Spawned Parenting Podcast with Liz of Cool Mom Picks

This week, I'm honored to be joined by Debra Whitman, expert on aging and longevity, AARP Chief Public Policy Officer, and author of  The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond.   Don't let AARP scare you! Whether you're in your 30s or your 60s, you're going to learn the 5 things proven to help women live up to 14 years longer, the steps you can take now to be sure you...

If you've ever wondered whether best-selling author Gabrielle Blair -- A.K.A. Design Mom -- finds parenting fun and easy or just makes it look that way, you're going to love this conversation! We're talking about the new book she co-authored with her husband Ben, The Kids Are All Right: Parenting With Confidence in an Uncertain World , and wow does she have great ideas! She shares her tips for def...

A lot of moms are hitting a phase where our kids get older and we're wondering what the next chapter looks like for us. If you know you can be more fulfilled with your life but don't know where to start, you'll get so many helpful tips from my guest, award-winning journalist Katherine Goldstein She's the founder of The Double Shift , a fellow at The Better Life Lab at New America , and a fierce ad...

Tips for managing anxiety could not be a more timely topic, after the US Surgeon General's advisory about parents and mental health and the start of a new school year. You are going to LOVE my guest, Dr. Christopher Willard . He's an incredibly engaging and relatable author, clinical psychologist, and faculty member at Harvard Medical School. He's also one of the leading advocates for mindfulness...

"Hope is bold," Brad Montague tells me. The New York Times best-selling author and illustrator explains how hope, in combination with play, togetherness, and joy, can be a force for change, and help spark kids' imaginations for what's possible.  What a treat you’re in for this week! It’s a truly inspiring, happy-making conversation with the man you may know for his many children’s books (including...

Guess what? We all age! So why is the world so tough on women who do just that? Can we reclaim aging as something to celebrate? You'll get some wonderful answers today from Karen Walrond , author of the award-winning Radiant Rebellion: Reclaim Aging, Practice Joy, and Raise a Little Hell We discuss how we all inadvertently promote ageism (ever said "senior moment" when you forget something?), how...

"Life is hard. Adulting is hard. The political climate is hard," confesses Dr. Christine Koh , one of my favorite humans and the host of the Edit Your Life Show . So she's here to share 5 small (really!) life edits you can make right now, that have immediate and positive impact. One of my favorite: Identifying the kinds of people you should be spending time with, thanks to a 4-question litmus test...

This episode is a must-listen for all parents of kids who have smartphones, especially if you're worried about the impact of social media on mental health.  Dr. Devorah Heitner a renowned author and expert on kids and technology, joins me to provide thought-provoking insights that challenge a lot of the conventional wisdom, so get ready for a fresh take on parenting in the digital age.  You'll get...

So here's a fun surprise: Today, my own daughter and rising high school senior, Sage, joins me on Spawned for the first time! She's asking fantastic questions about college admissions on behalf of teens who have shared them with us. In our third and final podcast in our Insider's Guide to College Admissions , with Alyse Levine of Premium Prep , you'll learn about weighted grades, class rank, tough...

What a treat to have 30 minutes during Pride Month with the one and only Jonathan Van Ness, who's out with a brand new children's book, Gorgeously Me ! We're talking about how to create a culture of acceptance for kids who are different, but we touch on so much more. Like the book that traumatized Jonathan as a kid (eek!), their strongest memory of Barney, the importance to them of faith and spiri...

I am so happy to continue our 3-Part Insider Guide to the College Admission Process with my guest, Alyse Levine , one of the country's most prominent college counseling experts. Today we're focusing on a grade-by-grade guide to supporting our kids on the path toward college applications. Some of the topics we cover: Why middle school should be about focusing on healthy work habits How and when to...

Fresh off his viral commencement address at the University of Michigan, I'm joined by best-selling author Brad Meltzer . (Yes, that Brad Meltzer from the "I Am..." biographical children's books we all own!) He talks about his thoughts on kindness as a "naive ideal worth fighting for," the need for more empathy online, his love for the Harlem Globetrotters, and why he believes one person can change...

As parents of teens know, it's the college admission season. That's why I am thrilled to welcome back Alyse Levine , one of the most prominent college counseling experts, to help us out. You all loved my interview with her in January about de-stressing college admissions, which is why I invited her for a 3-Part Parent's Guide to the College Admission Process. To start things off, Alyse is sharing...

Spawned is back (whoo!) with host Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks and Mom-101. I'm excited to get back to what I love most-- helping us get through the ups and downs of parenting together. Each week I'll be joined by compelling experts, best-selling authors, entrepreneurs, comedians, therapists, and even some big celebrities. I'm thrilled to kick things off with Jaclyn Lindsey, the remarkable foun...

It is so tough to navigate the college search and admission process -- emotionally, practically, financially. (Eep!) It completely stressed me out, and I'm a pretty Type B mom. So learn from my mistakes! To kick off a new year of Spawned, we're lucky to be getting super helpful tips from Alyse Levine, one of the foremost college counseling experts in the country. She's not only worked with high sc...

At the end of such a tough year, we're looking to find all the holiday joy where we can, and make fun for our kids -- but why do moms always seem to be the people behind the fun, and not part of the fun? Liz is joined by Margaret Ables, co-host of the fabulous What Fresh Hell parenting podcast to commiserate, and we're offering smart tips (eg stop trying to make things perfect!), sweet family stor...

We all say we want to raise kids who are happy, healthy, and can be their authentic selves. So what happens when your kid is becoming someone who's really different from what we had imagined? That's the story Kate Brookes tells in the wonderful Transister: Raising Twins in a Gender-Bending World . She's incredibly forthcoming, funny, reflective, and supportive, whether you're raising kids who defy...

When the Surgeon General issued his recent advisory on social media and the health of our kids, I knew author, columnist, and adolescent digital media expert Dr. Devorah Heitne r would be the perfect person to ask for guidance and reassurance. And wow does she come through! Here, she offers incredibly helpful, specific tips about what we can do as parents to keep our kids healthy on social media--...

Bestselling author, podcast host, and psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour shares her insights and thoughtful advice on raising emotionally connected and resilient teens and discusses the impetus for her newest book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers . Visit Cool Mom Picks for show notes, and follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook , and Instagram . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...

I have wanted to talk with best-selling author, TED Talk phenom, and "professional troublemaker" Luvvie Ajayi Jones for so long! With the release of her wonderful new children's book, Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess , it's the perfect time. We discuss what it means to make good trouble, tips for talking to kids when they break the rules, and why to teach our children that it's not only possible t...

One of our all-time favorite guests, Dr. Ken Ginsburg, is back to chat about his newest book, Congrats—You're Having a Teen! and debunk some of the most common myths about parenting teenagers. Dr. Ginsburg's insights and work have changed the way we parent our kids, so let's just say if there's an episode of Spawned to listen to, it's this one. Thanks to our sponsor, Camp Tuku , a wonderful camp f...

Author Michelle Icard chats about her book " 14 Talks By Age 14 ," sharing how parents can approach the difficult conversations we know we need to have with our kids. Find Michelle's helpful book, wherever you buy your books. Follow us on social media: Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . And for show notes, visit CoolMomPicks.com . About our sponsor, Camp Tuku: If you have a child age 6-14,  Camp...

We all want to raise kind, generous, caring, empathetic kids -- who turn into great adults. So we turned to the perfect guide: Parenting author, science columnist and researcher Melinda Wenner Moyer . She shares so much science-backed data and turns it into parenting strategies, we can all put to use in our own families immediately. We think you'll love this episode! - Liz + Kristen Graciously bro...

Prioritizing and organizing your life, your family schedule, and especially your time is something a lot of moms (like, uh me!) can use help with. Take a listen for some terrific tips from Sarah Hart-Unger , host of Best Laid Plans podcast and co-host of Best of Both Worlds. She shares her genius "nested goals" approach, offers advice for list-making, talks organization vs prioritization, gender i...

As a mixed-race Chinese American, I've struggled to feel a sense of belonging. I grew up feeling more accepted by the German (white) side of my family. Then, as I got older, I learned more about the Chinese side of my family and felt a connection to the experiences of Asian Americans. Just recently, especially as I was editing my book, A Thousand Miles to Graceland , I've found myself somewhere in...