What if conflict is not a sign that something is wrong, but proof that something matters, and we were never taught how to handle it?

In this eye-opening episode of Whinypaluza, host Rebecca Greene sits down with Kimberly Best, RN, MA, a mediator and conflict management expert who spent years in critical care before dedicating her career to helping people navigate the conversations they avoid most.

Kimberly explains why conflict is normal, why silence often causes more damage than honesty, and how emotional regulation and curiosity can completely change outcomes in marriage, parenting, divorce, and the workplace. Drawing from lived experience, mediation practice, and deep compassion, this conversation reframes conflict as a skill set problem rather than a people problem and offers practical tools listeners can use immediately.

5 Key Takeaway

 → Conflict is normal and does not mean a relationship is broken

 → Silence and avoidance often cause more harm than difficult conversations

 → The person is not the problem. The problem is the problem

 → Emotions are information and learning to regulate them changes everything

 → Listening with curiosity creates better outcomes than trying to be right

Quotes from the Guest

“The most important conversations are often the ones we are not having.”

“Conflict is normal. We do not have people problems. We have a skill set problem."

If you want to learn how to have hard conversations without damaging relationships, connect with Kimberly Best at bestconflictsolutions.com to explore her conflict management training, mediation services, and speaking programs. 

Do you ever find yourself caught in a cycle of self blame, taking responsibility for things that are far beyond your control? 

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Rebecca and Seth Greene explore the pervasive nature of self blame and offer a compassionate guide to letting it go. They share personal stories and practical strategies to help you distinguish between healthy responsibility and destructive guilt, empowering you to embrace a more forgiving and growth oriented mindset.

In this episode, you will learn:

→ How to recognize the subtle ways self blame shows up in your daily life.

→ The critical difference between taking responsibility and assigning blame.

→ Why you are only one piece of the puzzle in your children's lives.

→ The power of practicing repair over rumination to heal and move forward.

→ How to cultivate self compassion and let "good enough" be your new standard.

"Blame makes me feel shameful. Responsibility is what leads us to grow and change." - Rebecca Greene

"Why do you think that you're so important that it's all your fault?" - Rebecca Greene

Burnout has quietly become a badge of honor. But what if it is actually your nervous system asking you to stop, listen, and do things differently?

In this episode of Whinypaluza Podcast, Rebecca Greene sits down with Helen Malinowski, founder of the Somatic Integration Institute and Beacon of Hope Counseling, for a deeply grounding conversation about sustainable success.

Helen shares how her own experience with burnout during pregnancy reshaped her approach to leadership, motherhood, and business. Instead of pushing harder, she built a seven figure group therapy practice centered on nervous system regulation, community, and human first leadership.

This episode explores why burnout has become normalized, how somatic awareness helps us regulate stress in real time, and why true success supports your clients, your family, and yourself without sacrificing any one of them.

Key Takeaways

 → Burnout is a warning sign, not a measure of dedication or success.

 → Nervous system regulation begins with simple grounding and awareness practices.

 → Community is one of the strongest protectors against burnout, both at work and at home.

 → Sustainable leadership balances people, purpose, and business needs together.

 → Boundaries are embodied, not just spoken, and require practice and self-awareness.

 → Small moments of regulation throughout the day can prevent long-term overwhelm.

If this conversation resonated with you, take a moment to notice where your body is asking for more support. Share this episode with someone who is carrying too much, and remember to spend every day laughing, learning, and loving.

Burnout has quietly become a badge of honor. But what if it is actually your nervous system asking you to stop, listen, and do things differently?

In this episode of Whinypaluza Podcast, Rebecca Greene sits down with Helen Malinowski, founder of the Somatic Integration Institute and Beacon of Hope Counseling, for a deeply grounding conversation about sustainable success.

Helen shares how her own experience with burnout during pregnancy reshaped her approach to leadership, motherhood, and business. Instead of pushing harder, she built a seven figure group therapy practice centered on nervous system regulation, community, and human first leadership.

This episode explores why burnout has become normalized, how somatic awareness helps us regulate stress in real time, and why true success supports your clients, your family, and yourself without sacrificing any one of them.

Key Takeaways

 → Burnout is a warning sign, not a measure of dedication or success.

 → Nervous system regulation begins with simple grounding and awareness practices.

 → Community is one of the strongest protectors against burnout, both at work and at home.

 → Sustainable leadership balances people, purpose, and business needs together.

 → Boundaries are embodied, not just spoken, and require practice and self-awareness.

