Episodes

Why do so many couples feel like they’re talking but not actually understanding each other? In this episode, I sit down with therapist, author, and podcast host Eli Weinstein, LCSW (aka The Dude Therapist) to talk about the missing pieces in modern relationships; especially when it comes to emotional communication and understanding. Eli shares what inspired his new book From I Do to We Do, including his own struggles with writing, ADHD, and the deeper motivation behind wanting to bring a stron...

What happens when the life you imagined for your child suddenly changes? In this deeply moving episode, I speak with author and advocate Jodi Michele Cutler to explore her journey into post-traumatic parenting after her son was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at just 11 months old. What began as a dream, moving to Italy with her newborn and starting a new chapter, quickly shifted into a moment that would change everything. Jodi shares the emotional impact of receiving her son’s diagnosis...

What happens when food, feeding, and our kids’ bodies trauma shows up in ways we don’t always expect? In this deeply honest and compassionate conversation, I speak with eating disorder specialist Ali Spotts-De Lazzer to unpack what’s really going on beneath eating struggles for both kids and parents. Together, we explore why feeding your child can feel so overwhelming, how fear and control get tangled up in “healthy” choices, and why even the most well-intentioned parenting strategies can some...

What if your child’s “behavior problem” isn’t a behavior problem at all? In this deeply practical and paradigm-shifting conversation, I sit down with clinical psychologist Dr. Ross Greene, originator of the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) approach, to rethink everything we’ve been taught about parenting, discipline, and so-called “challenging behavior.” Dr. Greene, author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School, shares how years of working with children and families led him to on...

What if the pressure to “get parenting right” is actually coming from your trauma? In this powerful and deeply validating conversation, I sit down with Stephanie Foo, author of What My Bones Know, to unpack what it really means to parent while healing from complex PTSD. Together, we explore the intense fear many trauma survivors carry into parenting; the belief that one wrong move could damage their child forever. We also discuss how modern parenting culture often amplifies that fear instead o...

What if the deepest wound a child carries isn’t what happened to them, but the feeling that they don’t matter? In this episode, I speak with John Miles, host of the Passion Struck podcast and author of You Matter, Luma, to explore the hidden impact of emotional invisibility, achievement culture, and what it really means for a child to feel seen. John shares his personal journey from high-achieving executive to feeling “invisible” in his own life, and how that experience led him to a deeper mis...

What if the symptoms you’re ashamed of once saved your life? In this powerful and deeply human episode, I sit down with Sally Maslansky, LMFT author of A Brilliant Adaptation and longtime patient of Daniel J. Siegel, to explore dissociation, DID, adoption, attachment, and what it truly means to make sense of your story so your child doesn’t have to carry it. Sally shares her extraordinary journey of living with Dissociative Identity Disorder — and fully healing from it — through relational, at...

What if the very fact that you’re worried about passing on your trauma means you probably won’t? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Frank Putnam, one of the world’s leading researchers on child maltreatment, dissociation, and intergenerational trauma, for a profound and deeply hopeful conversation about what really happens to the brain and body after childhood abuse… and what actually breaks the cycle. Dr. Putnam shares insights from his 35+ year longitudinal study following sexually abused gi...

What if stepping away from a harmful family relationship wasn’t an act of betrayal, but an act of healing? In this episode, I’m joined by Eamon Dolan, author of The Power of Parting and longtime book editor, for a deeply honest conversation about childhood abuse, estrangement, boundaries, and what it really means to break generational cycles. Eamon shares his personal journey of growing up with severe psychological and physical abuse, the long road to recognizing how deeply it shaped his inner...

Have you ever caught yourself yelling at your kids and thought, "I sound just like my parents"? Peaceful parenting offers a different path—one that breaks the cycle of fear-based discipline without becoming permissive. I sit down with Sarah Rosensweet, certified peaceful parenting coach and founder of Reimagined Peaceful Parenting, to explore how we can set firm limits with empathy, even when our own childhoods were anything but peaceful. Sarah shares practical strategies for those morning batt...

What happens when mindful parenting feels impossible because you're still having nightmares about your own childhood? Today I'm talking with Hunter Clarke-Fields, bestselling author and host of the world's top parenting podcast. We get real about the shame of being the mom with the temper when society expects you to regulate everyone's emotions. Hunter shares how she went from cowering behind doors as a child to repeating her father's rage—until she discovered it was her nervous system, not her...

Have you ever struggled with intense emotions while parenting that seem to come out of nowhere? In today's episode, I sit down with Bonnie Weiss, an internationally known trainer in Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS). I was blown away by Bonnie's compassionate approach to understanding the complex parts within us that influence our parenting. She explains how IFS helps separate our reactive "parts" from our true self, allowing us to parent with more awareness and less shame. We explore how g...

Are you struggling with a child whose aggression triggers your own trauma responses? In today's episode on parenting boys peacefully, I'm joined by Tosha Schore, parenting coach and founder of the Parenting Boys Peacefully Project, to talk about how aggression is often fear in disguise. Tosha will share her mission of creating a more peaceful world "one sweet boy at a time" and offer practical ways to set loving limits without shaming our children. We'll discuss how our own trauma triggers can ...

What if your "good" childhood still left emotional scars that impact your parenting? Emotional intelligence parenting requires us to confront our own histories, even when they seem picture-perfect on the surface. In today's episode, I speak with Stephanie Pinto, author of "From Chaos to Connection," who shares her remarkable story of how her body literally shut down through fainting episodes because she couldn't process certain emotions. We’ll discuss how well-meaning parents can unintentionall...

What if you could replace timeouts with a more effective approach that actually strengthens your connection with your child? Generation Mindful founder Suzanne Tucker joins me to explore the revolutionary "time-in" approach that's changing how parents respond to big emotions. As a mom of four who grew up in a "happy-happy" household, Suzanne will share how her own trauma and loss led her to create tools that give both children and parents permission to feel all emotions. You'll hear practical w...

Ever wonder if your trauma means you're destined to parent imperfectly? In today's episode, Theraplay expert Dafna Lender shares how all parents mess up - and that's actually okay! As a clinical psychologist and post-traumatic parent myself, I was fascinated by Dafna's perspective on how we can provide healthy childhoods despite our own wounds. She compassionately explains why parents with trauma histories often experience such crushing self-doubt and offers practical ways to rebuild connection...

What if the way we parent is shaped more by culture than we realize? Multicultural parenting offers a fresh perspective on how families around the world build community and raise children. In today's episode, I sit down with Marina Lopes, a Brazilian American journalist and author of "Please Yell At My Kids," to explore how cultural traditions influence parenting decisions and what we can learn from them. We discuss the challenges American parents face, often raising children without the suppor...

What role does emotional regulation play in post-traumatic parenting, and how can it shape the way we connect with our kids? In today's episode, I sit down with Dajana Yoakley, a peaceful and playful parenting coach, to explore how neuroscience, mindfulness, and self-compassion can guide us through the challenges of raising children. Dajana shares her personal journey from corporate leadership to parenting, offering stories about navigating toddler tantrums, pre-teen autonomy, and everything in ...

What does raising strong-willed children really look like when life throws unexpected challenges your way? In today's episode, I sit down with Sonali Vongchusiri, a passionate advocate for parenting with humor and compassion, to explore how we can connect with our kids while honoring their unique needs—and our own. Sonali shares her personal experiences of parenting while navigating life with legal blindness and albinism, offering a fresh perspective on balancing visible and invisible challenges...

Are you feeling the weight of parental burnout and looking for relief? Parental burnout is a reality many of us face, but what if there were a way to navigate it with mindfulness and compassion? In today's episode, I sit down with Sally Arnold, a renowned mindfulness educator and parenting coach, to explore how small, practical mindfulness practices can make a significant difference in our lives as parents. We'll dive into the importance of community support and self-compassion, and how these e...

Have you ever wondered how EMDR therapy can change the way we process trauma? Join me in today's episode as I sit down with Dr. Deborah Korn, a leading expert in EMDR, to explore the profound impact this therapy can have on healing traumatic memories. Together, we'll dive into the intricacies of how traumatic experiences get locked in our nervous system and how EMDR therapy helps in reprocessing these memories to reduce distress and foster healing. Dr. Korn will share her wealth of knowledge on...

Are you ready to confront the invisible bruises that linger from your past? In today's episode, we'll talk about breaking the cycle of family trauma with my guest, Dr. Kaytee Gillis, a psychotherapist and author with a passion for working with survivors of relationship and family trauma. As a fellow advocate for trauma survivors, Kaytee will share her journey and expertise in helping individuals heal from the scars of psychological abuse. We'll discuss the importance of acknowledging the trauma...

Welcome back to another episode of the Post Traumatic Podcast! For today's episode, I invited another special guest, Sarah Hoover—the author of the book Motherload, who will share her raw and honest birth trauma story and how it redefined her motherhood journey. We'll talk about the unspoken challenges of postpartum depression and the societal pressures that often leave new mothers feeling isolated. Sarah will open up about her personal struggles, revealing the vulnerability and courage it took...

Are you ready to discover the secrets to building resilience in children? For today's episode, I invited Dr. Tovah Klein, a renowned psychologist and author, who shares her expertise on nurturing resilience in kids. We will explore the five foundational pillars that support resilience and discuss how parents can help their children navigate life's uncertainties. Dr. Klein offers thoughtful perspectives on managing emotions, understanding the impact of our own trauma on parenting, and finding th...