Authentic Parenting

Returning guest, renowned psychiatrist and author Dr. Paul Conti on tapping into our often ignored and long over-looked generative drive, the primary factor that's already going right in each of us. The generative drive helps you get things done, solve problems creatively, help others and feel connected to something larger than yourself. When activated, it brings you peace, contentment, and delight. The 5 Part Function of Self: When you alter your function you alter your life trajectory Cultivating a daily self-inquiry practice Learning compassionate curiosity Progressive muscle relaxation Rewiring Life Narratives Get his new book: What's Going Right: A Powerful New Method for Optimizing Your Mental Health Listen to Dr. Conti's first epsiode on the podcast: The Invisible Epidemic of Trauma with Paul Conti, MD LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services. Podcast Production by Aminur

Screens—and managing them—have become one of the biggest daily struggles for parents today. In today's episode, I'm joined by Michaeleen Doucleff, author of Dopamine Kids, and this conversation felt both grounding and eye-opening. Like so many of us, she found herself struggling with screens and ultra-processed foods in her own homeand instead of blaming or restricting harder, she got curious about what's really going on underneath. We talk about what dopamine actually isand the myths we've gotten wrong. Why the pull toward scrolling and "easy" rewards is so powerful, and what it really means to help kids (and ourselves) do hard things. She introduces her model for understanding what she calls "dopamine magnets," how to curate the cues in our environment, and why resistance alone doesn't work.

Dr. Debbie Raphael on the significance of social connection—friendships, community, and creating your village. Connection isn't a luxury—it's a lifeline. It's one of the most powerful antidotes we have to stress, burnout, and loneliness. And yet, it's often the very thing that gets pushed to the bottom of our list when life feels overwhelming. So as you listen, I want to leave you with this question: What is one small step you can take today to strengthen an existing connection—or create a new one? LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services. Podcast Production by Aminur

Lisa Katayama, author and mom on what we can learn from the Japanese approach to parenting. Get her book: The Japanese Way of Parenting: And What It Taught Me About Raising (Mostly) Calm, Caring, Capable Kids OTHER EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE What Cultures Around the World Can Teach You About Parenting with Marina Lopes Motherhood Is Political: Parenting, Policy, and Cultural Expectations with Abigail Leonard Are We Over-Parenting in America? The Danish Way of Parenting The my initial conversation The Japanese Way of Parenting LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services. Podcast Production by Aminur

Hilary Jacobs Hendel, a NYC-based AEDP psychotherapist and emotions educator on using the Change Triangle to understand, manage and regulate your core emotions for optimal well-being. GET HER BOOKS Parents Have Feelings, Too: A Guide to Navigating Your Emotions So You And Your Family Can Thrive It's Not Always Depression by Hilary Jacobs OTHER EPISODES YOU MAY ENJOY Fear with Kristen Ulmer Anger with Russell Kolts, PhD Boredom with Hans Wilhelm The Upside of Your Dark Side with Todd Kashdan, PhD The Benefits of Negative Emotions Unwinding Anxiety with Dr. Jud Brewer Why Anxiety Is Good For You Even Though It Feels Bad How to Be Happier with Tal Ben-Shahar LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services. Podcast Production by Aminur

We hear a lot these days about boundaries, self-care, and protecting our energy. But what about generosity? In this episode, Kristy Lauricella and I explore generosity—what it means, how it shows up in everyday life, and why noticing it can quietly transform how we experience the world. We discuss generosity as a mindset, not just big acts of giving; how to receive it from others; why acknowledging small acts of kindness matters; and the connection between generosity, gratitude, and happiness. OTHER EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE Death and Cupcakes with Kristy Lauricella Why We Need To Connect More with Kristy Lauricella How to Connect Deeply wiht Yourself and Others with Kristy Lauricella Navigating Adult Friendships Colonoscopy and Cannolis A Year in Review: Pausing, Reflecting and Looking Ahead The Power of Vulnerability to Create Intimacy LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services. Podcast Production by Aminur.

Authentic Parenting is a podcast about breaking generational trauma cycles and raising emotionally healthy children by growing ourselves first. If you want to parent differently than you were parented, this podcast is for you. We explore how emotions actually work and how childhood trauma lives in the brain, body, and relationships. You'll learn how to regulate your nervous system, stay calm under stress, prevent burnout, and respond instead of react — so you can become a more patient, grounded, and happier parent. Hosted by Anna Seewald, psychologist, educator and parent coach, this show blends psychology, trauma-informed insight, and honest conversations about what it really takes to raise our children while growing ourselves.

Board-certified physician Dr. Heather Hirsch on the symptoms of perimenopause, hormonal therapies, and what women need to know about this often misunderstood stage of life. In this conversation, we explore common perimenopause symptoms—including anxiety, insomnia, mood changes, brain fog, and shifts in energy and why these hormonal changes in women are often mistaken for depression or anxiety disorders. Dr. Hirsch explains what happens to estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone during perimenopause, when this transition typically begins, and how menopausal hormone therapy may help some women feel like themselves again. Get her book: The Perimenopause Survival Guide: Make Sense of Your Symptoms and Build Your Personalized Treatment Plan Listen to: The TRUTH About Menopause: Symptoms, Solutions & Finding the Gifts in Midlife! with Tamsen Fadal LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services. Podcast Production by Aminur.

Rebecca Thompson, family physician, on redefining strength in motherhood and why vulnerability matters more than being the "strong mom." An honest conversation about the difference between pity and compassion, the tension between privacy and oversharing, and the emotional truth that grief and joy can coexist. This episode explores what it means to be witnessed in your story—and how holding the long view can sustain us through the messy, beautiful work of parenting. Get her book: Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love – Navigating Grief and Joy Through Women's Diverse Journeys to Parenthood, Family, and Community LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services. Podcast Production by Aminur.

Dr. Ross Greene, clinical psychologist and author of The Explosive Child and The Kids Who Aren't Okay, explains why more kids struggle today beyond just social media. He discusses developmental variability, meeting kids where they are, the CPS approach that targets unsolved problems, pandemic and school-system impacts, and practical ways to rethink expectations and tech rules.