EP:188 On this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I’m taking you behind the scenes of our Arizona spring break — just me and the boys — and sharing exactly how I planned a restful, intentional family trip instead of a “go, go, go” burnout vacation.

I walk you through our Arizona + Sedona + Utah itinerary:

Spring training in Phoenix (Rangers vs. Dodgers, all the autographs, and why this turned into a total core memory for the boys)

How I built this trip around nervous system regulation, not perfection or productivity

And if you want the full itinerary, hotel names, restaurants, and experiences we loved, check the show notes — I’ve linked it all for you there.

Links & Resources:

📘 Check out more episodes of Thrive Like a Parent - https://drbrookeweinstein.com/thrive-podcast/

#ThriveLikeAParent #ArizonaWithKids #SedonaWithKids #FamilyTravel #SoloMomTravel #RegulatedParenting #NervousSystemRegulation #MindfulMotherhood #GriefAndGrowth #IntentionalLiving #ParentingPodcast #ArizonaRoadTrip #SpringBreakTrip #LowerAntelopeCanyon #PinkJeepTour

EP:187 Motherhood is beautiful, but it’s also brutal — and you are not broken for finding it hard.

In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I sit down with my dear friend Libby Ward, author of Honest Motherhood: On Losing My Mind and Finding Myself. From the very first page, I saw myself in her words, and I know you will too.

We talk openly about:

If you’ve ever thought, “Why is this so hard for me when everyone else seems fine?” or “I’m barely holding it together,” this conversation is for you. You’ll walk away feeling seen, less alone, and with permission to stop hustling for some impossible version of “good mom” and start honoring your real, lived experience.

📖 Libby’s book, Honest Motherhood, is out April 14 and available in print, audio, and ebook wherever you buy books. If you’re going to read one motherhood book this year, let it be this one.

If this episode resonated with you:

Links & Resources:

📘 Check out more episodes of Thrive Like a Parent - https://drbrookeweinstein.com/thrive-podcast/

#HonestMotherhood #MomRage #OverstimulatedMoms #MotherhoodBurnout #GentleParenting #ConsciousParenting #CycleBreaker #ModernMotherhood #MomMentalHealth #ThriveLikeAParent #BrookeWeinstein #LibbyWard #ParentingPodcast #MotherhoodPodcast #NervousSystemRegulation #CapacityNotTimeManagement

EP:186 If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything for everyone and still lying awake at night worrying about your kids, your partner, and your bank account… this episode is for you.

I’m Dr. Brooke Weinstein — mom, widow, occupational therapist, CEO, and nervous system nerd — and in this conversation with Ysenia Rhodes of Talk Rich To Me and Huntress Wealth, I’m opening up about the intersection of mental health, parenting, partnership, and financial literacy.

I share:

How I went from pediatric OT and business owner to completely rebuilding my life after my husband Jonathan’s depression and death by suicide in 2021.

The hard money conversations inside relationships: being the breadwinner, financial control, “allowances,” and why your partner should not be the sole decider of your mental health support.

How women’s people-pleasing, guilt, and shame keep them from investing in themselves, even when they’re desperate for help.

My own journey learning financial literacy after separation and widowhood: forensic accountants, building a business (twice), budgeting, and finally being able to sleep at night.

What I taught my sister as she navigates divorce and money for the first time.

Why I believe your mental health is #1 and your financial literacy is #2—everything else comes after.

To me, being “rich” isn’t about how much is in your bank account today. It’s about being able to breathe, knowing you can support yourself and your kids, make aligned choices, and build the life you want — even after unthinkable loss and massive transition.

If you’re a woman, a parent, or a partner who:

Feels stuck financially or emotionally

Drop a comment sharing one belief about money or worth you’re ready to challenge.

Links & Resources:

📘 Check out more episodes of Thrive Like a Parent - https://drbrookeweinstein.com/thrive-podcast/

#DrBrookeWeinstein #MentalHealthMatters #FinancialLiteracyForWomen #NervousSystemRegulation #ParentingSupport #WomenAndMoney #WidowhoodJourney #SingleMomLife #CycleBreaker #EmotionalRegulation #TraumaInformedParenting #FinancialEmpowerment #TalkRichToMe #HuntressWealth #MoneyAndMentalHealth

EP:185 Feeling exhausted, snapping at your kids, or disconnected from your partner? This isn’t just “stress”—it’s your nervous system stuck in chronic fight-or-flight.

