Bite Your Tongue: The Podcast

By Bite Your Tongue

Did you ever expect being the parent of an adult child would be so difficult? Introducing "Bite Your Tongue," a look at exploring that next chapter in parenting: building healthy relationships with

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FAQs about Bite Your Tongue: The Podcast:

How many episodes does Bite Your Tongue: The Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 135 episodes available.

Best of Bite Your Tongue: The Podcast

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: Want a Better Relationship With Your Adult Kids? Start With Yourself—and Your Friends
If you've listened to Bite Your Tongue for a while, you may remember this conversation with friendship expert Shasta Nelson. I'm bringing it back because when I listened to it again, I realized just how much is packed into this episode. Yes, we talk about friendship—but we also talk about something at the very heart of this podcast: How do we build a healthier, more adult relationship with our grown children? Shasta introduces us to what she calls the Friendship Triangle: positivity, consistency and vulnerability. And while she developed it around friendship, those same three things can tell us a lot about our relationships with our adult kids. One part really stayed with me. Shasta says vulnerability with our adult children isn't telling them what we think they should do differently. It's having the courage to ask what we might have done differently. Can we ask: How did I impact you in ways I may not even realize? What was hard for you growing up? What do you wish I had done more of—or less of? And then comes the really hard part: Can we listen to the answer without defending ourselves? But there's another piece of this conversation I think is equally important. We need lives and relationships outside our children. I said during this interview that the fuller my own life is, the less I feel I have to depend on my kids. Shasta takes that idea even further. Our adult children can be incredibly important relationships in our lives—but they don't have to be our best friends. We need people our own age who can listen to us, challenge us and help us process our own feelings. Maybe those two ideas are more connected than I realized the first time we recorded this episode. The stronger and fuller we are outside the relationship, the better able we may be to show up inside it—with less need, less judgment, more curiosity and more vulnerability. So whether you heard this episode the first time around or you're discovering it today, I hope you'll listen again. I certainly heard some things differently this time. To send us your own question for a future episode: Call our Listener Line: 719-347-1106 Email: [email protected] We are on SUBSTACK now too - with "Behind the Mic." We talk about how the episode resonated with us and share some inside scoop that you won't want to miss. Please follow us on social media now. It helps us so much. Facebook Instagram Huge thanks to Connie Gorant Fisher, our audio engineer. Website: biteyourtonguepodcast.com Substack: Behind the Mic Listener Line: 719-347-1106 Email: [email protected] And remember… sometimes you just have to bite your tongue. Support the show The site and podcast do not contain any medical/health information or advice. The medical/health information is for general information and educational purposes only and is not suitable for professional device. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OF OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE OR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
September 11, 202640min
Number 2: What to Do When Your Adult Child Doesn't Reach Out
If you've ever stared at your phone wondering whether to send that text, this episode is for you. Sometimes the silence lasts longer than you want. Sometimes you feel them pushing away. That's why this episode of Straight from the Listener Line: Real Questions, Real Answers, tackles one of the most emotionally difficult dilemmas parents face. If your adult child isn't reaching out, should you call? Text? Wait? And how do you stay connected without feeling like you're chasing them? We talk to one of our favorite therapists Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein (Dr. Jeff). Together we discuss:How often should parents reach out?The difference between inviting connection and expressing frustrationWhy "keeping score" damages relationshipsHow to talk about communication without sounding criticalWhat to do when you're afraid you're doing too much—or not enoughAre you inviting connection or pushing them away. We found Dr. Jeff's advice to be spot on and we hope this listener who posed the question finds help, but also that all of the listeners find a kernel of support or help that they can take with them. To send us your own question for a future episode: Call our Listener Line: 719-347-1106 Email: [email protected] We are on SUBSTACK now too - with "Behind the Mic." We talk about how the episode resonated with us and share some inside scoop that you won't want to miss. Please follow us on social media now. It helps us so much. Facebook Instagram Huge thanks to Connie Gorant Fisher, our audio engineer. Website: biteyourtonguepodcast.com Substack: Behind the Mic Listener Line: 719-347-1106 Email: [email protected] And remember… sometimes you just have to bite your tongue. Support the show The site and podcast do not contain any medical/health information or advice. The medical/health information is for general information and educational purposes only and is not suitable for professional device. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OF OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE OR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
August 28, 20265min
Number 3: Do We Really Know Our Adult Children? A Shift to Curiosity
