Thriving Kids

Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with best-selling author, actor, and activist Busy Philipps to discuss the challenges of modern parenting. Busy talks about her adult ADHD diagnosis, helping kids navigate mental health TikTok, and how to broach tricky conversations about the “manosphere” and politics with honesty and love.    They also cover:   • Active parenting in the digital age. Busy shares why wat...

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson answers listener questions inspired by last week’s conversation with Dr. Candice Odgers about kids, social media, and what the research really says about screens and youth mental health. Dr. Dave discusses how parents can set healthy limits around phone use without reacting out of fear, why screens are often part of a much bigger picture...

In this episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson is joined by Dr. Candice Odgers, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Irvine, whose research focuses on adolescent mental health and the role of smartphones and social media in kids’ daily lives. Together, they discuss what the evidence does — and does not — show about technology and youth mental health, and why the most po...

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson answers listener questions inspired by last week’s conversation with Dr. Alfiee about youth mental health, community care, and what it really means to help young people thrive. Dr. Dave discusses how parents can talk with kids about mental health without making them feel like something is “wrong” with them, how to help children process s...

In this episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson is joined by Dr.  Alfiee Breland-Noble — better known as Dr. Alfiee — psychologist, founder of The AAKOMA Project, and author of Rise and Thrive: An intentional guide to caring for your mental health . Together, they discuss youth mental health, the importance of community-based care, and how parents, caregivers, and mental health professionals...

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers parents’ questions inspired by last week’s conversation with Dr. Brian Hoeflinger, a neurosurgeon who talked about how the death of his son led him to face his panic attacks over public speaking. In this episode, he covers: What parents can learn from doctors about staying calm in a crisis Why anxiety can run in families — and wha...

In this episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson talks with Dr. Brian Hoeflinger, a neurosurgeon whoseprofession and personal story gives him a rare perspective on mental health. Dr. Hoeflinger shares how his brother’s traumatic brain injury first inspired him to pursue neurosurgery, howchronic panic attacks shaped his adolescence and early professional life, and how the loss of his son change...

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson answers parents’ questions about the intense stress that can come with raising young children. Inspired by his recent conversation with pediatrician Dr. Lauren Hughes, this episode focuses on the early years of parenting: feeding decisions, sleepless nights, emotional overload, relationship strain, and the pressure many parents feel to d...

In this episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson talks with Dr. Lauren Hughes, a board-certified pediatrician, mother of three, and trusted voice for realistic, evidence-based parenting guidance. Together, they explore the stress and pressure parents can face in the first years of raising a child, from navigating developmental milestones to feeding choices and methods for sleep training.  Dr....

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson answers parent questions sparked by the Orlando Bloom conversation, focusing on dyslexia myths, practical at-home learning strategies, self-esteem, movement and focus, AI tools, and the emotional impact of learning differences. He explains what dyslexia actually is, why evaluation and targeted support matter, and how parents can help kid...

This week on Thriving Kids, I’m joined by actor Orlando Bloom. He talks about growing up with dyslexia, including the challenges he faced paying attention and concentrating in school, and how he developed his own workarounds before many of today’s evidence-based supports existed. We also discuss how movement, mindfulness, good nutrition, and sleep can help kids  (and adults) manage attention and l...

In this Thriving Kids Q&A, Dr. Dave Anderson explains how parents can recognize early signs of dyslexia, ADHD, and learning disabilities, advocate for school support, and protect their child’s self-esteem while they struggle academically. This episode offers practical guidance on evaluations, IEPs and 504 plans, reading intervention, ADHD treatment, and why early support can change a child’s t...

What happens when systems built to support kids with learning disabilities change?  In this episode, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, to discuss the state of learning disability support across the country, from early screening and phonics-based reading instruction to IEP protections and the real concerns parents are ra...

In this Q&A follow-up to our conversation with Dr. Rubén Parra-Cardona , Dr. Dave answers eight listener questions about building and maintaining warm, positive relationships with your children, from toddlerhood through the teen years. He covers questions, including: -       How do I stay present during child-led play when I'm bored out of my mind? -       Can I build a positive bond with a ch...

In this episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with[MH1]  Dr. Rubén Parra-Cardona, a family therapist and the Roger and Carol Nooe Endowed Chair and Professor[MH2]  in the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee. They discuss the ethical foundations of parenting and share key principles to guide parents in nurturing resilient children.   They also cover:     • How ref...

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson follows up on last week’s conversation with Dr. Linda Charmaraman about how kids feel about social media. In this episode, we cover: Smartphone readiness is about preparation, not just age. Delaying access can help, but parents also need to take a realistic, flexible approach. Help build digital literacy and encourage kids to come to you...

Parents and caregivers may have a lot of worries about their teens using social media, from encountering harmful content to cyberbullying. But what do teens themselves say about how social media affects them day to day? In this episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with Dr. Linda Charmaraman a senior research scientist at the Wellesley Centers for Women and founder and director of...

Part 3 of 3: What actually helps students succeed in college? In this episode of Thriving Kids , our clinicians offer practical guidance for families preparing for the transition to college. From understanding accommodations to building routines that support mental health, this conversation focuses on actionable steps. Moderated by Dr. Morgan Eldridge with Dr. David Friedlander and Dr. Adam Zamora...

Part 2 of 3: College demands a new level of self-management In this episode of Thriving Kids , our clinicians unpack executive functioning and procrastination — and why struggling to start a task isn’t about laziness, but about skill development and brain maturation. In this moderated conversation led by Dr. Morgan Eldridge with Dr. David Friedlander and Dr. Adam Zamora , you’ll hear: • What execu...

Part 1 of 3: Why does college feel overwhelming — even for strong, capable students? In this episode of Thriving Kids , our clinicians explore why the transition from high school to college can be harder than expected. Students move from a structured, familiar environment to one that demands independence, self-management, and new social connections. You’ll hear a moderated conversation led by Dr....

Talking to kids about racism and discrimination can feel intimidating. But in this episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson and Dr. Isha Metzger discuss how to start the conversation early, keep it practical, and support kids in ways that match their age and situation. What you’ll learn: How to convey a clear definition of racism that goes beyond “one person being mean” How microaggressions sh...

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson follows up on last week’s conversation with Dr. Joanna Kim about parental self-care and the invisible labor of raising kids. He answers listener questions about guilt, exhaustion, and how to make “filling your cup” realistic in a normal week. In this episode, we cover: “How do I help friends who feel guilty taking time away from their ki...

Self-care for parents isn’t selfish — it’s fuel. In this episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson talks with Dr. Joanna Kim about what real self-care looks like for busy parents — especially those who feel guilty about taking a break. We cover: • Why self-care can feel like a privilege or unrealistic • How to “fill your cup” in 1 to 5 minutes (no spa day required) • The science of parent engag...

In this Thriving Kids Q&A episode, Dr. Dave Anderson answers parent questions about child stress, anxiety, avoidance, burnout, and coping with big emotions. Building on a recent conversation with Dr. Dylan Gee , a professor of psychology at Yale University, this episode focuses on how kids learn to respond to stress — and how parent behavior can either ease anxiety or reinforce it over time. D...

Is your child struggling with stress — or is it something more? In this episode of Thriving Kids , Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with Dr. Dylan Gee , a professor of psychology at Yale University, to explore the vital difference between managing stress and simply trying to avoid it. While it’s natural to want to "pave the road" and remove obstacles for our children, learning to tolerate discomfort is...