In this episode, I’m walking you through how to shift out of survival mode and into true rest and restoration… even if it feels impossible right now.

🚨 SIGNS YOU’RE STUCK IN FIGHT OR FLIGHT:

You’re constantly exhausted but can’t actually rest

💡 IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

How to use a simple body scan to understand what your body is telling you

⏰ TIMESTAMPS:

🔥 KEY TAKEAWAY:

✨ THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF:

You’re an overwhelmed parent stuck in survival mode

💬 Which one hit home for you? Let me know in the comments.

#FightOrFlight #NervousSystemRegulation #ChronicStress #BurnoutRecovery #ParentingStress #EmotionalRegulation #MentalHealthSupport #SelfCareTools #TraumaHealing #RestAndRestore #OverwhelmedParents #StressRecovery

EP:184 Are you completely drained by noise, crowds, constant talking, and everyday chaos? In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I’m breaking down what it really means to be a sensory avoider—and why that does not mean you’re dramatic, anti-social, or broken.

I walk you through the difference between sensory seekers and sensory avoiders, using simple, real-life examples so you can finally put words to what your body has been trying to tell you. If you crave quiet, calm, predictability, and space, your nervous system may have a low sensory threshold—which means you hit overload much faster than others.

We’ll talk about:

How sensory avoidance shows up in adults: hating crowded places, needing quiet to think, feeling exhausted after social events, snapping at your kids or partner when you’re overstimulated

This episode is your permission slip to stop asking, “What’s wrong with me?” and start asking, “What is my nervous system telling me?” When you understand whether you’re a sensory seeker, sensory avoider, or both, you can start building a life, relationships, parenting style, and environment that actually support your brain instead of fighting it.

And this is just part one. In upcoming episodes, I’ll dive into sensory sensitivity and low registration, so you can fully understand your nervous system and your child’s, and finally feel less broken and more empowered.

If this episode made you say, “Oh my gosh, that’s me,” please:

Share this episode with a friend, partner, or parent who needs to hear they’re not broken—they’re just wired differently.

Links & Resources:

📘 Check out more episodes of Thrive Like a Parent - https://drbrookeweinstein.com/thrive-podcast/

EP:183 | In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I’m breaking down what it really means to be a sensory seeker—and why this might be the missing link in understanding your nervous system. You’ve probably already heard about regulation, dysregulation, and fight or flight, but almost no one is talking about the sensory system as the language of your brain and body. That’s where everything changes.

I’m sharing from my own lived experience as both a sensory seeker and a sensory avoider, and why your “too muchness” is actually a sign of a brilliant, fast-moving brain—not that you’re broken, lazy, or destined for burnout.

We’ll talk about:

What a sensory seeker really is and how it shows up in adults (constant multitasking, needing movement, noise, pressure, novelty)

If you recognize yourself (or your child) in this episode, I want you to know this:

If this episode hit home for you, share it with someone who has been labeled “too much”—a friend, a partner, or a parent raising a high-energy kiddo. And if you’re ready to go deeper and learn how to regulate your unique nervous system (not just follow generic Instagram tips), make sure you subscribe, leave a review, and come connect with me on Instagram @brookeweinst for more real-talk about the brain, body, and parenting.

Links & Resources:

📘 Check out more episodes of Thrive Like a Parent - https://drbrookeweinstein.com/thrive-podcast/

EP:182 In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I’m diving deep into one of the biggest reasons so many of us feel exhausted, resentful, and burnt out: regulating externally instead of internally.

I’m breaking down the difference between the two in real-life, practical terms. When we regulate externally, we rely on our partners, kids, parents, friends, or even the state of our house to determine how we feel. We wait for someone else to notice we’re drowning, to give us permission to rest, to step in and take over. And when they don’t? We feel angry, unseen, and completely overwhelmed.

I share how this showed up in my own life—how I used to abandon myself over and over again, scheduling everything around my family, believing my worth came from doing more, people-pleasing, and hoping that one day someone would finally “get it” and take care of me the way I needed. Spoiler: that moment never came… until I decided to become the one who takes care of me.

We’ll talk about:

Why your partner (or kids, or parents) are not mind readers—and why expecting them to be is wrecking your nervous system

By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to:

Identify whether you’re regulating externally or internally

If you are tired of feeling like you’re treading water, waiting for someone to throw you a life raft, this episode will show you how to build your own.

Pause after listening and check in with yourself:

Share this episode with another parent who is drowning in resentment, burnout, or “doing it all.” Screenshot the episode, tag me @drbrookeweinstein, and tell me one way you’re going to start regulating internally instead of externally.

If you’re ready to go deeper into this work and truly repattern your nervous system, come work with me inside my programs—head to my website or the link in the show notes to get started.

EP:181 In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I’m getting more honest and vulnerable than I ever have about my past marriage to Jonathan and what our relationship was really like behind closed doors.

If you’ve ever felt like:

You are the emotional punching bag in your relationship

I share:

How I slowly became the caretaker, peacekeeper, and problem-solver for everyone but myself

If you are:

Staying “for the kids”

If this episode makes you think of someone who might be struggling in silence, please share it with them. They may not be ready to talk yet, but they deserve to know they are not alone.

❤️ Ready for support?

👉 Work with my team: [add your link or contact info]

🔔 Stay connected

Links & Resources:

📘 Check out more episodes of Thrive Like a Parent - https://drbrookeweinstein.com/thrive-podcast/

EP:180 In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I sit down with my dear friend, mentor, and neighbor Amy Jo Martin — New York Times bestselling author, founder of Renegade Global, and host of the Why Not Now? podcast — for a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, burnout recovery, nervous system regulation, motherhood, and how AI may actually improve our quality of life.

We share the modern way we met — sliding into each other’s DMs during our NICU seasons — and how that moment led to us living on the same street and working together inside her elite community of senior-level women, Renegade.

I share my own Why Not Now? moment — the season when my husband Jonathan was struggling, I was overwhelmed by caregiving and motherhood, and I committed to 10,000 steps a day for three months, a simple decision that transformed my mental health, nervous system, and sense of self.

Amy Jo then shares her defining Why Not Now? moment — breaking every corporate rule by taking an elevator ride to the Phoenix Suns locker room to teach Shaquille O’Neal how to tweet — launching her career in entrepreneurship, leadership, and global brand partnerships, including working with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

From there, we dive deep into:

▶ Burnout recovery & nervous system regulation

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH

This episode is for you if:

✔ You’re an entrepreneur, leader, or high achiever feeling burned out

This conversation will give you language, clarity, and grounded tools to slow down, regulate your nervous system, and still honor your ambition.

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Follow Brooke on Instagram: @brookeweinst

Explore programs & resources: www.drbrookeweinstein.com

Connect with Amy Jo Martin: amyjomartin.com

Listen to the Why Not Now? Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RbTVORGOUVIcw1ftMajwu?si=c8915a9a0d684b61

SUBSCRIBE + SUPPORT

👉 Subscribe to Thrive Like a Parent for weekly conversations on parenting, nervous system regulation, mental health, entrepreneurship, and conscious leadership.

Episode Sponsor:

#ThriveLikeAParent #AmyJoMartin #WhyNotNow #RenegadeWomen #WomenInLeadership

On this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I sit down with Dr. Jon Stevens, a triple board–certified psychiatrist (adult, child, and obesity medicine) who I personally trust so much that I refer my own clients to him. We have a very real, very honest conversation about something parents are terrified to talk about: psychiatric medication for kids.

Instead of jumping straight to meds, Dr. Stevens walks us through why accurate, thorough diagnosis is the real starting point—and how rushed 10–15 minute evaluations, urgent care visits, and online “checklist” diagnoses can lead to mislabeling kids, overmedicating, and missing what’s really going on in the brain.

We dive into:

If you’ve ever thought:

…this conversation will give you language, context, and grounded next steps—not more fear.

If this episode resonated with you:

Share it with a parent, teacher, or caregiver who’s wrestling with questions about ADHD, anxiety, or medication.

#ThriveLikeAParent #BrookeWeinstein #ChildPsychiatry #PediatricMentalHealth #ADHDKids #AnxiousKids #NeurodivergentKids #ParentEducation #ConsciousParenting