In the sixth episode of I Sleep Great: A Non-Parent's Guide to Parenting, Ben sits down with Jen Vaida to discuss adverse childhood experiences, how no human is an island, and what you can do to get involved and create a better world for children. Jen is a mother and the Chief Program Officer at Nurture the Next, who works tirelessly to create a future for children and families filled with promise and prosperity.

(0:50) - Introduction to Jen and Nurture the Next

(3:05) - Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

(7:20) - Nurturing Parenting program at Nurture the Next

(8:10) - Every child has a different experience

(10:25) - The impact of ACEs

(14:50) - How to get involved in Nurture the Next; Description of the programs offered

(17:50) - Importance of "serve and return" with children

(19:45) - Living through learning; Jen’s experience as a parent

(23:45) - Parenting a child with disabilities

(27:30) - Struggling to maintain a sense of perfection as a parent

(29:00) - Humor as a coping mechanism

(32:15) - No human is an island

(34:00) - Why you need to help; What you can do; How to get involved with Nurture the Next

(42:30) - The experiences of non-parents versus parents during Covid

(45:25) - Raising your voice and how to deal with the aftereffects

(46:45) - Key Takeaways

In the fifth episode of I Sleep Great: A Non-Parent's Guide to Parenting, Ben meets with Pete Dunlap to talk about being together but absent, the tragic event that led to him founding his company, and why kids are going to be alright when it comes to technology. Pete is a father, software engineer, and the founder of Digital Detangler, a digital wellbeing initiative.

(1:00) - Introduction to Pete

(2:15) - How Pete got into this role; Tragic event that led to him founding his company

(10:30) - How to safely navigate technology with children; How technology has evolved; Boredom Engines

(17:00) - Being together but absent

(21:00) - Advice and tips for parents

(31:15) - Misconception about time that children spend on technology; Habits

(34:30) - Pros and cons of technology

(36:00) - How technology affects families of different income levels

(38:35) - Bullying and technology; mental health crises

(44:00) - Original purpose of texting

(45:35) - Mental versus physical exhaustion

(47:15) - Multitasking and its impact

(51:10) - Resources; Key takeaways

In the fourth episode of I Sleep Great: A Non-Parent's Guide to Parenting, Ben talks with Ali Wolf about her early career as a television news anchor, how we are all works-in-progress, and the importance of self-care. Ali is a mother and the host of the podcast Mom's Calling, which explores the issues, challenges, sacrifices, and accomplishments of women pursuing successful and fulfilling careers.

(1:20) - Introduction to Ali and her podcast

(6:15) - Biggest lessons learned through her podcast guests

(8:10) - Her career as a news anchor and transition to motherhood

(10:10) - How her podcast started

(12:30) - Maintaining a sense of self once becoming a parent; Self-care

(24:00) - Travel/Vacations as a new parent

(26:00) - Lifestyle changes once becoming a parent and accepting the changes

(30:00) - Advice that is not helpful for pregnant or new parents

(32:00) - Body changes during pregnancy and after birth

(33:35) - Advice on maintaining a sense of self after becoming a new parent

In Episode 3 of I Sleep Great: A Non-Parent's Guide to Parenting, Ben sits down with Mr. Steve the Music Man to discuss the importance of enthusiasm, his early-childhood memories of music, and to listen to his ukulele music. Mr. Steve is a writer and performer who creates high-quality, socially conscious music for children.

(1:45) - Introduction to Mr. Steve, his work, and his songs

(7:30) - How and what he learned about kids after starting this work

(11:30) - Importance of enthusiasm; How to talk to children

(14:45) - The power of music on children

(18:20) - His experience with Musicians on Call

(21:45) - Mr. Steve plays his song "Don't Text and Drive"

(23:55) - Early childhood memory of music

(24:35) - Is music important for newborns?

(27:45) - Should we encourage creativity or practicality in children?

(31:30) - Reawakening child-like curiosity in new parents; Being open; Breaking cycles

(35:30) - Mr. Steve's personal anecdotes

(40:00) - Key takeaways; Advice

In Episode 2 of I Sleep Great: A Non-Parent's Guide to Parenting, Ben talks with Stephanie Kemp about babies' digestion, the benefits of healthy eating, and her company. Stephanie is a personal trainer, macrobiotic health coach, and founder of Macro Mama Foods.

(1:30) - Introduction to Stephanie

(2:20) - Baby food; Feeding for development

(7:35) - Making your own baby food

(10:55) - Eating deliberately; Grains

(11:55) - About Macro Mama Foods' products

(19:25) - Children's taste preferences; Dealing with picky eaters

(21:40) - Sampling and reviewing Macro Mama Foods products

(28:15) - How to get locally sourced and organic foods while dealing with food insecurity

(31:50) - Advice on baby food and eating

I Sleep Great: A Non-Parent's Guide to Parenting is finally here! Our host, Ben, sits down with Dr. Rosemary Hunter to talk about the importance of safe sleep, the challenges of breastfeeding, and advice that she has for new parents. Dr. Hunter is a Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University and a Member of the Board of Directors at Nurture the Next.

(3:30) - Dr. Hunter's background in pediatrics

(9:10) - What happens during labor

(11:45) - Lifestyle changes that new parents can expect

(12:30) - How having a baby may affect a relationship

(20:45) - Safe sleep for babies and parents

(30:35) - Breastfeeding, its challenges, its benefits, bonding with the baby

(36:45) - Adapting parenting styles for subsequent children

(39:50) - How to get through challenges

(41:40) - Advocacy, Nurture the Next home-visiting programs

I Sleep Great: A Non-Parent's Guide to Parenting is a new podcast hosted by  Ben Oddo and produced in partnership with Nurture the Next. Through educational and entertaining interviews, we are going to focus  on some of the more challenging moments of parenthood, like stress management, nutrition, and play. Our hope is to empower better parenting, and ultimately healthier, safer homes for more resilient children. 

We'll be releasing episodes on nurturethenext.org or wherever you get podcasts. Also make sure to follow us on social media @nurturethenext. Parenting is hard and we're here to help.