We originally had researcher and author Emily Oster on the show to chat about her book, The Family Firm, which is a helpful guidebook for parents that offers a smart method for making decisions (because as parents, we make a lot of them). However, we couldn't have her on and not chat about some of the research she has done about opening the schools in the pandemic, and most recently, the effectiveness of masks, which has made her reviled and revered. What you'll hear is a lively chat about lots of important things that we know lots of parents are thinking about right now. And, as always, we share our cool picks of the week.
Thanks to our sponsor Vrbo, who just released their 2022 trend report, and KidsBEETV.com, a fun, safe, and surprising app for kids.
Follow us on social media: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Links from this show, including Emily's book The Family Firm, can be found on our site.
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Pandemic fails, data-driven decision making, and more: A lively chat with Emily Oster | Episode 262

Discover practical parenting tips, relatable insights, and lots of commiseration from host Liz Gumbinner, of Cool Mom Picks and Mom-101 fame, and her incredible expert guests. (Celebrities! Authors! Activists!) For more than a decade, Liz has been helping us all navigate the insane ups and downs of parenting with common sense and good humor, and she's not going to let you down now. Spawned has been celebrated for its support of diverse families, named a top podcast for parents by The Washington Post, Mental Floss, Business Insider, and Fatherly, and won the 1st annual Iris Award for best parenting podcast.

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It is so tough to navigate the college search and admission process -- emotionally, practically, financially. (Eep!)  It completely stressed me out, and I'm a pretty Type B mom. So learn from my mistakes! To kick off a new year of Spawned, we're lucky to be getting super helpful tips from Alyse Levine, one of the foremost college counseling experts in the country. She's not only worked with high school students at all levels, she's the former assistant director of undergrad admissions at Washington University in St. Louis. In other words, she's got an invaluable perspective you're going to want to hear. (Also, she's really nice!) - Liz
Thanks to our sponsor Premium Prep, the renown college counseling program that's helped guide 93% of their students into one of their top three choices.
Spawned Listeners: Save up to $1000 on a Premium Prep program through this link, or by mentioning Spawned. (Take that offer, worth it!)
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Join: Spawned Podcast FB Community
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Find Alyse Levine: Website, Facebook, Instagram
Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page
Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/
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A college guidance expert and former admissions officer helps de-stress the application process. Phew!  | Ep 301

At the end of such a tough year, we're looking to find all the holiday joy where we can, and make fun for our kids -- but why do moms always seem to be the people behind the fun, and not part of the fun? Liz is joined by  Margaret Ables, co-host of the fabulous What Fresh Hell parenting podcast to commiserate, and we're offering smart tips (eg stop trying to make things perfect!), sweet family stories, plenty of laughter, and a lot of compassion for moms feeling overwhelmed right now. 
Thanks to our sponsor Disney Villainous: Intro to Evil for creating a wonderful screen-free game that's actually fun for adults, right along with our tweens and teens. Check out the new Disney100 limited edition, which is a great gift for Disney super-fans!
Follow Spawned: Apple, Spotify, Amazon
Join:  Spawned Podcast FB Community
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Follow Liz Gumbinner: Instagram, Facebook, Substack, Threads
Follow Margaret Ables and What Fresh Hell: Twitter, Facebook, Facebook Group, Adalyst Media
Shownotes from today's episode: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page
Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/
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How moms can find some holiday joy for themselves: With Margaret Ables | Ep 300

We all say we want to raise kids who are happy, healthy, and can be their authentic selves. So what happens when your kid is becoming someone who's really different from what we had imagined? That's the story Kate Brookes tells in the wonderful Transister: Raising Twins in a Gender-Bending World. She's incredibly forthcoming, funny, reflective, and supportive, whether you're raising kids who defy traditional norms of gender and sexuality--or are just individuals in their own way.
Really, this is a meaningful conversation for any parent whose kids are on a path to be their own selves, and I'm grateful for Kate's time, her honesty, and her humor through it all. - Liz
Follow Spawned on Apple: bit.ly/spawnedshow
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Find Liz Gumbinner: Substack, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Post
Find Kate Brookes: transistermom.com, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon
Find Cool Mom Picks: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Shownotes, links from this episode, info on our Cool Picks of the week: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page
Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/
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Parenting kids in a gender-nonconforming world: Kate Brookes of Transister | Ep 299

When the Surgeon General issued his recent advisory on social media and the health of our kids, I knew author,  columnist, and adolescent digital media expert Dr. Devorah Heitner would be the perfect person to ask for guidance and reassurance. And wow does she come through! Here, she offers incredibly helpful, specific tips about what we can do as parents to keep our kids healthy on social media-- and what we should not do (no spying!) -- with Devorah's trademark non-judgmental, common sense, research-based wisdom to help us all navigate some tricky stuff we may not know a lot about. 
Follow Spawned on Apple: bit.ly/spawnedshow
Follow Spawned on Spotify: Here
Follow Cool Mom Picks: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Follow Liz Gumbinner: Substack Twitter, Instagram, Post
Find Devorah Heitner: Substack, Instagram, Amazon, devorahheitner.com
Shownotes, links from this episode, info on our Cool Picks of the week: Cool Mom Pick Podcast Page
Subscribe to get even more Cool Picks of the Week in your inbox once a week: coolmompicks.com/subscribe/
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Dr. Devorah Heitner on Keeping Kids Healthy on Social Media | Ep 298

Bestselling author, podcast host, and psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour shares her insights and thoughtful advice on raising emotionally connected and resilient teens and discusses the impetus for her newest book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. 
Visit Cool Mom Picks for show notes, and follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 


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Pandemic fails, data-driven decision making, and more: A lively chat with Emily Oster | Episode 262

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