Parenting a tween or teen? Buckle up. Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life tackles the questions that keep parents up at night — academics, friendships, mental health, screens, meltdowns, and more.
Every week, psychologist Lisa Damour teams up with a different expert to answer a real parent's real question — no fluff, no judgment, just practical, evidence-based advice you can actually use. Dr. Damour and her colleagues also turn their attention to the emotional rollercoaster of raising kids — the moments that leave you feeling uneasy, overwhelmed, or just plain alone.
You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to hit play.
Keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr. lisa damour, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence
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You may know this scene: your kid forgot practice gear again, an assignment vanished into the void, and you're wondering if your teen is just disorganized — or is there something more serious going on?
That mix of exhaustion and frustration is real. Chasing lost details, worrying that you may have dropped the ball, wondering if you're overreacting to normal middle school or high school organization struggles, or missing something bigger — you're allowed to feel all of that without it meaning you're failing anyone.
Here's some good news: the part of the brain that handles executive functioning is still under construction all through high school and doesn't fully come online until your kid reaches their mid-20s. So a teen who can't stay organized, forgets homework, or misses details isn't revealing a character flaw. It's a work-in-progress brain doing exactly what a work-in-progress brain does.
Today's guest, Dr. Tori Cordiano, walks us through how to lower the bar on what counts as "normal," and build a few sturdy tools for executive function instead of expecting your teen to self-manage it all. She talks through how to let natural consequences do some of the teaching, and how tying responsibilities to what your teen actually cares about is often more motivating than punishment ever is.
Stay curious, and know there's a clear sign for when consistent struggles and concerning school feedback it's worth pursuing an evaluation. You've got more room here than you think.
Dr. Lisa Damour is a clinical psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and globally recognized expert on adolescent development who partners with UNICEF to support parents worldwide. Dr. Tori Cordiano is a licensed clinical psychologist, speaker, and writer specializing in child and adolescent development. In her private practice, she provides comprehensive evaluations, parent consultation, and psychotherapy, alongside a virtual course for parents on executive functioning and a regular newsletter. Dr. Cordiano also serves as a consulting psychologist and Co-Director of the Center for Research for Girls at Laurel School.
Dr. Cordiano’s executive functioning course for parents, consultation services, and professional speaking: drtoricordiano.com
The Time Timer: https://www.timetimer.com/
________________
Parenting a tween or teen? Buckle up. Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life tackles the questions that keep parents up at night — academics, friendships, mental health, screens, meltdowns, and more.
Every week, psychologist Lisa Damour teams up with a different expert to answer a real parent's real question — no fluff, no judgment, just practical, evidence-based advice you can actually use. Dr. Damour and her colleagues also turn their attention to the emotional rollercoaster of raising kids — the moments that leave you feeling uneasy, overwhelmed, or just plain alone.
You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to hit play.
________________
Today's sponsors:
Jones Road Beauty: Use the code ASKLISA for a free full sized Mascara with your first purchase at https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com.
Momentous: Get up to 35% off your first order with promo code ASKLISA at https://
Shopify: Sign up for your free trial today at https://www.shopify.com/asklisa
Skylight: Get $30 off your 15-inch calendar a www://www.MySkylight.com/ASKLISA________________
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
287: ENCORE: Best of Ask Lisa: Confidence, Self-Esteem & Self-Compassion
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 • Duration 23:53
If you've ever wondered whether you're doing enough to help your child feel good about themselves, Dr. Lisa Damour has curated her most essential guidance on confidence, self-esteem & self-compassion into one episode for you.
This encore “Best of Ask Lisa” compilation offers a research-backed roadmap for raising kids with a solid sense of self-worth — and for parents who want to model that from the inside out. This episode also features conversations with three leading experts: Dr. Tovah Klein, Dr. Sue Varma, and Dr. Traci Baxley.
💡 YOU'LL LEARN:
- Why kids' confidence naturally dips at predictable points in development, and why those wobbles are not a sign that you've failed
- Why self-esteem needs many "tributaries", and why kids who rely on a single source of self-worth are most vulnerable when that tributary runs dry
- How confidence is built through doing hard things and being someone who can be counted on (and how to help kids get there without being pushed)
- Why what you say about yourself in front of your kids shapes their inner voice more than almost anything you say directly to them
- How tending to your own sense of worth will help you support your child's
Your child is taking cues from how you talk to yourself, care for yourself, and recover from setbacks. This episode helps you put those cues to good use.
________________ GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/
DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS
- Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – https://bit.ly/UntangledBook
- Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook
- The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp
UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP
Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F
VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → https://drlisadamour.com/
________________
Today's sponsors:
Jones Road Beauty: Use the code ASKLISA for a free full sized Mascara with your first purchase at https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com.
Rocket Money: Join at https://www/RocketMoney.com/ASKLISA
Simple Practice: Sign up for a free 7-day trial, and get 50% off your first three months at https://www.simplepractice.com.
Masterclass: Get 15% off any annual membership at https://www.masterclass.com/ASKLISA
________________
Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
________________
Episode keywords: teen self-esteem, tween confidence, how to build confidence in kids, child low self-esteem, negative self-talk kids, middle school confidence, self-worth teenagers, how to raise confident kids, puberty self-esteem, parenting anxious kids, teen body image, raising resilient kids, self-compassion kids, kids negative self-talk, building confidence girls, teenage boys self-esteem, helping shy kids, perfectionism kids
Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
286: ENCORE: Getting into College with Rick Clark
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 • Duration 48:14
The college admissions process doesn't have to consume your family. If it already feels that way, this episode is exactly what you need.
Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan revisit their conversation with Rick Clark, higher education leader, co-author of “The Truth About College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together,” and a career insider in college admissions at Georgia Tech. Rick has spent years helping families cut through the noise, anxiety, and mythology of the admissions process, and his perspective is grounding and genuinely reassuring.
💡 YOU'LL LEARN:
- Why there is no magic formula for college admissions, and why that's actually good news for your teen
- What a strong college essay actually looks like — and the one mistake that sinks more applications than any other
- How to structure college conversations so they don't bleed into every carpool and dinner, protecting your relationship and your sanity through the process
- Why "test optional" means something different at every school, and how to use net price calculators to get a realistic picture of what college will actually cost
- Why you should be talking to parents of current college students, not parents of other applicants — and what a difference that shift makes
The college admissions process can be stressful, but it doesn't have to take all of the joy out of family life.
________________
GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/
DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS
- Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – https://bit.ly/UntangledBook
- Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook
- The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp
UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP
Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F
VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → https://drlisadamour.com/
________________
Today's sponsors:
Cash App: For a limited time, new Cash App customers can earn $10 if they use code: FAMILY10.
Momentous: Get up to 35% off your first order with promo code ASKLISA at https://www.livemomentous.com
Unwaffle: Use the promo code ASK LISA to get 15% off your first order at https://www.eatunwaffle.com.
Warby Parker: Buy one prescription pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional prescription pairs at https://www.WarbyParker.com/ASKLISA
________________
Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
________________
Episode keywords: college admissions process parents, when to start college planning kids, college application stress parents, how to help teen with college applications, what colleges look for admissions, college essay tips high school, test optional colleges explained, should my teen take SAT or ACT, how to stand out college application, college admissions myths parents, how competitive is college admission today, paying for college financial aid tips, FAFSA explained parents, athletic scholarships reality high school, college admissions anxiety teens parents
Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
285: ENCORE: How Do I Help My Kid Develop a Work Ethic?
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 • Duration 32:45
If you've repeatedly asked your kid to help out and they still don’t follow through, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.
Dr. Lisa Damour breaks down why nagging doesn't build a work ethic — and what actually does. From linking privileges to responsibilities, to knowing exactly when to step back and let natural consequences do the teaching, this encore episode gives parents of tweens and teens a practical, guilt-free framework for raising kids who can be counted on, without turning every chore or assignment into a battle.
💡 YOU'LL LEARN:
- Why structure matters more than warmth alone, and why holding the line on chores, even when kids are grumpy, is the right call
- Why extrinsic motivation is perfectly valid, and how linking responsibilities to privileges mirrors the way the real world actually works
- Why "complain but comply" is a completely reasonable goal, and how releasing the expectation of cheerful enthusiasm takes pressure off everyone
- When to stop nagging about schoolwork and let natural consequences take over, and why middle school is the best time to do so
- How framing chores as a contribution rather than punishment taps into something deeper than rewards alone
________________
GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/
DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS
- Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – https://bit.ly/UntangledBook
- Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook
- The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp
UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP
Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F
VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → https://drlisadamour.com/
________________
Today's sponsors:
Caraway: 10% off your next order with promo code ASKLISA at https://www.carawayhome.com/asklisa
Hero: Use promo code ASKLISA for 10% off your order at https://www.hero.co.
OneSkin: Use the code ASKLISA for 15% off your next purchase at https://www.oneskin.co/ASKLISA.
Skylight: Get $30 off your 15-inch calendar at www://www.MySkylight.com/ASKLISA
________________
Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
________________
Episode keywords: how to build work ethic in kids, unmotivated child chores, kid refuses chores what to do, tween lacks motivation school, intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation kids, how to get kids to help at home, child won’t do homework without nagging, parenting middle school motivation, consequences vs nagging parenting, link chores to privileges kids, teach responsibility tweens, why kids don’t take initiative, 11 year old lazy or normal, complain but comply parenting, structure vs warmth parenting
Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
284: ENCORE: Screens, Toxic Stress & Staying Connected with Dr. Nadine Burke Harris
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 • Duration 47:23
You know screens and social media can be risky for your kid. But do you know exactly what harm looks like… and what actually protects them from it?
Dr. Lisa Damour revisits her conversation with Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, pioneering pediatrician, author, and California's first Surgeon General, recorded live at the Common Sense Summit on Kids and Families. A globally recognized expert on Adverse Childhood Experiences and toxic stress, Dr. Burke Harris has spent her career studying what harms children and what heals them. Her answer to the screen time crisis might surprise you: the most powerful protection isn't stricter screen time rules; it's your relationship with your child.
💡 YOU'LL LEARN:
- Why a strong, connected relationship with a caregiver is the single most powerful buffer against the harms of toxic online content and manipulative algorithms
- How to invite your kid to share disturbing things they've seen online (and the specific language that keeps that door open)
- Why teaching kids to see the manipulation behind the content, not just the content itself, builds real, lasting resistance to toxic content
- How to tie phone and social media access to developmental readiness, not just age — including how a digital citizenship contract works in practice
- The two questions that help teens reflect on whether they're choosing their content or their content is choosing them
________________
GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/
DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS
- Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – https://bit.ly/UntangledBook
- Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook
- The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp
UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP
Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F
VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → https://drlisadamour.com/
________________
Today's sponsors:
Shopify: Sign up for your free trial today at https://www.shopify.com/asklisa
Goodr: Get $10 off your first order at https://www.goodr.com/ASKLISA
Understood: Check out Everyone Gets a Juice Box wherever you listen to podcasts.
________________
Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
________________
Episode keywords: nadine burke harris, toxic stress in kids, adverse childhood experiences, ACEs parenting, kids and online content, teen smartphone rules, when to give child a phone, phone contract for teens, teen social media harm, kids seeing disturbing content online, boys and body image social media, teen appearance pressure, AI risks for kids, algorithm manipulation teens, teen screen time rules, buffering caregiving
Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
283: ENCORE: Best of Ask Lisa: Friendship Breakups & Conflict
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 • Duration 23:42
Your kid comes home devastated after being left out, dropped, or caught in the middle of a friendship blowup. You may want to help, but don’t know what to say—or whether you should step in at all. Take heart: this episode will help you navigate the situation with confidence.
In this encore “Best of Ask Lisa” compilation, Dr. Lisa Damour has curated her most essential guidance on friendship conflict, bullying, and social drama — the stuff that can make the tween and teen years so painful for kids and so hard to watch as a parent. Whether your child is being targeted by peers, doing the excluding, or trying to navigate a friendship that's run its course, you'll walk away knowing exactly what to say and how to help them through it with calm, clarity, and compassion.
💡 YOU'LL LEARN:
- The crucial difference between bullying and conflict, and why getting this distinction right will change how you respond
- Why middle schoolers are so prone to cruelty, and how anxiety about belonging makes meanness a fast track to social power
- How excluding, icing out, and rumor-spreading work as a form of relational aggression — and why kids sometimes gang up to push someone out
- Why social behaviors that used to peak in 7th and 8th grade are now showing up in 9th and 10th grade, and what the pandemic has to do with it
- What to actually say to your kid when they've been left out or dropped, including how to offer a sense of perspective without dismissing how awful it feels
Social challenges are some of the most painful experiences of adolescence. But there’s a lot you can do to help.
________________GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/
DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS
- Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – https://bit.ly/UntangledBook
- Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook
- The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp
UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP
Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F
VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → https://drlisadamour.com/
________________
Today's sponsors:
Jones Road Beauty: Use the code ASKLISA for a free full sized Mascara with your first purchase at https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com.
LMNT: Receive a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/asklisa.
Rocket Money: Join at https://www/RocketMoney.com/ASKLISA
Simple Practice: Sign up for a free 7-day trial, and get 50% off your first three months at https://www.simplepractice.com.
________________
Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
________________
Episode keywords: friend group dumped, kids friendship breakup, middle school social drama, tween friend problems, teen friend group conflict, child excluded by friends, iced out friend group, middle school bullying, relational aggression kids, how to help child with friend drama, friendship breakup tween, kids mean friends, middle school cliques, how to drop a friend, tween friendship problems, tween social drama, middle school friend group, how to help excluded child
Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
282: ENCORE: How to Help Kids Build a Healthy Relationship with Food
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 • Duration 37:01
If mealtimes in your home feel like a power struggle, or you're exhausted from worrying whether your kid is eating well, this episode will come as a relief.
Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan revisit their conversation with Dr. Reshma Shah, a Stanford-affiliated pediatrician, public health expert, and co-author of the award-winning book “Nourish: The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for Families.”
With over 20 years of experience in academic and clinical pediatrics and a deep commitment to family-centered approaches to food and wellbeing, Dr. Shah offers a low-pressure, evidence-based roadmap for helping kids develop a healthy relationship with food.
💡 YOU'LL LEARN:
- Why what you model at the table matters far more than what you say, and how your own relationship with food shapes your child's more than you realize
- Why "clean your plate" rules and other tension-raising practices can backfire (and what a low-stress mealtime actually looks like in practice)
- How the language you use around food shapes your child's relationship with eating, and why ditching "good" and "bad" food labels makes a real difference
- How to expand your kid's palate and involve them in food choices and preparation in ways that actually work
- Why family meals (even brief, imperfect ones) have lasting benefits for your child's nutrition, wellbeing, and your relationship with them
It’s not about eating perfectly—it’s about creating a healthy food environment.
________________
GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/
DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS
- Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – https://bit.ly/UntangledBook
- Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook
- The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp
UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP
Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F
VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → https://drlisadamour.com/
________________
Today's sponsors:
Goodr: Get $10 off your first order at https://www.goodr.com/ASKLISA
Unwaffle: Use the promo code ASK LISA to get 15% off your first order at https://www.eatunwaffle.com.
Warby Parker: Buy one prescription pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional prescription pairs at https://www.WarbyParker.com/ASKLISA
Momentous: Get up to 35% off your first order with promo code ASKLISA at https://www.livemomentous.com
________________
Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
________________
Episode keywords: help kids healthy relationship with food, teen nutrition tips, tween nutrition tips, how to get kids to eat vegetables, picky eater teenager help, reduce food battles with kids, stop food power struggles, kids sugar addiction help, teen junk food obsession, how much protein do kids need, healthy snacks for teens, fueling teen athletes, family dinner benefits for teens, positive food language for kids, stop labeling foods good or bad for kids, plant-based family meals, raising kids with healthy body image
Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
281: ENCORE: Talk to Your Boys: Raising Confident, Caring Young Men
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 • Duration 42:12
If your son is shutting down, pulling away, or turning to the internet to answer questions you wish he'd brought your way, this episode is for you.
Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan revisit their conversation with Joanna Schroeder and Christopher Pepper, co-authors of the book “Talk to Your Boys,” to cut through the noise about boys, masculinity, and what's actually happening inside the minds of tween and teen sons..
Joanna brings her background in gender studies and years as Executive Editor of The Good Men Project. Christopher has spent his career as an award-winning health educator teaching thousands of students about emotions, relationships, and healthy masculinity. Together, they share what years of research and real conversations with boys have taught them — and their findings might surprise you.
💡 YOU'LL LEARN:
- Why boys suppress their emotions to fit in, and how that loneliness and disconnection quietly builds over time
- The specific strategies that actually get boys to open up — from the questions that really work to the power of doing things side by side
- Why boys are uniquely vulnerable to toxic online influences, and how to build the media literacy skills they need
- What boys are really looking for from the adults in their lives, and why connection, purpose, and feeling needed matter more than you might think
- Why validation works even when boys seem resistant or dismissive
Boys may not always act like they’re listening, but they’re taking in more than we think.
________________ GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/
DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS
- Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – https://bit.ly/UntangledBook
- Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook
- The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp
UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP
Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F
VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → https://drlisadamour.com/
________________
Today's sponsors:
Shopify: Sign up for your free trial today at https://www.shopify.com/asklisa
Caraway: 10% off your next order with promo code ASKLISA at https://www.carawayhome.com/asklisa
OneSkin: Use the code ASKLISA for 15% off your next purchase at https://www.oneskin.co/ASKLISA.
Cash App: New Cash App customers can earn $10 if they use code: FAMILY10 at signup.
________________
Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
________________
Episode keywords: talking to teen boys, how to talk to tween boys, boys and emotions, teen boy shuts down, getting teen boys to open up, parenting teenage son, toxic masculinity and boys, boys and social media, boys and porn talk, teaching boys consent, raising good men, lonely teenage boys, helping boys with feelings, boys and mental health, tween boy attitude, middle school boy behavior, teen boy friendship problems, ideological predators online, boys and TikTok, boys and YouTube, joanna schroeder, christopher pepper
Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence
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280: ENCORE: Dream School: How Do You Find the Right College for Your Teen?
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 • Duration 38:20
Is your family stressed, anxious, and fixated on getting your teen into a "dream school"? What if that's the wrong goal entirely?
Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan revisit their conversation with Jeff Selingo, bestselling author and higher education expert, to reframe the process of searching for the “right” college. After more than 25 years of studying what actually helps students thrive in college, Jeff has a finding that may surprise you: it’s not where your teen goes to college that matters most—it’s how they engage once they’re there.
💡 YOU'LL LEARN:
- Why attending the most prestigious colleges doesn’t guarantee better outcomes
- Why belonging matters more than brand name — and what to actually look for when evaluating campus culture, mentorship, and fit
- How to have honest, early conversations about college costs, and why financial fit deserves just as much attention as academic fit
- Why the college search should be about your individual teen, not community expectations or rankings (and how to tune out the noise)
- What students can do at any college to maximize their success — and why how they show up matters more than where they enroll________________ GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/
DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS
- Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – https://bit.ly/UntangledBook
- Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook
- The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp
UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP
Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F
VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → https://drlisadamour.com/
________________
Today's sponsors:
Momentous: Get up to 35% off your first order with promo code ASKLISA at https://www.livemomentous.com
Cozy Earth: Get 20% off your order with promo code ASKLISA https://cozyearth.com/
Understood: Check out Everyone Gets a Juice Box wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hero: Use promo code ASKLISA for 10% off your order at https://www.hero.co
________________
Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
________________
Episode Keywords: choosing the right college for your teen, how to find the best college fit, college search for parents, college admissions stress parents, do AP classes matter for college, college prestige vs fit, are elite colleges worth it, college rankings myth, helping teens choose a college, college decision anxiety, plan B college options, paying for college without debt, college cost conversation with teens, college sense of belonging, college mentorship matters, new dream schools Jeff Selingo
Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
279: ENCORE: The Summer of Building Independence
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 • Duration 30:40
If you feel like you're doing too much for your kids — and it’s time for them to do more for themselves — this episode is your roadmap out.
Dr. Lisa Damour makes the case for using summer to foster independence in our kids. The summer months provide the perfect window to hand off real responsibilities to your tween or teen in a way that actually sticks. From laundry to cooking dinner to managing their own appointments, this encore episode gives you a practical, step-by-step approach to raising a more capable kid.
💡 YOU'LL LEARN:
- Why summer is the single best time of year to teach independence — and how to take advantage of the slower pace before fall routines kick back in
- The four-step sequence for handing off any task — and how to adjust if your kid gets overwhelmed
- Why independence is just as good for kids as it is for parents — and how being genuinely counted on builds competence, purpose, and mental health
- How to respond to pushback and resistance without turning every chore into a negotiation
- How to use structured choice to get teens to actually buy in — and why letting them pick their responsibilities makes a bigger difference than you'd expect
GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/
DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS
- Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – https://bit.ly/UntangledBook
- Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook
- The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp
UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP
Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F
VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → https://drlisadamour.com/
________________
Today's sponsors:
Jones Road Beauty: Use the code ASKLISA for a free full sized Mascara with your first purchase at https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com.
LMNT: Receive a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/asklisa.
Task Rabbit: Get fifteen dollars off your first task using promo code ASKLISA with the Taskrabbit app or at https://www.taskrabbit.com.
Rocket Money: Join at https://www/RocketMoney.com/ASKLISA
________________
Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
________________
Episode keywords: summer independence for kids, summer chores for teens, teaching teens responsibility, how to get teens to help at home, chores for tweens list, age appropriate chores for teens, getting kids to do chores without yelling, parenting tweens independence, parenting teens independence, helping teens be more responsible, summer routine for teens, how to raise independent teens, teaching kids life skills, kids doing laundry, getting kids to cook dinner, natural consequences for teens, chore ideas for tweens and teens, kids resisting chores, how to stop doing everything for your kids, building kids confidence through responsibility
Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
