Episodes

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 Award!Go here to order your book. Click the following links to purchase Cathy’s books The Self-Aware ...

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. The swim itself is 32+ miles and started on the west end of the almost deserted Island of Molokai. Things do not go...

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 48th 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. In this two part interview- Doug shares with us how the idea came up as a gag over a few glasses of wine ...

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 7:00 PM, ELMHURST, IL Zen Parenting Presents Screenagers Click here for tickets By: Zen Parenting...

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. They also answer a listener’s question when their daughter seeks out a definition of beauty. Upcomi...

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 Parenting Conference. Upcoming Events New Warrior Training Adventure- October 28th-October 30th ww...

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 negative or sexualized. They also answer a listener’s question who struggles with a very confident child. ...

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 the compassionate mission of Linked In CEO Jeff Weiner. Upcoming Events MON, SEP 26 AT 7:00 PM, ELMH...

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 apology to Marsha Clark, and why it’s OK that Eddie Murphy doesn’t want to do stand up anymore. They ...

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 book you can go to Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Indie Bound Devorah Heitner founded Raising Digital Natives...

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. Upcoming Events MON, SEP 26 AT 7:00 PM, ELMHURST, IL Zen Parenting Presents Screenagers Click here for...

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 relationships can be affected as a result of men working on themselves. More information on The Mankind Project and New Warrior Training Adventure....

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 definition of “universal principles”. Upcoming Events MON, SEP 26 AT 7:00 PM, ELMHURST, IL Zen Parentin...

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, Rosalind Wiseman, and Ali Smith), and get your tickets to Screenagers on 9/26! Upcoming Events MON, SE...

Todd and Cathy announce and discuss the speakers for their 2017 Zen Parenting Let’s Get Real Conference. New York Times Best-Selling Author and Oprah favorite Rob Bell, parenting educator and author of Queen Bees and Wannabes (the basis of the 2004 film Mean Girls) Rosalind Wiseman, and Executive Director of the Holistic Life Foundation, a safe space for learning mindfulness in the inner city of Baltimore, Ali Smith. The conference is Feb 24+25, 2017 at the Westin in Lombard (15 minutes outside ...

Cathy and Todd discuss how The Brady Bunch is a great learning tool and why it’s still relevant today. They answer a listener’s question about how to help her son with friendships, and why caring and loving too much can actually be a problem. They finish by discussing Tony’s Robbins appearance on Super Soul Sunday and why things can be easy to teach, but hard to apply. Upcoming Events MON, SEP 26 AT 7:00 PM, ELMHURST, IL Zen Parenting Presents Screenagers Click here for tickets By: Zen Paren...

emda9pet Todd and Cathy discuss how when we give up control, we recognize that we never had control in the first place. They process what it means to have humility, be patient with the “not knowing”, and be appreciative for the right now. They discuss why the oldest child is expected to be most responsible, Todd’s most recent experience with letting go, and Dr. Shefali’s most recent appearance on Super Soul Sunday. Upcoming Events MON, SEP 26 AT 7:00 PM, ELMHURST, IL Zen Parenting Presents S...

Todd and Cathy discuss the book Words Can Change Your Brain and process why “compassionate communication” supports healthy relationships and the brain development of our children. They also discuss the impact of an all-female Ghostbusters cast and how a female presidential nominee shapes the way boys and girls see each other. Upcoming Events MON, SEP 26 AT 7:00 PM, ELMHURST, IL Zen Parenting Presents Screenagers Click here for tickets By: Zen Parenting Radio Click here to see the trailer Ne...

Cathy and Todd discuss how we can shift the dynamics of any situation by “flipping the script” (as explained in this Invisibilia podcast). They also discuss why we have to keep peace inside so we can keep peace outside, why we have to question the negativity that we hear, and why the journey from the head to the heart is always the longest and most important. They end the show with a poem by Mattie J.T. Stepanek. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Rn_5AqlrE Upcoming Events MON, SEP 26 AT 7:00 ...

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. ~Charles Dickens Cathy and Todd discuss how to process the continuous bad news and stay in a place of compassion. They talk about the importance of mercy and grace, and how we can all contribute to a ripple effect of goodness. They discuss Tony Robbins new documentary, Mark Nepo’s wisdom, and share some advice from Martha Beck. Upcoming Events MON, SEP 26 AT 7:00 PM, ELMHURST, IL Zen Parenting Presents Screenagers Click here for tickets B...

Cathy and Todd discuss privilege and why self-awareness is essential when we are talking about societal racism. They also discuss why recognizing injustice is not synonymous with taking sides, how we can talk to our children about injustice, and why the best leadership is calm. They share clips from The Daily Show, President Obama, and Michael Franti’s “Same As It Ever Was” song. They end by discussing why the phrase “happy wife, happy life” may need to be reevaluated. Resources from this podca...

Cathy and Todd discuss why we “force” our children to try new things, and why this is usually about our fear rather than theirs. They also talk about the importance of strong moral character (based on this article from the Tribune), why we need to allow our children to process through their emotions, and why communal movie time can keep a family connected. They explain what it means to play “Psych”, and share some wisdom from Louis CK. Resources from this podcast Rex Hupke’s Tribune article ht...

Todd and Cathy talk with Georgia DeClark, preschool teacher and parent coach who’s life took a dramatic turn when she decided to come out at 60. She talks about her fear, how her grown children handled the news (we are also joined by her son Greg), and how she finally feels free to be her most authentic self. They announce the screening of Screenagers at York Theater on Sept 26, 2016. Click here for tickets. Other Resources from this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXUFUp6vsxg https...

…so you can be content when you achieve your goals. Cathy and Todd talk about why striving and goal-setting can keep us from contentment, and why money doesn’t equal happiness. They discuss why actor Tony Hale didn’t feel any happier after getting a major role on Arrested Development (hint: he realized he wasn’t living in the moment), and how Lady Gaga found peace and reconnected to her authentic self. Resources from this podcast http://www.npr.org/2016/06/25/483247607/fresh-air-weekend-veep-a...