Holiday Chaos? 5 Secrets to Being Calm, Connected & Kid-Happy

The holiday season often means extra schedules, extended family, gift overload, disrupted routines. We’ll walk parents through practical strategies to protect parent-child connection, maintain helpful routines, and reduce overwhelm.

SPECIAL GUEST - Renna B. Patel:  Reena is the Founder and CEO of AutiZm & More, helping children and their families embed positive behavior support strategies across home, school and community settings. Reena is also a TV correspondent for national news and media, offering guidance on current affairs. 

Screen Time & Snow Days: Balancing Tech, Play and Family Time

With extra time off school and holiday breaks, how do you set boundaries around screens, keep kids engaged with low-tech fun, and support family rhythms without burnout? 

SPECIAL GUEST - Stephanie Kakrin:  A mother of two, a published parenting author, and a mindset coach with a Masters in Psychology, Stephanie and her husband cofounded ScreenCoach, a combined hardware/software solution that helps parents manage their child's screen time, and regain balance.   

New Year, New Rhythms: Building Routines that Work for Your Family

As we usher in the new year, it’s the perfect time to revisit or build routines — for sleep, school prep, screen time, family meals — that support both parent and child wellbeing.

SPECIAL GUEST - Julie Cole:  Julie is a recovered lawyer, mom of six and co-founder of Mabel's Labels. Julie is an award-winning entrepreneur, best-selling and award-winning author and media personality. Having appeared on NBC's The Today Show, CNN, HLN's Raising America, Breakfast Television, The Marilyn Denis Show, CP24, and CityLine, among many others. Her articles have appeared in The Huffington Post, Today's Parent, The Globe and Mail, Profit Magazine, Working Mother Magazine, and numerous websites.

Raising Emotionally Smart Kids: Love, Friendship & Feelings

We discovered Lael Stone through her powerful TEDx talk on raising emotionally intelligent kids, and her message on connection deeply resonated with us. In this episode, we explore how love is not just warmth and comfort, but also the foundation for limits, self control, and resilience. It's a conversation about discipline with heart and raising grounded, emotionally aware children. 

SPECIAL GUEST - Lael Stone: Lael Stone is a parenting educator, counselor, and sought-after speaker with over 16 years of experience helping families raise emotionally smart, resilient, and connected children. An Aware Parenting Instructor, she leads workshops and support groups that empower parents to build strong emotional intelligence, communication, and secure attachment. Lael co-hosts The Aware Parenting Podcast, contributes to leading publications, and is the co-creator and Director of Woodline Primary School, an innovative, connection-based school in Victoria, Australia. 

Helping Parents Find Their Swagger: Confidence, Leadership & Letting Go of Guilt 

Modern parenting can feel overwhelming. With endless opinions, constant comparison, and pressure to get it right, many moms and dads are second guessing themselves more than ever. In this episode, Dr. Vanessa Lapointe explores what it really means to parent with confidence.  She shares how to hold firm boundaries, and what strong, calm leadership looks like at home. It is a powerful conversation about reclaiming your footing, responding to big emotions without losing your own, and finding your swagger as the leader your children need.

SPECIAL GUEST - Dr. Vanessa Lapointe: Dr. Lapointe is a registered psychologist, parenting expert, author, and mother with more than two decades of experience supporting families. Known for her compassionate, practical approach, she helps parents understand children’s behavior through a developmental lens while strengthening connection and leadership at home.

The Creative Power of Music: Sparking Creativity in Kids 

March is Music In Our Schools Month, a time to celebrate the powerful role music plays in childhood. In this episode, we explore how music helps children unlock creativity, build confidence, and express themselves in ways that shape how they see the world. From classrooms to living rooms, music invites kids to imagine, create, and find their voice. We are joined by legendary children's musician Red Grammer, whose songs have inspired generations of families and educators. Together we discuss why music education matters, how creativity grows through musical expression, and why giving children access to music early in life can have a lasting impact.
 
SPECIAL GUEST - Red Grammer: Red Grammer is one of the most beloved voices in children’s music, known for songs that celebrate kindness, creativity, and joyful learning. His award winning music has been used in homes, schools, and classrooms around the world to help children connect with themselves and others. Red is also the father of pop artist Andy Grammer, whose global music career reflects a lifelong connection to creativity and music that began at home.

Music Matters: Helping Your Kids Discover Confidence, Creativity & Joy Through Music 

Music has the power to unlock confidence, creativity, and self-expression in kids—but where do you start? In recognition of Music in Our Schools Month, this episode explores how parents can introduce music early, support their child’s interests, and create opportunities for them to grow both on and off the stage. From choosing the right first instrument to building confidence through performance, we break down simple ways to make music part of your child’s everyday life.

SPECIAL GUEST - Jason Mraz: Jason Mraz is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter known for hits like “I’m Yours” and his lifelong passion for music education. In this episode, Jason shares how his own musical journey began, why getting instruments into the hands of young students is so important, and how performing can help kids build confidence and find their voice. He also offers insight into which instruments are easiest for children to start with - giving parents a practical starting point to spark a lifelong love of music.

Growing Pains: Managing Big Emotions, Big Growth & Big Transitions

Helping your child find their voice starts with finding your own. This episode explores how parents can model confidence, encourage self-expression, and create an environment where kids feel seen, heard, and empowered to speak up. From navigating self-doubt to building authenticity, we break down practical ways to guide your child as they grow into who they are meant to be.

SPECIAL GUEST - Alan Roach:
Alan Roach is one of the most recognizable voices in sports, known for announcing more than a dozen Super Bowls, as well as serving as the voice of the Minnesota Vikings, Colorado Avalanche, and Denver International Airport train. Beyond the microphone, he’s a father of two who brings real perspective to the parenting journey. In this episode, Alan shares how mentors shaped his path, why having someone who believes in you matters, and how parents can help their children build confidence, embrace who they are, and find their voice.

Fame, Flights & Fatherhood: Balancing a carrer in the Spotlight and Life at Home

How do you balance a career that keeps you traveling across the country with being present for the moments that matter most at home? This Father's Day-inspired conversation explores the realities of parenting while managing a demanding schedule, the decision of when to start a family, and what it takes to stay connected to your spouse and children when work often pulls you away. 

SPECIAL GUEST - Jerome LeBlanc: Jerome is widely recognized as one of the nation's premier Tom Cruise impersonators, performing at events across the country. But his favorite role is being a husband and father. With three children at home and another on the way, Jerome shares lessons learned from balancing family life with a career built on travel, performance, and life in the spotlight. 

When Your Childhood Shows Up in Your Parenting

We all have parenting moments we wish we could take back. But sometimes, what triggers us has less to do with what our child is doing and more to do with what happened when we were children. Dr. Robyn Koslowitz explains “post-traumatic parenting,” how old wounds can shape our reactions, and how understanding our past can help us become the parents we want to be. 

SPECIAL GUEST - Dr. Robyn Koslowitz: Robyn is an NYU-trained child clinical psychologist, trauma expert, and author of Post-Traumatic Parenting. As a mother searching for answers she couldn’t find, she wrote the book she needed. She has also delivered a TEDx Talk on practicing trauma-informed parenting, helping parents understand how their childhood experiences can shape the way they raise their own children. 

Back-to-School: Start the Year Strong 

The first day of school can bring new schedules, new expectations, and plenty of nerves for kids and parents. Psychotherapist and author Lynn Lyons explains how families can prepare before the first bell, establish routines that actually stick, and set clear expectations early to help children begin the school year with confidence. 

SPECIAL GUEST — Lynn Lyons: Lynn is a psychotherapist, author, and nationally recognized expert on anxiety in children and families. Through her books, podcast, and work with parents, she offers practical strategies that help families manage uncertainty, build resilience, and approach major transitions, including the return to school, with greater confidence. 

Friendships & Feelings: Social Skills, Peer Pressure & Emotional IQ for Kids

As kids mature socially, parents need tools to support friendship building, conflict resolution, empathy, and awareness of peer influences.

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Food, Sleep & Activity for Growing Kids

Nutrition, sleep hygiene, active habits — all essential during elementary years. We’ll give parents actionable steps to set a healthy lifestyle foundation.

Parenting Through Change: When Big Life Events Happen (Relocation, Divorce, New Sibling)”

From bullying to peer pressure, media influences to body safety — this episode helps parents approach hard conversations with confidence and connection.

Halloween, Holidays & Healthy Boundaries: Celebrations Without Chaos

With Halloween and the upcoming holiday season, we’ll help parents plan celebrations that build memory and connection, while managing sugar, overstimulation and transitions.

Gratitude, Giving & Togetherness: Family Practices That Last a Lifetime

As the holidays approach, this episode focuses on building family traditions, instilling gratitude in kids under 12, service and connection.

Preparing for Winter: Health, Hibernation & Keeping Kids Active Indoors

The winter months bring less daylight and more indoor time. We’ll talk about keeping kids physically and mentally engaged, managing winter blues, and supporting healthy habits.

Less Stuff, More Magic: Creating Meaningful Holiday Memories Without the Overload

This uplifting session explores how to simplify the season—focusing on connection, gratitude, and experiences that spark lifelong joy. Parents will walk away with creative, low-stress ideas for making the holidays truly magical for kids.

Fresh Starts: Helping Kids Set Goals and Dream Big for the Year Ahead

Turn New Year resolutions into fun, family-friendly traditions! This workshop helps parents guide kids to reflect on their growth, dream boldly, and set empowering intentions—without pressure or comparison.

How early should swim lessons begin? Do floaties make children safer? And as Brad tells us, “You don’t need goggles.” We’re separating fact from fiction and giving parents practical ways to help infants and toddlers become safer and more confident around water. 

SPECIAL GUEST - Brad Hurvitz: Brad is the founder of My Baby Swims and one of the only Master Swim Instructors in the United States. With more than a decade of experience, he has taught over 1,000 children through 30,000 lessons, helping infants and toddlers develop lifesaving swimming and self-rescue skills. 

The Running Leap: How Kids Build Confidence

When children step back from a challenge, it can look like fear, avoidance, or a lack of motivation. But what if they’re actually preparing themselves to succeed? Dr. Betsy Blackard explains “The Running Leap,” why children sometimes need to retreat before moving forward, and how giving them space to build confidence can help them make the leap on their own.  

SPECIAL GUEST - Dr. Betsy Blackard: Betsy is a developmental psychologist, parent educator, and expert in understanding how kids work. She has spent more than 20 years working with children and families as a preschool teacher, coach, trainer, and speaker. In her TEDx Talk, she introduces “The Running Leap,” a new way for parents to understand children’s motivation and recognize that stepping back from a challenge may actually be part of moving forward. .