Joyful Courage - A Conscious Parenting Podcast

In this episode of Joyful Courage, I sit down with Emily Redondo, a mom, author, and survivor of addiction, to talk about the messy, beautiful reality of parenting. We dive into how shame, regret, and perfectionism can hold us back—and how modeling courage and embracing mistakes are powerful models for our kids. Emily shares her experience with recovery, self-forgiveness, and building honest relationships with her children, even through discomfort. This conversation is packed with insights on autonomy, navigating teen years, and showing up authentically as a parent. For more show notes and info go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-612-emily-redondo-on-recovery-family/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part four of my Middle School Mini Series is here! In this episode, I share powerful Positive Discipline tools that build connection and courage with your tween or teen. From family meetings and special time, to curiosity, validation, encouragement, and rituals—these practices create belonging and strengthen relationships during the messy middle school years. Parenting in adolescence isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence, connection, and long-term growth. If you’ve been craving practical strategies and heartfelt encouragement, this is the episode for you. Tune in and let’s navigate middle school parenting together with courage and curiosity. Parents, you don’t want to miss this! For more show notes, resources and info, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-611-middle-school-series-part-four-connection-and-courage/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this powerful episode of the Joyful Courage Podcast, I sit down with certified peer recovery specialist, family consultant, TEDx, speaker and author Lisa Katona Smith to talk about how parents can stay calm, connected, and effective when teens experiment with substances, in active addiction, recovery or face big struggles. We explore Lisa’s Parallel Recovery approach — staying regulated, setting clear limits, and leading with curiosity instead of panic. You’ll learn why “detaching with love” isn’t enough, how to avoid piling your emotional “coat” onto your kids, and practical scripts for hard conversations. If you’re parenting tweens or teens through stress, substance use, or mental health challenges, this episode is a must-listen. For more show notes and info, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-610-lisa-katona-smith-talks-teen-substance-use/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Middle school is the perfect training ground for life skills — and in part three of the Middle School Series on Joyful Courage, I’m sharing how we can guide our tweens and teens as they practice the tools they’ll need for independence, resilience, and healthy relationships. From self-regulation and problem solving to organization, time management, communication, and self-advocacy, I unpack why these skills are still developing, why mistakes matter, and how we can model calm, curiosity, and confidence as they learn. Tune in for encouragement and practical tips to help your kids grow through the ups and downs of adolescence. Find more show notes and info at https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-609-middle-school-series-part-3-life-skills-to-nurture/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s Joyful Courage Podcast, I sit down with therapist and author Sophia Vale Galano to talk about helping teens manage anxiety while staying grounded as parents. We explore how to meet our kids with empathy, guide them toward support without fixing, and keep conversations about mental health open and natural. Sophia offers practical tools from her book Calming Teenage Anxiety plus fresh insight on resilience, therapy, and when to seek extra help. If you’re ready to feel steadier and more connected as you support your teen, tune in and get inspired by this compassionate, hopeful conversation. For more info and show notes, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-608-calming-teenage-anxiety-with-sophia-vale-galano/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parenting teens in the digital age is no small task. In this episode, I talk with Jean Twenge about the realities of screen time, social media, and AI. We dive into why it’s important to own our mistakes, set clear limits, and remember that phones are a privilege—not a right. Jean shares real-life examples from her own family, and we get into the challenges of parental controls, pushback from teens, and how to encourage critical thinking around tech use. This conversation is packed with practical insight and encouragement for parents navigating today’s digital landscape. For more show notes and info go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-607-dr-jean-twenge-and-the-10-rules-for-tech-with-teens/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, I dive into the tough but essential conversations we need to be having with our middle schoolers — around tech, social media, consent, substances, mental health, and more. I remind parents that silence doesn’t protect our kids; it leaves them to figure things out through peers or the internet. Instead, we can lead with curiosity, plant small conversational seeds, and revisit these topics over time. Our job isn’t to have the perfect talk, it’s to show up again and again with openness, honesty, and love. Staying connected is the key to guiding them forward. For more show notes and resources go to https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-606-middle-school-series-part-two-essential-conversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Middle school is a wild ride — bodies changing, moods shifting, friendships evolving, and parents wondering how to keep up. In this first episode of my four-part middle school series, I unpack the developmental landscape of early adolescence and share how we can shift from managing to mentoring our kids. Listen in for insight on belonging, peer influence, critical thinking, and why curiosity is your greatest parenting tool during these years. You’ll also get practical conversation starters for tough topics like tech, sex, and mental health. Middle school can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. Let’s navigate it together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s Joyful Courage Podcast, I welcome Alyssa Campbell, author of Big Kids, Bigger Feelings. We dive into what’s really going on in our teens’ nervous systems and how parents can support them through big emotions, transitions, and tough conversations. We talk about the power of rest, family meetings, and shifting from talking about our kids to talking with them. If you’ve ever wondered how to help your teen regulate, feel connected, and build trust, this episode is for you. Tune in for practical tools and encouragement for parenting teens with intention and heart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parenting a teen with neurodiversity, mental health challenges, or a fiery personality can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re realizing senior year is here and boundaries have been blurry. In this week’s Joyful Courage podcast, I respond to a listener questions by sharing some practical scripts and strategies for setting limits with firmness and kindness, handling explosive pushback, and rebuilding connection (even if resentment has crept in). It’s not too late to step into your authority while preserving your relationship. Don’t miss this conversation—it’s packed with hope, real-life language you can use