Fresh Start Family Show

Latest Episodes:

Why Honest History Matters: Teaching Kids the Truth About the Past with Brooke Knight Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

What we teach kids about history shapes how they see the world, and themselves.

In this meaningful and eye-opening conversation, Wendy sits down with Brooke Knight, co-founder of Honest History, to talk about why truthful history matters and how we can teach kids about the past in a way that builds empathy, curiosity, and confidence.

Brooke shares the heart behind Honest History, a beautifully designed educational platform that helps kids explore real stories from the past through engaging storytelling, diverse perspectives, and honest conversations. Together, she and Wendy unpack how history doesn’t have to be boring, overwhelming, or watered down. It can be inspiring, empowering, and deeply human.

This episode will help you feel more confident talking with your kids about hard topics, current events, and the complexities of the world, without fear, shame, or confusion.

If you’ve ever wondered how to raise thoughtful, compassionate kids who understand the world and want to make it better, this conversation is for you.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/328 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📕 Grab your copy of ⁠Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home⁠ today!

🎶 Click here to check out the award winning Pep & Perk’s new album It’s Cool To Be A Kid - music designed to support and celebrate everyday family life, promoting positivity, because after all, it is cool to be a kid.

🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today! ⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/cactus⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rewiring Reactivity: How Hypnosis Can Heal Painful Generational Cycles with Penny Chiasson Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

What if your reactivity isn’t a character flaw… but a program you can actually rewrite?

In this fascinating and deeply hopeful conversation, Wendy sits down with board-certified hypnotist Penny Chiasson to explore how hypnosis can help parents break painful generational cycles and finally respond the way they want to, not just react on autopilot.

Penny shares her powerful personal story, from a high-achieving medical career to a life-altering mental health crisis that ultimately led her to discover the profound healing potential of hypnosis. Together, she and Wendy unpack why so many parents feel “out of control” in triggering moments, and how those reactions are often rooted in subconscious patterns formed long ago.

This episode offers a grounded, approachable look at hypnosis (no, it’s not scary or mind control), along with practical tools parents can start using right away to calm their nervous systems and create real, lasting change.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why do I keep reacting this way when I know better?”… this conversation will feel like a lightbulb moment.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/327 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📕 Grab your copy of Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home today!

🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today! ⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parenting & Mental Health: Breathwork, Psychedelics & New Paths to Healing with Rev. Jemie Sae Koo, M.A. Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

What if the key to breaking generational cycles isn’t just learning new tools… but healing your nervous system at the root?

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Wendy sits down with Rev. Jemie Sae Koo, founder of Psychable, to explore new pathways to healing, including breathwork, nervous system regulation, and the emerging world of plant medicine.

Jemie shares her own story of growing up in trauma, battling decades of depression, and ultimately finding life-changing healing through psychedelic-assisted therapy. Together, she and Wendy unpack why so many parents struggle to follow through on the parenting strategies they want to use, and how unresolved trauma keeps them stuck in reactive patterns.

This episode opens an honest, thoughtful conversation about alternative healing modalities and how they can support parents in creating lasting change, not just for themselves, but for generations to come.

If you’ve ever felt like you “know better” but still can’t do better in the moment, this conversation will meet you with compassion and possibility.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/326 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📕 Grab your copy of Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today! ⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why Soft Power Beats Force (in Business and Parenting) with Miki Agrawal Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

What if the strongest kind of power isn’t force, but attunement?

In this inspiring conversation, Wendy sits down with Miki Agrawal, entrepreneur, author, and founder of HIRO Technologies, to talk about why soft power beats force in business, parenting, and the way we care for the planet.

Miki shares how motherhood shifted her from an “individual consciousness” into an “ecosystem consciousness,” and how that evolution shaped her latest company, HIRO, a groundbreaking diaper brand using plastic-eating fungi to help solve the global diaper waste crisis.

Together, Wendy and Miki explore stewardship, creativity, humility, community, and the power of building families and businesses in a way that serves the whole ecosystem, not just the individual.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that when we lead with connection, collaboration, and deep attunement, we can create change that ripples far beyond our own homes.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/325⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links.

🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/cactus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📕Grab your copy of Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home today!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

15 Years Without Punishment: The Real-Life Results Behind Fresh Start Your Family May 27, 2026

Show notes

What if the best proof that compassionate discipline works… is 15 years of real life?

In this special celebration episode, Wendy and Terry mark two huge milestones: the official release of Fresh Start Your Family and 15 years of no punishment in their home.

Together, they reflect on what it has really looked like to raise kids without hurting, harming, or shaming them, and why compassionate discipline has become one of the most life-giving parts of their family legacy.

