Power Your Parenting: Moms With Teens

Latest Episodes:

# 366 Can Moms Live Their Best Life? Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

Are you a mom who feels like you’ve lost your spark—like so much of your life has been poured into raising your teen that you’re no longer sure what lights you up?

In this episode, I sit down with Laura Best, author of Born to Buzz, to talk about how moms can reconnect with their passions without blowing up their lives to do it. Laura shares a refreshing and realistic approach: you don’t have to quit everything—you can rediscover your energy and purpose right where you are.

Laura Best is a motivational keynote speaker, bestselling author, and founder of Passion Collective—a global community helping people reconnect with what they love. With over 25 years of experience as a corporate marketing leader, she has worked with major brands like U.S. Bank and now helps individuals and organizations unlock passion to drive energy, engagement, and fulfillment in both work and life.

We explore why so many moms feel disconnected from themselves during the teen years, how guilt keeps us stuck, and why prioritizing your own fulfillment isn’t selfish—it actually makes you a better parent. Laura offers practical tools to help you reconnect with what you love, even if you’ve completely lost touch with it.

If you’ve been feeling flat, burned out, or like you’ve disappeared somewhere along the way—this episode is your invitation to come back to life.

✨ 3 Takeaways

1. It’s not selfish to prioritize yourself—it’s necessary.
When moms engage in what lights them up, they show up calmer, more present, and more connected. Taking care of yourself benefits your teen too.

2. You don’t need a big life change—start small.
You don’t have to quit your job or overhaul your life. Reconnecting with passion can begin with small, consistent moments that bring you joy.

3. Look back to move forward.
If you feel lost, think about a time when you felt most like yourself. What were you doing? That’s a clue to what still matters to you—and what you can bring back into your life.

Learn More at: https://www.passioncollective.co/book

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passioncollective/

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# 365 Why Good Teens Suffer Mar 23, 2026

Show notes

Were you a “good kid” growing up—and did anyone ever ask how you were really doing on the inside?

In this eye-opening episode, Colleen O’Grady sits down with trauma therapist and author Maggie Nick to explore the hidden cost of being the “good kid.” While these kids are often praised for being easy, responsible, and well-behaved, many are silently struggling with anxiety, perfectionism, and a deep fear of disappointing others.

Maggie shares her personal story of being a lifelong people-pleaser who looked “sunshine and rainbows” on the outside but felt intense pressure and self-criticism on the inside. Through her own healing journey, she discovered that shame—not behavior—is often at the root of the good kid pattern.

This conversation helps parents understand how well-intentioned parenting, combined with a child’s temperament and sensitivity, can unintentionally create kids who disconnect from their own needs in order to feel loved and accepted.

💡 3 Key Takeaways

1. “Good” Behavior Can Hide Internal Struggles
Good kids often look like they’re thriving—but many are anxious, self-critical, and disconnected from their own wants and needs. They’ve learned to focus outward—keeping others happy—while losing touch with themselves.

2. Shame Shapes Identity More Than We Realize
When kids receive messages like “I expected more from you” or “What’s wrong with you,” they don’t just change behavior—they internalize it. The takeaway becomes: “Something is wrong with me.” This can follow them into adulthood.

3. Small Parenting Shifts Can Break the Cycle
You don’t have to overhaul your parenting—just adjust your approach:

Move from criticism to curiosity
Allow your child to struggle without shame
Stay connected: “I don’t like the behavior, but I’m always on your side”

These small shifts help your teen stay connected to themselves—and to you.

Learn More at: https://www.instagram.com/maggiewithperspectacles?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

Follow at: https://www.instagram.com/maggiewithperspectacles?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

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# 364 Your Teen is Not Their Weight Mar 16, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Colleen O’Grady talks with pediatric obesity specialist Dr. Joey Skelton about one of the most sensitive topics for parents of teens: how to address weight and eating habits without causing shame or harm. Drawing from his new book, Your Child Is Not Their Weight: Parenting in a Size-Obsessed World, Dr. Skelton explains how well-meaning parents can unintentionally heighten body image struggles, disordered eating, and family tension when they focus too much on weight.

Dr. Skelton introduces the idea of “threading the needle”—supporting a teen’s health without feeding the cultural obsession with body size. He encourages parents to move away from comments, pressure, and restriction, and instead create a home environment built on love and structure. That means modeling healthy habits, setting consistent routines around meals and snacks, limiting food-related commentary, and avoiding moral labels like “good” and “bad” foods.

Colleen and Dr. Skelton also explore the difference between healthy eating, disordered eating, and eating disorders, the emotional impact of weight talk in families, when parents should be concerned, and how to help teens develop a healthier relationship with food and their bodies. This episode offers practical, compassionate guidance for moms who want to protect both their child’s physical health and emotional well-being.

Three key takeaways from this episode:

1. Talking about weight can backfire.
Even loving comments like “Do you really need another cookie?” may be heard by teens as criticism or shame. Dr. Skelton encourages parents to focus less on weight and more on creating healthy family routines.

2. Replace pressure and restriction with love and structure.
Rather than policing food, parents can help by planning meals, setting snack and dinner routines, eating together when possible, and modeling a balanced relationship with food and movement.

3. Your teen’s worth is never defined by their body.
Helping teens build body confidence starts with what parents model at home—avoiding negative body talk, not commenting on appearance, and reinforcing that health, character, and identity matter far more than weight.

Learn More at:

https://school.wakehealth.edu/faculty/s/joseph-skelton

https://www.wakehealth.edu/specialty/b/brenner-fit

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# 363 Instill Optimism in Your Teen Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

How do we help our teens stay hopeful when life is hard?

In this episode, I talk with psychologist and optimism expert Dr. Deepika Chopra, author of The Power of Real Optimism: A Practical Science-Based Guide to Staying Resilient, Curious, and Open Even When Life Is Hard.

We explore the difference between toxic positivity and real optimism, and why trying to cheer our teens up when they’re upset often backfires. Dr. Chopra explains that real optimism doesn’t deny hard feelings—it helps teens learn how to move through them.

We also discuss why teens need validation before solutions, how parents can unintentionally fall into pessimistic thinking about their kids, and how shifting our language and mindset can help teens build resilience and confidence.

Dr. Chopra shares practical ways parents can help teens develop optimism as a skill—by reminding them that emotions are temporary, helping them collect evidence of their strengths, and modeling optimism in our own lives.

This conversation will encourage parents who may feel discouraged with their teen and remind them that hope and growth are always possible.

3 Takeaways for Parents

1. Validate feelings before fixing the problem.
Teens aren’t looking for us to immediately cheer them up or solve their problems. They want to feel heard, understood, and safe expressing their emotions.

2. Optimism is a skill—not a personality trait.
Teens can learn optimism by recognizing that difficult feelings are temporary and by remembering past challenges they have overcome.

3. Focus on strengths, not just problems.
When parents constantly focus on what their teen is doing wrong, it can shape how both the parent and the teen see them. Looking for evidence of strengths helps teens build confidence and resilience.

Learn More at: https://www.drdeepikachopra.com/

Follow at: https://www.instagram.com/drdeepikachopra/

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# 362 How to Speak Teen Fluently Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

Is your teen being disrespectful — or just dysregulated?
Are power struggles in your home really about control… or miscommunication?

In this episode, Colleen sits down with adolescent psychologist Dr. Cam Caswell, also known as the “Teen Translator,” to unpack what it truly means to speak teen. They explore how small language shifts can completely change your relationship dynamic, why stricter consequences often backfire, and how behaviors like arguing, messy rooms, and pushback can actually be signs of healthy development. Dr. Cam shares practical tools parents can implement immediately — from handling screen time without making it the enemy, to phrases that de-escalate conflict and build emotional safety. This conversation is packed with wisdom to help you shift from control and fear to connection and confidence.

Dr. Cam Caswell is a nationally recognized adolescent psychologist, parent coach, TEDx speaker, podcast host, and founder of the Parenting Teens Academy. With over 20 years of experience and a doctorate in developmental psychology, she has helped thousands of families navigate shutdowns, anxiety, attitude, and emotional blowups. As a single mom of a 20-year-old daughter, she brings both clinical expertise and personal insight — along with humor, heart, and zero judgment.

🔑 3 Key Takeaways

1. Disrespect is often dysregulation.
When teens push back, argue, or use tone, they’re usually overwhelmed — not malicious. If parents regulate themselves first, it changes everything.

