Episodes

Cathy and Todd discuss why children like to have something of their own to feel “special”, and why it helps to normalize these feelings rather than shame them into thinking differently. They also discuss why normalizing feelings is reliant on the parent’s self understanding, and why it’s important to frame the world, experiences, and opportunities as abundant rather than limited. “Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but ...

In the 2nd half of this interview with Dr. Duffy, we talk about issues specific to teen-agers and our the topics covered includes empowering our sons, Brene Brown, and how to “manage” the boys who come to take out your teenage daughter. HINT- It does not include a shotgun over the fireplace and other difficulties of being a teenager in this day and age. You can learn more about John Duffy @ http://drjohnduffy.com/ Other Resources Zen Gets Real 2016 Conference tickets are now on sale. Zen Gets...

Todd and Cathy discuss criticism, why it hurts so much and why it’s an inevitable part of life. They discuss why it’s important to speak up, even in the face of criticism, and how to offer constructive criticism rather than blame and guilt. They share personal stories about how they talk to each other about their pain, and why most of the pain stems from childhood. They discuss the wisdom of Elizabeth Gilbert and cartoonist Lynda Barry and how they deal with criticism in their creative lives. O...

That is a quote from Dr. Duffy who visits us again in this two-part interview. We talk about issues specific to teen-agers and our the topics covered includes suicide, drugs and alcohol, technology, depression, and the difficulties of being a teenager in this day and age. You can learn more about John Duffy @ http://drjohnduffy.com/ Other Resources Zen Gets Real 2016 Conference tickets are now on sale. Zen Gets Real Attendee And Sponsorship Information What is the Let’s Get Real Monthly Seri...

Cathy and Todd share some reactions to their kids behavior, why it’s important to recognize how you feel before your respond, and why understanding your response will keep you self-aware. They also discuss privilege, their upcoming interview with Dr. John Duffy, and why Todd thinks he’s being duped by strawberry companies. Other Resources Zen Gets Real 2016 Conference tickets are now on sale. Zen Gets Real Attendee And Sponsorship Information What is the Let’s Get Real Monthly Series? An opp...

Cathy and Todd discuss what it means to live above and below the line, a consciousness tool taught by Jim Dethmer from the Conscious Leadership Group. Above the line means you think from a place of abundance, creativity, and openness, while below the line means you think defensively and rigidly and with a constant need to be right. This understanding affects our understanding of the workplace, our parenting, and most importantly ourselves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLqzYDZAqCI Conscious ...

Cathy and Todd discuss the importance of grieving, the value of “keening”, and a listener asks a question steming from Susan Stiffelman’s book, Parenting with Presence. Todd shares his favorite quote about personal responsibility, Cathy tells a serendipitous story about the conference she attended, and they somehow work in Six Feet Under and Terminator 2. Other Resources Zen Gets Real 2016 Conference tickets are now on sale. Zen Gets Real Attendee And Sponsorship Information What is the Let’...

Cathy and Todd discuss why it can be challenging for families when kids are involved in youth team sports or travel leagues. They also discuss why valuing relationship above all else will make decision making so much easier, and why leaders who value relationship are the most successful. John O’Sullivan will be speaking about this @ the Let’s Get Real Conference in March. His interview with us can be found @ https://zenpopparenting.com/osullivan/ and his Ted Talk is below https://www.youtube.c...

Cathy and Todd discuss the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and why it’s more powerful than just focusing on behavior. They also discuss Tara Mohr’s five new takeaways about mindfulness and lovingkindness, and why Elizabeth Gilbert thinks fear is “boring”. Other Resources Zen Gets Real 2016 Conference tickets are now on sale. Zen Gets Real Attendee And Sponsorship Information What is the Let’s Get Real Monthly Series? An opportunity to listen and ask questions about the th...

Cathy and Todd share the words of a 6-year-old girl who wants her divorced parents to stop fighting. She offers wisdom beyond her years, and wakes us up to what children know and what we need to remember. Her words are a form of grace, and being open to her words will deepen your awareness and remind you that grace often comes from the most uncommon places – other people, a sunset, an animal, or simply the willingness to notice what has always been there. They also discuss the story of the “Dr...

Cathy and Todd discuss the life-changing mindfulness research of Ellen Langer, author and professor from Harvard who has been researching mindfulness (and mindlessness) since the 70’s. She defines mindfulness as paying attention and being able to notice new things, while recognizing that experiences are based on the words and ideas that we attach to them. Ellen Langer was interviewed by Krista Tippet for the On Being Podcast. We read an excerpt from Videographer/Storyteller Shawn Boyle. To lear...

Cathy and Todd discuss Brenè Brown’s new book Rising Strong and focus on the first step, The Reckoning. Reckoning is how we engage and become curious about our feelings, our willingness to practice emotional intelligence. If we do not engage our feelings, if we deny and disengage, then our emotions “don’t go away; instead, they own us, they define us…” (from Rising Strong). https://vimeo.com/135475648 Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podca...

