Hi Parents!

In this solo episode, we’re diving into how you can help your teen step into the new year with a mindset that feels calmer, more confident, and more sustainable. While January often brings big goals, big emotions, and big expectations, it also brings pressure.

Together, we explore why resolutions typically fall apart by the end of the month, how the anxious brain interprets “fresh starts,” and the simple shifts parents can make to help their teens stay motivated without feeling overwhelmed. We walk through why so many teens quit their goals early, how to break down big ambitions into meaningful, achievable steps, and why emotional awareness matters more than the size of the goal itself. 

If you’re looking to help your teen build resilience, consistency, and self-trust going into the new year, this episode will give you practical tools, deeper insight, and the encouragement you need.

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

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Hi Parents!

Today I sit down with Krista St-Germain to explore the tender, complex reality of supporting a teen through the loss of a parent while also navigating your own grief. Krista is a Master Certified Life Coach, widow, and host of The Widowed Mom Podcast, and her work has helped thousands of women rebuild their lives with compassion, self-trust, and hope after profound loss.

Krista and I dig into where the familiar “five stages of grief” came from and why they were never intended to describe how real people move through loss. We talk about what grief often looks like behind closed doors, how widowhood can reshape your identity, and why learning to trust your emotional process is such an essential part of healing.

We also talk about how teens grieve differently, how to recognize grief beneath certain behaviours, and how to support them without trying to fix the pain. Krista shares guidance on navigating birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays in ways that honour the parent who died while giving everyone space to feel what they feel.

More about Krista:

Krista is a grief and post-traumatic growth expert who rebuilt her life after losing her husband to a drunk driver in 2016. Through therapy, mindset work, and coaching tools, she found a path forward, and now helps widows do the same. Her work has been featured in Psychology Today, Medium, Parents Magazine, and more.

If you’re supporting a grieving teen or grieving yourself, I hope this conversation brings you comfort, clarity, and permission to move at the pace that feels right for you. It’s a conversation I know will support so many.

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

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Hi Parents!

In today’s episode, I sit down with international parenting coach Mary Van Geffen to talk honestly about what it means to raise a strong-willed child or as Mary playfully calls it, Parenting A Spicy One. If you have a child who feels everything deeply, pushes back hard, or seems immune to traditional strategies, this conversation will feel like a breath of relief.

Mary and I explore what truly defines a Spicy One and why their behavior can look so different from their peers. We get into why classic discipline often backfires and what actually helps them feel safe, seen, and cooperative. Mary also explains what’s happening beneath the surface during intense moments and how parents can stay calm, kind, and firm even when emotions escalate.

More About Mary:

Mary is an international parenting coach who specializes in helping moms of strong-willed, deeply sensitive kids. Through her training as a Simplicity Parenting counselor and Professional Co-Active Coach and her own lived experience raising a spirited child, Mary teaches parents how to stay regulated, compassionate, and confident when the heat rises. With more than 400,000 parents following her daily insights on Instagram and thousands completing her transformative programs, she’s become a trusted voice for families learning to parent differently.

If you’ve been craving guidance on how to support your strong-willed child, reduce power struggles, and build deeper connection without losing your boundaries, this episode will give you clarity, comfort, and practical tools. I know so many parents will feel seen in this conversation.

Quiz: How Spicy Is Your Household?

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

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Hi Parents!

In this episode, I’m unpacking a question so many teens, young adults, and parents are quietly wrestling with: Is grad school actually worth it, or is it just the next step everyone feels pressured to take?

We talk about why this stage can feel so overwhelming, especially for young adults who have been in school their entire lives and suddenly feel the same pressure they experienced when choosing universities in high school, only now the stakes feel bigger. I explore the emotional and financial cost of making decisions from confusion, why teens often default to grad school out of fear or familiarity, and how to help your young adult slow down long enough to get clear about what they actually want.