 → Small moments of regulation throughout the day can prevent long-term overwhelm.

If this conversation resonated with you, take a moment to notice where your body is asking for more support. Share this episode with someone who is carrying too much, and remember to spend every day laughing, learning, and loving.

What happens when winter storms outside mirror the emotional storms happening inside your home?

In this Whinypaluza Wednesday episode, Rebecca Greene opens up about the physical dangers and emotional weight that winter brings, especially for families with kids away at college. With constant storm warnings, difficult drives, and the heartbreak of readjusting after a child returns to school, Rebecca and Seth talk candidly about anxiety, preparedness, flexibility, and resilience.

The episode opens with a special Teenage Tuesday appearance from Rebecca’s daughter Ella, who shares four thoughtful lessons winter teaches us about rest, patience, readiness, and adaptation. Her perspective sets the tone for a powerful conversation about letting go, trusting the process, and learning to handle hard things one season at a time.

From whiteout driving conditions to empty seats at the dinner table, this episode reminds listeners that storms do pass and families do adjust even when it feels overwhelming.

Key Takeaways

• Winter is nature’s reminder that rest is not optional

• Anticipatory anxiety is often harder than the moment itself

• Preparation reduces fear when facing physical storms

• Emotional adjustment takes time and that is normal

• We model resilience for our children by handling hard things openly

Featured Segment

Teenage Tuesday with Ella

Lessons from Winter

Call to Action

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Quotable Moments

From Ella

“Even the earth needs a break. Winter is nature’s time to rest, and that’s not weakness. It’s sustainability.”

From Rebecca

“One of the best lessons we can teach our kids is that we can handle hard things even when we don’t like them.”

What if your money stress is not just about money but about your health, your upbringing, and how your brain learned to survive?

Rebecca Greene sits down with Dr. Darla Bishop, known as FinanSis, to explore the powerful connection between money, stress, health, and family well being. Raised in Detroit and grounded in both lived experience and public health research, Dr. Darla explains how financial stress shapes decision making, impacts mental and physical health, and quietly influences how parents pass money beliefs to their children.

From survival mindset traps to reframing budgets as plans, this conversation offers practical, compassionate guidance for parents who want to feel calmer about money and raise financially confident kids without shame, fear, or guilt.

Key Takeaways

 • Financial stress affects health, focus, and life expectancy

 • Survival money habits can backfire once life stabilizes

 • A budget is a plan, not a punishment

 • Small income increases can ease stress more than extreme cutting

 • The way parents talk about money becomes a child’s inner voice

Quote

“There are a million ways to get it right. Build your life and your money so that you feel good. You deserve that.”

About the Guest

Dr. Darla Bishop is a financial expert, public health leader, and author of How to Afford Everything. Known as FinanSis, she bridges the gap between money and well being, showing how finances directly impact stress, health, and long term outcomes. Raised in Detroit and educated at the University of Michigan and George Washington University, her work empowers individuals and families to reduce financial stress and build healthier futures.

Find Dr. Darla

Website: https://www.darlabishop.com/

Instagram: @my_financesis

If money conversations make you tense, this episode will help you breathe easier and rethink everything you thought you knew about finances and family.

What can a lifelong love of the Buffalo Bills teach us about resilience, loyalty, leadership, and how to keep going when life knocks us down?

In this heartfelt and surprisingly insightful episode of Whinypaluza, Rebecca Greene is joined by her husband Seth Greene to explore the powerful life lessons she has learned from growing up surrounded by Buffalo Bills fandom. From never giving up and believing in yourself to the importance of community, showing up, adjusting when things are not working, and celebrating small wins, this conversation goes far beyond football. Using stories of Bills Mafia, family traditions, and the emotional highs and lows of game day, Rebecca connects sports, human behavior, mental health, and everyday life in a way that feels relatable, comforting, and motivating. Whether you are a Bills fan or not, this episode is about resilience, hope, and learning to enjoy the journey even when the outcome is uncertain. 

Life Lessons from the Buffalo B…

Key Takeaways

→ Never give up. It does not matter how many times you get knocked down. What matters is getting back up and keeping going.

 → Loyalty matters. True fans show up even when things are hard. Look around your life and ask who your real people are.

 → Believe. If you can believe in a team through tough seasons, you can learn to believe in yourself, too.

 → Use your village. Community support is essential for mental health, resilience, and growth. Do not try to do life alone.

 → Progress is not linear. A few steps forward and a few steps back still count as progress if you keep moving.

 → Celebrate small wins. Do not wait for the big milestones. Celebrate the good plays in life as they happen.

Quote from the Episode

“Take the hope you have for the Bills and bring it home to yourself.” - Rebecca Greene

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a Bills fan or someone who could use a reminder to keep going. Subscribe, rate, and review Whinypaluza so more moms can find these conversations. And ask yourself today, where can I show up, believe a little more, and celebrate a small win?

Happy Whinypaluza Wednesday 💙🍷

What if the way you talk to yourself is actually the hardest part of growing up?

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of Whinypaluza, Rebecca Greene sits down with her daughter Lillie for an honest conversation about self-criticism, pressure, anxiety, and learning how to be kinder to yourself. From school stress and comparison to confidence and overthinking, Lillie shares what it feels like to grow up as a high achiever and how being hard on yourself can quietly take a toll. Together, they explore simple tools for calming anxiety, building confidence, and shifting from self-criticism to self-compassion in a way that resonates with kids, teens, and parents alike.

Key Takeaways

 → Being hard on yourself often shows up at school, in comparison, and in the pressure to be “the best.”

 → Self-criticism fuels anxiety and overthinking more than motivation.

 → Confidence grows when you focus on effort, not perfection.

 → You would never talk to your best friend the way you talk to yourself.

 → Small practices like grounding, journaling, and music help calm the nervous system.

 → Being kind to yourself improves how you treat others too.

Why This Episode Matters

This episode opens an important conversation about mental health, self-talk, and emotional awareness for kids and adults. It reminds listeners that learning to be gentle with yourself is not a weakness. It’s a life skill.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear they’re doing enough. Subscribe to Whinypaluza and join the community that believes growth starts with compassion. Connect with Rebecca on all these platforms.   https://linktr.ee/whinypaluzamom

What if goal setting didn’t have to be overwhelming, rigid, or tied to January pressure? What if one word, one habit, or one honest conversation could change your entire year?

In the first Whinypaluza episode of 2026, Rebecca and Seth share how they really approach goals in real life. This conversation goes beyond resolutions and covers SMART goals without the intimidation factor, choosing a word of the year, prioritizing self-care for the person who usually takes care of everyone else, and setting relationship goals that rely on communication rather than mind-reading. From parenting to partnership to personal growth, this episode is about building momentum with less resistance and more flow.

Key Takeaways

→ Goals do not have to start in January, and they do not have to be big to matter.

→ Smart goals help turn dreams into action by being specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based.

→ Choosing a word of the year can guide daily decisions just as powerfully as a written goal.

→ Self-care includes scheduling your own appointments, not just everyone else’s.

→ Share your goals with your partner, especially when they affect them.

→ In relationships, the goal is not to win an argument. The goal is for both people to win together.

→ Less resistance creates more peace and forward movement.

Notable Moments

 - Rebecca explains why her word for 2026 is flow and how resisting life events creates unnecessary stress.

 - Seth introduces his goal to be profensive instead of defensive and what that looks like in real conversations.

 - A candid discussion about parenting, expectations, and choosing connection over control.

What’s Coming Next

This Friday’s episode features Max reflecting on his first semester of college and what he learned.

Listen to Whinypaluza wherever you get your podcasts.

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Join the Whinypaluza Moms Facebook group for support, connection, and monthly challenges.

Rate, review, and subscribe to help more parents find the show.

Max Reflects on His First Semester at College
 
What really happens after you drop your kid off at college and drive away?

In this special Whinypaluza episode, Rebecca Greene sits down with her son Max to talk honestly about his first semester of college. From academic pressure and adjusting to dorm life to finding motivation, building confidence, and learning how to truly learn, Max shares what surprised him most and what helped him succeed. This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation about growth, independence, and what support from home really looks like during that first big transition.
Key Takeaways
→ College success is less about memorizing and more about learning how to learn.
→ The first semester adjustment takes time, and that is completely normal.
→ Professors matter more than students expect and shape the entire experience.
→ Staying motivated comes from remembering why you are there in the first place.
→ Support from home works best when it includes listening, flexibility, and trust.
Why This Conversation Matters
This episode offers reassurance for parents navigating the emotional shift of letting go and insight for students who may feel overwhelmed or unsure during their first semester. Max’s reflections remind listeners that growth happens through patience, persistence, and self-belief.
If you are a parent of a college student or a student preparing for that transition, this episode will resonate with you.

Listen, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and remember to spend every day laughing, learning, and loving.

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