What things in your life feel unfair and cause you to get worked up? We all have those triggers—and in those moments, it’s easy to feel powerless. But what if we shifted the narrative by changing our own reaction, instead of being angry at what can’t be changed? Author and speaker Hal Elrod explains that while we can’t always change our circumstances, we always have the power to choose how we respond, and that can change our entire experience of life. It is in those moments that we create space for more beautiful things to grow in us and in our kids.
As I reflect on this journey, I remember all the time spent to scheme, dream, curate, pivot, launch, fail, and keep going. I started this podcast after huge changes in my family life, and I knew I needed to challenge myself to find (and share) resources to grow myself as a person and a mama. I believe reflection is important to remember how far you’ve come, and how much more is still to come—and it’s the little victories that keep you going and need to be celebrated. So today I’m here to share that taking risks is worth it, celebrating small wins is important, and pursuing life and love whole-heartedly is what fills you and me.
Do you ever lose sight of the end game? Sometimes as parents, we focus on the short game—grades, extracurricular activities, and how to fix things immediately for our kids. But does that actually serve them well as they grow into adulthood?
Dr. Madeline Levine, a psychologist with 40 years experience, explains that kids don’t need us to fix everything. They actually need adaptability, mental agility, curiosity, collaboration, tolerance for failure, resilience and optimism. And how do they learn those skills? By watching how we handle life and how we trust them to handle it well too.
Do you ever feel like you manage life well…until the small people in your life don't want to go along with your plans? That’s when the heat turns on, when they find the most inopportune moments to lose it. But the truth is that their cries and outbursts are a way to be seen and heard.
Parenting educator Lael Stone nudges you back to your kids’ side, reminding you that your level of compassion and nurturing and how you regulate your emotions in these early years has an impact on who they become. You have the power in how you show up to teach either anxiety and depression, or kindness and compassion.
Transitions aren’t always easy, even when we’re looking forward to them. There’s fear and doubt about the unknown, and anxiety about making the right decision. And transitions always force us to find new ways of making life work.
Today I’m simply sharing some thoughts on my new season of life as a working single mom of kids at two separate schools, and both the frustrations I’ve faced in making this new schedule work, as well as the belief and hope that I can create a life worth living in the midst of it. I believe that sometimes we need to talk about the things that are wrong in order to create change—or at least find our way through it together. Join me as I share six ways to reclaim some of your space and joy during this transitional season.
If it’s tough to answer this, you’re not alone. We get overwhelmed with all the things of life—work, home, kids—that it’s easy to miss the small moments that would bring us joy.
Catherine Price is a science journalist and author who is passionate about helping people make positive changes in their lives. Surprisingly, her solution to stress, life, better parenting, and all the problems we face, is simple:
Have more fun.
Catherine explains why this matters, how it affects our health, and how it’s a choice we make rather than an experience. If you need more happiness in your life, you won’t want to miss this.
Our instinct as parents can be to hold our kids tightly in order to protect and guide them into the life we want for them. Sadly, such a tight rein can squash their unique traits—pieces of them that should be celebrated and allowed space to learn and grow in their own way.
In a society that likes to point out weaknesses and conform you to fit a specific mold, Marcus Buckingham wants to turn this thinking upside down by helping you (and your kiddos) to define strengths, innate tendencies, and personal loves.
In this clip, Buckingham shares the extremes of his own experiences, from his ex-wife and son’s involvement in a college admissions scandal, to his own childhood filled with space to become his own person.
Do you find yourself sometimes blaming your current unhappiness and dissatisfaction on past choices? While that’s a common sentiment, regret can actually have a positive effect on your life. The trick is to find the gift in your regret, and learn from it as you move forward. Author Dan Pink has collected over 16,000 regrets from people around the globe, and today he shares the four core regrets we all face, and explains how to transform your regrets into a life you enjoy more.
Why is it so hard to create good habits? We think that if we can find enough motivation and discipline, we should be able to accomplish our goals. The problem? We think we have to go big or go home—and so we set ourselves up for failure.
B.J. Fogg, a behavior scientist at Stanford, explains why tiny habits are the key to changing your life. It comes down to creating triggers based on existing behaviors. We have the power to reprogram our brains one small positive step at a time—whether it’s doing daily push ups, or finding our calm in the midst of difficult parenting.
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As always, I’d love to hear from you! Subscribe, leave a review, or follow PG-ish on IG @pgishparenting, or you can always find me at www.pgishparenting.com.
As July wraps up, let’s take a moment to honor Social Wellness Month. Your personal well-being and connection network is important for not only your health, but the health of your family. Scientists are finding that the strength of your community can have powerful effects not only on your health, but can also influence your biology, lengthen your life, and improve your overall well-being.
