Mastermind Parenting Podcast

If you’re a human with a phone in 2026, you know how addicting social media can be. Most of us struggle to keep from scrolling too much. I mean…all those doggy reels are just hilarious! Now imagine how hard it is for vulnerable young brains to keep from getting hooked?New lawsuits against the social media giants are confirming what so many of us parents have been saying for years. Big Tech companies have known how dangerous their “just keep scrolling” algorithms are for kids, but they’ve chosen lining their pockets over keeping our kids safe.Of course “their kids” are protected. Did you know that many Silicon Valley giants don’t give their own kids phones until 16? On the podcast this week, I’m talking to Free Press reporters, Maya Sulkin and Frannie Block, authors of the article Is Social Media The New Big Tobacco, about the harmful effects of social media and how brave families are stepping up to hold Big Tech accountable for targeting our kids.Something clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you i

Pack leadership definitely involves reading the room and using your spidey senses when it comes to giving feedback. When your kid or frankly, anyone, acts out of line - how do you talk to them and let ‘em know what’s what?Timing, tone and intention are key!If you try to “teach lessons in the moment, it’s a lecture and the other person absorbs nothing. Plus, when things are heated, it’s really hard not to shame or act scary because after all, you have a nervous system too and it’s most likely activated.Guess what? These skills are just as important (and maybe even harder to remember) in conversations between adults.I’m happy to welcome back Jeff Hittner, leadership and fatherhood coach, and host of the Ambitious Dads podcast. This time we’re talking about how moms and dads talk about things after they go a little sideways.It can be confusing for moms and dads to understand our roles and how to work together in leading the pack. We may feel beyond the traditional roles of yesteryear and yet, things do seem to r

Parents have questions about phones, tablets, video games…essentially all the screen time things.You might ask yourself: What age is too young to give them their own device? How do I get them to turn it off without fighting? How much time is too much?Am I a bad mom if I not only allow, but sometimes even encourage, rotting on a screen when I just need some time to get shit done or be “on break”?It’s so tempting to think about screens as a black or white issue. They’re either evil brain rot, or essential for human development in this digital age of AI and robots taking all our jobs?!? But neither extreme sounds quite right, does it?That’s why I’m so happy to bring you this convo with Ash Brandin. Ash is the bestselling author of Power On. This book is such a helpful resource for this neverending battle with screens.Something clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might

Finding out your child is heading down the path of drugs or alcohol are some of the darkest days imaginable. What do you do when the person you love the most is self-destructing?My guest this time is Lisa Katona Smith. She’s a teacher, author, and mom who knows all about the fear of seeing a child in the grip of addiction. Fortunately for all of us, when she found the usual advice failing her, Lisa decided to find a better way. Her book Parallel Recovery is a raw, honest, empowering read. It combines Lisa’s perspective as an educator with her up-close experience as a mom. If you’ve ever worried about how you’d show up for your kid in that situation, this is the convo for you.Something clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/ Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermi

We’ve come a long way in understanding how neurodivergence expresses itself in kids, compared to when I became a new mom. But even now, an Autism diagnosis can feel like some of the most dreaded words imaginable to a parent.Can you fathom what it was like for parents in the 1980s?Leland Vittert can. And even though his parents chose not to share his diagnosis with him until his early 20’s, he now knows the whole story of what they went through for him.Leland is a successful journalist with his own nightly news show. But when he was a kid, Leland struggled to relate to his classmates. He was bullied by other kids, and at times, by teachers as well. After Leland was diagnosed with Autism, (now considered level 1, formerly known as Aspergers), his father made it his mission to help Leland learn the skills he’d need to function in a world that would not understand or mold to his differences.Leland tells the whole inspiring story in his new book Born Lucky: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with A

In this episode I discuss what gratitude really means to me as a mom and a person. I believe the ultimate gratitude practice is believing your strong willed child happened “for” rather than “to” you and I walk you through an exercise about how to do that.Topics:  Hedonic Adaptation  Gratitude is a practice that can be cultivated and directly links to happiness  Gratitude affects many areas of your life in positive ways - personality, health, emotional, social and career  Strong willed kids happen “for” not “to” you  “Future You” exercise to get you into a gratitude practiceSomething clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/ Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-333About Randi Rubenstein

Let’s be real. Lots of dads aren’t ready (or willing) to take on their share of responsibility in their families. And for the dads who do want to step up, where are the role models of dads doing their part and showing up as strong and loving pack leaders?Enter Jeff Hittner, leadership and fatherhood coach, and host of the Ambitious Dads podcast.Jeff spent years teaching executives how to lead and inspire teams in the workplace. But when it came to his lifelong dream of fatherhood, he was shocked to realize how hard it was to not repeat unhelpful patterns of the past.Now, Jeff is using his skills as a coach to help educate dads who want to lead in their families, and pass on a new definition of fatherhood to their kids.Something clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/ Get all the links,

It’s no secret that kids can put a real damper on your sex life. Kids just have so many needs - the feeding, bathing, playdate coordinating…and let’s not forget all the freaking paperwork. Those school forms nearly about killed me with three kids. It seems like a small miracle if there is still desire for your partner after a long thankless day involving all that. My guest, Dr. Rebecca Eudy, has spent over a decade helping couples navigate the complex realities of intimacy during the parenting years. Now, she’s written a book to share her insights and help with this tough topic affecting so many of us.If sex secretly feels like another chore in your life, you won’t want to miss this convo!Something clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/ Get all the links, resources, and

Don’t you just love how little kids play so completely? They experience fun and joy without any self-consciousness or worrying about what others might think.But for many of us, this concept can feel elusive and far away as adults. If you grew up in a house where you walked on eggshells, you may not be conditioned for joy and play. I know this has been perplexing for me to think about in my own life. It’s even been a source of shame. I often struggle with the thought, ”What kind of person doesn’t know how to play or identify joy!?”A person that got through childhood in a mostly survival state, that’s who. I’m diving into this with psychologist and podcaster, Dr. Shawn Hondorp. Shawn has been taking dance lessons recently. She’s a mom with a full plate who often juggles the demands of work and raising kids.  And yet she makes time several times a week for her play and joy through reconnecting with her love for dance.Her experience around a recent recital showed how hard it can be to pur

Disappointment. Rejection. Failing to meet their goals. It’s so tough to watch our kids struggle when they’re feeling the discomfort of disappointment. I often call myself “a fixer in recovery that QUITE often relapses”. I have a joy agenda for the people I love.  Sometimes my own discomfort over their discomfort leads to a relapse. I jump into full on fixer mode and forget that the growth mostly happens because of the messy human moments. Pain and uncertainty are as much a part of the human experience as success and happiness. It’s called the Law of Polarity. Life involves both the good and the bad. What if the real goal of parenting is to help our kiddos build resilience, so they can handle the hard things without losing hope?My guest this time thinks so, and I think she’s onto something huge. Dr. Kate Lund is an expert on how to build resilience in ourselves and our kids. Her experience of growing up in a supportive family helped her deal with a painful chronic illness. Now, she te

Every time I learn more about Attachment Theory, it feels so eye-opening. It explains so much about me and my Mastermind moms. I hear it when we talk about how we were raised, how we relate to our parents, and how we’ve tried to fill the spaces we feel in our hearts. Building a secure attachment style is so important for who our kids will become in the future. But many of us are out here trying to figure out our own - let’s say “less than ideal”- attachment issues. How can we do even better for them?My fave sage of attachment and healing, Kirby, is back to help us break it down and build it up. He says the key to security is an environment where kids feel safe to feel and express themselves, and he’s going to help us figure out how to create that space for our kids. You don’t want to miss this one!Something clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a c

I’ve got a bite-sized treat of an episode for you this week. I was recently coaching a Mastermind mama who’s struggling with the changing relationship with her own mother. As she changes, her relationship with her mom is changing too. And change is hard and can even feel scary. Especially when it feels like the people closest aren’t necessarily thrilled about the changes we are making in our lives. As I listened to her story, I knew exactly what she was going through. And I also felt like it would be relevant to you, no matter where you are in your parenting journey.Something clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/ Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-327About Randi RubensteinRandi Rubenstein coaches parents raising s

You think you’re parenting with one mind.You’re not.There’s the mind that reads the books and makes the plans. And there’s the other mind—the one running the show when your kid does that thing that makes your jaw clench and chest tighten.Kirby Fling sees this clearly. His Two-Mind Method helps you understand the two versions of yourself that show up every day. The one that wants to be patient. And the one that actually is patient.The difference? That’s where attachment gets stronger. Where families find their rhythm. Where the hard moments become growth moments.Something clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-326About Randi RubensteinRandi Rubenstein coaches parents raising strong-willed kids. Randi searched endlessly to find the magical resou

I’ve been saying for a long, long time that raising kids in the digital age is like the Wild Wild West! We are all just trying to make the best decisions for our kids with the info we currently have at any given time. And it’s really hard to know what the right decision is when you’re a pioneer parent (as all of us are here - raising kids at a time in human history where tech is causing us to move at a more rapid pace than ever before). In his book “The Anxious Generation,” Jonathan Haidt pulls back the curtain on how online content streams and everywhere screens have changed the experience of growing up in a tech-addicted world.Adolescence has always been a tough time for kids AND parents. They’re struggling with changing bodies, raging hormones, and the pressure to prepare for adulthood; we’re trying to find the balance between keeping them safe and letting them learn from their mistakes. But modern teens and tweens are surrounded by algorithmically curated content that’s targeted at their fears o

