I'm diving deep into what happens when we release others—including our teens—to their own journeys. As parents, we hang on so tight, resisting what scares us, but what we resist persists. I'm sharing my own messy middle of personal growth work, walking through the five principles of Positive Discipline from a radically honest place about marriage, parenting teens, and the hardest truth: our wellbeing is an inside job. If you're navigating the push-pull of adolescence while doing your own inner work, this episode is for you.

Guest Bio: This is a solo episode with Casey O'Roarty, Parent Educator, Positive Discipline Lead Trainer, and host of the Joyful Courage podcast. Casey has over 20 years of experience supporting parents of tweens and teens through her coaching practice, Be Sprout­able, and her Living Joyful Courage membership program.

Find more show notes and info at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-641-well-being-is-an-inside-job/

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Feeling like you're living with a wildfire instead of just putting out fires with your teen? In this solo episode, I explore why traditional discipline approaches fail when relationships are ruptured, and introduce the concept of a "relationship reset" - an energetic cast that gives both you and your teen space to heal. Learn how disengaging with love (not indifference) can restore influence, rebuild trust, and create the connection your struggling teen desperately needs.

This is a solo episode with Casey O'Roarty, parent educator, Positive Discipline lead trainer, and host of the Joyful Courage podcast.

Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-640-relationship-reset-with-your-teen/

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In this powerful conversation, I sit down with psychotherapist and Positive Discipline expert Alyson Schafer to explore how we can support our teens through today's turbulent political climate. We discuss Alfred Adler's vision for raising cooperative citizens, reading our kids' stress signals, using curiosity over lectures, and helping teens move from doom-scrolling to meaningful action. If you're struggling to hold space for your teen's big feelings about current events while maintaining hope for the future, this episode is essential listening.

Guest Bio: Alyson Schafer is a psychotherapist, bestselling author, and one of the leading voices in Positive Discipline and Adlerian psychology. She has written multiple books including Breaking the Good Mom Myth and Ain't Misbehavin', and her work has helped families worldwide move from power struggles to cooperation. Alyson hosts her own podcast and runs child guidance programs rooted in democratic parenting principles. She lives in Canada and continues the legacy of Adlerian psychology through her international community work.

For more show notes and info at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/politics-and-parenting-with-alyson-schafer/

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I recently sat down with Kevin Dahill-Fuchel to explore what's really happening with teens' mental health today and why traditional models aren't enough. We discussed the crisis of isolation among adolescents, how schools can become centers of healing, and the critical importance of adults modeling healthy relationships. Kevin shares powerful insights about meeting kids where they are, making suicide a speakable word, and why staying present with our teens—even when they push us away—matters more than ever. If you're wondering how to support your teen's mental health while managing your own overwhelm, this conversation offers hope and practical wisdom.

Kevin Dahill-Fuchel is the Executive Director of Counseling in Schools, a pioneering organization that embeds mental health professionals directly into New York City public schools. With over 30 years of experience, Kevin has led his organization through major collective traumas including 9/11, Superstorm Sandy, and COVID-19, evolving their model to provide comprehensive community-wide support that now serves over 6,700 students, nearly 2,000 families, and 1,400 school staff across 52 schools. His healing-centered, anti-oppressive approach recognizes emotional and social wellbeing as foundational to student success.

Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-638-school-based-mental-health-solutions-with-kevin-dahill-fuchel/

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I sat down with Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, a neuroscientist who's worked with over 1,000 schools globally, and what he shared about educational technology absolutely validates what so many of us have been feeling. After reviewing six decades of research, Jared reveals how ed tech actually undermines our kids' learning—and why COVID didn't change that. Dr. Horvath earned his doctorate from University of Melbourne and master's from Harvard, and he breaks down the neuroscience of why analog learning beats digital every time. If you've felt uneasy about your teen's screen-based schoolwork, this conversation will empower you to push back. Listen now.

