Episodes

We speak with the Founder of Changing The Game Project John O’Sullivan. Their mission is to ensure that we return youth sports to our children, and put the ‘play’ back in ‘play ball.’ For every Tiger Woods and Andre Aggassi, there are thousands of others who are in it for the fun (until the adults take the fun out of it.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXw0XGOVQvw Some other topics discussed: Positive vs. negative reinforcement Keeping youth sports in perspective The dangers of living thro...

Cathy and Todd discuss a New York Times article that makes a case for “free-range parenting”. Why are we so fearful to let our kids roam free and have their own adventures, and do the statistics reinforce or dispute our fear? Parents have started calling the police when they see a child at the park unaccompanied – is this helpful or harmful to our way of living? They also discuss how to talk and stay connected to your child when they make a decision that disappoints you. The name of the articl...

You’ve been let down, put down, you’ve failed, and you’ve had your heart broken. Once we reach a certain age, it’s a given that we will have dealt with lots of life’s challenges. But then what do we do? Do we move forward with bitterness, or do we choose to use our experiences for good? We discuss Elizabeth Gilbert’s Facebook post about “innocent happiness” and “weathering happiness” – one we are given at birth, and one we fight for. A listener’s son gives her a hard time because she didn’t “mak...

On today’s show we discuss Interruption Science, the study of the effects of interruptions on job performance. Not only do interruptions challenge our job performance, but they challenge our parenting skills and our ability to feel calm and happy. We also discuss Lean In Together, an organization that demonstrates that when men lean in for equality, they win, and so does everybody else. We answer listener questions about dealing with a child’s anger and what to do when our child wants to quit an...

We speak with Dr. John Duffy the author of The Available Parent– Radical Optimism For Raising Teens and Tweens. He talks to us about how to minimize conflict and maximize satisfaction in your relationship with your child. We have a tendency today to over-parent, micro-manage, and under-appreciate our adolescents. Dr. John Duffy’s The Available Parent is a revolutionary approach to taking care of teens and tweens. Teenagers are often left feeling unheard and misunderstood, and parents are left fe...

Cathy and Todd discuss why boys and men can experience emotional isolation and loneliness due to a lack of meaningful relationships with male friends. The inspiration of the discussion comes from a blog written by Mark Greene titled Why Do We Murder The Beautiful Friendship Of Boys. They also discuss the movie Whiplash and why it’s a perfect example of teaching from a place of fear and ego. They pay tribute to John Denver, a man ahead of his time, who understood the importance of self awareness,...

Agression. British theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking believes that the greatest threat facing us today is our inability to “correct our aggression”. We no longer require the amount of aggression that was useful hundreds of years ago, so it’s time to trust that empathy and compassion can be our new change agents. We also discuss The Four Agreements (specifically Agreement #2 – Don’t Take Anything Personally), why mindfulness is essential, and what you can say to a toddler when...

We discuss the book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – How We Can Learn to Fulfill Our Potential, specifically the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset by Carol Dweck. Understanding the difference will make an impact on how your relate to yourself and your kids, and it will impact how your kids learn. We also discuss how to help kids trust themselves, how we can help kids make decisions, and how to “soften the edges” around our kids worry. We also answer a listener’s que...

We speak with Author Annie Burnside about her book “From Role to Soul: 15 Shifts on the Awakening Journey” From her work with many who have awakened, Annie has learned that what it takes for us to finally quit trying to awaken, and simply awaken, is highly individualized. In her own life, she detected the 15 shifts that occurred within her. Yet, as she spoke with others, it becomes increasingly apparent that those shifts are pretty much common to the experience of awakening. In FROM ROLE TO SOUL...

Cathy and Todd discuss the Oscars, specifically all of the amazing speeches and shout-outs for social change. They answer a listener’s question about a son that doesn’t want to be involved in extracurricular activities, and another question about how to parent together with different philosophies. They discuss why it’s important to discuss what we really want for our kids (emotional safety and self confidence so they feel connected to themselves and the world) and then use this as the basis of o...

We discuss Cindy Crawford’s non-photoshopped picture that went viral and how women were normalized by its authenticity. We also discuss how to see situations from a child’s perspective and why it made sense when our youngest daughter ate a sleeve of Hershey kisses – instead of insisting that our kids listen to us, we can make sure we are listening to them. A listener appreciates how his partner tells him the truth, and we discuss the importance of being thoughtful when offering feedback to someo...

Cathy and Todd talk to Tara Mohr, an expert on women’s leadership and well-being. She is the author of Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message, and she’s the creator of the Playing Big leadership program for women. Cathy first heard Tara Mohr at an Emerging Women conference, and she fell in love with her message and book. Listen as Tara talks about why women get blamed for not playing big, the two kinds of fear that hold us back, and why our inner mentor is our greatest guide. F...

Today we discuss our workshop with Dr. Daniel Siegel, Psychiatrist and Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute, where we learned more about mindfulness and how it can change every aspect of our lives AND our children’s lives. We also talk about our contribution to Kids in the House, a video parenting resource where experts address all of your parenting issues. A listener shares how her partner had her back, and we give you a sneak peek of our interview with Tara Mohr (on Conversations with...

Todd and Cathy discuss a blog that offers 5 ways to raise kind children. They also talk about “dementia of the pre-occupied”, not a true diagnosis, but a great description of what it feels like when you begin forgetting why you walked into a room or what you planned to say next. They talk about why the teenage brain is different than ours, how to develop trust when communicating with your kids, and why the end of Parenthood was so good. Other Resources We are bring the documentary “The Mask You...

Do you ever hear (or say) things like this: Life is hard. Being good at school means you will be good at work. Don’t expect too much, then you won’t be disappointed. You can’t do it that way. Do you ever question whether or not these things are really true? This week Todd and Cathy bust open these so-called “facts” to recognize how these negative belief systems slow us down or keep us stuck. They also discuss “mini freedoms” and why they are so important to busy parents. Other Resources We are...

We speak with Darius A. Loghmanee, MD Attending Physician, Sleep Medicine; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. We cover all the bases from infants to adults. Is a sleep routine good, and if so what’s the best way of going about it. Dr. Darius shares with us why it’s not okay to tell your child to “go to sleep” and what you should say instead. You can learn more about Dr. Darius by going to https://www.luriechildrens.org/en-us/care-services/find...

Todd and Cathy discuss why our actions dictate our priorities (a Gandhi quote), and how investigation into our priorities tells us a lot about what we think and believe. They also discuss Rob Bell’s new podcast (The Robcast) and his teaching about why “good can be the detriment of best”. They discuss the most recent country music mash up, and Todd shares his favorite scene from The is 40 when the dad (played by Paul Rudd) tries to introduce his wife and daughters to his music. They also share a ...

On today’s show Cathy and Todd talk about why connection is essential if we want our children to listen and cooperate. If we are seeking changes in our children’s behavior, we need to we focus our attention on deepening the relationship and creating daily connection. We have to be willing to make consistent deposits in the emotional bank accounts of our loved ones – then we take withdrawls (disappointments, challenges, disagreements) without too much drama. Instead of focusing solely on how to c...

A listener shares how her husband has her back – he tells the kids that he loves them, but he loves their mom the most. We also discuss how negative behavior from your children is a method of communication – instead of yelling or punishing, consider asking questions and offering some attention. This will offer your child what he needs, and you may feel less frustrated. Do you have a short story of how your partner has your back? Share it with us! Go to zenpopparenting.com and click “send us a vo...

They sound the same, but there is a distinct difference between detachment (giving up) and non attachment (opening up). If you learn the difference, forgiveness will become easier and you will inevitably experience more love in your life. Do your kids play “Dumb Ways to Die”? It sounds harsh, but it was actually created to prevent train/pedestrian accidents. Todd talks about the science behind spanking, and he shares more financial wisdom – this time about our national deficit. specifically an...

Cathy and Todd talk relationships and discuss and article (link below) from The Atlantic called “Masters of Love” In the article, it talks about the most current research about “master” and “disaster” partnerships. The biggest take away? If your partner sees a bird and points to it, look at the bird and acknowledge you’ve seen it. This is a metaphor for aspects of your relationship! Also, do you scan your relationship for kindness or for contempt? Be conscious of what you are looking for, becaus...

Today we talk different parenting styles from a blog by Denise Stirk, Malala’s Nobel Peace Prize speech, and Todd shares more money tips. We also talk about why the best choices are made responsibly (rather than just running away or pretending something isn’t happening), and we answer a question about whether sleep training is practical option for a 3 year old. The link to hear a snapshot of Malala’s speech can be found below… http://www.upworthy.com/shes-known-as-malala-but-when-she-revealed-...

Why are girls going through puberty early? Cathy and Todd discuss a recent NPR interview with the authors Julianna Deardorff and Louise Greenspan of The New Puberty. The book looks at the percentage of girls who are going through early puberty and the environmental, biological and socioeconomic factors that influence when puberty begins. They also discuss why sexuality is an ongoing communication, not a one-time conversation. Todd talks about Tony Robbins new book (Money: Master the Game), 401K...

Do you let others grow and expand or do you keep pulling them back down into the pot? When you try to crawl out and try something new, do family/friends/co-workers pull you down or deter you? When you change or grow it can be quite uncomfortable for the people around you. Just like crabs in a pot, we pull back the ones who are crawling out because change can feel risky and unpredictable. We also discuss how Billy Corgan reacted to Anderson Cooper’s slight. How would you handle public ridicule? ...