Podcasts about cool mom picks

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

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

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

Expand your library with new Asian American authors. Celebrate fresh AAPI voices with debut novelist Kristen Mei Chase on today's podcast.In today's Book Gang episode, Kristen Mei Chase discusses her book "A Thousand Miles to Graceland" and highlights some of her favorite Asian American and Pacific Islander authors in literature.This sparkling debut imagines a road trip for a mother and daughter bonded together over the surprising power of ELVIS. We also discuss how it trickled into her own relationship with her mother, and other Asian American voices that helped her find her own. She discusses her unique publishing process and how her decade-long manuscript finally got published through an unlikely avenue for refinement.Today's discussion also explores a backlist favorite from Celeste Ng and a brand-new debut favorite that presents an American family story from a bi-racial perspective. For Kristen, the significance of writing (and reading) about bi-racial Chinese-American characters is an impactful one.Don't miss today's BONUS post featuring Asian American and Pacific Islander authors, including Kristen's book and several upcoming titles. This is a great starting point for reading more books with AAPI voices.Meet Kristen Mei ChaseKristen Mei Chase is an author, web entrepreneur and media personality.  She co-founded Cool Mom Picks, one of the most influential parenting networks on the web, reaching millions of parents each month with the best gear, gifts, advice, and tips. As a bi-racial Asian American, Kristen writes to share the little stories of bi- and multi-racial Americans in a big way. She lives in the Philly suburbs with her four kids and an extensive collection of vintage Elvis t-shirts. Mentioned in this episode:Book Gang listeners, if you love our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting me on Patreon! As a patron, you'll receive a monthly "FULLY BOOKED" show, featuring the latest in buzzy books reviews in newsletter and podcast format, co-hosted with @getbookedwithlarry.  You'll also get an exclusive monthly author interview and a book club music playlist for the MomAdvice Book Club. Membership is just $5 per month, or you can pre-pay to save 10%. Please note that HarperCollins has reached an agreement with their strike! This was recorded prior to the contract agreement. You can read more here. A Thousand Miles to Graceland by Kristen Mei ChaseA Home for Asian American Authors by Publishers WeeklyThird State BooksPhenomenal MediaLunar Love by Lauren Kung JessenThe Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen LoigmanThe Porcelain Moon by Janie ChangThe Library of Legends by Janie ChangThe Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn & Janie ChangHarperCollins Union on TikTokEverything I Never Told You by Celeste NgLittle Fires Everywhere by Celeste NgOur Missing Hearts by Celeste NgAmy's interview with Celeste NgBanyan Moon by Thao ThaiCup of JoShop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Connect with Kristen Mei Chase on her website, Instagram, or TwitterConnect with Amy on Instagram or on MomAdvice.comJoin the MomAdvice Book ClubShop Our Bookish Shirts to support the showJoin the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED  book review show & more!

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

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

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

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

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

In the second installment of our new series, How We Feed, we're chatting with Kristen Chase of Cool Mom Picks about feeding a family as a single parent. As it turns out, a lot of what Kristen has learned about being the only grownup in a house full of kids who need to be fed is instructive for all family cooks.

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

As Liz and I try to keep our heads afloat this holiday season, we decided to take a week off and instead, re-share a timely episode with a message we all need right now. A couple of years ago, I interviewed our friend, author Nancy Davis Kho, about her book The Thank You Project. This gratitude project changed her life, and well, with all that's happening around us these days, and the holidays only a couple of weeks away, it seemed like the perfect conversation to share again. Our sponsors, for whom we are so grateful! Please take a moment to check our Vrbo and Bombas. They help us keep doing what we're doing! You'll find all the links from the show at Cool Mom Picks. Don't forget to reach out on social media. We love hearing from you!

The issue of division of labor and mental load are not new problems in relationships, but the pandemic has certainly exacerbated them. On this episode, we chat with author Eve Rodsky about her book Fair Play, which addresses these exact challenges with a helpful system that actually saved her marriage. Hooray for advice that really works! And as always, we close out our show with our Cool Picks of the Week. **Language warning** Yes, we curse in this episode! Earmuffs! Follow us on social! We're on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Plus, head over to Cool Mom Picks for more show notes.

Spawned listener favorite Jordan Shapiro is back! He totally changed the way we think about kids and tech, and now he's joining us to challenge our ideas about gender roles in parenting, and chat about his new book, Father Figure: How to Be a Feminist Dad. Is such a thing even possible? Well... We learn a whole lot about our own preconceptions here, how we can help change things -- and we get to laugh while doing it. (See why we love him so much?) Plus, some very cool Cool Picks of the Week. //Show notes: Cool Mom Picks podcast page // Chat with us in the Spawned FB Community // Graciously sponsored by the (very cool!) award-winning Panasonic Baby Video Monitor that's safe, secure, and even helps babies sleep. Really. // Thanks for listening and for subscribing! - L + K

Fair warning: This episode may really make you miss your IRL get togethers with your favorite mom friends, because that is exactly what this conversation with Dr. Janice Johnson Dias feels like. We knew that talking to Janice -- you might know her as "mom of Marley Dias" -- would be helpful, but we had no idea it be SO funny, so honest, so inspiring, and just so nourishing! (Also a little NSFW if you have little ones around.) Enjoy her tips about parenting and caregiving, joy, raising activists, nurturing kids' passions, and always always making time for yourself, // Brought to you by the 2021 3M Young Scientist Lab. Be sure your problem-solving kid enters by 4/27/21! // Shownotes and links: Cool Mom Picks podcast page // Thank you so much for listening, for subscribing...and extra socially-distant air hugs to those of you who take the time to write a nice review on iTunes!

We've talked a lot about self-care over the years, but nothing as deeply honest as we do in this week's episode with our friend, author and podcaster Dr. Christine Koh. She's been sharing her own journey of radical self care on her Instagram feed, so we wanted to tap her to share what she's discovered along the way, and how we can reframe our own view of self-care to get us through tough times. You can find our cool picks of the week, along with links from our show over at Cool Mom Picks. Make sure you're following us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Since we started Cool Mom Picks nearly 15 years ago (!) our hearts have always been with small businesses, especially those run by women and moms. So we're devoting this episode to sharing some of our favorite ways to shop small this holiday -- including lots of tips for shopping local and helping your own community businesses, that you may not have considered. Also, we talk about why we're tipping. A lot. And we share some of our favorite gifts from our 2020 Small Business Holiday Gift Guide should you need some great ideas! // With gratitude to our sponsor, Life 360, which is keeping families safe in so many ways. Try it free now for 7 days! // Shownotes: Cool Mom Picks podcast page // Chat with our Spawned community on FB // Thank you for listening, subscribing and your kind, generous, lovely 5-star reviews which helps support our own small, mom-run business!

There's really only one topic we could think to cover this week: What to do about back-to-school in 2020, during the Covid pandemic. We don't have the right answer for you (and FFS let's not turn this into the next mommy wars) but we do have a terrific list of 14 considerations we've seen parents discussing -- including plenty you might not have thought about at all just yet. Take a deep breath, take a listen, and then think about the decision that feels right in your gut. Even if it changes in a week. Or a day. We have to start somewhere. // Show notes and helpful links from the show on Cool Mom Picks. // Discuss this topic with us in the Spawned podcast community on FB // Gratitude to our sponsor, Breyers Ice Cream for making this week's. episode possible. // Don't forget to subscribe! Lots to discuss these days. Hoo boy.

Even in tough times, we still need to allow ourselves time for play, creativity, and yes, even romance, which is why we're welcoming back author and dad Robert Wilder for a special Meet Cute - Spawned crossover episode. Since he was last on the show back in February when Meet Cute, which produces short form audio rom-coms, had launched, the world has changed drastically. He shares why rom-coms (and play and creativity) are even more important now, and talks to Kristen about the upcoming series she wrote from Meet Cute, which is live Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of this week. Yay! Make sure you're subscribed to Meet Cute right on this podcast app to check out her story and hear more fun rom-coms. Our sponsors: Breyers CarbSmart treats are just 3-5 grams of carbs per serving, all under 150 calories. Yum. And Cisco, who's created GPS: The Series, to help spark creative, innovative thinking in kids. Find all the links from our show over at Cool Mom Picks. Say "hi" on social media - Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We love hearing from you.

Why do dads always get all the credit for being fun? Moms are fun too! On this special Father's Day episode of Spawned, we're chatting with dad, magician and Netflix star Justin Willman. Do you love Magic for Humans as much as we do? Then you're going to love this episode! He's got lots of tips and actual magic tricks we can do with our kids. Plus, we close out our show with our Cool Picks of the Week. This episode is brought to you by Vooks, a streaming library of ad-free, kid-safe animated read-aloud storybooks. Get a free month subscription, no purchase necessary. We're also glad to welcome back Breyers Carbsmart, tasty frozen treats with 3-5 grams net carbs and 150 calories. Learn more about where to find these goodies on their site. Say "hi" on our social media, and find all the links to everything we talk about on our show over at Cool Mom Picks. And don't forget about our new tech-positive podcast, Out Tech Your Kids. Subscribe now.

Liz speaks with the incredible activist, mom, and now author Meena Harris about her wonderful new children's book, "Kamala and Maya's Big Idea" based on a true story from the childhoods of her mom, Maya Harris, and her Aunt Kamala. We talk about representation and diversity in children's literature, the importance of reading about strong female characters (especially for boys!), how to to kids about racism and the world, some of Meena's best childhood memories, her civil rights activist grandma's terrific life advice...and the best roast chicken ever. NOTE this episode was recorded 5/29, just before this week of protest and uprising across the country. More info, show notes, and links to Meena's work on the Cool Mom Picks podcast page Thanks to our sponsor, Breyer's CarbSmart frozen treats Thanks to YOU for listening, subscribing, and for your gracious reviews. Come discuss today's episode with us in the Spawned FB Community. And stay safe out there, parents.

*In response to travel restrictions and social distancing due to COVID-19, this week's interview was recorded remotely and not in-studio. Thanks for listening.*BROOKLYN, NEW YORK—This week, we're excited to welcome Stacie Billis to Salt & Spine, the podcast on cookbooks.Stacie Billis is a food writer whose award-winning blog, One Hungry Mama, was considered one of the first food blogs focused on parents and feeding your family. Stacie has also been the Founding Food Editor-in-Chief at the Cool Mom Picks network — and today, she shares her life, recipes, and tips as the "family cook" on social media.Stacie is also one of the voices behind the popular podcast, Didn’t I Just Feed You, a show about feeding families that she co-hosts with Meghan Splawn, Associate Food Editor for Kitchn.com. [Salt + Spine host Brian Hogan Stewart has joined the DIJFY podcast twice to talk cookbooks with Stacie and Meghan—be sure to subscribe to their show!]And of course, Stacie is a cookbook author — her first book, Make It Easy, focused on shortcuts using store-bought ingredients. And her latest, Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner, is all about how to harness the flavor and versatility of—you guessed it—chicken.In today’s show, we’re talking with Stacie about:how a background in child development led her to career in food writingthe popularity of chicken — now the most consumed protein in the U.S., with the average American now buying 53 pounds, per person, per year — and some tricks for producing flavorful, juicy chicken dishes;and about her foray into podcasting, which cookbook authors she turns to as a home cook, and more.And of course, we’re playing a chicken-themed game with Stacie at the end of the show — don't miss it!* * *Featured Recipes:Chicken Parmesan MeatballsPineapple Chicken Salad with Green Beans and Toasted CoconutGet the Cookbook:Bookshop | IndieBound | Amazon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week is a fun, Coronavirus-free episode about the joys of binge watching -- there's scientific reasons to give yourself permission to watch shows right now, and whether you are watching alone or with the family, we've got suggestions for what to watch...and what to skip. We also ask the question on everyone's mind right now: should you watch Tiger King? (Kristen has a good tip if you're on the fence.) Whether you like dark dystopian series, light sitcoms, or mindless reality shows, we've got recos we hope you'll love. Also, we laugh. A lot. Not just because Liz has Cheetos stuck in her teeth. // Thanks to our sponsor, the new Gigantausaurus: The Game based on the Disney Jr. Show and brought to you by Outright Games. Download now for hours of fun on Switch, PS4, Xbox ONE, and PC // For show notes, links and more info, visit the Cool Mom Picks podcast page or pop by the Spawned Facebook Community to chat. // Thanks for listening and subscribing! Wash your hands!

We're talking all things pets (well, mostly dogs, but still PETS!) for the first time ever on Spawned with our special guest, dog trainer and author Victoria Schade. She uses her expertise to answer common questions about adding a pet to your family, plus talks about her new novel (that of course, features rescue dogs!), Who Rescued Who, which will be out on 3/24. As a 3-dog owner, I found her advice to be invaluable. And as always, we close out our show with our cool picks of the week. This week's sponsor: Discovery Education and 3M, announcing the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge, where middle school students can enter to win a $25,000 grand prize. Learn more on their site. Be sure to follow us on social media, and check out links from our show at Cool Mom Picks.com.

Encouraging creativity in kids is so important to us, and it's not just about crafting or calligraphy. We are SO happy to be joined by creative maven, entrepreneurial role model, mom of two, and social media megastar, Joy Cho of Oh Joy! Design Studio to talk about how to encourage more creativity in kids -- even if you don't think you're creative yourself. So many great tips for parents, caregivers and teachers. Plus, we really appreciate her thoughtful, honest talk about about how her life on Instagram may look spectacular...but life is always about making choices. Tune in! // Thanks to our sponsor, Destination Maternity and their massive sale in every store on all maternity and postpartum fashions.. Mention Spawned Podcast or Cool Mom Picks to save an additional 10% on all your in-store purchases through 3/15/2020! // And thanks to YOU for listening and subscribing and leaving us nice five-star reviews. We give you all five stars right back!

Have you outgrown your home? Do you feel priced out of your current zip code? Are you ready to move from the joys of urban rats to the joys of suburban raccoons in your garbage? AND. Does all of this make your palms sweat? Fear not! This week we're joined by the witty, and extremely helpful "Marie Kondo of Moving," Ali Wenzke. She's sharing tips from her book, The Art of Happy Moving, to help families know whether it's time to move. And, importantly, tips for making it easier when you do, especially on the kids. We even love her ideas for making your home feel new, if you have no plans to move at all. // Join us in the Spawned Parenting Podcast private Facebook community to chat about this...or anything at all! // Shownotes on the Cool Mom Picks podcast page // Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review if you enjoy the show! (Do we sound like Miranda Sings?)

