Moms of Tweens and Teens

Send a text If you’re a mom who feels like you’re always trying —trying to be more patient, more present, more organized—and yet still end most days feeling like you’re falling short, this episode is for you.  Today on the show, I’m joined by Carla Ondrasik — a former music executive who helped launch hits like “Genie in a Bottle” for Christina Aguilera, worked with icons like Barbra Streisand and...

Send a text If you’re parenting a neurodivergent teen and find yourself quietly wondering about their future friendships, independence, or sense of belonging—this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Jamie Pastrano , a licensed social worker, autism advocate, and the co-founder of Synchrony , a groundbreaking social app that officially launched in January 2026. Jamie’s journe...

Send a text If you’re a mom lying awake at night, worried about your tween or teen’s anxiety… this episode is for you. In this deeply meaningful and hope-filled conversation, I’m joined by Amber Leah , author, speaker, and mom, for an honest heart-to-heart about what it’s really like to walk alongside a child who is struggling with anxiety, stress, and depression. Amber vulnerably shares her famil...

Send a text It’s so easy to lose it when our kids’ emotions are running high. We tell them to “calm down,” and before we know it… we’re yelling too. If that sounds familiar, you’re going to love this episode. My special guest, Lisa Danahy , is a certified yoga therapist, educator, and founder of Create Calm. She’s spent more than 35 years helping kids, parents, and teachers learn practical ways to...

Send a text In this insightful conversation, Dr. Anna Levy-Warren, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Organizational Tutors, breaks down the concept of executive functioning (EF)—the brain processes that help kids and teens organize, plan, focus, and manage their emotions. Discover how everyday tasks like getting ready for school, homework, and handling transitions can feel overwhelmi...

Send a text In this episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Shelley Branine , and let me tell you—this conversation blew me away. Shelley is a truth seeker, freedom fighter, wife, and warrior mom of two amazing daughters—one of whom actually graduated from college just a week before finishing high school. As a mom myself, I was inspired hearing her story of how she navigated the college...

Send a text If your teen has been vaping, using weed, lying, or just seems totally unmotivated—and you’re tired of the constant arguments or feeling unsure how to help them turn things around—this episode is for you.  Amber Hollingsworth is an addiction specialist and creator of the YouTube channel Put The Shovel Down —and in this interview, Amber shares what really helps when teens are experiment...

Send a text Do you have a teen who spends most of their time in their room, glued to their phone, avoiding homework, and tuning you out—no matter what you say or do?  You’re not alone—and today’s conversation will help you understand what’s really going on and what you can do about it. In this powerful and practical episode, Sheryl sits down with Dr. Melanie McNally , clinical psychologist, brain...

Send a text Do you ever feel like all your tween or teen eats is buttered noodles or ramen? 🙋‍♀️ I hear this from so many moms — and I’ve been there too! We want our kids to eat healthier and learn life skills, but with everything on our plates, it feels impossible to make it happen. That’s why I’m so excited about this conversation with Katie Kimball . Katie is a mom of four, a former teacher, a...

Send a text Feeling burned out? Need some encouragement and inspiration? Or maybe you just need to hear a little reassurance today?  Well, friend, you are in the right place. I am so excited to welcome our special guest, Tyra Lane-Kingsland, to the show! Whenever I talk to Tyra, I leave feeling so encouraged, refreshed, inspired, and filled up. She’s like going to an emotional chiropractor! She is...

Send a text 🎓 Feeling overwhelmed by the college process? You’re not alone. Whether your teen is unsure about their future or you’re wondering how you’ll ever afford college, this episode is packed with wisdom, clarity, and hope. I’m joined by Shellee Howard , founder and CEO of College Ready and mom of four— all of whom graduated debt-free , including a Harvard grad. Shellee shares how she turne...

Send a text Have you recently moved—or are you simply trying to feel more at home where you are? In this uplifting episode, I sit down with Ali Wenzke , author of The Art of Happy Moving , who has moved 10 times in 11 years and brings a wealth of wisdom on building community, letting go of clutter, and finding joy in life’s transitions. We dive into: The emotional side of moving (and why it’s not...

Send a text In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with Jennifer Thompson—blogger, speaker, and author of Return to Jesus —for an honest conversation about faith, shame, healing, and the unconditional love of God. Jennifer shares her powerful story of overcoming self-worth struggles and performance-based faith, including her experience with post-abortive shame and how a Bible study helped her f...

Send a text Do you have a tween or teen who struggles to get excited about their life or find a sense of direction? It can feel overwhelming as a parent knowing how to support them.  As a parent, do you struggle to know how to motivate them or know how to help them discover their gifts and what they love to do? As a parent, you want them to find purpose, but how can you help them find the right pa...

Send a text Do you ever wonder why you get so reactive about what your tween or teen says or does? One minute, something they say doesn’t bother you, and the next, you feel like you’re about to lose it? What’s going on with that? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Shelly Robinson , a certified conscious parenting coach, the founder of Raising Yourself , and the creator of the Connected Kid Toolkit...

Send a text Did you know that the ages between 6 and 12 are often referred to as ‘the forgotten years’? In reality, these years are some of the most crucial in shaping our kids’ mental health and development. In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Sheryl Ziegler back to the show to share insights from her upcoming book, The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puber...

Send a text Do you struggle to get your teen to go to bed at a decent time? Are they so overloaded with homework and activities that late nights seem unavoidable? Do mornings feel like a constant battle to get them up? Jessica Bryant, representative of the Better Sleep Council (BSC), internationally recognized pediatric sleep strategist, keynote speaker, and the founder of Sleep Happy Consulting ,...

Send a text None of us get through this life without experiencing grief and loss. The question is, how do we work through that loss and come to believe that we can actually love our lives again?  My special guest today is Krista St-Germain, who knows firsthand what it means to face unimaginable loss since tragically and unexpectedly losing her spouse in 2016, leaving her with a title she never tho...

Send a text Parenting a teenager isn’t easy. Maybe your teen used to talk to you about everything, and now they’re constantly in their room and barely say a word. Or maybe every conversation seems to turn into an argument, and you’re struggling to connect. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and today’s episode is for you. I’m thrilled to have Susan Caso join us on the podcast. Susan...

Send a text Welcome to the Moms of Tweens and Teens Podcast! Moms, let me ask you this: Do you ever feel like your mind is racing a hundred miles a minute like you’re stuck on a hamster wheel of to-dos, worries, and “what ifs”? It’s so easy to get distracted or feel overwhelmed when life demands so much from us. But what if there was a way to train our minds to slow down, reset, and find calm amid...

Send a text Welcome to the Moms of Tweens and Teens Podcast! Today, I'm excited to introduce two incredible guests, Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster , co-founders of ImpactParents and creators of the acclaimed podcast Parenting with Impact as well as authors of books , Parenting ADHD Now!: Easy Intervention Strategies to Empower Kids with ADHD and Parenting with Impact : Expert Advice t...

Send a text Today, we're going to be talking about how to help our tweens and teens who are struggling with friendships, and this is really painful as a mom.  If you have a kid who is lonely and is struggling with girl drama, it might look a little bit different if you have a boy, but they have their version of that. If they're spending a lot of time isolated and alone in their room, the...

Send a text Hey friend, If you struggle with clutter and being organized. If you are frustrated with your kid and their bedrooms and how disorganized they can be. If you’re wondering why it’s so hard to keep it all together with everything you have to do. I am so excited for you to listen to this episode with Laurie Palau! Laurie Palau is the author of HOT MESS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GETTING ORGANI...

Send a text Hi friend. Welcome to the show today, and I am so glad that you're spending time with me. In today's episode, we are talking about the tough process of letting go. Letting is one of the most difficult things when your your kid hits the middle school years - you're in this big transition, and I found this so hard -  "When do I step in? When do I step back?"  It&...

Send a text Welcome friend, Kristi K. Hoffman is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated TV host, media producer, journalist, lifestyle influencer, family woman, businesswoman, philanthropist, and best-selling teen social issues author of Total Package Girl: Discover the Ultimate You for Life. As a journalist and media professional starting out in a time when men dominated the industry, Kristi realized t...