Zen Parenting Radio

Cathy and Todd discuss Chatter: The Voice in our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It by Ethan Cross and how our capacity for introspection can morph into a cycle of negative thinking. They discuss some of his suggested tools for self-regulation and real-world examples of taming our inner voice.

Todd and Cathy discuss a Freakanomics interview with Angela Duckworth about self-esteem, and what it takes to raise children who feel empowered. They also discuss how we can find meaning in our experiences, and the difference between heeding and exceeding limits.

Todd and Cathy discuss Najwa Zebian’s book, Welcome Home, and how we can find a home inside ourselves instead of searching for home in other people. They also discuss the concept of “praxis” which means turning theory into practice and then reflection. They celebrate Pride month and share why all people (especially parents) need to become competent and educated allies for the LGBTQ+ community.

Todd and Cathy discuss Ethan Hawke’s TED talk about creativity and why what we love is our offering to the world. They discuss why creativity matters and how offering and receiving sustains us. They share how creativity effects our relationships and parenting, and how we are either “jackhammers” or “hummingbirds”.

Cathy and Todd discuss Adam Grant’s article about languishing (the middle place between thriving and depression) and Rob Bell’s podcast about discomfort and “upgrading”. The process how word usage plays a role in our motivation and why doing nothing is an important something.

Cathy and Todd discuss graduation season and why it's both beautiful and difficult. They discuss the importance of recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month and what Oprah & Prince Harry's show, The Me You Can't See, teaches us about internal vs external success.

Todd and Cathy discuss what they’ve learned over 10 years and 600 episodes of Zen Parenting Radio, and they describe what Zen Parenting means to them (Cathy’s book titled Zen Parenting comes out in 2/22). They also discuss why the perseverance to do something different demonstrates grit, and why Gen Z calls certain millennials “cheugy” (pronounced chew-gee).

Cathy and Todd revisit Greg McKeown’s book Essentialism and why now is an important time to reconsider priorities and focus energy on what really matters. They discuss why deciding what’s essential makes us more content and ironically more productive in the long run.

Todd and Cathy discuss how like rocks in water, we were flooded with information, challenge, and uncertainty in 2020. 2021 is about focusing on our mental wellness and recognizing how like rocks in water, we have been changed and reshaped by difficult times. In Kruti Joshi’s words, The most beautiful rocks have faced the hardest waves.

Cathy and Todd discuss Esther Perel’s 5 interventions and how they can help us cope with uncertainty and grief. They also discuss why the only way out is through, and how looking for the bright side too early can be a form of spiritual bypassing.

Cathy and Todd discuss “invisible” situations (such as being neurodivergent, anxious, have migraines or an autoimmune disorder) and why we are sometimes not “believed” when we try to explain our challenges or differences (this comes from Julie Lythcott-Haims new book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, in the chapter about self-care). They also discuss how our attention creates our reality, and why knowing what brings our life meaning is an essential step toward contentment.

Todd and Cathy discuss fear, The Golden Girls, and we interview Mercedes Samudio of Shame Proof Parenting where she discusses EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

Todd and Cathy discuss this transitional time and why we need to be compassionate with ourselves as we gently and slowly return to a more pre-covid way of living. They discuss why transitions are difficult and how grief plays a role, and why we should rely on compassion, curiosity, mindfulness, and connection to get us through.

Cathy and Todd discuss the natural waves of life, and how we have to appreciate the good moments and also move through the hard times. They discuss the importance of asking for help and setting boundaries when in the midst of a crisis, and why Brene Brown says the most compassionate people are also the most boundaried.

Cathy and Todd talk with Soraya Chemaly, author of Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger and Executive Director of The Representation Project. They discuss the importance of emotional competence, how to discuss gender inequality with our kids, and why we should pay attention to our own gender conditioning.

This podcast dates back to May of 2017, but is one of our favorites.  Todd and Cathy discuss why “figuring out” our partner will cause frustration, but why staying present with every new experience will create intimacy. They use a post from fellow coach Jayson Gaddis They discuss why it’s important to ride the waves with your partner rather than trying to control their emotional expression, and why unpredictability can be just as connecting as predictability. They share a recent miscommunication, explain why labeling family members is detrimental, and practice saying toy boat really fast without messing up.

Cathy and Todd discuss Oprah’s interview with Meghan and Harry and how it relates to boundaries, freedom, and our unconscious internalized beliefs about women. They also discuss International Women’s Day and the obstacles women confront when they embody empowerment.

Cathy and Todd kick-off boundaries month by discussing internal boundaries and the clinical understanding of family enmeshment. They discuss how we take on other people’s emotions, why it’s hard for us to be happy if the ones we love aren’t happy, and how to take care of ourselves while we take care of others.

We talk with our daughter Jacey who identifies as gay, her friend Grace who identifies as bi-sexual, and her friend Edgar who identifies as gay. They share their coming out stories, family reactions, and experiences that have been helpful and harmful. They discuss how to be an ally and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and how to support your kids when it comes to embracing and understanding sexuality.

Todd and Cathy discuss Creativity and Balance, Part 3 of Empathy Volume Month. They discuss ideas and tools to take care of ourselves during uncertain times, and how to bring balance to our self-care and relationships.