Parenting Great Kids with Dr. Meg Meeker

In this episode of 'Parenting Great Kids,' Dr. Meg Meeker welcomes back Larry Hagner, the creative force behind the Dad Edge podcast and author of 'The Spirit of Fatherhood.' Larry shares his journey of overcoming a tumultuous childhood with absentee and toxic father figures to becoming a devoted father himself. They discuss the complexities of fatherhood, the misconceptions men have about parenting, and practical tips for building strong connections with children. You’ll get deep and practical advice for men striving to lead extraordinary lives as fathers.

Key moments:

02:47 The Birth of Dad Edge

06:01 Challenges and Realizations in Fatherhood

08:08 Understanding Men's Inner Struggles

18:49 Understanding the Father's Perspective

19:59 A Personal Story of Change

21:06 The Power of Compassionate Communication

23:43 Shifting Perspectives for Better Relationships

29:25 Practical Tips for Connecting with Kids

36:47 Final Thoughts and Resources

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About our guest:

Larry Wagner, author and founder of The Dad Edge Podcast, navigated a challenging childhood with absent and toxic father figures, which shaped his unwavering commitment to being a present and positive father. Becoming a father himself in 2006, he quickly realized that mere desire wasn't enough to excel in his roles as a dad and husband. Determined to master these roles, Larry embarked on a journey of learning and self-improvement. In 2015, he launched The Dad Edge Podcast, interviewing over 700 experts on parenting, mindset, patience, communication, and more. Now, as a proud father of four boys and husband to his soulmate Jessica for 18 years, Larry shares his hard-earned wisdom, inviting other fathers to join him in the continuous quest for personal and familial excellence.

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Acorns makes it easy to start automatically saving and investing for your future. Head to acorns.com/drmeg or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! 

Cozy Earth: Our goal is to help you create a sanctuary within your home, a refuge from the demands of the outside world. Head to cozyearth.com and use promo code DRMEG for an exclusive 35% off. 

Air Doctor: Breathe Easier, Live Better With AirDoctor! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code DRMEG, and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers! 

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Did you know that 95% of moms experience mom guilt regularly? In this episode, Dr. Meg delves into this pervasive issue with author Alli Worthington. Alli's extensive national survey on the challenges of motherhood has culminated in her latest thought-provoking book, 'Remaining You While Raising Them'. Together, Dr. Meg and Alli offer invaluable perspectives and practical strategies to help mothers break free from the cycle of self-doubt and judgment.

00:00 Understanding Mom Guilt: A Staggering Reality

00:08 The Daily Struggle: Trapped in Self-Doubt

00:20 Exploring Causes and Consequences

00:28 Empowering Solutions for Freedom

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About our guest:

Alli Worthington, known for her straight-talking encouragement and practical tools that help women reach their dreams in business and life, is the author of five books including The Year of Living Happy, Fierce Faith, Breaking Busy and her latest Remaining You While Raising Them. She is a speaker, podcaster, and life and business coach who launched Called Creatives, a cohort of women speakers and writers. Her guilt-free take on business, family, and balance has led to multiple appearances on The TODAY Show and Good Morning America. Alli lives with her husband, Mark, and their five sons outside of Nashville with the only golden retriever who refuses to retrieve.

Our sponsors:

K12 Powered Schools: State-certified teachers and trained online educators. Go to K12.com/DRMEG today to learn more and find a tuition-free K12-powered school near you.

Crunch Labs: Welcome to your least boring summer ever! Join us in a 12-week virtual summer camp featuring weekly videos, livestreams and mega-experiments from Mark Rober and special guests. 

Born Shoes: Step into comfort by visiting BornShoes.com and take advantage of our exclusive offer. Use promo code DRMEG to enjoy a 15% discount and free ground shipping on all full-price shoes.

Acorns makes it easy to start automatically saving and investing for your future. Head to acorns.com/drmeg or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! 

Cozy Earth: Our goal is to help you create a sanctuary within your home, a refuge from the demands of the outside world. Head to cozyearth.com and use promo code DRMEG for an exclusive 35% off. 

Air Doctor: Breathe Easier, Live Better With AirDoctor! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code DRMEG, and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers! 

Phyla Biotics: Visit phylabiotics.com, enter code DRMEEKER at checkout, and start your journey to healthier skin.

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In this episode of Parenting Great Kids, Dr. Meg Meeker is joined by Dr. Eran Magen, an expert in education and psychology from Stanford University and founder of Parenting for Humans and DivorcingDads.org. They discuss the increased risk of suicide among divorced fathers and the unique challenges these men face. Dr. Magen emphasizes how critical it is to maintain strong relationships with their children, despite the emotional and financial pressures of divorce. The episode concludes with advice on how friends and family can intervene and support at-risk fathers and be proactive about their mental health.

Themes we will explore:

00:07 Understanding the Crisis: Divorced Dads and Suicide Risk

01:23 Expert Insights: Dr. Eran Magen on Divorced Dads

02:30 The Emotional Struggles of Divorced Dads

06:18 Building Strong Relationships with Kids

13:08 Navigating Post-Divorce Challenges

25:43 Supporting Divorced Dads: Suicide Prevention

31:02 Early Alert: Proactive Suicide Prevention

38:31 Final Thoughts and Resources

About our guest:

Dr. Magen earned his MA in education and PhD in psychology at Stanford University, and then served as the research director for the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Counseling and Psychological Services. He is the founder of Parenting For Humans, a relationship-first, trauma-informed system for parenting, and the founder of DivorcingDads.org, a nonprofit dedicated to helping fathers stay healthy and connected to their children during and after a divorce.

From the Producer:

Need coaching? Check out Dr. Meg's group or one-on-one coaching sessions today by visiting meekerparenting.com/coaching.

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Our Sponsors:

Crunch Labs: Welcome to your least boring summer ever! Join us in a 12-week virtual summer camp featuring weekly videos, livestreams and mega-experiments from Mark Rober and special guests. 

Born Shoes: Step into comfort by visiting BornShoes.com and take advantage of our exclusive offer. Use promo code DRMEG to enjoy a 15% discount and free ground shipping on all full-price shoes.

Acorns makes it easy to start automatically saving and investing for your future. Head to acorns.com/drmeg or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! 

AquaTru, great taste from pure water. To receive 20% off any AquaTru purifier, go to AquaTru.com and use the code "DRMEG "when checking out.

Cozy Earth: Our goal is to help you create a sanctuary within your home, a refuge from the demands of the outside world. Head to cozyearth.com and use promo code DRMEG for an exclusive 35% off. 

Air Doctor: Breathe Easier, Live Better With AirDoctor! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code DRMEG, and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers! 

Phyla Biotics: Visit phylabiotics.com, enter code DRMEEKER at checkout, and start your journey to healthier skin.

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In honor of Father's Day, Dr. Meg Meeker interviews Chris Grainger, founder of The Lion Within Us, about his mission to empower Christian men to become strong leaders in their families and communities. Chris shares insights on spiritual growth, overcoming challenges, and fostering a sense of purpose through faith. They delve into the roles of men in providing, protecting, and presiding, and how controlled strength can positively impact marriages and fatherhood. Through personal stories and practical advice, Chris emphasizes the importance of community and spiritual guidance in helping men realize their potential and effectively lead their families.

In this episode, you will learn:

About our guest:

Chris Grainger is the founder of The Lion Within Us, an organization dedicated to empowering Christian men to become the leaders they are predestined to be. The community focuses on enhancing health, wealth, and self, helping men strengthen their mental and physical well-being, careers and finances, and roles as husbands, fathers, and brothers in Christ. Through his leadership, Chris inspires men to stand firm in their faith and showcase their inner strength to the world.

From the Producer:

Need coaching? Check out Dr. Meg's group or one-on-one coaching sessions today by visiting meekerparenting.com/coaching.

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Our Sponsors:

Crunch Labs: Welcome to your least boring summer ever! Join us in a 12-week virtual summer camp featuring weekly videos, livestreams and mega-experiments from Mark Rober and special guests. 

Born Shoes: Step into comfort by visiting BornShoes.com and take advantage of our exclusive offer. Use promo code DRMEG to enjoy a 15% discount and free ground shipping on all full-price shoes.

