Parenting Shrink Wrapped

By Samantha Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner

Parenting Shrink Wrapped is your all-access pass to the wild and wonderful journey of raising kids! Hosted by Dr. Melissa Wellner, a double board-certified psychiatrist and child and adole

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FAQs about Parenting Shrink Wrapped:

How many episodes does Parenting Shrink Wrapped have?

The podcast currently has 76 episodes available.

Parenting Shrink Wrapped episodes:

May 11, 2026 How to Spot and Reverse Math Anxiety with Dr. Aditya Nagrath, Ph.D
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What if math anxiety isn’t about intelligence at all?
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with Dr. Aditya Nagrath, founder of Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy, to explore why so many kids struggle with math and what parents can do to help. Together, they unpack how missing foundational number concepts can create frustration, avoidance, and anxiety later in middle school and high school, especially around algebra.
This conversation offers practical insight into how parents can support confidence, reduce overwhelm, and help kids reconnect with learning in a healthier way.
Learn more about Dr. Nagrath and Elephant Learning at ElephantLearning.com.
ABOUT DR. NAGRATH
Dr. Nagrath helps students overcome mathematics anxiety. Aditya is the creator and founder of Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy which helps students learn years of mathematics over the course of a few months using their system just 10 minutes per day, 3 days per week.
With a PhD in Mathematics & Computer Sciences, Dr. Nagrath has spent over 30 years in industry as a software engineer, author, leader, speaker, and serial entrepreneur working on everything from atomic clocks to iOS and Android apps to Amazon’s Kindle Fire. As the Founder of Elephant Head Software, which won the prestigious JD Edwards Innovation Award in 2015, he has also done software projects for Pearson, Verizon, Telefonica, JD Edwards (Oracle), and other billion dollar companies.
Find Dr. Nagrath’s book here:
Treating Mathematics Anxiety: Inclusive Strategies for Working with Students Exhibiting Mathematics Anxiety.

Contact: [email protected]
Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.
Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook
Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry
Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.
Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.
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34min
May 04, 2026The Truth About Mom Guilt, Mental Load & What Moms Really Want for Mother’s Day
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Motherhood is a mix of joy, pressure, connection, and–a whole lot of invisible work.
In this Mother’s Day episode, Sam and Melissa hit record in the middle of a real conversation about what it actually feels like to be a mom. From deeply personal stories of mom guilt to the everyday mental load that never shuts off, this episode is both relatable and validating.
They dive into:
A powerful (and vulnerable) story about a parenting moment that still lingers
The ongoing tension between career and family
The unseen responsibilities moms carry every day
What moms really want for Mother’s Day (and why it’s often not what we plan)
This episode is a reminder that there’s no perfect way to do motherhood–and that the connection you build with your kids matters more than getting everything right.
Contact: [email protected]
Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.
Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook
Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry
Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.
Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.
...more
35min
April 27, 2026 A Parent's Guide to Handling Bullying with Melissa and Sam
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Bullying is one of the most challenging situations a parent can face–and knowing how to respond isn’t always clear. In this episode, Sam and Melissa break down what bullying actually is, how to recognize the signs, and how to support your child in a way that builds confidence instead of escalating the situation.
From school avoidance and anxiety to navigating conversations and involving the school, this episode gives parents a practical roadmap for handling a tough and emotional topic with clarity and intention.
If you are struggling with your kid being bullied, contact Sam or Melissa for additonal help. You don't have to do this alone-we are here to help!
Contact: [email protected]
Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.
Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook
Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry
Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.
Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.
...more
40min
April 20, 2026 How to Talk to Kids About Depression: A Parent’s Guide to Emotional Language
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In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with Kendall Concini, author of Cloudy Day Chronicles, to explore what it looks like to parent while navigating your own depression. Through a simple “cloud” metaphor, Kendall shares how she helps her young children understand emotional struggles without fear or confusion—giving them language, reassurance, and clarity.
This conversation highlights the power of emotional honesty in parenting, showing that kids don’t need perfection. They need understanding. From building emotional intelligence to reducing anxiety, this episode offers practical, compassionate insight for any parent navigating hard days.

About Kendall
Kendall’s greatest adventure began not on the page, but at home, as a mother. Alma and Max aren’t just characters, they’re her children and wildest inspirations. They even helped co-write some of the funniest (according to them) one-liners in her pages. Alongside her husband, Matt, Kendall fills their days with laughter, curiosity, and the right amount of weirdness. Their dog, Kiaora, prefers quiet days on the couch with a blanket and a good book. When they’re not exploring together, the family can be found where the wild things are.
Learn more about Kendall and her book.
Contact: [email protected]
Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.
Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook
Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry
Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.
Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.
...more
35min
April 13, 2026 When Your Teen is On Fire. Understanding Self-Harm and Big Emotions
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When teens feel overwhelmed by big emotions, their behavior can become confusing—and sometimes frightening—for parents. In this episode, we’re joined by therapist Katie May to unpack what’s really happening beneath high-risk behaviors like self-harm, emotional shutdown, and reactivity. Together, we explore how these behaviors often serve as coping strategies, not attention-seeking, and why understanding the “why” behind them is key to helping your teen.
We also break down the difference between self-harm and suicidality, the role of validation in building trust, and practical ways parents can respond without making things worse. If you’ve ever felt unsure how to support your struggling teen, this conversation will give you clarity, language, and a path forward.
About Katie
Katie K. May is a licensed therapist, author, speaker, and group practice owner. She founded Creative Healing, a multi-location teen support center in the Philadelphia area, and wrote the #1 Amazon best-seller You’re On Fire, It’s Fine. With lived experience as a teen who turned to self-harm, Katie is one of only 11 Linehan ("Lynn-uh-hayn") Board Certified DBT Clinicians in Pennsylvania, the gold standard treatment for self-harm and suicidal behaviors. She equips parents and clinicians with practical, trauma-informed tools to decode behavior as survival and create lasting change.
Contact: [email protected]
Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.
Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook
Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry
Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.
Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.
...more
40min
April 06, 2026 How to Pay for College Without Putting Your Family at Risk
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Paying for college has become increasingly complex, and for many families, the financial decisions involved can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Sam and Melissa are joined by financial planner Kimberly Weihbrecht to break down how FAFSA, financial aid packages, and student loans actually work–and why costs can vary so widely from one school to another.
They also explore upcoming changes to student loan policies in 2026, the risks of parent borrowing, and practical strategies for navigating the process, including how to appeal for financial aid and advocate for your family. This conversation offers clarity, reassurance, and actionable steps for parents facing one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.
About Kimberly
Kimberly Weihbrecht, CCFS®, CSLP®, is a financial planner at Fearless Finance, where she helps clients gain confidence and clarity around their financial lives. Kim works with individuals and families on cash flow management, debt and savings strategies, retirement planning, specializing in college financial planning, including guidance on FAFSA and financial aid decisions, and student loan management.
Connect with Kimberly: https://fearlessfinance.com/

Contact: [email protected]
Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.
Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook
Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry
Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.
Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.
...more
40min
March 30, 2026 How to Help Your Teen Find Career Direction with Jessica Roffe
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In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with career coach, Jessica Roffe, to talk about what career readiness really looks like for teens and young adults today. With over a decade of experience helping students navigate uncertainty, Jessica shares a refreshing perspective: teens don’t need to have it all figured out. They need to start with self-awareness, curiosity, and real-world exploration.
Together, they unpack how parents can support their teens without adding pressure, why depth of experience matters more than doing “all the things,” and how simple steps like conversations, networking, and trying new opportunities can build confidence over time. This episode is full of practical, reassuring advice for any parent guiding their teen through the early stages of figuring out their future.
About Jessica
Jessica Roffe has spent over 12 years helping students and young adults turn uncertainty into career confidence.
She is the Founder of Career Beginnings LLC, where she supports students and young professionals through personalized coaching and practical workshops focused on career readiness– including internships and job searches, resumes and LinkedIn, networking, interviewing, and building a strong personal brand.
In addition to running Career Beginnings, Jessica works full time at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, where she advises and teaches students and has earned a Distinguished Teaching Award for instructional excellence. She is a Certified Career Services Provider through the National Career Development Association and holds a master’s degree in Higher & Postsecondary Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College.
Additional Resources
OneStopCareer. https://www.careeronestop.org/
O*Net https://www.onetonline.org/
Contact: [email protected]
Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.
Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook
Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry
Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.
Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.
...more
35min
March 23, 2026 The Importance of the Couple Relationship on the Family with Katharine Petzold
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In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk with therapist Katharine Petzold about how a couple’s relationship shapes a child’s emotional wellbeing. Through relatable (and often funny) moments, they explore why parents react the way they do, introducing the “wounded child,” “adaptive child,” and “wise adult.” The conversation emphasizes that it’s not about perfection, but repair—modeling healthy connection after conflict. You’ll leave with simple, practical insights to strengthen your relationships and create a more emotionally secure home, plus a fun musical bonus at the end.
About Katharine
Katharine Petzold is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-C) with 9 years of experience, specializing in relationship and couples therapy. She is a Certified Relational Life (RLT) Therapist and Facilitator of RLT’s Relationship Bootcamp, leading biannual intensive workshops that build connection, accountability, and emotional intimacy for individuals, couples, and the mental health professionals who work with them. Katharine’s compassionate, skills-based approach is grounded in relational and neurobiological insights. By night, she is also a singer-songwriter (Kat Parsons) and has recently recorded new songs about parenting.
Learn more about the Relationship Bootcamp
Find out about the Emotional Fitness Studio

Contact: [email protected]
Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.
Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook
Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry
Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.
Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.
...more
43min
March 16, 2026The Real Struggles of Work Life Balance for Parents
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Working parents face some of the highest rates of stress and burnout globally.
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk with Dr. Rosina McAlpine about how workplaces can become truly family-friendly–and why burnout prevention matters
You’ll learn:
Why working parents are at higher risk of burnout
What psychosocial safety means in the workplace
The five steps to building a family-friendly organization
Why prevention beats crisis response
How being “self-full” benefits everyone
If you’re balancing parenting and career, or leading an organization that employs working parents, this conversation is essential.
About Dr. Rosina McAlpine
Dr. Rosina an internationally recognized expert on parenting, managing work and family life, working parents, researcher, and media contributor. Dr. Rosina is the founder of Win Win Parenting, a research-based program that is delivered in small, medium and large organisations and workplaces for all levels of government to inspire and resource working parents with strategies to better navigate day-to-day parenting challenges, support their mental health, manage work-life balance, reduce stress, and prevent burnout. Dr. Rosina can offer a unique perspective –she has been featured on TV, print and radio media platforms – highlights include: the New York Post, The Today Show, with a regular spot on ABC Radio, and has spoken at corporate events globally.

Contact: [email protected]
Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.
Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook
Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry
Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.
Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.
...more
37min
March 09, 2026Family Vacation Expectations: How to Travel with Kids Without Losing Your Mind
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Spring break season is here…and with it comes family travel.
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa explore how to manage family vacation expectations so you don’t come home needing another vacation
You’ll learn:
Why vacations don’t change personalities
How to clarify the purpose of your trip
How to travel with teens realistically
Why buffer days matter
How to handle sibling conflict on vacation
Why money doesn’t guarantee fun
Travel doesn’t erase family dynamics. But it can create shared experiences that matter.
Listen now and share with a parent planning spring break.
Contact: [email protected]
Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.
Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook
Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry
Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.
Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.
...more
43min

FAQs about Parenting Shrink Wrapped:

How many episodes does Parenting Shrink Wrapped have?

The podcast currently has 76 episodes available.

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