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

... more

4.9

115115 ratings

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: 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 2: Parenting 2.0: The Work Begins With Us | Dr. Francine Toder
This is an episode re-run and one that is still so relevant and needs a re-listen. It seems actually that it is even more relevant today. Parent's are still asking Parents are still asking, "How do I stay close to my adult child without pushing them away?" Francine Toder's answer isn't another communication technique—it's something much harder: look at yourself first. When our children become adults, many of us assume the hardest years are behind us. But for countless parents, the challenges simply change. In this thoughtful conversation, psychologist and author Dr. Francine Toder explains why building healthy relationships with our adult children requires something many of us never expected: changing ourselves. Drawing from her book Your Kids Are Grown: Parenting 2.0, Francine explores why parents often experience anxiety, disappointment, and even physical stress over their adult children's decisions—and why those feelings are often signals that we need to pause before reacting. Together we discuss:Why our expectations often become our biggest obstacleWhat that "knot in your stomach" really meansHow parents unintentionally push adult children awayThe importance of treating adult children as equalsWhy advice—even well-intended advice—can feel like criticism (we've heard this before!)How gifts and financial help sometimes come with hidden stringsThe role of self-awareness in repairing relationshipsWhy our children don't need us to fix everything—they need us to understand themHow to create a meaningful life beyond parentingIf you've ever wondered whether you're helping—or accidentally hurting—your relationship with your adult child, this episode is filled with compassionate insight and practical wisdom. 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 14, 202643min
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: Episode Rerun: The Long Game with Adult Children: A Conversation with Dr. Lindsay Gibson
This week we're revisiting one of our most talked-about episodes. Clinical psychologist and bestselling author of the book Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, Dr. Lindsay Gibson joins us discuss emotional maturity, self-awareness, and why we need to play the long game. Many parents struggle with the feeling that they are constantly being asked to listen, validate, and accommodate their adult children while their own feelings go unheard. Dr. Gibson offers a different perspective. She argues that when the goal is preserving and strengthening a relationship, sometimes the most important thing is not proving who is right but understanding the other person's emotional experience. In this conversation, we discuss:What it means to be an emotionally immature parent—and why emotional maturity exists on a continuumWhy every parent, even the most loving parent, has moments they regretHow stress, anxiety, and defensiveness affect our relationships with our adult childrenWhat to do when your adult child remembers an event very differently than you doWhy intentions and impact are not always the same thingThe difference between surface-level family relationships and emotionally intimate relationshipsWhy validation does not mean admitting guilt or agreeing with everything your child saysThe listener question many parents ask: "Why is it always on us?"Dr. Gibson's perspective on estrangement and the role therapy should play in family relationshipsHow parents can develop greater self-awareness and self-knowledge at any ageWhy building a healthy relationship with an adult child often requires playing "the long game"One of the most memorable takeaways from this episode is Dr. Gibson's reminder that relationships are not courtrooms. When an adult child shares something that hurt them, focusing on understanding their experience may be more helpful than debating the facts. Whether your relationship with your adult child is thriving, strained, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into connection, communication, and personal growth. About Dr. Lindsay Gibson Dr. Lindsay Gibson is a clinical psychologist and the bestselling author of Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents. Her work has helped millions of readers better understand family dynamics, emotional maturity, and the path toward healthier relationships. 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.
June 19, 202654min
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