Cozy Earth: Our goal is to help you create a sanctuary within your home, a refuge from the demands of the outside world. Head to cozyearth.com and use promo code DRMEG for an exclusive 35% off. 

Air Doctor: Breathe Easier, Live Better With AirDoctor! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code DRMEG, and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers! 

Phyla: As a practicing pediatrician and mother I recommend Phyla because it works wonders without any side effects and is backed by dermatologists. Visit phylabiotics.com,enter code DRMEEKER at checkout, and start your journey to healthier skin.

Acorns makes it easy to start automatically saving and investing for your future. Head to acorns.com/drmeg or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! 

AquaTru, great taste from pure water. To receive 20% off any AquaTru purifier, go to AquaTru.com and use the code "DRMEG "when checking out.

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On the Parenting Great Kids podcast, three fathers share insights on the challenges of fatherhood. Influencer Andy Dooley, Super Bowl champion Benjamin Watson, and successful executive Michael Dickson offer personal stories and tips on everything from communication to disciplining your kids.

Our Guests:

Andy Dooley is a fitness coach, Tik Tok star host, TV host and author of the book Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose.

Benjamin Watson is a former NFL tight end, writer, speaker, and activist. He is a college football studio analyst with the SEC Network and serves as Vice President of Strategic Relationships with the Human Coalition, one of the largest pro-life and pro-women’s organizations in the country.

Michael Dickson is the Director of Sales for Transamerica. With over 15 years of experience in plan administration, relationship management, and consulting, he holds his FINRA Series 7 and Series 63 securities licenses, as well as Life, Health & Variable Annuity insurance licenses.

From the Producer:

Need coaching? Check out Dr. Meg's group or one-on-one coaching sessions today by visiting meekerparenting.com/coaching.

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Our Sponsors:

Crunch Labs: Welcome to your least boring summer ever! Join us in a 12-week virtual summer camp featuring weekly videos, livestreams and mega-experiments from Mark Rober and special guests. 

Born Shoes: Step into comfort by visiting BornShoes.com and take advantage of our exclusive offer. Use promo code DRMEG to enjoy a 15% discount and free ground shipping on all full-price shoes.

Acorns makes it easy to start automatically saving and investing for your future. Head to acorns.com/drmeg or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! 

AquaTru, great taste from pure water. To receive 20% off any AquaTru purifier, go to AquaTru.com and use the code "DRMEG "when checking out.

Cozy Earth: Our goal is to help you create a sanctuary within your home, a refuge from the demands of the outside world. Head to cozyearth.com and use promo code DRMEG for an exclusive 35% off. 

Air Doctor: Breathe Easier, Live Better With AirDoctor! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code DRMEG, and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers! 



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In this episode of Parenting Great Kids, Dr. Meg Meeker chats with Dr. Melanie McNally, an expert in clinical psychology and teen mental health, about the importance of emotional intelligence in teenagers. Dr. McNally draws from her personal experiences, emphasizing the impact of her challenging relationship with her mother during her own teenage years. 

They unpack the challenges that teenagers face in navigating their emotional landscape, particularly in today's digital age and post-pandemic era. Get valuable insights for understanding and supporting teens' emotional well-being and healthy relationships during this crucial stage of development.

Melanie McNally, Psy.D., clinical psychologist, brain coach, speaker, and author of two books, The Emotionally Intelligent Teen: Skills to Help You Deal with What You Feel, Build Stronger Relationships, and Boost Self-Confidence and Helping Your Unmotivated Teen: A Parent’s Guide to Unlock Your Child’s Potential.

Dr. Melanie has emerged as a leading voice in clinical psychology and teen mental health. With a deep commitment to guiding Gen Zers toward their most authentic selves, she offers insights and strategies tailored to the unique challenges faced by today's youth. Recognized nationally for her expertise, Dr. Melanie has been invited to the White House to discuss the paramount importance of teen mental health. She's appeared in The Huffington Post, Parents Magazine, Business Insider, Fast Company, and more.

Need coaching? Check out Dr. Meg's group or one-on-one coaching sessions today by visiting meekerparenting.com/coaching.

Crunch Labs: Welcome to your least boring summer ever! Join us in a 12-week virtual summer camp featuring weekly videos, livestreams and mega-experiments from Mark Rober and special guests. 

Born Shoes: Step into comfort by visiting BornShoes.com and take advantage of our exclusive offer. Use promo code DRMEG to enjoy a 15% discount and free ground shipping on all full-price shoes.

Acorns makes it easy to start automatically saving and investing for your future. Head to acorns.com/drmeg or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! 

AquaTru, great taste from pure water. To receive 20% off any AquaTru purifier, go to AquaTru.com and use the code "DRMEG "when checking out.

Cozy Earth: Our goal is to help you create a sanctuary within your home, a refuge from the demands of the outside world. Head to cozyearth.com and use promo code DRMEG for an exclusive 35% off. 

Air Doctor: Breathe Easier, Live Better With AirDoctor! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code DRMEG, and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No matter what stage of parenting you’re in, just when you think you have it figured out, your kids change. In this special edition of the Parenting Great Kids podcast, Dr. Meg Meeker delves into the heart of your parenting dilemmas. From nurturing strong sibling bonds to guiding struggling young adults, she shares her battle-tested expert insights and actionable advice to help you raise strong kids.

Topics Covered:

To have your questions considered for future episodes, contact Dr. Meg at [email protected].  Need coaching? Check out Dr. Meg's group or one-on-one coaching sessions today by visiting meekerparenting.com/coaching.

Watch today’s episode 📺

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Born Shoes: Step into comfort by visiting BornShoes.com and take advantage of our exclusive offer. Use promo code DRMEG to enjoy a 15% discount and free ground shipping on all full-price shoes.

Acorns makes it easy to start automatically saving and investing for your future. Head to acorns.com/drmeg or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! 

AquaTru, great taste from pure water. To receive 20% off any AquaTru purifier, go to AquaTru.com and use the code "DRMEG "when checking out.

Cozy Earth: Our goal is to help you create a sanctuary within your home, a refuge from the demands of the outside world. Head to cozyearth.com and use promo code DRMEG for an exclusive 35% off. 

Air Doctor: Breathe Easier, Live Better With AirDoctor! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code DRMEG, and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Parenting Great Kids podcast, join Dr. Meg Meeker as she engages in a heartfelt conversation with Rachel Marie Martin, an unwavering advocate for motherhood and author of the uplifting book "Mom Enough." Together, they explore Rachel's journey through the challenges of motherhood, overcoming mom guilt, navigating the pressure to measure up, and the vital role of self-compassion and grace in motherhood.

Rachel shares insights on embracing fearlessness, prioritizing open communication, and fostering understanding with our children. They discuss the delicate balance between being a nurturing parent and a supportive friend to our kids and practical ways mothers can strengthen their support networks.

Tune in for an insightful dialogue that offers encouragement, wisdom, and solidarity to all mothers.

Today’s Guest

Rachel Marie Martin believes in the power of the human spirit to overcome, to thrive and to find deep joy and because of that she pours out her heart via these platforms: she is the writer behind the site FindingJoy.net and author of The Brave Art of Motherhood (Waterbrook, 2018) and a founding partner in Audience Industries – a company designed to train and equip entrepreneurs in their ventures.

From the Producer

You're successful at work; now, let's elevate your success at home. All it takes is a coach to guide you there! Explore Dr. Meg's group or one-on-one coaching sessions today by visiting meekerparenting.com/coaching.

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Our Sponsors

Born Shoes

Step into comfort by visiting BornShoes.com and take advantage of our exclusive offer. Use promo code DRMEG to enjoy a 15% discount and receive free ground shipping on all full-price shoes.

Acorns

Acorns makes it easy to start automatically saving and investing for your future. Head to acorns.com/drmeg or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! 

Cozy Earth

Our goal is to help you create a sanctuary within your home, a refuge from the demands of the outside world. Head over to cozyearth.com and use promo code DRMEG for an exclusive 35% off. 

Air Doctor

Breathe Easier, Live Better With AirDoctor! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code DRMEG and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of "Parenting Great Kids," Dr. Meg Meeker and Dr. Stephen Whiteside, a distinguished board-certified clinical psychologist and director of pediatric anxiety disorders at Mayo Clinic, explore the crucial topic of managing anxiety in children. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Whiteside stresses the significance of accurate diagnosis and provides practical tips for parents navigating childhood anxiety. They emphasize the idea of managing rather than eliminating your child’s anxiety, because it's a normal part of life. The conversation also delves into exposure therapy, explaining how repetitive practice in confronting anxiety can boost confidence and reduce its impact.

Dr. Whiteside emphasizes how parents can take an active role in how their children deal with anxiety in a therapeutic setting and participate in post-practice discussions to reinforce learning and instill confidence. This unique approach ensures that both the child and the parent can handle anxiety-inducing situations at home independently.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Listen Now for Expert Advice on Supporting Your Child's Mental Health

Stephen P. H. Whiteside, Ph.D., is a Board-Certified Clinical Psychologist, Professor of Psychology at Mayo Clinic, and Director of the Pediatric Anxiety Disorders Program there. With a BA in Psychology from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kentucky, he's dedicated to enhancing access to evidence-based care for pediatric anxiety disorders and OCD. Whiteside, the author of "Mayo Clinic Anxiety Coach: A Parent’s Guide to Treating Childhood Anxiety and OCD," has secured research funding from notable institutions like the National Institutes of Health and has published over 80 scientific articles, including co-authored books on exposure therapy.

Born Shoes

Step into comfort by visiting BornShoes.com and take advantage of our exclusive offer. Use promo code DRMEG to enjoy a 15% discount and receive free ground shipping on all full-price shoes.

Whole Life Pet : Your pet can’t choose healthy, but you can! Choose Whole Life Pet for human grade, freeze-dried, nutrient-rich, all natural food and treats for your dog or cat!  

Thrive Market: Thrive Market is the customized and economical way to shop organic, non-gmo, and healthy - for you and your family. Visit thrivemarket.com/drmeg

Masimo Stork is a revolutionary new baby monitor. To learn more, go to masimostork.com

You're successful at work; now, let's elevate your success at home. All it takes is a coach to guide you there! Explore Dr. Meg's group or one-on-one coaching sessions today.

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In this episode of the Parenting Great Kids podcast, Dr. Meg Meeker is joined by Brooke Romney, author of "52 Modern Manners for Today's Teens." They explore the critical role of teaching etiquette and interpersonal skills to children. Brooke discusses the inspiration behind her passion for manners, derived from observing both socially adept and challenged youngsters. They delve into how mastering etiquette boosts a child's self-esteem and enriches their relationships. They also discuss the importance of parents modeling respectful behavior to instill these values in their children. The episode is packed with actionable advice and real-life examples that demonstrate the value of manners. Essential listening for parents, this podcast offers practical strategies to nurture children’s social and emotional growth!

Brooke Romney is a writer, speaker and leader of an online community who helps moms of teens and tweens create meaningful, healthy and enjoyable relationships with their children through practical application, education and community. Her goal is for every family to feel confident and connected. The mother of four boys ages tween to adult, Brooke knows parenting perfection isn’t real and takes an honest and hopeful approach with her audience. Her best-selling book 52 Modern Manners for Today’s Teens (Volumes 1 & 2) provides weekly tips to help parents and teens navigate the complexities of today’s world. The follow-up, 52 Modern Manners for Kids, will feature tips for kids and tweens aged four to 12 and is set to release this August. Brooke's work has been featured in The Washington Post, Scary Mommy and Forbes. Brooke and her family live in Utah.

Born Shoes

Step into comfort by visiting BornShoes.com and take advantage of our exclusive offer. Use promo code DRMEG to enjoy a 15% discount and receive free ground shipping on all full-price shoes.

Whole Life Pet : Your pet can’t choose healthy, but you can! Choose Whole Life Pet for human grade, freeze-dried, nutrient-rich, all natural food and treats for your dog or cat!  

Thrive Market: Thrive Market is the customized and economical way to shop organic, non-gmo, and healthy - for you and your family. Visit thrivemarket.com/drmeg

Masimo Stork is a revolutionary new baby monitor. To learn more, go to masimostork.com

You're successful at work; now, let's elevate your success at home. All it takes is a coach to guide you there! Explore Dr. Meg's group or one-on-one coaching sessions today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices