Authentic Parenting

Latest Episodes:

10 Years of Authentic Parenting: A Monthly Special Episode with Real Parenting Stories Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

As part of the Authentic Parenting 10-year anniversary, I'm revisiting a classic monthly special episode. We answer listener questions, share favorite resources, and reflect on real parenting moments from our own homes—honest, relatable, and timeless.

Check out the earlier 10-year anniversary episodes:

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15)
732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.
info@authenticparenting.com
Send audio messages using Speakpipe.
Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook.
Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.

Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

Milestone Episode 300: Listener Voicemails, Podcast Evolution, and Behind-the-Scenes Secrets Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

Celebrate 10 years of the Authentic Parenting Podcast with this special re-release of episode 300. I reflect on the podcast's evolution, share listener voicemails that are honest and heartwarming, and give you a peek behind the scenes—how episodes come together, special moments from live events, and the stories that make the podcast what it is.

Check out the earlier 10-year anniversary episodes:

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15)
732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.
info@authenticparenting.com
Send audio messages using Speakpipe.
Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook.
Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.

Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

Traditions, Transitions, and Why 2017 Was an Important Year for the Authentic Parenting Podcast Jan 18, 2026

Show notes

Reflections, Top Episodes, and Behind-the-Scenes Growth

As part of the January 10-year anniversary of the Authentic Parenting podcast, I'm revisiting meaningful milestone episodes from the archives. This throwback to my 2017 year-end reflection highlights key traditions and transitions, behind-the-scenes moments, and the top 10 most downloaded episodes of the year.

Whether you're a longtime listener or new to the podcast, this episode invites you to pause, reflect on your own year, and notice how the podcast and parenting has evolved over time.

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15)
732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.
info@authenticparenting.com
Send audio messages using Speakpipe.
Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook.
Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.

Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

Ten Minutes, Ten Years Ago: A Conversation With My 10-Year-Old Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

This episode is such a sweet throwback. We recorded this short, 10-minute conversation with my daughter seven years ago when she was turning 10—and honestly, I had completely forgotten about it. The title says "Two Productivity Secrets from a 10-Year-Old," but what surprised me most wasn't just her insights—it was hearing her sweet voice and noticing how I talked to her. The way I spoke to her then is the way I still speak to her now.

Check out the earlier 10-year anniversary episodes:

10-Year Celebration: Parenting, Podcasting & the Green Stroller Moment Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Revisiting the 200th Episode of Authentic Parenting. Longtime listener Lauren Thomas interviews Anna about parenting, podcasting, and the unforgettable "green stroller" moment—an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the show.

Lauren asks about some of my most favorite guests, the top three most impactful episodes, and the most authentic moment of the podcast. We talk about interviews that went off the rails, guests who caught me off guard, and moments that challenged me as a parent and host. You'll hear about the most difficult age with my kid, the ways I keep a "go-with-the-flow" approach, the little things that embarrass my tween but I keep doing, and even why a 3-star review made me cry for a week.

Check out the earlier 10-year anniversary episodes:

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15)
732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.
info@authenticparenting.com
Send audio messages using Speakpipe.
Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook.
Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.

Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

10 Years of Podcasting: Revisiting Our 100th Milestone Episode Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

What did it really mean to reach 100 episodes in the early days of podcasting? As part of our 10-year podcast anniversary, we're revisiting the 100th episode—a major podcast milestone at a time when most shows didn't last beyond a few episodes. This special throwback episode includes listener participation, the original podcast intro, and early production from the show's beginnings. A meaningful look back at how this podcast started, what it was built on, and why honoring the past matters as we continue to grow.

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15)
732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.
info@authenticparenting.com
Send audio messages using Speakpipe.
Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook.
Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.

Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

Ten Years, Many Lessons: A Personal Message to Begin 2026 Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

As the podcast marks its 10-year anniversary, I'm sharing a personal message about the lessons, growth, and moments that shaped this journey. I'll also let you know what's coming up in January as we begin a new year together.

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15)
732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.
info@authenticparenting.com
Send audio messages using Speakpipe.
Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook.
Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.

Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

Final Episode of the Year: Top 10 Episodes of 2025 and My Personal Favorites Dec 28, 2025

Show notes

This is our final episode of the year, and today I'm doing something I always love—looking back and reflecting. I'll be revealing the Top 10 most downloaded episodes of 2025, sharing why these conversations resonated so deeply, and highlighting a couple of episodes and guests that were personal favorites for me.

Top 10

Mastering the Art of Validation: How to Make People Feel Seen and Understood with Caroline Fleck, PhD
How to Raise Capable and Resilient Children with Sheryl Ziegler
Raising Emotionally Aware Boys Who Turn into Strong Men with Tosha Schore
Reclaiming Your Inner Child: Heal the Past and Live Fully with Nina Mongendre
The Family Dynamic: The Mystery of Sibling Success with Susan Dominus
Why Kids Are Struggling—and How to Help Them Thrive with Ned Johnson
Stop People Pleasing: How to Value Yourself and Your Needs with Amy Wilson
How to Recover from Burnout by Regulating Your Emotions and Nervous System with Michelle Grosser
How to Connect Deeply With Yourself and Others with Kristy Lauricella
7 Ways to Improve Well-Being, Reduce Stress, and Stay Grounded in Difficult Times with Anna Seewald and Laura Froyen

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15)
732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.
info@authenticparenting.com
Send audio messages using Speakpipe.
Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook.
Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.

Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

A Year in Review: Pausing, Reflecting and Looking Ahead Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

In this final episode of the year, we slow down and reflect on what this year held—the meaningful moments, the hard ones, and the lessons we want to remember. I'm joined by my dear friend Kristy Lauricella as we answer reflective questions (available to download), share our unexpected words of the year, and talk about the books, podcasts, and shows that stayed with us. This conversation isn't about doing the year "right," but about noticing, closing the year with intention, and offering ourselves a little more self-compassion.

Download this free PDF with pwoerful questions.

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15)
732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.
info@authenticparenting.com
Send audio messages using Speakpipe.
Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook.
Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.

Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

Reactivity, Fatherhood, and the Balancing Act of Ambition and Presence Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

Jeff Hittner on the invisible pressures dads carry every day—balancing ambition with presence, holding emotions they were never taught to express, feeling the weight of being a provider while wanting to be deeply connected, and silently wondering whether they're doing enough.

03:18 — Why dads default to fixing
06:10 — How conflict exposes emotional patterns you didn't realize you were repeating
09:27 — What happens inside your body in the first seconds of reactivity
12:55 — How shame hides in anger or withdrawal and shifts your parenting
16:40 — Why ambition and presence feel at odds—and how to hold both
19:12 — How the definition of "providing" can create hidden distance
22:03 — What kids actually need from you when they're dysregulated
26:44 — How small repairs rebuild connection after hard moments
29:58 — Why dads often hide their struggles and how vulnerability helps
33:21 — How real-time emotional attunement works—and what derails it
37:49 — What regulated fatherhood looks like in everyday interactions
41:30 — Why self-compassion matters more than perfect parenting
44:56 — How tiny daily habits build long-term emotional resilience
48:20 — What keeps parents stuck in reactive cycles and how to break them