

Parenting The Adlerian Way
Alyson Schafer
Join internationally acclaimed parenting expert Alyson Schafer every Monday as she answers your parenting questions. Without judgement and backed with easily understandable theory and research, she’ll offer up actionable solutions you can implement immediately. Alyson puts the “sense" back into "common sense parenting" with her warm, inspiring and informed Adlerian approach. Alyson is the author of three best selling parenting books with HarperCollinsCanada including; “Breaking The Good Mom Myth” “Honey, I Wrecked The Kids” and Ain't Misbehavin’” and the go-to expert for national media outlets.Send Alyson your parenting question to alyson@alysonschafer.com with #AskAlyson in the subject line or to @alysonschafer on any of her social media platforms. Questions will be answered anonymously. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 16, 2026 • 33min
216: Teen Dating and Relationship Violence
We assume when our teens start dating, they are going to pick good partners and be in good relationships, but wow – sometimes that is not the case! In this eye-opening conversation with the leading research experts from the University of Calgary who have developed an education texting-based tool for parents, we talk about the definition of relationship violence, the role of parents as a protective factor and how their text-based app solved the hurdle of parents not feeling adequately prepared to have these conversations about healthy vs unhealthy relationships. You can find them here: Instagram: @connected_parents_canadaLinkedIn: ConnectED Parents Website: https://preventdomesticviolence.ca/our-work/children-youth-parents/connected-parents-project/**********Thank you to FeedSpot for selecting “Parenting the Adlerian Way” as the #1 parenting podcast in Canada two years in a row!Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to hello@alysonschafer.com and I’ll answer (anonymously) on an upcoming Q&A podcast.Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 2, 2026 • 49min
215: The Family Meeting Kit – How To Make Family Meetings Fun And Effective
Marjie Longshore and Paige Trevor are seasoned parent educators. Part of their curriculum is teaching the importance of holding regular family meetings. They also recognize that while parents are keen on the idea of family meetings, they also tend to give up quickly on this importance practice, for a variety of reasons. With research into the problems of consistency and compliance, and the ingenuity to solve for it, Marjie created the Family Meeting Kit as well as an online community platform to help support parents. We discuss all the benefits she has to offer families with these new creations and why they work. Family Leadership Center https://www.familyleadershipcenter.org Podcast: The Family Leadership Center Podcast: Circle In with co-hosts Marjie and Paige Join our Online Circle In Community: circlein.circle.soVisit our website at www.circlein.org IG: @circlein.familymeetingkit and @familyleadershipctr**********Thank you to FeedSpot for selecting “Parenting the Adlerian Way” as the #1 parenting podcast in Canada two years in a row!Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to hello@alysonschafer.com and I’ll answer (anonymously) on an upcoming Q&A podcast.Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 16, 2026 • 43min
214: “Good Grandpa – Stories from The Heart of Grandfatherhood”, with Ted Page
Ted Page is on a journey to discover how to be a wonderful grandparent and help his grandchildren become The New Greatest Generation. We discuss some of the insights he learned after interviewing grandfathers from diverse backgrounds – everyone from John Cleese and Tom Brokaw, to veterans, rabbis, Imams and grandpas across cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. He heard and recorded their stories, capturing and distilling their wisdom to convey what our children (and all of us!) can learn from. You can purchase Ted’s book, “Good Grandpa – Stories from The Heart of Grandfatherhood” hereCheck out his blog for ongoing stories and to reach out to Ted with your own stories: www.goodgrandpa.com Follow Ted on social media:IG at @GoodGrandpaBlog Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ted.page.923**********Thank you to FeedSpot for selecting “Parenting the Adlerian Way” as the #1 parenting podcast in Canada!Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to hello@alysonschafer.com and I’ll answer (anonymously) on an upcoming Q&A podcast.Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 2, 2026 • 13min
213: Parenting Q & A with Alyson Schafer
Q1. 13yr old son doesn’t open up and share his feelings anymore.Q2. Divorcing parents looking for best shared custody plan for kids. Q3. How to wean a 3yr old off his pacifier. **********Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to hello@alysonschafer.com and I’ll answer (anonymously) on an upcoming Q&A podcast.Check out more free parenting advice on my blog at www.alysonschafer.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive a free “Home Responsibilities by Age” checklist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 19, 2026 • 40min
212: Canadian Music Icon Natalie MacMaster On Her New Book, “I Have A Love Story”
Master Celtic fiddler from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Natalie MacMaster, has received the Order of Canada and played with such greats as Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Krauss, The Boston Pops, The Chieftains and many more. Her rise to fame happened while she was navigating both a demanding career of a musician performing on the road and raising 7 children. If anyone knows about balance of career and family, it’s Natalie! Tune in to this episode as she shares her journey and how she manages to keep it all together! Purchase Natalie’s Book book: “I Have a Love Story” here. Follow Natalie on social media: IG: @nataliemacmasterofficial FB: https://www.facebook.com/nataliemacmaster/ Website: https://natalieanddonnell.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@macmasterleahy**********Thank you to FeedSpot for selecting “Parenting the Adlerian Way” as the #1 parenting podcast in Canada two years in a row!Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to hello@alysonschafer.com and I’ll answer (anonymously) on an upcoming Q&A podcast.Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 5, 2026 • 38min
211: Tech Guru Amber Mac Discusses What Parents Should Know About AI
Amber Mac has been following the progress and proliferation of AI since it came onto the tech scene. Amber brings us up to speed on what AI is, the many places where you may not realize it is at work in the background, and how tech corporations are using our children as their test market for building algorithms. While there are many positives to AI that can benefit our children, Amber also offers advice about how parents can buffer the pull of our technology with "IRL" experiences and lobby for better government legislation that we're beginning to see in other countries. You can learn more about Amber Mac and her work through her website AmberMac.com**********Thank you to FeedSpot for selecting “Parenting the Adlerian Way” as the #1 parenting podcast in Canada!Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to hello@alysonschafer.com and I’ll answer (anonymously) on an upcoming Q&A podcast.Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 29, 2025 • 47min
210: “Living Well With Perfectionism” by Adlerian Authors Caroline Faifman and Lindsay Turner
Are you a perfectionist? Are you worried your child might be too? In this episode, I chat with two fellow Adlerian counsellors who have co-authored a book to help. We discussed the definition of perfectionism, why it originates, some of the various signs you might watch for, as well as the impacts perfectionism has. You can purchase their book, “Living Well With Perfectionism” here.And, here’s where to follow them on their social sites.Caroline Faifman:www.thebaycounselinggroup.comwww.styleoflifecounseling.comIG @styeoflife_counselingLindsay Turner: LinkedIn liturner227IG @reimaginelifetoday **********Thank you to FeedSpot for selecting “Parenting the Adlerian Way” as the #1 parenting podcast in Canada two years in a row!Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to hello@alysonschafer.com and I’ll answer (anonymously) on an upcoming Q&A podcast.Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 15, 2025 • 58min
209: Kids and AI with Educational Tech Expert, Leslie Tyler
Leslie and I discuss the new parenting challenge of how to best manage our children as AI becomes a part of everybody’s life – adults and children included. We discuss mitigating risk while helping our children get the benefits of AI. Leslie also discusses the dangerous downsides of AI companionships, AI and homework, as well as offering up some tools and strategies to help parents keep their kids safe online. Here are some links Leslie recommends parents check out: Your Healthy Tech Playbook/BlogDigital Wellness LabLook for more info on on Pinwheel kid’s phones here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepinwheelphone/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinwheelphoneYoutube: @thepinwheelphoneX: @pinwheelphoneLinkedIn**********Thank you to FeedSpot for selecting “Parenting the Adlerian Way” as the #1 parenting podcast in Canada two years in a row!Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to hello@alysonschafer.com and I’ll answer (anonymously) on an upcoming Q&A podcast.Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 1, 2025 • 30min
208: Parenting Q & A with Alyson Schafer
Q1. 6yr old son enjoys showing others his strength and prowess but that can suddenly turn and look like aggression. Q2. Potty training a boy who refuses to poop in either diaper or potty and wants to touch his stool as he is passing it. Q3. My two children live in a trilingual home, and I want to ensure my ethnic language is taught to my children, but my eldest is giving me push back and refusing. Q4. 10yr old daughter has 50/50 time between divorced parents. Father’s ADHD and vision impairment leads to her not having her homework and other responsibilities done. **********Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to hello@alysonschafer.com and I’ll answer (anonymously) on an upcoming Q&A podcast.Check out more free parenting advice on my blog at www.alysonschafer.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive a free “Home Responsibilities by Age” checklist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 17, 2025 • 33min
207: The Importance Of Showing Our Children That Work Is Joyful
This is a must-listen episode if you are a working parent. I spoke with Bree Groff, the author of the book “Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously)”. Her mission is to illuminate the need for parents to model a positive attitude about being a working parent and the role work has in our life because our children are watching very closely. She reminds us that “when you overwork, your kids pay the price. It’s one thing for you to willingly overwork and pay the price yourself, it’s quite another to take the payments for it out of someone else’s bank account.” You can find her book here: Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously).**********Thank you to FeedSpot for selecting “Parenting the Adlerian Way” as the #1 parenting podcast in Canada!Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to hello@alysonschafer.com and I’ll answer (anonymously) on an upcoming Q&A podcast.Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