For more about the guest and show notes, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-637-dr-jared-horvath-edtech-harms-learning/

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I'm starting 2026 at the heart of everything I teach: the shift from problem-focused to possibility-focused parenting. This solo episode dives deep into the work I've been doing with parents for nearly 20 years—understanding why your tools disappear when emotions run high and what actually bridges that gap. I'll unpack the neuroscience of focus, share the embodiment practices that ground my approach, and explain why self-regulation isn't just another task—it's the core of transformation. This isn't about New Year's resolutions or fixing your teen. It's about the daily practice of becoming the parent you want to be, one intentional moment at a time.

For full show notes and more, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-636-create-dont-correct-in-2026/

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In this solo episode, I'm getting real about navigating the holiday break with your teen. I'll walk you through the both/and of this season—how to hold hope and anxiety at the same time, including the grief that might be present. We'll explore how break is actually a low-stakes laboratory where teens practice essential life skills like managing unstructured time and problem-solving boredom. I'm sharing powerful language shifts that move you from exhausted cruise director to connected partner, plus a three-part gratitude practice to close the year with intention. If you're feeling anxious about break, this episode offers encouragement and practical tools.

For show notes and more info go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-635-winter-break-with-teens/

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In this powerful replay from last year, I team up with my business partner Julietta Skoog and the incredible Dr. Shefali to reframe everything you think you know about the holiday season. We explore how to stay present with yourself and your teens when expectations run high and chaos feels inevitable. I guide you through grounding practices, Julietta shares practical strategies for involving your kids meaningfully, and Dr. Shefali delivers her signature perspective-shifting wisdom about cultural expectations. If you're feeling overwhelmed by holiday pressure or worried about family dynamics, this conversation will help you reclaim your power and actually enjoy this season.

Guest Description

Julietta Skoog, a Positive Discipline trainer and our early years lead and parent coach at Sproutable. She has spent extensive time in schools as a school counselor and school psychologist. She’s a sought after expert facilitating parents and educators world-wide. Julietta practices what she preaches with her own three kiddos.

Dr. Shefali Tsabary received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Columbia University.  She specializes in the integration of western psychology and eastern philosophy, bringing together the best of both worlds for her clients. She is an expert in family dynamics and personal development, teaching courses around the globe. Dr. Shefali’s written four books, three of which are NYT best sellers, including “The Conscious Parent” and “The Awakened Family.”  

Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-535-holiday-presence-connection-with-dr-shefali/

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During this week's solo show, I am digging back into one of the biggest parenting struggles: the illusion of control. As a parent educator with nearly 20 years of experience, I'm breaking down why trying to control our teens backfires and how shifting to influence transforms everything. Learn why getting out of your teen's way doesn't mean permissive parenting, how to move from the driver's seat to the passenger seat, and why relationship-centered parenting beats rewards and consequences every time. If you're struggling with power struggles, school avoidance, or screen time battles, this episode offers a completely different approach that actually works.

For more show notes and info go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-332-solo-show-the-challenges-of-giving-up-control-with-our-teens/

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In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Runyon, a child psychotherapist with 22 years of experience and author of "Free to Fly." We tackle some uncomfortable truths about modern parenting—how our well-intentioned approaches might actually be contributing to our kids' struggles.

Nicole shares why children are "canaries in the coal mine," sending us messages through their behavior about toxic environments (yes, including screens). We discuss the misunderstood concept of gentle parenting, why therapy isn't always the answer, and how natural consequences build resilience.

If you're exhausted from hovering and rescuing, this conversation will help you reclaim your authority with love. Nicole offers practical wisdom about allowing discomfort—both yours and theirs—to foster true independence.

For more show notes and info, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-632-therapy-may-not-be-the-answer-for-discouraged-teens-with-nicole-runyon/

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In this solo show replay, I'm reflecting on what life teaches us through the messiness of parenting teens, navigating marriage, and building a business. In this vulnerable episode, I share three powerful lessons from each area of my life—from recognizing that our teens know what they want, to learning that surrender isn't giving up but meeting life as it unfolds. Whether you're struggling with connection, feeling burned out, or questioning your parenting, this episode reminds you that flexibility, self-care, and trust in the process aren't optional—they're essential. Listen to discover how intentional soul care and choosing growth over resistance can transform your journey.

For more info and show notes for this episode at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-253-solo-show-three-things/

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