episodes

These days, kids' afterschool sports and weekend activities seem increasingly pressurized and professionalized, whether it's second-grade soccer or travel gymnastics. Can we dial back the pressure and still support our kids' passions as they develop?

When should we get our kids phones? And is “delay as long as possible” an option? Catherine Pearlman, author of the book First Phone, tells us how kids can become wiser about the responsibilities of social media, digital consent, and internet safety.

What happens when a life lived online comes apart at the seams? Laura Clery, internet sensation and author of WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU HOTTER, talks about sobriety, co-parenting, realizing her own life story had become a thriller, and how motherhood made her brave.

Why does adulthood so often feel like waiting for a “real adult” to show up? We share listener stories (and a few of our own) about parenting, emergencies, caregiving, and the invisible load of being the grownup in the room.

These days, wherever kids are, they’re not far from a screen or a smart speaker– or the brands who are using “educational” toys and games to sell them stuff. Susan Linn, author of WHO’S RAISING THE KIDS?, explains how big tech is targeting our kids.

What kind of monster listens to videos on speaker? Or keeps the keyboard clicks on their phone? What kind of monster takes up two parking spots? Puts empty cereal boxes back in the cabinet? (Disclaimer: we may have been just a few of these monsters.)

Feeling overwhelmed by too many life changes at once? Why does life tend to dole out major changes in groups? We discuss "change fatigue," the three parts of any big transition, and how to find a little more resilience in times of big uncertainty.

Does the thought of leaving your kids for a few days terrify you? Here are some parenting tips to prepare for all of the eventualities that may occur if you leave town, from interpreting the toddler's babble to handling your feelings of mom guilt.

Why do autoimmune diseases affect women at such high rates? Sara Hirsh Bordo, author of AUTOIMMUNITY AND THE GOOD GIRLS, discusses the surprising connection between the conditioning we receive as women and girls and diagnoses with these poorly understood threats to our long-term health.

When the kids are with us, a "vacation" doesn't exactly feel relaxing. Here's how to manage expectations, reduce stress, support anxious and neurodivergent travelers, and (just maybe) create family memories that last.

As summer travel looms large, what can we do to keep the family chaos to a minimum as we hop in a car or on a plane? Here are some useful family travel tips from Amy, Margaret, and our listeners.

As technology progresses, how can doctors not lose sight of the most critical part of healthcare? Pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Alan R. Cohen, author of the new book COMFORT ALWAYS, explains why human connection is essential to healing.

When kids direct their biggest emotions at Mom, where’s the line between being a safe space and getting emotionally beat up? We explore emotional projection, parenting boundaries, and how to respond without absorbing every outburst.

Are vacations worth the planning, packing, schlepping, and laundry once you get there? We discuss why vacations can be so hard—and how to make summer travels happy for everyone.

Can resilience be taught? Resilience coach Talia Kovacs explains how parents can raise confident, capable kids without creating hardship—through independence, healthy risk-taking, spirituality, and changing the stories we tell about ourselves and our children.

We share listener-favorite purchases, big and small, that deliver maximum joy, less stress, and easier family life.

Traveling with siblings and in-laws and parents and cousins can be an incredible experience. It can also lead to unexpected conflict. Here's what to agree upon ahead of time.

What do we misunderstand about how hormones affect our health, especially when it comes to women's bodies? Endocrinologist Gillian Goddard, author of the new book THE HORMONE LOOP, explains how hormones influence critical bodily functions.

What is the meaning behind the secret language your teens are always speaking at the dinner table? We quiz each other on Gen Z slang, and our auras are lokirkenuinely nerfed by the end.

Even when we moms DO have the courage to ask for help, we don't always know what to ask for. So we asked our listeners about the best help they've given– and received– as moms.

What do family law attorneys wish parents knew about divorce before they started the process? Kristen Holstrom and Samantha McBride discuss custody battles, child support, co-parenting conflict, and more.

Why is it so much fun to look back— and how does it connect to uncertainty regarding what lies ahead? We discuss motherhood, memory, identity, and how it feels to have most of life's big choices in the rear view mirror.

What if someone told you that as a parent your own needs matter MORE, not less? That's what Mara Glatzel argues in her new book "NEEDY: How to Advocate for Your Needs and Claim Your Sovereignty."

Society emphasizes the wonderful and loving parts of motherhood— while pretending the harder emotions don't exist. Dr. Margo Lowy, author of MATERNAL AMBIVALENCE, explains why we must own and feel all of our emotions as mothers.