Parental stress has been declared a public health crisis by the U.S. Surgeon General—and it’s a conversation we all need to have. In this episode, Emily sits down with Debbie and our dear friend and guest Yael Schonbrun, a clinical psychologist and author of Work, Parent, Thrive, to explore what’s behind the overwhelming stress so many parents are feeling and, more importantly, what we can do about it.

We’re talking about all the things that pile up: money worries, the constant rush, and that pressure to “do it all.” Plus, we dive into what parental burnout actually is (and why it’s not your fault) and share simple, science-backed tips to make life a little easier.

This isn’t just about managing parental stress—it’s about showing up for yourself and your kids in a healthier, more sustainable way. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in the demands of parenting, this episode is for you. It’s a conversation that matters—and one that can truly make a difference.

Yael Schonbrun is a clinical psychologist, assistant professor at Brown University, author of Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection (When Everything Feels Like too Much), past Psychologists Off the Clock co-host, and parent of three. In her research, private practice, and writing, Yael draws on science, philosophy, and clinical practices to share practices proven to foster healthier relationships between partners, parents and children, and between our most important life roles. Yael is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post and her writing on work, parenting, and relationships has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Greater Good Science Center, Behavioral Scientist, Tricycle, among others.

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Life can feel so overwhelming sometimes, especially with the nonstop pace of the modern world. But what if you learned to embrace the messiness that comes with life and concentrated more on what really matters to you rather than attempting to control everything?

Building on the themes from his previous bestseller, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, Michael is joined by returning guest Oliver Burkeman to break down his new book, Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts. 

Oliver and Michael dig into key ideas, such as the limits of control, the traps of overachievement and information overload, and how to face life challenges with a proactive, value-driven mindset. You'll love Oliver’s powerful metaphors, like navigating a kayak instead of steering a superyacht, which really brings home the beauty of going with life’s flow while staying grounded and intentional. This is an incredible resource that offers daily insights designed to inspire action, so join us for this empowering conversation and start your journey of embracing imperfection and living a more meaningful life. 

• Oliver’s books: 

Oliver Burkeman is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Four Thousand Weeks and The Antidote, and for many years wrote a popular weekly column on psychology for the Guardian, 'This Column Will Change Your Life'. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Psychologies, and New Philosopher.

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What if we started seeing grief as a form of trauma—could it help us make sense of the confusing ways our mind and body react to loss?

In this conversation, Debbie sits down with Meghan Riordan Jarvis, a psychotherapist who’s spent her life helping people navigate the heartbreak of loss. She’s here to talk about her new book, Can Anyone Tell Me? Essential Questions About Grief and Loss, and to share her personal and research-based wisdom on this tender subject.

We look into the messy, complicated emotions that grief can bring—like anger, guilt, regret, and anxiety—and Megan offers simple, meaningful ways to cope. We also tackle the bigger picture: why we need more honest conversations about death and how we can show up better for each other in times of loss.

We hope you’ll join us for this meaningful conversation that might just give you a little clarity, hope, and comfort wherever you, or even the loved ones you are supporting, are on your grief journey. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-riordan-jarvis-ma-licsw-071051142

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefismysidehustle/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghan.riordan.jarvis/?hl=en

Meghan Riordan Jarvis, MA, LCSW, is a podcast host, TEDx speaker, and trauma-trained psychotherapist specializing in grief and loss. With 20 years of experience, she speaks on the importance of understanding grief and supporting grievers. Meghan hosts the popular blog and podcast Grief Is My Side Hustle and offers a free writing workshop, Grief Mates. She is founder of the Grief Mentor Method: Six Core Concepts to Creating a Personalized Grief Process and is the author of End of the Hour, a memoir on trauma, loss, and healing. Her new book is called Can Anyone Tell Me? Essential Questions about Grief and Loss. 

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How can you begin to heal from complex PTSD? 

In this episode, Jill sits down with Stephanie Foo to explore her memoir, What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma, a deeply personal account of her healing journey through complex PTSD (CPTSD). Stephanie shares what it’s like to carry the weight of complex trauma, offering insights into how you can begin to heal too.

