In this episode, I'm breaking down one of the most emotionally charged challenges parents face...teen friendship drama...and sharing exactly what to do (and what not to do) when your teenager comes home in tears over a falling out with their friend group. You'll also learn why social rejection genuinely feels life-threatening to the adolescent brain, how boys and girls navigate friend conflicts differently, the ins and outs of "popularity" and more. Show Notes and Transcript Find our FREE Par...
Apr 14
21 min
In this episode, I'll completely flip your understanding of teen discipline — because if grounding, taking the phone, punishing, and lecturing haven't worked, it's not because you haven't tried hard enough, it's because those approaches are working against your teen's developing brain. Today I'm breaking down exactly why traditional punishment backfires every single time, what teen brain development actually means for your parenting approach, and what discipline is truly supposed to acc...
Apr 7
24 min
In this episode, I'm sharing some of the most powerful, science-backed strategies you can use to help motivate your teen to change their relationship with substances — without the yelling, punishing, lecturing, or ultimatums that likely haven't been working. Drawing from the highly regarded book Beyond Addiction, I walk you through two of the most effective tools available to parents of teens struggling with drug or alcohol use: motivational interviewing and the CRAFT method (Community ...
Mar 31
24 min
Today I’ll explain exactly what to do when you discover your teen is drinking, vaping, or using drugs. You’ll learn how to have a calm, connected conversation with your teen, how to understand why your teen is using substances, how to approach them with empathy instead of confrontation, and practical strategies to keep them safe while maintaining trust. I also review the critical mistakes we parents make in this situation, and how to set boundaries without pushing them away. This step-b...
Mar 11
21 min
In today's episode I break down the neuroscience behind why teens are so vulnerable to substance use—and explain what you can actually do about it. If you're worried about your teen using alcohol, vaping, or marijuana, this episode is for you. I explain how the adolescent brain's reward system, weak prefrontal cortex, and neuroplasticity create the perfect storm for risky behavior. But here's the good news: the majority of teens do NOT use substances, and I'm sharing 4 science-backed strategi...
Jan 22
15 min
Today I'm going to share why your teenager seems so lazy and unmotivated, and what you can actually do about it that won't backfire. I'll explain what's happening in that unmotivated brain of theirs and why punishment, rewards, and nagging to get them to do their homework or study are only making things worse. Plus, I'll walk you through Dr. Adam Price's (author of "He's Not Lazy") proven 8-step framework for helping unmotivated teens develop internal drive. Listen to learn...
Jan 13
15 min
In this episode, I explain how you may be unwittingly overparenting (aka, helicopter parenting) your teen—and why doing too much for or controlling your teenager actually sets them up for failure as a young adult. I'll explain what helicopter parenting really looks like and the psychological damage it causes to our teens, young adults, or college-age kids. You'll also learn practical strategies to stop overparenting, reduce parent-teen conflict, and raise confident teenagers who can han...
Dec 9, 2025
27 min
It seems reasonable and logical that drug testing your teenager at home could keep them safe or at least keep them accountable. However, the opposite is actually true. Today I discuss the damage we cause when we drug test our teens at home and why drug testing is simply not practical and isn't the solution you may think it is. I'll also explain what you should do instead if you want to decrease the likelihood of your teen participating in risky behaviors. This episode (here on YouTube) will b...
Dec 2, 2025
29 min
Today is the eighth and final episode in my Fundamentals of Parenting Teens podcast series. If your teen shuts down around you, keeps things from you, has big emotional reactions to everything you say, or is acting out in risky ways, you probably have a connection problem. In today's episode, I explain exactly what connection means, why it's critical for parenting emotional teens, and how to build it (even when your teenager wants nothing to do with you). Listen and learn science backed...
Nov 25, 2025
26 min
Today is the seventh episode in my Fundamentals of Parenting Teens podcast series. If you're dealing with a teenager who seems to push back against everything you say, punishment or consequences aren’t the answer and will probably make things worse. In this episode, I'll explain why traditional discipline backfires with teenagers and what actually works instead. You'll learn why punishment creates rebellion in teens and what to do instead. You can end the constant power struggles ...
Nov 18, 2025
20 min
Load more