today, and encouragement for parents who feel stuck. Tune in now and take action this week. For more show notes and support, go to https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-603-building-structure-and-connection-with-older-teens/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carrying on with the back-to-school season theme and all the big emotions it brings for teens — and for parents. In this episode of the Joyful Courage Podcast, I’m revisiting my conversation with parent coach Sarah Rosensweet to talk about validation, trust, and connection during this challenging transition. We dive into why control backfires, how curiosity opens doors, and ways to stay steady when teens push us away. I share my own parenting struggles, including navigating a teen dropping out, while Sarah offers practical guidance for supporting growth and resilience. If you’re navigating the ups and downs of raising teens, this episode is packed with real talk and actionable insights. Find full show notes and more info at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-221-sarah-rosensweet-talks-peaceful-parenting-and-letting-go-during-the-teen-years/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back-to-school season stirs up ALL the emotions for our teens—and for us too. In this replay episode, I’m diving deep into how validation and mutual respect can shift everything at home. Your teen’s emotional world is real, big, and often overwhelming. If we dismiss it, we damage connection. If we validate it, we build trust. Don’t miss this one—it’s a must-listen for parents navigating the rocky weeks of school transition. Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-290-solo-show-validation-mutual-respect-back-to-school/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Joyful Courage, I sit down with Zoya Brar to explore the deep connection between stress, the nervous system, and how we show up as parents. Together, we unpack how to regulate before hard conversations, recognize hidden stress, and lean into practical tools like breathwork, mindfulness, and technology boundaries. This conversation empowers parents to see their teens with compassion, repair relationships, and find presence in everyday moments. Listen in to feel grounded, supported, and inspired. For more info about the guest and show notes, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-600-zoya-brar-talks-parenting-stress-and-nervous-system-awareness/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back-to-school season with tweens and teens can stir up anxiety, avoidance, and tricky conversations. In this episode, I share Positive Discipline tools and mindset shifts to help you move from “manager” to “mentor” so your teen feels respected, supported, and believed in. We’ll cover how to center yourself, start with curiosity, set clear agreements, and trust the process—because it’s about life skills, not perfect grades. Join me for practical, compassionate strategies to keep connection strong as the school year begins. For more show notes and info go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/ eps-599-how-to-talk-to-your-teen-about-the-new-school-year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Middle school is a major transition, and in this replay episode I talk about how we can prepare—not panic—as our tweens start to explore identity, tech, friendships, risk-taking, and independence. I offer insight into what’s happening developmentally, what we need to normalize (from vaping and friend drama to sex and substance conversations), and how to set healthy boundaries while staying connected. You'll hear practical ways to show up with presence, foster emotional safety, and handle tough moments with intention. This is your invitation to be proactive, emotionally available, and ready to walk the bridge to adolescence with compassion and courage. For deeper show notes and more info, go to https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-484-the-real-work-of-parenting-during-the-middle-school-years/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the Joyful Courage Podcast, I dive deep into one of the biggest struggles parents of teens face—wanting to fix our kids’ problems instead of truly seeing and hearing them. I share real-life examples, practical Positive Discipline tools, and introduce my new acronym, VIBE: Validate, Inquire, Breathe, Empathize. By learning to validate our teens’ emotions without rushing to fix, we build trust, create emotional safety, and open the door to authentic problem-solving. If your teen is shutting you out, giving one-word answers, or feeling discouraged, this episode will help you reconnect and influence from a place of love. Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-597-using-validation-to-reconnect-wtih-your-teen/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever feel like your teen doesn’t quite fit into the “introvert” or “extrovert” box? In this week’s episode, I talk with psychiatrist and author Dr. Rami Kaminski, who introduces the idea of the “otrovert”—someone who thrives as a non-joiner, deeply connected to a few people but resistant to the pull of the group. We explore how embracing this way of being can free parents from pushing kids to “fit in” and instead celebrate who they truly are. If your teen values authenticity over popularity—or you wish you understood them better—this conversation will shift your perspective. Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-596-being-an-otrovert-with-dr-rami-kaminski/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This solo episode comes straight from my heart. Inspired by my morning routine, I pulled cards and reflected deeply on what it means to take full responsibility for generating the love, connection, and joy I want in my life—especially as a parent of teens. I talk about how we respond to the inevitable unfolding of life, how we often contribute to relationship dynamics without realizing it, and the courage it takes to choose differently. This is a deep dive into personal growth, mindset shifts, and conscious parenting—imperfectly, but with intention. Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-382-solo-show-meeting-creating-life-unfolds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Jaimie Kelton of the If These Ovaries Could Talk podcast to explore the real experiences of queer parenting, non-bio connection, and the power of chosen family. We dive into the fears, joys, and boundary-pushing truths that come with raising kids in queer households—and why these stories matter to all of us. Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally raising kids in today’s world, this conversation is packed with wisdom, laughter, and reminders that parenting is a radical act of love. Find more info and show notes at https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-594-queer-parenthood-and-raising-resilient-teens-with-jaimie-kelton/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, I’m inviting you to pull up a chair and exhale with me. We’re talking about the messy beauty of midlife, the realities of parenting teens, and what it means to trade the illusion of control for the groundedness of a compass. Whether you’re just entering the teen years or deep in the thick of it, I want you to feel seen, encouraged, and reminded that you’re not alone. I’m also sharing a new offering I’m working on — and I’d love your wisdom as I shape it for this community. for more show notes and information, go to https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-593-parenting-growth-and-the-power-to-choose/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices