Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens

Feeling like you're living with a wildfire instead of just putting out fires with your teen? In this solo episode, I explore why traditional discipline approaches fail when relationships are ruptured, and introduce the concept of a "relationship reset" - an energetic cast that gives both you and your teen space to heal. Learn how disengaging with love (not indifference) can restore influence, rebuild trust, and create the connection your struggling teen desperately needs. This is a solo episode with Casey O'Roarty, parent educator, Positive Discipline lead trainer, and host of the Joyful Courage podcast. Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-640-relationship-reset-with-your-teen/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with psychotherapist and Positive Discipline expert Alyson Schafer to explore how we can support our teens through today's turbulent political climate. We discuss Alfred Adler's vision for raising cooperative citizens, reading our kids' stress signals, using curiosity over lectures, and helping teens move from doom-scrolling to meaningful action. If you're struggling to hold space for your teen's big feelings about current events while maintaining hope for the future, this episode is essential listening. Guest Bio: Alyson Schafer is a psychotherapist, bestselling author, and one of the leading voices in Positive Discipline and Adlerian psychology. She has written multiple books including Breaking the Good Mom Myth and Ain't Misbehavin', and her work has helped families worldwide move from power struggles to cooperation. Alyson hosts her own podcast and runs child guidance programs rooted in democratic parenting principles. She lives in Canada and continues the legacy of Adlerian psychology through her international community work. For more show notes and info at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/politics-and-parenting-with-alyson-schafer/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I recently sat down with Kevin Dahill-Fuchel to explore what's really happening with teens' mental health today and why traditional models aren't enough. We discussed the crisis of isolation among adolescents, how schools can become centers of healing, and the critical importance of adults modeling healthy relationships. Kevin shares powerful insights about meeting kids where they are, making suicide a speakable word, and why staying present with our teens—even when they push us away—matters more than ever. If you're wondering how to support your teen's mental health while managing your own overwhelm, this conversation offers hope and practical wisdom. Kevin Dahill-Fuchel is the Executive Director of Counseling in Schools, a pioneering organization that embeds mental health professionals directly into New York City public schools. With over 30 years of experience, Kevin has led his organization through major collective traumas including 9/11, Superstorm Sandy, and COVID-19, evolving their model to provide comprehensive community-wide support that now serves over 6,700 students, nearly 2,000 families, and 1,400 school staff across 52 schools. His healing-centered, anti-oppressive approach recognizes emotional and social wellbeing as foundational to student success. Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-638-school-based-mental-health-solutions-with-kevin-dahill-fuchel/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I sat down with Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, a neuroscientist who's worked with over 1,000 schools globally, and what he shared about educational technology absolutely validates what so many of us have been feeling. After reviewing six decades of research, Jared reveals how ed tech actually undermines our kids' learning—and why COVID didn't change that. Dr. Horvath earned his doctorate from University of Melbourne and master's from Harvard, and he breaks down the neuroscience of why analog learning beats digital every time. If you've felt uneasy about your teen's screen-based schoolwork, this conversation will empower you to push back. Listen now. For more about the guest and show notes, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-637-dr-jared-horvath-edtech-harms-learning/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I'm starting 2026 at the heart of everything I teach: the shift from problem-focused to possibility-focused parenting. This solo episode dives deep into the work I've been doing with parents for nearly 20 years—understanding why your tools disappear when emotions run high and what actually bridges that gap. I'll unpack the neuroscience of focus, share the embodiment practices that ground my approach, and explain why self-regulation isn't just another task—it's the core of transformation. This isn't about New Year's resolutions or fixing your teen. It's about the daily practice of becoming the parent you want to be, one intentional moment at a time. For full show notes and more, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-636-create-dont-correct-in-2026/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices