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Kids & Family

The Behavior Blueprint with Mandy Grass

Ever wonder why parenting advice sounds great on Instagram but completely falls apart by bedtime? The Behavior Blueprint: Real Talk for Real Families is a podcast for parents who want to understand what’s really driving their child’s behavior, and what actually helps.Hosted by Mandy Grass, a board-certified behavior analyst, parent coach, former teacher, mom of three, and blended mom of seven, the show breaks down behavior through a science-backed, real-life lens. Each episode explores the function behind behavior and the patterns that keep families stuck, without blame, shame, or oversimplified advice.Through a mix of Mandy’s solo episodes, honest reflections from her own parenting life, and unscripted coaching conversations with influencers, mom-founders, and everyday families, listeners gain practical tools they can use immediately—at home, at school, and at bedtime.This isn’t about fixing kids or chasing perfection. It’s about understanding behavior, building realistic plans, and helping families create calmer, more connected homes, one small shift at a time.

Latest Episodes:

Why Screen Time Rules Stop Working—and How to Reset Them Without a Huge Fight Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Did the lazy days of summer turn your kids into screen obsessed zombies? On this episode, Mandy gets honest about how technology completely got away from her blended family this summer.

From teens scrolling at full volume in the car to loud video games taking over the family room on a rainy day, Mandy breaks down the behavioral functions behind why kids can't put devices down and why parents are so quick to hand them over. Learn how Mandy lays out the realistic tech boundaries within her own home, while providing a blueprint for a structured technology contract just in time for the new school year!

Tools & Resources

Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠.

Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you.

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Back to School: How to Use "Chaining" to Fix Your Chaotic Morning Routine Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Are you dreading the morning chaos of repeating "get your shoes on" 14 times before you've even finished your coffee? In part two of her back-to-school series, Mandy tackles the most common morning pitfalls.

On this episode, Mandy breaks down how to identify whether your child is facing a skill deficit (they can't do it) or a performance deficit (they won't do it), and how that distinction completely alters your parenting intervention. Learn how to use behavioral chaining, visual schedules, and strategic praise to slowly fade your prompts and build true morning independence!

Tools & Resources

Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠.

Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you.

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

Why Your Kids Can't Just “Get Ready”—and How to Stop Doing Everything for Them Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Are you trying to squeeze the last drop of fun out of summer, but secretly dreading the chaos of the back-to-school transition? On this episode, Mandy lays out her comprehensive plan for getting the kids ready for the new school year. As the first school bell of the year draws near, Mandy breaks down what it means to rack up sleep schedules and morning routines before the pressure of the first day hits. She also shares some personal experience on the importance of a pre-school year closet purge, why making lunches the night before can save an entire morning, and even some tricks for getting kids excited about chore charts. Plus, she provides a clear breakdown of what independence actually looks like for elementary, middle, and high school students. It is a back to school blueprint for all ages!

Tools & Resources

Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠.

Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you.

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

The Divorce Episode: The Letter, The Breaking Point, and Finding an Equal Partner Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

On this episode, Mandy takes a left turn from her usual behavior and parenting content to get incredibly vulnerable about a highly requested topic: her divorce. Without holding back, Mandy discusses the reality of carrying the entire mental and physical load for her family, the "final straw" that made her realize nothing was going to change, and the beautiful realization of finally being deeply supported in her current relationship. It is a different type of episode with an extremely honest and close look at how the path a parent takes has its many valleys and peaks!

Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you.

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

Why Some Kids Are So Afraid to Disappoint You: People Pleasing From a Kid's Perspective Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

On this episode, Mandy wraps up July’s emotional regulation series with two very special guests: her daughters, Lola and Parker. This midsummer check-in dives into the reality of emotional regulation from the kids' perspective, sharing specific moments where the girls felt empowered to call out the adults in their lives for their tone and reactions.

Mandy also does an assessment of the family's chore chart, admitting where she dropped the ball and celebrating the systems that are actually working. From navigating the complexities of people pleasing to managing blended family dynamics, this episode showcases what it looks like to create a safe, communicative environment for your children.

Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you.

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

Why You Keep Yelling at Your Kids Even When You Swore You Wouldn't Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

This week, Mandy is joined by her sister, Tiff, for an honest conversation about emotional regulation and generational parenting. Tiff brings a grounded perspective from her career as a science journalist, as she and Mandy unpack what growing up a the loud, "shouty" was like. Mandy and Tiff also discuss how they navigate their own emotional triggers, the concept of "generational overcorrection," and the intense guilt that follows a parenting power struggle. This special sibling edition lays out the blueprint for breaking old cycles, discovering the art of the apology, and empowering kids to call out adult dysregulation.

Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you.

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

Emotional Regulation Part 2: Piling On, Pool Floats, and Practicing the Pause Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

In part two of our emotional regulation series, Mandy shares more real life parenting stories that prove it takes more than just taking deep breaths and maintaining perfect calm. From a sibling standoff over pool floats to managing a 1-year-old's anxiety over new braces, Mandy explains how to look past the misbehavior to find the function. Get strategies for modeling repair, what to do when your kids are dysregulating you by being insanely silly, and why ignoring behavior without providing a replacement is a recipe for disaster.

Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you.

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

Why Good Parents Lose Their Minds: A Blueprint for Parent Emotional Regulation Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

If you are looking for an expert to simply tell you to "take a deep breath" and never yell at your kids, this is not the podcast for you. In this highly relatable episode, Mandy turns the behavioral lens inward to tackle parent emotional regulation.

Using the same ABCs of behavior (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence) applied to children, Mandy explains how to identify your own adult triggers and learning history. From screaming over a lost soccer uniform, to delivering an unhelpful lecture when her kiddo did something they shouldn't be doing, Mandy breaks down why our capacity changes from day to day and provides a concrete blueprint for apologizing, taking ownership without blame, and focusing on the 95% of the day you handled beautifully!

Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠.Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you.

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

Mom Brain, Anxiety, and Shared Journals with Julia Dzafic aka The Medicated Millennial Mom Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

On this episode, Mandy sits down with Julia Dzafic, the creator behind Lemon Stripes and The Medicated Millennial Mom. Julia opens up about her journey as a content creator, balancing flexible but demanding work hours, and managing a household with an 8-year-old, a 4-year-old, a dog, and 11 chickens.

Mandy and Julia dive into what it means to have "Mom Brain" and the invisible mental load that keeps parents constantly spinning. Julia shares her vulnerable experience with paralyzing anxiety after having her daughter and how finally accepting medication changed her life. This episode is not only just a couple of moms being real and honest with each other, it is also jam packed with relatable parenting truths and actionable behavior strategies!

Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you.

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

Why Your Teen Doesn't Seem to Care—and What to Do When You Can't Motivate Them Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Are you constantly nagging your teen to get out of bed or take out the garbage? On our next summer series epiosde, Mandy dives deep into the teenage brain to explain why natural consequences often don't work, especially when the consequence actually falls on the parent. Learn all about building external motivation when intrinsic motivation doesn't exist, how to successfully "scaffold" independence, and why arguing with your teen might just be giving them the attention they crave. Mandy also takes a look at how single and working parents can normalize their summer schedules and lean on their village.

Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you.

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

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