Stay ConnectedThe Hope & Humor Podcast with Kristina Kuzmič
Real, raw, and refreshingly uplifting. Join Kristina Kuzmič as she brings her beloved blend of honesty, heart, and humor to candid conversations. Each episode offers practical guidance on parenting, relationships, mental health and navigating the messy, beautiful work of taking care of ourselves. It’s the hope and humor we all need!
How we talk to our teens matters more than we realize.
In this episode, Kristina shares what teens say helps them open up to their parents. She discusses how to communicate with our teenagers in a way that actually reaches them: how to have difficult conversations without turning them into lectures, how to set boundaries without damaging connection, and how to help our kids develop confidence, resilience, and the ability to make good decisions for themselves.
Have a dream you want to pursue, a brand you want to build? Kristina shares the tips that helped her build something successful from nothing, and the principles she still relies on today to keep growing and thriving. Honest advice, hard-earned lessons, and a reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out to get started.
In this raw, deeply moving conversation, Kristina sits down with Dr. Laura Berman to talk about Crying Out Loud, her book about the unimaginable loss of her teen son and the grief that followed. Laura opens up about the kind of heartbreak that changes you forever, and what it means to keep living when your world has been shattered. Whether you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one or are navigating any other type of grief, this episode is for you.
You can order Crying Out Loud here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/787584/crying-out-loud-by-laura-berman-phd/
Kristina asked her audience to share the most ridiculously, next-level unhinged lazy thing they’ve ever done, and the responses did not disappoint. From hilarious confessions that will make you feel a whole lot better about your own life choices to surprisingly brilliant shortcuts that prove laziness can actually be a superpower, this episode is packed with laughs, questionable decisions, and genius-level tips for working smarter, not harder.
In this episode, Kristina and her friend Carey Reilly read hilarious, honest, and sometimes painfully relatable confessions sent in by listeners about the parenting rules they once swore they’d never break. From things they said their kids would absolutely never be allowed to do, to parenting choices they once judged other parents for... only to find themselves doing the exact same thing.
Kristina’s friend Carey Reilly joins her for an honest, funny, and very real conversation about the pressure that comes with being a parent. The pressure we put on ourselves, pressure we feel from other parents and society, and the pressure we sometimes put on our kids without even realizing it.
A candid conversation about comparison, judgment, expectations, and giving ourselves, and each other, a little more grace.
Kristina explores the difference between healthy helping and anxiety-driven helping, the kind of over-involvement that soothes our worries but can accidentally rob our kids of opportunities to problem-solve, build confidence, and learn that they can handle hard things. How do we know when to step in and when to step back, when to resist the urge to rescue our kids from every disappointment, rejection, frustration, or sadness, and learn to tolerate our own anxiety long enough to let them experience discomfort and learn how to process their emotions?
Depression can be hard to explain to someone who’s never experienced it. In this episode, Kristina asked her audience to put depression into words, what it feels like and what they wish others understood. An honest conversation about breaking the stigma, knowing you’re not alone, and the importance of reaching out for help. This episode is for anyone struggling with depression, as well as anyone who loves and supports someone who is.
Part 2 with renowned sex and relationship therapist Dr. Laura Berman to answer questions listeners called in with. Kristina and Dr. Berman talk about worrying that your kids might walk in on you during sex, whether a marriage can survive (and even thrive) after infidelity, healing and reconnecting with your body after sexual trauma, and what happens when a miscarriage makes sex feel intertwined with grief. Dr. Berman also shares practical advice for couples who’ve been together for years and feel like their sex life has become dull and boring.
Check out Dr. Berman's website for more information: https://drlauraberman.com/ and follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauraberman/Kristina sits down with renowned sex and relationship therapist Dr. Laura Berman for an honest conversation about sex. They discuss why it’s so important to have open, age-appropriate conversations with our kids about sex, and Dr. Berman answers questions from listeners: Can sex still be fulfilling during menopause? What can cause sudden changes in erections and sexual function? And after experiencing sexual assault or trauma, is it possible to fully enjoy sex again?
Check out Dr. Berman's website for more information: https://drlauraberman.com/ and follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauraberman/
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