Wendy shares honest stories from the messy middle, including moments when her nervous system reverted, the lessons they’ve learned along the way, and the long-term fruit they now see in their relationship with their kids. From emotional safety and honesty to self-motivation, confidence, and strong connection, this episode offers a beautiful real-life picture of what becomes possible when parents trade punishment for teaching.

If you’ve ever wondered whether this way of parenting really works, this conversation is your crystal ball moment.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/324⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links.

🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/cactus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📕Grab your copy of Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Civics for Parents: How Understanding Government Empowers Families to Create Change with Sharon McMahon May 20, 2026

Show notes

What if the frustration so many parents feel about politics could actually become influence?

In this deeply meaningful conversation, Wendy sits down with Sharon McMahon, author of The Small and the Mighty and founder of Sharon Says So, to talk about why civics matters for parents, how history gives us hope, and what it looks like to stay grounded when the world feels heavy.

Together, they explore how learning government and history can help families move from fear and confusion into courage, clarity, and purposeful action. Sharon shares the heart behind The Small and the Mighty, the power of ordinary people who refused to give up, and why unity does not have to mean agreement.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that our kids are always watching, that character matters, and that influence begins with how we show up at the table, in our communities, and in the hard conversations.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/323⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links.

🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/cactus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📕 Pre-order your copy of Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home and claim your FREE Bonuses! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/preorder⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back to Basics: Why Powerful Parenting Changes Everything May 13, 2026

Show notes

In this grounding episode, Wendy sits down with her husband Terry for a conversation about the why behind Powerful Parenting.

Together, they reset the table and walk through the four core pillars of the Fresh Start Family approach: paradigm shifting, healthy communication, understanding root causes, and compassionate discipline. They also share what they’ve seen after 15 years of using these tools in real life with their own kids.

If you’ve ever wondered whether this work is really worth it, or what kind of long-term results it creates, this episode will remind you that peaceful, connected family life is possible.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/322⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links.

🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/cactus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📕 Pre-order your copy of Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home and claim your FREE Bonuses! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/preorder⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Raising Kids Who Feel Safe Around Money with Patrice Washington May 06, 2026

Show notes

What if raising kids who feel safe around money starts with healing your own story first?

In this powerful conversation, Wendy sits down with Patrice Washington, author, speaker, and host of the Redefining Wealth podcast, to talk about what it really means to raise kids with peace, confidence, and trust around money.

Patrice shares her incredible journey from building a seven-figure business in her 20s to losing everything during the recession, facing overwhelming medical debt, and rebuilding her life with a completely new understanding of wealth.

Together, Wendy and Patrice explore how scarcity, old beliefs, and nervous system patterns shape the way we relate to money, and how we can begin passing something different down to our kids.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that true wealth is about so much more than numbers, and that it’s never too late to create a new legacy.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/321⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rewiring Reactivity: Why It Isn’t Your Fault & How NeuroSomatic Intelligence Helps with Elisabeth Kristof Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

What if your reactivity isn’t a failure… but a pattern your nervous system learned to keep you safe?

In this powerful conversation, Wendy sits down with applied neurology and somatic practitioner, Elisabeth Kristof, to unpack why so many parents keep reacting in ways they don’t want to, and why it’s not their fault.

They explore how trauma lives in the body as patterns, not just past events, and how your nervous system is constantly shaping your reactions before your logical brain has a chance to step in. From yelling and shutting down to overreacting or giving in, these responses often come from deeply wired survival loops.

You’ll also learn how emotional suppression keeps those patterns alive, and how simple, daily nervous system practices can begin to shift them.

This episode is a hopeful reminder that you’re not broken, you’re wired, and with the right tools, you can create real, lasting change.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/320⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links.

🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/cactus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📕 Pre-order your copy of Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home and claim your FREE Bonuses! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/preorder⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hitting the Reset Button on Reactivity (Your Parenting Emergency Brake) Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

What if the most powerful parenting tool you had… was a pause?

In this episode, Wendy dives into one of the most life-changing skills a parent can learn, how to interrupt reactive patterns in the moment and choose a different way forward.

If you’ve ever felt yourself snap, yell, or say something you wish you could take back, this conversation will meet you with both honesty and hope. Because reactivity isn’t a character flaw, it’s a nervous system response. And when you learn how to work with your body instead of against it, everything begins to shift.

Wendy walks you through what it actually looks like to “hit the reset button” in real time, how to create space between trigger and response, and why this one skill can transform the way your kids experience you.

This is about becoming a parent who leads with intention, even in the hardest moments.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/318⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links.

🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today! ⁠⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/cactus⁠⁠⁠

Join Kate Northrup's Relaxed Money program

📕 Pre-order your copy of Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home and claim your FREE Bonuses!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected