Zen Pop

Cathy and Todd discuss why kindness is empowering and why practicing kindness makes you healthier and much less stressed. They also discuss why self-awareness is essential in monitoring our own reactivity, and why being mindful is the first step toward choosing kindness. They share a clip from an interview with Life-Vest Inside’s Orly Wahba on The Good Life Project podcast . She explains how kindn...

Taking care of our parents: A discussion with Deborah Shouse, author of Connecting in the Land of Dementia Todd and Cathy talk with Deborah Shouse and her brother Dan about  what it means to be a “care partner” for parents or loved ones with dementia. They offer how we can bring greater understanding and hope to an undeniably challenging time. They share the power of being present, why appreciatio...

Todd and Cathy discuss fake news and where to find trustworthy information (as explained on Planet Money ). They also discuss lessons from former NBA player Chris Herren , and why this coach thinks society is hurting kids by giving them all trophies . They distinguish between Stephen Covey’s circle of concern and circle of influence, and explain why our willingness to do good creates more good. Up...

There are so many questions about relationships, sexual intimacy, consent, bystander intervention and supporting survivors, it can be feel overwhelming. Confusion is widespread in schools, college campuses, and the military, and as parents it can be difficult to approach these conversations with our own kids. Mike Domitrz from the Date Safe Project offers a refreshing perspective on sexuality, res...

Cathy reads ten hints from her grandmother’s notebook, a “here and now” list (what we would call mindfulness) that her grandmother transcribed in the 70’s. Cathy and Todd discuss the message of It’s a Wonderful Life, why John Hughes spoke for kids and teens, and why hope is such a valuable thing. Upcoming Events The Tribe Men’s Adventure Retreat Shoot Todd an email @ comments@zenparentingrad...

Todd and Cathy welcome back Dr. John Duffy and his wife Julie to discuss why so many people are dealing with undue anxiety. They process why it’s difficult to discuss, where it’s coming from, and why we need to talk to our kids about it. They discuss Dr. Duffy’s new podcast called Undue Anxiety, Bruce Springsteen, and why communication and connection are the keys to feeling less alone. Upcoming Ev...

Cathy and Todd discuss why “some things in life cannot be fixed, they can only be carried”, a quote taken from Megan Devine, therapist and grief teacher. She shares that most of what passes for grief support is not very useful, and that humans have the capacity to handle feelings and the feelings of others with compassion and understanding. Not by blaming, judging, or compartmentalizing, but by pr...

We talk with Alexa James, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), Chicago. She explains the importance of sharing our stories to de-stigmatize mental health, and how language and perspective can shift our thinking. We discuss the myths and challenges around mental health for adults and children, and how we can shift our focus to care, recovery, and hope. NAMI Chicago’...

Cathy and Todd explore how art, creativity, and imagination have the power to create change (highlighting Cathy’s blog about The Beatles bringing the country together). They also discuss the difference between pro and against and why focusing on what you DO want (rather than what you don’t) leads to a desired outcome. They offer steps to stay focused on what you desire, answer a listener question...

Cathy and Todd process why the election felt shocking and how we can take care of ourselves. They discuss how nature always find a way, how we can organize in our homes and in our communities to create change, and how we can embrace our value and use our power for good. They talk about how we can be better listeners to those who think differently, how we can practice empathy and find commonality,...

  Cathy and Todd talk about how living in the black and white keeps us from listening to each other, but if we live in the grey, we remain open, curious, and empathetic. They talk politics, parenting, Anne Lamott, Dave Matthews, poetry, and the most effective way to hold space for each other. Upcoming Events The Tribe Men’s Adventure Retreat Shoot Todd an email @ comments@zenparentingra...

Todd and Cathy talk CUBS, connection, emotions, and history. They also talk Bull Durham, City Slickers, and Field of Dreams. Enjoy the joy Chicago, we love you. Upcoming Events The Tribe Men’s Adventure Retreat Shoot Todd an email @ comments@zenparentingradio.com for more information Other Resources Cathy’s 3rd book,  Living What You Want Your Kids To Learn  won the National Indie Excellence...

The following is the second half of a 2 part interview we did with our friends Doug and Susan McConnell.  Doug is a marathon swimmer.  If you haven’t heard it yet, I recommend you go back and listen to podcast #337.  We left off with Doug and his team led by Susan who just swam the English Channel.  Doug now turns to Hawaii’s Ka’iwi Channel which has only been completed by 35 swimmers....

There are 7 billion people walking the earth right now.  There have been 5,000 people who have successfully summited Mount Everest.  Just over 1600 human beings have swam the English channel- Today’s guests are Doug and Susan McConnell.  Doug is only the 48 th person over the age of 50 to successfully swim the English Channel.  But he could not have done it without his team led by his wife Susan. ...

Cathy and Todd discuss the book On Living by Hospice Chaplain Kerry Egan , and focus in on the three things we can do with pain: accept it, be kind to it, and let it be kind to you. They also share three great takeaways from Dr. Shefali’s Evolve Conference, process why negotiating with our kids is not always the best answer, and share some wisdom from Austin Powers. Upcoming Events MON, SEP 26 AT...

Cathy and Todd discuss unconscious bias and how our “brain shortcuts” can cause us to deviate from our true values. They also discuss why people get triggered and how we can differentiate between political correctness and considerate language. They share their experience of the Sia concert , how girls and boys are raised differently, and Cathy’s awesome experience at the Emerging Women Conference...

Cathy and Todd discuss sexual assault, how it’s an act of power and control, and why so many women are using the #notokay hashtag. They share research from Daniel Pink, author of Drive , about how to better communicate with our kids and inspire them to become more intrinsically motivated. They also listen to wise words from the Holistic Life Foundation’s Ali Smith , one of the keynotes for the Zen...

Cathy and Todd discuss why misery loves company and how we can better support each other through failures and success. They also process why pain isn’t a competition, and how what we focus on creates our life story. They share a poignant quote about happiness from Patton Oswalt , answer a listener question about how to teach our children humility, and discuss why all songs about teachers are negat...

Cathy and Todd discuss that we all have energy to share, but we have to be conscious of how we use it so it doesn’t get misdirected or used to harm. Todd shares his metaphorical paddle boarding experience, and Cathy explains why experiencing “illumination” reminds us to have faith during dark times. They share the poetry of Mark Nepo , Rob Bell’s recent podcast , surprising wisdom from Kanye , and...

What if we questioned how we looked at things, said things, believed things? Cathy and Todd discuss Heidi Stevens article from the Chicago Tribune about how using “what if” in front of our kids statements can change our reaction, and another Tribune article about why there’s a difference between empathetic belief and empathetic action. They also discuss the Emmy Awards, including Sarah Paulson’s a...

Cathy and Todd talk with author Devorah Heitner, author of Screenwise about appreciating the benefits of technology in the home while monitoring overuse and inappropriate content. They also discuss why not all tech-time is created equal, what it means to be a tech-positive parent, and why parents hold the wisdom that children need when they use their devices. To purchase Devorah’s amazing bo...

Cathy and Todd discuss the importance and transformational experience of pain using the wisdom of Louis CK , Glennon Doyle Melton , Brene Brown , and Pema Chodron . They process how and why we are hard-wired to deal with pain, why the bravery to feel it will heal us, and how we can better handle the pain we feel. They share pop cultural references from Silence of the Lambs, Mr. Mom, and Cheers. Up...

We interview Erik Treese and Bryan Thomas from The Mankind Project.  The Mankind Project is a global brotherhood that conducts challenging and highly rewarding programs for men at every stage of life.  We dive deep into what men’s work is, shadows, emotional intelligence, and the danger of phrases like “man up” and “boys don’t cry.”  We also discuss how relation...

Cathy and Todd discuss what “the familiarity of your interiors” means, and why it’s vital for personal growth and healthy relationships. They talk about the Little League World Series, specifically the 1982 Kirkland champs, and why adult pressure can lead to sports not being fun. They also discuss why popular fiction books have so many unhinged characters, how empathy can be taught, and the defini...

Cathy and Todd discuss why change is a type of loss and how rituals can acknowledge meaning, slow down time, and connect us. They offer many examples of rituals, explain why ritual is different than superstition, and discuss why Rob Bell says the space between certainty and uncertainty is where the magic happens.   Get your early bird tickets for the 2017 Zen Parenting Conference  (with Rob Bell,...