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Your kid is bright, curious, and full of ideas, yet reading feels like a daily fight. That mismatch can leave families stuck between “maybe they’ll grow out of it” and the heartbreak of watching confidence slip away. We sit down with dyslexia therapist Faye Casell to get clear on what dyslexia looks like, why it’s so often missed, and what parents can do right now to help at home. We dig into the data on dyslexia prevalence (think 1 in 5) and the reality that many children never get formally identified. Faye explains why dyslexia screening can happen as early as age five because it’s rooted in phonological processing, not effort. We talk practical early signs parents can spot, including trouble with rhyming, difficulty blending and segmenting sounds, slow progress with letter-sound mapping, and why waiting until a child is “failing enough” creates unnecessary social-emotional damage. If you’re a homeschool family, we also cover a key detail many people miss: you can often request testing through the public school even if your child is not enrolled. Writing comes up too, especially dysgraphia, the handwriting and written-expression struggle that can hide behind a verbally gifted kid. Faye shares why cursive can help some learners and how assistive technology like speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and audio tools can let students show what they know without turning every assignment into a stamina test. Throughout the conversation, we keep coming back to a steady message: trust your gut, get a baseline on skills, and use structured literacy and explicit phonics support that is beneficial for all and essential for some. Connect with Faye: find her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or her website. Find Dyslexia Breakthough home intervention info here, and download the Free Dyslexia Road Map for Families ebook here. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

A single message can flip a teen’s world. Our guest, South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey, walks us through the 100‑minute window that turned a fake Instagram flirtation into a fatal sextortion—and why he chose to go public to save other families. We move past headlines to the mechanics of the scam, the role of shame and speed, and the sobering reality that one in five teens now report sextortion attempts, with spikes during school breaks when screen time surges. We get practical fast. Brandon shares the language parents can use before panic hits, why “we protect first, we debrief later” matters, and how to frame grace over perfection so kids believe mistakes are survivable. We talk tools that actually help—like the seven‑minute NoEscapeRoom.org training from NCMEC and safer devices with on‑screen nudity blocking and “rewind” visibility—alongside the hard truth that you can’t just ban the internet. We also cover platform choices that hinder investigations, what end‑to‑end encryption means when evidence disappears, and why app stores should be held to the same age‑gating standards as retailers. Beyond policy and tech, this conversation centers on a boy who loved music and Comic‑Cons, who made people laugh and feel seen. Brandon’s message is simple and urgent: most suicides are impulsive; if we can help a teen survive the next twenty minutes, tomorrow is possible. Hear how to start the hard talk tonight, set clear device rules without shame, and spot the early red flags that predators exploit. If you’re a parent, coach, or educator, this is a playbook for guarding kids in a digital world that moves faster than our instincts. If this moved you, share it with one parent who needs it, subscribe for more candid, solutions-forward conversations, and leave a review with the one takeaway you’ll act on this week. Tomorrow needs you—and so do the kids in your care. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Your teenager can turn a simple request into a full-blown war, and the worst part is how fast it happens. I’m joined by Inger Masson, an energy psychology therapist and the founder of the Empowered Parenting Framework, to unpack what’s really going on when teens “push our buttons” and why the secret isn’t a perfect script, it’s a regulated nervous system. We talk about her approach that sits between gentle parenting and control based parenting: regulated leadership that moves families from anxiety and conflict into calm, connection, and emotional resilience. We get practical about identifying your triggers, including the surprisingly common one: when your teen shuts down, disappears to their room, and won’t let you in. Inger explains how a parent’s fear can be real and instinctive, but also how pushing for answers can create shame and deeper silence when teens don’t yet have the words. You’ll hear brain-based tools like Dan Siegel’s hand model, why teens misread tone and facial cues, and how co-regulation (staying calm when they can’t) changes everything. We also touch on EFT tapping as a tool for “uninstalling” old emotional buttons so your teen can’t accidentally hijack you into anger or tears. We wrap with a powerful shift: our job in adolescence changes from fixing to containing, and boundaries work best when they’re rooted in family values like safety and respect, not arbitrary rules. If you’re parenting teens and want better communication, fewer blowups, and steadier leadership at home, this conversation will hit home. Subscribe, share this with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find these tools. Connect with Inger Visit her website, and find her on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

