Authentic Parenting

Latest Episodes:

7 Ways to Parent with Intention in 2026 (And Avoid Common Mistakes) Dec 07, 2025

Show notes

Are you ready to start the new year with calmer, more connected parenting? In this episode, I share 7 practical ways to parent with intention in 2026 while avoiding common pitfalls that can derail your goals. We cover screen time, home environments, children's play, shared meals, technology, and the small but powerful shifts that can transform your family life. You'll also hear exercises and tips to check in with yourself, stay intentional, and create a year filled with connection and purpose.

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

3 Ways to Follow Your Intuition (Even When Life Gets Loud) Nov 29, 2025

Show notes

An OG podcaster, the founder and CEO of the Women's Meditation Network Katie Krimitsos on listening to your inner knowing, trusting your intuition and taking action even if you don't know all the answers.

04:00 – How fear and tears marked her first podcast recording. 06:30 – Why starting with no plan led to building a six-figure business. 09:00 – The intuitive pull that sparked an entirely new meditation show. 11:00 – How to follow intuition even when fear shows up. 13:00 – Confronting impostor syndrome as a meditation guide. 15:00 – Why early download success confirmed she was on the right path. 17:00 – The difference between intuition's whisper and fear's noise. 19:00 – How meditation became her tool to hear inner guidance. 21:30 – A "whisper moment" that led to comforting a grieving friend. 24:30 – Teaching her daughter to trust her gut over peer pressure. 27:00 – How she recognized school struggles and ignored conventional advice. 29:30 – Why listening to intuition transformed her daughter's learning journey. 32:00 – How journaling, walks, and reflection guide big life pivots. 34:30 – Why failure is just a stepping stone in following your inner voice. 37:00 – How meditation can unlock your intuition and live an aligned life.

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

You Are NOT Your Child's Friend — You Are the Parent! with Dr. Laura Froyen Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

How to help a parent who feels their teen is "out of control" becomes a doorway into understanding what lies beneath aggression and lying, the difference between dysregulation and being out of control, why we often have parenting upside down by giving young kids too much autonomy and tightening control in the teen years, and how to hold authority with kind, firm limits while staying curious and non-punitive in the complex landscape of family life.

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

How Your Unhealed Past Keeps Controlling Your Parenting with GG Renee Hill Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever stopped to wonder how the stories you grew up with—the ones you absorbed in childhood—still shape the way you parent today?

Author and creative coach GG Renee Hill on uncovering, rewriting, and reclaiming the stories that define us.

Timestamps:

0:03 – How our childhood stories shape parenting 0:06 – Parenting from old patterns 0:09 – When others silence your intuition 0:12 – Finding yourself amid parenting chaos 0:15 – GG's inner child awakening 0:18 – Turning sensitivity into strength 0:21 – Growing up with a schizophrenic mother 0:25 – Redefining strength as a Black mom 0:29 – Coaching kids without tearing them down 0:33 – GG's breaking point and repair 0:38 – Anger is human, violence is not 0:43 – Hope for a more conscious generation 0:48 – Healing through storytelling and reflection 0:53 – The power of rewriting your narrative 0:58 – GG's message to parents and creators

Her book: Story Work: Field Notes on Self-Discovery and Reclaiming Your Narrative
Her viral essay, "Choosing My Mental Health over My Mother"

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

Struggling with Mom Guilt? 3 Steps to Feel Better Fast Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

00:00 – Introduction to Andrea Leigh Rogers 02:15 – From dancer to wellness entrepreneur 04:40 – Creating Xtend: blending Pilates and dance 06:55 – The birth of Small Moves, Big Life 09:10 – Why small moves matter 11:25 – Escaping the cycle of overwhelm 13:45 – Motivation follows action 16:05 – Redefining success for modern women 18:30 – The FEEL framework explained 21:10 – Letting go of mom guilt 23:25 – Doing less, living more 25:50 – Finding joy in movement 28:15 – Simplifying routines and priorities 31:00 – Self-compassion in daily life 33:20 – Raising confident, balanced kids 36:10 – Andrea's final message of encouragement

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

Why Chasing a Better You Is Making You Miserable with Seth Gillihan, PhD Oct 18, 2025

Show notes

Seth Gillihan, PhD says the path to peace isn't fixing yourself — it's expanding yourself. We explore how to stop chasing "better" and start living fully, now. We'll explore mindfulness practices, stoic wisdom, and practical tools for quieting anxiety, facing fear, and reclaiming presence in a culture that conditions us to believe we are broken.

00:00 — Why we're wrong about self-improvement
02:45 — The hidden cost of chasing perfection
07:30 — The real location of happiness A surprising shift in perspective that could change your life.
12:15 — Self-worth sabotage How society quietly convinces us we're not enough — and what to do about it.
17:40 — Self-expansion vs. self-improvement A game-changing distinction most people miss entirely.
22:10 — The overlooked truth about worry and how to break free from it.
28:55 — Doing it scared
34:20 — Stoic practices that actually work Simple, practical tools that could transform your daily life.
40:10 — Secrets to avoiding burnout A mindset shift and daily ritual that keeps energy high.
45:00 — The closing truth

OTHER EPSIODES YOU MAY LIKE

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

When Grief Turns Traumatic: What Happens After Sudden Loss with Jennifer R. Levin Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Levin on the often misunderstood topic of traumatic grief — how it differs from ordinary grief, why it can feel so overwhelming, and what truly helps in the healing process.

00:00 – Introduction to thanatology and grief work
02:15 – What makes grief traumatic
05:20 – Traumatic vs. non-traumatic loss
07:45 – Common reactions after sudden loss
10:05 – When grief becomes stuck
12:30 – Stabilizing the nervous system
15:10 – How trauma impacts meaning-making
17:40 – The theory of shattered assumptions
20:25 – Post-traumatic growth and hope
23:00 – Continuing bonds with the deceased
25:35 – Integrating loss and healing
28:10 – Supporting others through grief

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

Critical Memory Integration: Unlocking the Body's Wisdom for Healing Trauma with Estefana Johnson Oct 04, 2025

Show notes

Licensed Clinical Social Worker and trauma therapist Estefana Johnson shares what makes CMI unique, how it differs from other trauma modalities like EMDR, why our nervous system often overrides logic, and how tuning into 'signals' — rather than symptoms — can transform healing.

(00:00) Introduction to CMI — what Critical Memory Integration is and how it reframes "symptoms" as "signals."
(03:45) Difference Between CMI and EMDR — how CMI diverges from EMDR in theory, process, and focus on organic experience processing.
(08:20) The Roots and Creation of CMI — how the model emerged from integrating multiple trauma modalities into one cohesive approach.
(11:10) Present-Day Focus — why CMI starts with current discomfort rather than diving directly into past memories.
(14:25) The Mind vs. the Nervous System — why mindset alone isn't enough and how the nervous system shapes perception and healing.
(18:40) Understanding "Critical Memories" — what makes some memories so influential and how they form lifelong behavioral patterns.
(22:15) Beyond "Big T" and "Small T" Trauma — why trauma categories are subjective and how CMI honors each person's lived experience.
(26:00) The CMI Process — how clinicians assess tolerance for discomfort and guide clients through following body-based signals.
(33:10) A Self-Guided CMI Practice — a simple exercise for tuning into sensations and emotions with curiosity and compassion.
(40:00) Integration, Compassion, and Regulation — the role of self-compassion, co-regulation, and practical tools like breathwork in healing.
(45:30) Closing Reflections — trusting your body's wisdom and learning more about CMI training through Arise Alliance.

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

The Biology of Trauma: How the Body Holds Fear, Pain, and Overwhelm, and How to Heal It Sep 27, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Amy Apigian on the fascinating and often overlooked—biology of trauma.

[00:00] Introduction and shared connection around trauma, resilience, and Armenian heritage.
[05:00] Story of becoming a foster parent during medical training and first encounter with childhood trauma.
[15:00] Struggles of supporting traumatized children without adequate tools or professional guidance.
[25:00] Personal health breakdown leading to chronic fatigue, autoimmunity, and a deeper look into trauma biology.
[35:00] Discovery that therapy alone wasn't enough — biology and physiology also play key roles in trauma.
[45:00] Explanation of stress at the cellular level, mitochondria changes, and the "cell danger response."
[55:00] Distinction between stress, overwhelm, trauma, and how burnout develops.
[01:05:00] How trauma is stored in memory and physiology, with a personal story illustrating hidden trauma.
[01:20:00] Exploration of chronic pain, sleep issues, IBS, and how they relate to a dysregulated nervous system.
[01:35:00] Survival mode shuts down detoxification and accumulates toxins over years, leading to illness.
[01:45:00] Why nervous system regulation is the essential first step in healing — but not the full solution.
[01:55:00] Introduction of cellular repair to address oxidative stress, DNA damage, and generational trauma.
[02:10:00] A holistic framework for healing: mind, body, and biology working together ("small hinges move big doors").
[02:25:00] Guidance on where to start: choosing manageable steps that build momentum and confidence.
[02:35:00] Closing reflections on living more fully alive, plus resources, book, and social links.

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

The Middle Path of Parenting: On Attachment and Why Who You Are Matters More Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Todd Sarner is a parenting coach and psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience helping families turn daily power struggles and emotional chaos into connection, calm, and cooperation at home.

[00:00] Introduction — why quick fixes on social media backfire

[02:35] What parents really need instead

[05:10] The foundational role of attachment

[08:25] "Collect before you direct" explained

[12:00] Walking the middle path between chaos and rigidity

[16:40] Parenting as our kids (and we) grow and evolve

[20:15] What children need most from us today

[24:50] How Todd's philosophy has shifted over time

[29:30] Practical tools: bridging and matchmaking

[34:15] The Disney Hug Rule for connection

[38:20] The magic of satiation hugs

[42:00] Closing reflections and takeaways

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.

*This episode was edited and produced by Aminur. If you need expert support to bring your dream podcast to life — from editing to full production — Aminur can help make it happen. You'll find his link in the show notes.

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

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