The Whole Parent Podcast

Want to get ME a Christmas Present?  My book is behind on pre-sales and I'm trying to make up a lot of ground before release on January 28th, 2025. If you love the podcast, please consider preordering—it’s the best way to support me right now. If you don't typically read parenting books, I also have the audiobook version! Thank you so much!Preorder the Book Preorder the AudiobookMerry Christmas... sorta.The holidays are here, and if you’re anything like me, you’re juggling a million things at once—holiday parties, work deadlines, family traditions, and trying to make everything feel magical for your kids. It’s a lot. But the truth is, it’s not just the holidays. Everyday life as a parent feels more overwhelming than ever, and that’s exactly what we’re talking about in this special Christmas episode of The Whole Parent Podcast.I’m sitting down with Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, one of the world’s leading experts on stress and resilience, to talk about why parenting today feels so heavy—and, more importantly, what we can actually do about it. We dive into simple, science-backed strategies from her book The Five Resets that can help us change the way we experience stress. You’ll learn how to use tools like Stop, Breathe, Be and create digital boundaries that protect your mental health and your sleep.Dr. Nerurkar has so much wisdom to share, and I can tell you this conversation has already made a difference in my own life. If you want to go into the new year with less stress and more calm—not just during the holidays but every day—this episode is for you.Links Mentioned:Follow Dr. Aditi Nerurkar: @DrAditiNerurkarCheck out her book The Five ResetsSubscribe to her Substack: It's Not You It's, Your StressTake a deep breath, hit play, and let’s figure this out together.Send us Fan MailSupport the showLinks to help you and me:To support the Podcast, Subscribe on SubstackGet Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation GamesGet Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings FreeFollow Whole Parent on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, Youtube

Dive into the eternal question: Should you tell your kids the truth about Santa? Explore the psychology behind children's belief and how it nurtures imagination. Discover the balance between keeping the magic alive and fostering honesty. Hear personal anecdotes and expert insights on how the Santa myth can symbolize joy and family tradition. Unpack the ethical dilemmas of using Santa for behavior control, and gain tips on how to answer the 'Is Santa real?' question. Plus, get heartwarming perspectives from kids themselves!

I need your help! My book is behind on pre-sales and I'm trying to make up a lot of ground before release on January 28th, 2025. If you love the podcast, please consider preordering—it’s the best way to support me right now. If you don't typically read parenting books, I also have the audiobook version! Thank you so much!Preorder the Book Preorder the Audiobook Episode Description:In this episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon welcomes Dr. Marc Brackett, the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of Permission to Feel. Together, they dive into why emotions matter, how to raise emotionally intelligent children, and the essential skills parents need to model emotional regulation effectively.Jon and Marc discuss the misconceptions around emotions—especially the temptation to suppress unpleasant feelings—and how these unresolved emotions often resurface in unhealthy ways. Marc shares his guiding principle of giving ourselves “permission to feel” and explains the difference between being an emotion scientist and an emotion judge. Whether you’re navigating tough parenting moments or learning to process your own feelings, this episode will equip you with practical tools for building emotional intelligence at home.Key Takeaways:Why Emotions Matter:Emotions are critical for attention, decision-making, relationships, mental health, and overall performance.Suppressed emotions don’t go away—they often intensify over time.The Role of Emotional Intelligence:Developing emotional awareness and regulation starts with parents.Kids learn emotional intelligence when parents model vulnerability, self-reflection, and healthy coping strategies.Becoming an Emotion Scientist vs. Emotion Judge:Emotion Scientists: Curious, open, and exploratory when processing feelings.Emotion Judges: Critical, dismissive, and reactive to emotions.Marc introduces his How We Feel app to help individuals and families develop emotional awareness and vocabulary.Practical Regulation Strategies:Proactive emotional regulation (e.g., pausing at the “doorknob moment” to prepare for emotional triggers).Modeling emotional honesty with kids, even during challenging moments.Other Amazing Resources from Marc:Book: Permission to Feel by Dr. Marc BrackettSend us Fan MailSupport the showLinks to help you and me:To support the Podcast, Subscribe on SubstackGet Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation GamesGet Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings FreeFollow Whole Parent on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, Youtube

Now Available for Preorder....Punishment-Free Parenting: The Brain-Based Way to Raise Kids Without Raising Your VoiceTo reserve your copy click the link below:Preorder HardcoverPreorder AudiobookPreorder Kindle  Show Notes:Have you ever lashed out at your child and wondered "Where did that come from? Why am I so triggered?" Spoiler for this episode, it's your childhood... and the reason we do this is because most of us are totally unaware of this unwanted inheritance.Jon is joined by Dr. Shefali, the pioneer of conscious parenting, who shares her insights on how our childhood experiences shape our parenting styles. Together, they delve into the concept of the subconscious contract between parent and child, exploring how implicit memories and unresolved issues from our past often resurface in moments of stress.Dr. Shefali emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and healing in parenting, offering practical advice on how parents can break free from harmful patterns and create a healthier environment for their children. The conversation touches on spirituality, neuroscience, and the essential role of self-awareness in raising emotionally healthy kids.Timestamps:0:00 - A Saturday morning meltdown: Jon’s story of losing his cool2:43 - Introduction to Dr. Shefali and the concept of conscious parenting7:57 - The power of implicit memories: How the past shapes our reactions13:53 - The subconscious contract: Understanding toxic parenting dynamics22:19 - Practical steps for conscious parenting and breaking the cycleResources Mentioned:The Conscious Parent The Parenting Map Dr. Shefali's PodcastJoin Dr. Shefali's Institute Cohort CLOSING 9/9/24Send us Fan MailSupport the showLinks to help you and me:To support the Podcast, Subscribe on SubstackGet Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation GamesGet Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings FreeFollow Whole Parent on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, Youtube

Explore why toddlers have selective hearing due to seeking autonomy, tips for improving toddler listening skills, effective communication strategies, and the importance of consistent routines for toddlers' development.

Struggling with bedtime battles? Discover an incredible bedtime hack that transforms chaos into connection, making bedtime one of the best parts of your day.Episode Number: #28Description: In this episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon delves into the challenges of bedtime routines and reveals a transformative hack to turn bedtime battles into moments of deep connection with your child. He discusses the reasons behind kids' resistance to bedtime and shares a practical, brain-based technique that not only helps kids fall asleep faster but also strengthens the parent-child bond.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction And Importance Of Bedtime 02:04 - Personal Anecdotes About Bedtime Chaos And Routines 04:56 - Common Bedtime Resistance Issues And Practical Solutions 06:31 - The Bedtime Story Hack Explained 18:21 - Practical Steps For Implementing The Bedtime Story Hack 26:12 - The Importance Of Sleep For Children's Development 35:28 - Closing Remarks And Call To ActionKey Takeaways:The Bedtime Story Hack:Tell your child the story of their day in a calm, soothing voice to help them transition to sleep.Engage their memory and language centers to regulate their emotional state.Consistently use this technique to turn bedtime into a positive, connecting experience.Why Kids Resist Bedtime:Novelty and learning: Kids resist sleep because they are constantly learning and don't want to stop.Routine and regulation: Maintaining a consistent bedtime routine helps prevent resistance.Hormonal factors: Avoiding overtiredness and managing cortisol levels is key.Benefits of Sleep:Essential for physical, mental, and emotional development.Improves memory, emotional regulation, and overall health.Creates opportunities for deep attachment and bonding with your child.Links to Resources Mentioned:The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine AronKinetic SandWhat episode should you listen to next?Effective Discipline Without PunishmentUnderstanding Your Child's BrainHow to Connect:Never Miss a New Episode: Send us Fan MailSupport the showLinks to help you and me:To support the Podcast, Subscribe on SubstackGet Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation GamesGet Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings FreeFollow Whole Parent on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, Youtube

Episode Number: #27Description: In this guest episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon welcomes KJ from Big Life Journal. They discuss the transformative power of reparenting, the difference between gentle and conscious parenting, and the resources available to support parents on their journey. KJ shares her personal experiences transitioning from authoritarian parenting to gentle parenting, offers her top reparenting tip, and explores how journaling can help parents and children develop resilience and growth mindsets.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to KJ and Audio Disclaimer 02:34 - Conversation with KJ begins03:12 - KJ's background and journey in reparenting04:21 - Difference between gentle parenting and permissive parenting06:15 - Importance of questioning authority and fostering safe challenges09:09 - Explaining the difference between gentle and conscious parenting14:48 - The necessity of effective and conscious parenting today16:21 - The role of journaling in reparenting and parenting19:26 - Discussion on the downloadables and free resources from Big Life Journal23:33 - KJ's number one reparenting tip: Recognizing what’s happening in your body30:22 - Conclusion and final thoughts on reparenting and gentle parentingKey Takeaways:Reparenting: A crucial step in becoming a better parent by understanding and addressing one’s own triggers and reactions.Gentle vs. Conscious Parenting: Gentle parenting is what children experience, while conscious parenting involves the internal work parents do to improve their interactions with their children.Journaling: An effective tool for parents and children to develop resilience, growth mindsets, and critical thinking skills.Big Life Journal Resources: Offers journals and free printables to help children and parents on their growth journey.Resources Mentioned:Big Life Journal: WebsiteKJ’s Instagrams: @gentlehealingmom and @biglifejournalFree Printables and Sign up for the Big Life Journal NewsletterWhat to listen to next?How to Stop Yelling at your Kids #001 Calls to Action:Subscribe: Subscribe to the Whole Parent Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Rate and Review: Leave a rating and revSend us Fan MailSupport the showLinks to help you and me:To support the Podcast, Subscribe on SubstackGet Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation GamesGet Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings FreeFollow Whole Parent on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, Youtube

Episode Number: #26Take the quiz to find our if your kid is Highly SensitiveDescription: In this episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon delves into the concept of collaborative consequences, explaining why this method is a powerful tool for effective parenting, especially for highly sensitive children. As a strong advocate for the abolition of punishment in parenting, discusses how to differentiate between punishment and consequences and introduces the idea of working with children to set boundaries collaboratively. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, Jon illustrates how this approach fosters a child's growth, understanding, and self-discipline.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to the Whole Parent Podcast and the highly sensitive kid quiz02:24 - Definition and importance of collaborative consequences03:53 - Difference between punishment and consequences05:27 - Why punishment is ineffective06:48 - Explanation of consequences and their role in teaching07:29 - Steps to implement collaborative consequences11:58 - The importance of seeking a child's input13:44 - The significance of a child's buy-in in the discipline process16:10 - Long-term goals of using collaborative consequences17:37 - Personal example: Collaborative consequences for cleaning up messes26:18 - Personal example: Collaborative consequences for managing screen time32:52 - Conclusion and final thoughts on collaborative consequences33:09 - Call to action: Subscribe, rate, review, and join the email listKey Takeaways:Collaborative Consequences: Involve your child in setting boundaries and consequences to ensure they understand and agree with them, which increases their effectiveness.Difference from Punishment: Unlike punishment, which is retributive and ineffective in the long-term, collaborative consequences focus on teaching and guiding children to make better decisions.Child's Buy-In: When children have a say in their own discipline process, they are more likely to adhere to the agreed-upon boundaries and learn self-discipline.Practical Examples: Jon shares real-life examples of implementing collaborative consequences in his household, providing a clear model for listeners to follow.Resources Mentioned:Take the Highly Sensitive Kid QuizHow to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will TalkRecommenSend us Fan MailSupport the showLinks to help you and me:To support the Podcast, Subscribe on SubstackGet Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation GamesGet Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings FreeFollow Whole Parent on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, Youtube

Want to know if your child is Highly Sensitive? TAKE THE QUIZ! Parenting a Highly Sensitive ChildEpisode Number: #25Description: In this episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon delves into the world of highly sensitive children. He explains what high sensitivity is, how it manifests in kids, and shares practical strategies for parents to help their highly sensitive children thrive. Jon also highlights the groundbreaking work of Dr. Elaine Aron, who introduced the concept of high sensitivity, and provides insights into the emotional, physical, and social needs of highly sensitive kids.Timestamps:00:01 - Introduction to highly sensitive kids01:24 - Acknowledging Dr. Elaine Aron's work on high sensitivity02:48 - Improved show notes and additional resources03:17 - Understanding what high sensitivity is05:14 - Symptoms and characteristics of highly sensitive kids07:40 - Evolutionary perspective on high sensitivity10:03 - Sensory amplification in highly sensitive kids12:31 - Behavioral signs of high sensitivity22:47 - Emotional, physical, and social needs of highly sensitive kids31:52 - Practical tips for parenting highly sensitive kids41:58 - Benefits of being highly sensitive (IT'S A SUPER POWER!)43:26 - Conclusion Key Takeaways: Jon's Three Practical Tips for Parenting Highly Sensitive Kids:Establish Routines: Create a predictable home environment to provide a sense of security for highly sensitive kids.Take Breaks: Allow for regular downtime to help highly sensitive kids process and cope with sensory input.Focus on Emotional Intelligence: Teach kids to recognize, label, and express their emotions to manage their heightened sensitivity.Links to Resources Mentioned:Is Your Kid Highly Sensitive Quiz!The Highly Sensitive Child by Dr. Elaine AronThe Highly Sensitive Parent by Dr. Elaine AronWhat episode should you listen to next?Raising Emotionally Intelligent KidsHow to Connect:Never Miss a New Episode: CLICK HERESubscribe: If you haven't subscribed to the podcast yet, please do so on your pSend us Fan MailSupport the showLinks to help you and me:To support the Podcast, Subscribe on SubstackGet Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation GamesGet Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings FreeFollow Whole Parent on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, Youtube

Do you want to know how you can successfully navigate sibling conflict? This is the episode for you. Episode Number: #24Description: In this episode of the Whole Parent Podcast, Jon delves into the challenging topic of sibling conflict. He shares practical strategies for parents to navigate and resolve conflicts between siblings effectively. Jon also talks about the importance of fostering a team-centric environment and being a safe person for your children to express their frustrations.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction and Jon's return to podcasting01:30 - Review of Raising Siblings Part One03:53 - Principle 1: Foster a team-centric environment09:49 - Principle 2: Be the safe person17:13 - Quick call to action: Subscribe and review20:24 - Principle 3: Be a mediator, not an arbitratorKey Takeaways: Jon's Three Principles for Handling Sibling Conflict:Foster a Team-Centric Environment: Emphasize that the family works as a team and avoid creating winners and losers among siblings.Be the Safe Person: Ensure that children can express their feelings without fear of punishment or judgment.Act as a Mediator, Not an Arbitrator: Facilitate communication between siblings to help them resolve conflicts themselves.What episode should you listen to next?Raising Siblings Part 1Adding a New BabyHow to Connect:Never Miss a New Episode: CLICK HERESubscribe: If you haven't subscribed to the podcast yet, please do so on your preferred platform.Rate and Review: Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Share: Share this episode with friends and family, especially those who would benefit from learning about handling sibling conflicts.Links to Resources Mentioned:Mr. Rogers' Song About FeelingsSiblings Without Rivalry BookConnect with Whole Parent:Email: podcast@wholeparentacademy.comSocial Media Links:Instagram: @wholeparentTikTok: @wholeparentSend us Fan MailSupport the showLinks to help you and me:To support the Podcast, Subscribe on SubstackGet Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation GamesGet Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings FreeFollow Whole Parent on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, Youtube