Advertise on podcast: Raising Good Humans

What if anxiety isn't the enemy but the edge you've been missing? Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with clinical psychologist, professor, and author Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary to challenge one of the most widespread misconceptions in modern parenting: that anxiety is something to be eliminated. It isn't. And understanding why could change how you show up for yourself and your kids. Dr. Dennis-Tiwary unpacks the surprising science and history behind anxiety, from its ancient roots to how modern psychiatry transformed a normal human emotion into a medical diagnosis, and why that shift has made things harder for all of us. What you'll learn: Why anxiety is actually a superpower (backed by dopamine and oxytocin science) The parenting mistake that makes kids' anxiety worse, and what to do instead Why "fixing" your child's feelings is the one thing you should stop doing today Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary has published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles and is the author of Future Tense: Why Anxiety Is Good for You (Even Though It Feels Bad).

In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff to unpack what dopamine actually is—and how understanding it can completely shift the way we approach screens, food, and motivation in our kids’ lives. We talk about why dopamine isn’t about pleasure but about desire, and how that “do it again” loop can pull kids toward things that don’t actually make them feel good in the long run. We discuss practical, doable ways to redirect that drive—by replacing, not restricting—so kids naturally want the activities that support their well-being. We also explore why willpower isn’t the answer, how small environmental changes can make a big difference, and how starting tiny can help create lasting habits for a calmer, more connected home. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Pre-order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans https://draliza.com/pre-order/ Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: draliza.substack.com  Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Wayfair: Head to Wayfair.com April 25th through the 27th to shop Way Day Minnow: That’s shopminnow.com code MEETMINNOW15 for 15% off Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics: Visit eatright.org/everytable to learn more and find a nutrition and dietetics professional Little Spoon: Try Little Spoon Formula with their 2 can trial pack (Buy 1,Get 1 free-that’s $30 for 2 cans) at littlespoon.com/tryformula See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s episode, brought to you by Skylight, I walk through how shifting from being the “family manager” to a team leader can dramatically reduce the invisible load so many of us carry. We talk about why predictability and visual structure are so regulating for developing brains, how simple systems can support autonomy and executive functioning across ages, and why nagging tends to backfire. I share practical strategies for building shared responsibility at home—from weekly check-ins to visual task lists—and how tools like a centralized family calendar can make expectations clearer, reduce daily friction, and help everyone feel more capable and connected. Meet Skylight Calendar 2, available for $299.99 at https://myskylight.com/ I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Pre-order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans https://draliza.com/pre-order/ Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: draliza.substack.com  Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s episode, I sit down with psychologist and professor Alison Fragale to explore the concept of status—what it really means, why the need to be respected is such a fundamental human drive, and how it shapes the way our kids navigate friendships, school, and their broader social world. We talk about how status often shows up differently for girls, the balance between being likable and being confident, and how subtle habits like self-deprecation can influence how our kids see themselves. We discuss a simple, powerful framework for understanding behavior through the lens of warmth and competence, along with practical ways to help kids build confidence, interpret social feedback, and develop relationships rooted in real respect rather than external validation. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Pre-order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans https://draliza.com/pre-order/ Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: draliza.substack.com  Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Sponsored by:  BetterHelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/humans Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Visit eatright.org/everytable to learn more and find a nutrition and dietetics professional. Little Spoon: littlespoon.com/TRYFORMULA Produced by Dear Media. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s episode I sit down with Dr. Elisha Goldstein to explore how small, practical shifts can help us break out of the constant overwhelm so many parents are living in. We talk about why knowing what to do isn’t the same as actually doing it, how chronic low-grade stress impacts the way we show up with our kids, and why self-regulation is one of the most important skills we can model. We discuss simple, in-the-moment tools to interrupt reactive patterns, calm the nervous system, and move from reacting to responding, as well as how these “tiny shifts” can improve not just our parenting, but our overall health and well-being. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Pre-order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans https://draliza.com/pre-order/ Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: draliza.substack.com  Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Sponsored by:  Pocket Hose: Text HUMANS to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply Experian: Get started with the Experian App now! First Day: Our listeners get up to 57% Off AND a Free Gift with code HUMANS at FirstDay.com Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Visit eatright.org/everytable to learn more and find a nutrition and dietetics professional. Little Spoon: littlespoon.com/TRYFORMULA Produced by Dear Media. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join me for a solo episode this week, and a look into alleviating mealtime tension and how to deal with body image baggage. I give six helpful tips to make mealtime easier, and discuss the acronym BALANCE, which you can use to ease mealtime stress. I also discuss the three principles for kids to grow up with a positive body image, and the importance of doing the work to shift how we see our bodies and others.  I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Pre-order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans https://draliza.com/pre-order/ Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: draliza.substack.com  Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Sponsored by:  Quince: Go to Quince.com/humans for free shipping and 365-day returns Zip Recruiter: Try it FOR FREE at ZipRecruiter.com/HUMANS Pique Tea: Secure 20% off your order and begin your intentional wellness journey today at Piquelife.com/humans Minnow: Shopminnow.com and enter code MEETMINNOW15 at checkout to receive 15% off your first order Pocket Hose: Text HUMANS to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply Produced by Dear Media. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s episode I sit down with professor Arthur Brooks to explore what actually makes a life feel meaningful in a culture obsessed with achievement, optimization, and measurable success. We talk about why happiness is more than a feeling, the difference between pain and suffering, how meaning is built through coherence, purpose, and significance, and why so many high achievers still feel empty. We discuss practical ways to resist the pressure to turn ourselves and our kids into “human doings,” and instead to just love ourselves are our children for who they are, not just for what they accomplish. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/ Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Sponsors: Experian: Get started with the Experian App now! Ello: Visit ElloProducts.com/CleanStart and use code RGH at checkout for 20% off your first purchase Ka'Chava: Go to https://kachava.com and use code HUMANS for 15% off your first order Nurture Life: For 55% off your order + FREE shipping, head to NurtureLife.com/HUMANS and use codeHUMANS Produced by Dear Media. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's episode I sit down with professor Ann Masten to unpack what resilience actually means—and why it’s so often misunderstood. We explore her powerful definition of resilience as the capacity of a system to adapt to serious challenges, not just a personality trait or inner toughness. From everyday stress to real adversity, we discuss the difference between harmful trauma and growth-building challenges, and why kids need support—not perfection—to thrive. We talk about the “ordinary magic” of caring relationships, schools, communities, and cultural traditions, and why resilience is built through connection across multiple systems. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/ Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Sponsors: BetterHelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/humans Wayfair: Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home Jones Road Beauty: Use code HUMANS at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Shimmer Face Oil with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad Fast Growing Trees:An ADDITIONAL TWENTY PERCENT OFF better plants and better growing at FastGrowingTrees.com using the code HUMANS at checkout Experian: Get started with the Experian App now! Bloom: Go to bloomnu.com with code HUMANS for 20% off your first order Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I sit down with behavioral geneticist and professor Dr. Kathryn Paige Harden to talk about what behavioral genetics can actually tell us about our kids—and what it can’t. We unpack the reality of psychiatric risk, family history, and the limits of control, and why genes are not destiny. We discuss how thousands of tiny genetic differences shape mental health, why diagnoses are messier than we think, and how warmth and firm boundaries still matter more than any “magic bullet.” I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/ Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Sponsors: Ello: Visit ElloProducts.com/CleanStart and use code RGH at checkout for 20% off your first purchase Brodo: Head to Brodo.com/HUMANS for 20% off your first subscription order and use code HUMANS for an additional $10 off Ka'Chava: Go to https://kachava.com and use code HUMANS for 15% off your first order Experian: Get started with the Experian App now! Fora: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/HUMANS Bloom: Go to bloomnu.com with code HUMANS for 20% off your first order Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s episode I sit down with developmental psychologist Dr. Jay Belsky to explore a question so many parents wrestle with: is temperament destiny? We talk about why children differ in how deeply they’re shaped by their environments, what “developmental plasticity” really means, and why the same parenting can land so differently depending on the child. We discuss the difference between sensitivity and susceptibility, the limits of attachment research, and why focusing only on long-term outcomes can distract us from what matters in the here and now. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/ Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Sponsors: Zip Recruiter: Try it FOR FREE at ZipRecruiter.com/HUMANS Bloom: Go to bloomnu.com with code HUMANS for 20%of your first order Ello: Visit ElloProducts.com/CleanStart and use code RGH at checkout for 20% off your first purchase Little Spoon: Get 30% off your first online order at littlespoon.coms/RGH with code RGH First Day: Our listeners get up to 57% Off AND a Free Gift with code HUMANS at FirstDay.co Minnow: Go to shopminnow.com code MEETMINNOW15 for 15% off Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Deepika Chopra to talk about what real optimism actually means — and why it’s so different from toxic positivity. We unpack the science behind resilience, curiosity, and staying open when life is hard, and we get practical about how to grow your “optimism muscle” in everyday moments. We talk about language shifts (like the power of “never” and “always”), parenting through low-capacity seasons, rituals that ground families, and why affirmations and manifestation don’t always work the way we think they do. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/ Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Sponsors: Quince: Go to Quince.com/humans for free shipping on your order and 365-day return Experian: Get started with the Experian App now! Little Spoon: Get 30% off your first online order at littlespoon.com/RGH with code RGH OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RGH at https://www.oneskin.co/RGH #oneskinpod Monarch: 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code HUMANS See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this solo episode, I’m diving into 10 practical tips to help make listening and cooperation with your kids easier. I’ll walk you through straightforward strategies for strengthening connection and communication, plus I’ll share a quick mindfulness exercise to keep you feeling centered, even on the toughest days. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/ Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Sponsors: Quince: Go to Quince.com/humans for free shipping on your order and 365-day return Wayfair: Head to wayfair.com Brodo: Head to Brodo.com/HUMANS for20% off your first subscription order and use code HUMANS for an additional $10 off Pique: Secure 20% off your order and begin your intentional wellness journey today at Piquelife.com/humans BetterHelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/humans Fora: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/HUMANS See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this solo episode, I talk directly to parents about how to show up for our kids when the world feels heavy and unsettling—without turning the conversation into politics. I share what research tells us about stress, co-regulation, and why our kids absorb our emotional state even when we think we’re hiding it. I also offer practical guidance for talking to children at different ages, setting healthier boundaries around the news and doom scrolling, and staying grounded so we can provide safety, connection, and hope while raising compassionate, resilient humans. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/ Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Sponsors: Experian: Get started with the Experian App now! Bloom: Get Bloom’s best offer by visiting bloomnu.com and using code HUMANS at checkout Ka'Chava: Go to kachava.com and use code HUMANS for 15% off OneSkin: 15% off when you use code RGH at oneskin.co/RGH Skims: Go to skims.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist and author Dr. Jean Twenge to talk about the seven essential conversations to have with kids before they get a device. We break down what kids need to understand about privacy, posting, and why nothing online is ever truly private. We also discuss the tech rules that matter most—like no devices in bedrooms at night—and how to set limits without panic, guilt, or power struggles. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/ Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Sponsors: Experian: Get started with the Experian App now! Osea: Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code HUMANS at OSEAMalibu.com Monarch: Use code HUMANS at monarch.com for half off your first year Fora: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/HUMANS Bloom: Get Bloom’s best offer by visiting bloomnu.com and using code HUMANS at checkout See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I sit down with award winning journalist and author Jennifer Wallace, to talk about her new work on mattering—the need to feel seen, valued, and needed. We explore how mattering emerged as a powerful protective factor for kids growing up in high-pressure, achievement-driven environments, and why so many adults today feel lonely, disengaged, or untethered. Jennifer shares the SAID framework—feeling significant, appreciated, invested in, and depended on—and we talk about what this looks like in real life, at home, at work, and in our communities. This conversation is about practical, doable ways to help our kids (and ourselves) feel like we matter—without more pressure, perfection, or performance. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/ Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Sponsors: Quince: Go to Quince.com/humans for free shipping on your order and 365-day return Experian: Get started with the Experian App now! Brodo: Head to Brodo.com/HUMANS for20% off your first subscription order and use code HUMANS for an additional $10 off See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.