Family Troubles with Dr. Joshua Coleman – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

Family Troubles with Dr. Joshua Coleman

Joshua Coleman

Society & Culture

Kids & Family

Education

Frequency: 1 episode/8d. Total Eps: 19

Family Troubles with Dr. Joshua Coleman is a podcast dedicated to exploring and understanding the intricate dynamics of family life through a multifaceted lens. Hosted by Dr. Joshua Coleman, a seasoned psychologist with decades of experience, this show dives deep into the complexities of modern familial relationships, along with transformative strategies to foster healthier connections and mend broken bonds.

Each episode will tackle a broad range of topics affecting families today - from estranged relationships and family conflict, to the latest research and evolving societal pressures. Discussions will be intellectually stimulating, offering a 360-degree view of the strains on family life through interviews with leading academics, psychologists, sociologists and historians.

If you’ve ever asked:

• Why do adult relationships with parents fall apart?
• When is estrangement appropriate?
• Is reconciling and healing after estrangement possible?
• Why is estrangement becoming more common today?

Then you’re in the right place. Whether you're a professional in the field or simply interested in understanding the current landscape of family dynamics, Family Troubles will provide valuable insights and thought-provoking perspectives.

Join in as we unravel the modern challenges facing families, share expert opinions, and provide a space for learning about the evolving nature of family estrangement and relationships.

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - relationships
26/08/2026
#99
🇨🇦 Canada - relationships
22/08/2026
#99
🇨🇦 Canada - relationships
07/08/2026
#87
🇨🇦 Canada - relationships
06/08/2026
#83

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

See all

http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com
32 shares
https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd
32 shares
https://www.ambiguousloss.com/
2 shares

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

See all

RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 48%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

See all

Changing Relations Between Parents and Adult Children with Frank Furstenberg

Episode 4

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 • Duration 51:38

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Frank Furstenberg, one of the most influential sociologists of family life, to unpack how modern families are evolving and why parenting today feels harder than ever. We explore how rising inequality, shifting expectations, and longer paths to adulthood are reshaping the bond between parents and children in ways that are both deeply meaningful and, at times, incredibly challenging.

We also get into the “good news, bad news” of modern family life: while many relationships are closer and more emotionally connected than ever before, the pressure, expectations, and stakes have never been higher, sometimes leading to distance, conflict, or even estrangement.

Listen for more on:

Why parenting today is more expensive, demanding, and longer-lasting
How inequality is increasing stress and pressure on families
Why adulthood is delayed and how that impacts parent-child relationships
How closer, more involved parenting can sometimes lead to tension or distance
Why estrangement feels more intense today, even if it’s not entirely new
A hopeful truth: families may be more emotionally connected than ever

If this episode speaks to you, give it a listen and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review to help more families find support.

Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links:
Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman
Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard
Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg

Read moreCollapse

Why Do Adult Children Estrange? A Rutgers Researcher Explains with Kristina Scharp

Episode 3

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 • Duration 01:01:36

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Kristina Scharp, an associate professor at Rutgers University and director of the Family Communication and Relationships Lab. Kristina is one of the leading researchers on family estrangement, and we get into what really drives family distance and how people cope with it.

We talk about how estrangement and alienation are often misunderstood, and how both are part of a bigger picture of family distancing. We also explore how perception shapes conflict, why expectations around family relationships are changing, and what actually helps create the possibility for repair.

Listen for more on:
• How estrangement, alienation, and marginalization are all forms of family distancing
• Why arguing about what really happened often makes conflict worse
• Why choosing connection over being right can shift the relationship
• How taking responsibility can lower defensiveness and rebuild trust
• Why estrangement often includes both relief and grief at the same time
• How changing cultural values are reshaping family relationships

Give this episode a listen, and if it resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who might need it, and leave a review to help more families find support.

Guest Links:
Website: https://sci.rutgers.edu/scharp-kristina
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristina-scharp-80a7667

Anxious Parenting, Estrangement, and Raising Boys vs Girls with Ruth Whippman

Episode 2

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 • Duration 55:27

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Ruth Whippman, author of BoyMom and America the Anxious, to talk about the pressure modern parents face and how it’s shaping our kids. Ruth brings a cultural lens to parenting and shares how the drive to optimize our children can quietly strain the parent-child relationship.

We get into how this pressure shows up in real life, from constant monitoring to the belief that parents are responsible for their child’s happiness and outcomes. We also explore what it means to raise boys today, the mixed messages they’re receiving about masculinity, and how more care and connection, not control, can lead to healthier development.

Listen for more on:
• How the pressure to create a “perfect” child is increasing anxiety for both parents and kids
• Why trying to control outcomes can actually damage the parent-child relationship
• How constant monitoring and “optimization” can create distance instead of connection
• The conflicting messages boys receive about masculinity and identity today
• Why boys often need more emotional support but tend to receive less
• How early nurturing and connection shape empathy, resilience, and healthy development

Give this episode a listen, and if it resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who might need it, and leave a review to help more families find support.

Guest Links:
Instagram: @ruthwhippman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-whippman-94b89511/
Substack: https://ruthwhippman.substack.com/
Books: BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity-

Nedra Glover Tawwab On If Boundaries Are Helping or Hurting Us Today?

Episode 1

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 • Duration 52:15

On this first episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Nedra Glover Tawwab, a licensed therapist, relationship expert, and bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace. Nedra has helped millions through her books, social media, and clinical work, and is widely known for making boundaries practical and accessible in everyday life.

We talk about family estrangement, setting boundaries with parents, and what it really takes to build healthier relationships. Nedra shares how growing up in a family with few boundaries shaped her work, and why learning to set limits can change the course of your life.

We explore the difference between boundaries and cutoffs, how enmeshment and overinvolvement can lead to distance, and why both parents and adult children have a role in repairing relationships. This conversation brings clarity and balance to a topic that is often framed as all or nothing.

Listen for more on:
• When family estrangement may be necessary and when boundaries can help instead
• How setting boundaries with parents can improve relationships without cutting them off
• The impact of enmeshment and why some adult children need space to feel independent
• Why parents must change how they communicate to stay connected to their adult children
• How attachment styles are flexible and can shift within different relationships
• The difference between healthy responsibility and parentification in childhood

If this episode resonates, make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast and leave a review to help more families find support. Check out the other resources and socials below.

Guest Links
Website: https://www.nedratawwab.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nedratawwab
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nedratawwab/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@nedratawwab

What Is Ambiguous Loss? Understanding Estrangement and Grief for Parents with Pauline Boss

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 • Duration 36:47

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with renowned family therapist and sociologist Pauline Boss to explore her groundbreaking concept of ambiguous loss and its powerful relevance to family estrangement. We discuss why some of the most painful losses are the hardest to define and how learning to live with that uncertainty can open the door to healing.

We also challenge the cultural myth of closure, offering a more compassionate and empowering way to understand grief, disconnection, and the complexity of family relationships.

Listen for more on:

What ambiguous loss is and why it’s central to understanding estrangement
The difference between guilt and shame and why that distinction matters
Why the idea of “closure” can be misleading (and even harmful)
How focusing on your own growth can create the conditions for possible reconnection
The risks of a culture that encourages cutting off relationships in pursuit of happiness
Why meaning, not resolution, is the key to moving forward

If this episode speaks to you, give it a listen and don’t forget to subscribe, share it with someone who might need it, and leave a review to help more families find support.

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.ambiguousloss.com/

Book: The Myth Of Closure

What Are Recovered Memories? How Memory Distortion Leads to Family Estrangement with Mark Pendergrast

Episode 6

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 • Duration 33:28

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with journalist and author Mark Pendergrast to unpack one of the most complex and sensitive issues I see in my work: memory. We explore how memories are formed, how they can shift over time, and how certain therapeutic approaches have contributed to deeply painful family estrangements. Mark shares both his research and his personal story of losing contact with his daughters, offering a perspective that is both informed and deeply human.

We talk about the rise of recovered memory claims, why they became so widespread, and what science actually says about how memory works. I also share what I’m seeing in my practice today, from the influence of therapy culture and social media to the many different pathways that can lead to estrangement. This is a nuanced conversation about truth, perception, and the real-world consequences when those lines get blurred.

Listen for more on:

Why memory is reconstructive and not a perfect recording of the past
How suggestive therapy techniques can shape or distort memories
The difference between forgetting something and never having experienced it
Why some estrangements are rooted in belief, not verifiable events
The role of modern therapy culture in shaping family narratives
How to approach these situations with care, curiosity, and openness
Why preserving the possibility of dialogue matters more than certainty

If this conversation gave you something to think about, tune into the full episode and share it with someone who could benefit from a deeper understanding of family relationships.

Guest Links:
Website: https://www.markpendergrast.com
Book: Victim of Memory: Incest Accusations and Shattered Lives

Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links:
Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.comInstagram:Substack:Facebook:LinkedIn:Twitter X:Youtube:

How Divorce Increases Estrangement Risk with Michelle Weiner-Davis

Episode 7

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 • Duration 47:51

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Michelle Weiner-Davis to unpack something I see far too often, how divorce can quietly evolve into long-term family estrangement. We explore how these fractures don’t just impact couples, but ripple through entire families, sometimes for decades.

We also get into the role of therapy, communication, and personal narratives in shaping these outcomes. I share insights from my own work (and life), and we talk about what actually helps families stay connected or find their way back to each other.

Listen for more on:

How divorce can lead to lasting parent-child estrangement
Why kids taking sides creates long-term family fractures
The impact of therapy culture on family relationships
How communication mistakes can block reconciliation
Why empathy and curiosity matter more than being right
The simple skills that can rebuild connection

If this episode gave you a new perspective, share it with someone who needs a more hopeful path forward in their family relationships.

Guest Links:
Website: https://www.divorcebusting.com/
Email: michelle@divorcebusting.com

How Mothers Cope with Difficult Adult Children and Chronic Sorrow with Judith R. Smith

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 • Duration 38:50

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Professor Judith R. Smith to discuss her book, Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children Through Conflict and Change. Drawing from years of research and interviews, Judith explores what it means to parent an adult child struggling with mental illness, addiction, unemployment, estrangement, and ongoing instability.

We talk about the emotional reality many mothers quietly carry, the chronic fear, guilt, exhaustion, ambivalence, and grief that can come with loving a child you cannot “fix.” Judith also challenges common ideas like “tough love” and highlights the larger social systems that leave families carrying impossible burdens alone.

Listen for more on:

How mothers often tie their sense of self to their children’s wellbeing
Why “tough love” can fail families facing mental illness or addiction
The concept of chronic sorrow and ongoing grief in parenting
How guilt and self blame shape difficult parent-child relationships
Why small boundaries and self care matter for overwhelmed parents
The importance of community, support groups, and reducing shame

Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for a thoughtful conversation about difficult parenting, resilience, and finding support in the middle of uncertainty.

Guest Links:
Website: https://www.difficultmothering.com/
Book: Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children Through Conflict and Change
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/difficultmothering/

Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links:
Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.colemanSubstack:Facebook:LinkedIn:Twitter X:Youtube:

Dating While Estranged: Revealing Personal Details in Early Romantic Involvement with E! Relationship Expert Dr. Darcy Sterling

Episode 12

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 • Duration 50:26

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Dr. Darcy Sterling, a NYC-based Licensed Clinical Social Worker, relationship expert, and host of E! Network’s Famously Single, to talk about what it means to date while estranged from a parent, adult child, sibling, or other family member.

Estrangement can be painful enough on its own. But when you’re beginning a new romantic relationship, it can raise a whole new set of questions: When do you share it? How much do you say? Will the other person judge you? And how do you talk about something deeply personal without making it the whole story?

Dr. Darcy and I discuss the challenges of revealing personal details early in dating, especially when those details involve family conflict, shame, grief, or unresolved relationships. We also talk about vulnerability, emotional pacing, and how to build intimacy without feeling pressured to disclose everything at once.

Listen for more on:

When to share family estrangement in a new romantic relationship
Why estrangement can bring up shame, fear, or anxiety in dating
How much personal history to reveal early on
The difference between being honest and oversharing
Why timing matters when discussing painful family experiences
How to protect yourself emotionally while still building trust
What a partner’s response can tell you about their emotional maturity
How estrangement can shape intimacy, vulnerability, and connection

Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for a thoughtful conversation about dating, disclosure, and how to navigate new relationships when part of your family story feels difficult to explain.

Guest links:

Website: https://www.askdrdarcy.com/

Podcast: https://www.askdrdarcy.com/podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdarcysterling/

What Does Research Tell Us About Estranged Parents, Siblings and More with Lucy Blake

Tuesday, June 9, 2026 • Duration 54:20

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with developmental psychologist and family relationship researcher Professor Lucy Blake, whose work has helped shape our understanding of family estrangement, sibling relationships, and family dynamics across the lifespan. We explore why family relationships are often more complicated than the idealized versions we see in culture and social media, and how those expectations can impact both parents and adult children.

Lucy shares insights from her groundbreaking research on estrangement, reconciliation, therapy, and sibling relationships. We discuss the importance of context, compassion, and understanding the many factors that shape family experiences over time.

Listen for more on:

• Why unrealistic family expectations can create pressure and disappointment

• What research reveals about the cycles of estrangement and reconciliation

• The impact of loneliness, friendship, and community on family relationships

• How therapy can help people navigate estrangement without judgment

• What sibling estrangement teaches us about family dynamics and perceived favoritism

• Why family conflict is rarely as simple as right versus wrong

Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for an empowering conversation about family relationships, resilience, and finding a more compassionate way to understand ourselves and the people we love.

Guest links:
Website: https://www.drlucyblake.com/
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=cUEiQNYAAAAJ&hl=en

Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links:
Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.colemanSubstack:Facebook:LinkedIn:Twitter X:Youtube: