Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Todd and Cathy discuss a recent episode of survivor, Cathy’s frustration at Todd’s double parking, as well as humility, masculinity, responsibility, and emotional support in relationships.

Todd & Cathy talk with John O’Sullivan, Founder of the Changing the Game Project and host of the Way of Champions Podcast about his new book, The Champion Teammate: Timeless Lessons to Connect, Compete and Lead in Sports and Life. They discuss how to be a valued teammate, what it means to be a champion, and what it takes to connect, compete, and thrive in sports and life. What’s shared is applicable way beyond sports so it’s an important conversation for all parents, but it’s especially enlightening for those who are currently raising athletes.

Todd and Cathy discuss how co-opted therapy speak can make “love” more like control. They specifically discuss Jonah Hill’s ex-girlfriend sharing texts where he says he is enforcing his “boundaries” when he is actually giving her rules and ultimatums. They discuss how life is messy and everything is nuanced, and how Maya Angelou taught that love liberates, it doesn’t hold.

Todd and Cathy discuss the difficult, but also transformational quality of change and how it teaches us to grow and trust life’s patterns. They answer a listener question about how to view their daughter’s outbursts and challenging behavior, and they share and process three quotes from Season 2 of The Bear – starting with Richie’s thought-provoking quote, “I'm not like this because I'm in Van Halen. I'm in Van Halen because I'm like this…

Cathy and Todd discuss how to experience parenting challenges as part of the story rather than the entire story. They discuss how to zoom out and see the big picture, but also how to zoom in and experience compassion and connection with your kids. They process how to not take things personally, and how to recognize that we are all just watching our own movie.

Todd and Cathy discuss how we can talk to our kids about spirituality and self-trust, and why role modeling and patience can be the most effective tools. They discuss how to deal with anger, how to talk to our kids about anger, and how to utilize difficult emotions for deeper self awareness.

Todd and Cathy Adams explore the themes of wonder, father-son relationships, vulnerability in parenting, and the enduring appeal of baseball in their heartfelt analysis of the movie "Field of Dreams," emphasizing the importance of understanding and empathizing with parental figures and embracing the wonders of life. For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. Connect with us! Join Team Zen Ask Us Anything! Subscribe to Cathy's weekly Zen Parenting Moment Follow us on social media Instagram YouTube Facebook Buy Cathy's Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page This week’s sponsor(s): Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. MenLiving - A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Who Smarted? Time Stamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:40:23) Who Smarted? (01:22:58) Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. (01:23:08) MenLiving - A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Resources Ask Us Anything Who Smarted?  

Cathy & Todd answer listener questions (about the practice of self-awareness, highly sensitive kids, and how to talk to our kids about every important thing before they graduate…) and they also discuss Taylor Swift, her popularity, and how she is connected to Full Catastrophe Living.

Cathy and Todd discuss how codependency, enmeshment, narcissism, and lack of boundaries are weaved into Succession and the Logan family, and how we can be more self-aware about what we are role modeling and teaching our children. They also discuss the importance of internal and external validation and why no matter what happens to the Logan children, they will never be satisfied.

Cathy and Todd discuss how it’s not our kids’ job to support us, but we can encourage them to understand us. They also discuss the importance of self-compassion when parenting, why our boys need more male role models, and how to deal with change as our kids grow and graduate.

In the Part 2 of our conversation with Mike Domitrz, Founder of the Center for Respect, returns to discuss how to talk to our kids about porn, consent, and sexual assault. He shares how to simplify difficult topics and how to offer our kids a “lens” when it comes to porn and sex on television. He also shares why talking about sex becomes even more important as we age, why he doesn’t use statistics when talking to groups, and how the bottom line for every discussion is about respect and valuing our most important relationships.

Todd and Cathy discussed the importance of raising kids who enjoy learning, emphasizing the need for a play-based learning environment and the importance of not overburdening children with academic tasks too early. They also highlighted the challenges faced by educators, including pressure from parents and curriculum requirements, and advocated for more creative and diverse teaching methods. The conversation also focused on parenting strategies, the role of teachers, and the need for parents to manage their children's schoolwork, with a particular emphasis on understanding and supporting children's identities and interests.

Mike Domitrz, Founder of the Center for Respect, returns to discuss how to talk to our kids about porn, consent, and sexual assault. He shares how to simplify difficult topics and how to offer our kids a “lens” when it comes to porn and sex on television. He also shares why talking about sex becomes even more important as we age, why he doesn’t use statistics when talking to groups, and how the bottom line for every discussion is about respect and valuing our most important relationships.

Cathy & Todd discuss swearing, its origins, and how to talk to your kids about its usage. They also discuss when and how to offer a heartfelt apology, and how to relate and understand other people’s experiences.

Cathy and Todd discuss the movies that matter most to them, and how they relate to self-awareness, integrity, and even parenting. They discuss how we can use pop culture to communicate and get to know our kids, and how their other podcast, Pop Culturing, is deep dive into Gen X movies and TV.

Todd & Cathy discuss evidence-based ways to be an effective leader and how to teach and demonstrate leadership to your children. They discuss the importance of early and ongoing social emotional learning, and how everything begins with self-awareness. They also process Adam Grant’s research around give and take, why knowing your “why” is important, and why feedback hits differently depending on your background and experience.

Cathy and Todd discuss the research behind parenting styles and how it affects our communication and even our politics. They also discuss the “Tennessee Three” and how it relates to the difference between generations and how we are evolving (or not evolving) as people and as a country. They share a viral TikTok post from GradSchoolGramma that demonstrates what it really looks like parent in a self-aware, compassionate way, and mindful way.

Cathy & Todd talk with author and educator Jessica Lahey about her book The Addiction Inoculation and the importance of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) when it comes to substance-use disorders, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence and regulation. They discuss the risk factors surrounding addiction and how genetics and culture play a role. Jessica shares what kids most need to hear from us and how we can create conversations about alcohol use, abuse, and the myths that don’t hold up to research.

Cathy and Todd answer listeners question about what to do when life gets messy, unpredictable, and uncertain. They discuss movies to bring the family together, how to support our children who are dealing with friend issues, and how to figure out what “fair” means over and over again.

Todd & Cathy talk with Michelle Anderson and Lauren Massarella from The Sister Project. They discuss the hygge lifestyle (a Danish word that loosely translates as cozy, comfy, and overall wellness), parenting, birth, and women’s health. Cathy, Michelle and Lauren lost their moms to dementia, so they discuss what it’s like to care for someone with dementia and how to support them through the process of death. They discuss the pain and beauty of grief and how we can take care of ourselves and each other.

Cathy & Todd discuss 4 invitations to being a positive parent.  They discuss 1) What do we want for our kids? 2) Relationship b/w EQ (Emotional intelligence) IQ (Intelligence Quotient) & BQ (Body Intelligence) 3) When we cop out 4) Discussion, not discipline

Cathy & Todd celebrate their 700th episode by discussing the universal principles of Zen Parenting, the importance of civil conversation, and what has remained the same for the last 12 years. Part 1 of 2.

Todd and Cathy discussed their personal experiences and a Netflix miniseries called "Adolescence,", focusing on issues such as gender dynamics, male rage, and online influences on young men. They explored the manosphere, its impact on society, and the importance of addressing digital sexism and male supremacy, while also examining family dynamics and communication styles between genders. They emphasized the need for understanding and addressing the experiences of boys and young men, encouraging open conversations about online content and emotions, and promoting positive relationships between genders.

Todd & Cathy discuss the different aspects of self-compassion and take the quiz to see who is more self-compassionate.  They also talk about the movie Grease & Mr. Rogers. 

Todd & Cathy share how their roles have changed over the years and who does what around the house. They discuss the importance of communication around household expectations, and how roles are supposed to evolve and change as the kids grow. The discuss how invisible labor can be overlooked and why not everything we “do” can be found on a checklist.

Dr. Shefali returns to ZPR to discuss her new book The Parenting Map: Step-by-Step Solutions to Consciously Create the Ultimate Parent-Child Relationship (available for preorder NOW, released on 2/28). They discuss how to check our own egos, recognize our children’s psyches, and make connection the cornerstone of our parenting experience. Dr. Shefali is hosting a FREE Parenting Mastery Online Summit with 30 Global Experts (Cathy is one of them!). Click here to register.

Cathy & Todd discuss how our children learn by watching how we live and how we react, and why owning our emotional responses creates connection and opportunity for learning. They discuss the difference between responding and reacting (especially when it comes to anger), why “do what I say, not what I do” doesn’t land well, and why comparing our childhood experiences is like apples and oranges.

Cathy & Todd discuss how we handle trauma, why boys are falling behind in school, and why the emotional intelligence of fathers is essential for cultural change. They also share a personal example of conflict, listening, and repair, and why self-compassion is essential if we are going to communicate effectively.

Todd & Cathy discuss ways to engage in deeper conversation with teenage boys, and how every suggestion is helpful to all relationships and conversations. They also discuss Prince Harry’s new book Spare, and how he learned to deal with “hover monkeys” and “mind squirrels” when becoming an Apache helicopter pilot. While his experience is unique, what he learned is helpful to all of us.

Cathy and Todd discuss the passing of Cathy’s mom, Cathy’s recent diagnosis and surgery, and how they support each other in a crisis. They discuss their patterns of behavior, what they need from each other, and why showing up for each other in crisis can be difficult.

Instead of posting a new podcast, we are reposting one of our favorites, the one where we interview our moms. Unfortunately, Cathy's mom passed away yesterday, and we wanted to share this to honor her. We share some great stories and have some great laughs. Please listen and enjoy – and even more important, be good to each other. In honor of Mother’s Day, we invited our moms to talk about what we were like as kids.  We also talk about the changes that have taken place from the time they were kids (a.k.a. the olden days) to  raising us in the 70’s – we also discuss how their grandchildren are being raised. We get nostalgic and we have a lot of laughs. We love our moms!

Todd & Cathy share their experiences of what they find good, true and beautiful, and why finding and discussing these things makes life more meaningful. They talk about the joy of feeding the birds and squirrels, creating a comfortable sleeping environment, and why Todd is never late for a party.

Cathy & Todd discuss 8 peaceful things from 2022 and how to incorporate more peace and joy into 2023. They discuss the importance of music, why we need to embrace our creativity, and the TV shows they are watching with their teenagers. Morgan Harper Nichols Zen Parenting book Phil Stutz The Tools The Vow Drums Taylor Swift The Crown Stranger Things Severance Euphoria The Artists Way

Todd and Cathy shared strategies for staying informed without burning out from the world, and the need for personal well-being for continued engagement and making a difference.

Todd and Cathy replay their Pop Culturing episode on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.   Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a 1964 Christmas stop motion animated television special produced by Videocraft International, Ltd. (later known as Rankin/Bass Productions) and currently distributed by Universal Television. It first aired Sunday, December 6, 1964, on the NBC television network in the United States and was sponsored by General Electric under the umbrella title of The General Electric Fantasy Hour. The special was based on the Johnny Marks song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” which was itself based on the poem of the same name written in 1939 by Marks’ brother-in-law, Robert L. May. Since 1972, the special has aired on CBS; the network unveiled a high-definition, digitally remastered version of the program in 2005.

Todd and Cathy offer 8 suggestions to make the holiday season more connective and less overwhelming. They discuss how to set boundaries, deal with grief, and find ways to limit social media and say no. They also discuss their new Team Zen app and the exclusive podcasts that will be shared on January 10th.

Todd and Cathy discuss their experience with the documentary Stutz by Jonah Hill and why developing life force energy is the first step toward any problem. They also discuss the importance of seeing clearly, how to deal with Part X, and why the movie Apollo 13 was an invitation to see and understand each other better.

Todd and Cathy discuss how and why our kids trigger us, and how to lessen our reactivity and reframe our experiences. They also discuss the importance of gratitude and why we should learn to ride the waves and roll with the changes.

Todd and Cathy discuss Michael Singer’s The Untethered Soul, specifically what it means to manage our “thorns” or inner pain that we react to our do our best to avoid. They discuss the paradoxical nature of life and uncertainty, and how our goal is to manage discomfort, not runaway or avoid. They share some of their mindfulness tools and a new definition of enlightenment.

Cathy and Todd discuss how to help our kids discover intrinsic motivation (internally motivated because it feels good and right) instead of extrinsic motivation (external rewards such as grades, praise, fame). They also discuss MenConnect, a solution to the epidemic of lonely men, and how to make mornings calmer and more collaborative.

Todd and Cathy do a deep dive into the five essential parenting practices that Cathy shared in her Zen Parenting Moment Newsletter last Friday. They share how these practices create connection and meaning in the home and beyond.

Cathy and Todd discuss the importance of teaching both values AND safety, and why they work together to create an optimal environment for you kids. They also discuss the top 15 best parenting role models from pop culture and what made them so successful (a few are debatable…).

Cathy and Todd discuss taking responsibility without blaming ourselves for everything that happens. They discuss how certain self-help books, groups, and cults have the power to convince people that they are “at cause” for everything that happens, negating how outside influences also play a role in eventual outcomes. They discuss the difference between reaction and response, why emotions like anger and envy can be helpful, and of course, Taylor Swift’s new album, Midnights.

Cathy and Todd discuss codependency, enmeshment, overidentification, and other issues that can be layered and difficult to define. They share the importance of learning to say no, why boundaries are important in every relationship, and how paying attention and questioning can become a daily habit.

We discuss Women's History Month, emphasizing the importance of understanding women's experiences and challenges in society. They explore various aspects of women's safety, cultural norms, and the need for men to engage with and support women's issues. We also highlight the significance of nurturing relationships, adaptability, and women's role in holding memories and creating change, while encouraging men to be curious and empathetic towards women's experiences.

Todd and Cathy are interviewed by their friend Dr. Alexandra Solomon.  She ask them about how they met, their history, and the trials and tribulations of their couple hood.  

Todd and Cathy discuss John & Julie Gottman’s research around “bids for connection”, specifically how couples who acknowledge each other’s bids 86% of the time stay married and connected. They also discuss how music and pop culture helps us connect to our kids, and why acknowledging each other’s texts makes a big difference.

Todd and Cathy discuss the practice of gratitude (specifically how to notice, savor, and express) and how it helps the brain pay attention to what’s working. They discuss the four noble truths, appreciating people’s quirks, and songs named after the bands that sing them.