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How far would you go to help your kid make it to the big leagues? After watching Team Moms, we’re questioning the world of ultra-competitive youth sports, where kids are spending their childhood training for the MLB, parents are dissecting every practice, and sometimes an entire family seems to revolve around one athlete. We get into the pressure and whether all of it is worth it. We also get into Cat's latest hockey rink obsession, the crock pot! Keywords youth sports, parenting, early specialization, athlete development, sports culture, jersey customization, social dynamics, youth athletics Key Topics • The intense dedication of parents to youth sports • Average retirement age of professional athletes and its implications • The culture of early specialization and its impact on childhood • The social dynamics and peer relationships among young athletes • The quirks of youth sports culture, including jersey customization and nicknames • The physical and emotional toll of early sports specialization • The role of social media in following young athletes' careers • The importance of balance and mental health for young athletes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We couldn't wait to bring you part two of our conversation with Dr. Jeremy Alland! In part two we ask the question, is your kid actually loving their sport, or have we turned it into a full-time job? We’re talking youth sports, burnout, the pressure to go “elite,” endless tournaments and the growing expectation that more training always means better athletes. Dr. Jeremy Alland talks about how much is too much, why kids need real downtime, and how parents can support their kids without making their sport their entire identity. Plus, the simple thing he says every parent should tell their kid after a game. If you haven't watched part 1 go back and check it out! And for more on Dr. Jeremy find him @jeremyallandmd. Keywords youth sports, parenting, athlete development, sports system, burnout, competition, fun in sports, youth athlete health, sports parenting, sports system reform Key Topics • The impact of year-round sports on children's health and happiness • Balancing competition and fun in youth sports • The influence of social media and marketing on youth sports • Strategies for parents to support their children's sports journey • Understanding the real chances of making it professionally in sports • The importance of communication and setting expectations • The role of systemic change in youth sports reform Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Youth sports have officially gotten out of control. We’re talking year-round training, travel teams, rankings, social media, parents spending a small fortune and the pressure to figure out your kid’s “next level” before they’ve even hit puberty. We sit down with Dr. Jeremy Alland, a sports medicine physician in Chicago where he serves as a team physician for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox. He’s also the voice behind Play the Long Game, a youth sports platform built on the belief that every kid deserves the chance to play sports, stay in sports, and develop a lifelong love of the game. Now a dad of young athletes himself, he gets both the medical side and the very real parent side of trying to keep your kids healthy, happy, and actually enjoying the game. We get into what’s really happening in youth sports and whether we’re pushing our kids too hard. When does encouraging them become pressure? When is quitting actually quitting, and when does a kid just need a break? And do they really need to be playing their sport 10 months a year to keep up? We also get into the ridiculous idea that if your eight-year-old isn’t already on an elite team, they’re somehow falling behind. Are we actually listening to what our kids want from sports, or are we projecting what we think they should want? We loved this conversation so much we had to break it up into two parts! Tune in for part two tomorrow and follow Dr. Jeremy Alland @jeremyallandmd. Keywords youth sports, parenting, athlete development, sports system, burnout, competition, fun in sports, youth athlete health, sports parenting, sports system reform Key Topics • The impact of year-round sports on children's health and happiness • Balancing competition and fun in youth sports • The influence of social media and marketing on youth sports • Strategies for parents to support their children's sports journey • Understanding the real chances of making it professionally in sports • The importance of communication and setting expectations • The role of systemic change in youth sports reform Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re talking college athletes making millions, kids becoming “famous” on Instagram, parents turning into sports managers, and somehow… Taylor Swift sitting beside Tom Cruise at a football game. Just your average day with ADHD. College sports have changed, and athletes can now make money from their name, image and likeness, which naturally leads us down the rabbit hole of whether parents should help a kid who’s training to be an athlete build a following. Is Instagram part of the job if you’re a young athlete? Key words celebrity gossip, social media influence, AI in fame, youth sports, college scholarships, social media for kids, digital identity, sports marketing, celebrity relationships, online trolling Key topics Celebrity gossip and behind-the-scenes stories The role of social media in shaping youth sports and fame The impact of AI on online reputation and trolling The economics of college sports and athlete compensation Celebrity relationships and privacy issues Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie sent her daughter off to university and, surprisingly, she’s… fine? We’re talking about the reality of sending your kid away, why the transition can sometimes be easier than you expect, and how university forces kids to figure things out for themselves. Then, of course, we get into Taylor's Pottery Barn dorm room makeover which sparked plenty of opinions. Some loved it and saw it as a fun opportunity, while others felt it was unrealistic and questioned the expectations we’re setting for kids heading off to university. Plus, we share all the dorm hacks we learned along the way. Keywords university, dorm room, parenting, independence, student life, college prep, room decor, transition, parenting tips Key topics Dorm room decor tips and tricksParenting and managing expectations during college transitionThe importance of independence and self-reliance for studentsPractical advice for creating inspiring and functional dorm spacesInsights into university housing and student life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re feeling a little overwhelmed by the world right now. AI is moving faster than we can keep up, and somehow we’re supposed to teach our kids how to navigate all of this when we’re still trying to figure it out ourselves. We’re talking about schools going back to pen and paper, kids using AI, algorithms deciding what we see, and whether we’re actually losing some of our ability to think, focus and trust our own instincts. We also get into AI scams, voice cloning and why every family might need a secret code word. And somewhere along the way, we decide that maybe the only reasonable solution is to move to a farm, raise baby chickens and completely opt out of modern life. Keywords AI, education, parenting, online betting, NFTs, digital assets, technology, AI safety, social media, internet culture Key topics AI safety and escape from sandboxImpact of technology on education and note-takingParenting challenges with digital and social mediaThe rise and fall of NFTs and online assetsOnline betting and gambling risks for teensAI literacy and education policiesThe speed of technological change and societal adaptationParental strategies for digital safety and awareness Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re feeling a little overwhelmed by the world right now. AI is moving faster than we can keep up, and somehow we’re supposed to teach our kids how to navigate all of this when we’re still trying to figure it out ourselves. We’re talking about schools going back to pen and paper, kids using AI, algorithms deciding what we see, and whether we’re actually losing some of our ability to think, focus and trust our own instincts. We also get into AI scams, voice cloning and why every family might need a secret code word. And somewhere along the way, we decide that maybe the only reasonable solution is to move to a farm, raise baby chickens and completely opt out of modern life. Keywords AI, education, parenting, online betting, NFTs, digital assets, technology, AI safety, social media, internet culture Key topics AI safety and escape from sandbox Impact of technology on education and note-taking Parenting challenges with digital and social media The rise and fall of NFTs and online assets Online betting and gambling risks for teens AI literacy and education policies The speed of technological change and societal adaptation Parental strategies for digital safety and awareness

Youth sports can start out so innocently: your kid loves the game, you sign them up, and suddenly you’re spending your weekends at rinks, tournaments and fields, rearranging vacations and wondering how one sport became a full-time job. We get into the reality of competitive youth sports, from the time, money and commitment to the bigger question: How do you know when your kid really wants it, and when you’re the one who wants it for them? We talk about kids who love the sport but hate the grind, knowing when to let them quit, giving kids room to change their minds, and the importance of making sure their entire identity doesn’t become their team, their level or their performance. It’s a very real conversation about letting our kids find their own version of success, while trying not to lose our minds getting them there. Keywords youth sports, parenting, life balance, sports psychology, family life, sports commitment, youth activities, sports expenses, parenting tips Key topics The emotional and financial commitment of youth sportsHow sports influence family dynamics and parent-child relationshipsRecognizing when to support or step back from a child's sports ambitionsThe importance of allowing children to explore and choose their passionsManaging expectations and avoiding over-scheduling childrenThe role of sports in identity formation and social developmentBalancing competitiveness with enjoyment in youth sportsThe impact of sports on mental health and well-being Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick off a new season than with an incredible interview with Dr. Shefali!  Dr. Shefali is a clinical psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and founder of the Conscious Parenting movement. She helps parents break generational cycles, build deeper connections with their kids, and raise emotionally resilient humans. In her new books, Raising Conscious Sons and Raising Conscious Daughters, she challenges parents to rethink what it means to raise children in today's world, from social media and emotional health to raising confident, connected adults. We absolutely loved this interview and think you will too! Both books are available now wherever you buy books or at https://www.drshefali.com/raisingconscious-daughters-sons/. For more on Dr. Shefali find her @doctorshefali. Keywords conscious parenting, gender differences, resilience, emotional health, parenting strategies, social media impact, childhood development Key Topics • The importance of conscious parenting and self-awareness • Gender-specific needs and hormonal influences in children • Strategies to reduce screen time and increase outdoor activity • The impact of social media and algorithms on children's development • The role of physical activity and real-world experiences in mental health • Parenting challenges and how to foster resilience and independence • The importance of community, contribution, and interdependence in raising children • Addressing the mental health crisis and the need for authentic human connection Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back to school has us questioning everything. How much should we be helping our kids? When does supporting them turn into micromanaging? We get into learning differences, accommodations, executive function and the very real challenge of helping our kids figure out how to work smarter, not harder. We talk about building systems that actually work for your child, knowing when to step in, when to back off and why protecting their confidence may be just as important as their grades. We’re talking about using tools like Claude to help kids get organized, understand what they’re learning and build systems around the areas where they struggle, without doing the work for them. Is it cheating? Or is it just another tool to help our kids learn how to learn? Keywords AI in education, personalized learning, special education, Claude AI, ChatGPT, educational planning, learning differences, homeschooling, student organization Key topics Using AI to create personalized educational plans Understanding and supporting learning differences Organizing schoolwork and curriculum with AI The role of accommodations and IEPs in education Leveraging AI for executive function and organization Ethical use of AI in education Building systems for academic success Supporting emotional well-being through structured learning Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this repeat episode we’re diving back into the ’90s classic Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus because, honestly, some things about the opposite sex will never make sense. Men try to fix our feelings. Women try to fix the men. Everyone ends up feeling misunderstood, unappreciated and annoyed. This book spent 121 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, and somehow, decades later, we still don’t have the opposite sex figured out. So… should we bring this ’90s classic back? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re talking about ALL the feelings that come with sending your kid off to college/university — the nostalgia, the anxiety, the excitement, and the very weird realization that they’re basically going to a resort where they can do their own laundry, eat unlimited food, go to football games and make their own decisions. So… what exactly are we sad about? Every child is different when it comes to leaving home! We unpack whether procrastination is actually a coping mechanism, and why university can feel less like “going to school” and more like playing grown-up. Plus, we’re talking dorm rooms that are nicer than our own bedrooms, co-ed bathrooms, orientation week activities that sound suspiciously like a four star resort, and the very real question: How will we say goodbye? We’re about to find out. Buckle up for the university drop-off episode… coming next! Keywords university, parenting, college life, emotional journey, family, independence, student life, parental feelings, college preparation Key topics The emotional impact of children leaving for universityUnderstanding what university life really entailsHow parents can prepare emotionally and practicallyThe importance of independence and self-reliance for studentsManaging parental expectations and feelings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this repeat episode we’re talking about doom scrolling — why we do it, why our kids do it, and how it can quietly become the way we mute feelings we don’t want to deal with. Scrolling can make you feel everything, or it can make you feel nothing at all. Either way, it pulls you out of your own life without you even noticing. At some point, your kids will need to study or focus without you taking the phone away from them, and understanding their doom-scrolling habits is important for both you and them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this repeat episode we’re diving straight into 21 bizarre things that can happen to your body during sex! From sneezing mid-orgasm to getting Charlie horses in places you didn’t even know could cramp, we’re unpacking the wild, weird, and slightly concerning “body glitches” that apparently come with getting it on. And because we can never stay on topic, we somehow end up talking about messy houses, husbands who “thin it out,” and why a man bringing you ice cream might actually be a red flag. It’s relatable, it’s mildly educational (we think??), and it’s exactly the kind of Friday conversation you didn’t know you needed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this repeat epsiode we get real about the “bubble”, that sweet spot where friendship, trust, and boundaries collide. We share stories of teenagers making rebellious moves (like hiding tequila in laundry baskets – yes, really!) and teach how patterns, signs, and a good analogy can reveal what’s really going on in your kid’s brain. Plus, discover how to teach resilience by letting them walk in the rain, even if it means soaking wet kids and parents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.