2. Connection is not a reward — it’s the foundation.
Withdrawing warmth, time, or relationship to punish behavior actually increases disconnection. Emotional safety builds cooperation.

3. “I see you. I get you. I’ve got you.”
When teens feel understood and emotionally secure, power struggles decrease and trust increases.

Learn more at: https://www.askdrcam.com/

Follow at: https://www.instagram.com/drcamcaswell/?hl=en

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# 361 Raise Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Teens Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

You are going to love this episode. Today we are going to dive into a teenager's emotional life. I think what makes parenting teens so challenging is dealing with their intense emotions. Sometimes you're the target of their emotional storms and sometimes they turn their emotions inward. You worry about them being depressed or anxious.

How many times have we brought up a simple request to our teen, but it turns out to be not so simple because it triggers a huge emotional response? Moms can find themselves avoiding talking about important topics because they don’t know how to handle their emotions.

I invited Dr. Lisa Damour, the author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, to talk about this nuanced subject of teenage emotions. In this episode we focus on her chapter called Managing Emotions, Part One: Helping Teens Express Their Emotions and the following chapter called ManagingEmotions, Part Two: Helping Teens Regain Emotional Control

Recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association, Lisa Damour, Ph.D., co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, writes about adolescents for the The New York Times, appears as a regular contributor to CBS News, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and maintains a clinical practice. She is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents, Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood and Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls. She and her husband have two daughters and live in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

To find out more about the Emotional Lives of Teenagers go to ⁠https://drlisadamour.com/ ⁠

And while you are there go to the tab that says How Can I Help to get your downloadable bookmarks.

Follow Lisa on Instagram at ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lisa.damour/

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# 360 Talking to Teens About Relationships Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

How do we talk to our teens about friendships, dating, sex, and consent—without panicking, preaching, or pushing them away?

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dr. Bronwen Carroll, pediatric emergency medicine physician, mom of four, and child protection advocate. With over 20 years of frontline experience, she shares what she’s seen, what works, and how parents can build “conversational scaffolding” early—so hard conversations feel natural later.

We talk about:

Why healthy romantic relationships are built on early childhood friendships
How to help teens recognize red flags in dating relationships
The emotional and physical risks of teen dating violence
Why welcoming your teen’s boyfriend or girlfriend may be smarter than banning them
How to talk about consent in clear, practical ways
Why honest conversations about sex don’t encourage early sexual activity (and what research from the Netherlands shows)
How alcohol, vulnerability, and online spaces increase risk
And most importantly—how to stay calm and connected when your teen is emotionally flooded

Dr. Carroll reminds us that no topic should be off-limits—and that starting the conversation today can make all the difference.

💡 Key Takeaways

Start Early with “Conversational Scaffolding.”
The more we normalize discussions about friendship, feelings, and safety when kids are young, the easier it is to talk about dating and sexuality later.
Focus on How Relationships Make Them Feel.
Teach teens to ask:
- Do I feel supported?
- Do I feel relaxed and accepted?
- Or do I feel anxious, insecure, and like I’m walking on eggshells?
Stay Calm and Stay Curious.
Panic creates power struggles. Curiosity keeps communication open.

Learn more at: https://www.bronwencarrollmd.com/

Follow at: https://www.instagram.com/bronwencarrollmd/

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# 359 Why Midlife Moms are Burning Out Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

Midlife moms are carrying so much—parenting teens, managing work, holding families together, and often supporting aging parents at the same time. It’s no surprise so many moms feel emotionally depleted, overstretched, and quietly burned out.

In this episode, Colleen O’Grady sits down with Dr. Allison Alford, author of Good Daughtering: The Work You’ve Always Done, The Credit You’ve Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough, to name a role many women live out—but rarely talk about: daughtering.

Dr. Alford explains why adult daughters often don’t recognize (or receive credit for) the mental and emotional labor they carry, and how that invisibility can fuel guilt, resentment, and burnout. Together, they explore what it looks like to define “good enough,” set healthy boundaries, and create more balance—without losing love or connection.

✅ 3 Key Takeaways

Daughtering is more than what you “do.”
It includes emotional labor, mental load, planning, worrying, smoothing conflict, and carrying responsibility—often unseen and unmeasured.
Burnout grows when expectations stay unspoken.
Many women feel “never good enough” because they’re trying to meet a standard that hasn’t been clearly defined—by their parents, siblings, or even themselves.
You can define “good enough” and still be loving.
Healthy daughtering includes boundaries. You don’t have to overfunction to prove your worth—and you’re not responsible for managing everyone else’s feelings.

👤 About the Guest

Dr. Allison Alford holds a PhD in interpersonal communication from the University of Texas at Austin and is a leading scholar on daughter and family communication. Her work has been featured in outlets like The Atlantic and Oprah Daily, and she previously hosted the Hello Mother, Hello Daughter podcast.

Follow at: https://www.instagram.com/daughtering101/?hl=en

Learn More at: https://daughtering101.com/about/

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#358 Is My Teen Normal? Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

Is your teen’s behavior a sign that something is “wrong”… or could it be part of normal development in a high-pressure world?
When should parents seek help—and when might labels actually do more harm than good?

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Colleen O’Grady sits down with child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Sami Timimi, author of Searching for Normal. With over 35 years in the UK’s National Health Service, Dr. Timimi challenges many of the assumptions parents have been taught about teen mental health. Together, they explore why diagnoses like ADHD, autism, anxiety, and depression have exploded—and why medicalizing distress can sometimes steal hope instead of restoring it. This conversation reframes teen behavior through the lens of context, development, relationships, and resilience, reminding parents that emotions are not emergencies and that most teens are not broken—they’re responding to a stressful world.

About Dr. Sami Timimi

Dr. Sami Timimi is a British child and adolescent psychiatrist with more than three decades of clinical experience in the UK’s National Health Service. He has authored numerous academic papers and books and is widely known for his critiques of the over-medicalization of mental health. In Searching for Normal, Dr. Timimi offers a deeply humane, evidence-based challenge to psychiatric labeling and invites families to reclaim a more hopeful, relational understanding of distress.

Three Takeaways for Parents

Distress is not the same as disorder. Many teen struggles are understandable responses to pressure, change, and context—not signs of lifelong pathology.
Labels shape identity—and not always in helpful ways. Diagnoses can unintentionally limit teens, increase fear, and turn temporary struggles into permanent stories.
Relationships matter more than control. Teens don’t need to be “fixed”—they need connection, patience, and adults who aren’t afraid of emotions.

Follow at:https://www.instagram.com/dr_samitimimi/?hl=en

Learn More at: https://www.samitimimi.co.uk/

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#357 Teens with Intense Emotions: Interview with Katie K. May Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Do you have a teen whose emotions feel huge and explosive—and nothing you say seems to calm things down?
Do you find yourself reacting out of fear, walking on eggshells, or second-guessing whether you’re doing any of this “right”?

In this episode, Colleen O’Grady talks with therapist and author Katie K. May about what’s really happening when teens have big, intense emotions—and why common parent responses (like “You’re fine” or “Relax”) often backfire. Katie introduces the concept of “fire feelers,” teens who experience emotions as all-consuming, and explains how self-destructive behaviors can become a desperate attempt to shut down emotional pain. You’ll learn why validation is the fastest way to lower emotional intensity, how “radical acceptance” helps parents stop fighting reality and start rebuilding connection, and why parents need a plan to regulate their own nervous system so they can respond instead of react—especially when safety is a concern.

Guest Bio: Katie K. May

Katie K. May is a licensed therapist, author, speaker, and group practice owner. She founded Creative Healing, a multi-location teen support center in the Philadelphia area, and is the author of You’re On Fire, It’s Fine: Effective Strategies for Parenting Teens with Self-Destructive Behaviors. With lived experience as a teen who turned to self-harm, Katie is one of a select few board-certified DBT clinicians in Pennsylvania. She equips parents and clinicians with practical, trauma-informed tools to decode behavior as survival and create lasting change.

Three Takeaways

Validation lowers the emotional “fire.” Before problem-solving, teens need to feel seen and understood—validation helps calm the nervous system and opens the door to change.
Radical acceptance reduces parental suffering. Accepting “this is where we are” doesn’t mean approving—it means stopping the fight with reality so you can respond more effectively.
Parents need their own regulation plan. A “stress meter” and a proactive calming strategy help moms manage fear, avoid catastrophic thinking, and stay steady when emotions run high.

Learn More at: https://katiekmay.com/

Follow at https://www.instagram.com/katiekmay/

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