episodes

New Year's resolutions fail 87% of the time. That's because January is actually the WORST time to force new beginnings. Here's why slowing down at this time of year is both natural and necessary.

Peer pressure affects everyone in the human species, and even some self-conscious monkeys. What is it about sitting with the cool kids, and how can we help our own kids understand they don’t have to follow all of the other lemmings over the cliff?

Developmental psychologists Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Golinkoff, authors of EINSTEIN NEVER USED FLASHCARDS, explain why play—not pressure—is how kids really learn. They share research-backed ways parents can support healthy development.

Why do our brains create "stories" about our own lives? And what happens when those stories don't serve us? We discuss "narrative identity," and how questioning and rewriting our stories can boost our mental health.

When our kids aren't good at making friends, we feel their pain and want to help them. Here's what we can do to give our kids the skills they'll need to be good friends.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Meredith Elkins, author of the new book PARENTING ANXIETY, explains why anxiety isn’t the enemy—and how avoidance makes it worse. Learn how to raise resilient kids without reinforcing fear.

Missing spoons, stolen chargers, and intense clouds of AXE body spray. Amy and Margaret break down the funniest, most frustrating tween and teen crimes—and why so many of these baffling behaviors are (unfortunately) normal.

How can we help kids who aren't great at making friends—who don't pick up on the subtle social rules that make friendships work? Here's how to teach kids to make—and keep—peer connections.

Why do the winter blues hit so hard? Mindfulness expert Dr. Greg Hammer explains the science behind it, why teens are particularly susceptible, and how a mindfulness practice can support mental health.

Why does decision-making feel so exhausting—especially for parents? Here's a breakdown of the science of choice overload, decision fatigue, and regret aversion, plus some research-backed strategies to make decisions easier and less stressful.

Is your kid being bullied? Should you as the parent get involved? Will that only make things worse? It's easy to feel helpless at these times. Getting clear about what's happening can help.

Author Amil Niazi joins Margaret to talk about her new book LIFE AFTER AMBITION. They explore hustle culture, meritocracy myths, work and identity, and what it means to choose “enough” in a world that demands constant striving.

Why is your child an angel at school but melts down at home—or vice versa? Here are the developmental, emotional, and environmental reasons kids behave differently in different settings, and how parents can respond with insight and calm.

We asked our listeners about the things that make them unreasonably happy. From petrichor to butter cubes to sausage dogs in sweaters, the weirdness certainly abounded.

Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action and author of FIRED UP, shares how she reignited her life—and how listeners can too.

From odd birthday traditions to showtunes in 8-part harmony, each family has their own quirks! We asked our listeners about the things they used to think everyone else's family did too.

When were you the mom-ster in your household? Leaving out cups? Forbidding video games on a school night? Here are our most harrowing tales of mom misbehavior, as reported by the people we live with.

How do we deal with the hard things in life that will inevitably come our way? Jessica N. Turner, author of I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN THIS, tells us how she faced the worst time of her own life.

It's mostly on us default parents to make Christmas bright (or whatever holiday our family may celebrate, including all of them). How do we also maintain our sanity?

From bikinis for six-year-olds to leprechaun traps to over-the-top holiday traditions, there are so many trends and traditions that shouldn’t exist. We asked our listeners what shouldn’t be a thing anymore, and they responded in force…

Baby naming expert Sophie Kihm of Nameberry joins Amy to break down the biggest baby name trends for 2026—from ancient civilization names and showgirl glamour to Utah baby names and Boomer comebacks.

Why do kids melt down at the holidays—often at the worst possible moments? Amy and Margaret break down the science behind disrupted routines, emotional overload, sensory stressors, and expectations, plus practical strategies to prevent holiday blowups.

Anyone old enough to have enjoyed the Super Bowl halftime show also has strong opinions about what other things were definitely better Back in the Day. In this episode we decide whether some things are better then or better now- for kids AND parents.

Writer and illustrator Sophie Lucido Johnson, author of author of ⁠KIN: THE FUTURE OF FAMILY⁠, discusses building real friendship networks, creating interdependence, embracing community care, and why small, everyday connections matter.