episodes

Why have most youth sports become a pay-to-play model, and an expensive one at that? We explore the rise of travel teams, early specialization, college scholarship pressure, and what it would take to make sports fun and accessible for every kid again.

All kids are defiant sometimes. Some kids are defiant all of the time—or at least it can feel that way. When kids push back constantly, it gets overwhelming. What are the best ways of understanding and responding to kids who argue about everything?

Make back-to-school season less stressful with these tips on sleep schedules, meal planning, and simple routines. Margaret and Amy share ways to reduce overwhelm, save time, and support kids' mental health this fall.

Are overfunctioning and anxiety inextricably intertwined? Can you be the backstop for your entire family without doing too much and feeling too much stress? Here's the framework we're using to decide what has to happen and what can be put aside (for now).

How do we protect our kids from the toxic achievement pressure that surrounds them? Jennifer Wallace, author of the book NEVER ENOUGH, explains how to walk this line.

How is achievement culture fueling the teen mental health crisis? Dr. Stuart Slavin, author of THE SUCCESS TRAP, explains how academic pressure, perfectionism, and overscheduling affect kids, and how parents can counter these influences.

How much should we share with our kids about our past mistakes and current struggles? We discuss how to know what's age-appropriate, what to leave out, and how to make sure you're keeping their best interests at heart.

Is your 6th grader’s travel lacrosse schedule taking over your life? Are you spending $20K a year on youth hockey? Linda Flanagan’s book is TAKE BACK THE GAME, and in this episode she explains how youth sports have been warped by money and mania.

What if better health starts with becoming a more informed patient? Dr. Lucy McBride, author of the new book BEYOND THE PRESCRIPTION, explains how to look beyond lab results and prescriptions, understand your whole health ecosystem, and have more honest, effective conversations with your doctor.

How can we hand off some of our many, many to-dos without making more work for ourselves or spending a fortune? Here are some practical ways to reduce the mental load, delegate household responsibilities, and find affordable help that actually gives you some freedom back.

Nowadays, it's completely possible to load our kids up on activities to the point of exhaustion—theirs and ours. Why do we do it, how is it really affecting our kids, and what questions should we be asking when adding a new activity to the lineup?

We reward our kids in order to incentivize them. But does that result in our kids becoming less intrinsically motivated? Dr. Özgür Bolat, author of THE REWARD TRAP, explains how rewards change how kids view activities, and and offers better ways to build autonomy and engagement.

How do we ensure that each of our children receives individual attention, especially when modern life leaves little room for slowing down? Amy and Margaret explore “glass children,” the easy kid, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and how small moments of one-on-one connection can help kids feel valued.

Sooner or later every kid gets assigned a school project that is, without question, a PARENTS' project. Here’s how to discern the right amount of help such projects require, whether it’s a shoebox diorama or the science fair. Put the glue gun down!

For decades, parents have been taught to view ADHD as a problem with attention and hyperactivity— but the disorder is better understood as a deficit of executive function. Michael McLeod, author of THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION PLAYBOOK, explains why that distinction is crucial.

What's that thing you dislike so strongly you're convinced everyone else must be pretending? From chemical-tasting seltzers to pumpkin patches, here's what we—and our listeners—think are life's most overrated activities.

It's back to school, back to morning insanity, back to seventeen different after-school activities per kid! We asked our listeners for their best back-to-school tips - or their biggest complaints.

Childhood anxiety is rising—but parents can help. Therapist Kristen McNeely discusses school refusal, anxiety accommodations, exposure therapy, and practical, evidence-based strategies that build resilience instead of reinforcing fear.

Got questions for your pediatrician that you forgot to ask last time? Dr. Mary Martin addresses parents' biggest concerns about vaccines, safe sleep, picky eating, screen time, teen health, and creating a strong, trusting relationship with your own pediatrician.

We all know our kids should have less screen time. Achieving that is easier said than done. Emily Cherkin, author of THE SCREENTIME SOLUTION, offers tips for becoming "tech-intentional" as a family.

What makes a career fulfilling, and how do we put our kids on a path to find the career that's right for them? Dan Heath, host of the "What It's Like to Be" podcast, shares what he's learned interviewing nearly 100 people about their jobs.

How can siblings with the same parents and upbringing be so dramatically different? Researchers offer several theories. This week we discuss all the reasons why siblings, especially those close in age, tend to become so unalike.

Screens are everywhere today, and both we and our kids are on them too much. Gaia Bernstein, author of "Unwired: Gaining Control Over Addictive Technologies" explains how to start to untangle ourselves from screen addiction.

Does losing your cool as a parent mean you're doing it wrong? Dr. Cassidy Freitas, author of MOM NEEDS A MOMENT, explains how nervous system overload and modern parenting pressures fuel reactivity—and how to interrupt the cycle.