If you’ve ever nodded along while your mind races toward advice, corrections, or the perfect response, you already know the uncomfortable truth: “listening” can be a performance. I sit down with Dr. Randall Alifano, clinical psychologist, ordained minister, and author of Listening in the Raw, to talk about what changes when we drop the techniques and practice real receptivity. Not the kind that sounds polished, but the kind that lets another person’s experience actually land, even when we don’t know what to say yet. We dig into why kids and teens can sense our intention instantly. When we listen to fix, manage, or prove we’re right, they pull away, shut down, or come back with anger. Dr. Alifano explains how tone and curiosity matter more than any “active listening” checklist, and why the most powerful words a parent can say might be, “I’m not following, can you say more?” We also talk about everyday parenting moments like cooking dinner or walking in the door exhausted and how to protect connection without pretending we have endless time. Then we get practical about repair. If you feel distance with your teen, Dr. Alifano offers a brave starting point: own your part, invite the hard conversation, and ask what it was like for them when you didn’t listen. The payoff is trust, emotional safety, and a family culture where curiosity becomes mutual. If this resonates, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share the episode with a parent friend who needs it, and leave a quick review to help more families find healthier communication and stronger relationships. Connect with Randall Visit his website and listen to his podcast here. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Your child’s “good” might mean “I don’t have the words yet” or “I’m not sure it’s safe to say it.” That is why we wanted this conversation with Ashley Noelle, founder of Blended Bond, a conversation card company designed to help families build stronger relationships through meaningful questions and consistent check-ins. We dig into what actually changes when parents stop guessing and start asking. Ashley shares how her own blended family began using short, intentional family meetings to help kids name emotions, voice needs, and shape new routines together. We talk about why listening is the real confidence builder, how to make questions more specific without turning them into yes or no traps, and why simple tools like “this or that” prompts or a one-to-ten scale can unlock honest answers for kids who shut down with broad questions. You will also hear practical parenting tips for quieter kids who need more time, plus strategies for blended families with tweens and teens where trust takes longer and connection cannot be forced. Ashley explains what is inside the Blended Bond deck, including growth, trust, connection, takeaway, and fun cards, along with activity ideas that create bonding without pressure. If you want better family communication, stronger co-parenting rhythms, and kids who advocate for themselves at school and in life, this is a great place to start. Subscribe for more tools that help kids speak up with confidence, share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review with the one question you plan to ask at dinner tonight. Connect with Ashley Head to the Blended Bond website for a free download you can try tonight with your family. Check out Blended Bond on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Your kid arguing with you can feel like disrespect, but it can also be the training ground for confidence, boundaries, and real-world self-advocacy. We sit down with Dr. Elise Murray, licensed psychologist, certified life coach, author, and podcaster, to get practical about how parents can communicate in ways that help kids speak up without turning the home into a battleground. We dig into a key distinction that changes everything: a peaceful household is not always a connected household. When “keeping the peace” becomes the top priority, kids can learn to stay quiet, hide worries, or avoid disagreement. Dr. Elise explains how respectful pushback, negotiation, and honest conversations help kids build the skills they will need with friends, teachers, and eventually bosses and partners. We also talk attunement, the mindset that your child is not you, and how curiosity about their inner world builds trust. You’ll learn concrete strategies you can use today: why car rides can unlock harder conversations, how device-free family meals create open doors, what to say when your teen drops a shocking confession, and how to support the child who never wants to talk on your timeline. We cover cooling-off breaks, the agenda check-in for tense moments, and the difference between authoritarian communication and assertive communication, so you can hold boundaries while still showing respect. If you want calmer conflict, deeper connection, and kids who know their voice matters, this one will help. Subscribe, share with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find these tools. Connect with Dr. Alise Murray Visit her website for a free assessment, grab her ebook "From Resentful to Respected: 6 No-Nonsense Scripts for Authentically Communicating," and check out her Pinterest. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Confidence doesn’t magically appear when a kid finally decides to “be brave.” We’ve learned it’s built the boring way first, through small responsibilities that stack up into proof: I can do hard things, I can figure it out, I can recover when I mess up. That’s why this conversation with Katie Kimball, founder of Raising Healthy Families and a longtime life-skills teacher for parents and kids, hits so close to home. We talk about how everyday household skills can quietly shape the way children speak, lead, and handle pressure.  We start with the wake-up call that pushed Katie to focus on teaching kids to cook, then we widen the lens to the bigger idea: we only have one confidence bucket. When kids learn adulting skills like cooking a real meal, cleaning a bathroom well, or checking basic car fluids, they gain competence that carries into school, friendships, and public speaking. We also dig into parenting strategies that reduce power struggles, including how to set consistent expectations, rotate after-meal chores, and use a weekly points-based chore checklist that cuts down on reminders.  Money is a major theme too. Because so much of budgeting and banking is digital, kids often can’t “see” the choices we make. Katie shares a practical fix: narrate your financial decisions out loud and create simple ways for kids to earn their first dollar so they can practice saving, spending, and giving with real ownership. We close with tips for teaching standards without micromanaging and a gradual-release approach that helps kids grow into independence. Connect with Katie Grab the free life skills workshops Katie mentions at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/speakout, and find her on Facebook or Instagram. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Your child is talking, you’re half listening, and your brain is already drafting the response. We’ve all been there and it quietly chips away at trust. I’m Elizabeth Green, and in this episode I sit down with strategic communication specialist Corine LaFont to unpack a simple idea with big impact: kids can teach adults how to communicate better, starting with how we listen at home. Corinne shares the skills she leans on professionally and as a mom of two: observing body language, listening past the literal words, and resisting the urge to interrupt. We talk about the discipline of holding your thoughts, writing down the question you want to ask, and giving your child the courtesy of finishing their story. That space not only helps kids feel heard, it helps us reframe our questions with more empathy and less heat. We also get practical about hard moments. For toddlers and young kids, Corinne explains why meeting chaos with chaos makes tantrums worse and how calm, steady leadership can de-escalate faster. For teens, we dig into silence, autonomy, and why pushing for answers often backfires. One of my favorite takeaways: our parenting has to evolve by phase, because the way we communicate with a 2-year-old cannot be the way we communicate with a 16-year-old. If you care about parenting communication, active listening, emotional regulation, and raising confident kids who can speak up in the real world, this conversation delivers tools you can use today. Subscribe, share with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find the show. Connect with Corine on LinkedIn. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

IEP meetings can feel like walking into a room where everyone speaks a different language and you’re expected to keep up. We sit down with Samantha Taylor, founder of Olive Speech Therapy and the Empowered Parent Network, to talk about how families can move from overwhelmed to grounded and confident when navigating special education services, accommodations, and school communication. Samantha brings both professional expertise as a pediatric speech-language pathologist and lived experience as a mom raising a deaf son and a son with ADHD.  We dig into what actually helps before a first IEP meeting: doing light research, learning basic terminology, and showing up ready to collaborate instead of brace for a fight. Samantha explains why you are the key voice at the table, how to ask the questions you’re worried will sound “dumb,” and why it’s worth asking for what your child needs even if you end up compromising. We also talk about the emotional side, including how fear, uncertainty, and past experiences can make advocacy harder than it looks on paper.  Then we shift to the long game: teaching kids self-advocacy skills they can use in real life. We share ways to model “advocating with grace,” create a home culture where kids can ask why and express feelings respectfully, and build practice into everyday routines like dinner, car rides, and simple errands. For middle school and high school, Samantha offers concrete strategies like co-writing an email to a teacher, stepping back during introductions, and role playing different responses so kids feel prepared rather than panicked.  If you want calmer IEP meetings, stronger communication, and kids who can speak up for themselves without burning bridges, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a parent who needs support, and leave a review telling us what advocacy skill you’re working on right now. Connect with Samantha Visit the Empowered Parent Network website and join the newsletter to get the FREE guide, "5 Things to Say in an IEP Meeting." Then check out Parenthood Unscripted on Instagram, and Olive Speech Therapy on Instagram and Facebook. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

A tense moment hits and your brain goes straight to fight, flight, or freeze. The scary part is how fast that reflex can turn a normal disagreement into yelling, shutdowns, or patterns that feel impossible to break. We sit down with educator, psychologist, and domestic violence prevention researcher Dr. Denise Healy to talk about what actually helps families stay nonviolent, connected, and emotionally safe, especially when stress is high. We trace her path from working with women and children in shelters to “flipping the script” toward prevention and accountability, including virtual classes designed to help people change violent behavior. Then we get practical: active listening without judgment, a simple body-level reset that starts with averting your eyes, and the surprisingly powerful “what” question like “What’s my next best step?” that shifts you back into problem solving. If you’re parenting a teen, we also dig into homework fights, miscommunication, and why school dynamics and bullying can make a capable kid feel unsafe and fall apart. We also zoom out to the relationship habits that kids watch every day: putting down defensive “shields,” using appreciation to rebuild trust, and creating a new cycle that replaces denial with awareness and tension with problem solving. Dr. Healy shares resources at S2S DV Online plus her books Mending Broken Connections and Christopher’s Anger for younger kids. Connect with Dr. Healy Check out Streets2Schools, book her as a speaker or see her upcoming events, or connect with her on LinkedIn or Instagram. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a parent or partner, and leave a review so more families can find these anger management and domestic violence prevention tools. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Your kid is going to see the internet, even if you try to block it forever, so we bring in a voice who has been studying the digital world from the beginning. Cybersecurity expert, author, and futurist Winn Schwartau joins us to answer the question parents ask most: “How can I protect my kids online?” His response is blunt and strangely reassuring: you can’t, not completely. What you can do is get serious about tools, involvement, and a simple security mindset that works everywhere from banks to families: detect and react. We unpack what healthy digital habits actually look like at home, starting with screen time limits and why the type of screen matters as much as the number of hours. We talk about social media addiction, the like button as a reward loop, and why hundreds of online “friends” can warp teen identity and fuel insecurity. Wynne also explains research suggesting kids raised on constant tech may be wired differently, and why real human connection still takes time and effort. Then we go deeper into misinformation, attention economics, and Winn's upcoming concept of “critical ignoring,” a practical way to fight information overload before it becomes a brain-level DDoS attack. You’ll hear simple filters like “I don’t care” and “I don’t have time,” why “do your own research” is often a red flag, and how to approach source verification with “trust nothing, verify twice.” If you’re looking for online safety tips for parents, media literacy for teens, and digital wellbeing strategies that don’t rely on fear, this conversation delivers. Connect with Winn Check out the book The Art & Science of Metawar: How to Coexist With AI-Driven Reality Distortion, Disinformation, & Addiction in the Metaverse. You can also contact Winn on Instagram. If this helps, subscribe, share with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find the show. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

The first thing you say after someone comes out can either open a door for the rest of their life or quietly slam it shut. We sit down with Heather Hester, host of More Human, More Kind and author of Parenting with Pride, to talk about what real LGBTQ allyship looks like inside a family. Heather shares the moment her oldest son came out and how fear, relief, and love collided at once, then walks us through the long stretch afterward: supporting an LGBTQ teen, parenting other kids at the same time, and learning how to communicate when you realize your “normal” way of talking isn’t working anymore. We get specific about the phrases people blurt out when they’re caught off guard. Heather breaks down why “Are you sure?” is one of the worst questions you can ask, why “I’m worried about your future” can translate as “something is wrong with you,” and how to repair when you’ve already said the wrong thing. You’ll also hear simple, practical alternatives you can use immediately, including a go-to response that keeps the moment loving while you catch your breath: “Thank you for telling me.” Because silence sends a message too, we also talk about Pride Month, Christian allyship, and how to have age-appropriate conversations with kids without making it weird, scary, or overly detailed. If you want your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or friend to feel safe with you, this conversation gives you language, mindset shifts, and next steps that actually work. Connect with Heather Subscribe to Heather's Substack here, find her on Instagram @morehumanmorekind, or on LinkedIn here.  Subscribe for more honest conversations, share this with someone who wants to show up better, and leave a review with the one sentence you want every kid to hear first. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

“Get out of your comfort zone” sounds inspiring until it lands your kid in full panic. We sit down with Lorraine Connell, TEDx speaker, author, and founder of Peers, Not Fears and the Speak Boldly Showcase, to talk about a more realistic way to build confidence and communication skills in kids and teens without pushing them past their edge.  We break down Lorraine’s three-circle model of the comfort zone, the challenge zone (growth zone), and the panic zone, plus what panic can look like in real life: shutting down, avoiding, hiding, or snapping in anger. From there, we get practical. Lorraine shares how she uses simple games to help students take safe risks, reflect on what worked, and discover that confidence is something you can practice into existence. We also talk about how the same task changes difficulty depending on the environment, and how parents can “scale” challenges so kids keep moving forward.  You’ll leave with concrete parenting strategies like giving your family a shared language for anxiety, building small daily reps (ordering food, asking a question in a store, starting a conversation), and using conversation starters to prepare for stressful moments like a new school lunchroom. Lorraine also explains tools from her workbook, including values work, scripts for difficult conversations, and a relationship web that helps kids see which friendships feel balanced and which ones drain them. If you care about youth leadership, social skills, and public speaking confidence, this one is packed with doable next steps.  Connect with Lorrainne Find her on LinkedIn, join her "Leadership for our Kids" Facebook group, or find her on Instagram @peersnotfears. Grab your freebie: 10 prompts to help teens think through challenging situations before they happen. If this helps, subscribe, share it with a parent or teacher, and leave a review so more families can find these tools. What’s one “challenge zone” step you want to try this week? Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Your brain isn’t broken, lazy, or “addicted to the internet” in some mysterious way. It’s doing what it evolved to do: chase rewards, seek safety, and size up social status using a handful of powerful chemicals. We sit down with Loretta Breuning, author of *Habits of a Happy Brain*, to translate dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and cortisol into real life, especially the messy reality of raising kids while trying to stay grounded yourself. We talk about dopamine as the feeling of “I’m about to get something I need,” why that shows up as scrolling, snacking, or shopping, and how to replace one narrow dopamine source with healthier options. Loretta also explains mirror neurons and why kids mirror what we do when we’re stressed, soothed, proud, or checked out. If you want children to build a calmer relationship with technology, the starting point is often modeling what balanced use looks like, including intentional breaks and clear stop points. From there we dig into serotonin as the fast, fleeting “I’m winning” signal that drives social comparison for adults and kids alike, plus oxytocin as the reward of earned trust rather than instant connection. We close with cortisol, your brain’s built-in reverse gear, and why a 20-minute cooldown can beat any lecture in the middle of a blowup. If you’re looking for practical brain science, parenting tools, and a more realistic definition of happiness, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a quick review so more parents can find it. Connect with Loretta Get your free 5-day happy chemical jumpstart here, or visit Loretta on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Your teen is upset, you’re frustrated, and suddenly a simple “no” turns into a full-blown argument. That moment can feel impossible to recover from, especially when you’re trying to hold boundaries and still keep your relationship intact. We wanted a practical, real-life way to bring the temperature down without shutting the conversation down. We’re joined by Amy Saloner, a parent and teen coach focused on adolescent well-being, resilience, and helping young people grow into confident, on-purpose adults. Amy shares her Five C’s of communication: calm, consent, communicate, curiosity, and clarity. We talk about why you can’t solve problems from an escalated emotional state, how asking “Is now a good time to talk?” prevents unnecessary blowups, and how a simple nonviolent communication map (observations, feelings, needs, requests) can turn blame into collaboration. We also dig into what many parents need most: rupture and repair. When you react out of fear, you can still go back, take responsibility, apologize, and reconnect. Amy explains why “connect before correct” matters, how reflective listening builds emotional safety, and why these skills shape everything from friendships and college transitions to leadership, negotiation, and healthy boundaries. Subscribe for more practical parenting tools, share this with a friend raising teens, and leave a review so more families can find these communication skills. What’s the hardest part for you right now: staying calm, getting consent, or staying curious? Connect with Amy Get your own copy of The Cs of Communication and The Communication Map here, or find her on Facebook or Instagram.  Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green. I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you. Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts.  And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.  Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families. Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+. Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!