Where Parents Talk: Evidence-based Expert Advice on Raising Kids Today

Navigating the turbulent waters of your child's 20s can be challenging, especially as they face significant uncertainty in their lives. In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Dr. Meg Jay, a developmental clinical psychologist, author, speaker and mom. Dr. Jay emphasizes the importance of understanding this decade as a critical period for mental health an...

Loneliness among young people has reached epidemic levels, with significant implications for their mental health and well-being. In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Milena Batanova, Director of Research and Evaluation at Making Caring Common at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Batanova sheds light on the disconnect between parents and teens r...

In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Dr. Paul Sunseri, a child and family clinical psychologist, researcher, author and father of four. Dr. Sunseri's latest book is called Gentle Parenting Reimagined, which offers a transformative approach to parenting, especially for those struggling with challenging behaviours in their children. He discusses how trad...

In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Dr. David Rosmarin, clinical psychologist, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, founder of the Center for Anxiety, author and father of six . Anxiety is not an enemy to be eliminated but rather a natural part of life that can be embraced and harnessed for growth, according to Dr. Rosemarin, who distills th...

In this week's episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Shari Leid, a life and friendship coach who shares her transformative journey from a successful law career to becoming an author and reinvention coach. Central to her philosophy is the belief that resilience, identity, and belonging are critical themes in parenting, especially in today's rapidly changing worl...

This week on the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Hunter Clarke-Fields, mindfulness mentor, bestselling author of Raising Good Humans, speaker and mother of two. What does it take to raise kind, confident, and resilient children in today’s fast-paced world? Clarke-Fields dives into the power of mindfulness in parenting, sharing actionable tips to break the cycle of react...

This week on the Where Parents Talk Podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks with Jacqueline Rourke, an award-winning journalist, podcaster, and mother of three who is also an expert in parental alienation.  Rourke shares her personal experience with parental alienation, outlining the behaviours and impacts it has on both parents and children.  She discusses the mental and physical toll it...

This week on the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino interviews Margo Machol Bisnow, an author and speaker with a background in the US government and nonprofit sector.  Bisnow discusses her book, 'Raising an Entrepreneur,' which features 99 stories from diverse families whose children have achieved entrepreneurial success. She emphasizes the importance of parents supporting thei...

This week on the Where Parents Talk, host Lianne Castelino interviews Laura Vanderkam, an author, podcaster, and speaker renowned for her expertise in time management and productivity. Vanderkam, who has written six books on the subject, including 'Tranquility by Tuesday,' shares her insights on how to effectively manage time, especially for busy parents. She discusses common misconceptions about...

In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino interviews Sarah Allen Benton, a licensed advanced alcohol and drug counsellor, addiction counsellor, mental health counsellor, and mother in recovery from alcoholism for nearly 20 years. Allen Benton shares her personal journey of overcoming alcoholism, highlights the difference between being sober and being in recovery, add...

In this episode of Where Parents Talk, host Lianne Castelino speaks with Don Ryan, a social worker, former therapist, and author of 'The Secret Struggle, Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One.'  Don shares his personal and professional experiences with loss and suicide, having lost three family members, including his father and brother, to suicide.  He reflects on the impact of these expe...

In this week's episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Tim Fleiszer, Executive Director of the Concussion Legacy Foundation of Canada and a former professional football player, shares critical insights into the risks of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and the importance of protecting young athletes from head impacts. Fleiszer emphasizes that the risk of CT...

The latest insights from the Common Sense Media study reveal that about 70% of adolescents are engaging with generative AI tools, highlighting a significant shift in how technology intersects with their daily lives. In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Amanda Lenhart, head of research at Common Sense Media, who emphasizes the need for parents to active...

Long Covid remains a significant concern for children and teens, yet it is often overlooked and misunderstood. In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Dr. Rachel Gross, a pediatrician and clinical researcher, sheds light on the unique symptoms of long Covid in younger populations, emphasizing that these symptoms can manifest differently than in adults. Th...

In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Anita Stellinga, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Policy at United Way Greater Toronto, sheds light on the pressing issue of poverty and its profound impact on families, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area. With rising costs of living, including rent and food, one in four people in the GTA...

Training your amygdala is not just a concept for adults; it's a vital life skill that can significantly impact children's emotional well-being and behaviour. In this conversation, Where Parents Talk podcast host Lianne Castelino speaks to child and adolescent mental health clinician Anna Housley Juster, who discusses her book, "How to Train Your Amygdala," which aims to help young children underst...

As screens become an integral part of our children's lives, the alarming rise in myopia among young people is a pressing concern. In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Dr. Meenal Agrawal, an award-winning optometrist and mother of three. She discusses the significant impact of device usage on eye health and the importance of early intervention. She emph...

Boyhood is undergoing a significant transformation, and Ruth Whippman, a journalist and author, explores the urgent need to reimagine masculinity. In an interview with Lianne Castelino, Whippman discusses her latest book, "Boymom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity." As a mother of three boys, she reflects on her personal journey, especially during the cultural upheaval of th...

Youth mental health is a pressing concern today, as children face increasing challenges in managing their emotional well-being. In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Dr. Christine Crawford, a child and adult psychiatrist. She highlights the alarming reality that mental health symptoms can manifest as early as three years old, with significant issues lik...

In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Jenna Rykiel, a mindset and business coach for moms, who shares her transformative journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal values with professional pursuits. She highlights how the pandemic served as a catalyst for many to reevaluate their lives, allowing...

Healthy eating habits are crucial for children, especially as they transition back to school, and Nurse Alice Benjamin emphasizes the importance of introducing nutritious options early on. In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Benjamin, a family nurse practitioner and mother of four. She explores the challenges parents face in preparing healthy lunches...

In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino dives deep into the pressing issue of sleep deprivation among tweens and teens, highlighting it as a silent epidemic that significantly impacts their mental, emotional, and physical health. Expert psychotherapist Heather Turgeon, Registered Marriage and Family Therapist, sleep specialist, author, Generation Sleepless: Why Twe...

Estrangement between parents and adult children is becoming increasingly common, with Dr. Joshua Coleman revealing that one in four fathers and up to 15% of mothers experience this painful disconnect. In this Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Dr. Coleman about the complex landscape of family relationships, shaped by changing societal values that prioritize mental health a...

Raising critical thinkers is more essential than ever in today's age of information overload, where social media and device usage can easily lead to confusion and misinformation. In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Julie Bogart, CEO of Brave Writer, homeschooling expert, author of Raising Critical Thinkers, and mother of 5 . Bogart emphasizes the impo...

This week on the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Dr. Susan Newman, social psychologist, contributor to Psychology Today, author, a mother of one, and previously a stepmother of four. Dr. Newman is a leading expert on parenting only children.