Spawned Parenting Podcast with Kristen and Liz of CoolMomPicks

This week, I'm honored to be joined by Debra Whitman, expert on aging and longevity, AARP Chief Public Policy Officer, and author of The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond.  Don't let AARP scare you! Whether you're in your 30s or your 60s, you're going to learn the 5 things proven to help women live up to 14 years longer, the steps you can take now to be sure you have a more satisfying life as you age, and the data-based reason we all need to embrace aging with more positivity. (It also has to do with life span!) It's a short, engaging chat and you're going to take away some simple tips that can make a huge difference in your quality of life -- for the rest of your life. ----- Support Our Awesome Sponsor: Phyla Skincare: If you struggle with acne or have kids who do, save 25% your first order with code COOLMOM on Phyla Phortify Probiotic Serum. (There's a reason Ryan Reynolds is an investor!) This is the breakthrough, science-backed, derm-recommended, probiotic acne serum that prevents breakouts, all without side effects or harsh chemicals like Accutane. Hard recommend! ----- Our Cool Picks of the Week include Liane Moriarity's newest book, and a reminder to VOTE! Visit IWillVote.com if you have questions or need to find your polling place, and if you have issues at the polls, call The Voter Protection Hotline at 866-OURVOTE. ---- Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Find Debra Whitman: Twitter, LinkedIn Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Substack, Threads Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe for cool picks each week right in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've ever wondered whether best-selling author Gabrielle Blair -- A.K.A. Design Mom -- finds parenting fun and easy or just makes it look that way, you're going to love this conversation! We're talking about the new book she co-authored with her husband Ben, The Kids Are All Right: Parenting With Confidence in an Uncertain World, and wow does she have great ideas! She shares her tips for defining and creating a "family culture," reducing parenting stress, finding more joy and happiness in the process, and making sure you have your eye on "the long game." Plus, I ask her how the heck she gets her kids to voluntarily haul rubble and strip paint in the house they're renovating! Trust me -- you'll totally steal her advice. ----- Support Our Awesome Sponsor: Phyla Skincare: If you struggle with acne or have kids who do, save 25% your first order with code COOLMOM on Phyla Phortify Probiotic Serum. (There's a reason Ryan Reynolds is an investor!) This is the breakthrough, science-backed, derm-recommended, probiotic acne serum that prevents breakouts, all without side effects or harsh chemicals like Accutane. Hard recommend! ----- Our Cool Picks of the Week include an incredible designer you can now find at Target for less, and @swingthevote on Instagram, which offers a wealth of info for college students voting out of state and looking for information and volunteer opportunities. ---- Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Find Gabrielle Blair: Website, Substack, Instagram, Threads Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Substack, Threads Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe for cool picks each week right in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of moms are hitting a phase where our kids get older and we're wondering what the next chapter looks like for us. If you know you can be more fulfilled with your life but don't know where to start, you'll get so many helpful tips from my guest, award-winning journalist Katherine Goldstein She's the founder of The Double Shift, a fellow at The Better Life Lab at New America, and a fierce advocate for moms, families, and gender equity. Tune in to hear us discuss Katherine's popular HuffPost op-ed There's a Life Coach for Everything These Days, and describe the questions to ask yourself before a big pivot. She also has fantastic advice about how to decide whether you need a life coach, career coach, or mayyyybe just a good therapist and community of friends. ----- Support Our Awesome Sponsor: Phyla Skincare: If you struggle with acne or have kids who do, save 25% your first order with code COOLMOM on Phyla Phortify Probiotic Serum. (There's a reason Ryan Reynolds is an investor!) This is the breakthrough, science-backed, derm-recommended, probiotic acne serum that prevents breakouts, all without side effects or harsh chemicals like Accutane. Hard recommend! ----- Our Cool Picks of the Week include a fabulous book just for moms and another Substack community that's especially helpful for women over 40, whether you have kids or not. ---- Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Find Katherine Goldstein: Website, Substack, Podcast Instagram, Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Substack, Facebook, Threads Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe for cool picks each week right in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tips for managing anxiety could not be a more timely topic, after the US Surgeon General's advisory about parents and mental health and the start of a new school year. You are going to LOVE my guest, Dr. Christopher Willard. He's an incredibly engaging and relatable author, clinical psychologist, and faculty member at Harvard Medical School. He's also one of the leading advocates for mindfulness as "psychological first aid" for parents and kids. He discusses the proven benefits of mindfulness including boosting positivity, regulating emotions, reducing anxiety and depression, and even changing our brains in ways that help us focus, absorb information, self-regulate, solve problems, and even create happiness. You'll learn what mindfulness is, how we can practice it in our daily lives, age-by-age exercises we can share with our kids, and other tips for reducing stress and anxiety. Dr. Willard even does a little live breathwork exercise that nearly puts Liz in a trance live on air! Tune in for his valuable insights to help all of us better manage anxiety and self-regulate as we head into a new school year. ----- Support Our Awesome Sponsor: Phyla Skincare: If you struggle with acne or have kids who do, save 25% your first order with code COOLMOM on Phyla Phortify Probiotic Serum. There's a reason Ryan Reynolds is an investor -- It's the breakthrough, science-backed, derm-recommended, probiotic acne serum that prevents breakouts all without harsh chemicals or side effects. Hard recommend! ----- Our Cool Picks of the Week include a discussion about the benefits of travel, and a Instagram account that sounds wacky but really is wonderful! ---- Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Find Dr. Chris Willard: Website, Instagram, Amazon Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Substack, Facebook, Threads Find Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads Join: The Spawned Podcast FB Community Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe for cool picks each week right in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Hope is bold," Brad Montague tells me. The New York Times best-selling author and illustrator explains how hope, in combination with play, togetherness, and joy, can be a force for change, and help spark kids' imaginations for what's possible.  What a treat you're in for this week! It's a truly inspiring, happy-making conversation with the man you may know for his many children's books (including the upcoming Fail-a-bration, already a #1 new release!). He also created the Kid President web series and the global social good movement Socktober. Or maybe you're just a fan of his super popular Instagram account, like everyone else I know.  Tune in for Brad's thoughts on learning from failure, advocating for “hopepunk,” and why we should aspire to be joyful rebels — right along with our kids. ----- Support Our Awesome Sponsor: Phyla Skincare: If you struggle with acne or have kids who do, save 25% your first order with code COOLMOM on Phyla Phortify Probiotic Serum. There's a reason Ryan Reynolds is an investor -- It's the breakthrough, science-backed, derm-recommended, probiotic acne serum that prevents breakouts all without harsh chemicals or side effects. Hard recommend! ----- Our Cool Picks of the Week include naps, a new children's books, and the ultimate Gen X radio station -- that the Gen Z-ers like too. ---- Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Find Brad Montague: Website, Instagram, Substack, Amazon Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Substack, Facebook, Threads Find Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads Join: The Spawned Podcast FB Community Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe for cool picks each week right in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guess what? We all age! So why is the world so tough on women who do just that? Can we reclaim aging as something to celebrate? You'll get some wonderful answers today from Karen Walrond, author of the award-winning Radiant Rebellion: Reclaim Aging, Practice Joy, and Raise a Little Hell We discuss how we all inadvertently promote ageism (ever said "senior moment" when you forget something?), how to "self-interrogate" to understand our choices a little better, Karen's nuanced view on women increasingly going grey, why in the world marketers are selling so many anti-aging serums to 14-year-olds, and whether she sees hope for positive change. Above all, Karen shares ways we can reclaim the joy in aging, practice gratitude, and find a path to feeling good about ourselves at any age. Support Our Awesome Sponsor: Phyla Skincare: If you struggle with acne or have kids who do, save 25% your first order with code COOLMOM on Phyla Phortify Probiotic Serum. It's the breakthrough, side-effect-free, science-backed, derm-recommended, probiotic acne serum that prevents breakouts before they start. ----- Our Cool Picks of the Week include an affordable electric kettle, Sari Botton's Substack, and the 1Password app for protecting yourself against hacks and data breaches. ---- Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Find Karen Walrond: Website, Instagram, Substack, Amazon Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Substack, Facebook, Threads Find Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads Join: The Spawned Podcast FB Community Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe for cool picks each week right in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Life is hard. Adulting is hard. The political climate is hard," confesses Dr. Christine Koh, one of my favorite humans and the host of the Edit Your Life Show. So she's here to share 5 small (really!) life edits you can make right now, that have immediate and positive impact. One of my favorite: Identifying the kinds of people you should be spending time with, thanks to a 4-question litmus test. It's brilliant. You'll find Christine's tips to be actionable, specific, and above all, realistic! I know you'll get so much out of her wisdom and this honest conversation, because phew, we can all use a little centering right now. ---- Support Our Awesome Sponsors: Phyla Skincare: Save 25% your first order with code COOLMOM on this breakthrough, science-backed, derm-recommended, probiotic acne serum that prevents breakouts before they start - with no side effects. FreshCut Paper: Save 20% on 5 or more artisan-designed pop-up floral cards that are far more ----- Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Find Dr. Christine Koh: Website, Instagram, Substack, Podcast Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Substack, Facebook, Threads Find Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads Join: The Spawned Podcast FB Community Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe for cool picks each week right in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a must-listen for all parents of kids who have smartphones, especially if you're worried about the impact of social media on mental health.  Dr. Devorah Heitner a renowned author and expert on kids and technology, joins me to provide thought-provoking insights that challenge a lot of the conventional wisdom, so get ready for a fresh take on parenting in the digital age.  You'll get actionable advice for parents, compelling research that supports it, and the nuances of complex issues surrounding kids, tech, and well-being -- including where she agrees and disagrees with the Surgeon General's recommendations, the unintended consequences of social media age restrictions, and the laws and regulations that we should be advocating for to ensure heath and safety for all of us. Not just for our children. ---- Special offer from Phyla Skincare: Save 25% your first order with code COOLMOM on this truly breakthrough, science-backed, derm-recommended, probiotic acne serum that prevents breakouts before they start - with literally no side effects. (Literally!) There's a reason Ryan Reynolds is an investor and advocate and the brand is headed to Sephora soon. ----- Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Find Dr. Devorah Heitner: Website, Instagram, Substack, Amazon Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Substack, Facebook, Threads Find Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads Join: The Spawned Podcast FB Community and Out Tech Your Kids Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe for cool picks each week right in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So here's a fun surprise: Today, my own daughter and rising high school senior, Sage, joins me on Spawned for the first time! She's asking fantastic questions about college admissions on behalf of teens who have shared them with us. In our third and final podcast in our Insider's Guide to College Admissions, with Alyse Levine of Premium Prep, you'll learn about weighted grades, class rank, tough math teachers, padding extracurriculars, arguing with parents about college preferences, and procrastinating on the personal essay. Plus, Sage's excellent hack for identifying colleges where you'll fit in. This is such a fun, helpful episode -- and I hope you'll consider listening with your own college-minded kids, who probably have different questions than you do. A special offer from Premium Prep: Mention Spawned for a free 30-minute college counseling session with a best-fit counselor at Premium Prep A special offer from Phyla Skincare: Save 25% with code COOLMOM on the game-changing, derm-recommended, probiotic acne serum that prevents breakouts before they start, with literally no side effects. (Literally!) Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Join: Spawned Podcast FB Community Find Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Facebook, Substack, Threads Find Alyse Levine: Website, Facebook, Instagram Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get cool picks, deals + helpful info in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a treat to have 30 minutes during Pride Month with the one and only Jonathan Van Ness, who's out with a brand new children's book, Gorgeously Me! We're talking about how to create a culture of acceptance for kids who are different, but we touch on so much more. Like the book that traumatized Jonathan as a kid (eek!), their strongest memory of Barney, the importance to them of faith and spiritual connection, unpacking the mantra "I am exactly who I'm meant to be," optimism for the future, and some compelling advice for parents who want to raise our kids to be the best version of themselves. I can't wait for you to listen! Also, I have to humblebrag a little that Jonathan says I "slayed my Cool Pick of the Week" -- but theirs is fantastic too. Stick around to hear them both. ---- Thanks to our sponsor Premium Prep, the personalized college counseling service that helps with applications, financial aid, essay writing, and more. Visit PremiumPrep.com and mention Spawned or Cool Mom Picks for a free 30-minute 1:1 session with a best-fit counselor. ----- Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Find Jonathan Van Ness: Queer Eye on Netflix, Getting Curious, Instagram, TikTok, Amazon Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Substack, Facebook, Threads Find Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads Join: The Spawned Podcast FB Community Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe for cool picks each week right in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am so happy to continue our 3-Part Insider Guide to the College Admission Process with my guest, Alyse Levine, one of the country's most prominent college counseling experts. Today we're focusing on a grade-by-grade guide to supporting our kids on the path toward college applications. Some of the topics we cover: Why middle school should be about focusing on healthy work habits How and when to make the most of clubs and after-school experiences Plotting out high school courses like a decision tree Why Alyse calls 10th grade "a pivotal year" What “demonstrated interest” is, and why it matters Different ways to visit colleges and when to start How and when to start creating your college list How to frame the (dreaded) personal essay to take off pressure Why there are no limits to essay topics (contrary to popular belief) How to decide whether to apply Early Decision Putting mental health first, always. Spoiler: Even if you start late, it may not be late. Just breathe! A special offer from Premium Prep: Mention Spawned for a free 30-minute college counseling session with a best-fit counselor at Premium Prep, who will be matched to your student. They've helped guide 93% of their students into one of their top three choices, so take advantage! She also describes on the podcast just what the team can do for you in those 30 minutes. Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Join: Spawned Podcast FB Community Find Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Facebook, Substack, Threads Find Alyse Levine: Website, Facebook, Instagram Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Pages Subscribe to get cool picks, deals + helpful info in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh off his viral commencement address at the University of Michigan, I'm joined by best-selling author Brad Meltzer. (Yes, that Brad Meltzer from the "I Am..." biographical children's books we all own!) He talks about his thoughts on kindness as a "naive ideal worth fighting for," the need for more empathy online, his love for the Harlem Globetrotters, and why he believes one person can change the world. Plus, he shares some deeply personal stories of kindness that changed his own life, including one in a random men's room. You are going to love what he has to say. Plus, by popular demand, Cool Picks of the Week is back! Whoo! (Though a new audio cue...eh, stay tuned for that one.) ---- Thanks to our sponsor Premium Prep, the personalized college counselling service that helps with applications, financial aid, essay writing, and more. Visit PremiumPre.com and mention Spawned or Cool Mom Picks for a free 30-minute 1:1 session with a best-fit counselor they'll match to your student's interests and your family's needs. ----- Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Join: The Spawned Podcast FB Community Find Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Facebook, Substack, Threads Find Brad Meltzer: Website, Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe for cool picks right in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As parents of teens know, it's the college admission season. That's why I am thrilled to welcome back Alyse Levine, one of the most prominent college counseling experts, to help us out. You all loved my interview with her in January about de-stressing college admissions, which is why I invited her for a 3-Part Parent's Guide to the College Admission Process. To start things off, Alyse is sharing insider tips and insights on how parents can help their children identify and develop their passions. You'll find her perspective reasonable, encouraging, and helpful, even beyond the college process. A special offer from Premium Prep: Mention Spawned for a free 30-minute college counseling session with a best-fit counselor at Premium Prep, who will be matched to your student after a free 15-minute intro session. (They've helped guide 93% of their students into one of their top three choices, so take advantage!) Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Join: Spawned Podcast FB Community Find Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Facebook, Substack, Threads Find Alyse Levine: Website, Facebook, Instagram Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get cool picks, deals + helpful info in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spawned is back (whoo!) with host Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks and Mom-101. I'm excited to get back to what I love most-- helping us get through the ups and downs of parenting together. Each week I'll be joined by compelling experts, best-selling authors, entrepreneurs, comedians, therapists, and even some big celebrities. I'm thrilled to kick things off with Jaclyn Lindsey, the remarkable founder and CEO of kindness.org. We're talking about what the science of kindness can teach us about raising kind humans. Jaclyn shares what we're doing right, what we're getting wrong, and some super-practical tips we can put to use right away. Jaclyn shares the difference between being nice and being kind, and lets us in on some common "acts of kindness" that...don't do much at all. Oops. Get ready to learn a ton. ---- Thanks to our sponsor Sourcebooks, publisher of I Am Money, the wonderful new Schoolhouse Rock-style book by Julia Cook, Garrett Gunderson, and Josh Cleland that's helping parents raise kids to have a healthy relationship with money for life. ----- Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Join: Spawned Podcast FB Community Find Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Facebook, Substack, Threads Find Jaclyn Lindsey: Website, Facebook, Instagram, X Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe for cool picks right in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is so tough to navigate the college search and admission process -- emotionally, practically, financially. (Eep!) It completely stressed me out, and I'm a pretty Type B mom. So learn from my mistakes! To kick off a new year of Spawned, we're lucky to be getting super helpful tips from Alyse Levine, one of the foremost college counseling experts in the country. She's not only worked with high school students at all levels, she's the former assistant director of undergrad admissions at Washington University in St. Louis. In other words, she's got an invaluable perspective you're going to want to hear. (Also, she's really nice!) - Liz Thanks to our sponsor Premium Prep, the renown college counseling program that's helped guide 93% of their students into one of their top three choices. Spawned Listeners: Save up to $1000 on a Premium Prep program through this link, or by mentioning Spawned. (Take that offer, worth it!) Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Join: Spawned Podcast FB Community Find Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads Find Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Facebook, Substack, Threads Find Alyse Levine: Website, Facebook, Instagram Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the end of such a tough year, we're looking to find all the holiday joy where we can, and make fun for our kids -- but why do moms always seem to be the people behind the fun, and not part of the fun? Liz is joined by Margaret Ables, co-host of the fabulous What Fresh Hell parenting podcast to commiserate, and we're offering smart tips (eg stop trying to make things perfect!), sweet family stories, plenty of laughter, and a lot of compassion for moms feeling overwhelmed right now. Thanks to our sponsor Disney Villainous: Intro to Evil for creating a wonderful screen-free game that's actually fun for adults, right along with our tweens and teens. Check out the new Disney100 limited edition, which is a great gift for Disney super-fans! Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Join: Spawned Podcast FB Community Follow Cool Mom Picks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads Follow Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Facebook, Substack, Threads Follow Margaret Ables and What Fresh Hell: Twitter, Facebook, Facebook Group, Adalyst Media Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all say we want to raise kids who are happy, healthy, and can be their authentic selves. So what happens when your kid is becoming someone who's really different from what we had imagined? That's the story Kate Brookes tells in the wonderful Transister: Raising Twins in a Gender-Bending World. She's incredibly forthcoming, funny, reflective, and supportive, whether you're raising kids who defy traditional norms of gender and sexuality--or are just individuals in their own way. Really, this is a meaningful conversation for any parent whose kids are on a path to be their own selves, and I'm grateful for Kate's time, her honesty, and her humor through it all. - Liz Follow Spawned on Apple: bit.ly/spawnedshow Follow Spawned on Spotify: Here Find Liz Gumbinner: Substack, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Post Find Kate Brookes: transistermom.com, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon Find Cool Mom Picks: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Shownotes, links from this episode, info on our Cool Picks of the week: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Surgeon General issued his recent advisory on social media and the health of our kids, I knew author, columnist, and adolescent digital media expert Dr. Devorah Heitner would be the perfect person to ask for guidance and reassurance. And wow does she come through! Here, she offers incredibly helpful, specific tips about what we can do as parents to keep