Gentle Parenting has become a sort of parenting movement over the last decade or so. I’ve been here for more than a hot minute and it’s interesting what I’ve noticed. You see, before Gentle there was Conscious Parenting and before that there was Love and Logic and and and. I think the original founders of these methods were probably drinking the same koolaid I like…we secretly want to raise our kids even better than our parents did. We want our kids to feel loved and enjoyed. We don’t want them to act like selfish creepos. We want them to become besties with their siblings and to have their backs. Of course, much fancier more formal lingo is typically used in the “parenting space”. And I think that’s a big part of the problem. Somewhere with all of these lofty movements, parents have become performative.  Gentle Parenting has been twisted. The parents that come to work with me lately are more permissive than I’ve ever seen and more unpack-leader-y too.  They have lost their voice

We want to raise “good kids.” Kids who are kind. Kids who share. Kids who can handle themselves in a respectable manner when they go over to a friend’s house for dinner. We don’t want our kids to be high maintenance or frankly, bratty.We want to raise kids who can get along in the world, but we also want to raise kids whose behavior shows the world that we did a good job as parents.You know what? That’s okay!Listen in as Avery and I break down this question that has been popping up for tons of moms in my orbit. We talk about WHY it’s a good thing to teach your kids how to behave, and HOW you can encourage them in that direction (without turning them into a doormat). If you’ve been worried about raising picky, bossy, me-first kids, this is the episode for you!As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your str

A common anxiety I often uncover with my moms is: Now that I know what I know about the dangers of tech… it just feels too late to change things with my kids.  Maybe you read the NYT best seller, Anxious Generation,  and… let’s just say, you’re feeling VERY. FLIPPIN’. ANXIOUS. You’re beginning to understand why your kids act like raccoons on meth when it comes to screens - (ipad, phone, tv, video games). You might feel like it’s a lost cause and ask: Is it even possible to undo this obsession with all things screens?  It can really feel like a no-win situation when the kids have been hooked on the iPad since preschool. “But the games were supposed to be educational!” Sigh. We didn’t know what we didn’t know…yet. None of us did. Or at least most of us didn’t. Plus, let’s be honest - we were tired and stressed and those digital babysitters came in handy. Personally, I often relied on them for my sanity. So what’s the solution? This is my main criticism of books like

Spoiler alert! Ya’ll probably know that I LOVE a good TV show. A comfy blanket and a cozy watch is a reliable happy place for me. So when my family recommended the Netflix thriller, “Adolescence,” I have to say I was a little resistant. But eventually they convinced me, and I am SO GLAD they did!“Adolescence” is a short 4-episode drama series about a teenage boy accused of murdering a girl in his class. But unlike most murder mysteries, this show really digs down into how a seemingly normal kid could become capable of committing such an awful crime. Critics and audiences are giving it rave reviews, and Avery and I want to tell you why. We talk about Avery’s experience growing up in the digital age, and how you can talk to your own kids about what awaits them online.MAJOR SPOILERS in this one gang, so watch the show first, then enjoy our discussion. You’ll be glad you did!As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips a

Raising a strong-willed kid is harder. Even draining sometimes.  Sitting on the floor and playing with toys felt like the worst to me. I now realize that I found other playful ways to be with my kids… but I still sometimes feel a little guilty about not being a Barbie or Legos kind of mom.So when Dr. Shawn Hondorp invited me on her podcast, The Innovative Therapist, to talk about play and pack leadership, I have to admit, I may have baby barfed a little. But I love Shawn, and I had so much fun working out a definition of Pack Leadership with her recently, that I knew I could trust we’d have a great conversation. And I was SO right.It turns out that a playful attitude counts as playing with your kids. Woohoo. It is also a part of my personal recipe for Pack Leadership. It’s a great way of thinking about leadership in any context, and I think you’ll love this conversation as much as I did. I just love Shawn.  Enjoy!As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my

You want to help your kids succeed in school - that’s a given. School success is a big area of anxiety and worry I often see with parents I coach. Many well-intentioned parents get more and more involved in their kids’ homework - but more involvement often leads to more long term struggles.Becoming the homework helpline might help get your kids’ grades up temporarily. But it also teaches them to rely on you instead of learning how to figure things out for themselves. There’s no opportunity for your kid to develop agency.Without your constant concierge-level concern, the kid finds themselves flailing and potentially feeling like a failure. Obviously, this is the polar opposite of how you want them to feel. Avery is back and joining me this week to share her experiences with my less-than-obsessed attitude toward homework, and how it helped and possibly hindered her too! As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We