Speaking of Teens

Jaksot

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  #249: Teenager Friendship Drama--Help Without Making It Worse 14.04.2026 21min

  In this episode, I'm breaking down one of the most emotionally charged challenges parents face...teen friendship drama...and sharing exactly what to do (and what not to do) when your teenager comes home in tears over a falling out with their friend group. You'll also learn why social rejection genuinely feels life-threatening to the adolescent brain, how boys and girls navigate friend conflicts differently, the ins and outs of "popularity" and more. Show Notes and Transcript Find our FREE Par...
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  #248: How To Get Your Teenager To Actually Listen To You 07.04.2026 24min

  In this episode, I'll completely flip your understanding of teen discipline — because if grounding, taking the phone, punishing, and lecturing haven't worked, it's not because you haven't tried hard enough, it's because those approaches are working against your teen's developing brain. Today I'm breaking down exactly why traditional punishment backfires every single time, what teen brain development actually means for your parenting approach, and what discipline is truly supposed to acc...
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  #247: Getting Your Teen To Stop Or Decrease Their Substance Use 31.03.2026 24min

  In this episode, I'm sharing some of the most powerful, science-backed strategies you can use to help motivate your teen to change their relationship with substances — without the yelling, punishing, lecturing, or ultimatums that likely haven't been working. Drawing from the highly regarded book Beyond Addiction, I walk you through two of the most effective tools available to parents of teens struggling with drug or alcohol use: motivational interviewing and the CRAFT method (Community ...
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  #246 Discovered Your Teen Is Using Drugs Or Drinking? What Now? 11.03.2026 21min

  Today I’ll explain exactly what to do when you discover your teen is drinking, vaping, or using drugs. You’ll learn how to have a calm, connected conversation with your teen, how to understand why your teen is using substances, how to approach them with empathy instead of confrontation, and practical strategies to keep them safe while maintaining trust. I also review the critical mistakes we parents make in this situation, and how to set boundaries without pushing them away. This step-b...
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  #245 – Why Teens Use Substances And How To Help Prevent It 22.01.2026 15min

  In today's episode I break down the neuroscience behind why teens are so vulnerable to substance use—and explain what you can actually do about it. If you're worried about your teen using alcohol, vaping, or marijuana, this episode is for you. I explain how the adolescent brain's reward system, weak prefrontal cortex, and neuroplasticity create the perfect storm for risky behavior. But here's the good news: the majority of teens do NOT use substances, and I'm sharing 4 science-backed strategi...
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  What To Do About Your “Lazy And Unmotivated” Teenager (That Actually Works) 13.01.2026 15min

  Today I'm going to share why your teenager seems so lazy and unmotivated, and what you can actually do about it that won't backfire. I'll explain what's happening in that unmotivated brain of theirs and why punishment, rewards, and nagging to get them to do their homework or study are only making things worse. Plus, I'll walk you through Dr. Adam Price's (author of "He's Not Lazy") proven 8-step framework for helping unmotivated teens develop internal drive. Listen to learn...
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  #243: Stop Overparenting—You’re Sabotaging Your Teen’s Future 09.12.2025 27min

  In this episode, I explain how you may be unwittingly overparenting (aka, helicopter parenting) your teen—and why doing too much for or controlling your teenager actually sets them up for failure as a young adult. I'll explain what helicopter parenting really looks like and the psychological damage it causes to our teens, young adults, or college-age kids. You'll also learn practical strategies to stop overparenting, reduce parent-teen conflict, and raise confident teenagers who can han...
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  #242: Why Home Drug Testing Your Teen Is A Losing Proposition 02.12.2025 29min

  It seems reasonable and logical that drug testing your teenager at home could keep them safe or at least keep them accountable. However, the opposite is actually true. Today I discuss the damage we cause when we drug test our teens at home and why drug testing is simply not practical and isn't the solution you may think it is. I'll also explain what you should do instead if you want to decrease the likelihood of your teen participating in risky behaviors. This episode (here on YouTube) will b...
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  #241: How To Connect To Your Teen To Improve Their Behavior 25.11.2025 26min

  Today is the eighth and final episode in my Fundamentals of Parenting Teens podcast series. If your teen shuts down around you, keeps things from you, has big emotional reactions to everything you say, or is acting out in risky ways, you probably have a connection problem. In today's episode, I explain exactly what connection means, why it's critical for parenting emotional teens, and how to build it (even when your teenager wants nothing to do with you). Listen and learn science backed...
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  #240 Punishment Creates Teen Rebellion. Do This Instead. 18.11.2025 20min

  Today is the seventh episode in my Fundamentals of Parenting Teens podcast series. If you're dealing with a teenager who seems to push back against everything you say, punishment or consequences aren’t the answer and will probably make things worse. In this episode, I'll explain why traditional discipline backfires with teenagers and what actually works instead. You'll learn why punishment creates rebellion in teens and what to do instead. You can end the constant power struggles ...
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  #239: Want Your Teen To Actually Calm Down? Do This. (Fundamentals of Parenting Teens Series ep. 6) 11.11.2025 21min

  Today is the sixth episode in my Fundamentals of Parenting Teens podcast series. Do you feel helpless in the face of your teen's emotional meltdowns? Today, I'll teach you a scientifically proven technique for helping your teen actually calm down. It's called emotion coaching and it will transform how you handle your teenager's big feelings and emotional outbursts. We're going to discuss the 10 steps I believe are crucial for you to get this right and see major change in your teen. You can al...
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  #238: Want to improve your teen’s behavior? Improve yours. (Fundamentals of Parenting Teens Series ep. 5) 04.11.2025 22min

  Today is the fifth episode in my Fundamentals of Parenting Teens podcast series. Want to stop the power struggles with your teen? The secret isn't changing them—it's changing YOU. In this episode, discover how your thoughts, emotions, and reactions directly influence your teenager's behavior. I'll show you how to reappraise situations, manage stress, and create the space you need to respond thoughtfully instead of emotionally. You can also watch this series on YouTube. And be sure to listen t...
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  #237: Your Teen’s Behavior Isn’t The Problem, It’s Your Approach (Fundamentals of Parenting Teens Series ep. 4) 28.10.2025 24min

  Today is the fourth episode in my Fundamentals of Parenting Teens podcast series. (Previous episodes in the series: 234, 235, and 236) If you're constantly battling with your teenager and their behavior seems to be getting worse instead of better, the problem might not be your teen—it might be your approach. In today's episode I'll explain why supporting your teen's autonomy is the key to reducing conflict, staying connected, and actually improving their behavior in the long run. I'll give yo...
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  #236: Why Your Smart Teen Does Risky Things, And How To Help (Fundamentals of Parenting Teens Series ep. 3) 21.10.2025 18min

  Today is the third episode in my Fundamentals of Parenting Teens podcast series. (Previous episodes in the series: 234 and 235) Why do teens do such “stupid” things? Why do they take such risks? In this episode I explain the science behind why your teenager does dangerous, stupid, or reckless things—from driving too fast to sneaking out to experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Learn how your teen's reward system and "social system" of their brain are turbocharged during adolescence,...
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  #235: Why your teen’s so angry, anxious, moody, and “mean” (Fundamentals of Parenting Teens Series ep. 2) 14.10.2025 20min

  Today is the second episode in my Fundamentals of Parenting Teens podcast series. (The first episode in the series: 234) If you're struggling with your teen's anger, emotional outbursts, and irrational behavior, this episode will help you understand and manage better. I'll explain the neuroscience behind your teenager's emotionally driven misbehavior...including how your teen's overactive amygdala (the brain's threat detector) and underdeveloped prefrontal cortex create the perfect storm for ...
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  #234: The Thing You Need To Know About Your Teen's Behavior (Fundamentals of Parenting Teens Series ep. 1) 07.10.2025 16min

  Today is the first episode in my Fundamentals of Parenting Teens podcast series. I'm revisiting this series that I first published back in episodes 130 through 137. I'll be walking you through the basics that we cover in my course, The Field Guide for Teens, that you get inside Parent Camp. This is the framework I formulated over thousands of hours of research , which has helped change the relationship between so many parents and their teens. If you need help getting back to the basics and re...
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  #233: 5 Parenting Mistakes That Destroy Connection With Our Teens 30.09.2025 27min

  I made some critical mistakes with our teenage son when we were struggling with his behavior issues. Some of us are so deeply entrenched in certain parenting strategies that we don't even recognize they're not effective (and may actually be making things worse). Life is so busy that we're usually in "reaction" mode and have little time to think in advance or look for a better way to do things. In today's episode, I'll help you understand at least some of the mistakes that you should avoid at ...
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  #232: Difficult Teen? Transform Them With This Parent Skill 23.09.2025 24min

  Are you struggling with difficult teen behavior, constant conflict, and feeling like nothing you do actually works? In today's episode I explain that the secret to better teen behavior isn't administering the right consequences or enforcing stricter rules—it's developing your own emotional regulation skills. Your emotions and your emotional reactions directly impact your teenager's behavior and mental health. Listen to the episode to learn the science-backed techniques that will help yo...
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  #231: Are Smart Phones and Social Media Really Ruining Teens’ Mental Health (Or Have We Been Here Before)? 16.09.2025 24min

  Are smartphones and social media really destroying teen mental health, or are we panicking as we have many times in the past? From novels, radio, and comic books, to TV violence, and violent video games...they've all been blamed for corrupting teenage minds and harming their mental health. Listen to today's episode to understand why the current research on teen mental health, smart phones, and social media is far from definitive and discover a more balanced approach to helping your teen...
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  #230: How To Reduce Chaos In Your Home To Improve Teen Mental Health 09.09.2025 21min

  A calm, structured, predictable home life is as important for teens and tweens as it is for children. Scientific research shows that the opposite will have a negative effect on adolescent's mental health and overall wellbeing and could lead to behavioral issues. In today's episode I talk about 5 ways you can interject more calm into your home with teens to help alleviate their stress (and yours) and improve their chances of avoiding negative outcomes. These tips will not only help reign in th...