Cathy and Todd pay tribute to Wayne Dyer by sharing his Ten Secrets, and explain how Wayne influenced their lives and millions of others. They also discuss the Beastie Boys, Batdad, and why they dance before taping a podcast. Any feedback is welcome. The Wayne Dyer book we discussed on today’s show is called 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace and of our favorite parenting books. The Parent’s Tao Te Ching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9IYeVJiWLQ Other Resources How to Re-Awaken Your Sp...

Cathy and Todd discuss what it means to be present, and how this knowledge can be turned into daily practice. They also discuss their differences when it comes to filling up a Saturday, why it’s important to dance with our fear, and why the Humans of New York Facebook page wakes us up to the world. The entry from Humans of New York that Todd read- “Imagine that every time you have a lapse in judgment, it gets printed in newspapers around the world: every time you lose patience with your childr...

Girls tend to read books with male protagonists (Harry Potter, Diary of a Wimpy Kid), but do boys read books with female protagonists? Todd and Cathy ask this question, as well as how men respond to female leads in movies and television (specifically their recent experience after seeing the movie Trainwreck, and why Amy Poehler once got mad at Jimmy Fallon in the SNL writer’s room). They also talk about Who’s the Boss, Family Ties, and why IBM and Netflix are changing their family policies. We ...

*May not be appropriate for children* Cathy and Todd discuss John Oliver’s most recent rant on Last Week Tonight about sex education. He makes vital points about why abstinence-only education doesn’t work for all, why there’s no required standards for sex education around the country, and why shame/guilt/fear do not change sexual behavior, they only negatively impact the way people feel about themselves. They also discuss why Elizabeth Smart believes abstinence-only sex ed can be harmful, and t...

Cathy and Todd discuss why some people grow from difficult times, and why some people stay stuck and feel victimized by their experiences. They discuss the power of personal responsibility and why taking care of yourself and moving through challenge is a natural and necessary part of human evolution. They also discuss Cecil the Lion, Cathy’s experience at Rob Bell’s lecture, forgiveness, and of course, Revenge of the Nerds. A few resources mentioned in the show- Zip It & Doodle Art Henrik Edber...

Cathy and Todd discuss self-acceptance, and Todd offers a new understanding of his difficult emotions (with the help of Jeff Foster). They also discuss the vital distinction between fact and opinion, and process how life is full of paradox. They discuss Kathryn Schulz’s TED talk about the importance of being wrong, and why “to err is human”. Other Resources Our Kickstarter campaign has come to an end. We met and surpassed our goal. Thank you so much for all your support. Click here to see what ...

Todd and Cathy discuss their workshop with Tony Robbins, specifically their inspiring moments and new life lessons. Tony is an advisor to leaders around the world, a recognized authority on the psychology of leadership, negotiations, organizational turnaround, and peak performance, and he has been honored consistently for his strategic intellect and humanitarian endeavors. They’ve never seen, known, or experienced anything like him, and they know he will inspire you, too! They also take a questi...

Cathy and Todd discuss speech patterns, specifically discussing the new documentary Do I Sound Gay? by filmmaker David Thorpe. They also discuss the phenomenon of “upspeak” and how those who use it may not be taken seriously, and why the Kardashian voice or “vocal fry” is not only challenging on the ears, but also the vocal cords. They highlight an NPR interview with Thorpe and Speech Pathologist Susan Sankin. Other Resources Our Kickstarter campaign has come to an end. We met and surpassed our...

Do you feel like you have been “working” on “healing” and that any sadness or discomfort means you are failing? Todd and Cathy discuss Jeff Foster and specifically his teaching that feelings and experiences will always be a part of us, and that the more we accept and understand this, the less challenging they will be. They also discuss Malala’s new documentary, share a passage from The Book of Awakening, and celebrate the U.S. Women’s Soccer Championship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRLKZN1...

When a spouse travels or works long hours, it’s hard to find a consistent family rhythm. And when an often-absent spouse is home for a day or two, it can throw off the daily rhythm and cause friction. How can we acknowledge and discuss this openly without offending each other? Cathy and Todd share their experience with this challenging topic, and demonstrate how this is relevant to all of our relationships. If this episode resonates with you, you may enjoy a previous podcast titled How to avoid...

Cathy and Todd discuss an article titled “Why mothers and teenage daughters fight” and question why and how these fights occur. Can we be self-aware when we are talking with our teenagers, and can we create space between our emotional experiences and how we react? It’s not easy, but it’s a worthy practice to keep family relationships healthy. Todd shares an inspirational story and Cathy talks about addictiveness of reality television. Other Resources Our Kickstarter campaign has come to an end....

Cathy and Todd share a letter from a listener whose son discovers himself through dance, and how this discovery leads to self-aware parenting. It’s an inspirational and emotional story about how to create a connected relationship with your child – you don’t want to miss it. Steve is the father in this story has a part-time photography business which can be found here. Cathy and Todd also discuss Pixar’s Inside Out. See Soren dance below… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hspjA6gjmtQ&feature=youtu...