The Youth Sports Pressure Cooker: When Does Support Become Too Much?

Remember when youth sports were just... fun? Dr. Lisa Chipps, Senior Associate Athletic Director at Creighton University, joins hosts Dr. Christopher Villarreal and Dr. Deb Anderson to unpack the mounting pressures facing young athletes today - and how parents can support without suffocating. Drawing from years working with college athletes, Dr. Chipps reveals the evolution of student-athlete expectations, the difference between healthy pressure and harmful stress, and the critical conversations parents need to have (even when kids roll their eyes). Whether your child dreams of a college scholarship or just loves the game, this episode delivers practical guidance on nurturing athletic development while protecting childhood joy.

When your kid says "I don't care" about homework, what are they really telling you? Nick Zadina from the Boys Town National Hotline joins us to flip the script on motivation. Drawing from his work in crisis intervention and motivational interviewing, Nick explains why punishments and fear-based motivation stop working the moment kids leave for college. He shares practical strategies including how to identify what your child actually values, why "gentle pressure constantly applied" beats threats, and when to simply let natural consequences happen. This conversation will change how you think about homework battles, the "I don't care" attitude, and what really drives our kids to succeed.

In this critical episode, hosts Dr. Christopher Villarreal and Dr. Deb Anderson sit down with FBI Supervisory Special Agent Brian LeBlanc to decode school threats and expose the online predators targeting our children.

Agent LeBLanc, who leads the FBI's Domestic Terrorism and Threat Response Squad, reveals why anonymous bomb threats are almost always hoaxes and explains why students are actually safer staying inside during threat assessments rather than evacuating. Parents will learn how to differentiate between real and hoax threats, why behavioral threat assessment is our best defense against school violence, and what warning signs indicate their child might be targeted by online predators. Most importantly, Agent LeBlanc emphasizes that having honest conversations with kids about these dangers won't scare them - they're already dealing with more than parents realize.

Whether you're concerned about school safety or worried about your child's online activities, this episode delivers the FBI-level expertise every parent and educator needs to protect kids in today's complex threat landscape.

Content warning: This episode contains discussion of school violence that may be sensitive for some listeners

What really happens when a school goes into lockdown during an active shooter incident? In this powerful episode, Dr. Christopher Villarreal shares his first-hand experience of a school shooting, when he was a third-year teacher hiding under his desk, unable to reach anyone, learning about the crisis through news reports on his laptop.

Now serving as Director of Communications and leading school safety initiatives, Christopher and co-host Dr. Deb Anderson discuss how school emergency protocols have transformed, what actually helps students and staff recover from crisis, and what gives hope for keeping schools both safe and joyful.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by device settings or wondered what your kid's school Chromebook is actually filtering, this one's for you. PLCS Director of Technology Matt Moore breaks down the difference between what schools manage and what you can control at home - from iPhones and Androids to gaming consoles and Netflix profiles. He explains where to find parental control tools you didn't know existed, why that "downtime" feature matters for sleep, and the warning signs (like defensiveness or sudden mood swings) that tip him off when his own three kids are testing boundaries. No tech degree required - just start with the manufacturer's website and ask good questions.

Ever wonder why your child loved blueberries yesterday but refuses them today? Jennifer Anderson from Kids Eat in Color joins us to solve the "blueberry lottery" mystery and share game-changing strategies for feeding picky eaters. Learn why putting a cookie on the dinner plate might actually work, discover the simple protein-energy-color formula for balanced meals, and find out why those "three more bites" negotiations might be backfiring. Plus, get reassurance that you're not ruining your child – even when dinner is just five bites of food.

The kids themselves are saying it: "Thank you for putting in a cell phone policy." In this revealing episode of Mindshift, hosts Dr. Christopher Villarreal and Dr. Deb Anderson sit down with Papillion La Vista High School Principal Jason Ryan to explore the surprising reality of phone-free classrooms.

Ryan shares how his school's three-year journey from "phones in pockets" to "phones in caddies" transformed not just grades but the entire social fabric of the school. Students are having real conversations at lunch, finishing homework, and finding relief from the constant pressure of being "always on."

Whether you're a parent wondering how to support school policies at home or an educator considering similar changes, this episode offers practical strategies for setting healthy tech boundaries. The surprising truth? Kids actually want the structure we're afraid to give them.

One in ten eighth graders has tried vaping in the last 30 days. In this eye-opening solo episode, host Dr. Christopher Villarreal sits down with pediatrician and addiction medicine specialist Dr. Ken Zoucha to decode the vaping epidemic quietly infiltrating our schools.

From understanding why vaping doesn't burn like cigarettes (making it dangerously easier to use) to learning that 60% of teen vapers want to quit but can't, this conversation strips away the confusion surrounding e-cigarettes, Juuls, and vape pens. Dr. Zoucha reveals enlightening statistics and shares practical strategies for talking to your kids about vaping without triggering shutdown.

Whether you're a parent wondering if your child has tried vaping or an educator seeing devices in school bathrooms, this episode delivers the straight facts and real solutions you need – including evidence-based apps designed by teens for teens.

When teens withdraw to their rooms or kids say "I'm fine" through tears, how do you know when to worry? In this crucial episode of Mindshift, mental health expert Julia Hebenstreit joins Christopher and Deb to demystify suicide prevention and trasnform fear into action.

Julia reveals why asking directly "Are you thinking of suicide?" won't plant the idea (that's a myth!) and shares practical tools like creating wellness plans during good times and identifying your "three people" for tough moments. Learn the warning signs and discover how programs like Hope Squads prove that youth are actually leading the conversation better than adults.

Remember when getting your kid to school was as simple as "because I said so"? Yeah, those days are GONE. In our season premiere, we're diving into the real talk about school attendance – from the 5-year-old declaring "I don't want to go!" to the teenager with the car keys and autonomy. We're unpacking why "life gets lifey" (best phrase ever), how anxiety changed the attendance game, and what actually works when your kid plants themselves in bed at 7:45 AM.