Zen Parenting Radio

Cathy and Todd discuss Stranger Things Season 3 and how it deals with grief, trauma, and growing up. They also discuss the “believe women” theme and all of the obvious and less obvious 80’s references.

Cathy and Todd discuss how we all have different approaches to challenging situations, and why there isn’t one way to speak up or solve a problem. They discuss how we can help children build a “self-awareness muscle” through question-asking and curiosity, and why understanding and honoring who we are is a life-long endeavor.

Todd and Cathy discuss Jon Krakauer’s book Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town and the documentary the Bystander Moment (ZPR and The Tribe Men’s Group are hosting a free screening of this movie at the Elmhurst Public Library on July 9th at 7 pm). They discuss the statistics and trauma of sexual assault, and the why it’s important to talk to our kids about entitlement, desire, and consent. They explain what it means to be an Upstander and why supporting and speaking up for others is a socially responsibility.

To celebrate their 500th episode and 8 years of podcasting, Todd and Cathy talk with their daughters Jacey (16), Camryn (14), and Skylar (11) about their experiences with “zen” parenting, and discuss the issues confronting teens and pre-teens today. Todd and Cathy also announce the launch of their new podcast, Pop Culturing - they discuss movies, tv shows and books, and break down key moments and little-known facts to touch upon underlying themes of self-awareness and what it means to be human.

Cathy and Todd discuss some questions that Lori Gottlieb addresses in her book, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, and share their own experiences with being the practitioner and the patient.

Cathy and Todd discuss how fatherhood is being redefined and expanded as we learn more about ourselves and gender, Team Zen, Taylor Swift and much more...

Cathy and Todd discuss Sheryl Paul’s book The Wisdom of Anxiety, and why anxiety is an opportunity to be curious rather than afraid. They discuss how compassion, stillness, and gratitude play a role in understanding and coping with anxiety, and why anxiety is a wound and a messenger. They also discuss the Equal Rights Amendment and how it hasn’t yet been ratified by 38 states.

Todd and Cathy discuss Sister Joan Chittister and her new book The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage. They discuss civil discourse, why we get our loves out of order, and why we yearn for the genuine. They discuss why self-care is the first step toward bettering our partnerships, parenting, and engagement in community and activism.

Todd and Cathy talk with Gemma Hartley, author of Fed Up. They discuss emotional labor, how it affects partnership and parenting, and why it needs to be an evolving and ongoing conversation. Gemma will be taking questions during our Team Zen talk on June 4th – click here to join Team Zen and participate.

Cathy and Todd discuss why the new laws in Alabama and other states strip women of their reproductive and human rights. They discuss how we have to take a wider view and not assume everyone has access to the same resources or education. They discuss how men make these decisions but remove themselves from what should be legislated or criminalized, and how we could refocus our energy to educate and support all communities. This episode is for mature audiences.

Cathy and Todd discuss girls and stress and play clips from Rich Roll’s interview with Under Pressure author Lisa Damour. They also discuss the conflict between James Charles and Tati Westbrook, and how to talk to boys about being a bystander.

Cathy and Todd talk with Former New York Times reporter KJ Dell’Antonio about her book How to be a Happier Parent. They discuss some common issues that challenge parents, and explore how to decrease the stress and find more joy.

Todd and Cathy discuss how people and organizations are both light and dark, and why it’s important to recognize this in ourselves. They discuss the You Tube Original Show Cobra Kai, specifically the nostalgia and surprises, and how all the characters are multidimensional and imperfect. They also share Carol Cadwalladr’s TED Talk where she calls out the Titans of Tech and Ricky Henderson’s Baseball Hall of Fame speech.

Cathy and Todd discuss a sports psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais interview on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard.  They discuss the difference between being the best and being your best.  

Cathy and Todd discuss how to give ourselves permission to change or try something new. They share some wisdom from Oprah’s new book The Path Made Clear, and discuss why trusting and honoring ourselves can strengthen our relationships.

Todd and Cathy discuss Greg McKeown’s book Essentialism about how we can do less, but better. They discuss how to figure out what’s essential, how to let go of what we no longer need, and how essentialism relates to KonMari and the movie City Slickers.

Cathy and Todd discuss how parenting experts can appear to contradict each other (even when their information is valid), and why we need to know our family and trust our instincts when making parenting decisions. They discuss Gabor Matè’s interview on the Goop podcast, Lori Gottlieb’s interview on NPR’s Fresh Air, and they share MILCK’s #ICANTKEEPQUIET project.

Todd and Cathy discuss the lessons from the longest study about happiness from the Harvard Study on Adult Development. They discuss Steven Pinker’s data about the world getting better, and what Bill Gates and Warren Buffet both recommend for a happy life.

Cathy and Todd discuss public shaming and why responsibility, humility, and reflection need to be a part of the process. They discuss John Oliver’s interview with Monica Lewinsky and the college admission scandal.

Cathy and Todd speak about the most impactful moments of this year's conference.