our kids healthy on social media-- and what we should not do (no spying!) -- with Devorah's trademark non-judgmental, common sense, research-based wisdom to help us all navigate some tricky stuff we may not know a lot about. Follow Spawned on Apple: bit.ly/spawnedshow Follow Spawned on Spotify: Here Follow Cool Mom Picks: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Follow Liz Gumbinner: Substack Twitter, Instagram, Post Find Devorah Heitner: Substack, Instagram, Amazon, devorahheitner.com Shownotes, links from this episode, info on our Cool Picks of the week: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author, podcast host, and psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour shares her insights and thoughtful advice on raising emotionally connected and resilient teens and discusses the impetus for her newest book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. Visit Cool Mom Picks for show notes, and follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have wanted to talk with best-selling author, TED Talk phenom, and "professional troublemaker" Luvvie Ajayi Jones for so long! With the release of her wonderful new children's book, Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess, it's the perfect time. We discuss what it means to make good trouble, tips for talking to kids when they break the rules, and why to teach our children that it's not only possible to recover from big mistakes, it's important not to let those mistakes define us.  Also, be sure to stay tuned for Luvvie's own story about good intentions gone very, very, very wrong. I'm still sweating thinking about it! - Liz Follow Spawned on Apple: bit.ly/spawnedshow Follow Spawned on Spotify: Here Follow Cool Mom Picks: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Follow Liz Gumbinner: Substack Twitter, Instagram, Mastodon, Post. Find Luvvie Ajayi Jones: Professional Troublemaker Podcast, LuvvLetter newsletter, Instagram. Shownotes, links from this episode, info on our Cool Picks of the week: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of our all-time favorite guests, Dr. Ken Ginsburg, is back to chat about his newest book, Congrats—You're Having a Teen! and debunk some of the most common myths about parenting teenagers. Dr. Ginsburg's insights and work have changed the way we parent our kids, so let's just say if there's an episode of Spawned to listen to, it's this one. Thanks to our sponsor, Camp Tuku, a wonderful camp for kids located in the beautiful Catskills Mountains. You can learn more about them on their website! Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Show notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Michelle Icard chats about her book "14 Talks By Age 14," sharing how parents can approach the difficult conversations we know we need to have with our kids. Find Michelle's helpful book, wherever you buy your books. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. And for show notes, visit CoolMomPicks.com. About our sponsor, Camp Tuku: If you have a child age 6-14, Camp Tuku is where “nature meets joyful minds.” This exceptionally beautiful sleepaway camp rests in 1,000 acres of pristine wilderness in the Catskill Mountains of New York, surrounded by stunning lakes, breathtaking waterfalls, and miles of hiking trails. Learn more on their website! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all want to raise kind, generous, caring, empathetic kids -- who turn into great adults. So we turned to the perfect guide: Parenting author, science columnist and researcher Melinda Wenner Moyer. She shares so much science-backed data and turns it into parenting strategies, we can all put to use in our own families immediately. We think you'll love this episode! - Liz + Kristen Graciously brought to you by Camp Tuku, a stunning sleep away camp for kids 6-14 in the Catskill Mountains of NY. It's a place where "nature meets joyful minds," combining all the fabulous traditional summer camp activities with mindfulness practices to engage the heart, body and mind. Special Offer: Spawned listeners get a $50 discount on registration with code cmp23uutk. Expires 3/31/2023 Follow Spawned on Apple: bit.ly/spawnedshow Follow Spawned on Spotify: Here Follow Cool Mom Picks: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Follow Liz Gumbinner: Substack Twitter, Instagram, Mastodon, Post Follow Kristen Chase: Amazon, Instagram, Twitter Find Melinda Wenner Moyer: How to Raise Kids Who Aren't A**holes (Amazon), Website, Substack, Twitter, IG Shownotes, links from this episode, info on our Cool Picks of the week: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prioritizing and organizing your life, your family schedule, and especially your time is something a lot of moms (like, uh me!) can use help with. Take a listen for some terrific tips from Sarah Hart-Unger, host of Best Laid Plans podcast and co-host of Best of Both Worlds. She shares her genius "nested goals" approach, offers advice for list-making, talks organization vs prioritization, gender imbalances in time management -- and even finding peace in the chaos. This is the interview I needed! Maybe you need it too right now. - Liz Follow Spawned on Apple: bit.ly/spawnedshow Follow Spawned on Spotify: Here Follow Cool Mom Picks: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Follow Liz Gumbinner: Substack Twitter, Instagram, Mastodon, Post, Spoutible, Find Sarah-hart Unger: Best Laid Plains, Best of Both Worlds, Shubox.com Shownotes, links from this episode, info on our Cool Picks of the week: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a mixed-race Chinese American, I've struggled to feel a sense of belonging. I grew up feeling more accepted by the German (white) side of my family. Then, as I got older, I learned more about the Chinese side of my family and felt a connection to the experiences of Asian Americans. Just recently, especially as I was editing my book, A Thousand Miles to Graceland, I've found myself somewhere in the middle; not necessarily feeling Chinese, and yet, also not White, either. Thankfully, I'm not alone, and more and more mixed-race Americans are sharing stories to help highlight what it's like. That's exactly what author Lauren Kung Jessen does in her debut novel, Lunar Love, a sweet enemies-to-lovers rom-com that celebrates the deep-rooted family legacies that shape us and how these traditions evolve into our own. Lauren, like me, is a mixed-race Chinese American, and also, like me, has written a book featuring mixed-race Chinese Americans (and Chinese Americans). On this episode, we chat about how we identify, and the challenges we've faced in finding the right language to do so, as well as how we experience whiteness, and why these stories (like our novels) are so important for people like us (and well, everyone). And stay tuned for a couple of surprises that I think you'll really love. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Show notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the invention of smartphones (and tablets), keeping track of our digital memories (think photos, videos, scans), has become more difficult than we might have expected. In this episode, David Vaskevitch, CEO of Mylio Photos, shares the challenges that he experienced with digital memory preservation, and how families can make it a whole lot easier. Find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, along with our show notes at CoolMomPicks. Thanks to Mylio Photos for sponsoring this episode. Save 20% off your year subscription through this link. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've talked to so many incredible guests in 2022 -- film directors, authors, journalists, political pundits, activists. So we thought we'd share some of our favorite quotes and thoughtful advice in this fun look back at what we've learned over the past year here. If there's one you want to hear more about, you're already on your podcast app! Just click through to the Spawned library, scroll down, and take a listen! Thanks so much for joining Kristen and me this year - as with parenting, we're all in this together and we couldn't do it without you. - Liz Thanks to our sponsor Mylio Photos for offering our listeners 20% off when you subscribe. It's the easiest way to curate, organize, and safely preserve all your photos from all your different devices. Hurry, it's a great deal! Follow Spawned on Apple: bit.ly/spawnedshow Follow Spawned on Spotify: Here Follow Cool Mom Picks: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Follow Liz Gumbinner: Twitter, Instagram, Mastodon, Post, Substack Follow Kristen Chase: Twitter, Instagram, Amazon (her new book is coming out!) Shownotes, links from this episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe Engineer: John Bowen | Producer: Elissa Makarowitz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Moms are so busy trying to make fun for everyone over the holidays, sometimes we forget that we're supposed to be having fun too! How do we do that without adding "have more fun" to our to-do lists? Margaret Ables, co-host of the fabulous What Fresh Hell parenting podcast is joining me to offer smart tips, sweet stories, a lot of laughter, and a lot of compassion for moms Going Through It right now. - Liz Thanks to our sponsor Mylio Photos for offering our listeners 20% off when you subscribe. It's the easiest way to curate, organize, and safely preserve all your photos from all your different devices. Hurry, it's a great deal! Follow Spawned on Apple: bit.ly/spawnedshow Follow Spawned on Spotify: Here Follow Cool Mom Picks: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Follow Liz Gumbinner: Twitter, Instagram, Mastodon, Post, Substack Follow Margaret Ables and What Fresh Hell: Twitter, Facebook, Facebook Group, Adalyst Media Shownotes, links from this episode, info on our Cool Picks of the week: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've discussed the sex talk on Spawned a few times, however, if your school district is like mine (and many across the country), they are making sex education an optional, home-taught module. That means, we need to be more invested than ever in ensuring our kids are getting comprehensive sex education. That's what Andrea Brand's new book, “Stop Sweating & Start Talking," can help with, and a lot more. *Note, while this episode is marked explicit, it is due to the topics, which are for parents only, not due to questionable language. Thanks to our sponsor Mylio Photos, for helping us organize, safely share, and preserve our photos, videos, and documents in one place. Save 20% when you sign up through our link. Find us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just when I thought I was pretty aware of what I needed to know about teens and sleep, I got my hands on Lisa L. Lewis's book The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teenagers Are So Tired, And How Parents And Schools Can Help Them Thrive and I realized there was so much I didn't know. That was all solidified during this episode. Whether you have teens or not, Lisa's research for this book uncovered why sleep is so important for teens (hint: their brains are growing!), why they're not getting enough sleep, and what we can do to ensure that they are getting it, and it is so important for parents to hear. We also talk about: sleep debt, how long teens should be sleeping, why teens want to stay up later (it's biological!), why early school start times are so bad, how we can help to better manage their schedules (school classes included) to help them get more sleep, and a whole lot more. Our sponsors: BabyGate, a handy app that kid-proofs your phone. And, Mylio Photos, a smart way to get your photos, videos, and documents organized and preserved safely. Don't miss our special offer! Follow us on social: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's been the impact of Covid on kids? On mothers? How about on education? On class division? On our careers? On healthcare? Today I'm welcoming back author and NPR Education Reporter Anya Kamenetz who researched it all and put it into the must-read book The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Kids' Lives....and Where We Go Now. Her fascinating point: The systems that failed our families, especially the most vulnerable, have been in the making for decades. Wow. But.. she also talks about the negatives that are slowly turning out to be positives. Speaking of positives, I mentioned at the top of the show that I thought I had Covid but...false alarm! Just a cold. Sniff. (Apologies if I am saying "Adya" instead of "Anya." D'oh.) - Liz Thanks to our sponsor Dell offering our listeners early Black Friday tech deals through this link through Nov 27! Follow Spawned on Apple: bit.ly/spawnedshow Follow Spawned on Spotify: Here Follow Cool Mom Picks: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram Follow Liz Gumbinner: Twitter, Instagram, Mastodon Follow Anya Kamenetz: Instagram, Mastodon Shownotes, links from this episode, info on our Cool Picks of the week: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're like Kristen and in the throes of perimenopause, then you're probably wondering why no one talks about it. Well, that's about to change as Kristen chats with Dr. Makeba Williams, a physician who specializes in the healthcare needs of midlife and menopausal women. She answers all of Kristen's burning questions, which might just be yours too. Make sure you're following us on social media: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. And check out links to our Cool Picks of the Week over on our Podcast page at CoolMomPicks.com. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I will never think about yoga, supplements, activated charcoal or bath salts the same way after speaking with Rina Raphael, author of the utterly fascinating new book The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care. How did wellness go from a legitimate health need to a $4.4 trillion industry? What's the role of wellness influencers in all this? Why are we so desperate to find salvation in a fancy (probably pink) bottle -- and why it makes perfect sense that we fall for it? Rina breaks it all down wonderfully, with humor, well-researched insight, and a lack of judgment that I (as someone who loves my CBD for sleep) really appreciate!- Liz Follow Spawned on Apple: bit.ly/spawnedshow Follow Spawned on Spotify: Here Follow Cool Mom Picks: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram Follow Liz Gumbinner: Twitter, Instagram Follow Rina Raphael: Twitter Shownotes, links from this episode, info on our Cool Picks of the week: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We don't want our kids to fall for false news, rumors, or disinformation. But how do we teach our kids media literacy when we can't even keep up with all the social media apps? Journalist, professor, and UCLA/Stanford professor Dr. Seema Yasmin joins Liz to talk about her incredibly engaging, very important new YA Handbook, "What the Fact?!: Finding Truth in All the Noise." She not only discusses how we help our kids separate fact from fiction, but how to actually BS-proof our brains so that we'll be less susceptible to untruths, and more flexible when it comes to changing our minds -- and changing others' minds, too. Good stuff! Follow Spawned on Apple: bit.ly/spawnedshow Follow Spawned on Spotify: Here Follow Cool Mom Picks: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram Follow Liz Gumbinner: Twitter, Instagram Follow Dr Seema Yasmin: Twitter, Instagram Shownotes and info on our Cool Picks of the week: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As parents, one of the most challenging parts of raising kids is feeding them. It's especially hard if you have your own issues with body image and food, like many Gen X parents do. Thankfully, experts like Nicole Cruz, a registered dietitian nutritionist, and mom of three can really help. Her intuitive eating and non-diet approach to food felt revolutionary to me, and it's completely changed how I approach food with my kids. And as always, we close out our show with our Cool Picks of the Week! Be sure to follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Today's sponsor is Carole P. Roman, a prolific author with over 50 books that you should know about. If you've got reluctant readers, these are the books for your kids! Learn more on our site and on the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You wouldn't think in 2022 that an author would have to fight to keep a female protagonist in a book, and yet that's just what happened to award-winning humorist Wendi Aarons when she first pitched her middle-grade book, Ginger Mancino: Kid Comedian. (Spoiler: It got published, Ginger is indeed a girl, and it's wonderful.) Wendi joins Liz to talk about the importance of funny girls in books, funny women in life, teaching kids comedy, and the road from wanting just to be "nice" to being funny enough to write for publications like the New Yorker, McSweeney's, and US Weekly's fashion police. With a lot of tough stuff in the world, this is a light, fun episode, that I really think you'll enjoy. This episode graciously brought to you by Mabel's Labels - visit now for big discounts on their cult-favorite sets of personalized labels, just for you early back-to-school shoppers! Find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and visit us at Cool Mom Picks to find all the links from today's episode..

Since I got my first smartphone back in 2006, my relationship with my phone has certainly changed my life. It's also changed how I function as a person in this world, for better and for worse. Turns out, I'm not the only one, which is why I was so excited to chat with Emmy-award-winning journalist, and host of the new Mobile Diaries podcast from T-Mobile, Shawna Ryan, which also happens to be today's sponsor. We chat about our first phones, how our lives changed when we got them, and how we're approaching our phone use (and our kids' phone use) now, in a post-pandemic world, plus a whole lot more! And as always, we close out our show with our Cool Picks of the Week. Find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, plus visit us at Cool Mom Picks for all the links from the show.

Author, educator, and Prep Matters founder Ned Johnson joins Liz once again to talk us through -- or talk us down from -- the college application process. And yes, I mean parents! You'll appreciate his thoughtful insight on the whole process, "test optional" schools, financial aid, the pitfalls and benefits of stress, the impact of Covid, how Black students need to approach things differently, and why we need to reframe the concept of "selective" schools. It's amazing. // Sponsored by Dell's Black Friday in July sale: Click through this link for access to our educational membership benefits + additional discounts, no code needed. // Thanks so much for listening. Please subscribe + rate our episodes if you enjoy our show! //Find links + recommended reading from today's podcast on Cool Mom Picks, and say hi to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

We often forget that social skills are taught, which seems especially important after two years in a pandemic. We're so grateful for authors, like Catherine Newman, who help make our lives as parents easier. Her new book "What Can I Say?" is a super helpful, illustrated book aimed at tweens and young teens, to help them navigate life's awkward situations, from learning how to apologize, to standing up to bullies, and pretty much everything in between. Listen to this super helpful conversation and our cool picks of the week (as usual). And word to our sponsor, Project Hashtag HPV, which might help you earn a few bucks for a little bit of your time. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

Our guest Roo Powell is the co-founder of SOSA (Safe from Online Sexual Abuse) and has put her child advocacy and deep knowledge to use by...disguising herself as a young girl and working with police to trap predators. That work is part of the Discovery Plus docuseries Undercover Underage. Roo's story is nothing short of fascinating -- and actually more encouraging than you might imagine. Take a listen for an honest, surprisingly non-alarmist perspective about child predators, online safety, grooming, and the other subjects that we can't help but worry about as we send our kids out into the world. // Thanks so much for listening. Please subscribe + rate our episodes if you enjoy our show! //Find links from today's podcast and our cool picks of the week on Cool Mom Picks, and say hi to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest.

I've been wondering: are moms okay right now? And are we going to be okay? Is anything okay for anyone these days? So I invited one guest I knew would have an incredible perspective, Jessica Grose, author and Parenting Editor of the New York Times. Take a listen for an honest, terrific discussion about the state of modern motherhood including childcare issues, burnout, lingering pandemic issues, the evolving role of parents on social media and "TikTok Parenting" -- and the silver linings we should all look for. // Thanks so much for listening. Please subscribe + rate our episodes if you enjoy it! //Find links from today's podcast and our cool picks of the week on Cool Mom Picks, and say hi to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest.

If you've got thousands of photos on your phone, you know how painful it can be to find the ones you need when you need them, not to mention create any sort of memory or photo book. Well, get ready, because professional photo organizer Casey von Stein (aka Miss Freddy) whipped Kristen into shape (no guilt or judgment, either), and will do the same for you. Seriously, these tips are life-changing (and we don't say that lightly). This week's sponsor is Generation Joy, a fantastic kids' clothing company with the coolest basics for kids through teens. Buy 2 items get 1 free with COOLMOMJOY through April 30. Shop now! You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Follow us!

Who better to talk about self-care with than the ultimate self-care expert, Kate Spencer. You probably know her as the co-host of the super-popular podcast Forever 35. But she recently released her first rom-com novel, In a New York Minute. On this episode, Kate talks about self-care, tackles a common complaint about rom-coms, and shares her current beauty faves in a rapid-fire session with Kristen. We'd love to hear from you! You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. And be sure to check our show notes on CoolMomPicks.com.

This week, Liz is so happy to be speaking (again!) with award-winning journalist and The Double Shift founder Katherine Goldstein, about her recent HuffPost article, There's a Coach for That. It lead Katherine to research the difference alllll the many kinds of coaches out there, and today she's explaining what different coaches do, who they can help, and whether what we really need is a good friend, or even a therapist. If you've been asking yourself, "What's next for me?" this is such a helpful conversation. // Thanks so much for listening, we appreciate you! Please take a moment to subscribe if you like our show. // Want to say hi? Find us on FB, Twitter, IG, Pinterest // Shownotes: CoolMomPicks.com. // Stay safe out there, friends and let's take care of each other.

So many parents are wondering how to have conversations with kids -- of all ages -- about the increasingly frightening attack on Ukraine. We want our kids to be informed, but we don't want to overwhelm them with anxiety and fear. So Liz is chatting once again with the wonderful journalist/author Melinda Wenner Moyer for some helpful advice. We're elaborating on the 5 expert tips in her recent NY Times article, How to Talk to Kids About Ukraine, and she's just so encouraging and specific, we hope you'll get a lot out of this conversation. // Thanks so much for listening, we appreciate you! Please take a moment to subscribe if you like our show. // Want to say hi? Find us on FB, Twitter, IG, Pinterest // Shownotes: CoolMomPicks.com. // Stay safe out there, friends and let's take care of each other.

It was the power of storytelling that connected Liz and me back almost 17 years ago, and it's still the lifeline for many parents, looking for community and commiseration in their parenting journey. This week, we're chatting with author and podcaster Zibby Owens about her newest anthology, Moms Don't Have Time to Have Kids, and why our stories matter. Catch us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We love hearing from you!

Right now, the world is a pretty terrifying place, but we think you'll find a lot of reason for hope in this interview with John Della Volpe. Especially if you're raising a tween or teen right now -- or a kid who will be one soon. John is a notable expert on data around Gen Z and youth movements, the Director of Polling at Harvard's Kennedy School, and most recently, the author of FIGHT: How Gen Z Is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America. He's funny, he's smart, and he's got a fascinating perspective -- backed with facts -- on why we should never doubt the most educated, diverse generation yet. // Thanks so much for listening. Please take a moment to subscribe if you like our show. // Want to say hi? Find us on FB, Twitter, IG, Pinterest // Shownotes: CoolMomPicks.com. // Stay safe out there friends, and take care of yourselves.

This week, Liz chats with Amy L. Koppelman, writer, director and producer of the new film A Mouthful of Air, starring Amanda Seyfried and Finn Witrock. It's based on on Amy's critically acclaimed novel inspired by her own struggles with postpartum depression 20 years ago. Join us for a thoughtful discussion about issues around women and mental health. Like the shame women still experience, how partners and friends can help identify PPD (and organizations here to help), and the important reminder that people who seem to "have it all" -- yes, even beautiful Instagram influencers -- may be struggling too. Shownotes: Cool Mom Picks podcast page. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In this episode, we're chatting with New York Times bestselling author Julie Lythcott-Haims about her new book Your Turn: How to Be an Adult. You might know Julie from her first book, "How to Raise an Adult," which was a New York Times bestseller and was the antidote to overparenting culture. Thankfully, she's back with a sort of follow-up to that one, aimed at older Gen-Z and millennials (and hey, Gen-Xers too), with a super helpful guidebook to what it means to be an adult. It's supportive, thoughtful, and inspiring, whether you need it for yourself, or you've got a budding adult in your life. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

We've been so grateful to our recent expert Spawned guests who have offered their help in navigating these last two years with our kids. And this week's expert, Mara Koffmann, is no exception. She shares her expertise from years working with kids and families as co-founder of Brain Trust Tutors, especially in the area of executive function skills. These are the extremely important skills that help us plan, focus attention, and manage multiple tasks successfully (just to name a few). As always, we end our show with our cool picks of the week. Don't forget to say "hi" to our awesome sponsors, Breathwrk and Renzo's Vitamins, both of whom have awesome offers for you! We're on social media! Visit us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

As we round out the year (yes we made it, phew) we're keeping things light with an entire COOL PICKS EPISODE. We're sharing 10 of our favorite holiday gifts that we recommended across our sites this year, but if you know us, we've always got a few more we sneak in! Take a listen, don't stress the gifts (seriously), shop local when you can, find time with people you love, and stay healthy. That's our greatest wish for you. Please support our sponsors, for whom we are so grateful: Save 40% on Elixinol's award-winning CBD products with code COOLMOM40 for calm, better sleep + general well-being. And Remind Tutoring is helping thousands of kids with affordable one-on-one online math tutoring, and your first session is free. You'll find ALL the links from the show on Cool Mom Picks. Find us on FB, Insta, Twitter and Pinterest and say hi. We're so grateful for all of you!