We know many parents made resolutions and goals to spend more quality time with family in 2020. And well, we’re hitting that point in January when even our best laid plans get a little side tracked. It's okay, we're right there with you. That's why we were so excited to talk about ways to foster real connections with your kids in surprising ways, thanks to the help of our guest, Dr. Sheryl Ziegler. On this episode, she shares some super helpful tips, tricks, and advice to help you connect with your kids, a lot of which we've already started using with our own. This week's sponsor: Milk, Love What’s Real. It's pretty clear that we value the real experiences and connections we make in our families and as we mentioned above, milk really is a part of those moments and memories. You can visit MilkLife.com for recipes, nutrition facts, and more information about the different kinds of real milk. Find all the links from our show, plus our Cool Picks of the Week, on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. And be sure to follow us on social media! We're on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter #spawnedshow.

Today we're joined by third-time guest and fan favorite James Breakwell, A.K.A. the popular humorist Exploding Unicorn, and author of How to Save Your Child from Ostrich Attacks, Accidental Time Travel, and Anything Else that Might Happen on an Average Tuesday. As you can imagine, this is a VERY SERIOUS INTERVIEW about VERY SERIOUS THREATS TO CHILDREN. I mean, if your kid ever encounters a werewolf, or doesn't know what to do if they're suddenly transported into a real Minecraft world, you will 100% know how to handle it thanks to this candid and urgent discussion. // Questions or comments? Join our Spawned Podcast Community on Facebook and visit our podcast page on Cool Mom Picks for info about James, his new book, and our cool picks of the week! //Thanks again for subscribing, and for all your lovely reviews. If supernatural beings ever attacked your family, we'd totally be there for you.

Oh, stop squirming! Most of our listeners have one right? And yet, why is it still so hard to talk about sex and sexuality with our kids? (And why do we have to mark this "explicit," ya know?) Well this week, Liz is chatting with family sex communication researcher and "Beyond Birds & Bees" educational workshop host Dr. Heidi Croatt, who has truly genius ideas to help you rethink everything -- like why we all need to raise sexually healthy kids; what to say by age; how to talk about some newer sexual health topics including consent and gender identity; and tips for making it all less awkward for everyone involved. And whatever yours! // Thanks so much for listening and subscribing and telling ALL YOUR FRIENDS, because that's what friends do, right?And this one can really help a parent out. // See show notes on the Cool Mom Picks podcast page including info on our cool picks, and join our Spawned Facebook community to chat about today's episode...or anything at all.

This week we're talking about how to create more positive thinking in your life, and all the ways it brings success. (It's true! It's science!) Author, NFL/NHL trainer, and professional joy-spreader Sandy Joy Weston is sharing some wonderful tips, especially for parents, and bringing loads of energy and inspiration to this conversation. We hope you get a ton out of it, because we know we did!. // Thanks so much to our sponsors: The Prodigy online game that's helped millions (whoa) of kids master curriculum-aligned math skills. Also, Circle Screen time Management and Tracking System -- save $30 on a Circle Home Plus with code SPAWNED for a limited time. // For show notes and more info visit the Podcast Page on Cool Mom Picks. // Thanks so much for listening, subscribing, supporting our sponsors, and for all your kind reviews! We'll be back in the new year with more. Mwa! - L + K

It's here! Our annual Cool Picks of the Week Holiday episode, where we share all of our favorite gifts for everyone on your list from our holiday gift guide. This year, we're highlighting our picks from small makers, indie artisans, and lots of female-run businesses. If you love hearing our Cool Picks of the Week, you're going to love this episode. We're happy to welcome our sponsors Prodigy, a fantastic program that helps kids attain math success, as well as Circle, a smart device that helps families monitor their kids' online activity. Check our show notes at CoolMomPicks.com for special offers from both of our sponsors. Head over to our Cool Mom Picks podcast page to shop see all of our picks. And if you want to say "hi" drop us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, but you probably already knew that.

This week on the Spawned parenting podcast, we're talking about something all parents can agree on: Saving money is GOOD! So we're sharing a favorite episode featuring our very best tips, tricks, and secrets for saving money on your holiday shopping -- all garnered from over 10 years doing this very thing for our readers on Cool Mom Picks and Cool Mom Tech. Trust us...we know things. (BWAHAHAHA...) So liisten now! Quick, before you spend another penny! | Thank you so much to our sponsor, Candlewick Press, publishers of the new book of bios for children, "Leading the Way: Women in Power" Also thank you to Prodigy, the effective online math platform loved by more than 50 million kids worldwide. | Shownotes: Spawned Podcast Page on CoolMomPicks.com. | Thanks for listening, friends!

Could writing thank you letters change your life? That's what happened to Nancy Davis Kho when she decided to write 50 thank you letters to 50 people to celebrate her 50th birthday. She turned her lifechanging experience into her new book The Thank You Project, which she talks about, along with how to instill gratitude in your kids. Plus, we close out our show with our Cool Picks of the Week. Our sponsor this week is Candlewick Press, who's got a cool boxed set of Jon Klassen's hat trio books available, just in time for the holidays. Visit our podcast page on Cool Mom Picks to get more information about our show. And be sure to follow us on social media - Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram - to keep in touch. We love hearing from you.

While you may know Alysia Reiner for her work on Orange is the New Black, The Deuce, and Better Things, she's also an award-winning activist and changemaker. On this episode of Spawned, she discusses a few of her current charitable passions, from immigration, which was inspired in part from her experience filming the final season of Orange is the New Black, to the environment, where she has even started her own waste-free fashion line, Livari. And we close out our show with our cool picks of the week. Thanks to our sponsor Zulily, who's got amazing deals on all your holiday wish list favorites. And our sponsor GraviTrax, a cool STEM toy our own kids are loving. You can find links from our show on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. And be sure to follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Thanks for your support!

Unlike other parenting milestones, like the sex talk and the drug talk, there's no precedent (yet) for having the tech talk with your kids, which is just a small part of the wild west that is digital parenting. On this episode of Spawned, we're sharing our own tips, tricks, and advice on what it means to be a tech-positive parent, and how we can mentor and empower our kids in this digital age. And as always, we close our show with our cool picks of the week. This week's sponsor is Zulily, where you can find amazing deals on tons of kid favorites. From toys to clothing, and pretty much everything in between, head over to Zulily to get your holiday shopping done. We love hearing from you! You can email us at spawned@coolmompicks.com, or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. And don't forget that all of the links we mention on our show, including our awesome sponsor, are available on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page.

If you feel like this holiday season came earlier this year, and the pressure is more pronounced, you're not imagining it. On this week's Spawned parenting podcast, we're (complaining) talking about the very real reasons this year feels more intense. BUT! It's okay! We've also got tons of expert tips for managing the 4 biggest stressors of the holiday season: Gifts, money, family, and external pressure. // Find all the links from today's show including our cool picks of the week on the Cool Mom Picks podcast page. // Extra thanks to our fantastic sponsors, FAMfriendly.com, which offers helpful resources for raising smart digital kids; as well as Ritual Vitamins, who is offering Spawned listeners 10% off your first 3-month subscription of their Essentials for Women multivitamin. // Thanks SO much for listening, and for and all your truly lovely (sniff), thoughtful (sniff), very kind reviews lately. You're the best!

Today, Liz is joined by Suzy Chase, host of the #1 cookbook podcast, Cookery by the Book. Each week she talks to a different cookbook author to open our minds up to different cultures, experiences and ideas through our shared love of food. So today, we're talking about the best cookbooks for families right now, the hot trends in cooking, and some truly excellent tips to make feeding your kids easier. And can't we all use that? // Find show notes and links on the Cool Mom Picks podcast page and come chat with us in our Recipe Rescue Facebook Group! // Thanks so much for your lovely reviews - you can leave one right now in fact! Another way to help support us and keep us independent ;subscribe to the Spawned parenting podcast so you never miss an episode. You can do that right now too. TECHNOLOGY!

This week on the Spawned Parenting podcast, we're talking about a topic we all struggle with: Priorities. How do we make time for the things we love when are all just so busy? How do we fit family, relationships, friends, hobbies, passion projects and our own health and well-being into our lives? (Phew!) Liz + Kristen check in 9 months after our interview with Jake Knapp on making time for things you love, for a candid discussion about where we're succeeding, where we're failing, and what's helping. Or...not. // Show notes and related links on the Cool Mom Picks podcast page // Thanks to our wonderful sponsor, Candlewick Press and their new boxed set of Jon Klassen's hat trilogy. Your kids will love it! //Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and thanks for all of your kind 5-star reviews. Best. Listeners. Ever. 

The new parenting panic du jour: Kids and social media. TERRIFYING! But...wait. What if social media isn't really the problem some experts will tell you it is? What if parents are essentially just handing car keys to kids and being shocked that they don't know how to drive? There's so much more we can do! We think you'll love this episode, full of helpful tips and advice that go way, way beyond "don't send nudes." (Which, duh. Don't send nudes!) Whether your kids have their own Snapchat accounts or seem years away from phones of their own, we think this honest, non-alarmist, positive discussion can help us all raise the next generation of responsible,  thoughtful digital citizens. // Big thanks to our sponsors VSP Vision Plans and Ritual Vitamins (and their special discount for our listeners) for supporting what we do. // Find the show notes on the Cool Mom Picks podcast page, and join the discussion in the Spawned FB community. And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. 5-star reviews are always welcome too! Thanks for listening, friends! = Liz + Kristen

Amy Richardson is the founder and CEO of the wildly popular children’s clothing brand June & January. What started as a small Etsy shop out of her Brooklyn, NYC apartment (where she was also a new mom) has turned into a widely successful and inclusive company that has been featured in US Weekly, POPSUGAR, Brit + Co, Oh Joy!, Cool Mom Picks and more! Amy is as rad as they come. She’s the creative boss-lady/mom/friend/savvy business woman many aspire to be... she’s also brave and resilient as hell. At 1:07am on July 22nd, 2019 her world was completely shaken as she and her two young children were coming home from the airport. Amy was shot in the leg through her car door by an unknown shooter. She shares the story about how she tied her own tourniquet, called for help, the physical recovery process, the emotional healing process, the silver-lining and why we MUST talk to our kids about being prepared for a situation in which mommy or daddy might not be able to help themselves. You never know what “never-gonna-happen-to-me” scenario this world might throw at you, but having some of the hard conversations with our kids and teaching them basic emergency protocols with technology tools might be the difference in life or death. We could not be more grateful to Amy for going “on the loose” with us and being so informative, open, and honest. To see Amy and her team’s amazing creations for all spunky tiny humans, visit www.juneandjanuary.com and find them on Instagram @juneandjanuary Thank you to our official season 4 host The Wayback Cafe and Cottages for the hill-country vibes hospitality! We highly suggest you give them a visit www.waybackaustin.com We are so grateful to all of our listeners for your support! Please help us continue to grow! Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and REVIEW our podcast and follow us on social media @themomsontheloose. Until next time, find some time to go on the loose. It’s goods for you. Trust us. Cheers!

Working motherhood has evolved since our kids were babies. How has it changed? How has it stayed the same? What can women do to make the transition back to work easier? We chat about all these questions and more with Amy Nelson, CEO of The Riveter and mom of 4 (including a newborn, who makes a cameo on our show). She shares her advice about asking for help, setting boundaries, and making time for yourself. And as always, we close out our show with our cool picks of the week. Our sponsors this week: Don't Wait Up, the new hilarious book about motherhood by Liz Astrof, available now wherever you buy books. And Osmo, a unique gaming accessory that brings healthy screen time to kids of all ages by combining both physical and digital interactions with play-based, hands-on learning. Try an Osmo Sampler for free! We love hearing from you! You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or drop us an email: spawned@coolmompicks.com. You can find more links from our show on our podcast page on Cool Mom Picks.  

Could you use a little more calm around the house? This episode of the Spawned Parenting Podcast, we're going to help you reduce conflict in your family (also known as screaming and yelling) thanks to tips from parenting mentor and author Sue Groner. We think you'll find a few surprises here, We sure did. And if you can make them work? Well then we'll be coming to your home for playdates. // This episode generously brought to you by TeenCounseling.com - Spawned listeners save 10% at TeenCounseling.com/coolmom // Show notes and links: Cool Mom Picks podcast page // Join our Spawned FB community to chat about today's episode...or any episode at all // And thanks so much for all your great feedback + 5-star reviews! They're a free, easy way to support us and make us feel all warm and tingly inside. 

If you're like us, then you're often confused by all the different research, reports, and news when it comes to feeding kids. More protein! Less protein! You get the idea. Well, our guest Nicole Turner Ravana, a nutritionist who's working with our sponsor Ready Pac Foods, has lots of great advice and insight into knowing who to trust, plus lots of great, practical tips too. And as always, we close out our show with our cool picks of the week. This week's sponsor is Ready Pac Foods Bistro Salads, a fresh, convenient on-the-go lunch option perfect for busy parents. You can find their class salads, along with creative combos, as well as their Ready Snax snack packs in the produce section of your supermarket, or learn more at readypac.com. Make sure to visit Cool Mom Picks for all the links we mention in the show. And be sure to follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Today we're joined by Evangeline Lilly! And she is not just an Orc-defeating Tolkien elf and quantum realm-traveling Marvel superhero. She is also a super cool parent, and author of the fabulous new young series, the Squickerwonkers. Join us as we talk parenting, privacy, work-life balance, Scottish accents (hers is better than ours), our favorite children's authors, and what it means when your own kid thinks you're a (real) supeherro. This is such a fun episode, we could have talked all day...and almost did.  // See the show notes on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page // Questions/comments: Join the Spawned Facebook community // Thanks for listening and subscribing and all your kind reviews! -Kristen + Liz

Parents love a tidy home, but that's a difficult task when kids are involved. On this episode of Spawned, we chat with organization expert Nikki Boyd, author of Beautifully Organized: A Guide to Function and Style in Your Home, who is partnering with our sponsor Tide. She shares tips and tricks to help us think about safety as we tidy up. And, as usual, we share our cool picks of the week. Want to win a free consultation with Nikki? Head to our Instagram page, share a completed Tidy Home | Safe Home bing board in your story and tag her, and you'll be entered. Find all the links to our show on Cool Mom Picks! And be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. 

This week's guest on the Spawned parenting podcast is Katherine Goldstein, award-winning journalist and host of the brilliant new podcast, The Double Shift. Ever since her viral New York Times article about anti-mom bias at work went viral, she's been investigating, writing about, and advocating for changes to make the workplace more mom-friendly. Because when parents get the support and resources we need -- at work and at home -- everyone wins. Whether you work out of home or not, this is a fantastic episode to help us all lose the mom guilt and help make change instead. Yes! // Show notes on the Cool Mom Picks podcast page, or join the Spawned parenting community on Facebook to discuss. // If you love what we do, please consider leaving us a positive review on Apple Podcasts. It really helps support us. And thanks! -Kristen + Liz

Is your phone glued to your hand? Do you need a break? Our guest Catherine Price, author of How To Break Up With Your Phone, shares the science behind smartphone addiction, and offers practical tips, tricks, and advice on how to untether yourself, and gain back control. She'll also talk about her 30-day plan that can help you curb your phone obsession. And whoa, she shares four picks in an unprecedented cool picks of the week segment. Our sponsor this week is The Floor is Lava, a new book filled with 100 games your family will love, no equipment or screens required. All you need is a brain and another person! It's great for road trips, vacations, or you know, summer (which is almost here). Find the links from our show over at Cool Mom Picks, and be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Hey, thanks for the awesome reviews. Keep them coming! 

Spring is here, which we know means spring cleaning for lots of people. But don't forget about all that digital clutter. You know, photos on your phone, files on your computer... you get the idea. We chat with digital clutter expert Josh Zerkel, whose got smart tips and tricks to help you get your technology organized without the overwhelm. This week's sponsor is Ritual, the obsessively-researched vitamins for women that get delivered right to your door! Spawned listeners: visit ritual.com/Spawned to start your ritual today and save 10% off during your first 3 months. For more information about the links from the show, visit our Cool Mom Picks podcast page, and be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also email us: spawned@coolmompicks.com

If you want to leave this country a better place than we found it, we think you'll love this inspiring, encouraging, wildly smart conversation with Sara Berliner, founder of Vote Like a Mother. You don't even have to be a political junkie, or activist...or even a mother to relate. || Thanks so much for listening to Spawned! Please subscribe and leave us a nice review which is an easy, free way to support us || You'll find show notes with links about the topics you heard here on the Cool Mom Picks podcast page || And don't forget to join our new Spawned listeners community on Facebook, which is the best place to find us, ask questions, suggest topics, and discuss what you heard here today.

Hold the skepticism for just a moment -- what if astrology wasn't "fortune telling" but could actually help you understand your strengths and weaknesses to give you more direction in life? Our guest Mimi Truong is a lawyer by background, a life coach and an expert astrologist, who combines all her insight and expertise to help clients -- and maybe you! -- better understand how we fit into the universe (and how the universe fits into us). Plus, she has a FASCINATING revelation about Kristen and Liz's relationship based on the alignment of their charts and...well, we kind of freaked out. As you'll hear. || Find show notes and links to a great astrology site to help you get more info about your own signs on our Podcast page on Cool Mom Picks. || Join the Spawned listeners community on Facebook here -- it's so fun! || And hey, thanks for listening, subscribing, and for all your wonderful reviews on iTunes. May you become something fabulous in your next life. 

Let's face it, parents: screens are here to stay. So why are we still so ambivalent about them? Maybe being unplugged isn't actually the best way to help our kids thrive in this digital world. Our guest, speaker, author, and cool dad Jordan Shapiro, shares a new way approaching technology with our kids in his new book "The New Childhood: Raising Kids To Thrive in a Connected World." We think you'll appreciate his refreshing and perhaps controversial perspective on this topic. You can find all the links from our show on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. We love hearing from you! You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Drop us an email and let us know what you think: spawned@coolmompicks.com. 

One day after battling a bad flu, Andi Buchanan walked out of her house and had a coughing fit. What happened next was the worst headache in her life. She later discovered that she actually had a Spontaneous Spinal CSF Leak. On this episode, Kristen chats with Andi about her diagnosis and recovery, all of which she chronicled so masterfully in her new memoir, The Beginning of Everything. We love hearing from you! Drop us a email at spawned@coolmompicks.com, and follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And be sure to visit our podcast page on Cool Mom Picks to get all the links from our show, plus information about our awesome sponsor. 

Raising creative, imaginative kids in a world where our kids are tempted by screens can be challenging, which is why we enlisted the help of podcasters and improvisers Peter McNerney, of Story Pirates and Beth Newell, of We Knows Parenting. They've got some helpful advice when it comes to using improv in your parenting, plus simple tips and tricks to do everything from change up your story time to making your meals more interesting. And, as always, we close our show with our Cool Picks of the Week. You can reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and be sure to email us with questions or comments at spawned@coolmompicks.com. All of the links we mention in the show will be on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page.

If you've ever wished for more time like us, then you'll be so glad to listen to the wise words and experience of author Jake Knapp. He shares some of the techniques from his new book, Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day. He's got so many amazing tips, tricks, and thoughtful tidbits that you can implement right now. And as always, we share our cool picks of the week. Head over to our Cool Mom Picks podcast page to get more information about Jake's book, our awesome episode sponsor, and our cool picks. We love hearing from you, so be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and hey, drop us an email. We love hearing from you! 

On this episode of Spawned, we chat with author Kate Inglis about her new book: Notes for the Everlost: A Field Guide to Grief, where she provides a roadmap of the grieving process through her personal experience of losing her young on Liam. This topic is of a sensitive nature, so please be advised before listening, though we hope you do as we feel it's such an important discussion. You can reach out to us at spawned@coolmompicks.com, as well as on Twitter and Facebook. And, for more information about Kate's new book, visit our Cool Mom Picks podcast page.

Only one week left until Christmas, but fear not! We've got you covered with our annual Holiday Gift Guide! In this episode, we share some of our favorite holiday gifts, especially ones from indie artisans, handmade artists, and small businesses. And, don't miss our amazing Etsy giveaway! You can head over to Cool Mom Picks to get all the links and our favorite picks from the show. Plus, hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Or, drop us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com 

We know that the holidays can be a busy, stressful time for lots of families, which is why we thought it might be helpful to discuss ways we try to make the most out of the holidays (and not lose our minds) with our own families on our latest Spawned podcast. In this episode, we've got tips for creating moments that matter (that don't have to be expensive by the way), and well, just lots of inspiration to help you find more opportunities for comfort and togetherness. Our goal: to help you have a holiday that's more enjoyable and less stressful. You can find more about us and our podcast over on the Cool Mom Picks podcast page. Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, or email us at spawned@coolmompicks.com 

As we head into the holiday season with video games (and Fortnite) gifts topping our kids' wishlist, we're sharing one of our favorite Spawned episodes when we chatted with video game expert and author, Dr. Rachel Kowert. She discusses the benefits of video games, and when, if ever, you should be worried. Check out Dr. Kowert's book, along with the other links mentioned in this podcast, on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. And we'd love to hear from you. Email us at spawned@coolmompicks.com, tweet us @coolmompicks #SpawnedShow, or hit us up on Facebook. 

We both have gratitude on our minds right now. At a time that there is so much abundance -- food, gifts, parties -- and conversely, so many of us struggling with the season in general, it's so valuable for us to consider ways to help develop more gratitude in our kids. And honestly in ourselves. So this week on Spawned, you'll find a really honest, helpful (we hope!) conversation about how to be more mindful everyday gratitude, as a way to ground ourselves this holiday season and beyond, and to connect to the things that really matter. // Thanks so much for listening + subscribing! You can find show notes with links to all the info in this episode, including our cool picks of the week, on the Cool Mom Picks podcast page. 

The toddler years come with quite a reputation for putting parents through the ringer. But thanks to this week's guest, Dr. Heather Wittenberg, aka The BabyShrink, you might be able to maintain a bit more of your sanity. She answers questions our readers and listeners shared with us on social media and well, we think you'll be glad you listened whether you have toddlers or not. And as always, we close out our show with our Cool Picks of the Week. You can find all the links from our show on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. And we love hearing from you! Email us at spawned@coolmompicks.com, hit us up on Facebook, or tweet us with the hashtag #SpawnedShow. 

Working mom guilt is useless -- or wait, is it? Well, consider us schooled! If you're a working mom (or even a working dad), we think you'll get SO much out of this discussion with Jessica Turner, author of Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose the Guilt. She's got some terrific tips on why guilt can actually be a good teacher, how to make more time for yourself and your (non-kid) relationships, and one brilliant, simple, super quick way to help you overcome the guilt that inevitably comes with being a working mom. || Thanks so much for listening, subscribing, and just being you! You can find all the links you hear about today on our podcast page on Cool Mom Picks. And if you have questions, comments or show ideas, reach out at spawned@coolmompicks.com or on social at @coolmompicks on Facebook and @coolmompicks on Twitter. 

If you've been wondering how much you should give your kids for an allowance, or when you should open their own bank account, hey, us too! Get the answers and a whole lot more on this episode featuring Beth Kobliner, a New York Times bestselling author, financial expert, and mom-of-3, who's tackling all the kids and money questions we could squeeze into 40-minutes. || Questions? Comments? Hit up up at spawned@coolmompicks.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter @coolmompicks. And find all the links from today's show on the podcast page on Cool Mom Picks. And hey! Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Thanks for listening!

You can imagine how excited we were to discover our old friend Robert Mahar, previous owner of Mahar Dry Goods which we featured many times on Cool Mom Picks, was a contestant on NBC's new DIY craft show Making It. So we had to have him on an episode of Spawned to give us the scoop on the show, but more importantly, talk about how to help your kids and you find creativity. And as always, we close our show with our Cool Picks of the Week. Get all the links and information from our show over on our podcast page at CoolMomPicks.com. And if you've got questions or comments, we love hearing from you! Tweet us, drop us a comment on Facebook, or say "hello" on Instagram. 

We've probably all dealt with at least one mean girl in our lifetime, but now they're getting younger, and well, meaner. Our guest Katie Hurley, therapist and author of the new book "No More Mean Girls" helps us tackle this topic with smart tips and advice. Whether or not you're in the weeds with navigating challenging social situations with your kids, you'll definitely want to listen to this show, and grab a copy of Katie's book. You can get all the links from our show over on our podcast page at Cool Mom Picks. And be sure to hit us up on Facebook, Twitter, and email: spawned@coolmompicks.com. We love hearing from you! 

They're not mythical unicorns! Couples who work together actually exist. Lucky us, we got to chat with one of them on this episode of Spawned. We had a blast talking about balancing life in a love and work partnership with Tor Hyams, a Grammy-nominated songwriter and Lisa Rothauser, a singer, actor, and composer, who are currently working on a musical adaptation of the classic TV show, Green Acres. We think you'll appreciate their funny, frank conversations about a topic we know lots of people (including us) are curious about. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at spawned@coolmompicks.com, tweet us with #spawnedshow, or find us on Facebook. And make sure to visit our podcast page on Cool Mom Picks for all the links from our show. 

School's out, which means most of our kids are heading out for sleepaway camp, a few for the whole summer, and a few for just a week or two. There's even one going to Japan! (That's Kristen's oldest daughter). So, how do you decide if your kids are ready? How do you survive when they're gone? We're sharing our experiences on today's episode of Spawned, plus a super important Cool Pick of the Week that you won't want to miss. We'd love to hear from you! Drop us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com, tweet us using #SpawnedShow, or swing by Facebook. And head over to the Cool Mom Picks podcast page to get all the links from the show. 

Dog moms, single dads, the list of people trying to claim Mother's Day from moms goes on. So, we address it head on! Should moms get their own holiday? Do we all need to be able to celebrate everything? What about the folks who have a hard time with Mother's Day every year? We tackle these questions and more, plus share our cool picks of the week! Where can you find the links from our show, you ask? Head over to our podcast page on Cool Mom Picks. And we'd love to hear from you! Drop us an email: spawned@coolmompicks.com, tweet us @CoolMomPicks #SpawnedShow, or say "hi" on Facebook. 

With the recent Cambridge Analytica data breach and myriad privacy issues, we're taking a closer look at whether it's worth staying on Facebook. And if we do, how do we keep our information safe? We're sharing various perspectives on the pros and cons of Facebook, as well as what you should do going forward if you decide to stay. Plus, we share our Cool Picks of the Week. Got thoughts? Comments? Questions? Drop us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com, hit us up on Facebook (yep, we're still there), or tweet us using the hashtag #SpawnedShow. And head over to Cool Mom Picks to see all the links from our show. 

On today’s episode, we are joined by Kristen Chase (https://twitter.com/coolmompicks) , founder of Cool Mom Picks (http://coolmompicks.com/)& Spawned Podcast (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/spawned-with-kristen-and-liz-of-coolmompicks/id1002671438?mt=2) * We are talking all about the hottest gifts that don’t add to clutter * Listen to the entire episode here (https://soundcloud.com/simplyborganized) * You can also find lots of great gift gift ideas on the cool mom picks gift guide (http://coolmompicks.com/blog/category/gift-guides/) * Make sure to follow cool mom picks on Twitter (https://twitter.com/coolmompicks), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CoolMomPicks/), & Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/coolmompicks/) * If you're a fan of our show, please take a moment to leave us a review which makes it easier for people to find us * Visit simplyBorganized.com (http://simplyborganized.com/) for organizing tips, articles and checklists * Subscribe (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/this-organized-life/id1193014252?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4) to This ORGANIZED Life on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/this-organized-life/id1193014252?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4), Soundcloud ( https://soundcloud.com/simplyborganized) & GooglePlay (https://goo.gl/app/playmusic?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/Ijivcp24jevjbzg724xajolnyk4?t%3DThis_Organized_Life%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16) * New episodes air every Thursday! * Want More #TOL? Join our discussion group on facebook called This ORGANIZED Life (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1840271626300032/) and your questions may be featured in an upcoming episode!

With the "eating holidays" around the corner, we're looking at ways to keep our jeans from killing us with tightness. On this episode of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we're having a conversation about 5 of the most popular current diet trends, and we decide which ones might work for us (and maybe you too). Intermittent fasting? Ketogenics? If you've ever wondered about the buzz words you might have heard or seen on social media, now's your chance to get the scoop! (And of course, a reminder that we are not doctors -- duh -- so do not take our recommendations as medical advice). If you've got show suggestions, comments, or questions, drop us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com. You can also tweet us with #SpawnedShow or visit us on Facebook or Instagram. And be sure to head over to Cool Mom Picks to see all our show notes and links we mentioned. 

If you're like us, you've got emails piled up in your inbox, photos eating up memory on your phone, and don't even get us started with all the documents cluttering up your computer. But that's all about to change thanks to professional organization expert and Director of Global Community and Training at Evernote, Joshua Zerkel. He's got pretty amazing tips and tricks that can really help you get a handle on all your digital clutter and help you actually find the stuff you're looking for when you need it. Plus, we've got a few pretty fun Cool Picks of the Week, too. You can find all the links mentioned on our show over on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. Plus, let us know what you thought of the show on Twitter #SpawnedShow, Facebook, and email: spawned@coolmompicks.com. We love hearing from you. 

Who doesn't want more time in their day? On this episode of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we take a close look at 5 popular time organization techniques from the experts and talk about how they could work (or not) for parents. We bet you'll appreciate these smart ideas that could really help make your life as a busy parent easier. And, as always, we share our cool picks of the week. You can find everything we mentioned on the show over on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. And feel free to drop us a line and let us know what you think about the show. We're on Twitter (use #spawnedshow), Facebook, and Instagram. Or, email us at spawned@coolmompicks.com. 

With the popularity of the new Beauty and the Beast movie, we just had to address the issue of princess culture and whether it's healthy or hurtful. Can you still be a feminist parent with daughters obsessed with princesses? How does this all affect our sons? We tap into books, articles, research, and our own parenting experience as we chat about this controversial topic. You'll find all the links from our show over on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. And, be sure to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode! Thanks for your emails, tweets, and kind reviews. 

Whether you've got a kid who eats everything or the same four foods over and over, we've got tips, tricks, and helpful advice from our Cool Mom Eats food editor (and mom of 2), Stacie Billis that you won't want to miss. Tapping into her background in child development as well as her many years as a food writer, Stacie shares her advice on everything from how to get kids to eat better to ways to encourage picky eaters to try new foods, all without driving yourself crazy. Or, too crazy, that is. Plus, we share our cool picks of the week! Head over to our Cool Mom Picks podcast page to get what you might have missed during the show, and feel free to reach out to us with questions and comments. We love hearing from you! We're on Twitter @coolmompicks #SpawnedShow, Facebook, or drop us an email: spawned@coolmompicks.com. 

It can be tough to know where and when to start when it comes to kids and money. And don't even get started about the allowance question. How much? And for what? Well, we've got ALL the answers thanks to our special guest Beth Kobliner, who's a financial expert, and NYT bestselling author. We're chatting about her new book "Make Your Kid a Money Genius" and tackling our questions and yours, too. Plus, she tells us what we're doing right and wrong with our own kids. You won't want to miss this! You can find all the links from this episode on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. And feel free to reach out to us on Twitter #SpawnedShow, Facebook, and email: spawned@coolmompicks.com. 

Here are the top ten parenting fails shared on the podcast so far! Two weeks ago, we started the countdown at number 30 and counted down to 21. In last week’s episode, we counted down from 20 to 11. And while all of those stories were great, and I hope you go back and listen to them if you haven’t already, this episode features the best of the best parenting fails shared on the podcast. I realize that “best” is not really the best word when you’re talking about parenting fails, because one parenting fail isn’t better than another one - which made ranking these stories quite difficult. But I really think you will get something more than just comic relief by listening to these top 10 stories. The takeaway I hope you get isn’t that mistakes are no big deal. It’s that we all make mistakes, and that there’s no such thing as a perfect parent. And that being the case, it’s much healthier to be able to laugh at yourself than beat yourself up - not to mention much more entertaining. I'll continue to ask guests to share parenting fails, but here are the storytellers of the best fails shared on the podcast so far. 10. Kristen Chase, half of the duo from Cool Mom Picks, who were interviewed in episode 45 of the podcast. 9. Greg Pembroke, author of Reasons My Kid is Crying, who was interviewed in episode 4 of the podcast. 8. Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and author of more than 30 books, who was interviewed in episode 51of the podcast. 7. Hillary Frank, host of the Longest Shortest Time podcast, who was interviewed in episode 18 of the podcast. 6. Deva Dalporto, the YouTube sensation whose videos about parenthood have been downloaded millions of times, who was interviewed in episode 15 of the podcast. 5. Jill Smokler, the mom who created the Scary Mommy website, who was interviewed in episode 21 of the podcast. 4. Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, who was interviewed in episode 53 of the podcast. 3. Adam Mansbach, author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller Go the F**k to Sleep and the book You Have to F**king Eat,who was interviewed in episode 33 of the podcast. 2. Jeannie Gaffigan, comedian Jim Gaffigan’s writing partner who also happens to be his wife and was his co-writer on the Jim Gaffigan Show, who was interviewed in episode 38 of the podcast. 1. Michele Lepe, best known as Nina on the Good Night Show on Sprout. It’s not easy to rank parenting fails, but I knew this story would be number one as soon as I decided to do a countdown. I was so grateful when Michele agreed to be my first guest ever on the podcast. It helped launch the show with a great interview and she knocked it out of the park when she shared her parenting fail.

We thought it would be fun to do an Oscars episode, but then realized we hadn't seen any of the movies (unless you count a couple of the animated feature). Ah, parenting! So instead, we're talking about all the things that change when you have kids, from sleep to finances, to exercise and yes, not seeing the Oscar-nominated movies. And of course, we've got our cool picks of the week. Got a show idea? Want to say hello? Drop us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com or catch us on Twitter or Facebook. You can find all the links from our show over on Cool Mom Picks. Thanks for listening! 

This is Part Two in the three part series of the best parenting fails shared on the podcast so far. I realize that "best" is not really the best word to use when you’re talking about parenting fails, because one parenting fail isn’t better than another one, but it is fun to do “best of” countdowns. So, the takeaway I hope you get from listening to this series isn’t that mistakes are no big deal. It’s simply that we all make mistakes, and that there’s no such thing as a perfect parent. Make sure you subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts, so you don't miss the Top 10 Parenting Fails next week. As for parenting fails 11 through 20, here are the parents who made the list: 20. Amy McCready, the founder of Positive Parenting Solutions and author of The Me, Me, Me Epidemic, who was interviwed in episode 47 of the podcast. 19. Nick Thune, the actor and stand up comedian who has a Netflix special titled Folk Hero and a Seeso special titled Good Guy, who was interviewed in episode 6 of the podcast. 18. Sarah Maizes, Vice President of Children's Programming for The Jim Henson Company author of Got Milf?: The Modern Mom’s Guide to Feeling Fabulous, Looking Great, and Rocking A Minivan, who was interviewed in episode 41 of the podcast. 17. James Breakwell, the father of four daughters known by his 700,000 followers on Twitter as @xplodingunicorn, who was interviewed in episode 12 of the podcast. 16. Ilana Wiles, the mom behind the Mommy Shorts website and author of The Mommy Shorts Guide to Remarkably Average Parenting, who was interviewed in episode 54 of the podcast. 15. Greg Page, the founding member of the Wiggles also known as the Yellow Wiggle, who was interviewed in episode 8of the podcast. 14. Nate Bargatze, a comedian who has mutliple stand up comedy specials and has appeared on Conan and the Tonight Show multiple times, who was interviwed in episode 3 of the podcast. 13. Liz Gumbinner, half of the two moms who started Cool Mom Picks and host the Spawned Podcast, who were interviewed in episode 45 of the ParentNormal Comedy Podcast. 12. Jen Mann, author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat, who was interviewed in episode 5 of the podcast. 11. Sarah Turner, author of The Unmumsy Mum, who was interviwed in episode 25 of the podcast.

Considering pretty much everyone had something to say about Meryl Streep's Golden Globes speech, we figured we'd jump on the bandwagon too. On today's episode, we're sharing our first reactions, our controversial tweet that got us a couple unfollows, and why Liz played it for her kids. Oh yes she did. Plus, as always, our cool picks of the week. You can find all the links we talk about on our show over on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. Feel free to drop us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com, tweet us @coolmompicks with #Spawnedshow or catch us on Facebook. 

We've decided this is finally the year to actually tackle all those darn New Year's resolutions we make and just never seem to be able to keep. Whether you want to lose weight, eat better, take more time for yourself, read more, get your finances together (you get the idea), we're sharing our own advice, plus tips and tricks from the experts, on how to actually make 2017 of getting sh*t done. You can find all the links from the show on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. And we'd love to hear from you! Drop us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com, or tweet us @CoolMomPicks with #SpawnedShow. 

For every parenting victory, there is a parenting fail - perhaps several. But rather than get stressed out to the point of tears, it's usually better to laugh about the madness of parenthood. This episode is the sixth edition of parenting fails featuring parents who have appeared on the podcast to share their stories. Parents featured in this episode include: Dr. Robert Keith Wallace, author of Dharma Parenting, who was interviewed in episode 43 of the podcast. Kristen Chase, half of the duo from Cool Mom Picks, who were interviewed in episode 45 of the podcast. Liz Gumbinner, the other half of the Cool Mom Picks duo who were interviewed in episode 45 of the podcast. Leslie Patricelli, the children’s author and illustrator of popular books such as Potty, Yummy Yucky, Huggy Kissy and Big Little who was interviwed in episode 46 of the podcast. Amy McCready, the founder of Positive Parenting Solutions and the author of The Me, Me, Me Epidemic who was interviwed in episode 47 of the podcast. Richard Rende, a developmental psychologist and author of Raising Can-Do Kids who was interviewed in episode 48 of the podcast.

We decided that what we needed (hey, maybe you too) was some good old fashioned almost pee-your-pants laughter, so on today's episode of Spawned, we're sharing some of the best holiday humor from around the web. From weird Pinterest hoilday crafts using things you won't believe people used to make crafts, to hilarious holiday tweets, plus funny holiday cards, blog posts that made us cry-laugh, and lots more. We bet there's at least something in this episode that will make you chuckle or we'll give you your money back. Heh. You'll find all the funny links we discussed on our podcast over on Cool Mom Picks. We'd love to hear from you! Drop us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com, or tweet us @CoolMomPicks with #SpawnedShow. We're also on Facebook, Instagram, and MySpace. Okay, not really on MySpace but just making sure you're paying attention. 

We're all needing a little media respite these days and there's just something to be said about enjoying a little grown-up time once the kids are asleep to do just that. Our favorite past time: Binge watching, of course! On this episode, we play TV critics and share the 8 shows we're obsessed with right now, some because they're amazing, others because we're waiting for them to get better. Should you add them to your list? You can catch everything we mentioned on the show over on Cool Mom Picks. Share your favorite shows on Twitter with #spawnedshow, leave us a comment on Facebook, or email us: spawned@coolmompicks.com. And hey, tell a friend about our show. Or a dozen friends. The more the merrier! 

After a Cool Mom Picks Facebook post about an uber-for-kids service we featured on our Cool Mom Tech site blew up with a nasty comment about working parents, we just had to talk about it. On this episode, we're sharing the comment in question, plus real things fellow working parents have actually heard. You might not believe they're real. We try to figure out why people decide to say this stuff out loud, plus share our tips for staying sane and keeping your head above water as a working parent. Plus, we share our Cool Picks of the Week. You can find all the links from our podcast on Cool Mom Picks. Check us out on Twitter and Facebook, or drop us an email spawned@coolmompicks.com. 

We're debunking the whole "Work-Life Balance" myth with best-selling author Samantha Ettus, with solid ways to help you ditch mom guilt, the best kind of multi-tasking, and why Shonda Rhimes is the queen of email management, plsu a whole lot more.  You'll find information about Samantha's new book The Pie Life, plus all the links and cool picks we chat about on our show over on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. And, please take a moment to say "hello!" We're on Twitter, Facebook, and email: Spawned@coolmompicks.com. Thanks for listening! 

Kristen Chase from Cool Mom Picks and the Spawned podcast joins us for an epic chat about iOS10, the origin of Cool Mom Picks AND gives us some business insight! Check out the site www.coolmompicks.com and check out the Spawned podcast via iTunes! Theme song: "New Friends" by Tall Simon.

Two very cool moms are on the show this week - Kristen Chase and Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks. Since their Cool Mom Picks website was launched in 2006, it has grown into one of the best gear, style and design sites on the web for parents. Parents Magazine even called their site "The online arbiter of cool for the swingset crowd." Kristen and Liz also host their own podcast called Spawned, which I definitely recommend. They are both reallyentertaining and enjoyable to listen to, which you’ll hear in this episode. In our conversation, we talk about how Cool Mom Picks started, why it’s important for parents to share lessons and ideas with each other and some of the favorite things Kristen and Liz have reviewed on their site. They'll even offer advice for anyone thinking about starting their own website.

Our recent Cool Mom Picks feature on modest 2-piece bathing suit choices for girls sparked a huge debate on our Facebook page and we couldn't help but chat more about it on Spawned. What's okay for girls to wear? Should there be limits and dress codes? Or are we perpetuating sexist stereotypes when we do? We discuss all of it and more, plus share our Cool Picks of the Week. If you'd like to weigh in, we'd love to hear from you. Visit us on our podcast page on CoolMomPicks.com, hit us up on Facebook and Twitter (with the #SpawnedShow) and drop us an email: spawned@coolmompicks.com 

Susan Getgood, Roadmaps (blog) and Getgood Strategic Marketing and Liz Gumbinner, Cool Mom Picks join Toby to discuss how to build successful and respectful blogger relationships programs. Blogger Relations, as other social media strategies, have grown in complexity. The stakes are high and the give aways often over the top. But is it a credible marketing strategy?

Susan Getgood, Roadmaps (blog) and Getgood Strategic Marketing and Liz Gumbinner, Cool Mom Picks join Toby to discuss how to build successful and respectful blogger relationships programs. Blogger Relations, as other social media strategies, have grown in complexity. The stakes are high and the give aways often over the top. But is it a credible marketing strategy?

Kristen Chase of Cool Mom Picks talks about her site and recommends some Valentine's Day stuff that isn't cheesy. Hosts: Megan Morrone and Leo Laporte Guest: Kristen Chase Full show notes are available on Megan's blog, JumpingMonkeys.com. Bandwidth for Jumping Monkeys is provided by CacheFly. The Jumping Monkeys theme is by Paul Minshall.