Authentic Parenting

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...

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...