FIRST AIRED APRIL 25, 2023

As parents, we often want to shield our children from the realities of the world, but it's ultimately impossible to do so. When children do hear about the news, it's important to have open and honest conversations with them. 

In this episode of the "Modern Mom Probs" podcast, Tara interviews Tracy Leeds Kaplan, the founder of Small But Mighty Media and creator of the popular podcast "The Ten News," about how to talk with children about the news. They discuss the importance of age-appropriate news sources for kids, the challenges of discussing sensitive topics, and the need for giving yourself space to be emotional. They also touch on the challenges of parenting in the digital age and finding time for family discussions. Tracy emphasizes the importance of listening and using age-appropriate language when discussing heavy news topics with kids.

If you’ve ever been at a loss for words, listen to this episode. 

Links:

https://www.thetennews.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ten-news-news-for-curious-kids/id1514325670

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/for-the-grown-ups-how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-gun-violence/id1514325670?i=1000607581233

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BLAST FROM THE PAST: FIRST AIRED DECEMBER 26, 2023

Tara welcomes Dr. Aliza Pressman, developmental psychologist, author, and host of the wildly popular podcast Raising Good Humans. She shares insights from her groundbreaking new book, "The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans."

Tara and Dr. Aliza discuss the challenges of modern parenting, what it means to raise good humans, the importance of maintaining strong parent-child relationships, and the concept of repair in relationships. Dr. Aliza explains that rules are not meant to hinder the relationship or sensitivity of caregiving, but rather to ensure safety and provide structure. She emphasizes the importance of finding support that resonates with each individual parent's values and beliefs, as well as filtering out the noise and focusing on what truly matters, which can be difficult given today’s climate of information overload.

Dr. Aliza acknowledges that no parent is perfect and through storytelling, she illustrates that it is essential to show children that perfection is not attainable and that being flawed is part of being human.

If you want to foster a stronger parent-child relationship and want to tap into the five principles of parenting, listen to this episode!

Links:

Website: https://draliza.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisinggoodhumanspodcast/

Newsletter: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raising-good-humans/id1473072044?i=1000622613224

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BLAST FROM THE PAST: FIRST AIRED NOVEMBER 14, 2023

In this episode, Tara welcomes Alyssa Blask Campbell, CEO of Sew and Seed. Alyssa is a trusted expert in emotional development and the host of the popular podcast "Voices of Your Village." The conversation centers around Alyssa's new book, "Tiny Humans, Big Emotions: How to Navigate Tantrums, Meltdowns, and Defiance to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Children."

Alyssa shares that the book is based on Collaborative Emotion Processing (CEP), a method for being with and moving through hard things. She and her colleague, Lauren Stauble developed this method after realizing that traditional behavior-focused approaches were not effective in real-life parenting situations. They wanted to create a comprehensive approach that focuses on the adult's self-awareness and self-care, as well as the interaction between adults and children.

Tara and Alyssa discuss the importance of emotional intelligence and its impact on daily life. Alyssa shares how her perspective on emotional intelligence shifted when she started envisioning a world where these tools were accessible to everyone, including her own child and future generations. She emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence in adults, especially those in positions of power, so they can support others and model healthy ways of navigating difficult situations.

Alyssa explains that emotional intelligence consists of five components: self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skills, and motivation. She highlights the significance of self-awareness, as it is the foundation for regulating emotions and accessing the other components. Alyssa uses personal examples, such as a social media backlash, to illustrate the importance of recognizing dysregulation cues and taking a step back before responding.

They also touch on empathy and how it is best taught through modeling. Instead of claiming to understand exactly how someone feels in a given situation, she suggests connecting with the emotions someone is experiencing, rather than focusing on why they are feeling that way.

If you’re interested in teaching your children empathy, you should listen to this episode!

Links:

https://www.seedandsew.org/

https://www.instagram.com/seed.and.sew/

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In this episode, Tara Clark sits down with developmental psychologists Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Dr. Roberta Golinkoff to talk about what kids actually need to thrive and why so many well-meaning parents are more stressed than they need to be. Drawing from their book Einstein Never Used Flash Cards: How Our Children Really Learn and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less, the conversation tackles the pressure cooker of modern parenting and gently reminds us that kids aren’t falling behind because they’re not memorizing enough… they’re learning through connection, curiosity, and play.

Together, they debunk some of the biggest parenting myths out there, including the idea that learning has to be forced, formal, or screen-based to count. Kathy and Roberta explain why play and imagination are foundational to child development, how everyday moments can be surprisingly powerful learning opportunities, and why children learn best when they’re ready. They also highlight how games and playful interactions help build crucial skills like self-regulation, social connection, and emotional understanding.

The conversation also takes a thoughtful look at technology and its role in family life, encouraging parents to use it as a tool, not a replacement for real human interaction.

This episode is a permission slip to relax, tune into your child’s feelings, and enjoy the parenting journey a little more. With practical insights and deeply reassuring wisdom, Kathy and Roberta remind us that caring for ourselves and savoring the small moments may be one of the most impactful things we can do as parents.

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/drkathyanddrro/

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/594245/einstein-never-used-flash-cards-revised-edition-by-kathy-hirsh-pasek-phd-and-roberta-michnick-golinkoff-phd-with-diane-eyer-phd/9780593980767/

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In this episode, Tara sits down with popular content creator of @ThatDarnChat, Fair Play Facilitator, and author of the new book No More Mediocre, Laura Danger for an honest, validating, and occasionally uncomfortably relatable conversation about domestic labor, mental load, and why so many partnerships quietly slide into mediocrity. They unpack how the pandemic cracked things wide open exposing just how uneven household responsibilities really are and why so many couples are still struggling to rebalance things years later. Spoiler: it’s not because anyone’s “bad at helping,” it’s because the entire concept of help is part of the problem.

Laura and Tara dig into the cultural conditioning that shapes our expectations at home, from who notices what needs to be done to who feels responsible for making sure it gets done. They explore the difference between expectations and standards (yes, they are not the same thing), and how unmet expectations can quietly turn into resentment, disconnection, and even feelings of betrayal. The conversation also touches on why mediocre relationships are so often tolerated (and normalized) especially for women and mothers who were taught to lower the bar and keep the peace.

Drawing from her book No More Mediocre, Laura makes a powerful case for intentionality in domestic roles and communication, emphasizing that equity doesn’t happen accidentally. Tara and Laura also reflect on how online conversations have helped name the mental load and bring language to something so many parents feel but couldn’t quite articulate. If you’ve ever felt exhausted by carrying the invisible work at home, or wondered why “just tell me what to do” isn’t the solution, this episode will make you feel seen, validated, and maybe a little fired up (in a good way).

Links:

https://www.lauradanger.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thatdarnchat/

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In this episode, Tara is joined by Dr. Kim Van Dusen, a marriage and family therapist, founder of The Parentologist, podcaster, and author of Parenting through Play: Creative Strategies for Building Better Behavior, Deeper Connection, and Positive Communication, who specializes in play therapy, for a conversation that feels equal parts validating and practical. They explore why play isn’t just “extra” in parenting. It’s essential. As parents, we tend to reach for conversation to connect, but kids speak a different language, and that language is play. Kim shares how breaking down our own barriers to play (time, guilt, exhaustion, the belief that we’re “bad at it”) can completely shift the parent–child relationship and create real connection, even in short, simple moments.

Tara and Kim also talk about how play evolves as kids grow, and how it can be used strategically, even for things like behavior challenges, homework battles, and chore resistance. Kim explains how understanding what’s happening emotionally for our kids can dramatically improve behavior, and how playful approaches can reduce power struggles while lowering stress for everyone involved. The big takeaway? Play doesn’t have to be complicated to create connection. Sometimes the simplest activities have the biggest impact.

https://theparentologist.com/

https://www.instagram.com/theparentologist/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/parenting-through-play-kim-van-dusen-psyd/1148218068

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In this festive, laugh-out-loud episode, Tara is joined by Jackie Santillan and Priscilla Kavanaugh, hosts of the new We Say What podcast, for a cozy (and slightly chaotic) holiday roundtable that feels like catching up with friends over spiked cocoa. The trio swaps stories about how holiday traditions evolve as families grow, like coordinated outfits, holiday videos, and the never-ending question of whether sending Christmas cards is worth the time, money, or sanity. They also tackle holiday fashion (yes, buffalo plaid has officially taken over) and reflect on how modern motherhood adds a whole new layer to the “most wonderful time of the year.”

Things really heat up when the conversation turns to holiday movies. Through a spirited bracket-style showdown, they debate classics like It’s a Wonderful Life, Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, and modern favorites like Elf. Along the way, they unpack why childhood staples like Home Alone, Rudolph, The Grinch, and even The Muppets hold such powerful emotional weight, and why nostalgia often decides the winner long before the final argument is made. The hosts also touch on how portrayals of family dynamics in older films can be both hilarious and… a little questionable.