I also open up about my own journey - why even at 29 I’m still figuring out my path, and why not having everything mapped out in your early twenties is completely normal. This conversation is meant to bring relief, perspective, and direction, both for anxious young adults and for parents wanting to support them without adding more pressure.

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

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Visit My Website for More Information on My 8-Week Program

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Hi Parents!

Conversations about sex can be one of the most anxiety-triggering moments in parenting, and that goes for both parents and teens. Many parents worry about how to start, what to say, or how to make sure their teen feels comfortable and heard.

In this episode, I’m joined by Amy Lang, founder of Birds & Bees & Kids and a certified sex educator with nearly two decades of experience helping parents navigate these conversations with confidence. Together, we explore why starting conversations about sex early helps build trust and open communication that lasts a lifetime. Amy shares simple, honest ways to approach “the talk” with calm and humor, how to respond when your teen feels anxious or shuts down, and ways to teach boys about respect and consent. 

More About Amy:

Amy Lang is a nationally recognized sexuality educator, speaker, and author who has spent nearly 20 years helping families have open, shame-free conversations about sex and relationships. Through her platform, Birds & Bees & Kids, and her podcast Just Say This, Amy provides practical, age-appropriate guidance that helps parents raise informed and confident young people. She’s known for her humor, empathy, and ability to make even the most uncomfortable topics feel approachable.

If you’re looking for resources to support these conversations at home, Amy recommends Sex Talks with Tweens (her book) and Protecting the Gift by Gavin de Becker - two insightful reads that help parents guide their teens with confidence and safety.

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

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Hi Parents!

If you’ve ever felt like your days are packed with responsibilities but your mind never truly rests, this episode will help you discover small, grounding rituals that bring calm back into your life and your home.

I’m joined by Michelle Maros, cofounder of Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life and co-host of the Life Happens podcast. Michelle’s work centers around helping people find happiness and peace through mindfulness, compassion, and meaningful daily practices. She’s also the author of Dear Friend, a heartfelt collection of reflections and affirmations to help readers reconnect with themselves in the midst of life’s noise.

In this episode, you’ll learn how simple, consistent rituals can bring more calm into your home and ease anxiety for both you and your teen. You’ll also discover why dedicating just 1% of your day to mindfulness can shift your mood, focus, and patience in powerful ways. 

More About Michelle:

Michelle Maros is a writer, mindfulness teacher, and the cofounder of Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life, an organization dedicated to spreading inner peace and personal empowerment through mindfulness and compassion. 

With a background in journalism and training as a registered yoga teacher, Michelle brings a unique blend of heart, honesty, and wisdom to her work. Through her teachings and her book, she reminds us that peace isn’t found in grand gestures, it’s built through small, loving choices each day.

If you’ve been craving calm amidst the chaos, this conversation will remind you that peace isn’t about perfection but rather about presence, one mindful moment at a time.

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

Book a Free Discovery Call

Visit My Website for More Information on My 8-Week Program

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Hi Parents!

Money can be one of the biggest hidden triggers of anxiety - not just for adults, but for teens too. Whether it’s overhearing financial stress at home or realizing how expensive life can be, today’s teens are feeling that pressure more than ever.

In this episode, I explore how money-related stress can quietly shape your teen’s emotional well-being, self-worth, and sense of security and what you can do to bring calm and reassurance back into these conversations. You’ll learn how to recognize when your teen’s anxiety might actually be rooted in financial worries, how to talk about money without adding more fear, and how to teach simple money habits that build confidence instead of stress.

We’ll also talk about how to create a home environment where money feels like a topic of trust rather than tension. You’ll walk away knowing how to model a balanced, mindful relationship with money, help your teen develop healthy financial habits, and show them that their worth has nothing to do with what they have or don’t have.

So take a deep breath and let’s talk about how to help your teen feel emotionally safe and confident when it comes to money.

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

Book a Free Discovery Call

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Hi Parents!

Have you noticed your teen starting to handle challenges differently? Maybe they seem calmer in moments that once felt overwhelming, or they’re beginning to speak up for themselves more. If you’ve been wondering whether all the conversations, coping tools, and encouragement are making a difference, this episode will help you see the signs.

I’m breaking down four clear indicators that your teen is truly growing beyond anxiety. These are the shifts I consistently see in teens who are learning to regulate their emotions, build confidence, and trust themselves again. You’ll discover what healthy progress actually looks like, how to recognize it in your own teen, and how to keep supporting that growth without stepping in too much or reigniting anxiety.

We’ll talk about what emotional awareness looks like in real life, the powerful impact your own reactions have on your teen’s calm, and how to help them become their own advocate instead of their toughest critic. You’ll leave this episode with simple, practical ways to create a more peaceful home and strengthen your connection along the way.

I’ll also share how I’ve watched these exact transformations unfold inside my signature program, Awakening You: An 8-Week Self-Growth & Confidence Program for Teens with Anxiety™. This program helps teens manage anxious thoughts, strengthen their mindset, and develop lasting tools for self-trust, calm, and confidence.

If you’re ready to better understand your teen’s progress and learn how to keep that momentum going, this episode is for you.

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

Book a Free Discovery Call

Visit My Website for More Information on My 8-Week Program

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Hi Parents!

Parenting through fear can feel overwhelming, especially when your teen is anxious and you’re trying to stay strong for everyone. But what if the real key to peace isn’t found in control, but in trust - trusting that God is guiding both you and your teen through every step?

In this episode, I’m joined by Heather O’Brien, prophetic healing coach, minister, author, and host of the globally ranked Heal with God podcast. Together, we talk about how to lean into faith when fear feels loud, and how parents can model courage, calm, and confidence by anchoring themselves in God’s truth.

Heather shares how to discern God’s voice in everyday moments, the role of gratitude and prayer in easing anxiety, and how self-awareness can help you respond to your teen with love instead of fear. We also explore what it looks like to break anxious patterns by listening, slowing down, and allowing God to lead both you and your family toward healing.

More About Heather:

Heather O’Brien helps Christians heal by learning to hear God’s voice. She guides people toward forgiveness, spiritual restoration, and deeper connection with God, reminding us that through Him, even the deepest wounds can be healed.

She also hosts a workshop every third Monday of the month. It’s an opportunity to lay down the things that keep you feeling anxious or uncertain and invite God to bring healing and clarity into your heart.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing this parenting thing on your own, this conversation will remind you that faith doesn’t remove the fear - it transforms it.

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

Book a Free Discovery Call

Visit My Website for More Information on My 8-Week Program

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Hi Parents!

Sibling rivalry. Friend drama. Conflict that seems to pop up out of nowhere. For parents of teens, it can feel exhausting and confusing to know how much to intervene or when to step back.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Rosina McAlpine, parenting expert, author, and CEO of Win Win Parenting, to explore why sibling and peer rivalry happens, and how we can guide our teens through it without adding fuel to the fire.

Dr. Rosina shares insights from research that reveal the three main ways kids resolve conflict - coercion, negotiation, and disengagement - and explains why teens often use very different approaches with siblings compared to friends. We also dive into the fascinating role of birth order, what to watch out for when rivalry crosses into bullying, and the values-based strategies parents can use to help their teens build healthier, stronger relationships.

More About Dr. Rosina:

Dr. Rosina McAlpine is an internationally recognized parenting expert, author, and CEO of Win Win Parenting. Through her workplace parenting education programs, she helps busy working parents balance career and family life while navigating everyday parenting challenges such as screen time, emotional regulation, and sibling conflict. Dr. Rosina’s practical, evidence-based approach has been featured widely in the media, and her programs support parents, carers, and educators across Australia and beyond.

If you’ve ever worried about constant bickering at home or felt unsure how to help your teen manage peer tension, this episode offers both practical tools and a sense of relief that you’re not alone in facing these challenges.

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

Book a Free Discovery Call

Visit My Website for More Information on My 8-Week Program

Connect With Me on Instagram