Discover practical parenting tips, relatable insights, and lots of commiseration from host Liz Gumbinner, of Cool Mom Picks and Mom-101 fame, and her incredible expert guests. (Celebrities! Authors! Activists!) For more than a decade, Liz has been helping us all navigate the insane ups and downs of parenting with common sense and good humor, and she's not going to let you down now. Spawned has been celebrated for its support of diverse families, named a top podcast for parents by The Washing ...
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Debra Whitman: 5 Healthy Habits to Help Women Live 12-14 Years Longer
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This week, I'm honored to be joined by Debra Whitman, expert on aging and longevity, AARP Chief Public Policy Officer, and author of The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond. Don't let AARP scare you! Whether you're in your 30s or your 60s, you're going to learn the 5 things proven to help women live up to 14 years lon…
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Gabrielle Blair on the "long game " of parenting: Less stress and more fun
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If you've ever wondered whether best-selling author Gabrielle Blair -- A.K.A. Design Mom -- finds parenting fun and easy or just makes it look that way, you're going to love this conversation! We're talking about the new book she co-authored with her husband Ben, The Kids Are All Right: Parenting With Confidence in an Uncertain World, and wow does …
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Moms, career crossroads, and figuring out "what's next for me" with Katherine Goldstein
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A lot of moms are hitting a phase where our kids get older and we're wondering what the next chapter looks like for us. If you know you can be more fulfilled with your life but don't know where to start, you'll get so many helpful tips from my guest, award-winning journalist Katherine Goldstein She's the founder of The Double Shift, a fellow at The…
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Dr. Chris Willard on the "psychological first aid" of mindfulness for managing anxiety and stress
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Tips for managing anxiety could not be a more timely topic, after the US Surgeon General's advisory about parents and mental health and the start of a new school year. You are going to LOVE my guest, Dr. Christopher Willard. He's an incredibly engaging and relatable author, clinical psychologist, and faculty member at Harvard Medical School. He's a…
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Brad Montague on seeking out joy rebels and making hope a habit
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"Hope is bold," Brad Montague tells me. The New York Times best-selling author and illustrator explains how hope, in combination with play, togetherness, and joy, can be a force for change, and help spark kids' imaginations for what's possible. What a treat you’re in for this week! It’s a truly inspiring, happy-making conversation with the man you …
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Karen Walrond: How to Reclaim Aging as Something to Celebrate
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Guess what? We all age! So why is the world so tough on women who do just that? Can we reclaim aging as something to celebrate? You'll get some wonderful answers today from Karen Walrond, author of the award-winning Radiant Rebellion: Reclaim Aging, Practice Joy, and Raise a Little Hell We discuss how we all inadvertently promote ageism (ever said …
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5 Small Life Edits to Create Big, Positive Change in Your Life: Dr. Christine Koh
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"Life is hard. Adulting is hard. The political climate is hard," confesses Dr. Christine Koh, one of my favorite humans and the host of the Edit Your Life Show. So she's here to share 5 small (really!) life edits you can make right now, that have immediate and positive impact. One of my favorite: Identifying the kinds of people you should be spendi…
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Social Media, Kids and Mental Health: Dr. Devorah Heitner on What We're Getting Wrong
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This episode is a must-listen for all parents of kids who have smartphones, especially if you're worried about the impact of social media on mental health. Dr. Devorah Heitner a renowned author and expert on kids and technology, joins me to provide thought-provoking insights that challenge a lot of the conventional wisdom, so get ready for a fresh …
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Brutally honest college admissions questions from teens: Asked and answered
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So here's a fun surprise: Today, my own daughter and rising high school senior, Sage, joins me on Spawned for the first time! She's asking fantastic questions about college admissions on behalf of teens who have shared them with us. In our third and final podcast in our Insider's Guide to College Admissions, with Alyse Levine of Premium Prep, you'l…
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Jonathan Van Ness: Creating a culture of acceptance for kids who are different
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What a treat to have 30 minutes during Pride Month with the one and only Jonathan Van Ness, who's out with a brand new children's book, Gorgeously Me! We're talking about how to create a culture of acceptance for kids who are different, but we touch on so much more. Like the book that traumatized Jonathan as a kid (eek!), their strongest memory of …
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A grade-by-grade guide to college admissions with Alyse Levine
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I am so happy to continue our 3-Part Insider Guide to the College Admission Process with my guest, Alyse Levine, one of the country's most prominent college counseling experts. Today we're focusing on a grade-by-grade guide to supporting our kids on the path toward college applications. Some of the topics we cover: Why middle school should be about…
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Brad Meltzer: Empathy, Kindness, Magic, Transformation, and That One Guy in the Restroom That One Time
