Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens

Latest Episodes:

Ep 655: "Who is this kid?!" The transition of adolescence May 19, 2026

Show notes

In this solo episode, I'm diving into the messy, beautiful work of parenting through transitions. Whether you're watching your kiddo move from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, or out into young adulthood, this season of parenting tweens and teens asks something new of us. I'll share three shifts that have changed everything for me: naming what's actually happening, seeing the kid in front of you, and holding tight to values while letting go of form.

For show notes and more info: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/ep-655-who-is-this-kid-the-transition-of-adolescence/

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Eps 654: Don Campbell on Raising Sons May 12, 2026

Show notes

Raising a teenage boy today means navigating contradictory messages about who he's supposed to be — strong but soft, expressive but not too much. In this episode, I sit down with Don Campbell of Soul Fire Parenting to unpack what teen boys actually need from us: closeness, safe harbor, and parents who model vulnerability. We dig into the power-over parenting trap, the real cost of "tough love," and why repair matters more than getting every single moment right. Press play.

Guest Bio:

Don Campbell is the founder of Soul Fire Parenting and a master coach with over 26 years of experience in learning and development. He works with parents — many of them clinicians and high-achieving professionals — navigating the tension between demanding careers and the equally demanding work of showing up for their kids. His coaching centers on burnout, emotional regulation, resilience, and dismantling the "power-over" model of parenting that so many of us inherited without realizing it. Don is also a dad of three, including a teenage son and another moving into adolescence soon, so he's not just speaking from the coaching side — he's living it.

For more show notes go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-654-don-campbell-on-raising-sons/

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Eps 653: Exploring teen cannabis use with Susan Notis May 05, 2026

Show notes

If you've ever stood in your kitchen wondering if your teen's weed use is "just a phase," this episode is for you. I'm joined by parent coach Susan Norts to talk about teen cannabis dependency, why today's marijuana isn't what we grew up with, and how to stay grounded when fear takes over. We dig into nervous system regulation, honest communication, and the long game of leading our teens through change. Tune in—you don't have to navigate this alone.

Guest Bio: Susan Notis is a certified parent coach and bestselling co-author of The Perfectly Imperfect Family. With over two decades of experience supporting children and families, she brings an integrative, whole-family lens to helping parents stay grounded and connected through high-stakes challenges like teen cannabis dependency. She's the author of "The Silent Epidemic: Teen Marijuana Dependency," a chapter in an upcoming parenting anthology, and runs the Leading by Example coaching program, where she helps parents do the inner work that creates real change at home.

For more info about our guest and show notes, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-653-exploring-teen-cannabis-use-with-susan-notis/

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Eps 652: Soft Teens or Snowflake Parenting? Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

In this solo episode, I take you into my comments section, where a listener called my parenting content "snowflake." I use it as a doorway into what Positive Discipline actually looks like with tweens and teens — why kind AND firm isn't soft, why consequences don't build skills, and how curiosity under the iceberg shifts how we show up. If you're raising an adolescent and tired of the "kick in the butt" narrative, this episode is for you.

Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/ eps-652-soft-teens-or-snowflake-parenting/

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Eps 651: Rebuilding trust with our teens Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

In this solo episode, I dig into what so many parents of teens wrestle with: rebuilding trust after your kid has hurt or scared you. I explore why hypervigilance is a trauma response and not a character flaw, the difference between earned trust and naive trust, why the body holds on even when our mind wants to move on, and how doing your own healing work matters as much as anything they do. Tender, real, and full of practical tools.

Bio: Casey O'Roarty, M.Ed., is a Positive Discipline Lead Trainer, parent coach, speaker, and author of Joyful Courage: Calming the Drama and Taking Control of YOUR Parenting Journey. She's been supporting parents and families for over 20 years and hosts the Joyful Courage Podcast, where she holds space for parents of tweens and teens navigating the messy terrain of adolescence. She's the mom of two young adult kids and the captain of the adolescent ship at Be Sproutable.

Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-651-rebuilding-trust-with-our-teens/

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Eps 650: Teen Sleep Help with Dr. Melisa Moore Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Teen sleep struggles are real — and they're not about laziness or bad parenting. In this episode, I sit down with clinical psychologist and sleep medicine specialist Dr. Melissa Moore to unpack why adolescent sleep is so hard and what parents can actually do about it. We explore the circadian shift of adolescence, neurodivergent sleep challenges, and how to have conversations that build cooperation instead of conflict. If your teen's sleep schedule is driving you crazy, this one's for you.

Dr. Melissa Moore is a clinical psychologist board certified in behavioral sleep medicine. She works at the Sleep Center at Rady Children's Health in San Diego and maintains a private practice serving children, teens, and young adults across the country, specializing in sleep, mood, and neurodiversity. She is the author of The Good Sleep Guide for Neurodivergent Kids.

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Eps 649: Teen Coaching with Anna Kashner Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

If you've ever watched your teen spiral into negative thinking and felt completely helpless — or worse, realized your response made it worse — this episode is for you. I sat down with certified youth life coach Anna Kashner to talk about teen life coaching, how it's different from therapy, and what's actually happening in your teen's brain when they catastrophize. Anna is warm, practical, and deeply experienced, and she left me (and will leave you) with real tools you can use starting today. Don't miss this one.

GUEST BIO

Anna Kashner is a certified youth and young adult life coach and executive function coach with over two decades of experience working with teens, young adults, and their families. Founder of Bolster Coaching, Anna supports young people ages 14–26 with motivation, executive functioning, academic success, friendships, and major life transitions. Her approach is rooted in unconditional positive regard, practical skill-building, and the belief that growth happens when young people feel truly seen and supported. She works in person in the Seattle area and virtually nationwide. Learn more at bolstercoaching.net or on Instagram @bolstercoaching.

For more info and show notes go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-649-teen-coaching-with-anna-kashner/

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Eps 648: Parenting with Humility and Breaking Cycles with Wendy Snyder Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, I'm sitting down with the incredible Wendy Snyder of Fresh Start Family — and this conversation is good. We're talking about breaking painful generational cycles, the power of humility as a parenting superpower, and why releasing control actually works better in the teen years. Wendy shares her raw, honest journey from overwhelmed mom to leading educator, and we get into the real stuff: shame, nervous system patterns, and what a fresh start actually looks like when things have already gotten hard.

Guest Bio: Wendy Snyder is a certified positive parenting educator, family life coach, and founder of Fresh Start Family. Through her podcast, courses, and coaching programs, she's helped thousands of parents ditch fear-based discipline and raise emotionally healthy kids. She is the author of Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home, releasing May 19, 2026.

For more info and show notes go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-648-parenting-with-humility-and-breaking-cycles-with-wendy-snyder/

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Eps 647: Returning to our soul care Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

If you've been feeling off lately (like me) — scattered, insecure, or like you've lost your footing — this episode is for you. In this solo show, I'm sharing what happened when I finally returned to my Soul Care practice after weeks away, and why intentional inner work is our most important foundation. I walk you through gratitude, affirmations, card pulls, and the mindset shifts that help me stay grounded as a parent and a person. This one is a reset. Come back to yourself.

Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-647-returning-to-our-soul-care/

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Eps 646: Getting real about "good kids" with Maggie Nick Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

If you've ever wondered why your "good kid" seems fine on the outside but distant, perfectionistic, or quietly falling apart — this episode is for you. I sat down with Maggie Nick, licensed clinical social worker and trauma therapist, to talk about what she calls "good kid" patterns: the relational shame that forms when kids learn to hide their messy, real selves to stay lovable. We dig into the check engine lights parents miss, why reassurance backfires, and what kids actually need to feel safe enough to show up as they are. Don't miss this one.

Maggie Nick is a licensed clinical social worker, trauma therapist, and author of Good Kids: Why You Suffer in Silence and How to Break the Cycle. She helps parents and adults understand the roots of people-pleasing, perfectionism, and shame — and how to break generational cycles.

Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-646-getting-real-about-good-kids-with-maggie-nick/

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