PG-ish

Most parenting advice is all about how to get your kid to follow your rules and your schedule. But the real secret to parenting that most people won't tell you? Work on yourself. Of course, that's much easier said than done, because introspection is tough to fit on your to-do list amid parenting, working, cooking, cleaning, and all the things that life requires. Renowned motivational speaker Les B...

When the weight of the world is too much, too heavy, too chaotic, you can make some simple changes to be the calm in the storm—and exercise is one of those tools. Dr. Wendy Suzuki, a professor of neuroscience and psychology and dean at NYU, breaks down how exercise has both immediate and long-term effects on your mood and body, and how these effects alter and protect your brain. And the best part?...

Recently I noticed myself trying to tame my child's complaining by teaching a big lesson on gratitude. Anyone relate to this? Now of course teaching gratitude is important, but not at the cost of shutting down communication about honest feelings and potentially damaging our relationship. Today's throwback episode (Episode 168) is truly the Cliffs Notes on how to be a parent, and how to cultivate h...

Do you ever feel out of alignment, helpless from trying to carry the weight of the world, and wondering if what you do makes a difference? As parents, we can't fix the whole world for our kids—but we can start small and take just one step at a time. Today's talk by Ed Mylett will inspire you to keep going one more day, to keep showing up for your kids to prove to them that they matter. Sponsors an...

As parents, we rely on our kids' schools every day to help them thrive. But the truth is that it starts with the culture we create at home. We have the opportunity to provide an environment of energy, action, momentum, hope and possibility. When kids know they have an adult in their corner who believes in them, they will do better.  Today Simon T. Bailey shares how we can be the catalyst to help o...

In light of graduation season, today is a throwback episode with New York Times bestselling author and creator of Kid President, Brad Montague. The mission of his company, Montague Workshop, is to cultivate empathy and spark wonder through imagination in kids (and adults) of all ages. Listen in as he speaks to a graduating class and shares some simple reminders about living a life of hope and enjo...

As parents, there are so many things we want to teach our kids. We want them to be happy, but the truth is that we can't teach that to them—we can only model it ourselves. Happiness begins with the parent. Today, award-winning author, speaker, and therapist Connie Podesta shares some truth about becoming a happy role model, and why (regardless of what is happening in our lives) happiness is a dail...

Today I'm sharing something that's heavy on my heart this week—an interaction I had with a child (who isn't mine) that broke my heart and reminded me of my mission to support and encourage other parents on this journey.  We all know there's no guidebook for parenting. So when the tough moments pop up, we can easily feel lost. What I keep realizing is that at the end of the day, it all comes down t...

If you don't honor yourself with love, how do you expect to teach others how to love you? If you're disconnected from your body and heart, robotically moving through your day—hiding behind screens and scanning your to-do list to feel productive—it's time to reset. Lisa Nichols is a motivational speaker who rose from being a struggling single mom on public assistance to a millionaire entrepreneur....

In honor of Mother's Day just being celebrated, today's episode is speaking specifically to moms. Today is a reminder that your power as a mother (or woman, for that matter) can change the world. Your emotions are valid and important, especially your act of love. Day after day you continue to labor and choose love, even when it's hard. Valarie Kaur, a renowned civil rights leader and best-selling...

If you've been listening for a while, you may know that my motto as a parent is to be worthy of emulating. You're a mirror, and your kiddo is going to reflect what you put out, good or bad. We don't need perfection—simply conscious effort. As this week marks both my birthday and Mother's Day, I've been thinking about what those celebrations really mean, and I decided I should share another piece o...

As a parent, you have so much to do and think about—but do you ever stop to wonder if you're really filling your time with what's important? You may actually be robbing yourself of the gift of chasing goals, dreams, and hobbies, because you say you don't have time.  As author Oliver Burkeman explains, time is limited. The average person has about 4,000 weeks to live—and while it's easy to get dist...

Reflecting shouldn't just happen at certain milestones, like a new year or a birthday. Instead, it should happen frequently, to keep checking you're headed in the right direction and in alignment with who you want to be. Jen Sincero is a best-selling author, speaker, and self-proclaimed "motivational cattle prod." Today's clip will inspire you, grant you permission to rewrite your habits, and give...

Parenting often feels like we're carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. We focus more on the things we think we have to control, rather than the things that bring us joy.  Today is a continuation of last week's episode about coaching our kids instead of controlling them. Dr. Bill Stixrud is a neuropsychologist whose take on adolescent brain development could have a significant shift on...

For parents, there are always anxieties looming on the horizon, constant concerns about our kids' futures—and we feel the pressure of needing to fix all of it. But what would happen if we took a different approach? What if instead of trying to control everything, we gave our kids autonomy and simply walked calmly beside them? The ideas that Ned Johnson presents today could be transformative in hel...

As parents, we get it wrong a lot of the time. But the truth is that our kids feel perfect love simply when we show up and spend time with them, not when we know all the right answers. Being able to honestly reflect on our actions, as well as being vulnerable with our kiddos when we need to repair and apologize, are critical to creating a safe haven to raise kids who can navigate their own difficu...

Your internal compass—which is affected by your beliefs, thoughts, values, habits, and daily narratives—has a huge impact on your health and ability to adapt to the not-so-sweet moments of life. Ultimately, your internal state will color your external world. But life is messy, and it's okay to feel weak, uncertain, or scared.  Today's talk with Susan David is a powerful one. She explains why it's...

Sometimes it seems like as parents we work so hard to find the best way to parent our kiddos, only to miss the mark. Parenting strategies can be helpful, but if we're not paying attention to the big picture of building real connection, we lose sight of what matters. Dr. Gordon Neufeld is a developmental psychologist and author, whose ideas are based on the attachment theory of parenting. The way h...

It's funny how we as parents always think it's our job to teach our kids, when in reality we are learning about life right alongside them. Like it or not, our kids will reflect what they see in us, and our reactions and connections with them will shape them far more than our words and explanations. Dr. Shefali is an acclaimed author, speaker, psychologist, and an expert in family dynamics and pers...

Sometimes it seems like our kids have it all figured out. They use their full potential to explore, giggle, run, dance, and truly live—in other words, they PLAY. Why is it that as adults, we so quickly schedule over the things that actually bring us joy in everyday life? The good news is that we didn't lose the capacity to play as we grew older—we've simply made other things more important. Stuart...

Dr. Joe Dispenza is a chiropractor with training in neuroscience, neuroplasticity, and epigenetics. He's most interested in teaching others how to make measurable changes in their lives. With the amount of stress you've endured over the last two years (and probably more!), now is the time to leave it behind and try a new path to find a healthier, happier you.  Register here for No Guilt Mom's Happ...

Today we're doing a throwback from episode 149 with JoAnn and Brie from No Guilt Mom.  Join my conversation with this funny and fantastic duo, who have created a one-stop shop to help mamas love being a mom again. We discuss our experiences over the last year at home, the expectations on mamas now (and always), and 3 helpful tips to communicate better and work through the homework battles with mor...

Happiness is an inside job. It has to authentically come from you, both in the big sweeps of joy and the little moments of life. But how do we find it? Today we hear from Gretchen Rubin, a writer who explores human nature to understand how we can make our lives better. She explains why happy people are more altruistic and gives us practical tools to help us achieve more happiness. Watch the full c...

Today is an extra special episode, because it stars my own two kiddos! We love to read together before bedtime, and recently we've read some good throwback books from when they were smaller. It dawned on me that even though the simplest picture books might be written for our little ones, sometimes they contain so much wisdom for adulting as well. Join me as my girls read "Harold and the Purple Cra...

You can't give that which you don't have. If you don't have self-compassion, kindness, grace, and love for yourself, you can't give it away. So why are we so surprised that we pour out frustration and discontent, when we haven't taken time to nurture our souls? Today, internationally renowned author and speaker Dr. Wayne Dyer explains this simple but profound truth.  Watch the full clip here , and...