<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In this episode of </span><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Bigger Braver Life Show</strong><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, I explore the intersection of leadership, identity, and nervous-system health in parenting with my guest, </span><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Abigail Wald </strong><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">mother of two, renowned parenting mentor, and host whose shows have surpassed 1.5M downloads. Abigail helps families (including therapists, pediatricians, and public figures) navigate tough, in-the-moment challenges while crafting a meaningful family story across the full 18-year arc of childhood.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Leadership isn’t just for boardrooms it begins at home. It’s about presence, regulation, and how we lead ourselves in the hardest moments especially with strong-willed or highly sensitive kids.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I believe leadership is personal before it’s professional. The culture you create at work and at home starts with your inner capacity. If you’re burned out, grieving the “plan” you thought you’d have, or stuck in daily power struggles, this conversation is your invitation to trade fantasy for reality, regulate first, and build the family story you actually want.</span></p><p><br></p><h3><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In this episode, we discuss:</strong></h3><ul><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Strong-willed &amp; highly sensitive kids:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> why a one-size-fits-all method fails—and what tailored, compassionate structure looks like.</span></li><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">From fantasy to leadership:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> releasing the “supposed to” script and leading the family you actually have.</span></li><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Matrescence &amp; identity:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> the under-discussed transition into motherhood (and how to navigate the grief, rage, and rebirth).</span></li><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Nervous-system leadership at home:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> self-regulation, emotional mastery, and how your state sets the tone.</span></li><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Practical tools that work:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> rituals, sensory-smart snacks/structures, and repair for those “I lost it” moments.</span></li><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Abigail’s story of solving real problems:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> kangaroo care advocacy, founding the YES Bar, and building family systems that honor who each child truly is.</span></li><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Legacy in parenting:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> shaping a multi-generational ripple by raising humans—not perfect followers.</span></li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><h3><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Remember:</strong></h3><ul><li><span style="background-color: transparent;">You can’t lead what you won’t </span><em style="background-color: transparent;">feel.</em><span style="background-color: transparent;"> Regulate first; strategy second.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent;">Let go of the fantasy to love the family in front of you.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent;">Consistency beats perfection repair keeps relationships safe.</span></li></ul><p><br></p><h2><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Resources &amp; Next Steps</span></h2><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Start your self-development journey with Angela:</span></p><ul><li><a href="https://yourcallwithangela.as.me/schedule/d7e376c7/appointment/37618203/calendar/4073952?appointmentTypeIds[]=37618203" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;">Private 1:1 Leadership &amp; Mindset Coaching</a></li><li><a href="https://www.angelamarie.co/retreat" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;">Lake Como Leadership R</a><a href="https://www.angelamarie.co/retreat" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">etreat</a><span style="background-color: transparent;"> — limited spots for female leaders; transformational, restorative, intentional</span></li></ul><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Connect with </span><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Abigail Wald</strong><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Website: </span><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">motherflippingawesome.com</strong><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> • </span><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">abigailwald.com</strong></p><p>Tune into Abigails Podcast- <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mother-flipping-awesome/id1485526416" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mother Flipping Awesome</a></p><p><br></p><blockquote><a href="https://abigailwald.com/resources" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://abigailwald.com/resources</a></blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://abigailwald.com/contact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://abigailwald.com/contact</a></blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@motherflippingawesome" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.tiktok.com/@motherflippingawesome</a></blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://www.instagram.com/motherflippingawesome/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.instagram.com/motherflippingawesome/</a></blockquote><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">Contact Angela at </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 102, 204);">angela@angelamarie.co</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> and</span><a href="https://www.angelamarie.co/newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;"> join the newsletter</a><span style="background-color: transparent;"> today!</span></p><p></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 251, 255);">Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Podcast and leave a review so it reaches more leaders like you!</span></p><p><br></p><p>You can reach Angela here: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theangelamariewilliams/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/theangelamariewilliams/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> @theangelamariewilliams</p><p><br></p><p>Learn more, add more resources to your toolkit, and apply to work with Angela here: <a href="https://www.angelamarie.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.angelamarie.co/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Music Credit: Produced by G-Rod</p><p><br></p><p>*While Angela is a licensed psychotherapist, this show is purely for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not a substitute for mental health treatment. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal health advice.</p>

The Bigger Braver Life Show

Angela Marie Williams, LCSW

Parenting Strong-Willed & Highly Sensitive Kids: Nervous-System Leadership with Abigail Wald

NOV 10, 202537 MIN
The Bigger Braver Life Show

Parenting Strong-Willed & Highly Sensitive Kids: Nervous-System Leadership with Abigail Wald

NOV 10, 202537 MIN

Description

In this episode of The Bigger Braver Life Show, I explore the intersection of leadership, identity, and nervous-system health in parenting with my guest, Abigail Wald mother of two, renowned parenting mentor, and host whose shows have surpassed 1.5M downloads. Abigail helps families (including therapists, pediatricians, and public figures) navigate tough, in-the-moment challenges while crafting a meaningful family story across the full 18-year arc of childhood.


Leadership isn’t just for boardrooms it begins at home. It’s about presence, regulation, and how we lead ourselves in the hardest moments especially with strong-willed or highly sensitive kids.

I believe leadership is personal before it’s professional. The culture you create at work and at home starts with your inner capacity. If you’re burned out, grieving the “plan” you thought you’d have, or stuck in daily power struggles, this conversation is your invitation to trade fantasy for reality, regulate first, and build the family story you actually want.


In this episode, we discuss:

  • Strong-willed & highly sensitive kids: why a one-size-fits-all method fails—and what tailored, compassionate structure looks like.
  • From fantasy to leadership: releasing the “supposed to” script and leading the family you actually have.
  • Matrescence & identity: the under-discussed transition into motherhood (and how to navigate the grief, rage, and rebirth).
  • Nervous-system leadership at home: self-regulation, emotional mastery, and how your state sets the tone.
  • Practical tools that work: rituals, sensory-smart snacks/structures, and repair for those “I lost it” moments.
  • Abigail’s story of solving real problems: kangaroo care advocacy, founding the YES Bar, and building family systems that honor who each child truly is.
  • Legacy in parenting: shaping a multi-generational ripple by raising humans—not perfect followers.



Remember:

  • You can’t lead what you won’t feel. Regulate first; strategy second.
  • Let go of the fantasy to love the family in front of you.
  • Consistency beats perfection repair keeps relationships safe.


Resources & Next Steps

Start your self-development journey with Angela:


Connect with Abigail Wald:

Website: motherflippingawesome.comabigailwald.com

Tune into Abigails Podcast- Mother Flipping Awesome


https://abigailwald.com/resources
https://abigailwald.com/contact
https://www.tiktok.com/@motherflippingawesome
https://www.instagram.com/motherflippingawesome/


Contact Angela at [email protected] and join the newsletter today!

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Podcast and leave a review so it reaches more leaders like you!


You can reach Angela here: Instagram & LinkedIn @theangelamariewilliams


Learn more, add more resources to your toolkit, and apply to work with Angela here: https://www.angelamarie.co/


Music Credit: Produced by G-Rod


*While Angela is a licensed psychotherapist, this show is purely for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not a substitute for mental health treatment. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal health advice.