Through her story and experience, you’ll learn how CPTSD differs from PTSD and why understanding those differences can help you (or someone you love) feel less alone. Stephanie opens up about her therapy journey—EMDR, yoga, and meditation—and how relationships and community became her anchors in the storm.

Whether you’re a therapist, someone walking your own healing path, or supporting a loved one, this conversation is full of wisdom and practical advice to inspire hope and compassion.

Stephanie Foo is the NYT Bestselling author of What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma. She has written for Vox and The New York Times. She worked as a radio producer for This American Life and Snap Judgment, and her stories aired on Reply All, 99% Invisible, and Radiolab. A noted speaker and instructor, she has taught at Columbia University and has spoken at venues from the Sundance Film Festival to the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

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In this very special roundtable episode of Psychologists Off the Clock, our cohosts Debbie Sorenson and Emily Edlynn gather a panel of experts—including Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, Ellen Galinsky, and Devorah Heitner—to discuss an issue many parents face today: the impact of smartphones and social media on children’s mental health. 

Bringing their unique perspectives together, they look at the often-alarmist messages surrounding technology use in youth, offering a balanced and hopeful perspective rooted in evidence-based science and field and personal experience. 

Some of the key topics they talk about include addressing parental stress around technology, shifting from rigid monitoring to supportive mentoring, and how cultivating digital literacy and independence in our children. 

Please tune in for thoughtful, evidence-based strategies that prioritize your children’s well-being and growth and reassure you that healthy digital citizenship is within reach without having to resort to fear-based tactics. 

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We have an insightful discussion with Ruth Whippman this week, who urges us to rethink masculinity and nurture boys in a way that honors their mental health and emotional depth. A mother of three and the insightful author of Boy Mom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity, Ruth brings a personal and societal viewpoint to the intense pressures that often shape modern masculinity. 

She sheds light on the cultural forces that define "being a man" and shares her journey in challenging these norms. 

We also learn about Ruth’s experiences as a mother, how society's expectations affect boys from an early age, and the importance of fostering boys' emotional development and accepting their complete human complexity. 

We hope you join us for this compassionate and in-depth conversation and broaden your understanding of how we can change how we see and raise boys today. 

Ruth Whippman is an author, journalist and cultural critic and the mother of three boys. A former BBC documentary director, she has written for the New York Times, Time magazine, The Guardian, HuffPost, and other publications. She is the author of the book America the Anxious, which was a New York Post Best Book of the Year and a New York Times Editors’ Choice and Paperback Row pick. Her latest book is Boymom, Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity.

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What if the relentless push for productivity is actually standing in the way of a truly fulfilling life? 

Join cohost Michael Herold and guest Ross White, author of The Tree that Bends: How a Flexible Mind Can Help You Thrive, as they redefine balance and purpose, challenging societal pressures to stay constantly “on.” 

Using the wisdom of nature and the anatomy of a tree, Ross explores how psychological flexibility—grounded in rest, resilience, and self-awareness—can empower us to find strength in slowing down. 

And discover how “relenting” can open doors to a balanced, purpose-filled life.

Listen to the full conversation to uncover how embracing rest could be your greatest asset!

Professor Ross White is an award-winning clinical psychologist who specializes in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of adults working in high-performance environments, including elite-level athletes in football, rugby, track and field, and tennis. He has collaborated with the World Health Organization and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on projects to reduce distress experienced by refugees and other populations in the aftermath of humanitarian crises. He is currently Professor of Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast, and is a director of Strive2Thrive, a clinical psychology consultancy firm that provides interventions and training to help individuals and organizations thrive.

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Stuck in the never-ending grind but still feel like it’s not enough? 

Paula Freedman-Diamond, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist and author of Toxic Striving: Why Hustle and Wellness Cultures are Leaving Us Anxious, Stressed, and Burned Out-- and How to Break Free breaks down how hustle culture and wellness fads can mess with our sense of self-worth and add to our stress. 

She talks about how perfectionism and the pressure to constantly achieve can leave us feeling anxious, and why it’s so important to tune into what you need, not what society tells you is right.

Dr. Paula shares ideas like intuitive eating and flexible living, encouraging us to prioritize our own values over external expectations. She also touches on the importance of setting boundaries and using social media mindfully, so it doesn’t drain us. Her hope? To help people-pleasers and over-achievers find more balance, self-compassion, and ease in their lives.

Paula Freedman-Diamond, Psy.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. She is the owner and clinical director of HumanKind Psychological Services in Chicago, IL and the author of Toxic Striving: Why Hustle and Wellness Cultures are Leaving Us Anxious, Stressed, and Burned Out-- and How to Break Free, and The Addiction Recovery Workbook. Dr. Paula specializes in perfectionism, anxiety, and eating disorders. She enjoys helping high-achievers and people-please rs learn to stop chasing external approval and start living according to the wisdom of their own bodies and minds. Dr. Paula is on a mission to take down the toxic systems that make people feel like they're not good enough, no matter how hard they work. She is especially passionate about making healthcare more welcoming and respectful for all bodies. She provides education and supervision for clinical psychology doctoral students. She is a strong advocate for size inclusivity in health, fitness, and wellness spaces. Dr. Paula has been featured in the New York Times and is a featured expert for Reebok, Bark Technologies, and A Sweat Life. She is on the advisory boards for Medical Students for Size Inclusivity and Fat Torah. You can follow her on Instagram at @mindfuldrpaula. 

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How does happiness fuel productivity and success?

Join Michael Herold in an empowering chat with Mary Anderson, the author of The Happy High Achiever, who gives her expertise on how high-achievers can turn the tables on stress and anxiety, unlocking powerful tools that can lead you to greater success and fulfillment in life. 

You'll discover how to identify cognitive distortions, including what Mary coined the 'Troublesome Trifecta,' learn techniques to challenge those pesky, unhelpful thoughts and uncover personalized strategies for building your confidence, tackling perfectionism, embracing your authentic self, and forging meaningful connections with others.

If you want to learn how to become a happy high achiever and unleash your full potential, listening to this episode and getting your copy of Mary’s book is a step in the right direction!

Dr. Mary Anderson is a licensed psychologist and sought-after speaker with over a decade of experience helping patients become happier, healthier, and sustainably high-achieving. Dr. Anderson earned her PhD in clinical psychology, with a specialty in health psychology, from the University of Florida and completed her internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the VA Boston Healthcare System, with appointments at Harvard Medical School and Boston University School of Medicine. She currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Are kids learning enough about how the world really works?

This week, Emily hosts Lindsey Cormack, a thoughtful political science professor and author of How to Raise a Citizen (and Why It's Up to You to Do It), to talk about how we, as parents, can play a big role in raising engaged citizens. 

They delve into Lindsey's experiences and research, demonstrating how schools frequently fail to teach students the fundamentals of government. They also look into what it means to be a 'citizen' and how we can encourage our children to be interested in politics. 

You’ll hear tips on having age-appropriate political discussions, tackling misinformation, and helping kids feel empowered to participate. 

This conversation is a heartfelt reminder for all of us parents to step up and help guide our kids into becoming informed, active voters.

Lindsey Cormack is an associate professor of Political Science and Director of the Diplomacy Lab at Stevens Institute of Technology. She has authored two books, How to Raise a Citizen (And Why it’s Up to You to Do It) and Congress and U.S. Veterans: From the GI Bill to the VA Crisis. She created and maintains the digital database of all official Congress-to-constituent e-newsletters at www.dcinbox.com. She earned her PhD in Government from New York University. She currently serves as the Secretary for Manhattan Community Board 8.

Her research has been published in Political Behavior, Congress & the Presidency, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Political Science Research and Methods, American Politics Research, Politics & Policy, Politics Groups & Identities, Politics & Gender, The Journal of Gender Studies, Energy Economics, The Legislative Scholar as well as in popular outlets including the Bloomberg Businesswire, The New York Times, The Washington Post, FiveThirtyEight, ProPublica, Roll Call, The New York Post, NBC News, the LSE USCentre, and The Hill, The Conversation, The San Francisco Chronicle, and more.

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