If you want to be the house where all the kids hang out, it’s pretty simple: FEED THEM. 

I’ve invited my good friend, Logan Wolfram, to the conversation because as a mom of teen boys, she is living proof that this is the case. 

Feed them. They will hang out. 

Logan and I talk about what this is and what it isn’t. It’s NOT trying to be the “cool parent” and providing drugs and alcohol to underage kids. It IS providing a safe space, full of love and laughter. 

We discuss the easy steps in becoming the home all the kids want to hang out at, plus some hilarity that involves a bat (the nocturnal kind), a mountain cabin, and a tree swing attempt gone bad. 

Also, make sure you’re subscribed to my personal newsletter if you want Logan’s easy recipes to feed your teens and all their friends! 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more :

(00:51) Food Movement and Family Influence

(09:33) Family Cabin With Challenging Tree Swing 

(13:06) Unexpected Bat Discovery in Mountain House 

(17:19) Cooking Favorites for Teenagers 

(20:52) Entertaining and Letting Kids Be Kids 

(28:10) Feeding Hungry Teenage Boys 

(34:27) Creating Community Through Shared Activities 

(44:30) Dispelling the Insect Swallowing Myth 

In this episode, we are digging into how to be the house where kids and teens want to hang out, making space for kids and teens to have fun, feeding teens and large groups in a simple way, supporting our teens and their friends, being intentional in your community, building community and connection over food, and the power of being flexible and available. 

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When it comes to what’s in our American food system, it can be difficult to know WHO to believe and WHERE to start. Honestly, the process is incredibly overwhelming and can be pricey. 

But here’s the reality:

➡️ 60-90% of our foods are ultra-processed

➡️ Our pre-teens are seeing dramatic increases in pre-diabetes 

➡️This young generation is the first generation that isn’t expected to outlive the previous generation. 

➡️Many of the food dyes in our food are banned in almost every other country 

While food is just ONE component of what’s happening in this conversation,  I wanted to dive deeper into the subject of what’s truly in the American food system–from food dyes, to pesticides and a ton of different additives. 

Dr Josh Axe tells us what American food is doing to us and our kids, plus some easy steps we can take in our journey towards awareness and eating better. 

Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more: 

(01:05) Healthy Eating Made Easy 

(05:49) Impact of Junk Food on Performance 

(12:57) Impact of Food Dyes on Health 

(18:33) Pharmaceutical Marketing Prioritizes Money 

(25:14) Family Health and Positive Swaps 

(32:25) The Effects of Contaminated Water 

(40:35) Cost-Effective, Tasty, Fresh Food Storage 

In this episode, we are diving into the movement to clean up the American food system, dangers related to herbicides and pesticides, the most concerning additives in our food, where to start with making better food choices, advice for saving money on healthy food, the importance of water filtration, and a simple way to improve the food and products you are buying.

LINKS

Dr Axe’s Guide to Eating Clean

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There is a strong bipartisan movement in our country to clean up our food, from food dyes to pesticides and ultra-processing. The FDA even recently banned Red Dye #3 due to potential links to cancer. 

Vani Hari, aka “the Food Babe”, has been on the front lines of this FOOD FIGHT for over a decade, petitioning large corporations, speaking on the senate floor, writing NYT best-selling books about the subject and being named one of Time Magazine’s “Most Influential People on the Internet”. 

She cites evidence that our children are being decimated with chronic disease, including a pre-diabetic epidemic, in large part due to the junk in our food (using ingredients that are banned in most other countries). 

We talk about this movement, why she’s encouraged that our food supply will change, plus how we can all use our voice for positive change. 

Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more: 

(00:00) - Cleaning Up Our Food System

(03:46) - Food Ingredient Discrepancies and Health Risks

(10:20) - Fighting Against Artificial Food Dyes

(19:31) - Revolutionizing the Food System

(30:35) - Budget-Friendly Family Breakfast Ideas

(33:18) - Empowering Parents to Advocate for Change

(38:20) - Navigating Food Transparency and Swaps

In this episode, we are delving into the differences in American food products and the same products in other countries, comparing how foods are regulated in the US and abroad, the effects of food dyes in children’s health and behavior, how our food supply chain has changed over time, bipartisan support for cleaning up our food, and how we can hold private companies and government agencies accountable for what is in our food. 

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Vani’s Blog:75 ways to save on organic 

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My guess is that you’re burned out. Between working and parenting and managing the home, you’re fried. But, we can’t find words to articulate why. And, when it comes to having necessary conversations with our partners about sharing the load, we will often avoid it altogether because we don’t want to come across as a “nag”. 

Next thing we know, our relationship is suffering. 

In many ways, Paige Connell (@SheIsAPaigeTurner on Instagram) is saving relationships. She’s a mom of four who talks a lot about Mental Load and how it can make or break a relationship. 

We’re going to discuss how (and why) to have these conversations with our partner, the danger in letting the little things build up, plus how equity in relationships leads to happy and healthy families. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more : 

(06:17) The Mental Load and Domestic Labor 

(09:37) Unseen Mental Load in Relationships 

(12:38) Men's Participation and Birth Rate 

(27:31) Challenges of Gendered Expectations 

(31:32) Redefining Gender Roles and Expectations 

(35:43) Challenging Gender Expectations for Men

(44:16) Financial Considerations in Dual-Income Families 

(50:02) Empowering Boys to End Cycle

In this episode, we are diving into defining the mental load, the danger of avoiding hard conversations with your partner, different societal standards and expectations for moms and dads, the value assigned to paid vs. unpaid work, how to have conversations with your partner about the mental load in a way that is respectful and productive, considering the long term impacts of being a stay at home parent, and why childcare is not only a women’s issue.

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We’re in need of some levity and laughs, so I’ve invited the very funny Peaches (from @PeachesAndDiesel104) to the show. 

You might be one of her 500k followers that are drawn to her ridiculous and relatable content, like I was. Only to learn that Peaches is an empty-nesting mom of two, navigating midlife and menopause. 

While we have the most amount of fun in this conversation, you might just find that Peaches has inspired you to try something new, fun and crazy. She’s already got my wheels churning! 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more: 

(12:42) Navigating Empty Nesting With Humor

(24:38) Navigating Menopause and Fitness After 50

(36:53) Wedding Dress Parties and Friendships

(40:26) Real Moms, Real Life

(51:20) Revisiting Wedding Dresses and Conversation

SUMMARY:

In this episode, we are digging into finding humor and joy in midlife, what it’s like to be an empty nester, saying yes to things that bring you joy, being willing to try something new, navigating menopause, and the importance of friendship in midlife. 

My Favorite Weighted Vest

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There’s a lot we don’t agree on in this country. But one issue that gets overwhelming support among voters is the need to support moms and families in this country, from paid family leave, to affordable childcare and improved maternal health. 

Those issues shouldn't be a luxury. They should be a necessity, if we want to support families and grow our economy. 

I’m talking to Erin Erenberg, the co-founder of Chamber of Mothers, a non-partisan organization that is doing the work on those very issues in Washington, D.C.

Erin shares why she’s optimistic about these issues, plus how we can get involved in changing the game for moms and families. 

Also, hear why we shouldn’t have to choose between kids and career in this country. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more : 

(01:39) Support for Moms 

(08:40) Empowering Moms for Change 

(15:48) Moms in Leadership Driving Change 

(18:38) Optimism for Maternal Support Initiatives 

(24:45) Policy Shifts Cultures on Working Moms 

(35:36) Men and Women Facing Gender Equality

(39:52) Advocating for Working Moms 

In this episode, we are digging into the importance of paid family leave, the number one barrier to women in the workforce, the importance of access to affordable and quality childcare, the economic impact of policies that support families, different perspectives of motherhood and work, and why moms make great employees.

Links: 

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We’re capping our series on dating and relationships with a conversation about how to keep it spicy with your partner. 🌶️

Over half of Americans don’t date their partner regularly, and it’s taking a toll on our relationships. We’re spending all our energy on our kids, and we’re not prioritizing one another. 

However, for the couples that are intentional about connecting, they typically have happier and more stable relationships. 

So, what do we do next? John and I talk about some really creative ways to connect with your partner and a few ideas to keep it spicy. We also give an update on our connectivity challenge. 

Plus, what most women really want from their partner. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more: 

(02:25) Prioritizing Marriage Over Busy Family Life (81 Seconds)

(08:05) Lack of Dates in Relationships (49 Seconds)

(20:16) Sharing the Mental Load in Relationships (120 Seconds)

(24:51) Spicing Up Relationships (67 Seconds)

(30:02) The 222 Rule for Relationships (18 Seconds)

In this episode, we are diving into prioritizing your relationship with your partner, how loving our partner well influences our kids’ emotional health and future relationships, common barriers to regular date nights, the importance of finding a shared interest with your partner, connecting with your partner physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally, and ideas for spicing up date nights. 

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One thing I haven’t been ready for has been navigating our teenagers dating. And I know so many of you feel the same. So, I’ve invited therapists Sissy Goff and David Thomas back on the show to help us work through it. (Jesus, Take the Wheel, PLEASE!) 

This is the conversation I wish I’d had years ago, when this whole process started in our home. 

Everything we’re talking about in this episode is based on a question or topic that you sent us. 

We’ll be looking at this topic from five main angles: 

Something I wasn’t expecting to happen? I had a change of heart about how I feel about my kids dating in high school. 

This is an episode you’ll want to share with all your friends going through this season of parenting….and maybe you’ll listen to it with your teens, as well. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more: 

(07:04) Healthy Intimacy in Teen Dating

(11:00) Age-Appropriate Relationship Building in Adolescents 

(17:17) Navigating High School Dating Quality

(24:46) Navigating Parental Boundaries and Communication

(31:45) Setting Boundaries in Relationships 

(36:20) Parenting and Communication With Adolescents

(41:20) Conversations About Sex and Parenting

(47:59) Limiting Technology in Dating Conversations 

(54:27) Navigating Parental Boundaries and Communication 

In this episode, we are digging into a helpful framework for viewing teen dating, why we should allow our teens to date, the purpose of teen dating, changing our expectations around teen dating, how dating has changed over time, parent and therapist concerns about teen dating, intensity versus intimacy in relationships, the emotional impact of sexual intimacy, teaching our teens healthy intimacy and boundaries without shame, and why boundaries are about more than just sex.

RAISING BOYS AND GIRLS PODCAST

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We all have single friends. After all, 40% of Americans are single. 

As we continue our series on relationships and dating, I’ve invited my dear friend Annie F Downs on the show to talk about what it’s like dating in your 40s and what our single friends want us to know. 

Annie has never been married, and she hilariously shares what she’s looking for in a guy (you’ll never guess her type!) and where the majority of singles want to find love, plus the role their married friends can have in it. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(02:34) Unequal Household Labor in Relationships 

(06:26) Time Management Mishap With Annie 

(09:48) Evolution of Dating in Technology 

(15:25) Navigating the Dating Pool 

(31:07) Marriage vs. Singleness in Religion 

(40:38) Summer Lovin' Podcast Impact 

(46:49) Deep Friendship and Unconditional Love 

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Love isn’t enough -- especially when you have kids.

Love doesn’t pay the bills or pick up the domestic load at home. 

And often, that lack of connection (it’s never just one thing) leads to the eventual breakdown of a relationship. 

@Honestly.Kaitlyn’s Kaitlyn Nilles says it was a myriad of issues that led to her divorce and life as a single mom of two young children. 

Now, Kaitlyn is opening up about what it’s been like to date as a single mom, why divorce was the best thing that happened to her….and the plot twist that not even she saw coming. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(04:04) Successful Co-Parenting After Divorce 

(08:15) Priorities in Dating and Parenthood 

(12:24) Balancing Motherhood and Self-Care 

(18:13) Rekindled Feelings After Divorce 

(22:39) Reevaluating Gender Roles After Divorce 

(25:59) Domestic Task Delegation and Tools 

(38:29) Weekly Family Board Meetings for Coordination 

In this episode, we are delving into putting yourself back out there after divorce, why love is not enough to sustain a relationship, what it’s like to be a single mom, encouragement for single parents, developing a respectful co-parenting relationship, and the importance of sharing the invisible work of the home and family. 

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Paula’s Episode on the Mental Load 

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