The Heartful Parent Podcast

What do the teens of 2025 really need to grow and thrive? How is being a teen NOW different from "back in the day"? In this heartful and eye-opening episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast , I have the pleasure of sitting down with education leader and founder of Many Roads, Will Kirsop, for a thought-provoking conversation all about teens and tweens.  Will shares why traditional academics often fa...

In this inspiring episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast , I have the pleasure of  welcoming  the incredible Jeanne Wolz—entrepreneur, career alignment coach, and founder of Sirens Rising.  Jeanne joins the podcast to share her personal journey from educator to purpose-driven business owner, and how she now helps women and non-binary folks align their careers with their deepest callings.  Jeanne a...

Motherhood is often shaped by the beliefs and expectations we've inherited—but what if we could rewrite the script?  In this episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast , I'm chatting with Dr. Gertrude Lyons, an author, Life Coach and creator of Rewrite the Mother Code LLC. Together, we're exploring how personal growth, emotional responsibility, and self-awareness can transform the way we parent—not ju...

Do you ever find yourself getting overwhelmed or dysregulated when your child gets overwhelmed or dysregulated? Ah-hem, yes. We ALL do. And even though we may have the tools in our toolbox, it's challenging to use them in that exact right moment.  In this episode of t he Heartful Parent Podcast , I'm talking mindfulness with with Dr. Christopher Willard, a clinical psychologist and author. We have...

The research is showing us that our kids are not okay. They are anxious, depressed, and worried. We have to do something, and my guest today has one solution that is actually very simple.  Play! More unstructured, unsupervised, rough and tumble play time. I have Rusty Keeler, Playscape Designer and Author, joining me on the Heartful Parent Podcast today to break down all things play, playscapes, a...

Have you ever considered how the way we parent connects to bigger societal systems like white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism?  In this episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast , I have the privilege of sitting down with Jen Lumanlan—host of Your Parenting Mojo podcast and author of Parenting Beyond Power—for a thought-provoking conversation about how traditional parenting methods can unknowin...

I am answering 2 listener questions in this episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast!  Question #1: What do we do when we are watching our teens & tweens navigate relationships? How much do you give advice and how much do you let them figure out on their own?  Young relationships can be tricky, and there is a lot to learn. So when do you step in? When do you stay out of it? My advice is to lean in w...

In this episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast, I'm welcoming the inspiring Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer, founder and CEO of Awakened Learning. Our conversation is packed with insights and actionable tips for uncovering learning strategies to help your kids learn HOW to learn.  AI can get a bad rap, but it is a truly powerful tool that can make a difference in helping our kids form study habits that can...

In this heartful episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast, I'm hoping to help you start off 2025 right by sharing the power of positive discipline, the support coaching can provide, and the incredible community within the Heartful Parent Academy.  I have the privilege to be joined by three amazing moms—Nicole, Kate, & Ali—who open up about their personal parenting journeys. They share the ups and do...

In this special two-part milestone episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast , I'm taking a walk down memory lane with the top 10 moments from the first 100 episodes of the podcast! These clips capture the messages I try to convey with each and every episode. It is my goal to fill your parenting toolbox, have thought-provoking conversations, and most of all empower you to parent with more love, joy,...

In this special two-part milestone episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast, I'm taking a walk down memory lane with the top 10 moments from the first 100 episodes of the podcast! These clips capture the messages I try to convey with each and every episode. It is my goal to fill your parenting toolbox, have thought-provoking conversations, and most of all empower you to parent with more love, joy, a...

Let's build connection and embrace heartfulness this holiday season. Do you need a little help? In this episode of the  Heartful Parent Podcast , I'm sharing holiday traditions that listeners shared with me!  I'm hoping you can walk away with something new to try, whether it's baking sugar cookies, honoring loved ones at cemeteries, creating a personalized advent calendar, starting the New Year wi...

Have you ever felt trapped in a moment of parenting, where your reaction just happens, and then afterward, you know you've screwed up? An eye roll, a slammed door, a snarky comment from your teen or tween just sets you off!?  Guess what? We've all been there. Really. In this episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast, my guest Mary Willcox Smith, fellow parent coach, is explaining that there is actual...

Listener Question: How do I convince my partner, or my child's teacher, that traditional forms of punishment don't work? Get your parenting question answered, email me  christy@theheartfulparent.com Rate, review, and share! We are not meant to parent alone.  The Heartful Parent Academy is a great way to find support. Use code PODCAST to get your first month for only $7. Join  HERE .

Whether you're ready or not, the moment will eventually come when your kid starts to wonder 'Is Santa Real?' When they ask you, do you know what you'll say, how you'll handle it?  In this episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast , I'm encouraging you to keep the magic alive, even if your kids are past the believing stage. Don't let go of the hope or the spirit of what Santa represents. Instead, dig...

'Let bygones be bygones.' 'Forgive and forget.' These two common sayings are how many of us have been taught to view forgiveness. Sometimes those ways of "forgiving" just don't sit quite right. So, this episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast aims to shift that perspective a little bit. Forgiveness Coach, Brenda Reiss is my guest and she is here to help us explore the profound impact of forgiveness...

Listener Question: How do we create a whole-family strategy? How do we choose and implement parenting strategies with both parents on board? Get your parenting question answered, email me  christy@theheartfulparent.com Rate, review, and share! We are not meant to parent alone.  The Heartful Parent Academy is a great way to find support. Use code PODCAST to get your first month for only $7. Join  H...

Sometimes life gives you lemons, sometimes it sends you a bomb cyclone! Well, for my family this week it was the bomb cyclone.  And while this situation came with its challenges, no power, no internet, no school, no way to record a brand new episode for you––there was a little bit of a silver lining around the clouds that lingered after the storm.  One, a chance to reflect on what's important as w...

Listener Question: How much should I push my child to succeed? Should I be a tiger mom? Am I doing her a disservice by being laid back and not pushing her to do more? Get your parenting question answered, email me  christy@theheartfulparent.com Rate, review, and share! We are not meant to parent alone.  The Heartful Parent Academy is a great way to find support. Use code PODCAST to get your first...

Balancing parenthood with work and life demands a lot of our mental energy, which can end up leaving us feeling completely mentally depleted. If you're stuck in a place of negative emotions––feeling constant exhaustion, anger, or resentment––you may feel like you are trying to function with an empty tank. Your stress might feel chronic and inescapable. Can you relate? If you are nodding and thinki...

Listener Question: How do I handle my teen's big feelings about boundaries, as she's going between two households? Get your parenting question answered, email me  christy@theheartfulparent.com Rate, review, and share! We are not meant to parent alone.  The Heartful Parent Academy is a great way to find support. Use code PODCAST to get your first month for only $7. Join  HERE .

Awww….Elf on the Shelf. One of those holiday traditions that maybe you grew up with, maybe you didn't––but come December 1st, pictures and posts of crazy shenanigans that all the happy little elves (SPIES!) are doing will be all over the place. Are you feeling pressure to join in the *fun* for the sake of your kids? Does this holiday tradition bring you–not your kids–but YOU joy? Does pressuring y...

In this Heartful Bonus episode, I am coming to you to help bear the emotional weight we are feeling following the U.S. Presidential Election earlier this week. If you are grieving, feeling lost, wondering what to say to your kids, and how to move forward, I'm here to support you. I'm sharing my thoughts, the thoughts of a few others, and giving you a little guidance on what to say to our kids in l...

Learning multiple languages can benefit our kids in more ways than just being able to speak two or more languages. Being bilingual, or multilingual, can give kids more confidence and increase their ability to use both sides of their brains. Above all else, it can give kids an understanding of other cultures and provide them with tools to navigate a multicultural world. Dr. Sugely Solano is an Admi...

Listener Question: How do I start difficult conversations when my teen just shuts down? Get your parenting question answered, email me  christy@theheartfulparent.com Rate, review, and share! We are not meant to parent alone.  The Heartful Parent Academy is a great way to find support. Use code PODCAST to get your first month for only $7. Join  HERE .