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In this final episode of Raising the Human Advantage, Tara explores one of the most important emotional intelligence skills we can teach our kids: what to do when they get it wrong.

Because they will get it wrong. And so will we.

Emotional intelligence isn’t about raising perfect kids who never make mistakes. It’s teaching them how to recognize when they’ve made one, take responsibility for their actions, sincerely apologize, repair the harm when they can and learn what to do differently next time.

Tara shares personal stories from her own childhood and parenting journey, including the moments when she required her kids to write apology letters, make things right and experience healthy consequences instead of stepping in to rescue them.

And just as importantly, our kids need to see us do the same.

When we make a mistake, can we own it without making excuses? Can we apologize to our children when we get it wrong? Can we show them that accountability isn’t shame, punishment or perfection, but an opportunity to grow?

In this episode, Tara shares a simple framework we can help our kids practice:

What happened? Who was affected? What do you need to own? How can you make it right? What will you do differently next time?

These are the skills that build self-awareness, empathy, responsibility, trust and confidence. They’re the skills our kids will carry into friendships, relationships, school, leadership, work and eventually their own families.

Our children don’t need to believe they have to be perfect. They need to know that when they get something wrong, they can tell the truth, own their part, make it right, learn from it and move forward.

Because emotional intelligence isn’t never getting it wrong.

It’s knowing how to make it right.

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New episodes dropping every Friday!

Order Tara's book "Be Who You Came To Be" here!

Connect with Tara:

• 🎥 Watch on YouTube –Inspiring episodes & powerful insights
• 📲 Follow on Instagram – Daily motivation & behind-the-scenes
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn – Leadership wisdom & keynote highlights
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In this third episode of our series on raising emotionally intelligent kids, Tara explores one of the most important lessons we can teach our children: you’re allowed to feel every emotion, but you don’t have to act on every emotion.

Inspired by the parenting principles in Love and Logic, Tara shares how giving children age-appropriate choices and allowing them to experience natural consequences can help them develop emotional awareness, personal responsibility and confidence in their own decision making.

Because emotional intelligence isn’t about raising kids who never get angry, frustrated, disappointed or overwhelmed. It’s teaching them to recognize what they’re feeling and understand that they still have a choice in what they do next.

You can have a bad day. You can be angry. You can feel disappointed, frustrated or completely overwhelmed. Those feelings are real and they’re allowed. But those feelings don’t have to take over the entire family, ruin the experience or dictate your behavior.

This episode is about helping our kids create that space between “This is what I’m feeling” and “This is how I’m going to respond.”

When we teach children to understand their emotions instead of being controlled by them, we’re giving them a skill they’ll carry into friendships, relationships, school, work and eventually their own families.

The goal isn’t perfect behavior. The goal is raising kids who can say, “I know what I’m feeling, and I get to choose what I do with it.”

That’s emotional intelligence.

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New episodes dropping every Friday!

Order Tara's book "Be Who You Came To Be" here!

Connect with Tara:

• 🎥 Watch on YouTube –Inspiring episodes & powerful insights
• 📲 Follow on Instagram – Daily motivation & behind-the-scenes
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn – Leadership wisdom & keynote highlights
• 💡 Get Tara’s Tips – Weekly EQ strategies straight to your inbox
• 🎤 Book Tara for Your Event – Empower your audience to be who they came to be

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In a world where kids are constantly being measured, compared and influenced by outside opinions, one of the greatest gifts we can give them is the ability to know and trust themselves.

In Part 2 of Raising the Human Advantage, Tara introduces The Clear Mirror, a powerful practice for teaching kids how to self-assess, build self-awareness and develop confidence from within.

Praise is important. Encouragement matters. But when children learn to rely solely on someone else to tell them they did a good job, made the right choice or performed well, their confidence can become dependent on outside validation.

The Clear Mirror shifts the conversation.

Instead of immediately telling our kids what we think, we give them the opportunity to evaluate themselves. How do you think you did? What are you proud of? What would you do differently next time? How did you show up?

These simple questions help children recognize their own strengths, take ownership of their choices and become more aware of how they think, feel and respond.

Because raising emotionally intelligent kids isn’t about giving them all the answers. It’s about giving them the tools to understand themselves.

When kids learn to look inward before looking outward for validation, we aren’t taking away encouragement. We’re helping them build something even more powerful: confidence that belongs to them.

Sponsor:
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New episodes dropping every Friday!

Order Tara's book "Be Who You Came To Be" here!

Connect with Tara:

• 🎥 Watch on YouTube –Inspiring episodes & powerful insights
• 📲 Follow on Instagram – Daily motivation & behind-the-scenes
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn – Leadership wisdom & keynote highlights
• 💡 Get Tara’s Tips – Weekly EQ strategies straight to your inbox
• 🎤 Book Tara for Your Event – Empower your audience to be who they came to be

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As our kids head back to school, they’re entering a world that is changing faster than ever. Technology is advancing. AI is transforming how we learn, work and communicate. But the skills that will matter most? They’re deeply human.

In this episode, Tara kicks off a five-part series on Raising the Human Advantage, exploring how we can help the young people in our lives develop emotional intelligence, confidence, self-awareness, empathy, communication and the ability to build meaningful relationships.

Part One begins with a phrase that has shaped Tara’s life, her parenting and her work: Be Who You Came to Be.

Tara shares the story behind those seven words and how she and her husband, Scott, learned to let go of who they imagined their sons would become and instead create space for them to discover who they already were.

Because emotionally intelligent parenting isn’t about designing our children. It’s about guiding them, giving them boundaries and accountability while also giving them the freedom to explore, change their minds, make mistakes and discover what makes them come alive.

And this conversation goes far beyond parenting. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, coach, grandparent, mentor or leader, the question is the same:

Are we helping people discover who they came to be, or directing them toward who we think they should be?

This is Part One of Tara’s five-part Raising the Human Advantage series. Over the next several episodes, she’ll explore how we can intentionally develop the emotional intelligence and human skills the next generation will need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Be Who You Came to Be.
 

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New episodes dropping every Friday!

Order Tara's book "Be Who You Came To Be" here!

Connect with Tara:

• 🎥 Watch on YouTube –Inspiring episodes & powerful insights
• 📲 Follow on Instagram – Daily motivation & behind-the-scenes
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn – Leadership wisdom & keynote highlights
• 💡 Get Tara’s Tips – Weekly EQ strategies straight to your inbox
• 🎤 Book Tara for Your Event – Empower your audience to be who they came to be

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What if the life you're meant to live starts the moment you stop trying to be who everyone else expects you to be?

In this episode of Be Who You Came to Be, Tara sits down with Kandid Scott to have an honest conversation about authenticity, Butterfly Goals, and the courage it takes to choose yourself.

From raising two young children to embracing new career opportunities, finding a passion for helping others come home to themselves and even discovering baking sourdough after navigating a gluten allergy, Kandid shares how the smallest decisions to follow what lights you up and allowing yourself to be seen can lead to the biggest transformations.

Together, Tara and Kandid explore why Butterfly Goals aren't about perfection. They're about becoming. They're about taking one intentional step after another, trusting the process, and giving yourself permission to evolve into the person you were always meant to be.

If you've been waiting for the "right time" to pursue what's on your heart, this episode is your reminder that you don't have to have it all figured out to begin.

Because the most transformational journey you'll ever take is becoming who you came to be.

How to stay in contact with Kandid below:

Be sure to follow Kandid on Instagram here!

Her business page on Instagram here!

Substack here

Take a workout class with Kandid at Nooma Studios in Little Rock, AR here!

Sponsor:
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New episodes dropping every Friday!

Order Tara's book "Be Who You Came To Be" here!

Connect with Tara:

• 🎥 Watch on YouTube –Inspiring episodes & powerful insights
• 📲 Follow on Instagram – Daily motivation & behind-the-scenes
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn – Leadership wisdom & keynote highlights
• 💡 Get Tara’s Tips – Weekly EQ strategies straight to your inbox
• 🎤 Book Tara for Your Event – Empower your audience to be who they came to be

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In today’s episode of Be Who You Came to Be, I am joined by my co-host from The Big Ask podcast, Brooke, for a special crossover episode that brings both shows together for a two for one conversation you did not see coming.

We are talking about Spencer Pratt and his unexpected run for mayor of Los Angeles and honestly the full story behind it. From being labeled the villain on The Hills to now stepping into a very different chapter of his life, this conversation looks at what happens when someone chooses reinvention in real time.

After the devastation of losing his home in the Palisades wildfires, Spencer has publicly shifted into a mission driven season, speaking up for Los Angeles and positioning himself as someone who wants to fight for the people, not just the headlines. Whether you agree or not, you cannot ignore the energy of someone who decides to turn pain into purpose.

This episode is fun, honest, a little surprising, and deeply reflective about identity, change, and what it actually means to become who you came here to be.

Follow Spencer here!

Sponsor:
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New episodes dropping every Friday!

Order Tara's book "Be Who You Came To Be" here!

Connect with Tara:

• 🎥 Watch on YouTube –Inspiring episodes & powerful insights
• 📲 Follow on Instagram – Daily motivation & behind-the-scenes
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn – Leadership wisdom & keynote highlights
• 💡 Get Tara’s Tips – Weekly EQ strategies straight to your inbox
• 🎤 Book Tara for Your Event – Empower your audience to be who they came to be

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In this powerful and joy filled episode of Be Who You Came to Be, Tara sits down with the incredible mother son duo, Nate and Holly Simon, founders of 21 Pineapples.

Nate, a young man with Down syndrome, is living proof of what happens when someone fully embraces who they were created to be. His mission is simple, yet life changing: spread love, create connection, and remind people to lead with kindness. Through his growing social media presence, acting opportunities, business ventures, and infectious spirit, Nate is changing the way the world sees people with disabilities and showing what authentic self-expression truly looks like. 

Together, Nate and Holly share their inspiring journey of building a movement rooted in inclusion, love, emotional intelligence, and human connection. From launching 21 Pineapples to advocating for people with different abilities, this conversation is filled with wisdom, laughter, perspective, and heart. 

This episode is a beautiful reminder that being who you came to be is not about fitting into the world’s expectations. It’s about embracing your gifts, showing up authentically, and using your life to make others feel seen, valued, and loved.

Follow Nate:
Instagram: @21pineapplesshirtco

Follow Holly:
Instagram: @hollywould11

Sponsor:
Mental wellness unlocked. Try Brytr Days here!
Use code: TARA10

Sponsor:
Mental wellness unlocked. Try Brytr Days here!
Use code: TARA10

New episodes dropping every Friday!

Order Tara's book "Be Who You Came To Be" here!

Connect with Tara:

• 🎥 Watch on YouTube –Inspiring episodes & powerful insights
• 📲 Follow on Instagram – Daily motivation & behind-the-scenes
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn – Leadership wisdom & keynote highlights
• 💡 Get Tara’s Tips – Weekly EQ strategies straight to your inbox
• 🎤 Book Tara for Your Event – Empower your audience to be who they came to be

Send us Fan Mail

In this heartfelt episode of Be Who You Came to Be, Tara reflects on hosting a graduation party for her son before he heads off to Tennessee and the deeper meaning she found in gathering with the people she loves most.

What started as a celebration quickly became a reminder that life is not about perfection, performance, or having everything figured out. It’s about connection. It’s about showing up authentically, expressing yourself fully, and creating meaningful moments with the people who matter most.

Tara shares how emotional intelligence is deeply connected to our ability to connect with others, celebrate one another, and allow ourselves to be fully seen. Through laughter, family, conversation, and presence, she explores what it truly means to become who you came to be.

This episode is a reminder that some of life’s most meaningful moments happen around the table, in the backyard, and in the simple joy of being together. Because at the end of the day, success means very little if we don’t have people to share it with.

Whether you’re navigating a new season of life, celebrating milestones, or simply craving deeper connection, this conversation will leave you reflecting on what matters most.

Sponsor:
Mental wellness unlocked. Try Brytr Days here!
Use code: TARA10

Sponsor:
Mental wellness unlocked. Try Brytr Days here!
Use code: TARA10

New episodes dropping every Friday!

Order Tara's book "Be Who You Came To Be" here!

Connect with Tara:

• 🎥 Watch on YouTube –Inspiring episodes & powerful insights
• 📲 Follow on Instagram – Daily motivation & behind-the-scenes
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn – Leadership wisdom & keynote highlights
• 💡 Get Tara’s Tips – Weekly EQ strategies straight to your inbox
• 🎤 Book Tara for Your Event – Empower your audience to be who they came to be

Send us Fan Mail

What if one decision could change everything?

In this episode of Be Who You Came to Be, Tara Renze sits down with DJ RanKan for a powerful conversation about what it really looks like to bet on yourself and why that decision is often the beginning of everything.

This episode brings a fresh lens to one of our favorite conversations, reframed through the idea of Butterfly Goals, the kind of goals that transform you as you pursue them.

DJ RanKan shares his journey from following the expected path to creating his own lane in the music industry. He didn’t start with certainty. He started with a decision. A decision to trust himself, take the risk, and keep going, one step at a time.

Because that’s what Butterfly Goals are. They are not about quick wins or surface level success. They are about becoming.

If you’ve been sitting on an idea, feeling the pull toward something more, or waiting until you feel “ready”… this episode will meet you right there.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why most people stay stuck and how to break free from it
• How one bold decision can completely shift your trajectory
• The role of passion, resilience, and risk in real transformation
• How to reframe rejection and use it as fuel
• What it actually means to bet on yourself with confidence

The truth is, the life you want is not built by playing it safe. It’s built by trusting yourself enough to take the first step and then continuing to choose yourself again and again.

If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who needs that reminder right now.

Follow DJ RanKan on Instagram

Sponsor:
Mental wellness unlocked. Try Brytr Days here!
Use code: TARA10

Sponsor:
Mental wellness unlocked. Try Brytr Days here!
Use code: TARA10

New episodes dropping every Friday!

Order Tara's book "Be Who You Came To Be" here!

Connect with Tara:

• 🎥 Watch on YouTube –Inspiring episodes & powerful insights
• 📲 Follow on Instagram – Daily motivation & behind-the-scenes
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn – Leadership wisdom & keynote highlights
• 💡 Get Tara’s Tips – Weekly EQ strategies straight to your inbox
• 🎤 Book Tara for Your Event – Empower your audience to be who they came to be

Send us Fan Mail

In a world that constantly rewards doing more, achieving more, and staying in performance mode, it’s easy to believe that rest equals falling behind. But what if that belief is exactly what’s keeping you stuck?

In this conversation, Tara dives into the power of stepping out of the performance mindset and reconnecting with your body. Because the truth is, your brain will try to convince you that you’re not doing enough… but your body is always telling you what you actually need.

And when you learn to listen to it, everything changes.

We talk about:
 • Why rest is not a reward, it’s a requirement
 • How slowing down actually creates more clarity, creativity, and success
 • The importance of regulating your nervous system instead of pushing through
 • Letting go of guilt around rest, self-care, and simply being
 • Creating space to think, feel, and lead from a more aligned place

This episode is an invitation to stop overriding yourself… and start trusting yourself.

Because success doesn’t come from constant motion.
 It comes from alignment.

Plus, Tara shares exciting updates on what’s coming next for the Be Who You Came to Be brand including the upcoming YouTube show, new ways to get involved in the community, and how you can be part of future Butterfly Goal conversations.

If you’ve been feeling the pressure to keep going, this is your moment to pause… and remember that you’re allowed to rest your way into your next level.

SPONSORS:

Mental Wellness Unlocked! Try Brytr Days here! Use code: TARA10

Sponsor:
Mental wellness unlocked. Try Brytr Days here!
Use code: TARA10

New episodes dropping every Friday!

Order Tara's book "Be Who You Came To Be" here!

Connect with Tara:

• 🎥 Watch on YouTube –Inspiring episodes & powerful insights
• 📲 Follow on Instagram – Daily motivation & behind-the-scenes
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn – Leadership wisdom & keynote highlights
• 💡 Get Tara’s Tips – Weekly EQ strategies straight to your inbox
• 🎤 Book Tara for Your Event – Empower your audience to be who they came to be