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Fresh off his viral commencement address at the University of Michigan, I'm joined by best-selling author Brad Meltzer. (Yes, that Brad Meltzer from the "I Am..." biographical children's books we all own!) He talks about his thoughts on kindness as a "naive ideal worth fighting for," the need for more empathy online, his love for the Harlem Globetr…
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How to help your chid identify and develop their passions, with Alyse Levine of Premium Prep
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As parents of teens know, it's the college admission season. That's why I am thrilled to welcome back Alyse Levine, one of the most prominent college counseling experts, to help us out. You all loved my interview with her in January about de-stressing college admissions, which is why I invited her for a 3-Part Parent's Guide to the College Admissio…
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Have we been thinking about kindness all wrong? With guest Jaclyn Lindsey of Kindness.org
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Spawned is back (whoo!) with host Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks and Mom-101. I'm excited to get back to what I love most-- helping us get through the ups and downs of parenting together. Each week I'll be joined by compelling experts, best-selling authors, entrepreneurs, comedians, therapists, and even some big celebrities. I'm thrilled to kick t…
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A college guidance expert and former admissions officer helps de-stress the application process. Phew! | Ep 301
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It is so tough to navigate the college search and admission process -- emotionally, practically, financially. (Eep!) It completely stressed me out, and I'm a pretty Type B mom. So learn from my mistakes! To kick off a new year of Spawned, we're lucky to be getting super helpful tips from Alyse Levine, one of the foremost college counseling experts …
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How moms can find some holiday joy for themselves: With Margaret Ables | Ep 300
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At the end of such a tough year, we're looking to find all the holiday joy where we can, and make fun for our kids -- but why do moms always seem to be the people behind the fun, and not part of the fun? Liz is joined by Margaret Ables, co-host of the fabulous What Fresh Hell parenting podcast to commiserate, and we're offering smart tips (eg stop …
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Parenting kids in a gender-nonconforming world: Kate Brookes of Transister | Ep 299
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We all say we want to raise kids who are happy, healthy, and can be their authentic selves. So what happens when your kid is becoming someone who's really different from what we had imagined? That's the story Kate Brookes tells in the wonderful Transister: Raising Twins in a Gender-Bending World. She's incredibly forthcoming, funny, reflective, and…
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Dr. Devorah Heitner on Keeping Kids Healthy on Social Media | Ep 298
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When the Surgeon General issued his recent advisory on social media and the health of our kids, I knew author, columnist, and adolescent digital media expert Dr. Devorah Heitner would be the perfect person to ask for guidance and reassurance. And wow does she come through! Here, she offers incredibly helpful, specific tips about what we can do as p…
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Dr. Lisa Damour on the emotional lives of teenagers | Episode 297
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Bestselling author, podcast host, and psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour shares her insights and thoughtful advice on raising emotionally connected and resilient teens and discusses the impetus for her newest book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. Visit Cool Mom Picks for show notes, and follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Learn…
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Luvvie Ajayi Jones on raising "good troublemakers" | Ep 296
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I have wanted to talk with best-selling author, TED Talk phenom, and "professional troublemaker" Luvvie Ajayi Jones for so long! With the release of her wonderful new children's book, Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess, it's the perfect time. We discuss what it means to make good trouble, tips for talking to kids when they break the rules, and why to…
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Dr. Ken Ginsburg: The ultimate guide to parenting teens | Episode 295
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One of our all-time favorite guests, Dr. Ken Ginsburg, is back to chat about his newest book, Congrats—You're Having a Teen! and debunk some of the most common myths about parenting teenagers. Dr. Ginsburg's insights and work have changed the way we parent our kids, so let's just say if there's an episode of Spawned to listen to, it's this one. Tha…
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Michelle Icard: The hard talks we need to have with our kids (and how to have them) | Episode 294
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Author Michelle Icard chats about her book "14 Talks By Age 14," sharing how parents can approach the difficult conversations we know we need to have with our kids. Find Michelle's helpful book, wherever you buy your books. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. And for show notes, visit CoolMomPicks.com. About our sponsor, Ca…
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Melinda Wenner Moyer: Parenting strategies for raising good kids into great adults | Ep 293
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We all want to raise kind, generous, caring, empathetic kids -- who turn into great adults. So we turned to the perfect guide: Parenting author, science columnist and researcher Melinda Wenner Moyer. She shares so much science-backed data and turns it into parenting strategies, we can all put to use in our own families immediately. We think you'll …