Dr. Chelsea Shields, a biosocial anthropologist, will explain social wellness in detail, and why it’s crucial that you take daily steps toward community and relationships. She shares three simple tips to move toward healthy social wellness.
Even with a 4-month baby in her arms during our interview, K. Domiana Ndour emanates an authentic and grounding presence. She’s not only a wife and mom of three, but also a retired pro basketball player, two-time best-selling author, somatic healer, coach, international speaker, certified yoga instructor and educator. She’s on a mission to equip busy moms like you and me with the tools to self-heal and regulate emotions, all while breaking the cycle of burnout and overwhelm. This is definitely an episode you won’t want to miss!
Most parenting advice is all about how to get your kid to follow your rules and your schedule. But the real secret to parenting that most people won’t tell you? Work on yourself. Of course, that’s much easier said than done, because introspection is tough to fit on your to-do list amid parenting, working, cooking, cleaning, and all the things that life requires.
Renowned motivational speaker Les Brown shares that you have greatness inside of you, and taking the time to understand what you really want and the impact you want to make is of first importance. Listen as he gives a few tips on how to upgrade your life in big ways.
When the weight of the world is too much, too heavy, too chaotic, you can make some simple changes to be the calm in the storm—and exercise is one of those tools.
Dr. Wendy Suzuki, a professor of neuroscience and psychology and dean at NYU, breaks down how exercise has both immediate and long-term effects on your mood and body, and how these effects alter and protect your brain. And the best part?? Getting this exercise might be simpler than you think.
Recently I noticed myself trying to tame my child’s complaining by teaching a big lesson on gratitude. Anyone relate to this? Now of course teaching gratitude is important, but not at the cost of shutting down communication about honest feelings and potentially damaging our relationship.
Today’s throwback episode (Episode 168) is truly the Cliffs Notes on how to be a parent, and how to cultivate healthy relationships with your kiddos. Philippa Perry is a psychotherapist and author who is passionate about helping parents navigate their own past in order to change their patterns of parent-child dynamics. She explains how to be authentic, why we need to define ourselves and our own needs to our kids, and how to build a positive blueprint for every future relationship they will have.
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Do you ever feel out of alignment, helpless from trying to carry the weight of the world, and wondering if what you do makes a difference? As parents, we can’t fix the whole world for our kids—but we can start small and take just one step at a time. Today’s talk by Ed Mylett will inspire you to keep going one more day, to keep showing up for your kids to prove to them that they matter.
Sponsors and discounts:
Better Help — use code PGISH for 10% off your first month
As parents, we rely on our kids’ schools every day to help them thrive. But the truth is that it starts with the culture we create at home. We have the opportunity to provide an environment of energy, action, momentum, hope and possibility. When kids know they have an adult in their corner who believes in them, they will do better.
Today Simon T. Bailey shares how we can be the catalyst to help our kids view their education as something special, to create a vision of possibility that is often desperately lacking in our school systems. You are the first, and most influential, teacher in your child’s life—so use that opportunity to inspire them to a greater future.
Sponsors and discounts:
Better Help — use code PGISH for 10% off your first month
As parents, there are so many things we want to teach our kids. We want them to be happy, but the truth is that we can’t teach that to them—we can only model it ourselves. Happiness begins with the parent. Today, award-winning author, speaker, and therapist Connie Podesta shares some truth about becoming a happy role model, and why (regardless of what is happening in our lives) happiness is a daily choice we have to make.
Today I’m sharing something that’s heavy on my heart this week—an interaction I had with a child (who isn’t mine) that broke my heart and reminded me of my mission to support and encourage other parents on this journey. We all know there’s no guidebook for parenting. So when the tough moments pop up, we can easily feel lost.
What I keep realizing is that at the end of the day, it all comes down to connection. Humans need other humans, and our kids need us to come down to their level and truly connect by spending time together. Don’t we all just want to be seen and loved where we are? Finding time to first fill our own cup so that we can pour into our kids is a daily struggle—but it’s a cause worth fighting for. No matter how many imperfect tries it takes, just keep showing up.
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If you don’t honor yourself with love, how do you expect to teach others how to love you? If you’re disconnected from your body and heart, robotically moving through your day—hiding behind screens and scanning your to-do list to feel productive—it’s time to reset.
Lisa Nichols is a motivational speaker who rose from being a struggling single mom on public assistance to a millionaire entrepreneur. Her courage and determination is inspiring, while her love and zest for life will empower you to impact the world with your voice and your story.
Today’s episode is speaking specifically to moms. Today is a reminder that your power as a mother (or woman, for that matter) can change the world. Your emotions are valid and important, especially your act of love. Day after day you continue to labor and choose love, even when it’s hard.
Valarie Kaur, a renowned civil rights leader and best-selling author, reminds us that real love is a choice. Together we can choose to shift the culture as we continue to tell our stories and lean into love, which can truly be a force for justice.
