Hey Other Parents: An Honest Podcast About Raising Kids

Hey Other Parents — S05E010: F-Ups and Fixes (Season Finale) Nobody gets parenting right all the time—and that’s exactly what we’re talking about in our Season Five finale. This week, we dive into the mistakes we make as parents: the moments we lose our patience, overreact, miss something important, or realize we handled a situation completely wrong. But this episode isn’t really about the mistake...

🎙️ Hey Other Parents — S05E009: Countdown To HS This week, we’re talking about the countdown to high school — and how suddenly it feels like parenting shifts into an entirely different gear. One minute your kid is figuring out lockers and late homework… and the next you’re hearing about SATs, AP classes, transcripts, clubs, guidance counselors, and “building a future.” We get into what actually ma...

🎙️ Hey Other Parents — S05E008: Text Me When You Get Home This week, we’re talking about that moment when parenting starts to change. The point where sleepovers become parties, quick hangouts turn into late nights, and our kids start entering situations we can’t fully supervise anymore. Somewhere along the way, parenting shifts from protecting… to preparing. We’re talking about the unspoken rules...

🎙️ Hey Other Parents — S05E007: Candles and Mayhem (The Birthday Episode) This week, we’re talking about birthdays—and how something that’s supposed to be fun somehow turns into a full-on production. Somewhere between cakes, gifts, decorations, Pinterest parties, and trying to create the “perfect” day, birthdays became stressful, expensive, emotional, and just a little chaotic. We get into the pre...

🎙️ Hey Other Parents — S05E006: Working Moms in America (The Balance Myth) This week, we’re talking about working moms—and the pressure to somehow do it all. Show up at work like you don’t have kids, show up at home like you don’t have a job, and somewhere in between try to create perfect moments, make every event, and keep it all together. We get real about the myth of balance, the guilt, the dou...

S05E005: Talk Less. Connect More. This week, we’re getting real about something we all do—talking at our kids instead of actually connecting with them. Because somewhere between asking questions, giving advice, and trying to “help,” our conversations start to feel like lectures… and kids shut down fast. We break down why that happens, what better conversations actually look like, and how small shi...

🎙️ S05E004: Kids & Taking Initiative (Wilson… I’m Sorry) This week, we’re talking about why kids struggle to take initiative—and whether we might be part of the reason why. From stepping in too quickly to structuring every moment, we explore how good intentions can accidentally take away the very opportunities kids need to figure things out on their own. Inspired by everything from Bluey to Ca...

Hey Other Parents S05E003: I’m Bored. What Is This Feeling!?! “I’m bored.” It hits differently now. We grew up with “Do you know where your children are?”, after-school specials like Punky Brewster , faces on milk cartons, and a completely irrational fear of quicksand… and did that impact us with our own kids? This week, we’re talking about what boredom used to look like, what changed, and whether...

Hey Other Parents S05E002: So You Gave Your Kid a Phone… Now What? (The PH Word) Giving your kid a phone feels like a big step—and maybe a risky one. This week, we’re talking about when it actually feels right to hand one over, what we’re really worried about (social pressure, exposure, bullying, and losing control), and how we try to balance safety with independence. We get into setting boundarie...

S05E001: The Little Things We Do as Parents (That No One Notices) This week, we’re kicking off Season 5 by focusing on the small, everyday ways we show love as parents—the things that don’t make it to Instagram but matter the most. From cutting fruit and charging devices to quiet emotional support and late-night check-ins, we’re talking about the invisible work that defines parenting. Because some...

HEY OTHER PARENTS – S04E010: We Don’t Know Everything… Shocking Right? (S4 Finale) 🎙️ In This Episode: It’s the Season Four finale — and we’re ending it with a little humility. Sara D kicks things off by putting Heit and Levine to the test in a Dad vs. Dad parenting quiz. From developmental milestones to everyday parenting scenarios (plus a little pop culture to bring it home), confidence quickly...

🎙️ Hey Other Parents — S04E009: Big Milestones, Bigger Pressure? This week we’re talking about big milestone celebrations — Bar Mitzvahs, Sweet 16s, and Quinceañeras — and the quiet pressure that comes with them. Are we throwing the party our kids actually want… or the one we feel expected to throw? We look back at the milestone events we attended as kids — the fancy ones, the overwhelming ones, t...

🎙️ Hey Other Parents — S04E008: AI and Parenting: What Kids Need From Us Now (feat. Liam) This week, we’re talking about AI — what it is, what it isn’t, and how parents can help their kids use it without panic or blind trust. What starts as a funny attempt to let AI solve a simple parenting problem quickly turns into a bigger conversation about cheating vs. learning, critical thinking, and why “AI...

🎙️ HEY OTHER PARENTS – Date Night Doesn’t Have to Be Dinner! This week, we’re talking about date night — and why it doesn’t have to revolve around going out to dinner to count. We dig into the idea that the real goal isn’t the restaurant, the reservation, or the perfect plan — it’s spending time together. Whether it’s a quick window between responsibilities or something totally unplanned, connecti...

🎙️ HEY OTHER PARENTS – S04E006: Raising a Child With Autism This week, we sit down with our friend, Michael Orlep, for an honest conversation about raising a child with autism — beyond labels, assumptions, and stereotypes. We talk about recognizing early differences, advocating for support, navigating school systems, balancing protection with independence, and preparing kids for adulthood. This ep...

🎙️ HEY OTHER PARENTS – S04E005: Teacher Feedback — What They Wish Parents Knew This week, we’re talking about the things teachers wish parents understood — the stuff that rarely makes it into emails, conferences, or back-to-school nights. Inspired by honest conversations and very real educator feedback, we dig into what school looks like from the other side, why some behaviors don’t magically tran...

Hey Other Parents – S04E004: Small Changes, Big Impact Tiny wins can make a big difference. This week, we’re talking about the small systems, habits, and cheap fixes that quietly make parenting school-age kids more manageable. These aren’t miracle hacks — just realistic changes that help mornings run smoother, reduce arguments, and keep parents (mostly) calm. We cover routines, independence, scree...

🎙️ In This Episode: This week, we’re talking about the parenting double standards that somehow still exist — even in 2025. Why is a dad praised for doing basic parenting tasks while a mom is questioned for the same thing? When did “babysitting your own kids” become a thing, and why won’t it die? We dig into how we were raised, how expectations followed us into adulthood, and how judgment shows up...

🎁 Bonus Episode Drop: The Receipts 🧾 Last week, we did the thing you’re never supposed to do — we actually scored our New Year’s resolutions. So now it only felt right to post the episode where all of those goals were born. This bonus episode takes you back to New Year’s Eve 2023 into 2024 , when we confidently set our 2024 resolutions, talked big about family goals, and genuinely believed we we...

HEY OTHER PARENTS – S04E002: Dropping the Ball 🎙️ In This Episode: This week, we’re doing the thing you’re not supposed to do — looking back at last year’s New Year’s resolutions and actually scoring them. We talk about which goals worked, which ones quietly fell apart, and why effort matters way more than perfection. January confidence was high. Reality showed up fast. We revisit our scoring syst...

HEY OTHER PARENTS – S04E001: Act Your Age! Staying Young at Heart, Fun vs. Cringe 🎉 Season 4 Premiere We’re back! Season 4 kicks off with a big parenting question that doesn’t come with an instruction manual: Do parents actually have to stop doing “childish” things… or is that rule completely made up? 🎙️ In This Episode: This week, we’re talking about staying young at heart — where joy, fun, and...

HEY OTHER PARENTS – S03E010: Fierce Intimacy (Part 1): Why We Argue the Way We Do 📅 End of Season 3 This is our Season 3 finale! We’re taking a short break and will be back with Season 4 on December 12th . Thanks for spending another season with us — we seriously love hanging out with you every week. 🎙️ In This Episode: We’re kicking off our Fierce Intimacy book club with the first half of Terry...

Episode Description HEY OTHER PARENTS – S03E009: Surviving Family Travel Without Losing Your Mind 🎙️ In This Episode: Family vacations are supposed to be relaxing… right? Between sunrise departures, overstuffed suitcases, and kids asking “Are we there yet?” before you leave the driveway, traveling with kids can feel like a full-contact sport. This week on Hey Other Parents , we’re talking all abou...

HEY OTHER PARENTS – S03E008: Naming a Baby Without Starting a Family Feud 🎙️ In This Episode: Naming a baby is no small task. From family traditions to pop culture influences, choosing the “right” name can feel like walking through a minefield — one full of strong opinions, veto lists, and more unsolicited suggestions than anyone ever asked for. This week on Hey Other Parents , we’re talking all a...

HEY OTHER PARENTS – S03E007: This Isn’t the Parenting We Grew Up With… (Millennial Pressures of Raising Kids in 2025) 🎙️ In This Episode: This week, we’re talking all about what it means to raise kids right now — in a world that looks nothing like the one we grew up in. Even from the time our kids were babies until now, so much has changed. Every generation has faced its own version of “hard,” but...