Make It a Great One with Dr. Dan: #1 Podcast for Inspiring Conversations to Live and Lead On Purpose

As a parent, Dr. Dan knows how important today’s discussion with expert and educator Charis Denison will be for all families: talking and communicating is the key to all relationships, especially relationships with our children and teens.

Charis Denison has worked for two decades with a special focus on the topics parents and teens need to address most to have a positive relationship and effective communication. Recently her work was featured in Peggy Orenstein’s new book, Girls & Sex: Navigating the New and Complicated Landscape and she regularly lectures on this subject and many others. 

Today Dr. Dan and Charis address many important and provocative topics including:

  What are the most important issues our teens are facing today?

  What is the most effective way to talk to teens about drug use?

  What are kids’ concerns about sex and sexuality?

  What are some ideas to help us impart our values to our kids?

  What do most teens want from their parents during this time?

And more.

Charis Denison built her experience primarily by working with schools and nonprofits for more than 20 years. After initially teaching middle and high school English and Creative Writing, Charis began to develop curricula and publish articles related to social justice, ethics, human development, community involvement, and experiential education. She has received national recognition for her work in those fields, as well as for her community-based work with American teens and Tibetan refugees in Central Asia. 

Charis holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Development from the University of San Francisco. She has been a faculty member at Westridge School in Pasadena, CA, the Urban School of San Francisco, the Branson School in Ross, CA, and Marin Academy in San Rafael, CA. Currently, she runs Prajna Consulting while also maintaining long-term teaching relationships at several Bay Area schools, including Sonoma Academy, Head-Royce School, University High School, and Sir Francis Drake High School. Through Prajna Charis consults with schools, parents, students, and businesses both organizationally and individually. She also facilitates workshops and speaks on a wide variety of topics.

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Today Dr. Dan welcomes Polo Tate, the author of DEEP DARK BLUE: A MEMOIR OF SURVIVAL (www.polotate.com). A warning to our listeners: today’stopic is not appropriate for young listeners and could be triggering for sexual assault survivors.

Dr. Dan and Polo Tate discuss her memoir and her harrowing story of survival – of losing her sister at a young age (in a tragic horse riding accident) and as a sexual assault victim (twice) at the US Air Force Academy.

Polo’s story is one of resilience and victory and her advice and advocacy is helping young men and women find their voices, speak out, and not just survive but thrive.

In this episode, Dr. Dan and Polo discuss important and sensitive topics including:

Sexual assault and PTSD

Warning signs of a sexual predator  

How writing can be a path to healing

The importance of not letting others take your joy and trusting your inner voice

And more (including Polo’s Parent Footprint moment)

Polo Tate was born in Lansing, Michigan, where her family has deep ties to the community. Her Great Great Grandfather was Ransom Eli Olds (R.E. Olds), a pioneer and prolific inventor most notably responsible for inventing the first American internal combustion automobile—the Oldsmobile.

Growing up, Tate used her academic aptitude and athletic prowess to earn appointments to both The United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA) and the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs (USAFA). She decided to accept the challenge to attend USAFA out of high school, where she played varsity volleyball in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Tate left during her second year, and her harrowing journey at one of our nation’s most challenging institutions can now be found in her gritty, honest and dynamic debut memoir, Deep Dark Blue.

After leaving USAFA, Tate restarted her college career at the University of Notre Dame. She played Volleyball for the Irish in the Big East Conference and eventually graduated with a B.A. degree in Film, Television, and Theatre.

Today Polo Tate is an actor, author, writer, and comedian, performing all over New York City and Los Angeles. She is a passionate public speaker, with a mission for all to see, feel and understand their own self-worth, empowerment, and value.

For more information about Polo and her book please visit: www.polotate.com

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Today Dr. Dan welcomes Elaine Hall, founder of Inclusion from WithIn (I WIn)® and The Miracle Project®. Elaine Hall’s pioneering work with autism and special needs is changing the way the world perceives disability. 

Elaine Hall is a pioneer in using inclusive theatre to connect with individuals with autism. When traditional therapies did not work for her son, diagnosed with autism as a toddler, she developed an innovative creative-based methodology (now evidence-based) to reach him.  Recognized worldwide, she has spoken at the United Nations, featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, on CNN, CBS, the Oprah Winfrey Network, received numerous honors, and profiled in the Emmy winning HBO documentary, Autism: The Musical. Her memoir, Now I See the Moon, was the official selection for World Autism Awareness Day by the United Nations and her second book, Seven Keys to Unlock Autism is used as a text book at Brown University. Elaine has led training programs and neuro-diverse summer camps nationally and internationally including at Brown University, in San Francisco, in Hong Kong, in Argentina and spoke on inclusion for faith-based organizations at the National Autism Conference. A media consultant, she has been an advisor and acting coach on the film Please Stand By starring Dakota Fanning, the Netflix series Atypical and on several other upcoming Disney animated and live action series. Hall’s students, once too shy to even walk into a room of their peers, have now performed alongside Crosby, Stills, and Nash; on the TV shows, Parentood,The Good Doctor, and Atypical as well as others. Elaine’s son Neal has also presented at the United Nations using his iPad to speak.  

