talk about how to have difficult conversations with kids about sex, puberty, periods, and changing bodies. You’ll learn how to talk to your kids about puberty without taking away their innocence or making them feel shame. Get our brand new puberty toolkit for 10% off using the code ROBOTUNICORN. We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email: podcast@robotunicorn.net . Credits: Editing by The Pod...
Feb 03, 2025•49 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jess and Scott discuss common friendship struggles, bullying, and how to help kids solve problems in their friendships. They also discuss their own experiences with friends growing up. Listeners will get practical takeaways to help them cultivate healthy friendships with their kids. Want more? Check out this episode on kids’ friendships. Or, grab the Friendship Toolkit for 10% OFF using the code ROBOTUNICORN. We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Ro...
Jan 27, 2025•48 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jess and Scott dive deep into the complexities of parental anger and yelling sparked by a controversial social media post . They explore cycle-breaking, emotional regulation, and practical strategies for staying calm with kids. They share their personal experiences - Scott as someone who broke generational trauma patterns and Jess as a parent working through postpartum struggles. Listeners will gain valuable insights on visualizing the parent they want to be, understanding their...
Jan 20, 2025•36 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jess and Scott discuss how to support anxious or worried kids. Jess, a psychotherapist, shares the "Mind Table" concept - a powerful tool for helping children manage anxiety and difficult emotions. She shares the story of her own daughter's fears and explains how visualizing different emotions as characters sitting around a table can help kids externalize and cope with their worries. Jess and Scott explore why this approach works so well for children and how it differs from simp...
Jan 13, 2025•38 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast Jess and Scott break down the nuanced reality of giving your kids screen time through personal experiences and research-backed insights about gaming, social media, and device use, offering practical guidance for parents. Key takeaways include the importance of being present during screen time, understanding age-appropriate limits, and protecting children through clear boundaries rather than expecting them to self-regulate. Whether you're struggling with screen time battles or trying to make info...
Jan 06, 2025•57 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast Scott and Jess have a candid discussion about New Year's resolutions and goal-setting, particularly through the lens of parenting and personal growth. They share their plans to prioritize family dinners, create more one-on-one time with each of their three children, and discuss how to teach their kids about resilience and nuanced thinking in an increasingly polarized world. Jess opens up about her journey with people-pleasing and burnout, while Scott reflects on finding balance between his drive...
Dec 30, 2024•50 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast CW: Death, suicide, miscarriage Grieving over the holidays can feel all-consuming and complex. Today, Jess and Scott are joined by returning guest Libby for a raw and honest conversation about navigating grief during the holiday season. They discuss various forms of grief, from the loss of loved ones to mourning relationships with living family members who are estranged or there is a complex relationship. Libby shares her experience losing her father three years ago around Christmas, while Scott...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Scott and Jess discuss raising resilient children who are not entitled, a common concern they hear from people who are skeptical about the style of parenting Jess teaches. They explore how allowing children to experience natural disappointments and frustrations - while providing emotional support - actually helps develop crucial coping skills. Through practical examples like saying no to extra juice boxes and managing screen time boundaries, they demonstrate how parents can vali...
Dec 16, 2024•46 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jess and Scott tackle the polarizing topic of Santa Claus and holiday traditions as they answer the question: "Should we tell kids Santa is real?” They explore different approaches to discussing Santa with children - from treating him as a real person to presenting him as an imaginative character - all while emphasizing the importance of maintaining trust and connection with our kids. Jess and Scott share valuable insights on fostering genuine gratitude during gift-giving, manag...
Dec 09, 2024•41 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Scott and Jess explore the importance of creativity and play - both for children and adults. From strategies for protecting children’s creative spirits to understanding how play helps kids process their experiences to how they are beginning to rekindle their own sense of playfulness as busy parents, this episode is full of practical strategies and insights into the importance of play and creativity both for kids and adults. Jess finishes off the episode with a guided mindfulness...
Dec 02, 2024•53 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode, hosts Scott and Jess explore the complex relationship between food, parenting, and childhood development. Inspired by a viral social media post about body image and food messaging, they explore how parents can foster healthy relationships with food by focusing on family rituals, mindful eating, and meaningful connection rather than restriction. Jess and Scott share personal experiences, including their own family dinner traditions and weekend donu...
Nov 25, 2024•40 min•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jess and Scott answer a listener's question about sharing the mental load of parenting. Jess talks about times when she felt like she carried most of the mental load and how Scott and her now split the work of parenting. They discuss the challenges of balancing roles, especially when one parent feels like the default decision-maker, educator, and emotional support. Key takeaways for listeners include: How to approach conversations about mental load in a way that strengthens your...
Nov 18, 2024•43 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast In this laughter-filled episode, Scott and Jess dive into the delicate balance of teasing and playfulness with kids. They discuss how to be playful without going too far, share hilarious stories about their family's creative characters like "Sean" the hand puppet, and provide practical tips for connecting with children through humour. Some important topics discussed in the episode include: Recognizing how a child's understanding of humour develops with age Respecting boundaries around teasing Us...
Nov 11, 2024•42 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jess and Scott dive into the challenges of parenting multiple children and giving each child the love and attention they need. Inspired by a viral social media post, they explore topics like balancing attention between babies and older kids, feelings of guilt and defensiveness as parents, and how children crave connection at all ages. They provide helpful tips for recognizing children's bids for quality time, healing past parenting missteps, and finding small moments to connect ...
Nov 04, 2024•26 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast CW: Sexual abuse, grooming, sex-related topics After hearing news about a case of sexual abuse in their community, Jess and Scott are sitting down and answering listener questions about how to talk to kids about body safety and consent in a way that won’t scare kids and will protect them. They provide practical advice for parents on how to have age-appropriate conversations about consent, private parts, and safe/unsafe touches without instilling fear. Some of the specific topics they address inc...
Oct 28, 2024•47 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast In this powerful episode, Scott and Jess are joined by Samir Mourani to have an open and vulnerable conversation about men's mental health. They discuss their personal experiences with anxiety, depression, and emotional breakdowns, sharing how they've worked to overcome societal pressures that discourage men from expressing emotions. A few important topics covered in the episode include: The importance of having close male friendships where you can be vulnerable How bottling up emotions often le...
Oct 21, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast In this fun and casual Q&A episode, Jess and Scott answer listener questions and give you a peek behind the curtain of their lives and relationship. Discover Scott's favourite quality about Jess, hear about their most rewarding parenting moments and learn how they handle disagreements. They share vulnerable insights about managing social anxiety as public figures and discuss mindset shifts that help them appreciate the challenges of parenting. With plenty of laughs and a few deep moments, th...
Oct 14, 2024•42 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast Jess and Scott discuss the delicate balance between nurturing children's friendships and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. They discuss the concept of peer orientation, share personal experiences, and offer practical advice for parents navigating their children's social worlds. Key insights include: 1. The importance of modelling healthy relationships at home 2. How to recognize signs of unhealthy peer orientation 3. Strategies for prioritizing family time while supporting friendships Wheth...
Oct 07, 2024•37 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast In this solo episode, Jess shares her reflections on a recent conversation she had. The conversation was about whether or not children should hear the word “no” and how parents who follow “this new wave of gentle parenting” are no longer the leaders in their homes. In the episode, Jess shares her thoughts on this view and tackles a common misconception about gentle parenting - that it's too permissive and doesn't allow for setting boundaries. She explains the crucial differences between permissi...
Sep 30, 2024•29 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast In this solo episode, Jess answers a listener's question. She explores how to become curious about and respond to children’s challenging behaviours like hitting. She breaks down four key reasons why children may hit and provides practical strategies for addressing each root cause. In the episode, Jess covers: How to get curious about why your child is hitting (or engaging in other challenging behaviours) Proactive ways to meet children's needs before hitting occurs How to respond to the big feel...
Sep 23, 2024•33 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jess and Scott sit down with their good friend Josh to discuss the changes he’s made in his parenting style over the last six years. Josh candidly shares his experience raising his highly sensitive son. He talks about how a more traditional approach to discipline wasn’t working and his original skepticism around gentle parenting. This episode is packed with insights for fathers (and parents in general) who might be struggling to find effective ways to discipline without resortin...
Sep 16, 2024•57 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast In this important episode, Jess and Scott dive deep into the root cause of challenging behaviours in both children and adults: separation. Jess explains how our core need for closeness drives many of our reactions, from clingy children to angry adults. Jess shares some eye-opening insights on: Why behaviours like clinging, whining, and crying happen Why kids are so angry all the time Why common parenting strategies make behaviour worse How separation emotions manifest as frantic pursuit, anger, ...
Sep 09, 2024•36 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast In this insightful episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Tanya Cotler joins Jess and Scott to explore the complexities of intergenerational trauma and cycle-breaking in parenting. Dr. Cotler shares her expertise on how childhood experiences shape our parenting, the importance of curiosity and compassion in understanding our triggers, and practical ways to build self-awareness and cope with parenting challenges. Listeners will gain valuable insights on: How our bodies hold onto past traumas and how ...
Sep 02, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast In this revealing episode, Jess and Scott dive deep into why a messy house is a major trigger for Jess. They explore how their different upbringings shaped their attitudes towards cleanliness, with Jess craving order while Scott is more relaxed about clutter. Jess opens up about feeling overwhelmed by visual chaos and struggling to be present with her kids when the house is messy. They share practical strategies they've found helpful, like setting boundaries around eating spaces and getting rid ...
Aug 26, 2024•42 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast In this controversial episode, Jess and Scott dive into the heated debate around sending kids to daycare. They explore the "mommy wars" between stay-at-home and working parents - unpacking the guilt, judgement, and insecurities on both sides. Jess offers a nuanced perspective, explaining how quality childcare providers can be an important part of a family’s "village” and how a strong parent-child attachment can be built whether a child is in childcare or at home. Listeners will gain insights on:...
Aug 19, 2024•40 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast 
