The Stress Nanny with Lindsay Miller

What if resilience wasn't something you scrambled for in a crisis, but something already woven into the fabric of your family's everyday life? That's the big idea behind this conversation with Dr. Kate Lund, licensed clinical psychologist, resilience expert, and author of Bounce: Help Your Child Build Resilience and Thrive in School, Sports and Life . Dr. Kate brings over two decade...

This week Lindsay is back with a solo episode, and it's a good one. She's making the case for self-awareness as the single most foundational skill we can give our kids — and unpacking why so many families accidentally skip it entirely. Spoiler: it's not because they don't care. It's because we've been taught to associate self-awareness with selfishness. And that assoc...

Your teenager came to you upset. You said "go sort yourself out." Here's what they actually needed. In this episode, Lindsay sits down with Laura Ollinger — teen and parent wellbeing coach, speaker and mom of FOUR teenagers (yes, all at once) — for a conversation that is equal parts real talk and practical gold. Laura shares how a personal tragedy and her daughter's anxiety bro...

If your child is an angel at school and a hurricane at home, today's episode is for you. Lindsay introduces the "emotion beach ball" — a simple concept that completely re-frames why regulated kids often struggle most with the people they love. This one is for every parent who has quietly wondered if they're doing something wrong. Resources mentioned: The Stress Nanny Untangling...

Money stress has a way of leaking into everything, our sleep, our relationships, and even the way our kids learn what “normal” looks like at home. I’m joined by Lori Atwood, CFP and founder of Fearless Finance, to talk about what changes when financial planning is truly fiduciary and priced in a way regular families can actually use. We dig into why “free” advice often isn’t free at all, how commi...

What if a single weekend outside could reset your child’s confidence and your family’s rhythm? We sit down with Antoinette Lee—Army veteran, outdoor industry leader, and founder of American Adventures Sports Club—to unpack how nature, camp, and adventure sports help kids regulate emotions, build resilience, and discover real independence. Antoinette’s own recovery from traumatic brain and spine in...

Overwhelm is not your new normal. Between constant notifications, vanishing village support, and the invisible load of appointments, meltdowns, meals, and expectations, modern motherhood can push any nervous system past its limits. We sit down with therapist and coach Kristen Cogan—mom of five and straight-talking guide for moms—to explore practical, compassionate ways to step out of survival mode...

Kids today face a world of constant pings, pressure, and comparison—and their brains are adapting to it. We explore why mindfulness is no longer optional for modern families and break down four research-backed reasons it matters: stronger emotional regulation, better attention, lower anxiety, and deeper resilience. Along the way, we translate science into simple, kid-ready practices that fit real...

If your inner voice is running you ragged, you’re not alone. We sit down with therapist, author, and YouTube creator Shannon Petrovich to unpack how negative self-talk drives daily stress, why childhood “templates” pull us toward toxic dynamics, and how to rebuild from the inside out with values, boundaries, and self-trust. Shannon’s trauma-informed approach translates complex psychology into prac...

Stress stacks fast for today’s teens—relentless social feeds, tighter college odds, safety fears, and the quiet weight of eco-anxiety. We sit down with Dr. Greg Hammer, physician, author, and mindfulness teacher, to map out a practical way forward: GAIN—Gratitude, Acceptance, Intention, and Non-Judgment. In clear, everyday language, we show how a simple three-minute morning routine can lower stres...

Ever feel like you’re carrying the whole village on your shoulders? We sit with Dr. Melanie Gray—nurse, trauma-informed wellness coach, and leadership consultant—to map a practical route from constant overwhelm to a sustainable rhythm of care that honors you and strengthens your family. This conversation is a masterclass in reading your body’s signals, setting boundaries that stick, and turning ev...

A three-year-old hugging the Envy plush in a Disney store sparked a conversation we’ve been waiting to have: what if the feelings we avoid are the exact teachers our kids need? We walk through a simple, compassionate way to help children work with emotions like envy, sadness, and embarrassment so they gain self-knowledge instead of shame. Rather than pushing “clearance emotions” to the back of the...

What if a color could say everything your child can’t yet put into words? We sit down with women’s health practitioner turned author Constance Lewis to explore how her family’s journey through epilepsy inspired a simple, memorable system that helps kids name big feelings and feel brave enough to face them. From NICU shifts and IVF to early-morning seizures and brain surgery, Constance maps the mom...

What if the fastest way to more cooperation at home is to stop chasing control? We sit down with Katherine Sellery, founder of Conscious Parenting Revolution, to explore why power moves and punishments so often backfire—and how connection-first strategies create durable trust and real influence. Katherine unpacks the “three Rs” that control tactics trigger—retaliation, rebellion, resistance—and sh...

What if lowering family stress isn’t about fixing problems but about changing perspective? We sit down with Anil Gupta, “The Love Doctor,” to unpack a simple, profound approach to raising resilient kids: pair unconditional love with developmentally appropriate challenges, then use everyday rituals to lock in confidence and connection. We start with the turning point that reshaped Anil’s life and w...

What if the toughest parts of your year quietly made you and your child braver, calmer, and more connected? We dive into a gentle, science-informed approach to reflection and reframing that helps families convert stress into usable strength without minimizing real feelings. We start by unpacking why curiosity-based reflection regulates emotions and supports meaning making, a cornerstone of mental...

What if the fastest way to calm is connection, not correction? Lindsay sits down with counselor and art therapist Jacintha “J” Field to explore how families can raise emotionally literate kids using the languages children actually speak: play, pictures, movement, and modeled honesty. J’s story journeys from a childhood of “toughen up” messages to discovering art as a safe pathway for feelings, the...

A thousand-pound therapist can teach you more about trust than a bookshelf of parenting guides. Shane Jacob—life coach, professional horseman, and former heavy drinker—opens up about a two-decade cycle of numbing, the wreckage it caused, and the unlikely path to healing through faith and horses. We unpack how an animal’s sensitivity turns into a powerful mirror, reflecting the energy we bring into...

Your words are planting something. The only question is whether those seeds grow thorns of fear or roots of resilience. We sit down with author and corporate well-being coach Barry Nicolaou to unpack how subconscious “soil” works, why language like “hard” quietly programs outcomes, and how small intentional shifts can help kids and parents move toward calm, confidence, and connection. Barry shares...

What if a few quiet moments each day could help your child bounce back faster, sleep more easily, and feel steadier in their own skin? In this episode we share a few ways that gratitude can flip the nervous system from fight-or-flight into rest-and-digest. Drawing from research at UCLA, USC, and studies by Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough, we connect the dots between gratitude, emotional regul...

What happens when a former speech therapist realizes the “perfect plan” for parenting doesn’t exist—and chooses presence over pressure? We sit down with Carrie Lingenfelter to explore how mindful attention, compassionate language, and simple spiritual practices can transform family life, especially for highly sensitive and neurodiverse kids. Carrie shares her journey from evidence-first frameworks...

The glow of “perfect together” can hide a much harsher truth. We sit down with narcissism specialist Dr. Anthony Mazzella to unpack how the illusion of blissful union forms, why ordinary differences feel like threats, and what actually changes when you stop outsourcing your worth. From a psychodynamic perspective, we trace the arc from early unmet needs to adult relationships that demand constant...

One tall flower in a crowded field changes everything. Dr. Douglas Garland joins us to unpack Tall Poppy Syndrome—the ancient metaphor with very modern consequences—and gives parents a working language for envy, jealousy, pride, and the status games kids navigate every day. We dig into how cultures reward sameness or celebrate standouts, why the U.S. produces both more tall poppies and people who...

Holiday seasons are loud, bright, sweet, and often overwhelming—and that’s exactly why they’re perfect for teaching kids (and ourselves) how to be present. We explore a simple presence practice that uses the five senses to bring a busy mind back to now, turning chaotic moments into chances for calm, clarity, and connection. From Halloween costumes and crinkly candy wrappers to warm pie dough and t...

Ever wish your teen would text more than “k,” while your paragraphs go unread? We dive into a simple framework that makes family communication clearer and calmer: six modes—sending, talking, meaning-making, tacit knowing, signaling, and advocacy—and how to switch between them without adding more stress. Our guest, Craig Mattson, professor of communication and author of Digital Overwhelm, brings re...