Elaine also leads workshops moving from inclusion to belonging for faith-based organizations, and has received several grants from The Jewish Community Foundation for her groundbreaking work in religious programming for individuals with disabilities. She has led trainings in universities and theater programs nationally and internationally  including at Brown University, UCLA, and at NYU in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Argentina. Nominated as one of Los Angeles’ 50 most inspiring women, Elaine lives in Santa Monica with the two loves of her life, her son, Neal and husband Jeff Frymer, a Marriage and Family therapist.

Dr. Dan and Elaine discuss many inspiring topics including:

The Miracle Project

Elaine’s own parenthood journey and what we can all learn from her

HBO’s Autism The Musical and the Netflix series Atypical

Teaching tolerance, acceptance, and the beauty of diversity

 Elaine’s books  - her memoir NOW I SEE THE MOON and the instructive 7 KEYS TO UNLOCK AUTISM

The interview wraps up with Elaine’s heartfelt Parent Footprint moment (though as Dr, Dan mentions Elaine gives us many profound parenting moments).

Today’s show will touch your heart and change the way you see the world! 

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Dr. Dan interviews educator and expert Natasha Singh about a timely and important topic: Sexual Literacy. As founder of SexLitEd (Sexual Literacy Educator, www.sexlited.com) Natasha explains that while parents are the primary teachers about life that schools and society (including pop culture and social media) often are the main teachers for our children about gender, race, sexuality, and power. Natasha helps families, educators and children everywhere achieve sexual literacy -- a concept that is more important than ever as we raise our children to become happy and healthy adults in a complex world.

Natasha Singh is a writer and sexual literacy educator who regularly teaches about consent, sexual ethics, effective communication, healthy relationships, the difference between porn and sex, undoing gender-role training, learning mindful masculinity and more. She partners with parents, teachers, and schools to create programing and curriculum that is responsive to student needs and helps families, too. She is a respected expert and a popular workshop educator.

Today’s interview touches on many topics including: meaningful sexuality education for students; how parents, teens and pre-teens can have open lines of communication about gender, sex, and intimacy; and her goal for all students to have healthy relationships, clear communication, sexual ethics and joy in their relationships with themselves and others.

The episode wraps up with Natasha’s Parent Footprint Moment. Today’s show offers powerful and useful advice for all parents. Watch this free video to learn more about Dr. Dan and Parent Footprint Awareness Training®.

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Dr. Dan welcomes Dr. Suanne Kowal-Connelly to discuss her new book Parenting Through Puberty: Mood Swings, Acne, and Growing Pains. They discuss other topics including parenting, teens and much more! https://www.healthpoweredbyyou.com/

Suanne Kowal-Connelly, MD, FAAP is a practicing pediatrician with more than 30 years’ experience. She serves as the Director of Pediatric Clinical Quality for the Long Island Federally Qualified Health Centers (LIFQHC) in Nassau County. Additionally, she works as the district physician in many of her local school districts and performs as a New York State trainer for child abuse and neglect.

Dr. Dan and Dr. Kowal-Connelly discuss the more than 12 million children in the United States who fall into the 12-14-year-old age group that are either currently or soon to be experiencing puberty. PARENTING THROUGH PUBERTY is published with the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a vital new resource for all parents.

In today’s episode Dr. Dan explores with Dr. Kowal-Connelly how going through puberty in 2018 is very different than it was when you and I were 12. Social media, cyberbullying, increased environmental toxins, and new brain science studies mean that most parents don’t have all of the information to help their children make this transition healthfully. Thankfully Dr. Kowal-Connelly explains to Dr. Dan how her book will provide families with the information they need now.

The show wraps up with Dr. Suanne’s Parent Footprint Moment.

Dr. Suanne Kowal-Connelly is a contributor to HealthyChildren.org, the official AAP website for parents. And is the ultra-proud mother of three grown sons. She is a sports enthusiast and an avid triathlete.

Watch this free video to learn more about Dr. Dan and Parent Footprint Awareness Training®.

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Dr. Dan welcomes Stephanie O’Leary, Psy.D., clinical psychologist and author of PARENTING IN THE REAL WORLD to the show today. http://www.stephanieoleary.com

Dr. O'Leary specializes in neuropsychology and a mom of two. She has been in practice for over a decade providing parents with her no-nonsense approach to navigating the daily grind while preparing kids for the challenges they will face in the real world.

Dr. Dan discusses the book PARENTING IN THE REAL WORLD with Dr. O’Leary and both offer parenting advice including --

A simple road-map to help parents parent like a rock-star (even when they want to give up).

A no-nonsense approach to help parents navigate the chaos of the daily grind.

Strategies to help ditch the "mommy (or daddy) guilt" that only makes parenting harder.

Easy ways to prepare your child for the challenges that exist out there in the real world all while rediscovering joy in parenting!

The two also discuss how parents can strengthen the parent-child bond and the show ends with Dr. O’Leary’s Parent Footprint Moment. Listeners can learn more about Dr. O’Leary and her approach at www.StephanieOLeary.com

Watch this free video to learn more about Dr. Dan and Parent Footprint Awareness Training®.

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Dr. Dan interviews Jeremy G. Schneider, MFT today about his new book FATHERHOOD IN 40-MINUTE SNAPSHOTS (https://www.jgs.net/). The book is a collection of his articles about being a dad that were written on his daily morning (train) commute to work in New York City. The essays are personal, real, refreshing, and intimate.

Jeremy has a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and has been writing about parenting, relationships and mental health since his twin teenagers were born. The inspiration for his book is simple but profound: Many men are learning to be Dads by creating their own blueprint as parents -- this phenomena is different than the past role of fathers.

Jeremy has been published in both national and regional parenting magazines in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia and has been interviewed by publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, The Today Show, Parents and many more.

Dr. Dan and Jeremy discuss the importance of Dads in their children’s lives as well as topics including:

Being present

Being an engaged parent but also balancing work, life as a dad

How to be role model

How to help children feel supported and also challenged

How to guide, facilitate and help our children find their own path in life

How to connect with child - keep trying!

The show ends with a touching Parent Footprint moment about one of the author’s two-year-old twins -- and inspiration to get up fifteen minutes earlier!

Jeremy G. Schneider was born in Philadelphia and currently lives in New York. He has been with his wife for more than 25 years and they have twin boy/girl teenagers in high school. 

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Dr. Dan welcomes colleague and friend Julie F. Skolnick, M.A., J.D. to today’s show.

Julie is the founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC a community for gifted/2e families, children, adults, and educators. (www.WithUnderstandingComesCalm.com).

In today’s episode, Dr.Dan and Julie focus on Julie’s work with gifted, twice-exceptional and much more.  Julie’s touching opening story about her own children and her parenting journey (and later her very honest and real Parent Footprint moment) will resonate with parents. 

As the founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, Julie Skolnick passionately guides parents of gifted and distractible children, mentors 2e adults, and collaborates with and advises educators and professionals on bringing out the best and raising self-esteem in their students and clients. A frequent speaker and prolific writer, Julie is also the mother of three twice exceptional children who keep her on her toes and laughing. During today’s show, Julie describes her process to Dr. Dan which includes three parts and a “cycle for success” as well as her P.R.A.I.S.E. method. Here is more information, in her own words from the interview and her website-- 

Understanding

With understanding comes calm. Through the lenses of giftedness and distractibility, I will help you understand your child’s perplexing behaviors, complicated feelings and challenging attitudes and the responses of others toward them... When we understand why our children feel what they feel we can respond to their behavior in a calm and productive way. 

Strategies

Once we understand why your child reacts, behaves and feels the way he does, we can calmly create strategies to redirect or diffuse his behavior and help bring out the best in him so he may successfully reach his potential. We will fill your toolbox with ways to avoid negative reactions, encourage responsibility, and increase your child’s self-awareness and self esteem. 

Implement/Advocate

How will these strategies actually happen at home, in the classroom and out in the world? The success of implementation is planning ahead. Along with an implementation plan, we advise parents on how to advocate with necessary professionals: teachers, administrators, coaches and others so parents create a mutually supportive team without creating a defensive atmosphere. The goal is to form a partnership where parents and professionals gain mutual benefits from sharing information, techniques, and have a respectful back and forth about the best way to help your child thrive. 

Julie serves as Secretary on the Maryland Superintendent’s Gifted and Talented Advisory Council and is on the Advisory Council for “The G Word” movie. Julie is the SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) Maryland liaison, a SENG Model Parent Group (SMPG) trained facilitator and on the Simultaneous Supports committee for the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). She is trained in a suite of tools “Putting the Person into Personalized Learning” through the 2e Center in Studio City, Ca.

Julie’s work has changed the lives of many children and families.  For more information listeners can visit 2Daysof2e.com and www.WithUnderstandingComesCalm.com.

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Today Dr. Dan interviews Amy Laurent, Ph.D., OTR/L (www.amy-laurent.com), a developmental psychologist and a registered pediatric occupational therapist. Currently in private practice in Rhode Island, Amy specializes in the education of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and related developmental disabilities. 

Amy’s work involves collaborating with and supporting early intervention teams, school teams, and families with the creation of educational programs and environments that facilitate children’s active engagement and learning at home, in schools, and throughout their communities. The SCERTS Model, of which she is a co-author http://www.scerts.com/ , along with differentiated instruction and developmental theory, guide her practice.                                                                       

In this episode Dr. Dan and Amy focus on Amy’s work including defining the SCERTS model for autism intervention and how the model works.  Dr. Dan supports strength-based interventions and hearing this episode will inspire many families as Dr. Dan and Amy explore language, social skills, sensory systems, transitions, executive functioning and more. Amy’s passion about the importance of focusing on the relationship with your child is contagious as is her charming story about a Parent Footprint moment with her son. 

In addition, Dr. Dan and Amy speak a bit about a new seminal study on SCERTS, emotional regulation and parenting.  http://news.fsu.edu/news/health-medicine/2018/06/28/strategic-classroom-intervention-can-make-big-difference-for-autism-students/#.WzUwPG2oujQ.facebook

Amy is an adjunct faculty member for the Department of Psychology at the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI. She teaches courses focused on Developmental Psychology. Previously, she has served as an adjunct faculty member for the Communication Disorders Department at Emerson College and at the University of Rhode Island. In these roles, she developed graduate courses focused on preparing clinicians to meet the needs of children with autism, as well as the needs of their families.

Amy’s current research interests involve examining the relationship between characteristics of young children diagnosed with Autism and strategies used by parents to support them within the context of natural routines and play. Her publications focus on social communication and emotional regulation in individuals diagnosed with ASD. She frequently lectures and provides training throughout the United States and internationally on the SCERTS Model, and other topics related to therapeutic and educational intervention for children with ASD. 

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Today’s interview is inspired by a popular post on THRIVE GLOBAL that resonated with Dr. Dan. Author and journalist Lis Wiehl’s (www.liswiehlbooks.com) recently wrote about about father’s day and the influence her father and grandfather have in her life. Today’s show will inspire every listener!

Lis Wiehl’s post for Thrive Global touched many readers when it went live for Father’s Day. The influence both her Dad and Grand-Dad had on her life and career is inspiring and powerful -- it will touch the heart of listeners everywhere.

Dr. Dan reminds us that the Parent Footprint community is based on the principle that who you are and how you live are the keys to successful parenting. To raise happy and healthy children parents must know who they are and how their own experiences as a child influence their own parenting. A happy and healthy parent raises happy and healthy children.

Lis and Dr. Dan discuss:

1)  Her Thrive Global piece - the influence of parents

2)  How her career has influenced her own parenting

3)  Turning to another “family” -- How Lis Wiehl managed her relationships (and her emotions) with the victims of the Charles Manson murders when writing her new book HUNTING CHARLES MANSON (www.huntingcharlesmanson.com)

Lis Wiehl is a New York Times best-selling author, journalist, former federal prosecutor, and respected legal analyst and commentator.

A legal analyst and reporter for Fox News for fifteen years, Lis is currently an anchor for the Law & Crime Network and the host of the new podcast Pursuit of Justice with Lis Wiehl.

Lis Wiehl is the author of 18 books, including most recently Hunting Charles Manson: The Quest for Justice in the Days of Helter Skelter (Harper Collins, June 2018), the first title in a new true crime book series. In 2008, she won a “Books for a Better Life” award for The 51% Minority.

Prior to joining Fox News in New York City, Wiehl served as a legal analyst and reporter for NBC News and NPR’s All Things Considered and was the co-host of the nationally syndicated show The Radio Factor. Wiehl served as a Federal Prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s office and was an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Washington. Lis Wiehl was the Deputy Investigative Counsel for the Democrats during the Impeachment of President Clinton.

Wiehl earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and her Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Queensland. Currently she is also a Professor of Law at New York Law School.

For more information visit: www.liswiehlbooks.com.

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