Podcasts about Parent

Join me for a solo episode this week, and a look into alleviating mealtime tension and how to deal with body image baggage. I give six helpful tips to make mealtime easier, and discuss the acronym BALANCE, which you can use to ease mealtime stress. I also discuss the three principles for kids to grow up with a positive body image, and the importance of doing the work to shift how we see our bodies and others. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Pre-order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans https://draliza.com/pre-order/Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: draliza.substack.com Follow me on Instagram for more:@raisinggoodhumanspodcast Sponsored by: Quince: Go to Quince.com/humans for free shipping and 365-day returnsZip Recruiter: Try it FOR FREE at ZipRecruiter.com/HUMANSPique Tea: Secure 20% off your order and begin your intentional wellness journey today at Piquelife.com/humansMinnow: Shopminnow.com and enter code MEETMINNOW15 at checkout to receive 15% off your first orderPocket Hose: Text HUMANS to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may applyProduced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does dopamine actually do to our brains—and to our kids' brains? We welcome back science journalist and parenting expert Michaeleen Doucleff to discuss her latest book, DOPAMINE KIDS. After years as an NPR science reporter, and after writing the bestselling HUNT, GATHER, PARENT, Doucleff began noticing something unsettling in her own life: even during beautiful moments with her daughter, she felt pulled toward her phone. That realization led her to explore the powerful role of dopamine, the brain chemical tied to reward, motivation, and habit formation—and how modern technology and ultra-processed foods are designed to trigger it. In this conversation, Amy and Doucleff discuss how the dopamine-driven design of both screens and ultra-processed foods affects both kids and parents, often making it harder for families to reduce the use of these things in the home. They also explore practical ways families can reclaim attention, connection, and balance in a world full of digital distractions. Here' s where you can find Michaeleen: www.michaeleendoucleff.com Buy DOPAMINE KIDS: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9781668049839 What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: ⁠https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/⁠ mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid's behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, invisible workload, default parent, dopamine kids, Michaeleen Doucleff, dopamine and screens, parenting and technology, kids and smartphones, screen addiction kids, dopamine parenting, digital distraction families, parenting podcast technology, healthy screen habits kids, raising kids in the digital age Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 6 children in the U.S. between the ages of 3 and 17 have been diagnosed with a developmental disability. Data also shows more than 226,000 families in Georgia are caring for a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability. For decades, the nonprofit Parent to Parent of Georgia has provided statewide resources, free one-on-one support and training to families through its free Supporting Parent Program. Latoya Palmer-Addy, the CEO of Parent to Parent of Georgia, and Marshall Seal, a Supporting Parent volunteer, talked more about the services, trainings and impact of the program in Georgia. With two weeks left in the current Georgia Legislative Session, WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali says this is often when tensions can rise. He joined Closer Look with Rose Scott to provide an update on legislation already advancing to Governor Brian Kemp, as well as bills being reshaped as they move between chambers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stassi and Taylor kick things off talking fashion—Taylor's all in on the new Abercrombie while Stassi isn't totally convinced yet. They catch up on life, from Stassi heading to New York and feeling mom guilt about leaving Beau and the kids, to the humbling reality of being the non-preferred parent. After baby Beau happily coos for everyone except her, the two bond over how rough it is when you're trying your best and still not the favorite. They also get into mystery illnesses, some Oscars talk, and why the men from Mormon Wives might need to sit this one out.Thanks for supporting our sponsors:Hiya: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/STASSI.Boll and Branch : Take off 20% sitewide plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/stassi with code stassi.Ro: Go to RO.CO/STASSI to see if you're eligible for the new GLP-1 pill on Ro.Progressive: Progressive offers discounts for paying in full, owning a home, and more. Visit Progressive.com to see if you could save on car insurance. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How should parents act at baseball games? MLB agent Matt Hannaford shares the honest truth about what your game-day behavior is doing to your son — and his recruiting future. If you've ever felt the urge to yell coaching advice from the stands or voice your frustration about the lineup, this episode will change the way you show up to every game. Matt breaks down exactly why negative sideline behavior backfires — and what pro scouts and college recruiters actually think when they see it. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✓ Why negative comments at games are never received the way you intend them ✓ The real question to ask yourself before you yell anything from the stands ✓ How pro scouts and college recruiters evaluate parent behavior — and why it matters starting at age 10 ✓ Where the line is between supportive parenting and adding pressure ✓ The military analogy that reframes how you should present yourself at every game In this solo episode of the Most Valuable Agent Podcast, MLB agent Matt Hannaford tackles one of the most common questions he gets from travel baseball parents: how should I act at my son's games? Drawing from his own experience as a former player and years of representing professional athletes, Matt delivers a direct and honest message — during a game, your only role is to be supportive. Matt explains why even well-intentioned coaching advice shouted from the stands has the opposite effect of what parents want. He reveals that constructive criticism delivered during competition is almost never received productively, and shares how he's watched parent-player relationships suffer because of poor timing. The key insight: most parents yell because they need to get something off their chest — not because it will actually help their son. Perhaps most importantly, Matt pulls back the curtain on how the baseball industry evaluates families. Pro scouts actively befriend parents to assess what they're dealing with. College recruiting coordinators notice which parents are hotheads. And the universal belief in scouting circles? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If you're the parent who can't control yourself in the stands, it will directly impact your son's ability to be recruited, scouted, and drafted. Whether your son is 10 years old and just starting travel baseball or a high school prospect being evaluated by colleges, this episode gives you a clear framework for how to show up as the parent your son needs you to be. Check the timestamps below to jump to the section most relevant to you. SUBSCRIBE to the Most Valuable Agent Podcast for weekly insider content on travel baseball, college recruiting, and the MLB Draft. LINKS & RESOURCES → Related Episode — You Are Not the Hero of Your Son's Baseball Journey: https://youtu.be/jcw9Fluw6LY → Area Scout Interview Episode: https://youtu.be/4ZxkY3iohb4 → Full MVA Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5H4dTL0Gs4tsaF8gTNfIV_KiKbwntzjm → Follow Matt Hannaford: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/   #MostValuableAgent #TravelBaseball #BaseballParents #YouthBaseball #CollegeRecruiting

The teenage years are always tough, not just for the teens but also for the parents, teachers, and coaches in their lives.  Charlene Engstrom and Johan Fallby have decided to do something about this and their firm, Playwell Minds has developed an app and other teaching tools to develop in young people what they describe as "mental fitness."    Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Playwell Minds  The episode introduces Playwell Minds, an organization founded by Charlene Engstrom and Johan Fallby, focused on proactive mental fitness training for teens. Their app aims to help young people develop a positive mindset and coping skills.  01:42 Founders' Diverse Backgrounds  Charlene Engstrom, from a corporate background, and Johan Fallby, with experience in sports psychology, share their unique journeys to co-founding Playwell Minds. They discuss how their different expertise contributes to their mission of helping young people.  06:20 Playwell Minds: Proactive Mental Fitness  Playwell Minds provides a seven-step mental fitness methodology and an app for teens, focusing on proactive rather than reactive mental health support. The program draws on cognitive behavioral therapy, sports psychology, and positive psychology to help teens develop self-awareness and coping skills.  12:49 The Role of Phones and Apps  The discussion delves into how Playwell Minds utilizes a phone-based app to reach teens, acknowledging concerns about screen time and social media. The app offers a private space for self-reflection and encourages positive habits through short, focused exercises, contrasting with the negative aspects of social media.  21:04 Teaching Realistic Optimism  Charlene and Johan explain their approach to teaching realistic optimism, which involves self-awareness, enjoying the present, and accepting setbacks, drawing from CBT and positive psychology. They aim to counteract the unrealistic perceptions often fostered by social media by helping teens understand that life has ups and downs.  27:00 Parent and Community Involvement  The founders emphasize the crucial role of parents, teachers, and coaches in supporting teens' mental fitness by fostering a common language and understanding. They also advise parents to encourage solutions and celebrate small achievements, rather than solely focusing on results and adding pressure.  33:02 Impact and Future of Playwell Minds  Playwell Minds is actively pursuing formal research with universities to validate its positive impact, building on strong anecdotal evidence and survey results from over 1,400 students. The program is expanding from Sweden to the U.S. and France, with the goal of equipping teens with lifelong mental fitness skills.  43:10 Conclusion and Resources  The hosts reflect on the challenging yet admirable work of Playwell Minds in helping teenagers navigate modern pressures with realistic optimism. Listeners are encouraged to visit playwellminds.com and their YouTube channel for more information and resources on teen mental fitness.   

Stories we're covering this week:• Firearm Discovered in Parent's Purse at Summit High School Entrance• Mansfield Cancels May City Council Election After Candidates Run Unopposed• American Idol Contestant Named Grand Marshal for Pickle Parade• In Sports, it's a two-fer for Summit basketballIn the Features Section:• Angel Biasatti talks about simple ways to manage allergies in Methodist Mansfield News to Know• Brian Certain serves up a base-clearing libation in this week's Cocktail of the WeekIn the talk segment, Steve concludes his in-studio interview with Mansfield City Councilman Larry Broseh. We are Mansfield's only source for news, talk and information. This is About Mansfield.

Tess Connolly, LCSW, is a Parent and Family Coach with over 20 years of experience supporting children, teens, and families. She is the founder of Mindful Kids and Families and the host of The Single Parenting Reset Show Podcast, where she shares practical tools to strengthen communication, reduce conflict, and build deeper connections with tweens and teens. Tess believes the most powerful parenting skill is already inside you—it's rooted in the relationship you build with your child. She lives in Northern California with her teenage son and their dog, Red.On this episode of Smart Parents Successful Students, you will hear:● What parents often get wrong about screen time and what they should focus on instead● One practical shift to reduce power struggles when screen time becomes a constant conflict● A realistic, long-term approach to managing screen time that works for busy familiesYou can find Tess Connolly at her email- therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com. You can also find her at her www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com. Her Instagram link is: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulkidsandfamilies, along with her YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCdDjLaE_vy6_3S75Z1N Q.You can find Dynamis Learning on all the social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Helen can be reached at info@dynamislearningacademy.com.To schedule a free consultation to discuss your child's needs, including advocacy resources, academic planning, and/or obtain a tutor for your child, contact Helen Panos at 770-282-9931 or email her at the email address above.

In this episode, Jaclyn sits down with Erin, founder of Newborn Care and Family Care Services, to share expert newborn care advice every parent should hear. From common newborn myths to often-overlooked details that can make a big difference in a baby's early weeks, Erin offers practical guidance for new parents, growing families, and caregivers navigating life with a newborn. They discuss newborn sleep, feeding support, family transitions, and the small daily habits that can positively impact a baby's comfort, development, and overall well-being. Erin also shares feedback from working closely with families and highlights the simple things many parents may not realize can create more ease and confidence during the newborn stage. Whether you are preparing for your first baby, adjusting to life with a newborn, or looking for trusted parenting support, this conversation offers real insight, reassurance, and expert tips for the early days of parenthood. Topics include: newborn care, parenting myths, newborn support, family care, baby routines, and expert advice for new parents.   Liked this episode? Subscribe and leave a testimonial 

Ceci est un extrait de l'épisode 296 avec Johanna VorgereEn tant que parents on a toutes et tous connu un moment où les endormissements n'arrivent pas… où les soirées s'étirent.Ces réveils nocturnes qui épuisent les parents (et les enfants aussi d'ailleurs) et font douter de tout.On nous a beaucoup parlé de méthodes, de rituels, d'autonomie.On a parfois rendu pathologique ce qui est profondément normal.Et on a souvent oublié l'essentiel (et j'en fais partie) : les émotions, l'attachement, la relation.Pour en parler, j'ai reçu Johanna Vorgere, connue sous le nom d'ododobébé. Spécialiste du sommeil de l'enfant.Johanna propose une approche globale, incarnée, loin des recettes mécaniques. Avec elle, on remet le sommeil à sa juste place : comme une séparation, la plus grande de la journée pour un enfant, et donc un moment où le besoin de proximité explose.Dans cet épisode, on parle des tensions du coucher, de la pression que l'on se met, de ce que les réveils racontent, de la place du corps, de l'environnement, du lien.On parle aussi de réparation possible, même quand on est épuisé, même quand on a déjà tout essayé.Un échange qui redonne de l'air, du pouvoir aux enfants, et surtout beaucoup de douceur aux parents.Au programme :Gestion du sommeil des enfants (04:03)Importance de l'attachement (09:51)Rituels et routines d'endormissement (21:59)Réparation et connexion émotionnelle (29:25)Liens utiles :EP289- Votre enfant dort mal ? Il y a une solution Dr Madiha Ellaffihttps://johannavorgere.podia.com/https://www.instagram.com/johanna.vorgere?igsh=aDRyZ3l5bW9rbzZh&utm_source=qrHébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

In this episode, I discuss the importance of making tough but necessary decisions in parenting, leadership, and life that lead to long-term success and healthier relationships. True growth often requires embracing discomfort today for a better future tomorrow.Rate our show 5 stars for more like it!Join us on locals for more exclusive content and community here: https://seekingexcellence.locals.com/landing/video

When You Stop Second-Guessing Yourself as a Homeschool Mom, Self-Leadership Begins Many homeschool moms quietly live with a constant undercurrent of doubt. Am I doing enough? Am I doing this right? In this episode, Teresa sits down with Hilary to explore what happens when a homeschool mom stops second-guessing herself and begins leading her life and family with confidence. Hilary shares her journey through exhaustion, comparison, and feeling uprooted — and how reclaiming her voice and stepping into self-leadership transformed not only her homeschool life, but the atmosphere of her entire family. Insights on How to Stop Second-Guessing as a Homeschool Mom How Hilary navigated the chaos of moving, renovations, and family life while feeling lost and off-balance. Recognizing the hidden pressure to seek approval from others, even as a naturally strong and independent person. The moment Hilary realized that leadership is where you are — no title required — and how that insight shifted her approach to life and family. Practical tools that helped Hilary reclaim her energy and confidence: Visualization exercises to clarify personal and family goals Morning journaling practice to reconnect with herself and her priorities Creating community through book clubs, shared experiences, and collaborative projects How living intentionally and aligned with your values — prioritizing relationships, depth, and presence — transforms both your life and your children's experience. Examples of bringing learning and life to life with her kids: celebrating literature, exploring hands-on projects, and building meaningful family traditions. What This Episode Is About: Key Takeaways You are enough. Even strong, capable women can fall into comparison, but practicing trusting yourself and listening within is what you need. Leadership comes from within. Knowing your strengths, setting boundaries, and showing up authentically can transform and energize your family and community. Intentional living fuels growth. Clarity about values, priorities, and personal goals keeps you aligned through life's busy seasons. Your children mirror your energy. Modeling calm, confidence, and grounded presence shapes their inner voices and approach to life. Community amplifies impact. Collaborating with friends and other families creates memorable experiences and mutual support. And it’s just so much darn fun! Questions to Sit With Teresa paused during this episode and asked these questions directly. If you haven't answered them yet — here's your space. Where in your life are you seeking approval from others? How could you shift that inward? What small, intentional action could you take today to live your leadership more fully? How can you build meaningful family or community experiences that energize everyone involved? Stop Second-Guessing as a Homeschool Mom: Resources to Reclaim Your Confidence Reimagine & Renew Homeschool Mom Retreat Step away from the overwhelm and reconnect with your confidence, clarity, and joy as a homeschool mom. This immersive retreat helps you: Clarify your values, priorities, and family vision Build practical strategies for intentional living and confident leadership Create space for connection, reflection, and rejuvenation with other homeschool moms Reserve your spot and start leading your life and homeschool journey with clarity and energy → Bonus: Every attendee receives a downloadable Wellness Journal for Homeschool Moms and a chance to win a private coaching session with Teresa. Save Your Seat! Aligned Life & Homeschool Coaching If you're craving more than a moment of clarity — if you want transformation that becomes your new normal — the Aligned Homeschool Reset Session is your next step. Teresa works with homeschool moms who are feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or quietly questioning if they're enough. She's been exactly where you are — navigating chaos, building confidence, and creating intentional, joyful homeschool lives. In an Aligned Homeschool Reset Session, you'll: Clarify your values and priorities so you can homeschool with confidence Explore practical strategies for leading your life and your family with intention Discover ways to show up fully for your kids while staying grounded and energized If you're ready to stop surviving and start thriving, Teresa would love to walk alongside you. Book your Aligned Homeschool Reset Session with Teresa → Book a conversation with Teresa Share This Episode Know a homeschool mom who needs to hear this? Send her this episode. Facebook Instagram Pinterest Linkedin YouTube Latest episodes you might also enjoy: Stop Second-Guessing as a Homeschool Mom (& Use Your Magic) March 17, 2026 “You’re Not Falling Apart. You’re in the Winter Homeschool Slump.” March 10, 2026 The Lies Homeschool Moms Believe That Makes Everything Harder March 2, 2026 You’re Not Failing. You’re Caught In An Inner Critic Loop. Here’s How to Get Out February 24, 2026 How to Stop People-Pleasing as a Homeschool Mom (One Mom’s Story) February 17, 2026 How to Stop the Inner Critic as a Homeschool Mom: The Charmed Life I Was Chasing (& the Pattern I Didn’t Know I Was Living) February 10, 2026 The Most Important Way to Take Care of Yourself as an Overwhelmed Homeschool Mom February 2, 2026 How to Do Kindergarten in Your Homeschool: A Fun & Effective Guide January 29, 2026 The Real Reason You’re Overwhelmed (It’s Not the Curriculum) January 26, 2026 Unexpected Feelings When Your Homeschooler Gets Accepted to University January 22, 2026 How to Stop Being a Hostage to Homeschool Pressure (& What to Do Instead) January 19, 2026 The Truth About Finding Your Homeschool Rhythm January 13, 2026 The Confident Homeschool Mom Podcast: Introducing the 1% Pivot January 6, 2026 Purpose-Driven Homeschool Planning for 2026: How to Recalibrate the Year with Clarity December 23, 2025 1% Shift to a Calm Homeschool Life December 23, 2025 12 Things I've Learned About Homeschool Moms: Self-Care Tips for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms December 10, 2025 12-Day Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge to Come Back to Yourself December 2, 2025 What is the Reimagine Your Homeschool Group Coaching? November 18, 2025 Not Just a Homeschool Mom — Why You’re Disappearing (And How to Come Back) November 11, 2025 Teaching World War to a Homeschooled Eight Year Old November 10, 2025 Reimagine Your Homeschool: Feel Free, Inspire Curiosity and Do What Works November 5, 2025 the role of imagination in a home education November 4, 2025 Helping Our Kids Live Their Lives on Purpose: A Practical Guide for Homeschool Moms October 28, 2025 How to Set Realistic High School Expectations? Learn Human Development October 20, 2025 How to Build Homeschool Routines that Support YOU October 14, 2025 Why Deschooling? To Feel Confident, Certain & Good Enough October 7, 2025 The Ultimate Guide to Building Boundaries and Healthy Relationships for Homeschool Moms September 23, 2025 Ultimate Homeschool Overwhelm Quiz That Reveals Your Hidden Stress Triggers in 5 Minutes September 15, 2025 Start Homeschooling in British Columbia: How to Decide September 9, 2025 How to Create an Effective Homeschool Routine that Works for You September 2, 2025 Interest-Led Homeschool for Confident Moms: An Enneagram 8 Mom's Story of Growth August 28, 2025 How Do I Unschool My Child? 5 Simple Steps to Spark Natural Learning August 19, 2025 9 Mistakes That Make Your 1st Homeschool Year Stressful (& How to Avoid Them) August 13, 2025 Top Tips for New Homeschool Moms in Season 3 August 11, 2025 5 Challenges Working Homeschool Moms Face—And How to Overcome Them August 5, 2025 How to Manage Overstimulation as a Homeschool Mom July 30, 2025 Reclaim You: Rediscover Life Beyond the Homeschool Mom Role July 22, 2025 A Summer Reset for Homeschool Moms: The Secret to a More Peaceful Year Ahead July 15, 2025 How to Help Reluctant Writers: Julie Bogart on Homeschool Writing July 7, 2025 7 Ways Brené Brown Rescued Me from One of those Homeschool Days June 30, 2025 Morning Affirmations for Homeschool Mama: A Simple Practice for You to Parent with Intention June 24, 2025 5 Overlooked Mistakes That Are Stressing You Out as a Homeschool Mom (& How to Fix Them) June 18, 2025 The Soul School Way: Books as Mirrors, Windows, and Voices for Homeschool Families June 3, 2025 Sibling Bickering in Homeschool Families: What's Normal & How to Handle It May 27, 2025 Homeschool Mom Boundaries: 6 Truths That Will Set You Free May 20, 2025 How the Mother Wound Affects Homeschool Moms—and How to Break Free May 12, 2025 Homeschool Mom Boundary Issues? You’re Not Doing This… May 6, 2025 How to Deschool as a Homeschool Mom and Rediscover Your Identity April 30, 2025 How my story of deschooling brought more freedom & purpose April 22, 2025 How to Know if Deschooling is Right for You: 7 Signs you Need to Deschool April 13, 2025 Subscribe to the Homeschool Mama Self-Care podcast YouTube Apple Audible Spotify (function(m,a,i,l,e,r){ m['MailerLiteObject']=e;function f(){ var c={ a:arguments,q:[]};var r=this.push(c);return "number"!=typeof r?r:f.bind(c.q);} f.q=f.q||[];m[e]=m[e]||f.bind(f.q);m[e].q=m[e].q||f.q;r=a.createElement(i); var _=a.getElementsByTagName(i)[0];r.async=1;r.src=l+'?v'+(~~(new Date().getTime()/1000000)); _.parentNode.insertBefore(r,_);})(window, document, 'script', 'https://static.mailerlite.com/js/universal.js', 'ml'); var ml_account = ml('accounts', '1815912', 'p9n9c0c7s5', 'load');

What if communion isn't just a ritual—but the most powerful way to practice hope in a broken world? In this moving conversation, Anglican priest Hannah Miller King shares how the Eucharist became her lifeline after losing her father at 14 and her youngest brother to suicide, why the Lord's Table can become "the altar call every Sunday," and how bottom-up healing through embodied rituals can reach us in ways theology alone cannot.Hannah unpacks insights from her book Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness such as why some prayers remain unanswered (and that's a feature, not a flaw), and how communion frames the gospel for me, for us, and for the world.Key Insights:01:51 - Faith Forged in Unanswered Prayers: Losing a Parent at Young Age03:18 - Falling in Love with the Local Church as Family05:51 - How Communion Brings Hope08:35 - Re-Familied as a Daughter of God at the Lord's Table11:11 - Looking Back AND Looking Forward at Communion15:19 - The Lord's Supper and Church Hurt (When the Family Is Dysfunctional)21:36 - Someone Is at the Helm of History Who Is Not Anxious Right NowResources Mentioned:Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness by Hannah Miller KingHannah Miller King's website: hannamillerking.comFollow Innovative Church Leaders:Website: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeadersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeChurchLeaders/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/innovativechurchleadersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleadersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleadersEric Bryant:Website: https://ericbryant.org/Hannah Miller King:Website: https://hannamillerking.com/Pastoral Cohort with N.T. Wright: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/cohort/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNnSomeone is at the helm of history who is not anxious right now. Pause and be re-rooted at innovativechurchleaders.org#ChurchLeadership #Eucharist #Communion #Sacraments #ChristianHope #AlreadyNotYet #WomenInMinistry #Anglican #PastoralCare #Grief

Stéphanie Van Oost est psychothérapeute. Invitée de l'émission "Un Jour Une Vie", elle est venue compléter le témoignage d'Éric dont le père a disparu du jour au lendemain lorsqu'il avait 9 ans. Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Strong-willed kids can be some of the most challenging — and the most incredible — kids to parent.In this bonus mini-episode, Sarah and Corey talk about what makes strong-willed kids unique, why they can feel so hard to parent in everyday moments, and why their determination, honesty, and sense of justice are traits to be celebrated.They also discuss how small shifts in how we communicate with strong-willed kids can dramatically reduce power struggles while preserving connection.If you're parenting a child who pushes back, refuses to be bossed around, and stands firmly in their beliefs, this conversation will help you see their strengths and learn how to work with their temperament instead of constantly fighting against it.Sarah also shares details about her upcoming workshop on parenting strong-willed kids. You can find the workshop at https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/workshop00:00 — Strong-willed kids: a blessing and a challengeWhy Sarah and Corey both love working with strong-willed kids.01:00 — What makes strong-willed kids specialTheir sense of justice, independence, and willingness to question authority.02:00 — Why strong-willed kids can make everyday parenting harderWhen kids won't “just put their coat on.”03:00 — A real-life example of strong-willed determinationSarah's story about her niece tying her shoes while holding a fidget spinner.05:00 — The nervous system reaction to being told what to doWhy strong-willed people resist being bossed around.06:00 — The surprising realization Sarah's son had at age 13Why he thought one parent was “better.”07:00 — Power struggles and how to avoid themWhy connection matters so much with strong-willed kids.08:00 — Workshop announcementParenting Strong-Willed Kids: Tools to Reduce Power Struggles Without Crushing Their Spirit.Sarah: Hi, Corey.Corey: Hey, Sarah.Sarah: Let's talk about strong-willed kids. Are your kids strong-willed?Corey: Absolutely.Sarah: Yeah, both. What about you?Corey: Both of them. And yes—the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I am extremely strong-willed.Sarah: Me too. And my kids— all three of my kids are strong-willed. And me and my husband. You should see us play board games together.It did make it harder to parent them. And I also love how I am, and I love how my kids were and are. What do you love about strong-willed kids?Corey: I love so much about strong-willed kids. I actually think some of my favorite clients to work with are those who have strong-willed kids.Sarah: For sure.Corey: Because these kids are just… what I love about them is they're going to change the world. They're not going to just go along with the crowd. They're not going to just do things because you said so. They're going to really think deeply about things. They have this deep sense of right and wrong.Sarah: Justice. Yeah.Corey: Yes—justice guiding who they are and what they want to do in the world.Sarah: Yeah. What I love about strong-willed kids is that they speak their truth. You know how they feel. They're not afraid to speak their truth about what they like and what they don't like.Corey: Yeah. You always know where you stand with them. There's no guesswork involved with a strong-willed kid.Sarah: Yeah. And they're so willing to stand up for what they believe in—even if it comes at a cost to them.I love how they won't be bossed around. Because they're little and they're still learning, sometimes they don't realize it's at their own expense.Corey: Yes.Sarah: I think it's something to be admired. And also, as a parent, it makes it tough sometimes to work with them.Corey: Absolutely. There have been so many times where I look at my kids, or I'm talking to clients, and we're just like, “Why can't they just go put their coat on now?”We have these busy schedules we're trying to get through, and sometimes when you have these little strong-willed kids, you feel like you can't get through the schedule because they won't just go do what you ask them to do.Sarah: Yeah.One time when I was teaching a workshop on strong-willed kids—and another one's coming up; we'll get to that—I looked up the dictionary definition of strong-willed. It was something like: tends to do what one wants, even if others advise against it.And I love that.It reminds me of something that happened recently. As you know, I was visiting my sister and my niece, who's eight. I was helping get my niece ready for school. She was tying her shoes, and she had a fidget spinner in one hand while trying to tie them.Of course, tying your shoes is already tricky when you're still learning, and trying to do it with a fidget spinner makes it even harder.I casually said, “Let me hold that.”She said, “No.”I started laughing, and she looked at me.I said, “Have you ever heard the expression cut off your nose to spite your face?”She said no.I explained that it basically means making things harder for yourself just to prove a point. I told her, “I don't care if you hold that fidget spinner while you tie your shoes, but it's making life harder for you. I love that you don't want to be bossed around, and I admit I kind of gave you an order to let me hold it. I love that you're standing up for yourself and not letting anyone boss you around. But holding onto that fidget spinner while tying your shoes is making things harder for you.”She didn't say anything.She finished tying her shoe with the fidget spinner still in her hand.Then when she moved to the next shoe, she handed it to me and said, “Will you hold this?”I said, “Sure.”And she tied her shoe without the fidget spinner.That's such a good example of how strong-willed kids can be. If my husband tells me to do something I was already planning to do, I can feel my nervous system activate—like, He can't tell me what to do.But because I'm a grown-up with experience, I don't shout “No!” when that happens.So that little tweak can really make things easier for strong-willed kids—and for us.Corey: Absolutely.And we were saying off camera too—obviously you are also my boss, and you are the only person in my life who can tell me what to do, and I happily do it without that nervous system response.So all those tweaks that you've taught me over the years—how you manage me—show that there really is a way to work with strong-willed people, whether it's a little kid or a grown-up, to make them feel empowered when you're working together.Sarah: Totally.My middle son is extremely strong-willed. He's 21 now, but growing up he absolutely would cut off his nose to spite his face so he wouldn't feel bossed around.My husband tends to be a bit more traditional—still peaceful, but a little more direct and demanding.One time when my son was about 13, he said, “Dad's a better parent than you are.”I said, “Really? Why do you say that?”He said, “Because I always do what he tells me to do.”I knew what he meant. My husband would say things like, “You have to do this,” and my son would comply.So I asked him, “Have I ever asked you to do something that you didn't do?”He stopped and thought.Then he said, “No.”The difference was that he didn't feel bossed around when I asked him to do something.And he usually did follow my husband too because he felt connected to him—which is another really important thing with strong-willed kids: connection.But it was funny watching his face as the realization landed. The ground shifted for him.He realized, “I do what my mom asks too. I just don't notice that she's telling me what to do.”I thought that was hilarious.Corey: That shows you worked with him so effectively that he didn't even notice directions were happening.Sarah: Yeah, exactly.Well, there are so many fun things to talk about with strong-willed kids. I love them so much.But I also see parents every day—and I know you do too—who feel really stuck. They feel like they're constantly battling and getting into power struggles.That's why I'm teaching a workshop on this.It's on Wednesday, March 18th at noon Eastern time. You can go to reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/workshop to sign up.If you have a strong-willed kiddo, this workshop is for you.If you're in our membership, it's included, so don't sign up separately.It's a live workshop on Zoom where we'll talk about how to work with strong-willed kids so you can get through the day without feeling like you're constantly fighting with them—while still preserving connection and getting the things done that need to get done.If you can't make it live, you'll get the replay and a cheat sheet afterward.If you're listening to this on the podcast, we'll put the link in the show notes.If you're seeing this on Instagram, the link is in my bio.I hope to see everyone there.Thanks, Corey.Corey: 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

This week we're discussing Growing Up with a Solo Parent. One of the heaviest things a solo parent carries is not a task or a bill or a hard conversation. It is a question. The one that surfaces when the house is finally quiet and you have a moment to think. You wonder whether the circumstances your kids are growing up in, the things they are missing, the instability, the absence, the gaps you cannot fill on your own, will cost them something down the road that no amount of love can make up for. Robert Beeson, Founder and CEO of Solo Parent, and Elizabeth Cole, single parent, sit down with Andy Marshall, entrepreneur, Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame inductee, and candidate for Williamson County Mayor. Andy's childhood was marked by instability, abuse, and loss. The odds were stacked against him in every direction. What he became anyway is worth paying attention to, not because his story wraps up neatly, but because of what it reveals about resilience, community, and the quiet ways God can work through even the most broken circumstances. For solo parents carrying the weight of what their kids might be missing, this conversation offers something more useful than reassurance. It offers perspective. Key Insights from This Episode: Children are shaped not only by what they have at home but by the people outside it who choose to see them. The adults who showed up consistently for Andy, coaches, neighbors, volunteers, quietly rebuilt what his home life was tearing down. Routine and predictability are not just practical tools. For kids in unstable homes, the simple consistency of a meal time or a homework check can feel like the first real safety they have known. A hard childhood does not have to become a tragic story. In the right hands, and with even one person who believes in you, the pressure and the struggle can become the very thing that builds something lasting. Nobody gets through a childhood like Andy's unscathed. But he closed by saying he doesn't look back on his life as a tragedy. He looks back on all the ways God placed people in his path to get him exactly where he was meant to be. That is something worth holding onto. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: A. Marshall Hospitality Andy Marshall Boys and Girls Club Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App  Join a Solo Parent Online Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

________________________ Get started in April on your most important project. Learn more here _________________________ Retirement planning focuses heavily on finances — investments, Social Security, and risks. But there's another question that often sneaks up on people once the career chapter closes: Do I still matter? Our guest today has spent years researching one of the most powerful psychological needs we have as human beings — the need to feel valued and to add value. Jennifer Breheny Wallace is an award-winning journalist and author of the new book Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose. Her work explores how feeling significant, appreciated, invested in, and depended on shapes our well-being throughout life. And her insights have important implications for retirement. Because when work ends, many people lose one of the primary places where they knew they mattered — where their contributions were visible, valued, and relied upon. In this conversation, we explore:        • Why the need to matter doesn't diminish with age       • How retirees can build what Jennifer calls a “mattering portfolio”       • The surprising research on relationships and resilience       • Practical daily actions that restore a sense of meaning and contribution If you're thinking about retirement — or already there — this conversation may change how you think about purpose, connection, and belonging in the next chapter. _________________________ Bio Jennifer Breheny Wallace is the author of Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose.  She is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author whose work explores the power of mattering in our everyday lives. Through research and storytelling, Wallace examines the hidden forces shaping modern life, from the crisis of meaning in achievement culture to the essential role of mattering in personal, workplace, and societal health.  Her first book, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic — And What We Can Do About It, was a New York Times Bestseller, an Amazon Best Book of the Year, and a Next Big Idea selection. Wallace is the founder of The Mattering Institute, whose mission is to create cultures of mattering in workplaces and communities, and co-founder of The Mattering Movement, a nonprofit whose mission is to create cultures of mattering in K-12 schools. Wallace has partnered with The LEGO Group on its global Play Unstoppable campaign to address perfectionism and grow confidence through play. She has also consulted with Calm wellness app, Netflix, and is a BCG  BrightHouse Luminary. She serves on the University of Michigan’s Well-being Collective Advisory Council, and the Advisory Board for Making Caring Common, a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Wallace is a Journalism Fellow at The Center for Parent and Teen Communication at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. After graduating from Harvard College, Wallace was a journalist for CBS “60 Minutes” and was part of the team that won The Robert F. Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism. She is a contributor to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post and frequently appears on national television programs to discuss her work. Wallace serves on the board of the Coalition for the Homeless in New York City, where she lives with her husband and their three children. ___________________________ For More on Jennifer Breheny Wallace Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose by Jennifer Breheny Wallace Website ___________________________ Mentioned in This Retirement Podcast  The Retirement Crisis No One Warns You About: Mattering – The Wall Street Journal Video: Taylor Mali (What Do You Make?) ____________________________ Your choices shaped your career. But when retirement approaches, a new design challenge appears. Not a financial one. A life design challenge. What will your days look like? What will energize you?  What might the next five years become? In the Designing Your New Life in Retirement program, you’ll step back from the fray and apply design thinking to those questions, with a bias for action. Learn more here. Our next two groups begin in April. Join us and get started on your most important project. _____________________________ Podcast Conversations You May Like What Matters Most – Diane Button How to Live a Meaningful Life – Dave Evans Retiring: Creating a Life That Works for You – Teresa Amabile ____________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You'll get smarter about the investment decisions you'll make about the most important asset you'll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren't quite done yet, discover what's next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn't just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master's degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He's the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. ______________________________ Wise Quotes On Adding Value “I found this very common thread among the hundreds of people that I interviewed who, when they were going through a life transition—if it was retirement or grief, getting divorced, all these things—what they did over and over again was that they found new ways to add value. And so they would look for what I call in the book a genuine need in the world. And then they would use either their time or their talents or their treasure to meet those needs. It's kind of a handy formula for finding purpose.” On Your Mattering Portfolio “Plan your retirement social portfolio—your mattering portfolio—as carefully as you plan your financial portfolio…You are only one decision, one action away from getting back on that path to mattering.”  

 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  Galatians 6:9 In this encouraging throwback conversation, Deb and Annelise talk about how to parent prophetically—learning to listen to the Holy Spirit, speak life over your children, and recognize the gifts and calling God has placed in their lives.If you're a mom who desires to raise your children with faith, vision, and spiritual sensitivity, this episode will encourage your heart and remind you that God is with you in every step of motherhood.Mama, the seeds you are planting today will bear fruit in the next generation.P.S. March is Friends & Family Month in the Radiant Mom Sisterhood!

Stop scrolling at bedtime and start building your family's AI-powered escape plan tonight Summary Unlock the power of AI with this 18-minute crash course tailored specifically for busy parent entrepreneurs navigating online entrepreneurship and digital marketing. In this episode, Ace Allan reveals practical AI mastery techniques designed to dramatically improve your email marketing and digital product creation, leading to higher conversion rates and increased passive income. Busy parents and digital entrepreneurs will learn how to harness AI effectively with a proven 4-part prompting formula, transforming AI from a frustrating tool into your most profitable team member.   Discover how to pick the right AI tools, craft master prompts, and apply pull versus push techniques to streamline your online business. Ace illustrates these tactics through real-world success stories, including a Denver mom's leap from a 2% to 23% email conversion in just seconds. This episode is packed with actionable marketing strategies, email marketing tips, and digital marketing insights tailored for parent entrepreneurs looking to build digital products and side hustles that fit their lifestyle.   Join us and start building your AI-powered escape plan today. Whether you're a podcast entrepreneur, digital course creator, or looking to make money online with smart marketing strategies, this episode offers clear, practical guidance. Subscribe to the AI Escape Plan Newsletter for ongoing digital marketing tips and entrepreneurial advice to help you grow your online opportunities while protecting precious family time.     Key Timestamps 00:00 - Opening - The 10:47 PM reality 00:50 - Episode Overview - The AI crash course roadmap 01:20 - The Brutal Truth - Why you're NOT actually behind on AI 02:05 - Denver mom goes from 2% to 23% email conversion in 12 seconds 03:30 - The Parent Entrepreneur's AI Mastery Framework Introduction 04:50 - Step 1: Pick Your AI Tool and Stick With It - Why tool hopping kills progress 06:20 - Step 2: The 4-Part Prompting Formula (Role, Context, Command, Format) 09:00 - Step 3: Mastering Pull vs Push Technique - Let AI do the heavy lifting 10:50 - Step 4: Create Your Master Prompt - The secret weapon of AI masters 14:30 - The Bigger Picture - Why this matters beyond tactics (Industrial Revolution comparison) 16:35 - Whiskered Wisdom - Your immediate 18-minute action plan     Key Insights & Strategies Shared The AI Reality Check 90% of people using AI are doing it wrong and getting mediocre results Tracy's Transformation Case Study Denver mom, 2 kids under 8, project manager at mid-size tech company The Parent Entrepreneur's AI Mastery Framework Step 1: Pick Your AI Tool and Stick With It Stop tool hopping between ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini Masters go deep before they go wide Recommended: Start with ChatGPT (most integrations, biggest community, most forgiving) Step 2: The 4-Part Prompting Formula Every prompt needs four elements: ROLE - Tell AI what to be CONTEXT - Give background information COMMAND - Be specific about what you want FORMAT - Tell it what you want the output to be Before vs After Example: Before: "Write me a marketing email" (4 words) After: "Act like a world-class email marketing expert specializing in busy parent audiences. Here's my previous email that converted well [attach context]. Write me a 150-word email that creates urgency around my time management course for working moms, focusing on the fear of missing their kids' milestones due to work overwhelm, and format it as a ready-to-send email including subject line." Step 3: Mastering Pull vs Push Technique Push Prompting: You do 80% of work, AI finishes last 20% Pull Prompting: Give AI an outcome, have it figure out how to get there Instead of: "Here's my outline, write my blog post" Try: "I need a blog post that converts cold traffic to email subscribers for my parent productivity newsletter. Ask me all the questions you need to create this for me, then give it back in ready-to-publish format." Step 4: Create Your Master Prompt The secret weapon separating AI amateurs from masters Give AI your personal manual Say: "I want to create a master prompt for my role as a parent entrepreneur building digital products and online courses. Ask me all the questions you need to create it for me." AI will ask about: business, audience, goals, constraints, voice, offers Answer using voice-to-text, save result as PDF/Google Doc   Resources Mentioned AI Tools ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) - Recommended starting point Claude - Alternative AI tool Gemini - Google's AI platform Automation Platforms Zapier - Workflow automation Make.com - No-code automation platform HighLevel ($97/month) - All-in-one marketing platform Productivity Tools Voice-to-text functionality (phone/laptop/computer) Google Docs for saving master prompts PDF creation for master prompt storage Newsletter Announcement AI Escape Plan Newsletter - Moving to 2 newsletters per week DarkHorseInsider.com Structured journey from beginning to end over the course of a year Designed for busy parents with limited time Focus: Start, grow, and streamline side hustles while protecting family time   Action Steps to Take Immediate Action (Right After This Episode) Open ChatGPT (or chosen AI tool) Create your first master prompt using this exact phrase: "Help me create a master prompt for my role as a parent entrepreneur. Ask me the questions you need." Hit enter and answer the questions (use voice mode if available) Save the result as PDF or Google Doc Use it tomorrow - don't try to do everything in one session   Subscribe to the AI Escape Plan Newsletter - Now featuring 2 newsletters per week taking you on a complete journey from "I don't know what to do" to "Look at all the things I've done." Specifically designed for busy parents ready to break free from the 9-to-5 grind. Each issue delivers practical, AI-powered strategies to start, grow, and streamline side hustles - all designed to protect your family time while boosting your income. Visit: DarkHorseInsider.com Your roadmap to more money, more freedom, and more of what truly matters.

I've spent over 30 years in the food industry, but my relationship with what's on my plate started long before that, in the markets of Alexandria, Egypt. In this special episode, I'm sharing a conversation I had with Abby of One Potato, where we peel back the layers on something I believe in with my whole heart: food is agency, power, and responsibility. We get real about the moment my father's cancer diagnosis made food safety personal, and why my husband's health journey connected the dots back to the pesticides we accept as normal. For National Nutrition Month, we're cutting through the noise of fear-based diet culture to talk about what truly nourishes us. We discuss reclaiming carbs without guilt, the "racist" undertones of America's food rules, and how to raise kids who cook without turning mealtime into a battle. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the grocery store or wondered how to thrive in midlife instead of just shrinking, this is the conversation you need to hear. Let's dig in.   0:00 – Intro: Why This Conversation Matters for National Nutrition Month 2:48 – Growing Up in Egypt: The Rhythm of Daily Markets and Family Tables 3:11 – Immigrating to the US: The Culture Shock of Sterile Grocery Stores 7:59 – The Wake-Up Call: Becoming a Parent and Facing a Polluted Food System 9:38 – Food as Culture: Why America's Protein Rules Feel "Racist" and Elitist 11:56 – Personal Connection: My Husband's Cancer and the Truth About Roundup 17:03 – Defining Clean Eating: It's Not About Restriction, It's About State 22:37 – The #1 Habit: Just Cook (And Why It's a Bonding Experience) 23:06 – Family Memory: The Emotional Power of Molokhia, the Soup of Kings 28:13 – Picky Eaters: 3 Tips to Get Kids to Try New Foods (Without the Fight) 37:44 – Thriving Over 40 42:21 – My Journey Back to Bread 44:52 – Essential Cooking Skills: Grilling and Poaching for Everyone 46:49 – Rapid Fire: Pantry Staples, Superfood Sprinkle, and Favorite Tools 55:23 – Outro & Listener Takeaways   Food as power, Chef Mareya interview, One Potato podcast, clean eating definition, how to raise kids who cook, picky eater tips for parents, immigrant food stories, Egyptian food Molokhia, pesticide residue on food, Roundup cancer risk, non-toxic living, thriving in midlife, recondition your taste buds, anti-diet culture nutrition, National Nutrition Month 2026, The Real Dish, Chef Mareya, the fit foodie, Podcastize   Mentioned Resources   Eat Cleaner (now owned by Clean Boss) Superfood Sprinkle Eat Like You Give a Fork: The Real Dish on Becoming a Fit Foodie (Cookbook) ChefMareya.com Whole Foods Market Alfalfa's Markets  

Yes, it's true - Head to Heart will be RELAUNCHING in September 2026!Laurie Krieg joined me for the 3rd time on the podcast to dive into her new book, Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World. We discuss:- How to look into the future without fear, but hope, wisdom & confidence- How to entrust your kids to the One who cares for them more than you do- How to disciple in bite sized conversations, not one long lecture- How to explain LGBTQ+ issues to children with a Gospel-centered approach- How to invite your trusted community into your family so you don't have to do this aloneSHOW NOTES:https://lauriekrieg.com/resources/raising-wise-kids/

3/8/26 - Dr. Jacobs Discusses Parent Behavior At Youth Sporting Events by Dr. Andrew Jacobs

In today's episode I sit down with professor Arthur Brooks to explore what actually makes a life feel meaningful in a culture obsessed with achievement, optimization, and measurable success. We talk about why happiness is more than a feeling, the difference between pain and suffering, how meaning is built through coherence, purpose, and significance, and why so many high achievers still feel empty. We discuss practical ways to resist the pressure to turn ourselves and our kids into “human doings,” and instead to just love ourselves are our children for who they are, not just for what they accomplish.I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsLSubscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/Follow me on Instagram for more:@raisinggoodhumanspodcast Sponsors:Experian: Get started with the Experian App now!Ello: Visit ElloProducts.com/CleanStart and use code RGH at checkout for 20% off your first purchaseKa'Chava: Go to https://kachava.com and use code HUMANS for 15% off your first orderNurture Life: For 55% off your order + FREE shipping, head to NurtureLife.com/HUMANS and use codeHUMANSProduced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jennie Nash launches a brand-new Hot Seat Coaching series on the podcast—real, on-air coaching sessions where listeners get to hear a story develop in real time.In the first episode, Jennie brings #amwriting podcast producer Andrew Parrella out from behind the microphone as he begins work on his first novel. Fresh off completing the Blueprint challenge, Andrew shares his gothic horror premise: a Dracula-inspired story set in 1920s London, where Abriana Harker—the daughter of Mina Harker—faces a string of mysterious deaths unfolding against the backdrop of the suffrage movement.Jennie and Andrew pressure-test the blueprint together, refining the novel's central point, exploring how Van Helsing's legacy shapes the world of the story, and identifying ways to strengthen Abriana's role so the plot is driven by her choices. Andrew leaves with clear next steps—and this is just the beginning: he'll return in future episodes as Jennie continues coaching him through the process of developing the novel.You can connect with Andrew via his website AndrewParrella.com#AmWriting is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.TranscriptJennie: [00:00:00] Hi, I'm Jennie Nash and you're listening to the hashtag am Writing podcast. The place where we help writers of all kinds play big in your writing life. Love the process, and stick with it long enough to finish what matters most. Hi, I'm Jenny Nash and you're listening to the hashtag am Writing podcast.This is something new. It's a hot seat coaching episode where we're gonna work through a real challenge in real time with a real writer. And today. I'm joined by a really special guest. His name is Andrew Perella, and he has been the producer of this podcast for many, many years and is stepping out from behind the microphone to write his first novel.Andrew participated in the Winter Blueprint challenge that we recently completed. Which is to say he answered all 14 of the blueprint questions during our challenge and, and produced a [00:01:00] finished blueprint. And so I wanted to get on with him and talk about what do we do next? How do we go from there to the next thing?And he agreed to do that to help show our listeners how it goes. And I'm so excited about it because. He just did incredible work and also has so much work to go, so hopefully we're gonna get to, we're gonna get to follow Andrew as he does this for a few episodes and bring you along on the journey. So welcome Andrew from Behind the Microphone.Andrew: So much work to go. Thank you, Jenny. I'm really excited to be here.Jennie: So Andrew is, has a long career in public radio and is a producer of podcast for many people and is a storytelling guy, you know, as well as a sound guy. So this is, this is a big move. I feel like this is a right big move for you for sure, for deciding.This is the time to embrace the fact that you wanna do this thing. Does it [00:02:00] feel like that to you?Andrew: It, it feels like a right big move for me that I'm kind of prioritizing now this writing project for me. I'm prioritizing my project, um, over, over, uh, the projects of others whom, whom I help with projects.Yeah. So this is a big, big a right big moment for me.Jennie: It is totally a riping moment and. You're in the hot seat personal coaching, which I, I really appreciate you being willing to do So, um, where we stand today is, as I said, you, you finished the blueprint, you did all the work, you did the thing. So I'm just curious to sort of check in.How do you feel? Do you feel like that's an accomplishment? Do you feel some momentum? Like, what, where are you feeling, what are you feeling? Um,Andrew: I, I feel like it is a, a really big accomplishment because as we were working through the blueprint, I was getting feedback, uh, from you and KJ Dium about, uh, about, uh, how I was, how I was creating my [00:03:00] blueprint.It got me, it forced me to think about the book in some very real terms, in ways that I hadn't yet, and in ways that, you know, I had been kind of thinking about the book in more abstract notions. Um, and like this was putting pen to paper, uh, on so many things to think about, you know, beyond the, beyond the simple plot structure.Um, and I realized as I was going through this. How much I hadn't yet considered, and I think this helped to show me where the holes in my story were. Um. And he, even, even as I've finished, quote unquote, finished the blueprint, it's like I finished one inter iteration of it and like already the story has changed since I first started work on the blueprint.And so already I know I gotta go back and start reiterating on, on, on this, uh, uh, as we go along here.Jennie: Yeah. I mean, and that's the point, right? Yeah. Is the whole point is this is a tool that reveals. [00:04:00] What's working and what's not working? Is this what I want? Does this reflect my vision? And you get to, to play with that wet clay of the idea.So that's really what what we're doing. But the reason that I thought you'd be such a good candidate for coaching live in this way is your story. It really hangs together in so many ways. It's so great in so many ways and it, it would be easy to feel like, oh, I'm, I'm not that far. I got this. I could, I could start right?I can start writing. Yeah. But I hope, I hope what we're gonna show is, is really pushing yourself to answer core questions is gonna just make it so much stronger.Andrew: Absolutely.Jennie: So, um, all that being said, do you. What do you think the best way to share what you're writing with our listeners is? Do you think reading your book jacket copy feels good or do you wanna just say it out [00:05:00] loud?Andrew: Um, I feel like the book jacket copy, I. Um, that I, that I wrote doesn't quite, doesn't quite capture, I think in many ways what I think the book is going to be so Well,Jennie: and we're gonna actually getAndrew: to that. So I, and we're gonna get to that, I think. Yeah.Jennie: So why don't you just, just share what, what it is.Andrew: So, uh, the premise of the book is this happens, uh.Uh, the, the novel, it happens 20 years after the events of, uh, Bram Stoker's Dracula. Um, and so. It involves some of the same characters, and then it also involves the next generation of these characters. So these, those characters children. Um, the, uh, our protagonist is a Abriana Harker, who is the daughter of Mina Harker, who was, um, kind of the female, uh, lead in, in, in Dracula.And she was, she was bitten by Dracula in, in the original novel. [00:06:00] Um, and she is, uh, someone who is defended, um. Uh, by her, uh, by her friends and, and counterparts in, in that story, Abriana is her daughter. And Abriana is now facing a similar challenge. There are bodies that are turning up around her circle and uh, they appear to have similar injuries that Dracula's victims had 20 years ago, and some people recognize that and are.Going to begin trying to unravel the mystery. And this is all set against the backdrop of the universal suffrage movement, which is also happening in, uh, you know, 1920s London, where, where the novel is, novel is set. And so in broad strokes, that is, that is the, the, the primary premise of the book.Jennie: So the genre is horror.Gothic and I, I did some, some digging. I'm not a big reader of horror, so I did some digging into the genre to make sure that that was right. Because there [00:07:00] there's also thriller elements. There's mystery elements. Mm-hmm. There's, you know, there's other elements and it is, I always liked to, to test. Is this right?Is this right? Could it be tweaked? Could it be better? And it feels, it feels like there's really no question about the genre. Right. Do you feel thatAndrew: I, I feel that, I feel definitely, definitely feel that. And I think I, I, like gothic is, is, is a genre that I really enjoy and I want to develop some of those gothic themes in the story a little bit more than I have so far.But yes, I think gothic and, and horror is very much where, where this, where this book lives. Yeah.Jennie: Yeah. And that is something I wanna talk about for sure when we get to the inside outline. But I wanna start with, um, the second question of the blueprint is what's your point? And I know this is something you've struggled with a little bit.Yeah. Um, but so the current point that you have here is. I feel like maybe this came from me. So, [00:08:00] uh, I, it's, you can't change the world without upsetting people. The more you want to change, the more people you upset, and that's fine, but it, but it doesn't, it does, it doesn't feel like it captures. There's a real moral, philosophical debate at the center of your story.Right.Andrew: Yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, the, the characters are certainly, uh, in the midst of a paradigm shift, you know, there's the, there, the, the world order is changing as, uh, as suffrage is, is being opened to more and more people. Um, and times a world order like that changes. There are people who are for it and there are a lot of people who are against it.And so I think that's. That's an element in, in play here in the, in the novel. And that, and that's something that I wanted to explore. And obviously there are parallels in current times as well for, uh, for this, for this sort of change. So I think that's, I think that's, that's certainly, that's certainly part of, uh, of, of [00:09:00] the story.Yeah.Jennie: So I was, when I, when I review a blueprint, and for anybody who's, who's got one all on the page and, and you, you like it and it feels pretty good. The step is to, to really pressure test everything. So I, I read through the whole thing. I love looking at a blueprint. A blueprint as a whole rather than piece by piece.And in this particular case, it's like this. Yeah. This point feels bloodless, which is something we definitely don't want in this story. So I went back to your why and your why is really powerful and really personal and really political. Um, it's, it's fiery, it's articulate, like there's so much about your why that I.You can see my comments on the page. Mm-hmm. Not the listener, but Andrew can Right where I was going. Great. Yes. Very powerful. Awesome. You know, it's just, it's excellent. And you had some lines in there [00:10:00] about the, the monster in this story is not the vampire, but a man who is refusing to change with the times basically.And. That felt to me, given everything else you're saying about the parallels between this, the milieu of this story and the milieu we live in right now, the, the fraught. Climate, political climate. Cultural climate that felt more potent as a point. And I, I wondered what you thought about that.Andrew: Yeah, I mean, I think that that is as mu that is as much a part of the, the premise as I've conceived it, as, as anything else that I've, I've said, um, you know, the, the, the.Spoiler alert, the the murders aren't being committed by, by the vampire, uh, or vampires. Uh, the murders are being committed by an old white dude who is not [00:11:00] happy with how the politics are shifting under his feet and how the world is changing around him, um, and is trying to, at all costs, prevent that from happening, even sacrificing a bit of his own humanity in, in the process.And so I think that is. Is is something that certainly resonates, but I think it yeah. Is, as you say, there's a passion, there's a blood there that in in, in the why that didn't quite make it to my point. Um,Jennie: yeah, yeah, yeah. So I would suggest for the next iteration mm-hmm. To, to really push that point and.It's gonna keep changing, it's gonna keep, um, you know, getting refined as you go. But I think it's important to move it forward as you keep writing. So the, um, yeah, something that's, that's fiery and that's, um, about, ‘cause that's a, that's a, you're flipping an important trope in a. In a [00:12:00] classic novel, right?Mm-hmm. That it, it's not the vampire. So like, why that? Why, why are we flipping out? What is that showing us? What is the point of, of doing that in the story? That, so I would really play with that. Um, does that make sense? Mm-hmm.Andrew: Yes, it does. Okay. Yes, it does.Jennie: Okay, so the next thing I wanna talk about is your super, your super simple story.Mm-hmm. And. What's interesting about the super simple story is, I mean, I love everybody always. Here's me say this, who's listened to me for very long, but I love a constraint on in creativity. And this, trying to get this story in a really short space often reveals something. And what it, when it was revealing to me is, so you've got, you've got a abriana, she wants to, uh, become a doctor.Because of her mother's, [00:13:00] her mother died in childbirth with her. Um, so that's the, that's the storyline. You've got the murders that are happening and, and then you've got the universal suffragette movement, this political debate that's going on. So there's these three threads and. Even in the super simple story, it was feeling a little bit like they're disconnected.I don't think they're disconnected in your mind. I think they're disconnected on the page.Andrew: Okay.Jennie: So I wanted to just ask you to articulate that a little bit more. ‘cause you hint in the um, book jacket copy later, AA has things in common with Finn halting who's. Her uncle, the Vampire Hunter. Are you comfortable sharing what those are?Andrew: Yeah.Jennie: What those commonalities are?Andrew: Yeah, I think, I think, [00:14:00] um, uh, Abraham Von Helsing is, is a character from the original novel, um, and he helps guide the team to, uh, uh, find, track down and destroy Dracula. Um. In the world of my novel, his understanding of vampires changes as he's, as he continues to do research on them.And so he's discovered, he's discovered more about them. That will spell out a little bit more in the, uh, in the novel, but. First and foremost, and one of the, one of the primary roles he plays in the, in, in the original novel is a, as a doctor. And that's one thing that Abriana really admires about him. He becomes a bit of a, a, um, a surrogate.Parent to her with her mother dying and her, uh, her father's grief, turning into a little bit of emotional distance from, uh, from Abriana. And so von uh, van Helsing kind of fills that gap and so she associates her. I think her desire [00:15:00] to become a doctor stems from both her birth, you know, ultimately killing her mother, but also because, and, and, and wanting to prevent that from happening to other women, but also because she's seen, you know, van Helsing.Perform his, his service as a doctor. He, she's seen it in action and what it can do and wants to, and wants to, wants to emulate that. And so, and, and I think one of the, one of the things that, that I get excited about is incorporating a little bit of like historic realism into, into the novel as well. And there was in, uh, the 1920s a, a medi, the London School of Medicine for women.Um, it had it, it had been. Open for a, a decade or so. It was still a fairly new school at the time. And so that there was an, uh, a real place that she would've been able to go and get an education is something that, uh, is something that I'm, I'm excited to have part of, part of the novel and like that school wouldn't have been possible if it was not for the Women's Liberation [00:16:00] Movement, which resulted obviously in the universal.In the universal suffrage movement. And so all of that I feel, kind of ties, ties together in a way that I haven't explained very well in my super simple copy, super simple story explanation there.Jennie: So, so that's what I'm trying to get at is Adrianna is not just some random young woman. No, I mean she's, she's very clearly descended from.A, a particular, uh, family who's had a particular thing happen and you know, there several generations. So have you designed her as a protagonist using those elements of the family yet, or, or is it more kind of just convenient that she's there? Does that make sense?Andrew: I think so, [00:17:00] and I think it's probably somewhere in the middle.I think I like the idea of tying her into these characters that who have an existing history, and it then gives her a little bit of, a little bit of, uh, gravitas for the listener when they, when they start digging in that maybe they, maybe they, maybe they have read Dracula, are familiar with those characters and so, okay, this is the next, this is the next generation.But yeah, I mean, I think Abriana reflects. A lot of other things that, that aren't in, that aren't represented in the original novel. Um,Jennie: I guess what I, I guess what I'm saying is it feels, one of my concerns is it feels as if you could write this story about Adriana and not have her beat from this family.She could, she could be kind of. Anyone Gotcha. In this [00:18:00] situation? Gotcha. Does that, am I, am I missing, am I missing that? What would make, you know, let's just, um, I know there's, there's several women in the novel who have, have important roles. So I'm gonna pick a name that's not them. Let's say that, uh, there's a young woman, Catherine, you know, not connected to, um.Ben Helsing not connected to her mother, not connected to that whole thing. And same time period, same motivation. She wants to be a doctor. Maybe she had someone in her family die, and that's her motivation. You know, like suffrages, like that whole story could still play out with Catherine. Uh, am I wrong? I want you to prove me wrong.Andrew: So like, yes, it could, I feel like, I feel like one of the things I like about tying in Van Helsing is it, it presents a red herring, um, in the sense that it's like, oh, we all think. [00:19:00] That we're gonna find out vampires are responsible for all of these deaths. Um, like, I don't know, like, and I, and I can kind of slow burn the, you know, the reveal of vampires in general and, and, and how they end up not actually being the antagonists in this By, by which is So by borrowing, by borrowing his name and sharing his glory a little bit.Yeah.Jennie: Right. But back to Catherine, our, our mm-hmm. Mythical protagonist.Andrew: Yeah.Jennie: Same thing could happen there. Everybody thinks, oh, the vampires are back. Um, Catherine, you know, they, they keep happening around her. She's gotta figure it out. You know what I mean? So,Andrew: well, so, soJennie: isAndrew: Yeah,Jennie: no, go ahead.Andrew: The question, the question I, I think that I've been grappling a bit with too is do we exist in a world where.Is, does the novel, does the world of the novel, a place where people [00:20:00] have recognized the efforts of Van Helsing and that vampires exist? Is that, is that common knowledge in this world, or is all of that still unknown to folks?Jennie: Okay, this. Is the piece that I've been missing.Andrew: Okay.Jennie: That's exactly the piece that I've been missing.That's totally it. That, so here, this is world building. If anybody's writing anything with magic, fantasy, sci-fi, even just straight up history, and maybe it's a retelling or a re um, imagining, you often know those, those questions for sure. And especially for where for. My understanding, I, I'm, like I said, I'm not a horror reader, but I do know a little bit about Dracula, but the, it was a, a sort of science versus, um, like science played a big role in that.What [00:21:00] can we know? Mm-hmm. What can we prove? What is, what is unknowable?Andrew: Mm-hmm.Jennie: Those sorts of things. Absolutely. So that, you've gotta know that here. Mm-hmm. Has it been proved? Is it. Accepted knowledge. Is Van Helsing a hero who's locked away in his lab continuing to, you know, with funding and whatever to research his thing?Or is he some. You know, recluse who was shamed in the public eye and people think he's crazy, like that's gonna color everything. Mm-hmm. Okay. And that's gonna be, that's gonna then be the answer I'm looking for. Like, why Adriana as our protagonist and not Catherine. Right. So she's gonna have that, you imagine her going to medical school with.Those two different stories behind her, how different it's [00:22:00] gonna be when she shows up in the classroom and people know, you know, or when they know who she is.Andrew: Right? Yeah.Jennie: So there, there's a real, the reveal to the reveal to the reader about her connection and who she is and then her, her reveal to the society she lives in about.Who she is and you know, the meaning she makes from all that you know, and did, no matter what you decide about Van Helsing, she then you have to all just also decide about her. Does she agree with the prevailing wisdom? If everybody thinks he's a hero, does she think he, he is too? Or does she think he's kind of whacked and then, um, learns otherwise or, you know, like the or, or the other wayAndrew: around?Jennie: Yeah. Or the other way around. Yeah. Yeah. Right. So yeah, this is the piece that's missing is I feel like you have, and this is what I felt the second I heard you talk about your story. I'm like, oh, this could be so [00:23:00] good. Like, this is so potent, but you're like, you're missing it. You're just, it's like it's, it's like it's not landing as as solid as it should, and I think this is why.Right. I had not been able to figure it out, but. And you have, so I gotta make sure I understand the character. So a Adriana's dad is the brother of Van Helsing.Andrew: Uh, they're not related in the original, in the original novel. They're, they're, uh, they're just friends. Okay. Okay. But they're, but they're clo Okay.They're, they're close friends. And because Van Helsing ultimately saved both of their lives, uh, he is kind of a, a, a surrogate uncle. So, uncle, uncle in quotation marks. Yeah,Jennie: yeah, yeah. Uncle is Is an honorific.Andrew: An honorific, exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Yep.Jennie: That confused me. Okay. So I thought that there was a direct lineage there.Andrew: Right.Jennie: But there's not No,Andrew: no genetic link. Yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:24:00]Jennie: But a link through. Her mother a link to Van Healthing Through the mother.Andrew: Yes.Jennie: Um, and, and what happened to her. So, okay. Yeah. We have to understand his role, who he is, what he's doing in the world, what people think of him. Mm-hmm. Um, and also this is important for.Just the environment of your story, because we've got this division, political division around the suffragette movement. Is there, is there o, are there other, um, like, I wanna say mood, like what's the mood of the place where she's, this story's taking place? Is it, you know, a creeping sense of doom on many levels?Uh, is the do the vampire, like, is the fact, oh, maybe the vampires are [00:25:00] back. Does that make sense for the times? Um, like you and I are talking right now in 2026, um, during very extreme political upheaval and also during the time when there's this been this kidnapping of this prominent. Um, media personalities, family member that hasn't been solved.And there's this sense like, well of course this is happening now. Like this, you know, is there a weird, are we gonna have a, um, famous serial killer? Story unfolding in our time. Right. Like, that's what I keep thinking, right? Like there's a sense of, of course these things are going to start happening now ‘cause things are, feel so unstable and unsettled.Andrew: Yeah.Jennie: Is that what's going on there? [00:26:00]Andrew: I mean, I think potentially yes. I, I've, because yeah, I feel like this, it, it, it, it was an unsettled moment politically. And also a little bit medically as they as like the medical establishment is transitioning from miasma theory to germ theory. And that was kind of late, late, uh, 19th century, early 20th century.But like there's, there's kind of been a, a paradigm shift there. So I think, I feel like yeah, there does wanna be, as you were saying, kind of like this constant, creepy. Creepy feeling. Yeah. I'm like, I'm like to lean into the gothic, like I thought, like, I really want that to pervade every, every chapter, every page.I want that kind of like creeping sensation that that doom is around the corner. Um, that, thatJennie: Right. And doom for many sources. Right. Because I think that that's kind of one of your points.Andrew: Mm-hmm.Jennie: Is well, what I'm going back to what [00:27:00] the point, point was. The point we're kind of, um. Leaning toward is people who review, refuse to evolve.When the world demands, it can become monsters. So the world is evolving in many different ways and probably getting the opportunity for a lot of different people to have to evolve in a lot of different ways. It's not just one way. It's not just like, oh, get on this bus, or you're missing. Get on, you know, what's the metaphor?Like you'll miss the boat if you don't get on the boat. But it feels like there's all kinds of boats one, one might miss here, right? Um, I think so. And so that's that. Yeah. Okay, so, so in terms of what to do next, I think your, your homework here is you've gotta get to know Van Haling. Yeah. And the, and the world a little bit better.So I would do some character [00:28:00] development work on, on him and what the world thinks of him and what a Brianna's stepping into the, the light by. Insisting on going to medical school does to Van Haling. Does it delight him? Does it challenge him? Does it, um, you know, what does he think of that? I think that's important.Andrew: Yeah.Jennie: Um, to know too.Andrew: Yeah.Jennie: Um,Andrew: a couple, a couple of things that are occurring to me. I think I had taken for granted the reader's knowledge of the events of Dracula, and I don't think I can do that. I think I need to. To develop these characters for my own, as you're saying, I, I gotta, I have to develop Van Van Hels, the Van Helsing character.I have to develop him for, for my own purposes for this novel. Um, which makes a lot of sense.Jennie: Well, that's actually a really good question. You defined your ideal reader in a way that I thought was. [00:29:00] Completely delightful. Like she was so fleshed out. She felt like a, a full on character and I was like, oh, I know that.I know that woman. I loved it. It was great. But an important piece you missed in that is you said that she enjoys books about. London, the city and maybe some horror and gothic, but what is her relationship to Dracula, your ideal reader? You need to know that.Andrew: Yeah. Yeah.Jennie: My, you know, this is what's funny sometimes about being a book coach is I always say that the, the writers, the god of their own story, I can't possibly know everything that the writer knows about what they're writing about, what they've read, what they've thought, how they've lived, any of it.And, and in this particular case, I don't read. I don't read horror. I, I, I could barely tell you the, the bear outlines of Dracula if, if press, [00:30:00] um, I mean, I know the, you know, cartoon, the cartoon version. I, I, I could tell you a little more about Frankenstein only because I, against my will, watched the recent, um.Retelling.Andrew: Oh yeah. I haven't actually seen that yet.Jennie: So I say against my will because I was like, oh my gosh, this is too much for me. But um, you need to know if, so here's a perfect, let me finish my sentence. You need to know if your reader is a fan, is a reader, is a immersed in the gothic world, is gonna know all these things.Know all the tropes and know all the connections or not. And the, um, perfect example of that is, remember that book, um, pride and Prejudice and Zombies?Andrew: Yes.Jennie: So that appeal to people who love Jane Austen.Outro: Mm-hmm.Jennie: Like, you're probably not gonna read that book if you're not a Jane Austen [00:31:00] fan, but if you are a Jane Austen fan, you're, you cannot wait to get your hands on that.And. Also probably if you're a zombie horror fan, you know, you would delight in that even if you didn't understand the depths of the Jane Austen piece. But that book spoke to such a very particular audience that turned out to be a massive audience. Right, right. So, yeah,Andrew: yeah, yeah.Jennie: You know, I think you need to make a decision.Are you writing for someone like me who's, who's like, I don't know, like I think when I first read it, I was like. Who's Ben Sing? And you're like, he's the famous guy from the thing, right? So are you writing for someone like me or does your, a avatar, your ideal reader hear, you know, does she watch the movie?Does she, does she read the books? Does she gobble that stuff up?Andrew: Right? Yeah.Jennie: What, what is your instinct right now?Andrew: Singling out one or the other is going to, is going to change [00:32:00] how I write the book. Um. What is my instinct? Uh, I dunno. When I think about the character that I, that the character of the reader that I fleshed out in the blueprint, um,Jennie: yeah,Andrew: I don't think she necessarily would have read Dracula.She might be familiar with the story, but she might not have, um, uh, have read, uh, Dracula itself.Jennie: Okay. So yeah, let's get to, let's get really clear on that. Mm-hmm. Because it's gonna really change. And for those listening. The ideal reader. Oftentimes people think it's just a throwaway part of the blueprint because they kind of can just picture, you know, generally who their reader is.I mean, first of all, no part of the blueprint is the throwaway. Uh, something really important can come from any one of these. So really go back to your ideal reader. And think about them in relationship to their story. ‘cause this [00:33:00] conversation reveals how drastically you would change the writing of this book, depending on your ideal reader's relationship to the, to Dracula.Andrew: Yeah.Jennie: And, and there's no right answer. Either answer's. Great. Right. So, um, so that's, I just put that on the list of, of things too, um, that you're gonna be thinking about. Um. So once you get that, so yeah, the understanding of of Van Healthy's re reputation in the universe right now is going to be the way that you bring your reader up to speed a little bit.Right? Like famous Vampire Hunter still doing his thing or, or. Famous vampire hunter, you know, shamed and, uh, not doing his thing. Um, that's, those are gonna tie [00:34:00] together,Andrew: right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.Jennie: And cement down the world that we're coming into, um, more.Andrew: Absolutely. No, I can, I can see how that will change things.Yeah.Jennie: Okay. So, um. We're not gonna have time to dig, to dig into this yet, but I just wanna touch on it so that, um, when you're doing this work, you can be thinking about, um, thinking about this piece, but the, um, there's a cause and effect trajectory that's obviously what the inside outline is. And at some really key places in yours, you miss an opportunity to to tie in.So we always want our protagonist to have agency to be making the [00:35:00] decisions that cause things to get worse or cause them to be in a worse position or, um, and, and there's several places in your inside outline where. Things just sort of happen, which is the plot, and then she sort of happens to be there.But if you understand better these parts of her and her connection to this, uh, the not her uncle now, uh, her, this guy, uh, and her connection to what's happened with her mother and those things, then we wanna use that to push the story. To push the, so the plot has to serve the story. So the things that happen are gonna push your character in ways they don't wanna be pushed to make decisions that are gonna then push them further and, and they're gonna get deeper and deeper each time.And [00:36:00] you have a murder mystery. So each murder, we wanna feel more and more as if. She is boxing herself in by what she does. By what she thinks. By what she believes, by what she wants. And the, the CLO is gonna squeeze her to the point where she asks to make a, a big decision, you know, comes, that's the climax, comes to that like, will I, in this case, um, confront.Uh, both the murderer and her father is kind of where it all ends, so,Andrew: yeah. Yeah.Jennie: You know, it's not gonna be just like, and now we arrive at a place where she confronts the people. It's gotta be like. Gut wrenching along the way. Right,Andrew: right.Jennie: So, um, there's a lot to say there, and I made some comments on the outline, which, which you'll see [00:37:00] sort of my thoughts and thinking there, but I actually think that this conversation we've had is gonna be the solution because the, the big question I had was, is it coincidental that Adriana is.These murders are sort of following her around and people think that it, she might be responsible. Is that coincidental or is there something real there? Yeah. Do you know the answer or not?Andrew: I, I, I'm, I've been thinking about that and I think there are ways that it's not entirely coincidental. I mean, obviously she's not causing the murders, but I think, I think yes, I think there are things that she does that prompts these.That prompts these women to become targets of the murderer.Jennie: That's what I hoped you were gonna say. Yeah, because that's what's gonna, that's like, it's, I think this was on the page and maybe you didn't realize it, but. [00:38:00] Being friends with Adriana is a little dangerous,right?Andrew: Yes. Yes. I think that could be, that could definitely be part of the part, part of the, part of the theme there. Yeah.Jennie: So that, that shouldn't, that shouldn't be coincidental. Well, and this is what's so, so great about the blueprint and showing it to a critique partner or a writing group or an editor or a book coach, is.Somebody else can say, do you see that you're doing this thing that's actually really cool? Or do you, do you see that you're not doing this? Like it's things are just revealed. So,Andrew: yeah. Yeah, yeah. Absolutely.Jennie: So let's just wrap this up. Your next iteration, you're gonna work on sharpening your point. You're gonna work on sharpening the super simple story so that the Dracula connection is clear.Dracula connection to your [00:39:00] protagonist is, is more clear and you're gonna under in order to do that. You're gonna understand then Helsing, the world that we live in and what his relationship of that world is 20 years after Dracula. What, what is happening with him? What is happening with the world? And and that's gonna help inform the connection between your.Protagonist in these things. And then I think you already answered the ideal reader, but just make sure that you're comfortable with that, that she's not a super fan. This is not a insider. Um, folks who know and love and read Dracula, it's, it's more someone like me. He was a little clueless. And then if you have time to dig into.How that all plays out in the cause and effect of the inside outline. That's, that's where I would go. [00:40:00] So it's, um, I had an agent, my first agent, way back in the day, used to say, run it through the typewriter one more time because we were actually writing on typewriter. Yeah. Right. Back in the day. And, uh, that's kind of what I feel, you know, with these ideas in mind, like, run it all through one more time and let, let it all flow through One more time.Um, and we'll see where it goes.Andrew: Excellent. No, this sounds good. This is, this is some good homework. I'm looking forward to, to digging into this now.Jennie: I know. I can't wait to see too, and I hope our listeners have enjoyed, uh, going along on this conversation and gotten some inspiration for what, how to pressure test your own, uh, blueprint.And if you're not doing the blueprint. Uh, also fine, but pressure test what you're writing. Uh, this is just a tool for doing that, but there's this kind of questioning and making sure that things are not [00:41:00] assumed. That's, that's the key, right? It's that you, you sort of make these assumptions, but we have to articulate them and pin them down so that we can use them to make a much better story.Well, thank you Andrew. Really thank you for being willing to, uh, expose yourself in this way. Come out from behind the mic, uh, share your journey. It's not easy to do that, and I appreciate it.Andrew: Well, it's, it's fun. Thank you for pushing me outside my comfort zone. Uh, I've really enjoyed this.Jennie: I have too. So, uh, for our list.Thanks for joining in. Now let's get back to work.Outro: The hashtag am writing podcast is produced by Andrew Perilla. Our intro music aptly titled Unemployed Monday was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output because everyone [00:42:00] deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

EP:183 | In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I'm breaking down what it really means to be a sensory seeker—and why this might be the missing link in understanding your nervous system. You've probably already heard about regulation, dysregulation, and fight or flight, but almost no one is talking about the sensory system as the language of your brain and body. That's where everything changes. I'm sharing from my own lived experience as both a sensory seeker and a sensory avoider, and why your “too muchness” is actually a sign of a brilliant, fast-moving brain—not that you're broken, lazy, or destined for burnout. We'll talk about: What a sensory seeker really is and how it shows up in adults (constant multitasking, needing movement, noise, pressure, novelty) How these patterns are often misunderstood as ADHD, impulsivity, distraction, or “bad behavior” How this same wiring can lead to overworking, anxiety, burnout, emotional eating, and feeling like you can never slow down Why things like weighted blankets, movement, heavy work, music, and oral input (like chewing, crunching, gum) can be powerful regulating tools The difference between quick fixes (like “reset your nervous system in 30 seconds”) and the real, long-term work of actually rewiring your nervous system How to stop fighting your brain and start working with it so you can finally feel calmer, clearer, and more at peace in your own body I'll also share honestly about my own 7–8 year journey of learning how to step off the gas pedal, find the brakes, and “throttle” between the two—so I'm not living in constant peaks and crashes, but more like rolling hills. If you recognize yourself (or your child) in this episode, I want you to know this: You are not too much. You are not broken. Your brain is wired for more input, more movement, and more life—and when you learn how to support it, that becomes your superpower. If this episode hit home for you, share it with someone who has been labeled “too much”—a friend, a partner, or a parent raising a high-energy kiddo. And if you're ready to go deeper and learn how to regulate your unique nervous system (not just follow generic Instagram tips), make sure you subscribe, leave a review, and come connect with me on Instagram @brookeweinst for more real-talk about the brain, body, and parenting.   Links & Resources:

Rapid-Fire Question and Answer with Dr Demartini: “My parents got divorced, and I feel like my dad abandoned us. I'm an adult now, how do I finally get over the anger I feel towards my dad?”This content is for educational and personal development purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any psychological or medical conditions. The information and processes shared are for general educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional mental-health or medical advice. If you are experiencing acute distress or ongoing clinical concerns, please consult a licensed health-care provider.USEFUL LINKS:Learn More About The Breakthrough Experience: demartini.fm/experienceLearn More About The Demartini Method: demartini.fm/demartinimethodDetermine Your Values: demartini.fm/knowyourvaluesClaim Your Free Gift: demartini.fm/astroJoin our Facebook community: demartini.ink/inspired

March 9, 2026  Betsy Kerekes, author of Be a Happier Parent or Laugh Trying and coauthor with Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse of 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage, spoke to the Marriage and Family group of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Castle Rock, CO, about how to have a happier marriage and be a more joyful parent. 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person Be a Happier Parent or Laugh Trying 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage

This week on Mega Dads Live Adam and Erik are breaking down all their favorite games displayed at Nintendo's Indie World Showcase!

Kathy and Jim discuss, the conviction of Colin Gray for second-degree murder and the convictions of James and Jennifer crumbly for manslaughter after they purchased guns for their teenage sons for Christmas and their sons went on to commit mass murder in school shootings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One quiet car ride. One tired teenager. One frustrated parent. And one powerful reminder about what parenting really asks of us. In this reflective Friday episode, Justin shares a moment he’s not proud of—sitting in traffic after a 4am stable shift pickup, feeling resentful about the time lost and the lack of a simple “thank you.” But the experience reveals something deeper about the true nature of parenting. Because parenting isn’t a fair exchange. You will give more than you ever get back. But over time, something extraordinary happens. The small sacrifices—rides, meals, conversations, traditions—compound into something far richer than gratitude. Justin and Kylie explore why parenting requires so much giving, how resentment quietly steals joy, and why simple rituals like family dinners may be one of the most powerful investments a parent can make. KEY POINTS Parenting is fundamentally unequal—you will always give more than you receive. Expecting repayment from children often leads to resentment. Small daily sacrifices are part of “giving your life” as a parent. The payoff in parenting often arrives decades later, not in the moment. Family rituals—especially shared meals and conversations—create powerful long-term connection. The compound effect of consistent family time builds belonging, gratitude, and joy. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “Parenting means you will give more than you will ever get back. But if you stay the course long enough, the return becomes incredibly rich.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Happy Families Parenting ADHD Course ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Accept the reality: Parenting isn’t transactional—release the expectation of equal return. Watch resentment: When frustration creeps in, remember the bigger picture. Protect family rituals: Regular meals or weekly gatherings build connection over time. Play the long game: The payoff for parenting effort often appears years later. Look for small joy: The conversations, stories, and laughter along the way are part of the reward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if love wasn't the reward at the end of the journey?What if it was the fuel?Love is not something you fall into or a state you occasionally access on a good day. Love is a resource. Love is a technology. Love is the most advanced, most powerful, most renewable operating system available to every human being alive right now — more potent than ambition, more durable than discipline, more generative than anything the achievement machine has ever produced.Mike Clark has spent the last year living this as a laboratory. And what he's discovered — through co-creating Love Camp with polar explorer Colin O'Brady, through creating WRLD School for children, through parenting, through marriage, through his own relentless embodiment practice — is something that will quietly rearrange the way you see everything you're creating.This is one of the most expansive, grounded, and genuinely inspiring conversations to ever come through this podcast. By the end of it, you won't just believe that love is a fuel. You'll remember it. You'll feel it moving through you. And you'll start to see exactly where you've been running on the wrong source.That's the frequency this episode is here to scale.Connect with Michael:

Send a textAmazon listing optimization tips that increase conversion rate, improve product images, and raise average order value. We're talking about how to get more profitability and increase sales from your amazon product listing. Many sellers feel like they're just throwing money at ads without improving conversion rates, which is ineffective without a strong amazon listing. Learn how optimizing your amazon listing keyword optimization and improving your amazon seo ranking can make a real difference in your sales.If your Amazon listing is wasting ad spend and missing sales, get a full expert listing audit and find the exact fixes your product needs: https://bit.ly/4jMZtxu#AmazonListingOptimization #AmazonSellerTips #AmazonFBA #amazonmarketing --------------------------------------------------------------------------2026 Q1 Repeat Buyer Formula: https://bit.ly/47KJmOd2026 Amazon PPC Guide: https://bit.ly/4lF0OYXGrowth Email Marketing Strategies: https://hubs.ly/Q04457QF0Amazon Proft Margin Defense 2026: https://hubs.ly/Q042trRH0Amazon SEO Toolkit 2026: https://bit.ly/4oC2ClTAmazon Seller Strategy Report 2026: https://bit.ly/3YN1RME2026 Ecommerce Website & SEO Readiness Checklist: https://hubs.ly/Q040Jg0M0Amazon Crisis Kit: https://bit.ly/4maWHn0TIMESTAMPS00:00 Increasing profitability with listing optimization01:03 Why average order value matters for Amazon sellers02:17 AOV competitive gap audit explained04:00 Finding the right competitors to analyze04:51 Variation strategies to increase order value06:08 Real product examples using variation ladders09:05 Why increasing AOV changes your ad economics11:02 Understanding Amazon BSR and sales velocity12:05 Pricing ladder strategy using variations14:22 Parent child listings and variation structure18:04 Why basics matter more than shiny tactics20:47 What makes a strong Amazon main image23:42 Simple main image CTR strategy24:11 How secondary images improve conversions26:13 Example of poor listing design mistakes28:18 Showing product benefits clearly in images33:06 Getting main images approved on Amazon36:07 Using reviews to improve listing images40:04 Choosing the right secondary images by category43:00 Why video is becoming essential for listings45:24 Making wall art listings stand out48:37 How to schedule a listing audit call________________________________Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28605816/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/myamazonguys/Twitter: https://twitter.com/myamazonguySubscribe to the My Amazon Guy podcast:My Amazon Guy podcast: https://podcast.myamazonguy.comApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-amazon-guy/id1501974229Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A5ASHGGfr6s4wWNQIqyVwSupport the show

In this episode of the Parent Companion for Play Therapy series, I talk about self-esteem, the seventh and final common issue that often brings children into child-centered play therapy. Self-esteem isn't something children are born with—it develops over time as they begin to understand who they are and what they are capable of. When a child struggles with self-esteem, you often see hesitation, self-doubt, and social difficulties because it's hard for a child to connect with others when they don't yet have a clear sense of themselves. I explain how child-centered play therapy helps build self-esteem in powerful ways. In the playroom, children lead the experience, which naturally increases confidence and trust in themselves. Therapists notice and reflect what children are doing, and instead of using praise, they use encouragement that focuses on effort and persistence. Over time, children begin to see themselves differently—they start to believe they are capable, competent, and able to handle challenges. Those messages become part of how they see themselves not just in childhood, but throughout their lives. 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.

Aujourd'hui, Emmanuel de Villiers, chef d'entreprise, Barbara Lefebvre, prof d'histoire-géo, et Joëlle Dago-Serry, coach de vie, débattent de l'actualité autour d'Alain Marschall et Olivier Truchot.

"Perfection is not possible, but excellence is." Mindset is easy to talk about when life is smooth. The real test comes when disruption hits. Pressure, chaos, and uncertainty can either shrink a person—or refine them. The difference often comes down to the internal rules we live by. Excellence instead of perfection. Awareness instead of reaction. Inspiration instead of burnout. Compassion instead of avoidance. When those principles guide your thinking, adversity stops looking like the end of the road and starts looking like part of the training. Dr. Matt Kutz joins Raymond Aaron to explore what he calls the EPIC mindset—a framework built around excellence, perception, inspiration, and compassion. Matt explains why perfection is impossible but excellence is achievable, and how developing awareness of what's really happening around you changes the way leaders respond to pressure and uncertainty. Matt is a PhD in global leadership, educator, author, and researcher focused on leadership development and contextual intelligence. Through his work and writing, he helps leaders turn disruption into clarity and cultivate the mindset needed to lead through adversity. Learn more & connect: www.MatthewKutz.com Raymond Aaron has shared his vision and wisdom on radio and television programs for over 40 years. He is the author of over 100 books, including Branding Small Business For Dummies, Double Your Income Doing What You Love, Canadian best-seller Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul, and he co-authored the New York Times best-seller Chicken Soup for the Parent's Soul. Raymond's latest, co-authored book is The AI Millionaire's Path: Discover How ChatGPT‐Written Books Become Bestsellers and How They Can Make You a Millionaire Author!. www.Aaron.com

Melanie Shankle shares how childhood trauma and a “mean girl” mom affected her life, marriage, and motherhood, bringing a message of hope and healing in Jesus Christ. Receive the book Here Be Dragons plus a free audio download of "Healing as a Parent from Childhood Trauma" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive. Get More Episode Resources If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Am I the Genius? is the show where you get real answers to questions you've always wondered but didn't think to ask. Subscribe on YouTube - youtube.com/@amithegenius?sub_confirmation=1 Am I the Jerk? on Instagram - instagram.com/amithegenius Am I the Jerk? on Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0uEkxvRMpxLuuHeyPVVioF?si=b279dadfe593432b⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ x.com/amithejerk facebook.com/amithejerk SUBMIT YOUR OWN STORIES HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://amithejerk.com/submit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Mint Mobile - Get this new customer offer and your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at MINTMOBILE.com/AITJ Quince - Keep it classic and cool — with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to Quince.com/AITJ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. EveryPlate - Dig into these flavor-packed meals your household will love. New customers can enjoy this special offer of only $1.99 a meal. Go to everyplate.com/podcast and use code AITG199 to get started. Green Chef - Head to Greenchef.com/50AITJ and use code 50AITJ to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping. Lola Blankets - Get 35% off your entire order at Lolablankets.com by using code AITJ at checkout. Uncommon Goods - To get 15% off your next gift, go to UncommonGoods.com/AITJ Don't miss out on this limited-time offer. Uncommon Goods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Father Paul Sullins joins Teresa Tomeo on Catholic Connection to discuss his groundbreaking research on the emotional impacts of non-traditional family structures on children. Drawing from the largest U.S. health survey, Father Sullins reveals that children raised without both biological parents face significantly higher rates of emotional problems, such as depression and anxiety. He challenges the prevailing belief that family structure doesn't affect child development, emphasizing the importance of male-female complementarity in parenting. The conversation delves into societal pressures, the role of donor conception, and the often-overlooked emotional struggles faced by children in same-sex parent households, urging listeners to reconsider the implications of family dynamics on child well-being.

Join us for a real and fun conversation about the transition from a full house to an empty nest. We share our personal experiences launching our daughters, covering everything from the importance of financial transparency to the practical skills every young adult needs. We discuss the anxieties kids face, the temptation for parents to shelter them, and the power of letting them put what you've taught them into practice. Discover how to build a strong foundation of budgeting, saving, and responsibility that empowers your kids to confidently step into their future. You don't want to miss it! When it happens: [03:01] Building the Foundation: Why preparing your kids for the real world is a marathon, not a sprint. [10:01] Money Talks & Roth IRAs: Diving into the financial tools—from budgeting to retirement—that will set them up for life. [30:01] Manning Up vs. Stepping Up: A candid look at the different expectations we have for sons and daughters. [40:01] Make It Worth It: The Emergency Fund Power Play: A game-changing tip to help your kids build a real financial safety net before they even leave home. [45:15] Final Thoughts & Future Wins: The lifelong impact of open communication and intentional parenting. This one's for you, the parents of teens and young adults on the brink of independence! If you're wondering how to turn conversations about money from awkward to awesome and want to give your kids a launchpad for success (without them boomeranging back to your basement), you've come to the right place. Let's get them ready to soar!     This Podcast is sponsored by American Heritage Credit Union.  To learn more and open an account go to: www.AHCU.co/ForBetterandWorth Our website: www.forbetterandworth.com Get Ericka's book, Naked and Unashamed: 10 Money Conversations Every Couple Must Have Check out our local TV spotlight Connect with us: Instagram: @forbetterandworth YouTube: @forbetterandworth Ericka: @erickayoungofficial Chris: @1cbyoung  

Everyone in a family has a job. As parents, it's our job to hold boundaries with our kids. It's also our job to validate their feelings. And boy do they have feelings when we say no. On today's episode, Dr. Becky explores the reasons behind why so many parents struggle with saying no to their kids and provides some new strategies you can start using in your house today. Get the Good Inside App by Dr. Becky: https://bit.ly/4fSxbzk Your Good Inside membership might be eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement! To learn more about how to get your membership reimbursed, check out the link here: https://www.goodinside.com/fsa-hsa-eligibility/ Follow Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside Sign up for our weekly email, Good Insider: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter For a full transcript of the episode, go to goodinside.com/podcast. Thank you to our partners for making this episode of Good Inside possible! Airbnb: If you're ready to host but want some support, find a co-host at airbnb.com/host. SmartyPants: Shop on Amazon, or at Target or Walmart today. Care.com: For a limited time, you can use the code GOOD35 to save 35% on a Care.com Premium Membership.* *Offer applies to initial term of Care.com membership subscriptions. Not applicable to add-on features or non-renewing access fees or services. Expires 4/26/26. Care.com does not employ or place any caregiver. Background checks are an important start, but they have limits. Visit www.care.com/safety. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Melanie Shankle shares how childhood trauma and a “mean girl” mom affected her life, marriage, and motherhood, bringing a message of hope and healing in Jesus Christ. Receive the book Here Be Dragons plus a free audio download of "Healing as a Parent from Childhood Trauma" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive. Get More Episode Resources If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

It's one thing to have an open mind, but it's something completely different to listen with discernment. Join AMBrewster to learn how God would have your biblical family be more discerning.Truth.Love.Parent. is a podcast of Truth.Love.Family., an Evermind Ministry.Action Steps Purchase “Quit: how to stop family strife for good.” https://amzn.to/40haxLz Support our 501(c)(3) by becoming a TLP Friend! https://www.truthloveparent.com/donate.html Download the Evermind App. https://evermind.passion.io/checkout/102683 Use the promo code EVERMIND at MyPillow.com. https://www.mypillow.com/evermind  Discover the following episodes by clicking the titles or navigating to the episode in your app: How Does God Want Me to Reprove My Child? https://www.truthloveparent.com/taking-back-the-family-blog/tlp-457-how-does-god-want-me-to-reprove-my-child  Consequences Series https://www.truthloveparent.com/consequence-series.html  False Parents https://www.truthloveparent.com/false-parents-series.html  Download the Evermind App! https://evermind.passion.io/checkout/102683Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthLoveParent/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truth.love.parent/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TruthLoveParentFollow AMBrewster on Facebook: https://fb.me/TheAMBrewsterFollow AMBrewster on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrewsterhome/Follow AMBrewster on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMBrewsterPin us on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TruthLoveParent/Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTHV-6sMt4p2KVSeLD-DbcwClick here for more of our social media accounts: https://www.truthloveparent.com/presskit.htmlNeed some help? Write to us at Counselor@TruthLoveParent.com.Click here for Today's episode notes, resources, and transcript: https://www.truthloveparent.com/taking-back-the-family-blog/tlp-622-biblical-families-part-10-the-necessity-of-discernment 

Ticketmaster parent Live Nation reaches settlement with Department of Justice over antitrust concerns. YouTube is now the world's largest media company. Mike Lyons, military analyst, gives update on the Iran conflict. Family of Georgia teacher killed in prank gone wrong wants charges against teens dropped. Is Gen Z experiencing a religious revival? Government shutdown hits spring break travel with hours-long TSA lines. 

Dyslexia isn't just a reading problem—it's a whole brain vibe! In our chat today, we dive into some eye-opening insights with Russell Van Broecklin, a dyslexia researcher who's got the lowdown on how dyslexia works and why it's not as straightforward as folks think. He lays down the truth that while dyslexics might read and write slower, their brains are firing on all cylinders when it comes to thinking. So, if you've got a kiddo who's struggling, don't sweat it! Russell shares some killer strategies for helping them thrive academically, even if traditional methods have made them feel like they're swimming upstream. Join us as we unravel the myths and equip ourselves with some solid tools to help our little learners soar! Dyslexia is often misunderstood as a simple reading issue, but let me tell you, it's way more complex than that. Russell Van Broecklin, our guest on the podcast, dives deep into the nuances of dyslexia, sharing his own journey and expertise as a New York State funded dyslexia researcher. He reveals that while dyslexics might read and write slower than their peers, they often think and process information faster, which flips the script on how we perceive learning difficulties. Throughout our conversation, Russell emphasizes the importance of recognizing the unique cognitive strengths dyslexics possess, which can lead to incredible academic and personal success when properly supported. He recounts his own experiences in law school, where he not only navigated the challenges of dyslexia but thrived, showcasing that with the right strategies, dyslexics can outperform even the best and brightest at institutions like Harvard. A standout moment from the episode is when he shares his research findings, revealing that he helped students go from struggling to thriving, often at a fraction of the cost of traditional approaches. It's a game-changer for parents and educators alike, showing that understanding and tailored interventions can lead to phenomenal outcomes for dyslexic children.Takeaways:Dyslexia isn't just about reading; it's a whole brain organization thing that can affect writing too.Contrary to popular belief, dyslexics can learn to read better than many traditionally 'smart' kids.With the right strategies, dyslexics can think faster than their peers, especially in higher education settings.Identifying dyslexia early is crucial; if you suspect your child has it, get them tested by professionals as soon as possible.Links referenced in this episode:FromFosterToForever.comFosterToForeverpodcastdyslexiaclasses.comdyslexiaclasses.comMentioned in this episode:10% OFF FOSTERING FAMILIES TODAY MAGFostering Families Today is a bi-monthly magazine distributed to foster, kinship and adoptive families across the country offering resources, expert opinions, practical advice and information on the latest evidence-based best practices for supporting children and youth who come from traumatic backgrounds. Use coupon code foster10 to receive 10% off your annual subscription at fosteringfamiliestoday dot com. That's fosteringfamiliestoday dot com. FFT

Trying to have a conversation with your teenager? You ask how their day was and get "fine." You ask who was at the party and get "no one." You ask what they're doing and get "nothing." Sound familiar? In this episode, I'm sharing three powerful soundtracks from our Parents and Teens card deck that will help you start real conversations with your teenager. These aren't hypothetical parenting tips. I raised two teenagers, and these are straight from my own dinner table. You'll discover why "if you wouldn't say it to a friend, don't say it to yourself" teaches self awareness, how "this is my first time too" opens up vulnerability and deeper connection, and why teenagers need to think of their parents as "investors in YOU Inc." These conversation starters are natural, simple, and designed to help you move from quantity time to quality time. Because here's the reality: you don't get one deep conversation. You practice these cards over and over until card number seven or fourteen changes everything.In This Episode:Grab your very own Soundtracks Conversations Card Deck for Parents & Teens Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!Book me to speak at your event or to your team!You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!Sign up for the Remarkable You Community today!

It can't be that hard, right?

The jury needed less than two hours. Colin Gray is guilty of second-degree murder on all 29 counts—the first parent in Georgia history convicted for a school shooting committed by his child.The evidence was overwhelming. The FBI warned Colin Gray in 2023 after his son threatened to shoot up a school online. His response? Buy the fourteen-year-old an AR-15 for Christmas seven months later. No safe. No lock. The rifle stayed in Colt Gray's bedroom next to a shrine of Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz—which Colin Gray claimed he thought was "the guy from Green Day."His own family sealed the conviction. His daughter testified he asked her to lie to investigators. His estranged wife said she begged him to lock up the guns. Weeks before the Apalachee High School shooting, Colt texted his father: "Whenever something happens just know the blood is on your hands." Colin Gray convinced himself it meant something else.The morning of the shooting, Colt sent goodbye texts. Colin Gray read them. He didn't call the school. Didn't leave work. Stopped at QuikTrip for a drink on the way home while two teachers and two students lay dead.Colin Gray took the stand as his only defense witness. He cried. He swore he never saw the evil coming. The jury rejected that entirely—guilty on every count in under two hours.Criminal defense attorney Bob Motta breaks down the defense strategy that failed, the testimony that sealed Colin Gray's fate, and whether this verdict creates a new legal standard for parental accountability or remains an outlier for extreme facts. The Crumbleys got manslaughter in Michigan. Georgia got murder. The rules just changed.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#ColinGrayGuilty #ColinGrayVerdict #ApalacheeHighSchool #SchoolShootingParent #ColinGrayConvicted #ColtGray #GeorgiaSchoolShooting #ParentalAccountability #BobMotta #HiddenKillers

In today's episode I sit down with professor Ann Masten to unpack what resilience actually means—and why it's so often misunderstood. We explore her powerful definition of resilience as the capacity of a system to adapt to serious challenges, not just a personality trait or inner toughness. From everyday stress to real adversity, we discuss the difference between harmful trauma and growth-building challenges, and why kids need support—not perfection—to thrive. We talk about the “ordinary magic” of caring relationships, schools, communities, and cultural traditions, and why resilience is built through connection across multiple systems.I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsLSubscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/Follow me on Instagram for more:@raisinggoodhumanspodcast Sponsors:BetterHelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/humansWayfair: Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things homeJones Road Beauty: Use code HUMANS at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Shimmer Face Oil with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #adFast Growing Trees:An ADDITIONAL TWENTY PERCENT OFF better plants and better growing at FastGrowingTrees.com using the code HUMANS at checkoutExperian: Get started with the Experian App now!Bloom: Go to bloomnu.com with code HUMANS for 20% off your first orderProduced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Schlep, real name Michael, is a 22‑year‑old YouTuber and content creator known for his hard‑hitting investigations exposing child predators on Roblox. Through sting operations and decoy accounts, his channel has uncovered widespread grooming networks using the platform to target minors. A survivor of Roblox grooming himself—exploited as a young teen by a prominent developer once promoted and partnered with the company. Schlep turned his personal trauma into a mission for accountability. His YouTube channel has directly contributed to multiple arrests of alleged predators who used Roblox to move victims to Discord for explicit content and real‑world encounters. A vocal critic of Roblox's safety failures and profit‑driven approach to its child‑heavy user base, Schlep has consistently challenged the company's moderation practices and its pattern of deplatforming whistleblowers. In August 2025, Roblox permanently banned him and issued a cease‑and‑desist letter threatening legal action, triggering the viral #FreeSchlep movement and major online backlash. Despite being banned from the platform, Schlep continues his predator‑catching work independently, collaborating with law enforcement to secure convictions and raising awareness of how Roblox profits from developer programs that can enable exploitation. Today, he is a leading advocate for stronger child safety laws and transparency in online gaming, exposing the gap between Roblox's “safe and educational” image and its systemic moderation failures. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Head to https://Superpower.com and use code SRS at checkout for $20 off your membership. Live up to your 100-Year potential. #superpowerpod Try ZipRecruiter for free at https://ziprecruiter.com/SRS Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/SRS #ad Go to https://drinkag1.com/srs to get an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 for FREE in your AG1 Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order! Only while supplies last. Our listeners get the Harry's Plus Trial Set for only $10 at https://harrys.com/srs #Harryspod Schlep Links: YT - https://www.youtube.com/@RealSchlep X - https://x.com/intent/follow?screen_name=realschlep Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices