After Bedtime with Big Little Feelings

We need to say something that might make you uncomfortable: we are over-parenting our kids. We are over-helping. Over-entertaining. Over-scheduling. Over-involving ourselves in every single moment of their lives. And it’s not making things better. It’s making our kids less independent, less resilient, and less capable of handling real life.In this episode, we’re bringing back the parts that 90’s parenting got right (not the fear-based, emotion-dismissing, boooooorderline trauma parts), but the parts that actually built confident, capable kids. Because back then? Kids figured things out. They got bored. They solved problems. They had space to become themselves. And today? We’re doing so much for them… they don’t get the chance. This episode will challenge you — in the best way.We’re talking about:Why your kid NEEDS boredom (and why it’s so hard for us to allow it)How constant involvement is quietly undermining confidenceThe science behind independent play and why it matters more than any activityWhy fewer toys, fewer plans, and fewer interventions actually lead to better outcomesHow to step back without feeling like you’re failing your kidYour job is not to make your child’s life smooth. Your job is to raise a kid who becomes an adult who can handle a life that isn’t. This episode will help you pull back, without guilt, and start raising a kid who can stand on their own two feet. Repeat after me : PERMISSION TO DO LESS. Sound too good to be true? Tune in to find out just how easy this simple shift in parenting can be.This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.Experian - Get started with the Experian App now! See experian.com for details.Little Spoon - Get 30% off your first order at littlespoon.com/BLF30 with code BLF30.Magnetic Me - Get 15% off sitewide at magneticme.com.Nutrafol - Head to nutrafol.com and enter the promo code FEELINGS for $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping. Shopify - Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/BLF. Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the goal of parenting isn’t raising kids who always listen…but raising kids who feel safe being fully themselves? In this episode, Kristin shares a realization that stopped her in her tracks: so much of her life has been shaped by the quiet pressure to be liked. To be the nice one. The agreeable one. The one everyone walks away from thinking, “Wow, she’s so kind.” From friendships to everyday interactions with strangers, that instinct to make sure everyone feels good about her has been deeply ingrained, and incredibly exhausting.And that realization led to a bigger parenting question: how often do kids learn to people-please because they feel their acceptance depends on it? Many of us grew up believing the highest compliment a child could receive was being called a “good kid.” The obedient one. The easy one. The one who doesn’t push back, question, or cause problems. But what if that expectation quietly teaches kids something we never intended, that their job is to make adults happy?In this episode, we unpack the hidden pressure behind being the “good kid” and why prioritizing obedience above all else can sometimes make it harder for kids to develop confidence, boundaries, and trust in their own voice.Kristin talks about:Why the idea of the “obedient child” can be misleadingHow kids internalize the need for approval from the adults around themThe subtle ways people-pleasing starts in childhoodThe difference between respect and complianceWhy it’s actually healthy for kids to disagree, push back, and express who they really areHow we can create homes where kids feel safe showing up authentically...even when that’s messyBecause here’s the truth: our kids are going to grow up in a world where not everyone will like them. And while that’s uncomfortable, it’s also part of being human. The goal isn’t raising kids who never disappoint anyone. The goal is raising kids who trust themselves enough to be who they are, even when it means not everyone approves. And when kids know they’re loved exactly as they are, they don’t have to spend their lives shrinking themselves to earn it.This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.Bobbie - Head to hibobbie.com to find the formula trusted by parents and loved by their babies–700k and counting. Hiya Health - Receive 50% off your first order of Hiya’s best selling children’s vitamin. Head to hiyahealth.com/BLF. Peloton - Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.comSkims - Shop our favorite bras and underwear at skims.com. #skimspartnerSquare - Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/BLF. #squarepod Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is one of the most vulnerable conversations we’ve ever had on the podcast. In this episode, Deena shares something deeply personal: her experience with postpartum depression after the birth of her third baby. What started as exhaustion and overwhelm slowly turned into something heavier, constant tears, crushing shame, and dark thoughts she never imagined she would have as a mom.If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing at motherhood… like everyone else is coping better than you… like your brain is telling you lies about who you are as a parent, this episode is for you. Together, Kristin and Deena talk honestly about what postpartum depression actually feels like from the inside, the warning signs that something wasn’t right, and the moment Deena realized she needed help. They also talk about the power of saying the scary thoughts out loud, the role of support from partners and friends, and the steps that helped Deena begin to find her way back.
In this episode, you’ll hear:• What postpartum depression can actually look like in real life• The thoughts many struggling moms are too ashamed to say out loud• Why postpartum depression has nothing to do with being a “good” or “bad” mom• How to recognize when it’s time to reach out for help• The small steps that can start the path toward feeling betterIf you are struggling, please know this: there’s nothing wrong with you, you are not alone, and help is out there. This conversation is raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful, because no mom should have to carry this alone. You can also contact Postpartum Support International (they have free helplines, tests, and local providers). If you’re in immediate danger, call or text 988 in the U.S. If you’re elsewhere, your local emergency number can connect you to crisis support.This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.Experian - Get started with the Experian App now! See experian.com for details.Little Spoon - Get 30% off your first order at littlespoon.com/BLF30 with code BLF30.Our Place - Stop cooking with toxic cookware and upgrade to Our Place today! Visit fromourplace.com/BLF and use code BLF for 10% off sitewide. Nutrafol - Head to nutrafol.com and enter the promo code FEELINGS for $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping. Quince - Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to quince.com/BLF for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Unreal Snacks - Visit unrealsnacks.com/BLF to get $2 off a bag of Unreal. Terms and conditions apply. Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I’ll be honest: I have a hard time with the idea of kids on social media. And still… the reality is: Teens (and preteens) are being pulled into this world, and parents are left trying to make sense of it. So, we sat down with Meta to find the safest way to protect our kids in these social media times.In this conversation, Kristin interviews Tara Hopkins (Global Director of Public Policy at Instagram/Meta — and a mom of two teens) and asks the questions parents actually have about Teen Accounts, content exposure, messaging, time limits, AI, and what “safety” really means in a world of short-form dopamine loops.Full disclosure, this episode isn't going to leave you saying, “social media is perfect.” But, if you've already given your child Instagram, if you're curious what limits you can place for your kid begging for social media, or you know someone in the thick of it, you'll walk away knowing *exactly* what you can, and can't do, to protect your kid online, which is exactly what I hoped.This is an information-forward, real-world conversation for parents who want to understand:• What Instagram Teen Accounts actually are and what happens inside them• What protections are in place for teens (and where parents can take a step further) • How Meta approaches sensitive content and teen safety• How time limits, sleep settings, and parental permissions work• Where AI fits into all of thisMy hope is simple: more clarity, less spiraling. Whether you’re firmly in the “no social media” camp, already navigating it with your teen, or you can feel the pressure creeping in… this episode gives you a clearer picture of what’s being built, how to use parameters that already exist, and what questions still deserve answers.Disclaimer: you have to be 13+ to use Meta platformsFor access to more helpful tools and expert guidance, parents can visit https://familycenter.meta.com.● Instagram Teen Accounts —now inspired by 13+ movie ratings—are designed to give parents peace of mind that their teens are safer with the right protections in place. Learn more about Instagram Teen Accounts at https://about.fb.com/news/2025/10/instagram-teen-accounts-pg-13-ratings/● Support your family’s online experience with expert guidance and tools from Meta’s Family Center. Explore resources today, including Meta’s Screen Smart Program, at https://familycenter.meta.com.This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode. Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you’re raising a boy, this episode will light a fire in you - in the best, most empowering way. Because here’s the truth: The kind of men our boys become is not random - it’s not just personality, or fate. It’s shaped - day by day - in childhood. In how we respond to their anger, their tears, their mistakes.Parents are not just witnessing who their sons become; we are actively building the men they will be - through parenting. And the most hopeful part? There are concrete, science-backed things you can start doing today that measurably shift your child’s emotional trajectory - and the kind of partner, friend, and human he will one day be.In this bold, honest, sometimes funny-so-you-don’t-cry episode, Deena goes straight at the stuff that feels big and scary to say out loud: male entitlement, emotional shutdown, aggression, consent failures, unequal partnership, and why “boys will be boys” has quietly lowered the bar for generations. Then, she flips the script - with science, real stories, and concrete parenting tools you can start literally today - so you walk away knowing exactly how to raise a boy who feels deeply, respects boundaries, takes accountability, and is safe to love.Here are the 10 daily actions that turn little boys into great men - starting TODAY:• Why emotional skills in men are built - or blocked - in early childhood• The critical difference between allowing anger vs. allowing harm• How to teach consent and bodily autonomy starting in toddlerhood• Why boys receive less emotional coaching (and how to change that)• Rough play, wrestling, and what it’s actually doing in the brain• Teaching boys about periods, care work, and partnership early• How to build empathy and perspective-taking in daily moments• Accountability and repair: the skill many men never learned• Why punishment and shame backfire - especially for boys• The core message boys need about love, power, and safetyYou’ll leave this episode feeling seen in the weight of raising boys today, and radically empowered in how much influence you actually have. Because you’re not just raising a child; you’re shaping the kind of man the world will one day meet. And once you hear this, you’ll parent your son differently tomorrow morning.This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at bollandbranch.com/BLF with code BLF. Experian - Get started with the Experian App now! See experian.com for details.Hiya Health - Receive 50% off your first order of Hiya’s best selling children’s vitamin. Head to hiyahealth.com/BLF. Ka’Chava - Go to kachava.com and use code BLF for 15% off your first order!Peloton - Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.comPique - Head to piquelife.com/BLF for 20% off. Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Victoria Thain Gioia, co-founder and CEO of Perelel, built a doctor-backed women’s health brand after a pregnancy-related diagnosis revealed gaps in maternal care. She discusses stage-specific nutrition, why women need different support than men, the role of protein, fiber and muscle health, simple daily shifts to feel better, and how to make supplements easy and usable.

PBS KIDS is one of the only places in kids’ media that still feels like it’s made by people who actually like children. It’s the show your kid watches and then… somehow… can still turn the iPad off without acting like you just stole their life force (because their programming is slow paced, based on research enhancing your child's brain rather than rotting it). It’s the content that teaches real skills (letters, math, emotional regulation, empathy) without turning your child into a tiny zombie who can’t look away. And right now? That lifeline is being cut.This week, Kristin sits down with Sara DeWitt (Senior VP + General Manager of PBS KIDS) for a conversation every parent needs to hear, about what PBS does differently, why it matters for kids’ brains, and what’s at stake after federal funding was cut, including the termination of the Ready To Learn grant that helped fund PBS KIDS’ education and research work.In this episode, Sara shares:Why some kids’ content is designed to be impossible to turn off, and how PBS builds the oppositeWhy “developmentally appropriate” shows are rarer and rarer these days in the media outside of PBS kidsThe real impact of funding cuts (reduced staff, paused research, fewer new shows in the pipeline)The magic of Daniel Tiger (yes, we talk about the iconic “beach in the house” moment)And the story behind Carl the Collector, PBS KIDS’ first series with an autistic lead character, and why this kind of representation changes kids foreverIf you’ve ever felt like PBS KIDS helped you survive early parenthood… if your kid has learned more from Daniel Tiger than from any parenting book on your nightstand… if you’ve been looking at the screen time landscape like “WE ARE NOT OK”… this one’s for you.How to help (fast + doable):Watch PBS KIDS + download the apps (usage matters).Donate to your local PBS station (go to PBS.org, enter your ZIP code).Tell your story — why PBS matters to your family. Those stories protect this workThis episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.Hiya Health - Receive 50% off your first order of Hiya’s best selling children’s vitamin. Head to hiyahealth.com/BLF. Little Spoon - Get 30% off your first order at littlespoon.com/BLF30 with code BLF30.Peloton - Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.comPique - Head to piquelife.com/BLF for 20% off.Skims - Shop our favorite bras and underwear at skims.com. #skimspartner Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gabriella Pomare, family lawyer and co-parenting expert who founded The Collaborative Co-Parent, shares practical legal and emotional guidance for separation. She explores how ongoing parental conflict, not divorce, harms kids. Short takes cover grieving and healing without involving children, reassurance and steady communication, and strategies for co-parenting with an uncooperative ex.

For more than a decade, Scheana Shay has lived her life in the public eye, on Vanderpump Rules, in headlines, and under constant scrutiny. But while the world watched one version of her story, a much harder one was unfolding behind closed doors. In this deeply honest sit-down, Scheana opens up about the reality she was carrying while cameras kept rolling. A traumatic, life-threatening birth. Debilitating postpartum OCD and intrusive thoughts that left her afraid of her own mind. And the moment she discovered her husband had cheated, while she was raising a young child and barely surviving herself.Scheana shares what it was like to endure all of this while being judged in real time. To hold herself together on set while falling apart at home. And, for the first time ever, the real reason she decided to stay in her marriage. This episode is a story of resilience. Of a woman rebuilding herself while the world dissected her choices. Of motherhood in its most vulnerable moments. Of mental health struggles that don’t wrap up neatly. And of a marriage that broke and had to be rebuilt slowly, imperfectly, and honestly.If you’ve ever felt like you were falling apart behind a brave face, this episode will stay with you.Trigger warning: birth trauma, postpartum OCD/intrusive thoughts, infidelity.This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.Bobbie - Head to hibobbie.com to find the formula trusted by parents and loved by their babies–700k and counting. Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at bollandbranch.com/BLF with code BLF. Hiya Health - Receive 50% off your first order of Hiya’s best selling children’s vitamin. Head to hiyahealth.com/BLF. Our Place - Stop cooking with toxic cookware and upgrade to Our Place today! Visit fromourplace.com/BLF and use code BLF for 10% off sitewide.  Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jon Fogel, parenting researcher and author of Punishment-Free Parenting, translates neuroscience into practical guidance. He challenges obedience-focused discipline and explores values over rules. Short conversations cover tone, yelling as regulation, letting kids face good stress, and parenting as adult growth.