By the end, the episode becomes less about crowning the “best” Christmas movie and more about what these films represent: memories, traditions, and the comfort of revisiting stories that shaped us. With plenty of humor, friendly debate, and knowing nods to the holiday hustle, Tara, Jackie and Priscilla remind listeners that the magic of the season isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s about taking time to enjoy special moments with our families.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-say-what/id1856328887

https://www.instagram.com/wesaywhatpod/

https://www.instagram.com/itspkav/

https://www.instagram.com/kindminds_smarthearts/

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In this episode, Tara is joined by Devon Kuntzman, author of Transforming Toddlerhood: Your Essential Guide to Age 1-5, to talk about what’s really happening when a child loses it, and why so many of us feel completely stuck in those moments. Devon explains that when a child is at a “level 10,” they’re in a full stress response. This isn’t bad behavior or manipulation; it’s a nervous system in overdrive. When kids are this overwhelmed, they’re not capable of logic or reasoning, and they often don’t even fully know what they’re doing, which can be both frustrating and freeing for parents to understand.

They also dig into why tantrums are not the time to lecture, punish, or try to make a point. No matter how calm or logical you think you’re being, a child in a tantrum simply can’t process it. Instead, Devon encourages parents to shift the goal from “teaching a lesson” to emotional regulation, starting with ourselves. When we understand our child’s brain state and bring awareness to the moment, we’re far more likely to help things settle rather than escalate.

This conversation offers a compassionate, realistic approach to tantrums that helps parents feel less reactive, more regulated, and a whole lot less alone during that tricky period of toddlerhood.

https://www.transformingtoddlerhood.com

https://www.transformingtoddlerhood.com/pre-order-book/

https://www.instagram.com/transformingtoddlerhood/

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In this fun solo episode, Tara dives into one of the most universal parts of family life: dinner time. From picky eaters to last-minute meal planning, Tara explores why dinner can feel like a juggling act. She reminds listeners that dinner doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect to be meaningful. Instead, it’s about presence, laughter, and creating small moments that bring your family closer together.

Tara also shares practical strategies and her favorite tips to take the pressure off mealtime, from simplifying dinner plans to getting kids involved in the process. She emphasizes that lowering expectations can reduce stress and that predictability often helps children feel more comfortable at the table. At the end of the day, family dinners aren’t about flawless recipes. They’re about connection and showing up for one another.Tune in to hear how a shift in perspective can turn dinner from another thing on your to-do list into one of the most grounding moments of your family’s day.

A special thank you to the sponsor of the video, New York Bakery, for being a busy parents mealtime sidekick and for helping Tara to remind her audience to embrace quality family time above all else.

Where to buy New York Bakery dinnertime favorites: https://nybakery.com/where-to-buy/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Ambassador&utm_campaign=Modernmomprobs

New York Bakery's Dinnertime Recipe Inspiration: https://www.instagram.com/thenybakery/https://www.tiktok.com/@thenybakery

Check out Tara's interview with real parents about what matters most when it comes to dinnertime: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ20tidkaPd/

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In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, Tara sits down with international parenting coach and author of "Parenting a Spicy One" Mary Van Geffen to talk about the beautiful complexity of raising strong-willed, “spicy” children. Together they unpack why parenting a spicy child can feel so isolating, and why even the very "best moms" can have "wildly defiant" kids. Mary explains how neurodivergence can shape a child’s behavior, why picking your battles matters, and how understanding a child’s underlying needs can dramatically reduce stress at home. They also explore the importance of allowing kids to fully express their emotions, setting clear expectations without harsh punishments, and recognizing the negative parenting cycles we sometimes slip into.

Mary shares practical, hope-filled tools for strengthening connection, starting with the simple act of delighting in your child. She talks about creating a “love list” to help parents affirm their child’s positive traits, build more positive interactions, and foster a warm, supportive family culture. Tara and Mary also discuss the magic of playfulness, how laughter eases tension, and why self-love is essential for any parent trying to raise a big-feeling kid with compassion. By understanding your own inner child and bringing more intention and curiosity to everyday moments, you can nurture a relationship that becomes even stronger through the years.

Links:

https://www.maryvangeffen.com/

https://www.maryvangeffen.com/parentingaspicyonebook

https://www.instagram.com/maryvangeffen

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