Parenting Unfiltered

Real strength at home isn’t perfection, it’s presence. In this episode of  Parenting Unfiltered , host Sara Kapp talks with Dr. Dan Cramer, clinical director of North Dakota’s Regional Human Service Centers and a father of six, about how dads and male caregivers shape a child’s emotional health every day.  Dr. Cramer shares why the most powerful thing a parent can do isn’t having the “right” strat...

When kids understand how their brains grow, they make safer choices. In this episode of  Parenting Unfiltered , host Sara Kapp talks with Dr. Crystal Collier—therapist, educator, person in long-term recovery, and author of  The NeuroWhereabouts Guide  and the children’s series  Know Your Neuro . Drawing on 25 years with kids and teens, Dr. Collier explains “brain-based prevention,” or practical wa...

Big emotions aren’t the enemy, they’re the training ground. In this episode of Parenting Unfiltered , host Sara Kapp sits down with licensed clinical social worker and mom-of-three Nikki Mundahl from Comfy Couch Counseling . Nikki shares simple, realistic ways to help kids (toddlers through elementary) calm down, and bounce back, especially when the holidays turn routines upside down and sibling b...

Play isn’t a break from learning, it’s how young children learn. In this episode of Parenting Unfiltered, host Sara Kapp talks with early childhood specialist Janet Bassingthwaite (25+ years from Head Start to university classrooms) about using unstructured, open-ended play to grow confidence and emotional intelligence.  Janet explains why simple, flexible materials (blocks, boxes, crayons, puzzle...

Starting school isn’t a one-day event. It’s a season of change for the whole family. In this episode of Parenting Unfiltered, host Sara Kapp talks with Missi Baranko, mom of four and Executive Director of USpire, about settling into preschool and kindergarten with confidence. Missi shares what helped in her own home—routines within routines, realistic expectations, and celebrating small wins—and h...

In this episode of Parenting Unfiltered, host Sara Kapp talks with Dr. Shauna Eberhardt, a clinical leader who blends research with real-life routines families can keep. As days get shorter and schedules shift, Dr. Eberhardt shares simple ways to balance screens and sleep for kids 0–8, without guilt or power struggles.  You’ll hear how to set realistic screen-time guardrails (hello, co-viewing and...

Hosted by Parents Lead, Parenting Unfiltered brings local voices and expert guidance to help parents and caregivers raise resilient, emotionally healthy children.   Each short episode gives you simple, real-life tools to guidance to help you navigate common parenting moments with confidence- free of guilt or jargon. Hear honest stories, practical advice, and reminders that showing up matters most.