Authentic Parenting

Revisiting the 200th Episode of Authentic Parenting. Longtime listener Lauren Thomas interviews Anna about parenting, podcasting, and the unforgettable "green stroller" moment—an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the show. Lauren asks about some of my most favorite guests, the top three most impactful episodes, and the most authentic moment of the podcast. We talk about interviews that went off th...

What did it really mean to reach 100 episodes in the early days of podcasting? As part of our 10-year podcast anniversary, we're revisiting the 100th episode—a major podcast milestone at a time when most shows didn't last beyond a few episodes. This special throwback episode includes listener participation, the original podcast intro, and early production from the show's beginnings. A meaningful l...

As the podcast marks its 10-year anniversary, I'm sharing a personal message about the lessons, growth, and moments that shaped this journey. I'll also let you know what's coming up in January as we begin a new year together. LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576  call to leave a voicemail.  info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages...

This is our final episode of the year, and today I'm doing something I always love—looking back and reflecting. I'll be revealing the Top 10 most downloaded episodes of 2025, sharing why these conversations resonated so deeply, and highlighting a couple of episodes and guests that were personal favorites for me. Top 10 Mastering the Art of Validation: How to Make People Feel Seen and Understood wi...

In this final episode of the year, we slow down and reflect on what this year held—the meaningful moments, the hard ones, and the lessons we want to remember. I'm joined by my dear friend Kristy Lauricella as we answer reflective questions (available to download), share our unexpected words of the year, and talk about the books, podcasts, and shows that stayed with us. This conversation isn't abou...

Jeff Hittner on the invisible pressures dads carry every day—balancing ambition with presence, holding emotions they were never taught to express, feeling the weight of being a provider while wanting to be deeply connected, and silently wondering whether they're doing enough. 03:18 — Why dads default to fixing 06:10 — How conflict exposes emotional patterns you didn't realize you were repeating 09...

Are you ready to start the new year with calmer, more connected parenting? In this episode, I share 7 practical ways to parent with intention in 2026 while avoiding common pitfalls that can derail your goals. We cover screen time, home environments, children's play, shared meals, technology, and the small but powerful shifts that can transform your family life. You'll also hear exercises and tips...

An OG podcaster, the founder and CEO of the Women's Meditation Network Katie Krimitsos on listening to your inner knowing, trusting your intuition and taking action even if you don't know all the answers.  04:00 – How fear and tears marked her first podcast recording. 06:30 – Why starting with no plan led to building a six-figure business. 09:00 – The intuitive pull that sparked an entirely new me...

How to help a parent who feels their teen is "out of control" becomes a doorway into understanding what lies beneath aggression and lying, the difference between dysregulation and being out of control, why we often have parenting upside down by giving young kids too much autonomy and tightening control in the teen years, and how to hold authority with kind, firm limits while staying curious and no...

Have you ever stopped to wonder how the stories you grew up with—the ones you absorbed in childhood—still shape the way you parent today? Author and creative coach GG Renee Hill on uncovering, rewriting, and reclaiming the stories that define us.  Timestamps: 0:03 – How our childhood stories shape parenting 0:06 – Parenting from old patterns 0:09 – When others silence your intuition 0:12 – Finding...

00:00 – Introduction to Andrea Leigh Rogers 02:15 – From dancer to wellness entrepreneur 04:40 – Creating Xtend: blending Pilates and dance 06:55 – The birth of Small Moves, Big Life 09:10 – Why small moves matter 11:25 – Escaping the cycle of overwhelm 13:45 – Motivation follows action 16:05 – Redefining success for modern women 18:30 – The FEEL framework explained 21:10 – Letting go of mom guilt...

Seth Gillihan, PhD says the path to peace isn't fixing yourself — it's expanding yourself. We explore how to stop chasing "better" and start living  fully, now. We'll explore mindfulness practices, stoic wisdom, and practical tools for quieting anxiety, facing fear, and reclaiming presence in a culture that conditions us to believe we are broken.  00:00 — Why we're wrong about self-improvement 02:...

Dr. Levin on the often misunderstood topic of traumatic grief — how it differs from ordinary grief, why it can feel so overwhelming, and what truly helps in the healing process. 00:00 – Introduction to thanatology and grief work 02:15 – What makes grief traumatic 05:20 – Traumatic vs. non-traumatic loss 07:45 – Common reactions after sudden loss 10:05 – When grief becomes stuck 12:30 – Stabilizing...

Licensed Clinical Social Worker and trauma therapist Estefana Johnson shares what makes CMI unique, how it differs from other trauma modalities like EMDR, why our nervous system often overrides logic, and how tuning into 'signals' — rather than symptoms — can transform healing. (00:00) Introduction to CMI — what Critical Memory Integration is and how it reframes "symptoms" as "signals." (03:45) Di...

Dr. Amy Apigian on the fascinating and often overlooked—biology of trauma.  [00:00] Introduction and shared connection around trauma, resilience, and Armenian heritage. [05:00] Story of becoming a foster parent during medical training and first encounter with childhood trauma. [15:00] Struggles of supporting traumatized children without adequate tools or professional guidance. [25:00] Personal hea...

Todd Sarner is a parenting coach and psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience helping families turn daily power struggles and emotional chaos into connection, calm, and cooperation at home. [00:00] Introduction — why quick fixes on social media backfire [02:35] What parents really need instead [05:10] The foundational role of attachment [08:25] "Collect before you direct" explained [12:00]...

What if the biggest thing standing in the way of the parent you want to isn't your lack of patience, or the right parenting strategy—but your own unresolved trauma? My guest today, Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, is a clinical child psychologist, trauma expert, and author of Post-Traumatic Parenting. She explains how the "trauma app" we download in childhood keeps running in the background of our parenting—a...

Please note: This episode was originally a live keynote talk and wasn't intended for the podcast, so the audio quality and editing may not meet our usual standards. However, we feel the message is valuable and hope you still find it inspiring. Thanks for your understanding! Anna Seewald invites teens to learn how action creates motivation, not the other way around. She explains how to befriend fea...

Leora Tanenbaum , author of Sexy Selfie Nation , on how slut-shaming has evolved—and worsened—in the digital age. She unpacks how what was once a whispered insult has become a widespread, inescapable form of abuse—amplified by smartphones, social media, and AI-powered deepfakes. She talks about how "self-sexualizing" can feel like control—but isn't, the three systemic forces fueling non-consensual...

Clinical psychologist and the author of the award-winning book, Sexism & Sensibility: Raising Empowered, Resilient Girls in the Modern World on healthy entitlement for girls, how to recognize and combat sexism in our own parenting, how to talk about misogyny, stereotyping, objectification, and consent with kids of all ages and much more.  LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donatio...

The Authentic Parenting Podcast is turning 10 years old this August.  🎉 👉 Would you consider sending me a short voice note? Here are a few prompts to guide you: What do you love about the show? What are your favorite topics or episodes? What lessons or insights have stayed with you? (Be specific—I'd love examples!) What sayings or ideas do you come back to? (One of mine: "Trauma blocks love, lov...

Can the profound absence of a father in childhood pave the way for a deeper, more intentional path to fatherhood? Charles C. Daniels Jr., PhD , the co-founder and CEO of Fathers' UpLift, on how inner child work empowers fathers to meet their unmet emotional needs and become more present and emotionally attuned caregivers.  His book: Present: The Crisis of American Fatherhood and the Power of Showi...

Susan Dominus, long-time staff writer for  The   New York Times Magazine on why individual parenting decisions may have less influence on our children's achievements than we tend to think—and why we should have more appreciation for how siblings can impact each other's lives. What's the secret behind high acheiving families? What do they do differently? Are their common factors? Some of the surprs...

We also talked about her journey into parenthood without her own parents, how she's navigated the anxiety of nearing the age they died, and the profound transformation that came with raising her son. Today's guest, Lauren Sisler, shares her deeply personal and moving story of loss, healing, and purpose. Lauren is an Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster, ESPN sideline reporter, author, and keynote...

Nina Mongendre on healing the inner child. Release what no longer serves you, transform generational patterns and live fully.  Pre-order her book Reclaiming Your Inner Child:  A Journey of Childhood and Ancestral Healing The podcast is turning 10!  10th Anniversary Retreat Interest Form To celebrate a whole decade of the podcast and the amazing community we've built together, we're planning someth...