Some conversations are worth revisiting. As we prepared to re-release this conversation with therapist Rachel Haack, I listened to it again for the first time in several years. I thought I knew exactly what Rachel was going to say. After all, I was the one asking the questions. But that's the gift of listening again. Sometimes the conversation hasn't changed at all—you have. This time, Rachel's insights on defensiveness, curiosity, perfection, and the evolving relationship between parents and their adult children landed in a completely different way. I found myself reflecting not only on my parenting, but on how much I've grown since we first recorded this episode. Whether you're hearing this conversation for the first time or listening again alongside me, I hope you'll discover something new, too. In this episode, we discuss:Why defensiveness is one of the biggest barriers to healthy conversations with our adult children.How choosing curiosity over certainty can transform difficult discussions.What it really means to know your adult child as the person they are today—not just the child you raised.Why asking, "I know I have blind spots. Would you help point them out to me?" can deepen trust and connection.The changing role of parents as adult children build lives, relationships, and families of their own.Rachel's compassionate perspective on mothers-in-law, shifting family roles, and the grief that can accompany those transitions. Why perfection is an impossible goal—and why embracing life's complexities leads to healthier family relationships. The wisdom behind Rachel's grandfather's saying: "Those who know the most know to say the least."To send us your own question for a future episode: Call our Listener Line: 719-347-1106 Email: [email protected] We are on SUBSTACK now too - with "Behind the Mic." We talk about how the episode resonated with us and share some inside scoop that you won't want to miss. Please follow us on social media now. It helps us so much. Facebook Instagram Huge thanks to Connie Gorant Fisher, our audio engineer. Website: biteyourtonguepodcast.com Substack: Behind the Mic Listener Line: 719-347-1106 Email: [email protected] And remember… sometimes you just have to bite your tongue. Support the show Support the show The site and podcast do not contain any medical/health information or advice. The medical/health information is for general information and educational purposes only and is not suitable for professional device. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OF OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE OR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
July 17, 202658min
Number 4: Weddings, Etiquette and Listener Questions
Weddings, Family Tension, and Modern Etiquette Episode Description: If there is one life event that can bring together love, joy, tradition, money, and family tension all at once, it is a wedding. In this episode of Bite Your Tongue, Denise talks with Lizzie Post — co-president of the Emily Post Institute, co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast, and great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post — about how weddings have changed and why they still create so many emotional landmines for families. Together they explore what modern etiquette really means, how parents can support their adult children without taking over, and why communication matters so much when expectations, finances, and family traditions collide. They also tackle listener questions about guest lists, controlling money, invisible groom’s parents, wedding gifts, complicated family dynamics, and how to navigate all of it with more respect and less resentment. A few key takeaways from Lizzie Post:Patience and flexibility matter more than everListen carefully before reactingBe honest about expectations, especially around moneyA thoughtful apology can go a long wayGood etiquette is less about rules and more about respect, kindness, and considerationGuest: Lizzie Post is co-president of the Emily Post Institute, co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast, and author of several etiquette books, including Emily Post Etiquette and Emily Post Business Etiquette. Her upcoming book, The Emily Post Wedding Etiquette Book, will offer a completely modern look at weddings, relationships, and etiquette today. Connect with Bite Your Tongue: We hope all of you will call to share their stories, ideas, episodes they liked or did not like. We'd like to begin answering these questions in each episode. So give us a call now at 719-347-1106. We are on SUBSTACK now too - with "Behind the Mic." We talk about how the episode resonated with us and share some inside scoop that you won't want to miss. Please follow us on social media now. It helps us so much. Facebook Instagram Huge thanks to Connie Gorant Fisher, our audio engineer. Website: biteyourtonguepodcast.com Substack: Behind the Mic Listener Line: 719-347-1106 Email: [email protected] Support the show The site and podcast do not contain any medical/health information or advice. The medical/health information is for general information and educational purposes only and is not suitable for professional device. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OF OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE OR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
May 08, 202655min
Number 5: Your Adult Child's Boundaries are not a Rejection of You
Have you ever sent an impulsive text when feeling rejected by your adult child? That desperate "What did I do wrong?" message that you later regretted? You're not alone. The relationship between parents and their adult children exists on a delicate continuum—from deep connection to painful estrangement and everything in between. Dr. Rachel Glik, relationship specialist and author of "A Soulful Marriage," joins us to unpack the complex dynamics of parent-adult child relationships. With remarkable insight, she reveals how our own emotional needs can unknowingly sabotage these precious connections. "We can't be a parent when we're depending on our child," she explains, highlighting how our generation's child-centered parenting style paradoxically created more self-centered adults. The conversation delves into practical wisdom about building emotional maturity—that essential capacity to hold your own pain while simultaneously creating space for your child's perspective. Dr. Glik shares illuminating examples from her own experience as a mother and grandmother, demonstrating how to navigate differences without becoming emotionally reactive. She offers specific guidance on welcoming your child's partner, setting healthy boundaries, and finding the balance between independence and connection. Perhaps most powerfully, Dr. Glik reframes relationship challenges as opportunities for profound personal growth. "Put energy into seeing what you're experiencing as happening for you, not to you," she advises. This shift in perspective transforms painful interactions into gateways for self-awareness and healing. Whether you're feeling distant from your adult children or simply want to strengthen your connection, this conversation provides compassionate, practical tools for moving forward with both wisdom and love. Support the show The site and podcast do not contain any medical/health information or advice. The medical/health information is for general information and educational purposes only and is not suitable for professional device. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OF OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE OR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
September 05, 202544min