Podcasts about big feelings

In this episode of the HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing podcast, host Fergal Fox and guests Melissa Vindigni (Senior Occupational Therapist), Muireann Treacy (Senior Clinical Psychologist) and Rosemary Kavanagh (Senior Speech and Language Therapist) discuss the emotional experiences of young children under the theme "Little People, Big Feelings." They explore the normalcy of intense emotions in children, the developmental stages of emotional regulation, and the critical role of co-regulation, where parents help children manage their emotions. The episode emphasises the importance of parental calmness, understanding sensory triggers, and using simple communication to support children's emotional growth. The speakers also highlight the challenges parents face and the need for self-compassion and realistic expectations. To access more support and information on parenting, see: https://www2.hse.ie/babies-children/parenting-advice/services-supports/getting-support/ To get in touch with the podcast, email Healthandwellbeing.communications@hse.ie   Produced by GKMedia.ie

Jenny Opalinski has spent more than a decade inside hospitals where people lose the ability to speak, breathe, swallow, and sometimes survive. A medical speech language pathologist by training, she worked in ICU, neuro rehab, and long term acute care settings, including a Level 1 trauma center, where she watched clinicians absorb 10 to 15 traumatic events in a single shift and then get told to move the crash cart faster next time.That lived reality pushed her to co found The Wellness Shift, an advocacy and education platform focused on healthcare worker burnout, suicide, and assault. In this conversation, Opalinski walks through the moment that changed everything for her: standing in a hospital hallway listening to a family wail after a failed code, followed by a debrief that addressed logistics and ignored grief entirely.She also explains how that work led to Humanity Rx, her podcast about the human cost of medicine, and Dragon's Breath: Calming Tricks for Big Feelings, a children's book that translates evidence based breathing and regulation strategies into language kids can actually use. The episode covers moral injury, time scarcity, false wellness, respiratory muscle training, and why empathy keeps getting treated as an optional expense instead of clinical infrastructure.RELATED LINKSJenny Opalinski on LinkedInThe Wellness ShiftHumanity RxDragon's Breath: Calming Tricks for Big FeelingsAspire Respiratory ProductsFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While we all like to imagine our kids are going to be best friends, sibling jealousy is very normal and can be especially prevalent when a new baby enters the family. Today we hear from a mum whose eldest gets jealousy especially during feeding, and Gen and Amy have some sound advice. This episode is proudly brought to you by Haakaa — the award-winning maternity and baby brand trusted by families worldwide. Known for their iconic silicone breast pump, Haakaa has just launched the NEW Gen. 2 Plus — featuring a ComfortCARE™ flange to reduce friction and tugging on sensitive breast tissue, plus a SpillGUARD™ insert to help protect every precious drop from accidental spills. Visit haakaa.co.nz and use the code BTC10 for 10% off sitewide. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While we all like to imagine our kids are going to be best friends, sibling jealousy is very normal and can be especially prevalent when a new baby enters the family. Today we hear from a mum whose eldest gets jealousy especially during feeding, and Gen and Amy have some sound advice. This episode is proudly brought to you by Haakaa — the award-winning maternity and baby brand trusted by families worldwide. Known for their iconic silicone breast pump, Haakaa has just launched the NEW Gen. 2 Plus — featuring a ComfortCARE™ flange to reduce friction and tugging on sensitive breast tissue, plus a SpillGUARD™ insert to help protect every precious drop from accidental spills. Visit haakaa.co.nz and use the code BTC10 for 10% off sitewide. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Thriving Parenting, we explore what's really happening when your child's big emotions set off something big in you. From meltdowns at bedtime to public tantrums and sibling fights, these moments can feel overwhelming and deeply personal. But what if your child's behaviour isn't something to fix, it's communication? Drawing on insights from Circle of Security, we unpack why behaviour is a signal, what “shark music” is, and how your nervous system plays a powerful role in shaping your child's emotional development. This is an honest, compassionate conversation about triggers, co-regulation, rupture and repair, and how to stay bigger, stronger, wiser and kind — even when it feels hard.In this episode, you'll learn:Why behaviour is communication, not manipulationWhat your child is really asking for during meltdownsHow “shark music” gets activated inside parentsWhy when emotion goes up, thinking goes down — for both of youThe snow globe metaphor for understanding overwhelmWhy regulating yourself first is not selfish, it's essentialPractical ways to pause and reset in triggering momentsThe difference between fixing behaviour and containing emotionWhen and how to teach after the storm has passedWhy security is built in the middle, not through perfection, but through repairThis episode is a reminder that your child's big feelings are not proof you're failing. They're proof your child feels safe enough to fall apart with you. And your power as a parent lives in the pause.If you've ever wondered why motherhood feels harder than the things you once excelled at, this episode will remind you that you're not failing. You're evolving.Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don't know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 103 Show NotesAnd I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here. Until next time, Thrivers

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with children's author and former teacher Christine Devane to explore how storytelling can support introverted learners, build self-advocacy skills, and help children process grief.Christine shares the inspiration behind her book Elephant Beach, a story about stepping outside your comfort zone while honouring personality differences in the classroom. Together, Carla and Christine unpack the balance between supporting extroverted children without silencing them and intentionally creating space for quieter voices.In this episode, you'll learn:The difference between introversion and shyness in childrenHow to support quiet children without calling them outWhy partner selection in classrooms mattersPractical ways to encourage self-advocacyHow books help children internalize social-emotional skillsWhy storytelling is one of the most powerful SEL tools in early childhood educationIf you're an educator looking for meaningful ways to support social development through stories, this episode will leave you inspired and equipped.Christine Devane Christine Devane was a second-grade teacher for thirteen years and enjoyed reading with her students. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband John; three children Joey, Nick, and Adeline; and their dog Sophie. Christine loves going to the beach, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and collecting lucky elephants.LinksWebsite: www.christine-devane.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/stined13SUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years.CONNECT WITH CARLAThe ECE Latte LoungeEmail Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠Website: carlatheece.comInstagram: @carlatheece

We talk a lot on Beyond The Chaos about how hard it is when it looks like everyone else has it together, while you feel like you're falling apart (even when we all know no one is perfect). On this episode we hear from a mum who is feeling importer syndrome as a mum and health professional, and Gen and Amy break down this complicated and relatable feeling. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send a text In this episode, Sherri Elder and Marilyn Madden from the Early Childhood Development Department at Ozarks Tech talk about Conscious Discipline and what it looks like in real classrooms when children are learning how to name, understand, and regulate big emotions. They break down why emotional regulation is not “extra,” it is foundational, and how teachers can intentionally build skills like calm-down strategies, emotional language, and connection so kids can move from dysregulated moments to learning-ready ones. Just as importantly, they highlight the often-overlooked piece: adult regulation. When educators have tools to manage their own stress and responses, they create the steady, safe environment children need to practice self-control. If you work with young kids (or live with humans at all), this conversation offers practical insight, encouragement, and a healthier way to think about behavior, emotions, and classroom culture. 

We talk a lot on Beyond The Chaos about how hard it is when it looks like everyone else has it together, while you feel like you're falling apart (even when we all know no one is perfect). On this episode we hear from a mum who is feeling imposter syndrome as a mum and health professional, and Gen and Amy break down this complicated and relatable feeling. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SHINING WITH ADHD#213: Your Questions Answered: ADHD, Sports, and Big FeelingsThe Childhood Collective2/18/2026SUMMARYADHD and sports can be an amazing opportunity for confidence and connection, but they can also bring big emotions, frustration, and a lot of tough parenting decisions. In this listener Q&A episode, we answer your questions about ADHD and sports, including how to support your child when they lose, when quitting might actually be the right choice, and whether to talk to the coach about an ADHD diagnosis. We break down how executive functioning, emotional regulation, and social skills show up on the field, not because kids aren't trying, but because their brains work differently. If you're navigating ADHD and sports and want practical tools that protect your child's confidence and your relationship, this episode is for you.MEET OUR TEAMWe are Lori, Mallory, and Katie. Lori and Mallory are child psychologists, and Katie is a speech language pathologist. Most importantly, we are moms, just like you. After working with families over a combined total of 40 years, we saw a need to provide ongoing support and education to parents raising children with ADHD.LINKS + RESOURCESEpisode #213 TranscriptEpisode #164: Understanding Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and ADHD with Dr. Ann-Louise LockhartThe Childhood Collective InstagramHave a question or want to share some thoughts? Shoot us an email at hello@thechildhoodcollective.comMentioned in this episode:Creating Calm CourseCreating Calm is a video-based course that will teach you simple, step-by-step strategies to help you parent a happy and independent child with ADHD (ages 4-12 years old). Whenever and wherever you have an internet connection. Use the code PODCAST for 10% off!Creating Calm CourseClimbing Products for Kids with ADHD Calling all parents with energizer bunnies! With ADHD kids, the energy can be super fun and also super challenging at times. We have to be very thoughtful about giving our kids opportunities to run, climb, and move their bodies. We asked for your best climbing ideas, and you came through with amazing recommendations! We took all of your climbing favorites and compiled them into a list to share with you. Climbing Products HungryrootHungryroot offers “good-for-you groceries and simple recipes.” We have loved having one less thing to worry about when it comes to raising kids. For 40% off your first box, click the link below and use CHILDHOOD40 in all caps to get the discount.Hungryroot

Gugs Mhlungu speaks with Andy Cohen, Psychotherapist and psychoanalyst, editor of “Parenting Psychoanalyzed: Letters to a Parent”, about how to help children navigate intense emotions, decode love and other overwhelming feelings, and provide guidance that supports emotional understanding while preventing inadvertent emotional harm. Weekend Breakfast with Gugs Mhlungu is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station, on Saturdays and Sundays Gugs Mhlungu gets you ready for the weekend each Saturday and Sunday morning on 702. She is your weekend wake-up companion, with all you need to know for your weekend. The topics Gugs covers range from lifestyle, family, health, and fitness to books, motoring, cooking, culture, and what is happening on the weekend in 702land. Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Weekend Breakfast with Gugs Mhlungu. Listen live on Primedia+ on Saturdays and Sundays from 06:00 and 10:00 (SA Time) to Weekend Breakfast with Gugs Mhlungu broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/u3Sf7Zy or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/BIXS7AL Subscribe to the 702 daily and weekly newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send a textWelcome to Episode 3 of The Zeepy Sleep Podcast — a calming bedtime story for kids designed to help children feel safe with their worries and gently ready for sleep.In The Night the Worry Moths Came to Tea, Kip the Kitty opens the door of the Moonbeam Cat Café to a group of gentle moths carrying worries that feel too heavy to hold alone. Through soft conversation, warm tea, and quiet listening, Kip shows that worries grow lighter when they're shared with kindness. As the moths transform into glowing fireflies, children learn that naming our feelings and resting together can turn anxious energy into peaceful calm.

So many kids have a complicated relationship with sleep; everything from not wanting to sleep in their own bed, to not being tired at bedtime. We hear from a listener going through this problem with her 8 year old, and Gen has one rule to tackle it. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So many kids have a complicated relationship with sleep; everything from not wanting to sleep in their own bed, to not being tired at bedtime. We hear from a listener going through this problem with her 8 year old, and Gen has one rule to tackle it. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is mindfulness really? According to one fourth-grader, "Not hitting someone in the mouth." Legendary meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg joins Rick and Forrest to discuss how we can work skillfully with anger, fear, and reactivity without becoming doormats or numbing ourselves out through the lens of her new children's book Kind Karl. They explore the protective function of anger, and how we can create more space by relating differently to our thoughts, emotions, and sense of self. Sharon shares a Buddhist lens that links anger and fear, and how looking closely at “what's in the anger” can help us get clarity without collateral damage. Along the way, they talk about the difference between healthy moral anger and the habit of anger, how to extract the positive energy from difficult emotions without getting burned, and how lovingkindness and self-compassion can be active, strengthening forces.  About our Guest: Sharon Salzberg is the co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society, a world-renowned teacher of mindfulness, and author or co-author of 14 books including her seminal work Lovingkindness and her first children's book Kind Karl: A Little Crocodile with Big Feelings. Key Topics: 0:00: Intro and Sharon's new children's book 1:30: Rick and Sharon's personal history 3:40: Making abstract concepts direct and simple 6:00: “Mindfulness means not hitting someone in the mouth.” 12:30: Equanimity, reactivity, and our relationship with pleasure and pain 26:48: Healthy moral anger and outrage 34:17: How mindfulness decenters the self 43:53: Decoupling identity from states of suffering 50:23: Dissolving boundaries, self protection, and loneliness 1:03:09: Recap Support the Podcast: We're on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link. Sponsors Go to Zocdoc.com/BEING to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beingwell.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It can be a tender thing to launch a creative project into the world. That's true whether you're an actor, a baker, a musician, a quilter, or almost any other artisan. As a writer, releasing a book often feels like that scene in early Gray's Anatomy where Meredith stands before Derek and says, “Pick me, choose me, love me.”In short, it's a little bit vulnerable.When I launched my first book back in 2019, Daryl took me to see Sweeney Todd at our local theater, to distract me from all of the big feelings. (A murdering, singing barber will do that!) These days, I've learned to notice and honor the feelings as they come and pass. There are a lot of them, in the week leading up to a book launch.And these feelings aren't just about whether people will like the book. That's part of it, for sure—no author wants to be panned or ignored. But they go beyond just wanting the book to hit well. They run the full gamut from excitement to terror. To paraphrase my writer-friend Ruth, the only thing scarier than no one is reading your book is people actually, you know, reading your book.But here's the thing: being part of the literary world is one of the great joys of my life. And that joy is a wonderful balm for all of the BIG FEELINGS™ that show up on launch week.I love my writing communities. That's you, beloved SubStack friends. It's the writers who read early drafts of my work (thank you, Steve! thank you, Aarik!) and gave me honest feedback. It's the writers whose books I love who have helped me grow in the craft. It's fellow writers in the trenches being honest about what it takes to turn a beautiful phrase and keep pursuing what is beautiful and true in a world filled with AI slop and lazy shortcuts. It's writers who are also bookstore owners (I love you, Nooks!) who foster community spaces where people can be together, heartened, seen, and read.Each time I publish a book and begin to feel all the feelings (hooray! oh no! how are my numbers doing? what have I forgotten?), I remember that you and each fellow reader and writer out there are the biggest gifts of all.I'd be honored if you'd give Weathering Change a look. Preorders matter, and this is the last week you can sneak one of those in, at Amazon or Nooks or anywhere you love buying your books. (You can also request it at your local library, which is free to you!)But above all, please know that I am so grateful that you're with me on this journey of words, seeking to make meaning out of life.Today's podcast is short and sweet—just 25 minutes. In it I read chapter one from Weathering Change. Many thanks to my publisher, InterVarsity Press, for giving me permission to share it with you today. If you'd prefer to read it rather than listen to it, you can find it here.Thank you for your love and support. I am so excited to share this book with you! Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe

If you've been feeling like you need someone to flip on a light switch in a dark room right about now, this episode is for you. And listen, I get it—February can be rough. All that January enthusiasm starts to fade, the Midwest winter is doing its thing (where did the sun go?), and suddenly that phone in your hand feels less like a tool and more like a stain you can't get out of your clothes (or out of your hand). So today, I'm offering what we all need: a little bit of hope. This is a cozy solo cast that's a deep dive into what I'm learning in real-time about habits and what they reinforce. The truth: I've been doom-scrolling between client sessions like it's my job, and my nervous system has some thoughts about that. We're talking about: How to gently take inventory of what you're consuming (media, food, habits, all of it) The homework my therapist gave me that changed how I show up in every relationship What you're actually responsible for (hint: it's less than you think) Why knowing your philosophy matters—whether you're a therapist, a parent, or just a human trying to navigate this wild world Plus, I'm giving you a sneak peek at two incredible interviews coming up this month with Cat Greenleaf (host of the Soberness podcast) and the one and only Ashlyn Thompson from the Parent Empowerment Network. If you need someone who makes heavy topics feel like a warm hug, Ashlyn is your person. She's basically the Ted Lasso of emotional work. KEY TAKEAWAYS "The things you repeat are what you reinforce." —James Clear, Atomic Habits This quote is the backbone of the episode. What are you repeating? Is it serving you? If not, what's one small shift you can make? You can't function for the responsibilities of your life if your nervous system is constantly firing. If you're feeling less Cinderella-with-birds-making-your-bed and more like you need to hide under the covers, it might be time to look at what you're consuming. Boundaries aren't just for other people—they're for what you let into your own mind and body. This is the work. What's yours to own? What's not? Getting clear on that changes everything. QUOTES THAT HIT "When you turn on a light in a dark space, the darkness isn't gone. But the darkness can't deny the light." "I wasn't clear on what I was actually responsible for. If I was responsible for their breakthroughs, then was I also responsible for what they didn't understand?" "Happiness can also look like having a lollipop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and then that creates a whole other issue." COMING UP THIS MONTH Cat Greenleaf from the Soberness podcast—talking celebrity sobriety, digital content, and constantly evolving Ashlyn Thompson from the Parent Empowerment Network—bringing the heart-centered wisdom with humor and warmth YOUR HOMEWORK (IF YOU WANT IT) Grab a journal, go for a walk, or just sit with these questions: What am I repeating? What is that reinforcing for me? Do I like what I'm reinforcing? If not, what's one subtle adjustment I can make? And if you need a place to process all of this? The Treasured Journal was made for exactly these moments. It's got prompts, sentence stems, and space for you to dig a little deeper with a little more safety and context. Link's in the show notes. THINGS THAT WILL MAKE MY WHOLE WEEK Rate and review the podcast wherever you're listening—it helps more people find this cozy corner of the internet Subscribe so you never miss an episode (we've got some good ones coming up!) Share this episode with someone who needs a little bit of hope right now Your time and attention mean everything to me. Thank you for being here. Now go have an incredible day. You've got this. —Danielle   RESOURCES MENTIONED Atomic Habits by James Clear Wrestling a Walrus for Little People with Big Feelings (my children's book!) The Treasured Journal (for all your processing needs) CONNECT WITH DANIELLE (links) Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VFZulonTvaa2HIPyJa4Tq?si=JyAzazfISPWyg6I11hAylg Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-cut-your-own-bangs/id1427579922 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DontCutYourOwnBangs Website: https://danielleireland.com/ Children's Book: https://danielleireland.com/wrestling-a-walrus The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontcutyourownbangs/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dontcutyourownbangspod?_t=ZP-8yFHmVNPKtq&_r=1  

This week on Carnival Cruising Podcastaways, Trevor, Jenn, and Thomas are back together and, thankfully, all survived another week without medical emergencies (hydration saves lives).The crew dives into Carnival's latest price increases, including changes to Bottomless Bubbles and gratuities, and debates whether four sodas a day is a lifestyle choice or a cry for help. Things escalate when they discuss a five-year-old Royal Caribbean cruiser with over 700 loyalty points, raising serious questions about gaming the system, suite math, and who is really in charge of the ship.They also cover:Drink packages, soda economics, and age discrimination (allegedly)Drug-sniffing dogs, port security horror stories, and thrift-store luggage mishapsBuild-A-Bear regret at seaParty cruises gone very wrongWhy you should never assume you'll remember repacking your bag with dignityIt's cruise news, questionable math, and classic Podcastaways banter—all in one voyage.

In this episode of the Parent Companion for Play Therapy series, I explain externalizing behaviors — what they are, why they happen, and how child-centered play therapy helps. Externalizing kids show their distress outwardly through behaviors like yelling, hitting, throwing, running, or melting down. These children are big feelers with intense internal experiences, and their behavior is their way of showing how overwhelmed they feel. They aren't trying to manipulate or get attention — they're trying to get relief from feelings they don't know how to manage yet. I walk through what happens in the playroom for externalizing children and why CCPT works. Through reflective responding, clear limits when needed, and lots of choice, children slowly develop emotional vocabulary, regulation, and a sense of control. Over time, the extreme highs and lows begin to level out, and children learn to express feelings with words instead of behavior. This episode helps parents understand what externalizing behavior really means and why play therapy supports lasting change. Ask Me Questions:  Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com My Book: Device Detox: A Parent's Guide To Reducing Usage, Preventing Tantrums, And Raising Happier Kids - https://a.co/d/bThnKH9 Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/ My Newsletter Signup: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/ My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/ Common References: Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge.

DO NOT call Jennifer Welch a centrist.Order our book, join our Substack, shop our merch, and more by clicking here: https://linktr.ee/ivehaditpodcast.Thank you to our sponsors:Chewy: Right now you can save $20 on your first order and get free shipping by going to https://Chewpanions.chewy.com/ivehaditpodcast. Minimum purchase required. New customers only. Terms and conditions apply. See site for complete details. Prolon: For a limited time, Prolon is offering our listeners 15% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit https://ProlonLife.com/HADIT.Lola Blankets: Get 40% off your entire order at https://Lolablankets.com by using code Hadit at checkout. Experience the world's #1 blanket with Lola Blankets.Chime: Chime is not just smarter banking, it is the most rewarding way to bank. Join the millions who are already banking fee free today. Head to https://Chime.com/HADIT. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and our listeners can earn up to an extra $350.Follow Us:I've Had It Podcast: @IvehaditpodcastJennifer Welch: @mizzwelchAngie "Pumps" Sullivan: @pumpspumpspumpsKiley Josey: @kileyjoseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gen and Amy are back in the studio for 2026! They reflect on the highs and lows of school holidays; which as we know can range from beautiful moments of bonding to breaking up screaming matches between siblings and counting down the days 'til they're back at school. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February 2026 Astrology Forecast with January's Reflection Viral Moment: Eclipse Energy, Big Feelings & Holding the LineFebruary may be the shortest month of the year, but the energy is anything but small. In this episode of Chakras & Cusswords, we break down the major astrology dates of February — from the dramatic Full Moon in Leo to the Aquarius Solar Eclipse that asks us to stop shrinking and start living in our truth.We reflect on the emotional weight many of us are carrying after an intense start to the year — the collective grief, rising anger, political unrest, and the feeling that the ground beneath us is shifting. With Uranus making its final moves in Taurus and Saturn entering Aries, February becomes a turning point: where comfort zones crack, illusions dissolve, and courage is required.This month brings heart-opening Pisces energy, moments of romantic idealism, and powerful reminders to slow down, double-check our thoughts, and stay grounded — especially as Mercury retrograde stirs confusion and emotional reactivity. We talk about protecting your energy, navigating power struggles, and learning when to fight… and when to rest.This episode is part astrology forecast, part collective reflection, and part reminder that even in chaos, you are allowed to feel joy, desire, creativity, and hope.✨ In this episode:Full Moon in Leo: reclaiming joy, expression, and main-character energyUranus' final shakeups in Taurus and what's being dismantled for goodSaturn entering Aries and the call to be brave, disciplined, and self-ledThe Aquarius Solar Eclipse and choosing authenticity over approvalPisces season, Mercury retrograde, and emotional clarity vs. illusionHow to stay soft without losing your backboneGrab your tea, light a candle, and take a breath — February is asking us to feel deeply, stand firmly, and trust ourselves through the unknown.#astrologer #astrologers_predictions #astrologerforecast #astrology

Join Kara and Alyx this week as they talk about a big emotion many kids face: anxiety. Kara shares her personal experience navigating childhood anxiety as a parent, and what she's learning along the way. If your child worries a lot—about school, friendships, bedtime, or things that may seem small to others—you're not alone, and you're not doing anything wrong.Send us a text

Tasting Notes Include: Serial Killer Convention, Bachelorette Party, Both Things Happening at the same time in the same building, TBK finally eating Lead, Betty almost kissing Giselle, Archie and Betty talking about the future, Jughead being totally sober while alone in the bunker, Some Guy getting illegal weapons like its easy as pie. We are on the internet, and have an email so reach out to us! Our Socials: insta-riverdale_runs / bluesky-RiverdaleRuns Our Email: arrtipod@gmail.com  

We close out the fundraiser, while also talking through the new trend of "FAFO Parenting." Is this a new thing, or an old thing repackaged? We have BIG FEELINGS.

Text me your feedback.The constant barrage of terrible news can be overwhelming and exhausting. While big feelings are normal responses to what we're seeing our feeds, we also need to metabolize those feelings so they don't take up residence in our hearts and minds and prevent us from finding pathways forward. In this guided practice, Jen takes you through an embodied and grounded practiced called Felt Sensing. Part of a broader therapeutic practice called Focusing, Felt Sensing helps you be with feelings with grounded presence so they don't overwhelm and take you out. If you want to skip the intro, jump to 2:53 or use the chapter marker if it's supported by your app.~ ~ ~SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Outlouders, have a little listen to today's subscriber episode. Listen to the full episode of A Royal Summer Update Of Very Big Feelings at 5pm today. Not a subscriber? Get on it.Mia's firmly in charge on today's subscriber episode — and taking the Royals with her. Holly and Jessie join her to dissect the Sussexes’ messy summer of rebrands, resignations and 'philanthropy', and ask the question no one in Montecito wants to answer: can you be famous and furious about fame? Half-in, half-out? Not in this economy. We get into leaked photos, charity confusion, royal egos, sibling feuds, e-scooters on palace grounds and why being announced as “Duchess” when no one’s in the room might be… a choice. It’s chaotic, deeply opinionated — and exactly why you’re here.Remember, this is just a taste; an amuse bouche for podcast gourmets. The full auditory meal is coming in hot at 5pm for subscribers. We’re giving away a Your Reformer Pilates bed (worth $3,400). And the good news is — as a subscriber, you're already in the running to win.

Talking about dating can feel like a loaded topic; but there comes a time that every parent needs to broach that topic with their teen. But the question is, what is the right age? And how do you have that conversation without both of you cringing? This week, Amy and Gen answer a listener question about exactly this. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A single grilled cheese can tell you a lot about family life. Between butter-versus-mayo debates, broiled-versus-pan loyalties, and the panic of realizing you're out of bread mid-sizzle, we found the comedy and stress that live in every kitchen. We also followed a high-stakes trip to the butcher that ended in wide eyes at the register and a crash course in cooking a pricey beef tenderloin on a tight timeline. Spoiler: a bourbon-tent save turned chaos into a win—and taught us more about prep, timing, and recovery than any recipe ever could.Beyond food, we opened up about the stuff that hits deeper. A listener's NICU journey sparked thoughtful support and real advice from parents who've been there. At home, a raw wood table and white chairs met paint, crumbs, and ketchup rituals, forcing a hard look at form versus function when kids rule the room. Health concerns popped up too: a broken finger discovered late, a kid nervous about tonsil surgery, and how to steady emotions when everyone's tired and the snow days won't quit. We talked about breaking all-or-nothing thinking with “75 light,” claiming the identity of reader, and designing routines that fit actual lives.Sports and shared projects pulled it together. Coaching youth hockey turned out more rewarding than expected, and kids stepping into the kitchen—pancakes, pot pie, and more—gave families both skills and pride. It's a messy, honest snapshot of modern dad life: small milestones that feel huge, expensive lessons that stick, and a community that makes the load lighter. If you've ever burned lunch but saved dinner, argued about buns, or stared down a bill you weren't ready for, you'll feel seen.Enjoyed the ride? Follow and subscribe for more real-talk parenting, share this episode with a friend who needs a laugh and a nudge, and leave a quick review—your notes help us keep the conversation going.

In this week's episode of the podcast, we dive deep into the signs, strategies, and real-life tips for helping your differently wired kids (and yourself!) navigate emotional storms. Key Takeaways: Practical tools to spot the early cues of meltdowns vs. shutdowns Simple, effective co-regulation ideas you can use right now—no fancy equipment needed How to repair, reflect, and reset after those tough moments, and so much more Perfect for homeschool families, parents of neurodivergent kiddos, or anyone wanting to better understand and support big feelings at home. Save this episode and share with a friend who might need these strategies, too!   Links and Resources from Today's Episode Thank you to our sponsors: CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family! Curiosity Post – A Snail Mail Club for kids – Real mail; Real life! The Learner's Lab – Online community for families homeschooling gifted/2e & neurodivergent kiddos! The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family The Anxiety Toolkit Sensory Strategy Toolkit | Quick Regulation Activities for Home Affirmation Cards for Anxious Kids Sensory Struggles and Clothes: How to Help Your Child Dress Without Tears Navigating Sensory Overload: Actionable Strategies for Kids in Loud Environments Building a Sensory Diet Toolbox for Neurodivergent Kids at Home Playful Sensory Learning at Home: Five Senses Spinner What Exactly is Deschooling.. and Do I Need to Do It? Falling Unexpectedly in Love With Homeschooling My Gifted Child Self-Care and Co-Regulation | Balancing Parenting and Sensory Needs When School Refusal Turns Into a Healing Journey Picky Eating | Sensory Struggles and Real Solutions for Homeschooling Families Movement on Bad Weather Days: Meeting Sensory Needs at Home  

You can listen wherever you get your podcasts or check out the fully edited transcript of our interview at the bottom of this post.In this episode of The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, I speak with Katie K. May, a licensed therapist and author of the book You're On Fire. It's Fine: Effective Strategies for Parenting Teens With Self-Destructive Behaviors. We discussed children/teens who are “fire feelers”, why intense emotions can lead to risky behaviours, how to respond to self-harm urges, how to stay connected or rebuild your connection with your teen, and what parents of younger children can do now to prevent challenges in their teen years.**If you'd like an ad-free version of the podcast, consider becoming a supporter on Substack! > > If you already ARE a supporter, the ad-free version is waiting for you in the Substack app or you can enter the private feed URL in the podcast player of your choice.Know someone who might appreciate this episode? Share it with them!We talk about:* 00:05 — What Is a Fire Feeler?* 00:06 — What Emotional Dysregulation Really Means* 00:07 — Fire Feelers Often Have Fire-Feeler Parents- Genetic and Environmental Components* 00:10 — Why Teens Are So Easily Overwhelmed* 00:12 — What Fire Feelers Do When Overwhelmed* 00:20 — How Parents Should Respond to Self-Harm Urges* 00:22 — When to Get Professional Help* 00:24 — Why Depression Looks Different in Teens* 00:25 — Teens Still Need Their Parents* 00:26 — How to Stay Connected to Teens* 00:28 — Judgment vs Validation* 00:31 — How to Rebuild Connection When Things Are Broken- Katie's Hierarchy of Connection* 00:34 — Sensitivity & Impulsivity* 00:35 — What Parents of Younger Kids Can Do Now* 00:37 — Why Control Works When Kids Are Young — and Fails Later* 00:38 — Why “Tough Love” Doesn't WorkResources mentioned in this episode:* Evelyn & Bobbie bras* Yoto Player-Screen Free Audio Book Player* The Peaceful Parenting Membership* Get a free chapter of Katie's book * Katie's website Connect with Sarah Rosensweet:* Instagram* Facebook Group* YouTube* Website* Join us on Substack* Newsletter* Book a short consult or coaching session callxx Sarah and CoreyYour peaceful parenting team- click here for a free short consult or a coaching sessionVisit our website for free resources, podcast, coaching, membership and more!>> Please support us!!! Please consider becoming a supporter to help support our free content, including The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, our free parenting support Facebook group, and our weekly parenting emails, “Weekend Reflections” and “Weekend Support” - plus our Flourish With Your Complex Child Summit (coming back in the summer for the 3rd year!) All of this free support for you takes a lot of time and energy from me and my team. If it has been helpful or meaningful for you, your support would help us to continue to provide support for free, for you and for others.In addition to knowing you are supporting our mission to support parents and children, you get the podcast ad free and access to a monthly ‘ask me anything' session.Our sponsors:YOTO: YOTO is a screen free audio book player that lets your kids listen to audiobooks, music, podcasts and more without screens, and without being connected to the internet. No one listening or watching and they can't go where you don't want them to go and they aren't watching screens. BUT they are being entertained or kept company with audio that you can buy from YOTO or create yourself on one of their blank cards. Check them out HEREEvelyn & Bobbie bras: If underwires make you want to rip your bra off by noon, Evelyn & Bobbie is for you. These bras are wire-free, ultra-soft, and seriously supportive—designed to hold you comfortably all day without pinching, poking, or constant adjusting. Check them out HEREPodcast Transcript:Sarah: Hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode of the Peaceful Parenting Podcast. Today's guest is Katie May. She's a therapist and the author of You're On Fire. It's Fine: Effective Strategies for Parenting Teens With Self-Destructive Behaviors. We talked about why some teens are what she calls “fire feelers,” and about how best to support them—and ourselves—when emotional dysregulation is common, troubling, and can be destructive.If you don't have a teen yet, but you have a kiddo with big feelings, have a listen, because Katie also talks about what she wishes parents of younger kids knew so they didn't end up with these sorts of challenges down the road. Let's meet Katie.Sarah: Hi, Katie. Welcome to the podcast.Katie: Hey, Sarah. I'm glad to be here. Excited to talk about teens and parenting today—stuff I'm jazzed to share.Sarah: Me too. Yeah. And I loved your book. I'll ask you about that in a second—or maybe you can tell us who you are and what you do.Katie: Yeah. My name is Katie K. May. I'm a licensed therapist in Pennsylvania, and I lead a team of other therapists. We all specialize in working with high-risk teens and their parents. So every day, we're in the trenches working with teenagers who are suicidal, self-harming, have eating disorders, are not going to school, and we're helping them learn skills while also teaching their parents how to respond effectively—so the whole family is working together as a system in harmony.Sarah: And your book's called You're On Fire. It's Fine. I like it. My book—Katie: Go ahead.Sarah: No, it's a great title.Katie: Yeah. So I came to that title from this idea of biologically sensitive teens—or very sensitive teens—often feeling like they're on fire with their own emotions. And I can dig into any part of that. But the idea is that parents who are well-meaning will many times say things like, “You're fine. It's okay. Go take a nap. Go get a snack.” And it feels like a little squirt gun trying to put out this big fire of emotion. So I thought that title captured those two points initially, to bring people into the framework that I teach.Sarah: I love that. And it's funny—I had a different interpretation of the title, and my interpretation, now that you said what you meant it to be, I can totally see that. But my interpretation was more like, “You're on fire. You can handle these big feelings. It's fine.” Like, this is just—let's get used to feeling the feelings. So I guess it could be read either way.Katie: I like both interpretations, and I think your interpretation speaks to probably how you support and parent. It's nurturing and supportive of the process.Sarah: Yeah. So tell us: what is a fire feeler?Katie: A fire feeler is someone who is biologically sensitive. And what I mean by that is this is a kid who feels things very deeply. Their emotions are big and oftentimes overwhelming for them. And not just that—these are your zero-to-sixty-in-ten-seconds-flat kind of kids. They're reactive, they're easy to trigger, and when they're triggered and they're feeling their emotions in these very big ways, it also takes them a very long time to calm down or get back to their baseline.And this is important because if you think about that slow return to feeling settled or centered again, oftentimes they're being triggered again before they get back to that place of calm. And so they have a nervous system that's constantly in a state of dysregulation—constantly triggered and upset. And it is very hard to access safety or calm or feeling okay because of that.Sarah: And you mentioned emotional dysregulation, and in your book you have a very specific definition of emotional dysregulation. I thought it was a little more helpful and also a little bit more unusual. Can you give us your definition of emotional dysregulation?Katie: So when someone is emotionally dysregulated, when they are triggered, it sets off this chain of emotions for them. Again, we go back to this idea that they feel on fire with their emotions. They're often at this skills-breakdown point where it's difficult to access skills or to calm down. And when you're feeling on fire with your emotions, it makes sense that your brain comes up with escape strategies—things like self-harm, suicidal ideation, substance use—because it's so big and hard to hold that the brain would do anything to make those emotions go away.Sarah: I love that. And you also mentioned that people are biologically predisposed to be fire feelers, so I'm guessing that usually a teen's one or both parents are also fire feelers, which would add a complication to the mix.Katie: I would say so. I often find myself telling parents: some kids are born naturally good at sports. Some kids are born naturally good at music or art. And some kids are born naturally good at emotions—which means they're very attuned to emotional states or nuances in the emotions of others.And when we think about that as a genetic trait or a biological trait, it also makes sense that at least one of their parents carries this trait and is passing it down. And I think when I start to describe fire feelers—who they are and what it looks like—I regularly have at least one parent saying, “Oh, that's me,” or “That's you, honey.” They recognize it.Sarah: Totally. Yeah. So I guess that makes home more complicated too when you've got a fire feeler and a fire feeler trying to find their way together.Katie: It's almost like if you yawn and it's contagious—and the other person catches it. So if you have two people that are both biologically sensitive and they're in the same room, one of them is triggered, one of them has a high state of emotional activation, it's hard in general for another person in the room not to respond to that.So there's something that I teach. It's called the transactional model. So let's say a teenager is boiling over with frustration, and they're exhibiting it. They're bawling their fists. They're snapping back at their parent. The parent then absorbs that emotion and they're snapping back: “Don't talk to me like that,” or, “It's not okay for you to say that,” or “Don't walk away from me.” Which then influences how the teen responds. And then the teen will continue to push or yell back, which then influences how the parent responds.So we're always looking at: How is it that I am influencing how you respond? How is it that you are influencing how I respond? And if everybody feels their emotions in these very big ways, it's going to make that escalation that much bigger or faster because everyone's overwhelmed in their emotions.Sarah: So hard. I'm sure a lot of people listening can relate even when their kids aren't teenagers yet—because that happens with little kids too.Katie: Absolutely. It applies to all ages. I just happen to work with teenagers and parents.Sarah: Speaking of teens, you mentioned in your book that teenagers are more prone to overwhelm. Can you briefly explain why that is? Because I talk about that too. I always say, “The drama is real.”Katie: The drama is real. Thank you for saying that. So the way I look at it: teens are in this developmental state when so much is happening for them. They have unfully formed frontal lobes, which helps to regulate their emotions. They're also dealing with hormonal changes, developmental changes, social stressors, peer stressors. They're in school six hours a day, five days a week. There's so much stress that's placed on our teens.And so if we think about a stress cup holding stress, it's oftentimes just this one little extra drop that makes them lose control or makes them feel overwhelmed in their emotions. And I would say that's probably true for everyone—that we're all holding a lot, and it only takes a little to push us over the edge—but I think it's the brain development that makes it even more challenging.And then I'll add to that the lack of control or agency over their own lives. They don't have a lot of choice about what they do each day or what they have to do or who's telling them what to do. So there's a lot that's outside of their control, and that makes it even harder to control or manage their emotions.Sarah: I'm so glad you work with teenagers. You have such an empathetic view of what it's like to be a teenager, and I think a lot of people—just a little sidebar—teens get such a bad rap in our culture and they're so wonderful. I love teenagers. And also, I would never in a million years choose to go back to those years.Katie: I wouldn't either, but I do feel like I have a strong connection with the teen population. It's interesting—we run parent groups at my center, and that's a question that we'll ask: Do you remember being a teenager?And I think it's hard for a lot of adults to empathize with the teen experience. But being able to do so—being able to put yourself in a teenager's shoes—is going to help you support them so much more. Which is one of the things that I talk about in my book and in my work often: acceptance or validation before change. We always want to be understanding of the experience before we're trying to problem-solve or change that experience.Sarah: I want to ask you about validation a little bit later in our conversation, but before we get to that: what are some common reactions of fire feelers to overwhelm?Katie: Yeah. Some of those common reactions tend to be self-destructive because, again, if we think about this idea that fire feelers are overwhelmed with their emotions—the big, fiery, painful experience for them—it's not a conscious decision, but they would do anything to make that fire go out.So this could be self-harm. This could be thinking about suicide. This could also be lashing out at parents. It could be numbing out in front of the TV or scrolling on social media for hours because it hurts too much to feel and I need to numb myself from that. It could be cutting themselves off from friends because the experience of relationships is so painful.So a fire feeler will have a strong attunement to nuance and facial expressions and tones of voice. And so what might feel okay for one person, for a fire feeler might be interpreted as rejection or might be interpreted as “I did something wrong,” or “There's something wrong with me.” And so the natural response of a fire feeler is to do whatever it takes to protect themselves from being on fire.Sarah: I don't even know if I totally understand it—but how do, and I know a lot of people don't, how does self-harm bring relief to those feelings of overwhelm?Katie: So there's a biological response to it: when you self-harm—when one engages in a self-harm or self-destructive behavior—there is short-term relief. So if you think about emotions rising, rising, rising, what happens is it either blocks the escalation of those emotions, or it makes the emotional state come down quickly. It's body physiology.In addition to that, there are two parts to it. The first part is that it's called negative reinforcement, and that doesn't mean that something negative happens; it means it's the removal of something that's difficult. So that's what I just described. You self-harm, you start thinking about suicide—it becomes an escape. It helps you to feel a sense of relief.The second part of that is positive reinforcement, and that's the social piece. A parent finds out that I self-harmed, and all of a sudden I am given warmth. You're sitting on my bed. We're having a heart-to-heart. You're emailing the teacher to say that I don't have to go to school tomorrow.So there's this one-two stack of: I feel better in the moment because it brings my body physiology back into a state of balance or regulation. And then on top of that, I'm getting my social needs met. And therefore it makes it really hard to break that cycle because there are all of these—this chain reaction of things that happen—that make me go from feeling awful to okay, and sometimes even more supported than before.Sarah: That was such an interesting thing to read about in your book because I thought, “Oh man.” If I were a parent and had a teen that was self-harming, it would be so hard not to do that second part—the positive, what you call the positive reinforcement. So how do you support a teen without making it, “I self-harm and then I get a lot of really lovely warmth and attention”?Katie: Yeah. So it's not about removing the warmth and attention. It's about changing where you put that warmth and attention. Instead of it being directly after self-harm, maybe it's in structured and measured doses throughout the day.So maybe we're having a heart-to-heart in the morning. Maybe we're going out and spending time together or watching TV together just because—and not because I self-harmed.The other thing that I like to make sure that parents are familiar with and practiced with is how they respond when a teen shares an urge to self-harm or an urge for suicide. Because the way that it typically plays out—at least the first time a parent finds out about urges or that a behavior has happened—they're crushed. Of course. Their face falls. They're hurt. It hurts them to see that their child is hurting. They might cry. They might feel really anxious or helpless.But a teen that's witnessing that is interpreting that as, “My parent can't handle this information, and therefore I can't go to them with this information again.”And so the practice for parents is minding your tone—being calm—minding your face, being more like, “Thank you for trusting me,” than, “I'm going to fall apart right now,” and minding your pace—staying calm and regulated and not rushing forward or feeling frantic.And when we do this, what we communicate to our teens is: “I can handle this information. Therefore, in the future, you can come to me when you're having an urge and we can handle it together, rather than you taking care of it by acting on it—and then me finding out afterwards.”So that's how we change the cycle: structured and measured warmth, consistent support, ongoing—not just after an event—and also being able to handle the information, even if you're falling apart inside, because that is completely valid. But showing to your teen: “You're not going to freak me out. I'm not going to fall apart if you tell me the hard stuff. I'm here for you. Come to me and we'll handle it together.”Sarah: And find your own support elsewhere.Katie: One hundred percent. Yeah. Parents—I think any parent is going to need support, whether that's their village, their people, their partner, their friend, a therapist. Parenting alone is tough stuff, and I wouldn't recommend it.Sarah: And I should have asked you this earlier in the interview, but when—are there any signs? A parent finds out your kid is self-harming or telling you they have the urges—is it straightaway “get help,” or are there early stages you can handle it yourself as a parent? When is this 911 getting help, and when is it, “Okay, we're going to figure this out”?Katie: It's somewhere in the middle of “911” and “we're going to figure this out.” The stance would be: if your teen has already self-harmed, they need to be in therapy. It's beyond the point of handling it on your own.When you're noticing—it's such a tough line because on one hand there are these typical teen behaviors: “I'm going to spend more time in my room.” Teens are moodier. They're more irritable. They want less to do with parents. They're more private. They don't want to talk to parents. And so I don't want there to be an overreaction to typical teen behavior.But if we're starting to see a duration, intensity, and frequency of that behavior that's beyond typical—which, again, is going to look different depending on the child—my measure is usually: if my teen for two weeks is more tearful, more self-critical, more hopeless, not enjoying or engaging in activities that they used to—these are signs of depression. And that would be the point when I would want to engage more professional help to support in the process, because that's where we're going to start being proactive and head off escalation of crisis.What happens is—and especially for teenagers—the symptoms of depression can lead to self-harm because there's an overwhelm of that emotion. There's a sense of hopelessness. Suicidal thoughts are one of the descriptors of the diagnosis of depression. We don't want it to get to that point. We want to put help in place sooner.Sarah: That makes sense. I read something the other day that in teenagers depression can look different than adults and sometimes it looks like irritability.Katie: It really depends on the person. So I always go back to—we've all heard “nature and nurture,” but I think of it as biology and environment. Same idea, different words. But for some people, their environment can feel really safe to be vulnerable. It can feel really natural to express emotions, to cry, to be in that more vulnerable state. And for others, it doesn't.Or for others, they've learned that being vulnerable isn't safe for them. It isn't manly enough for them. It really depends on the culture and environment. And so it can come across as irritability. It can come across as anger—different dispositions as to whether someone internalizes their emotions or externalizes them or sends them outward to others.Sarah: That makes sense. I think it's good for parents to have an eye on things that maybe look different than they expect, just to keep track.Katie: Yeah. And parents and teens don't always express emotions the same way. I'm a very expressive and emotional person. I'm a therapist. I've also spent my whole life figuring out how to express my emotions. And I would say that my child is probably the opposite of that and doesn't like being vulnerable in front of other people. So what you think makes sense may not make sense to the brain of another person.Sarah: You were talking before about warm connection with parents, and you mentioned that it is normal for teens to want to spend more time by themselves or with peers. But one thing I wonder—and I wonder if you come across this too—parents often think that means, “My kid doesn't want to spend time with me anymore,” or, “My kid doesn't need me.” And my experience with my kids as teenagers was that wasn't true at all—that even as they were moving away and differentiating, they still did like to spend time with their parents, and they still did like to do stuff with us and be close to us. What are some ways that you find are helpful ways for parents to connect? And how do you assure them that, “Yeah, you still are important”?Katie: Yeah. As a child is growing and gaining more independence, it is such a natural experience for parents to feel grief and loss in that process because the relationship is changing. Teens do need parents less. Teens are more independent. They don't want as much time spent with parents.And so it's important, one, to recognize that as a developmental milestone, and two, to recognize that means the way that you interact and respond to your teen changes as well. And so you're not expecting the same attention or response from them as you did before.But this is a grief process because you're grieving the relationship as it used to be. You're grieving your teen as they used to be. But you're also—and this is the part we don't think about—grieving yourself as you used to be because you have to become a new version of yourself to show up for your teen in a new way.And so all of that is to say that it requires a lot of flexibility, openness to evolving, willingness to change how you see, interact, and speak with your teen. And so in thinking about that, it's helpful to think about: What is it that my teen needs from me now?They might not need me to cut up their food or call their teacher for them or set up their playdate for them. They might need me to drive them somewhere and listen to the music that they like and not be the one leading the conversation. They might need me to sit on the couch with them while they watch The Office and notice the parts they laugh at and just be there with them.And both of those examples really nicely illustrate that your teens need less from you, but they don't not need you. They need you to be more of a partner and less of a doing-for.Sarah: When my husband and I both had pretty stable teenage years, we also had parents who were working a lot and not home when we were home. And I'm not saying this to make anyone feel guilty who isn't home after school, but we really tried to structure our lives so that somebody would be home after school even when the kids were teenagers. Because our joke was: even if it's just somebody who's there that they can ignore.Katie: It's so true. But they know that you're there.Sarah: Yeah. Yeah. So you talked a little bit about validation before. Can you talk a little bit about validation and its opposite—judgment—maybe starting with judgment: what to avoid when our teens are having big feelings? I mentioned before that I often say the drama is real. I think that's where some of the judgment comes in with parents sometimes. Like, “Oh, come on, you can't be that upset that the jeans you were hoping to wear are still wet in the washing machine.” Where do parents make mistakes in terms of that judgment?Katie: For me, I see judgments as the fuel to the emotional fire. So when we are seeing our teen act in certain ways, judgments are our interpretation of their experience. One of those examples might be: a teen is having a hard time getting up and going to school because they're really depressed, and they've been white-knuckling every single day, and today is just the day that they can't. They can't do it.And so judgments from a parent might look like, “Why can't you just go? Everyone else is going. Just get up. Here's the list of coping skills that your therapist gave us. Use your coping skills.”So it's this judgment that they can, and they're choosing not to.Other judgments that I hear regularly are: “They're manipulative. They're doing this on purpose to upset me. They're attention-seeking.”Oftentimes our judgments are because if we weren't judging and casting blame, we would be having to hold a really frustrating or painful reality. So if I'm not judging my teen and saying, “Why can't you just get up and go to school? Just use your coping skills. It's not this bad,” then what I'd be having to hold is: my teen is really struggling right now. My teen—the person that I love the most in the world—is thinking about wanting to die right now. And that's awful for me.And so judgments are a way of pulling ourselves out of this emotional pain, but also shifting that blame to the other person. And instead of being able to hold their experience.And if we're not judging, we're able to first just notice and name and sit with the experience, which is kind of what I described: “My teen is in a lot of pain right now. They're struggling to get out of bed and even function in their day, and that's really hard.” And when I can name that, I can feel that for myself, and it feels really hard and painful and difficult.And then the outward version of that is validating them: being able to say, “I see how hard you're struggling right now. I see the pain on your face. I hear the lack of energy. This is really hard for you right now.”So we can name the experience for ourselves with our notice-and-name, and then we can validate the experience for our teen by noticing and naming their experience.And when we do this, it does often make the emotion feel more painful because we're naming it. I think a common experience of that is: if you've ever been struggling and then someone in your life, in passing, says, “What's wrong? You look like you're going to cry right now,” and then all of a sudden the tears come because someone has named the experience. The experience was there all along, but having someone see it—having someone tell you, “This is real, this makes sense,” or “I notice what you're going through”—it makes it come to the surface.It's actually a helpful experience, because if we don't name what's happening, we're judging it, we're stifling it, we're ignoring it. And that's like holding a beach ball under water. Eventually it's going to pop out, but we can't control what happens when it does. Someone's going to get hit in the face.So we want to take ownership, we want to validate, we want to notice and name what we're experiencing, and these are the ways that we move toward acceptance of what is, so we have an ability to move toward problem-solving.Sarah: Where would somebody start who's listening to this and hearing all of the examples that you're giving of communication—if they're not even at a point where their teen is communicating with them? Like, things have gotten so fraught and feel so broken. Where would somebody start with that?Katie: It's what I call my hierarchy of connection. Oftentimes there is this big rift in the relationship because it's not just one time that something has happened—it's years or multiple experiences that have gotten them to this point, of this rift in the relationship.So the hierarchy of connection is our blueprint and our path back to connection. It starts with parent and teen being in the same room together—not interacting, but also not criticizing, not having this tension or conflict happening.The example I give often is: I'm in the kitchen putting groceries away. Teen is sitting on the couch scrolling social media or watching YouTube. But I'm not saying, “Hey, did you do your homework? Did you take your medicine? Did you do this?” I'm just existing and they're just existing. And we need to practice being in the same space together without that criticism or nagging happening.When that can happen, we can move into shared activities. This would be watching a movie together, watching TV together, driving somewhere, listening to music. Again: no tension, no conflict, no criticizing. Doing the same thing together without any of those things happening.And this could take a very long time. It's not one, two, three. It could be six months of doing the same thing at the same time before you're moving on.The final step is moving back to interactive activities. This could be something like playing a board game and talking to each other, having an actual conversation at the dinner table, or a deeper conversation about something that's a bigger experience. It could be the ability to do this within the context of therapy, so you're able to have some of those scarier conversations.But there needs to be a level of trust, and an ability not to act on urges to criticize or lead the conversation to nag or check off the to-dos. You have to be able to hold the space—to be in the space with your teen—before that can happen.Sarah: One thing that you mentioned in the book is that there's a link between sensitivity and impulsivity. Can you talk about that? I found that really interesting. Why is that?Katie: When someone is more biologically sensitive—again, there's this urge to make those emotions go away. And so when you are more overwhelmed with emotions, the idea of impulsivity makes more sense, because the desire and need for short-term relief is higher than it may be in others.And so when my emotions are really big, I also have really big urges to make those emotions go away, and it's harder for me to hold these big emotions.Sarah: That was really helpful. If you could have the parents and teens that you work with currently—if you could have had them ten years ago, because a lot of people who listen to the podcast have younger kids and they don't have teenagers—what would you like them to be practicing or working on? Is there anything preventive that you've noticed, that if people had an awareness earlier on, when their kids were younger, they might not get to this point with teenagers?Katie: Absolutely. What I find myself saying often is: parents go first. And what I mean by that is that it is a parent's job to learn emotion regulation skills, to learn how to notice and name emotions, to learn how to validate—essentially to model all of the ways that we handle really big emotions.So that when our teen is having this experience—or our child growing into our teen is having this experience—we have the skills to manage our own emotions and we know how to respond to their emotions, because that validation helps the emotion go down more quickly.When I'm working with younger children—and I don't anymore—but that is part of the process: we're working with parents first for many weeks to give them the skills before we even start working with the child.So that would be my biggest piece of advice for parents of younger children: practice the skills, know how to manage your own emotions, have your own support.And I will add to that: if you had the experience of being parented in a way that was painful for you as a child, address those issues, because they're going to show up in the teen years. In the opposite way, you're going to feel like it's karma, but it's really just generational patterns continuing—and you want to be able to change those patterns and rewrite stories that were painful for you so they don't repeat with your own teen.Sarah: I love that. It's interesting because I think when kids are little, fire feelers don't develop as teenagers, right? Like a fire feeler is a fire feeler whether they're five or whether they're fifteen. But a five-year-old—you can put them in their room and hold the door shut. Not that I'm advocating that. You can pick them up and move them places. I think parents probably—unless they're more aware of emotions and being, in my brand, a peaceful parent—they probably rely on things that then, as their kids get older, just don't work. But they maybe have missed opportunities to practice all the things that are effective as teenagers because they were relying more on external control when their kids were younger.Katie: I one hundred percent agree. I think coercive control is easier to implement when your child is younger. But practicing validation, direct communication, emotion regulation is going to pave the way for more success as a teen.And what I would say is: I think most parents recognize, when I talk about this idea of fire feelers, when they have a three-year-old. I have a sister who has two toddler girls, and she'll say, “I think they're fire feelers,” and they are.And so you know your kid. You know their disposition. You know when they're more sensitive or they're a deep feeler. And so knowing that now can help you pave the way for what's to come.Sarah: Can you speak briefly on—when I was a teenager in the eighties, there was a “tough love” approach for teens who were having a hard time: drugs and alcohol, not going to school. And the approach was like: crack down. Kick them out if they don't follow your rules. I'm pretty sure that's not what you would advocate for.And I do think there has been a shift because people recognize that doesn't work. So maybe if you could speak to that for a few minutes—why getting more strict and more controlling with a teenager who's having a hard time isn't going to be an effective strategy.Katie: I have two thoughts on that: one is about the teen, and one is about the relationship.So when we think about a teenager who's struggling, who has these big emotions, if the message in the family is, “You're too sensitive. Just suck it up. Just get it together. Why can't you do this like your siblings can?”—what happens over time is they internalize that message as, “There must be something wrong with me, that everyone else around me can do this and I can't.”And so they begin to lose trust in their own emotional experience, in their own emotion meter. And that is one of the contributors to self-harm behaviors, because then when an emotion shows up for them, their brain thinks, “Well, this must be wrong.” Everyone keeps telling me that my emotional state is the wrong thing or it's too intense, so let's make that go away quickly so that I can continue to function in my life.What I'll say is: at my center, we see hundreds of kids every week—teens and families. A lot of them are these high-achieving, perfectionistic, private-school kids, and they're self-harming and they're suicidal. And one of the reasons is that that's a strategy that keeps them going in this life that is expected of them.So I want to be really intentional about broadening the picture that we may have of the type of teen who engages in self-harm.The other side of that—the relational piece—is that when the parent is consistently giving this message of, “Just get it together. Suck it up and keep going,” it creates a rift in the relationship. The parent is no longer a safe person to come to when a teen is struggling, because they're not going to get what they need.And so if it's important for a parent to have a strong relationship with a teen—and I think that is for most parents—we need to learn the strategies that welcome open communication, that are able to hold that struggle, so that teens come to us with the little stuff and the big stuff.And I'll add to that: so that teens want to stay connected to us after they leave home.Sarah: Yeah, that makes so much sense. Before I let you go, there's a question I ask all my guests, which is: if you could go back in time to your younger parent self, what advice would you give yourself?Katie: To my younger parent self? I think what I would say is that it doesn't have to be perfect. And that's something that I learned through my own education and the theory of good-enough parenting: that you only really need to get it right twenty percent of the time, and the rest of the time it's how you repair, how you respond, and how you keep moving forward in the most loving and compassionate way for both you and your child. So that would help take the pressure off—both for younger me and also for probably a lot of other parents out there—that you don't have to get it right all the time. You just have to want to keep going and want to keep trying to get it right.Sarah: Nice. Where's the best place for folks to go and find out more about you and what you do?Katie: Yeah. To grab a free chapter of my book, You're On Fire. It's Fine, you can go to youreonfireitsfine.com. And for a therapist or media listening, katiekmay.com has all of my other projects and my counseling center and endeavors there.Sarah: Wonderful. Thank you so much, Katie.Katie: Thank you This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sarahrosensweet.substack.com/subscribe

What if fear, grief, anger, and old hurts didn't run the show anymore? We share a gentle way to build real emotional capacity without white-knuckling your way through pain. Instead of diving into the deep end, we map a clear, safe progression—starting with mild memories, grounding in the body, and adding just enough mindfulness to feel what's there without getting swept away.We begin by setting the container: a quiet space, a stable seat, and a few minutes connecting to breath and body. From there we invite a small, manageable memory to surface—a minor disappointment, a touch of frustration, a flicker of sadness—and practice staying with it. You'll hear how to shift from fixing the feeling to feeling it, track sensations like tightness, warmth, or shakiness, and notice judgments or stories without letting them take the wheel. That simple arc—evoke, feel, notice, soften—becomes a repeatable flow you can trust.To make progress visible, we build an emotion inventory that spans both unpleasant and pleasant experiences. We rate intensity from 1 to 10, sort the list, and train at the lower levels until our nervous system learns, I can be with this. Over time, we advance thoughtfully to midrange emotions. When the material touches deeper trauma or profound grief, we talk about making a wise plan: what stays in solo practice and what deserves the steady presence of a therapist, guide, or healer. Along the way, we challenge the habit of avoiding joy, showing how the same mindful skills help us receive good feelings fully.By the end, you'll have a practical framework for emotional resilience: a safe setting, a stepwise method, and a roadmap for when to seek support. If this approach helps, follow the show, share it with a friend who could use steadier ground, and leave a quick review to help others find these tools.Support the showAdd your 5‑star review — this really helps others find us. Certify To Teach Mindfulness: Certify.MindfulnessExercises.com Email: Sean@MindfulnessExercises.comAbout the Podcast Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life. Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work. Each episode offers a mix of: Practical mindfulness and meditation teachings Conversations with respected teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchers Real-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregivers Gentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or change Rather than chasing peak experiences or spiritual bypassing, this podcast emphasizes embodied practice, ethical teaching, and mindfulness that meets people where they are—messy, human, and alive. If you're interested in: Mindfulness meditation for everyday life Trauma-sensitive and co...

Send us a textWhen cold weather keeps kids inside, big feelings can spike—for children and the adults supporting them. In this uplifting conversation, early childhood expert Francine Prince shares practical, realistic strategies for indoor days, and reminds us that the best early learning happens when we stay intentional, flexible, and deeply connected.In this episode, we'll discuss:How to plan indoor days so you're not “teaching on the fly”What child-led really means (and what it doesn't)Why teachable moments matter more than rigid timingSimple ways to communicate learning to families—without writing an essayThe power of leading with the positive to build trust and partnershipWhat early childhood can teach adults about conflict, adaptability, and routinesWhy burnout is rising—and what support teachers actually needTimestamps01:41 Indoor-day advice: movement breaks, intentional planning, and being “ready for anything”03:27 Defining child-led for families (and how teachers still facilitate learning)05:08 Teachable moments: what great teachers notice—and why it matters07:10 Creating a climate where teachers feel safe to follow children's learning08:41 Making learning visible to families 12:18 “Everything we need as adults, we should've learned in preschool” (3 big takeaways)15:23 Teaching empathy + conflict resolution through environment and facilitation17:03 What empathy means—and how to meet families where they are20:04 Coaching adults: empathy, communication styles, and partnering with parents24:05 Francine's story: Head Start roots, coaching, leadership, disability advocacy, and statewide work29:28 Biggest challenges today: burnout, behavior, low pay, and support gaps33:16 What effective professional learning should look like (practical, real, implemented)37:24 Hope: why early childhood still matters—and why people in the field bring hopeLinks & ResourcesDr. Diane's free 365-day Picture Book Read-Aloud CalendarConnect with Dr. Diane and book her to speak or lead professional development workshops at your next eventConnect with Francine Prince on LinkedIn.Support the showShare this episode If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague. Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

When is the right age to let your kid and their friends roam unsupervised? And what happens if you find out another parent has let your child do exactly that without asking you? On this week's episode Amy and Gen tackle this dilemma for a listener. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

January can feel especially tough in schools. Big emotions, increased anxiety, mood changes, and shutdown behaviors often show up as students transition back from break. In this episode, I'm breaking down why January feels so hard, and what school counselors can do to support students in ways that are compassionate, practical, and sustainable.In this episode, I discuss:Why January creates emotional and behavioral shifts for studentsHow anxiety shows up differently across age groupsThe difference between behavior problems and regulation problemsWhy predictability is essential for reducing anxietyCounselor strategies to restore safety and routineLow-pressure Tier 1 lesson ideas for JanuarySmall group supports for anxiety, coping skills, and transitionsTrauma-informed practices that prioritize connection before correctionKey Quote from the Episode“Anxiety increases when predictability decreases.”Counselor TakeawayJanuary isn't about fixing feelings or pushing through. It's about regrounding, rebuilding routines, and helping students feel safe enough to learn again. Small supports matter—and they add up.Thank you for showing up for your students and for yourself. Your work matters more than you know.Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcastJoin Perks Counseling Club Membership and get the lessons, small group and individual counseling materials you need. Join now and get your first month free when you sign up for 3 months!Connect with Carol:TpT StoreCounseling Essentials WebsiteInstagramFacebookElementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group

Welcome to the latest episode of Book Quest! This week’s episode is all about growing up, with all its big emotions, brilliant friendships, and moments of not quite knowing where you fit yet. We’re joined by Katya Balen, who tells us all about her brand-new book Letters from the Upside: Callie Chaos, a story packed with heart, humour, and the wonderfully complicated business of figuring yourself out. Then, we slow things down with Robin by Sarah Ann Juckes, a quiet but powerful story exploring friendship, fear, and what it’s like when you’re trying to make sense of the world without having all the answers. That's all on this week's episode of Fun Kids Book Quest!Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Lynn Smith, former NBC News, MSNBC, and CNN Headline News anchor, executive communication coach, and author of Just Keep Going. Lynn is best known for helping Fortune 500 leaders turn pressure into presence, but her newest book takes an unexpected form: a children's story about fear, resilience, and perseverance. That surprising choice is exactly what makes this conversation so relevant for leaders. Andy and Lynn explore why the same fears that stop CEOs are often the ones that show up in kids, how our inner critic or "Brain Bully" shapes behavior under pressure, and why the goal is not to eliminate fear but to metabolize it. Lynn shares deeply personal stories about rejection, family influence, and the lessons she learned growing up that shaped her approach to leadership and communication. You'll also hear practical techniques leaders can use to calm their nervous systems, give feedback that actually helps instead of harms, and model resilience for their teams and families. If you lead people or projects and want practical insights on emotional intelligence, confidence, and navigating fear, this episode is for you. Sound Bites "The one trait and the one skill that separates us from success is resilience. If you can acquire that skill, you will be successful. Hard stop." "Your greatest failure can be in service of somebody else." "We are biologically wired for fear. Trying to delete it is a fool's journey." "Bravery is doing something even if you are afraid." "How you show up within one tenth of a second is defining you for your audience." "Feedback leads to growth. Criticism feeds the brain bully." "When we calm our nervous system, we can make better decisions." "There's a mouse in all of us that needs the reminder to just keep going." "Ending what doesn't serve you is not quitting." "Fear often shows up as stress, pressure, or imposter syndrome, but it's the same circuitry." "Resilience is the greatest gift we can give our kids and our teams." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:45 Start of Interview 01:55 Family Influence and Early Experiences 06:45 Recognizing the Brain Bully 12:28 Learning Resilience Over Time 14:08 Giving Feedback That Helps Instead of Hurts 15:50 Metabolizing Fear Instead of Eliminating It 20:05 Rejection and the Origin of the Book 23:00 Strategies from the Book for Big Feelings 26:15 The Business Equivalent of Jumping Up and Down 28:50 When Just Keep Going Does Not Apply 31:50 How Lynn and Her Team Help Leaders 34:10 End of Interview 34:47 Andy Comments After the Interview 37:30 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Lynn and her work at LynnSmith.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 462 with Margie Warrell, about going from playing it safe to speaking up. Episode 397 with Dr. Julia DiGangi, a discussion Andy continues to revisit for practical insights. Episode 394 with Joshua Freedman, one of the leading voices on emotional intelligence. Level Up Your AI Skills During the episode, Andy mentions the importance of preparing for an AI-infused future. Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free and a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader. That's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of leaders committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than five minutes a week, and it's all free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, Fear Management, Communication Skills, Executive Presence, Feedback, Confidence, Self Leadership, Team Culture, Project Leadership The following music was used for this episode: Music: Summer Awakening by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tuesday by Sasha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

As we creep closer to school starting for 2026, your child might naturally be anxious. And we're guessing you are too! Gen has your back with 5 practical tips for kids starting school for the first time. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lifestyle Tweaks to Keep Your Mind Sharp as You Age:From your plate to your playlist to your people, small lifestyle choices can help protect your brain as you age. We're diving into easy, everyday tweaks like learning something new, exercising, eating more color, and staying socially connected all things that support long-term mental sharpness.  Things Your Partner Didn't Tell You Until After Marriage: They say honesty is the best policy… but apparently after the wedding. In this episode, we're spilling the things our partners conveniently forgot to mention until after we got married. From harmless quirks to full-on “wait, WHAT?” moments, we're sharing our own stories and laughing through the surprises that come with saying “I do.”  What's Trending: Comedy on BART? Tech overload in Vegas? Taylor Swift influencing wine choices? Yep, we cover all of it. In this episode, we dive into the SF Sketchfest Comedy Train, the latest from CES, Chick-fil-A's 80th birthday celebration, sports talk, and why National Tempura Day might be the best holiday yet.  Second Date Update: Kyle didn't expect much from a casual dinner, but he walked away feeling hopeful. Renee was funny, thoughtful, and refreshingly grounded, and their conversation went deeper than most first dates. So when the follow-up never came, Kyle reached out to us for answers.  Ways to Fight Rising Grocery Prices: Grocery prices keep climbing, but your bill doesn't have to. In this episode, we break down smart, realistic ways to fight rising grocery costs—from simple shopping habits to easy swaps that actually make a difference. Small changes, real savings.  Good News: She thought it was trash…it turned out to be a blessing. In this episode, we share the story of flight attendant Brittney Bluitt and the unexpected act of kindness that reminded her, and millions online, that generosity still exists especially when it's needed most.

Grandparents....we love them, but sometimes they can say problematic things to our kids, often without even realising it. In this mini holiday episode, Amy and Gen discuss how to tackle this tricky problem. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Year's Eve used to mean dressing up, parties, cocktails, and midnight kisses. But these days, if you're anything like us, we're lucky to see 10pm without a headache from fighting kids and sugar crashes. So Amy has created a survival guide to get you through this 'magical' night. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this week's episode, we are dipping into the archives to revisit a conversation that resonated with so many of you. I'm talking with Vanessa Gorelkin, a seasoned occupational therapist and ADHD coach who's been working in the field for nearly 30 years. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis (Bran-Dice) University and a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from NYU. She specializes in executive function strategies, emotional regulation, and anxiety management, and she brings a unique perspective to helping adults with ADHD navigate the day-to-day. In this encore presentation, we discuss: The "Want-to-Do" Gap: Why we struggle even with the tasks we actually enjoy. The Anxiety Connection: How anxiety and executive dysfunction team up to create a cycle of frustration. Strategy Decay: Why tools that work perfectly for a month inevitably seem to stop working. Practical Regulation: How to break down tasks so they feel doable and why you need a "crisis plan" before the crisis actually hits. Whether you missed this the first time around or just need a refresher on these strategies, there is so much gold in this episode. You can still find all the links and resources mentioned in this episode on the original show notes page at: HackingYourADHD.com/215 This Episode's Top Tips 1. If something feels overwhelming, try breaking it down into micro-steps. Even something like getting out of bed can be broken into "sit up," "put feet on the floor," and "stand up." In more practical ways, we could think of this as starting out as just opening the document you need to work on, adding the formatting, and starting your first sentence. The idea is you want to build momentum and go with the flow. 2. Be mindful of language; words like "just" and "should" can be damaging. Instead of "I should just wash the dishes," you can reframe it as "I could wash the dishes," and then also if you need a little bit more asking yourself, "What's making this difficult, and how can I work with it?" 3. It's important to have a crisis plan ready before you need it. When emotional overwhelm hits, it's hard to think through what you need. You can pre-plan strategies like a weighted blanket, a favorite show, or calling a friend so you don't have to figure it out at the moment.

If you're in the thick of toddler life — the constant “no's,” the hitting and biting, the screaming, refusing dinner or bath, rough transitions, and meltdown-after-meltdown — this episode is your new survival guide. We're joined by Devon Kuntzman, toddler expert, parent coach, and founder of Transforming Toddlerhood, who specializes in helping parents navigate these exact moments with confidence and calm.Devon breaks down what's normal, what's developmentally appropriate, and gives you practical scripts for what to actually do in the moment. Annabel and Dale open up about their latest toddler meltdowns and struggles — the real, messy, everyday moments parents don't always talk about — and Devon walks them through exactly how to handle each one.From big feelings and “why don't they listen?” to staying calm during public meltdowns and the scripts that truly help, Devon makes sense of the chaos with tools you can use immediately. This is the episode every toddler parent needs.Follow Devon @transformingtoddlerhood and find her book Transforming Toddlerhood.Instagram: @wearemorethanmomsPatreon: More Than Moms Guides & Resources Join our IRL LA communitySubscribe to our NewsletterProduced by Peoples MediaInstagram: @wearemorethanmomsPatreon: More Than Moms Guides & Resources Join our IRL LA communitySubscribe to our NewsletterProduced by Peoples Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whoever said 'T'was the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse' clearly did not have kids. It's Xmas Eve, and it's probably chaos in your house, so Gen is here with a special Christmas meditation. You're welcome. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How a Teen and Her Mom Turned Breathwork Into a Book for Kids. This episode shares the story of how a teen and her mom turned breathwork into a book for kids. Inhale, Exhale, Shoot is a beautifully illustrated children's book born from a mindful mother-daughter collaboration. Co-written by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Holly MacKenna and her 13-year-old daughter, Maeve Graffanini, the book is a gentle guide to teaching kids mindfulness through the language of basketball, breath, and big emotions. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or someone passionate about helping children regulate emotions, this conversation offers a fresh, creative way to connect. It's a powerful reminder that when we pause to breathe, we open the door to presence, empathy, and resilience for children and ourselves. We also explore how creative projects, especially ones shared across generations, can become meaningful tools for healing, growth, and impact. Pearls of Wisdom: Teaching kids to breathe through big feelings is one of the most powerful lifelong gifts we can offer. What looks like anger in children is often something deeper like fear, anxiety, or overwhelm. Mindfulness helps us meet the root emotion. Creative metaphors, like basketball, can make mindfulness more accessible, relatable, and fun for kids. Co-creating a book strengthened Holly and Maeve's relationship and helped them navigate life's significant transitions together. Mindfulness isn't just a solo practice but something we can model, share, and co-create with those we love. Reflection Questions: When a child in your life has a big emotion, how do you usually respond? Could a breath shift the interaction? What projects or practices bring you closer to your children or your inner child? How might you integrate creative mindfulness practices into your family or classroom? Stay for the mindful moment at the end, where you'll be invited to enjoy a few breaths with us.     If you would like to donate a copy of Inhale, Exhale, Shoot to a child who needs it, you can do so this month for just $15 at susanschadtpress.com. Maeve and her school's service club are hand-delivering these books to shelters in New Orleans—mindfulness in action. If you would like to order a copy as a holiday gift, the book is available on Amazon or at susanschadtpress.com.  For those craving a reset and deeper embodiment of these practices, join me for a retreat where mindfulness, rest, and healing come alive in community. Upcoming dates are at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats. To bring these kinds of mindful, compassionate conversation to your organization, team, or conference, Dr. Mahoney offers keynote talks and workshops on emotional awareness, leadership, and well-being. Visit www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking. Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang also offers breath-centered workshops and speaks on mindfulness and medicine. Learn more about her work at www.awakenbreath.org. Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

Welcome to the first in our summer mini episodes! We're not leaving you high and dry without us at any point this festive period, don't worry. This episode, we hear from a mum who's young child has suddenly become self-conscious, and wants to know what she can do to support them. Leave your question for Gen and Amy here: memo.fm/beyondthechaos Get your pack of High Low Buffalo cards here Order Amy Gerard's book 'Strap Yourself In' HERE Order Gen Muir's book 'Little People, Big Feelings' HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 79 - ADHD and motivation—let's cut through the noise. This episode breaks down why so many people get motivation wrong when it comes to ADHD, and what actually works to move the needle. Dr. Carrie gets real about the myths we need to retire (like motivation being some tank you can empty) and what actually matters: understanding what drives each person and building an environment that doesn't work against them. Miss Beth chats with Dr. Carrie Jackson about ADHD motivation in kids (and adults!), executive function challenges, dopamine regulation, and neurodivergent strategies.If you're tired of surface-level advice and want strategies that hold up over time, this one's for you. For more info visit https://www.bigcityreaders.com/podcastFind Dr. Carrie on Instagram @dr.carriejackson Message me your questions on Instagram @bigcityreaders Check out Big City Readers picks on Amazon

Holiday gatherings can feel like a joyful reunion, or a pressure-filled performance. In this Thanksgiving episode of Facing in the Dark, Wayne and Dr. Kathy unpack why kids struggle during big family events, how parents can prepare them beforehand, and what it looks like to approach the holidays with patience, curiosity, and a heart aimed at connection rather than perfection. You'll learn how to lower anxiety, handle family dynamics, create space for rest, and help kids feel secure as they reconnect with relatives they barely know.

This week, MJ is back from BravoCon and she's giving you everything—every moment she lived, every Bravoleb she hugged, and more! MJ kicks things off by sharing what went down at home while she was away: Tommy and Shams holding it down, and why MJ leaving for the weekend was a whole experience for Vida. From MJ moving into her new house solo to Vida processing all the change at once… let's just say there were feelings. Then MJ takes you onto the plane with her and spills who she was with, and why the flight alone was its own mini BravoCon moment. Once she lands in Vegas, MJ walks you through every reunion, run-in, and glam-room moment—from catching up with Teresa Giudice, laughing it up with Phaedra Parks, and having the sweetest reunions with Marysol Patton and so many more. Expect behind-the-scenes tea, unexpected friendships, and stories you definitely didn't see on social. If you want the real BravoCon experience, this is the episode. MJ saw it all, did it all, and she's telling it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices