Raising Sons with Dr. Richelle Whittaker

Are you helping your son become more independent, or are you unintentionally doing too much for him? As moms, we want to support our sons, protect them from frustration, and set them up for success. But sometimes, the things we do to help our boys can prevent them from developing the independence, confidence, and problem-solving skills they'll need as they grow. In this episode of 5-Minute Par...

What happens when motherly intuition tells you something is going on with your child, but those around you say, "He's just a boy, give him time" ? On this episode, host Dr. Richelle Whittaker pulls from the archives, an interview she did with Toya, a school psychologist, speech assistant, and mom of five, for an open, honest conversation about raising a son with autism. Toya shares her...

Ever sit your son down for a heart-to-heart, only to get one-word answers like "fine," "nothing," or "I don't know"? You're not alone! In this quick 5-minute parent coaching episode, part of our Back to School Series, host Dr. Richelle Whittaker shares a game-changing shift in how you approach communication with your son. Building on insights from licensed professio...

Father’s Day may come once a year, but the impact of an involved, emotionally present father lasts a lifetime. On this episode of the Raising Sons Podcast , host Dr. Richelle Whittaker pulls from the archives an interview with Mr. Michael Dangerfield, a licensed professional counselor, Navy veteran, author, and father, to break down fatherhood from a man's perspective. Together, Dr. Shell and...

We all want to raise independent young men who can solve problems, advocate for themselves, and handle difficult situations. But too often, we confuse independence with isolation, and strength with suffering silently. On this episode of the Raising Sons Podcast (Back to School Edition), host Dr. Richelle Whittaker delivers a powerful, bite-sized parenting coaching session focused on one critical q...

Are you running on an empty tank but still trying to manage it all? On this solo episode of the Raising Sons Podcast, host Dr. Richelle Whittaker (Dr. Shell) pulls from the archives a previous episode on one of the greatest hurdles women face: asking for help . As mothers, caregivers, and nurturers, we naturally put everyone else's needs before our own. Dr. Shell addresses how this is especial...

Are you tired of repeating yourself every single morning before school? On this special "Five Minute Parent Coaching" edition of the Raising Sons Podcast , host Dr. Richelle Whittaker tackles one of the most frustrating struggles for parents of boys: getting them to listen. When your son fails to grab his backpack or put on his shoes after you've asked him three times, it’s easy to ass...

Is your son struggling to follow directions, express himself, communicate with others, or make himself understood? What sometimes looks like not listening, behavior, or difficulty at school could be connected to speech and language development. In this special Back-to-School Series episode of the Raising Sons Podcast , Dr. Richelle Whittaker revisits the archives with speech-language pathologist C...

On this special season four finale of the Raising Sons podcast, Dr. Richelle brings two very special guests to the mic: her own sons, Mason and Christian! In this candid and humorous episode, they reflect on the massive transitions of the past year,moving into the 6th grade and 9th grade respectively. From navigating the sudden jump in workload and school schedules to finding their footing sociall...

On this episode of the Raising Sons podcast, Dr. Richelle Whittaker shifts the focus to the heart of the home: the mom raising the sons . Navigating an unexpected season of transition after 16 years as a full-time entrepreneur, Dr. Richelle opens up about sitting in the uncomfortable space of uncertainty and how moms can stay grounded when life feels unpredictable. Whether you are navigating caree...

Have you noticed your son changing his behavior, staying quiet, or modifying how he talks just to fit into a certain group of friends? On this episode of the Raising Sons Podcast, Dr. Richelle Whittaker breaks down the powerful, psychological drive behind an adolescent's need to belong and why the teenage brain treats social exclusion with the exact same intensity as physical pain. Dr. Richell...

On this episode, Dr. Richelle addresses a common misconception among moms raising boys: the idea that raising sons and daughters is exactly the same. Triggered by a powerful interview with a young man raised by a single mother, Dr. Richelle dives into why boys need distinct pathways for emotional coaching, communication, and male mentorship. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, "I love my s...

How do we protect our sons in a world that often misjudges them? In this heavy but essential episode of the Raising Sons podcast, Dr. Richelle Whittaker dives deep into a recent national tragedy to uncover powerful, real-world lessons for parents raising young men, particularly African American boys. Dr. Whittaker reflects on the tragic high school incident involving Carmelo Anthony and Austin Met...

How do we protect our sons in a world that often misjudges them? In this heavy but essential episode of the Raising Sons podcast, Dr. Richelle Whittaker dives deep into a recent national tragedy to uncover powerful, real-world lessons for parents raising young men, particularly African American boys. Dr. Whittaker reflects on the tragic high school incident involving Carmelo Anthony and Austin Met...

Welcome back to another episode of the Raising Sons podcast with Dr. Richelle Whittaker! As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, Dr. Richelle is coming to you straight from her car to talk about a vital piece of the mental health puzzle: Community. We’ve all heard the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child," but have you ever stopped to think about how community actually s...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month , and on this episode of the Raising Sons Podcast , Dr. Richelle Whittaker dives deep into why self-care isn't just a luxury, it's a necessity for moms. As mothers, we are often so busy managing households, careers, and our sons that we forget to check in on ourselves. But here is the truth: You cannot pour from an empty cup . Dr. Whittaker shares her p...

Are you noticing your son pulling away as he gets older? Discover how a simple 21-day emotional challenge can revitalize your relationship and equip your son with the emotional vocabulary he needs before society teaches him to keep his feelings inside. In this episode, Dr. Richelle Whittaker shares a personal, practical approach to deepening your bond and supporting your child's mental health....

On this episode, Dr. Richelle Whittaker sits down with Toya, a mother of five, school psychologist, and fierce parent advocate, to share her journey navigating motherhood with a child on the autism spectrum . They discuss the unique challenges of neurodiversity , highlighting the importance of community, early intervention , and Black maternal mental health . Main topics covered: Toya’s transition...

On this episode of Raising Sons, host Dr. Richelle Whitaker interviews her aunt, about the realities of parenting a child with ADHD. They discuss the transition from seeing a "mischievous child" to receiving a formal disability diagnosis and the emotional journey of managing behavioral challenges in school versus the home environment. In this episode, You’ll Learn: The Diagnostic "Flas...

Are you a mom who feels like you’re constantly "rescuing" your son instead of teaching him? In this episode of the Raising Sons Podcast , Dr. Richelle Whittaker shares a powerful realization from a recent workshop that is changing how she supports mothers. Witnessing a mother take responsibility for her adult son’s legal fines in a courtroom sparked a critical question: Are you rescuing hi...

Boy moms, this one's for you. 🙋🏽‍♀️ Can we be honest for a second? Sometimes we jump in too fast. Sometimes we wait too long. And MOST of the time... we have no idea which one we just did. 😅 That tension? It's real. And it's exhausting. That's why I'm hosting a FREE workshop just for moms raising sons: WHEN TO STEP IN, WHEN TO STEP BACK: Raising Sons Without Enabling Them We...

Have you ever felt afraid of your own son’s anger, but felt too much shame to say it out loud? You are not alone. In this powerful episode of the Raising Sons Podcast , we tackle the "taboo" topic of maternal fear, fear of his escalation, fear of his growing size, and fear of what he might become. If you are walking on eggshells or feel like you’ve lost your leadership at home, this conver...

Is your son suddenly struggling at school? On this episode of the Raising Sons Podcast , Dr. Richelle Whittaker dives deep into the hidden reasons behind behavioral changes in Black boys. Using a real-world case study of a mother concerned about her son’s "acting out," Dr. Whittaker breaks down why we must stop labeling our children and start looking at their environment. We explore the re...

Is an all-boys school the right environment for your son? If you’ve noticed your son disengaging, acting out, or struggling to sit still in a traditional classroom, it might not be him, it might be the environment. In this episode of Raising Sons , Dr. Richelle Whittaker, educational psychologist, parenting strategist, and boy mom breaks down the science of how boys learn . We explore why single-s...

What does it truly take to reach young men in the classroom today? On this episode, we sit down with Mr. Thomas, a dedicated first-year principal at an all-boys school in Houston, Texas . We explore his unique journey from working with Child Protective Services (CPS) to leading a school, and how his background in social work has shaped his approach to student success. Mr. Thomas dives deep into th...