Authentic Parenting

Have you ever felt an instant connection with someone—like your energies just aligned without needing words? And other times… you've had to work to connect, even with the people you love most? What is connection? How does it feel to truly connect with someone? What's the difference between connection, relationship, and love? In today's episode, we explore what it takes to build deep emotional conn...

What if recovering from burnout isn't about doing more—but learning how to regulate what's already happening inside you? New to the podcast? Not sure where to start? Download our free TRAUMA KIT — a curated guide with live links to 10 powerful, handpicked episodes to get you started. Explore how trauma shapes your body, brain, nervous system, and relationships — and discover pathways to healing an...

Have you ever wondered how the experience of motherhood changes depending on where you are in the world — and how much of it is shaped by culture, politics, and community rather than just personal choice? Today's conversation might just change the way you think about parenthood, support systems, and even policy. New to the podcast? Not sure where to start? Download our free TRAUMA KIT — a curated...

Are your expectations helping—or hurting—your child? Is your own anxiety fueling theirs? Does your child feel overwhelmed by school, stress, or the pressure to be perfect? If you're unsure how to support your child without adding to their stress, you're not alone. In this episode, Ned Johnson and I explore why so many kids are struggling—and what you can do to truly help. New to the podcast? Not s...

Dr. Dan Siegel on the power of showing up, learning to repair after ruptures and the four S's; feeling Seen, Safe, Soothed and Secure.  New to the podcast? Not sure where to start? Download our free TRAUMA KIT — a curated guide with live links to 10 powerful, handpicked episodes to get you started. Explore how trauma shapes your body, brain, nervous system, and relationships — and discover pathway...

Former podcast guest, author of Listen: Five Simple Tools to Meet Your Everyday Parenting Challenges Tosha Schore on how we can help boys develop healthy communication skills and learn emotional intelligence.  Creating safe spaces for boys to express themselves without fear of judgment. Challenging stereotypes and normalizing diverse emotions. Modeling emotional intelligence in everyday moments. T...

Brazilian-American journalist and former foreign correspondent Marina Lopes about parenting hacks from around the world. Drawing on her multicultural background and experiences living in various countries Marina explores how different cultures approach parenting, offering practical ideas for American parents.  The  Brazilian "birth party" The  Chinese tradition of postpartum rest ("sitting the mon...

Clinical psychologist, play therapist, podcast host, and author Sheryl Ziegler on why middle childhood (ages 6-12) is a crucial but often overlooked period for developing emotional regulation and capability.   Earlier puberty trends The importance of parents addressing emotional dysregulation  How to manage their own emotions What is the "window of tolerance"? How to practice co-regulation through...

Here are the four episodes published in February: Mothering Challenging Adults Children: Navigating Guilt, Conflict and Change Mastering the Art of Validation: How to Make People Feel Seen and Understood 7Ways to Improve Well-Being, Reduce Stress and Stay Grounded in Difficult Times  The Truth About Menopause: Symptoms, Solutions and Finding the Gifts in Midlife    

T amsen Fada l on the the journey through perimenopause and menopause and how to shift the narrative around menopause. Forget the outdated and often negative portrayals.  Common misconceptions and fears surrounding perimenopause and menopause The wide range of symptoms, extending far beyond just hot flashes, with Tamson sharing that there can be 34 plus symptoms. Crucial information about hormone...

Are you feeling overwhelmed, or distracted—unable to be fully present? Maybe you're caught in worry, struggling to rest, or feeling anxious about the state of the world? Do you crave more ease, control peace and balance in your day-to-day life? New to the podcast? Not sure where to start? Download our free TRAUMA KIT — a curated guide with live links to 10 powerful, handpicked episodes to get you...

How good are you at the skill of validation? What is validation, and what isn't? What are its benefits, and how do you actually validate someone? What do people often misunderstand about this crucial, life-changing skill—and so much more? Should we validate positive or negative feelings? How do we determine what to validate? How can we calibrate our reactions to match someone's distress? Simply pu...

Hello and welcome to a special new feature here on the podcast—the monthly recap! We're trying something a little different, and we hope you'll find it useful. We know that not everyone has time to listen to every episode, and honestly, I wouldn't expect you to. Sometimes, just the title isn't enough to know if an episode is right for you. That's where this recap comes in! If you're a regular list...

In the aftermath of stress, adversity and trauma people often fall into survival mode and become disconnected from their true authentic self. Dr. Thema Bryant, a president elect of the American Psychological Assosication on how we become disconnected from our self and how to reconnect to it.  In this episode we will unpack some of the internal and external signs of disconnection and offer you some...

We all encounter problems and stressors over the course of the day. Some are more easily managed then others. But no matter where an experience lands on the continuum from mild to traumatic, understanding how the nervous system works is the path to finding the way back to regulation. Deb Dana, a clinician, consultant and author specializing in complex trauma explains how we can learn about our ner...

What happens inside of us as a result of trauma changes us. "When trauma hits, it affects all aspects of our life: our brain biology, emotions, memory, physical health, But above all-it alters our sense of self. It creates a permanent divide in our personal history-forever dividing it into 2 segments of Before and After.  Paul Conti, MD author of Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic on how trauma works...

SUPPORT THE SHOW, SHOW YOUR LOVE Become a patron on Patreon.com and join 21 exisiting memebers who contribute $121 towards our monthly goal of $500.  Make a one-time donation in any amount to say "Thank you!" Rate or write a review FULL SHOW NOTES www.authenticparenting.com/podcast HOW TO WORK WITH ANNA I would be thrilled to support you in your parenting journey! All listeners get 10% off on my s...

Renowned speaker and bestselling author, Dr. Gabor Maté on trauma and healing in a toxic culture. He is highly sought after for his expertise on a range of topics including addiction, stress, and childhood development.   OTHER EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE Ep. 289: Developing Mind-Body Tools for Resilience with Rebekkah LaDayne  Ep.292: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with Dick Schwartz, PhD Ep. 26...

Judith Smith on the complex, often painful experience of raising daughters who challenge, resist, or reject expectations. In Difficult: Mothering Challenging Daughters , she offers a compassionate look at the emotional toll and societal pressure mothers face. This episode explores how to find peace, set boundaries, and parent without guilt. New to the podcast? Not sure where to start? Download our...

We all want to live the Good Life, but what does that really mean? Is a good life simply a happy one? Do we need to keep pursuing happiness, or should we shift our focus to finding meaning and fulfillment instead? Lorraine Besser, PhD author of  The Art of the Interesting on how to cultivate a good life.  New to the podcast? Not sure where to start? Download our free TRAUMA KIT — a curated guide w...

Lauren Gassner dives into the concept of "Wonder Hell"—that emotional space between success and uncertainty—and explores how it affects us as parents. She unpacks the importance of reframing fear and anxiety as growth opportunities, embracing failure, and modeling a growth mindset for children. Gain practical tools for handling impostor syndrome, fostering risk tolerance in kids, and building true...

Are you a people pleaser? Do you often put your own needs aside to make others happy? Do you find yourself in the role of the helper, feeling underappreciated or taken advantage of? If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Join us as we explore the complexities of people pleasing and how to reclaim your voice, meet your needs, and stop that tendency once and for all. New to the podcast? Not sure...

What you're about to hear is a 16-minute conversation generated by AI between a female and a male, discussing six specific episodes of my podcast. Here are the episodes that were included in the AI conversation: Why Self-Compassion is Essential for Every Parent's Mental Health with Kristin Neff, PhD 3 Ways to Prevent Parental Burnout with Kate Gawlik Are You a Controlling Parent? Here's What You N...

This is the final epsiode of the year where we share the highlights from 2024, challenges we faced, how we overcame them and what goals we have for 2025. Also, best books, podcasts, movies and shows of 2024.  Happy Holidays! 

I'm joined by one of my wonderful listeners, Jen Sign, who has joined me on several episodes, most notably the ones on uncovering your core values and AI. In this episode, we share our top 5 favorite episodes from 2024, and at the end, I reveal the top 10 most downloaded episodes of the year. It was so fun hearing about Jen's favorites, and it turns out we had one in common! If you haven't had the...