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Reaching your organizational goals: Sarah-Hart Unger on prioritizing, organizing, and managing time | Ep 292
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Prioritizing and organizing your life, your family schedule, and especially your time is something a lot of moms (like, uh me!) can use help with. Take a listen for some terrific tips from Sarah Hart-Unger, host of Best Laid Plans podcast and co-host of Best of Both Worlds. She shares her genius "nested goals" approach, offers advice for list-makin…
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Being mixed race in America: A conversation with author Lauren Kung Jessen | Episode 291
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As a mixed-race Chinese American, I've struggled to feel a sense of belonging. I grew up feeling more accepted by the German (white) side of my family. Then, as I got older, I learned more about the Chinese side of my family and felt a connection to the experiences of Asian Americans. Just recently, especially as I was editing my book, A Thousand M…
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Preserving memories in the 21st century | Spawned Ep 290
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With the invention of smartphones (and tablets), keeping track of our digital memories (think photos, videos, scans), has become more difficult than we might have expected. In this episode, David Vaskevitch, CEO of Mylio Photos, shares the challenges that he experienced with digital memory preservation, and how families can make it a whole lot easi…
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The Best of 2022 } Spawned 289
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We've talked to so many incredible guests in 2022 -- film directors, authors, journalists, political pundits, activists. So we thought we'd share some of our favorite quotes and thoughtful advice in this fun look back at what we've learned over the past year here. If there's one you want to hear more about, you're already on your podcast app! Just …
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Moms need more fun over the holidays! | Ep 288
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Moms are so busy trying to make fun for everyone over the holidays, sometimes we forget that we're supposed to be having fun too! How do we do that without adding "have more fun" to our to-do lists? Margaret Ables, co-host of the fabulous What Fresh Hell parenting podcast is joining me to offer smart tips, sweet stories, a lot of laughter, and a lo…
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Why the sex talk with your kids is more important than ever | Episode 287
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We've discussed the sex talk on Spawned a few times, however, if your school district is like mine (and many across the country), they are making sex education an optional, home-taught module. That means, we need to be more invested than ever in ensuring our kids are getting comprehensive sex education. That's what Andrea Brand's new book, “Stop Sw…
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Why our teens are so darn tired, with author Lisa L. Lewis | Episode 286
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Just when I thought I was pretty aware of what I needed to know about teens and sleep, I got my hands on Lisa L. Lewis's book The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teenagers Are So Tired, And How Parents And Schools Can Help Them Thrive and I realized there was so much I didn't know. That was all solidified during this episode. Whether you have teens or…
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Anya Kamenetz: The impact of Covid on kids - what we know and what we don't yet | Spawned Ep 285
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What's been the impact of Covid on kids? On mothers? How about on education? On class division? On our careers? On healthcare? Today I'm welcoming back author and NPR Education Reporter Anya Kamenetz who researched it all and put it into the must-read book The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Kids' Lives....and Where We Go Now. Her fascinating point:…
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Let's talk about perimenopause, with Dr. Makeba Williams | Episode 284
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If you're like Kristen and in the throes of perimenopause, then you're probably wondering why no one talks about it. Well, that's about to change as Kristen chats with Dr. Makeba Williams, a physician who specializes in the healthcare needs of midlife and menopausal women. She answers all of Kristen's burning questions, which might just be yours to…
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The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care, with Rina Raphael | Spawned 183
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I will never think about yoga, supplements, activated charcoal or bath salts the same way after speaking with Rina Raphael, author of the utterly fascinating new book The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care. How did wellness go from a legitimate health need to a $4.4 trillion industry? What's the role of wellne…
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How to raise media-savvy kids and BS-proof our brains: Dr Seema Yasmin | Ep 282
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We don't want our kids to fall for false news, rumors, or disinformation. But how do we teach our kids media literacy when we can't even keep up with all the social media apps? Journalist, professor, and UCLA/Stanford professor Dr. Seema Yasmin joins Liz to talk about her incredibly engaging, very important new YA Handbook, "What the Fact?!: Findin…
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Developing healthy eating habits and positive food relationships with our tweens and teens, with Nicole Cruz, RD | Episode 281
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As parents, one of the most challenging parts of raising kids is feeding them. It's especially hard if you have your own issues with body image and food, like many Gen X parents do. Thankfully, experts like Nicole Cruz, a registered dietitian nutritionist, and mom of three can really help. Her intuitive eating and non-diet approach to food felt rev…
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The world needs funny women. With Wendi Aarons. | Ep 280
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You wouldn't think in 2022 that an author would have to fight to keep a female protagonist in a book, and yet that's just what happened to award-winning humorist Wendi Aarons when she first pitched her middle-grade book, Ginger Mancino: Kid Comedian. (Spoiler: It got published, Ginger is indeed a girl, and it's wonderful.) Wendi joins Liz to talk a…
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How our relationship with mobile phones has changed (and changed us) | Spawned Ep 279
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Since I got my first smartphone back in 2006, my relationship with my phone has certainly changed my life. It's also changed how I function as a person in this world, for better and for worse. Turns out, I'm not the only one, which is why I was so excited to chat with Emmy-award-winning journalist, and host of the new Mobile Diaries podcast from T-…
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How to get into college: Invaluable tips and fascinating insights from Ned Johnson | Ep 278
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Author, educator, and Prep Matters founder Ned Johnson joins Liz once again to talk us through -- or talk us down from -- the college application process. And yes, I mean parents! You'll appreciate his thoughtful insight on the whole process, "test optional" schools, financial aid, the pitfalls and benefits of stress, the impact of Covid, how Black…
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Helping kids foster positive relationships and learn effective communication, with author Catherine Newman | Episode 277
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Roo Powell of Undercover Underage on her experience catching online child predators | Ep 276
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Are moms okay? : Insight from Jessica Grose, NY Times Parenting Editor
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The best digital photo organization tips EVER, with Casey von Stein aka Miss Freddy | Episode 274
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The ultimate self-care episode with author and podcast host, Kate Spencer | Episode 273
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Who better to talk about self-care with than the ultimate self-care expert, Kate Spencer. You probably know her as the co-host of the super-popular podcast Forever 35. But she recently released her first rom-com novel, In a New York Minute. On this episode, Kate talks about self-care, tackles a common complaint about rom-coms, and shares her curren…
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How do you figure out "What's next for me?" with Katherine Goldstein | Ep 272
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This week, Liz is so happy to be speaking (again!) with award-winning journalist and The Double Shift founder Katherine Goldstein, about her recent HuffPost article, There's a Coach for That. It lead Katherine to research the difference alllll the many kinds of coaches out there, and today she's explaining what different coaches do, who they can he…
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How to talk to kids about Ukraine: Melinda Wenner Moyer | Ep 271
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So many parents are wondering how to have conversations with kids -- of all ages -- about the increasingly frightening attack on Ukraine. We want our kids to be informed, but we don't want to overwhelm them with anxiety and fear. So Liz is chatting once again with the wonderful journalist/author Melinda Wenner Moyer for some helpful advice. We're e…
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Why moms need to tell their stories, with author Zibby Owens | Episode 270
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It was the power of storytelling that connected Liz and me back almost 17 years ago, and it's still the lifeline for many parents, looking for community and commiseration in their parenting journey. This week, we're chatting with author and podcaster Zibby Owens about her newest anthology, Moms Don't Have Time to Have Kids, and why our stories matt…
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Gen Z: They're not snowflakes, they're warriors, with John Della Volpe | Ep 269
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Right now, the world is a pretty terrifying place, but we think you'll find a lot of reason for hope in this interview with John Della Volpe. Especially if you're raising a tween or teen right now -- or a kid who will be one soon. John is a notable expert on data around Gen Z and youth movements, the Director of Polling at Harvard's Kennedy School,…
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Destigmatizing Postpartum Depression: "A Mouthful of Air" director/producer Amy L Koppelman
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This week, Liz chats with Amy L. Koppelman, writer, director and producer of the new film A Mouthful of Air, starring Amanda Seyfried and Finn Witrock. It's based on on Amy's critically acclaimed novel inspired by her own struggles with postpartum depression 20 years ago. Join us for a thoughtful discussion about issues around women and mental heal…
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How to be an adult, with author Julie Lythcott-Haims | Episode 267
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In this episode, we're chatting with New York Times bestselling author Julie Lythcott-Haims about her new book Your Turn: How to Be an Adult. You might know Julie from her first book, "How to Raise an Adult," which was a New York Times bestseller and was the antidote to overparenting culture. Thankfully, she's back with a sort of follow-up to that …
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What you need to know about executive function skills in kids | Episode 266
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We've been so grateful to our recent expert Spawned guests who have offered their help in navigating these last two years with our kids. And this week's expert, Mara Koffmann, is no exception. She shares her expertise from years working with kids and families as co-founder of Brain Trust Tutors, especially in the area of executive function skills. …
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