Episodes

In this episode, DJ talks with Rabbi Manis Friedman about raising healthy children beyond the basic necessities, our own parenting fears and insecurities of raising them and how to find your parenting authority and confidence. Listen in as they discuss not judging, doing away with labels, giving yourself credit where it is deserved and how to remain an enthusiastic parent along the way. Rabbi Manis Friedman is a world renowned author, lecturer, counselor and philosopher. He was born in Prague, ...

Sometimes the best way to connect with your child is when you join in the childish fun yourself. In this episode, DJ talks with James Heppner, a Results Coach and Podcast Host, about letting perfection go (because you don’t have to have it all figured out at this point) and how taking the time to relate to your child(ren) and expanding on your own point of view can make all the difference in the world. Listen in to hear them talk about the beauty of being a child, letting your own inner child re...

In this episode, DJ talks with Nikole Thompson about how the media and social platforms are really having a negative effect on our kids. Listen in as they discuss how much screen time is appropriate, the violence, death, anger, pornography, sex and more that our kids are being exposed to at much earlier ages and how you as a parent can research, monitor and encourage healthier activities. Tune in as they discuss everything from appropriate music to appropriate movies or television programs and h...

In this episode, DJ talks with Danielle Ingenito who is an expert in healing after toxic relationships and she helps women turn their pain into power. Tune in to hear about not projecting your pain, fears and concerns on your children and instead, how to help them be prepared, not scared. By the end of the episode, you will understand how overprotecting your children will not allow them to develop the critical skills they will need as they grow and become adults and you will recognize the fine l...

In this episode, DJ talks with Portia Clare, an author who wrote a children’s book to help children deal with the confusion and grief associated with the loss of a pet. Listen in as DJ & Portia discuss creating memory boxes for your lost pet, questions to ask to create a safe space for your child to express themselves and involving your little one in activities which will encourage them to discuss their feelings about their loss. Portia Yvette Clare has been privileged to serve in developing th...

In this episode, DJ talks with special guest, Timothy Stuetz, a prolific children’s book author, about teaching values, inspiring courage, and bringing curiosity to the lives of our children through fairy tales. Listen in as they discuss ways to incorporate fairy tales to spark your child’s imagination and empower them to achieve their full mental, physical, emotional and heart-filled potential! Timothy Stuetz is one of the most prolific children’s authors of all time, having just completed his...

In this episode, DJ talks with Amber Wilfahrt, a busy mom, wife, entrepreneur and podcaster about being realistic when we are trying to perfectly juggle it all, taking time to plan meals, activities and more to avoid decision fatigue, creating space for selfcare, being perfectly imperfect, grateful and enjoying all the moments. Listen in as they discuss letting go of perfectionism and being okay with making mistakes to live your best “raw mom life.” Amber is a mom to 3 girls, wife, and entrepre...

In this episode, DJ talks with Bailey Olsen about how to inspire our children to be curious about the world around them, encourage them to ask questions, form their own opinions and think independently. Listen in as they discuss some of the ways they’ve inspired children’s curiosity by creating fun fact finding missions and how Bailey has used a list of free activities to connect with her children and create random teaching moments to make the kids curiouser and curiouser. Bailey is a second an...

In this episode, DJ talks with Kathy Derr, mom of five who lost her oldest son to an inoperable brain tumor at the age of 7. The financial and emotional struggles she and her family went through during his treatment led her to found a non-profit called “A Kid Again” so other struggling families could find support in each other and experience year-round fun adventures for both the sick child and their siblings who are unintentionally sacrificing their parent’s time and attention and extracurricul...

In this episode, DJ speaks with Delphine Rule… teacher, administrator, advocate, person with a disability and a parent of children with learning disabilities. Listen in as Delphine talks about her passion in supporting families and educators to help everyone get past the labels and limiting beliefs when you have a child who is neurodiverse. Stay tuned to hear them discuss getting past the diagnosis grieving process and the hurdles so you can work on implementing strategies and therapies and acce...

Do you have a child with BIG emotions and BIG dramatic responses… One who becomes outwardly upset or uncontrollable when things aren’t going their way? Or do you have a child who is ultra sensitive to criticism and disappointing people, still feeling things strongly but turning their emotions inward? Stay tuned for this episode! DJ speaks with Clinical Psychologist and Parenting Specialist, Rachel Bailey about how to support a child who is anxious, what you can do when they're melting down and m...

In this episode, DJ speaks with Elizabeth Andreyeveskiy, fellow podcaster and mom of 4 who has made it her mission to help stressed moms manage their emotions so they can stop being snappy and respond with patience and calm. Listen in as they discuss strategies to avoid your own emotional outbursts and how to purposefully manage your own emotions when interacting with your children so you stay calm and grounded. Elizabeth Andreyeveskiy is a Mom of 3 boys and 1 girl who has been married for 13 y...

In this episode, DJ speaks with Laurel Makowem, a certified financial education instructor, about money… our beliefs around it, the words we speak aloud when in its presence and how all that shapes our children’s beliefs and actions around the currency that makes the world go round. Tune in to hear them discuss several thought provoking questions to ask yourself about your money beliefs and tips to move past your financial literacy shortcomings to teach your child to be financially independent a...

In this episode, DJ speaks with travel expert, Dawn Barclay about traveling with children who are anxious, inflexible or neuro-diverse. She shares strategies to prepare your child before traveling and tips to try and avoid the chaos. Listen in as Dawn shares advice from her Summer 2022 book release about how to find autism friendly venues and ways to create familiarity and similarity when you and your child are in a strange new place. Dawn M. Barclay is an award-winning author who has spent a c...

Do you think a 2 or 3 year old is too young for science? Actually, they aren’t! In this episode, DJ talks with Dr. Stephanie Ryan, who specializes in understanding how children learn different topics, especially math and science. Stephanie explains that children as young as two and three are ready to begin learning the skills that will give them a head start in understanding how to learn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). STEM is a teaching philosophy that integrates all four...

April is Autism Awareness month! Do you know and love a child with autism? Stay tuned! In this episode, DJ hosted Rose Griffin, a speech language pathologist, behavior analyst and the Autism Outreach Podcast host to talk about the resources available to parents as well as tips and tools you can utilize to work together with your autistic child to learn both academically and socially. Listen in as they discuss steps to take after an autism diagnosis, how to assist your child through networking a...

In this episode, DJ talked with Bailey Olsen about the difference between punishment and discipline… a teaching opportunity for you, the parent, to teach your children about controlling their own actions. Tune in to hear DJ & Bailey offer experienced advice and tools you can use to set parental goals to methodically practice controlling your own actions when disciplining so you can be the best version of you for your children… and how to give yourself some grace when you feel like you’re falling...

Whether you are a young or more mature parent, no one is perfect. We all make mistakes. We overschedule. We are away at work too long. We have our own emotional triggers. We feel guilty about and try to make up for our own shortcomings by buying too much for our children... And we often feel like less than our efforts. STAY TUNED for this episode! DJ sat down with mom and The No BS Mama podcast host, Megan Eddinger. Megan and DJ share some great parenting stories and even greater advice on how t...

Our children absorb, internalize and regurgitate our behaviors and actions. If you’re so busy trying to stay perfect and inside the lines with your parenting techniques, what do you think that creates in your children? Stay tuned for this episode! DJ speaks with parenting book author, radio host & nationally syndicated humor columnist, Lisa Sugarman, about finding humor and positivity in parenting perfectly imperfect children and about skills you can utilize when you screw up, have a loss or di...

In this episode, DJ talks with author and motivational speaker, Paul Henderson, about overcoming emotions and past experiences associated with difficult beginnings and how we will become better parents when we stop allowing our past or what we deem as lack of opportunity to dictate our future. Listen in as he explains that mindset will keep you in anguish and victimhood or help you flourish and thrive… depending on how you choose to see your circumstances. Paul A. Henderson is a Dean of Student...

With balanced energy and the right replenishment, introverts can thrive just like anybody else! Are you an extroverted parent raising an introverted child? Tune into this episode to hear our special guest, Dr. Michael Alcee, explain that introversion does not always equal antisocial or socially anxious and is actually more about overstimulation by too much external stimuli. Listen in as he explains how to recognize what stimulates and gives your child energy, what over stimulates them pushing th...

In this episode, DJ talks with Joi Fisher-Griffith who was adopted at three months old to a wonderful family who she has very close ties to. Growing up as an adopted child taught Joi a lot through constructive conversations with other adoptees, adoptive, and birth parents. This background inspired Joi to not only give her best in exploring the topics of children and adoption but gave her the unwavering audacity to spark conversations on the topic, provide direction and give hope to adoptees, ado...

In this episode, DJ talks with dietician Jessica Setnick about picky eaters. Do you have picky eaters… only eating the same 5 things? Have the battles over eating ever resulted in tears at your dinner time table? Stop what you’re doing and listen to this episode! Jessica explains that individuals actually taste things differently and that we're undoubtedly creating a bigger dilemma by actually forcing a child to eat something they don't like. She goes on to tell us about her own approach in how...

In this episode, DJ talks with 25+ year veteran teacher, Aimee Buckley. Aimee shares how she noticed kids and parents needing extra support at the beginning of the Covid shutdowns and started an online tutoring platform for families to connect with credentialed teachers. She not only shares the great benefits of one-on-one learning and being able to provide the proper visual, auditory or kinesthetic learning but goes on to share some great tips on what parents can do to set up a positive environ...