You're Doing it Right – Details, episodes & analysis

Parenting is one of life's greatest joys, and one of its greatest challenges. It's rewarding, exhausting, heartwarming, frustrating, and sometimes all of those things before you've even had your first cup of coffee.

Welcome to You're Doing It Right, the parenting podcast where science meets real life. Hosted by psychologists Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Lianne Tomfer-Madsen, this is a judgment-free space for honest conversations about raising children in today's complex world.

Across this 12-part series, we tackle the questions parents face every day, from sleep and behaviour to screen time, emotional regulation, family wellness, and mental health. Each episode combines the latest research, expert guests, practical strategies, and real-life experiences to help you navigate parenting with greater confidence and less stress.

What makes You're Doing It Right different? We bridge the gap between what science says and what actually works in real family life. You'll hear from leading researchers, clinicians, and specialists who translate evidence into actionable tools you can use immediately;without guilt, judgment, or unrealistic expectations. 

At the heart of this podcast is a simple belief: parenting was never meant to be done alone. Our promise is to provide trusted guidance, compassionate support, and practical takeaways that help you feel more informed, more connected, and more confident in your parenting journey.

In this premiere episode, Leslie and Lianne explore the pressures facing modern parents, the power of self-compassion, and why connection, to both your community and yourself, may be one of the most important parenting tools you have. They discuss why mistakes are a normal part of parenting, how repair strengthens relationships, and why "good enough" parenting is often exactly what children need. Whether you’re navigating sleepless nights, toddler meltdowns, school-age struggles, teen challenges, or simply wondering if you're doing enough, this conversation will remind you that perfection isn't the goal, and that you're likely doing far better than you think.

In This Episode

● Why parenting was never meant to be done alone

● The power of community and shared parenting experiences

● How self-compassion reduces stress and builds resilience

● Managing perfectionism, guilt, and self-doubt

● Practical approaches to sleep, discipline, and emotional regulation

● Understanding challenging behaviour as a normal part of development

● Why repair matters more than getting it right every time

● Learning through trial and error while trusting your instincts

● How culture, family history, and personal values shape parenting

● Expert resources and strategies to support your family

Every episode of You're Doing It Right is built on one promise: to help you feel supported, informed, and empowered as a parent. Through expert insight, evidence-based strategies, and authentic conversations, you'll gain tools that support both your child's well-being and your own. Because parenting isn't about being perfect. It's about showing up, learning as you go, and remembering that you're not alone.

Subscribe now and join us each week as we explore the science, stories, and strategies that help families thrive, and remind parents everywhere that, in more ways than they realize, they're doing it right.

About the hosts:

Dr. Leslie Roos

Dr. Leslie Roos is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba whose work is dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of children, youth, and families. As a clinician-scientist, she leads innovative research focused on expanding access to evidence-based mental health supports, particularly for families facing barriers to care. As a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Chair in Implementation Science, she is dedicated to ensuring that families can access high quality services through the public health system. Dr. Roos is the co-lead of the PRIME Initiative (Partnering for Research Innovation in Mental Health through eHealth Excellence), a nationally recognized program that develops and evaluates digital mental health solutions for families. Her research focuses on family mental health, early childhood development, mental health equity, and community-based approaches that help translate scientific knowledge into practical tools for everyday life. She is also the creator and co-developer of several evidence-based programs, including the BEAM program, which supports the mental health of both parents and children in an accessible App-based format with connection to peer coaches, parents, and resources in your community. A former Junior Fellow at Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child, Dr. Roos has worked with organizations and communities around the world to strengthen family well-being through research, innovation, and implementation science. Her work is grounded in collaboration with families, community organizations, healthcare providers, and policymakers to ensure that mental health supports are accessible, culturally responsive, and effective.Through her research, clinical expertise, and passion for knowledge sharing, Dr. Roos is committed to helping families thrive by turning the latest science into practical, compassionate strategies that support parents and children through every stage of development.

Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen
Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen is a psychologist, researcher, and professor whose work focuses on supporting the mental health and well-being of parents, children, and families. She is the former Clinical Professor of Child Health Psychology through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and the current Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Equity at the University of British Columbia. Her research examines the psychological and social factors that influence healthy development and family functioning, with a strong emphasis on creating practical, evidence-based solutions that improve outcomes for both parents and children. She is the co-lead of the Pregnancy During the Pandemic study, the largest longitudinal COVID-19 pregnancy cohort study in the world, which has provided critical insights into the mental health impacts of the pandemic on families. Dr. Tomfohr-Madsen also co-leads research on innovative digital mental health interventions, including the BEAM (Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Health) program, designed to improve parent mental health and reduce harsh parenting practices. In addition, she leads the Sleep Healthy Equity Team within the Canadian Sleep Research Consortium, where her work explores how restorative sleep and healthy lifestyle practices can support long-term physical and mental health. Drawing from extensive clinical training and practice in Mindfulness and Self-Compassion, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Emotionally Focused Couples and Parenting Interventions, Dr. Tomfohr-Madsen brings a compassionate, research-informed perspective to the challenges families face today. Through her work, she is committed to helping parents navigate the realities of family life with greater confidence, connection, and well-being, translating leading-edge research into practical strategies that support thriving families.

Resources & Links:

● You’re Doing It Right Podcast Website

● Connect on Insta...

Welcome to You’re Doing It Right, the parenting podcast where science meets real life. Hosted by acclaimed psychologists Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen, this series is designed to help parents tune out the noise, trust themselves, and feel a little less alone in the process.  In a world where social media influencers, endless advice, and perfectly curated parenting moments constantly tell parents what they should be doing, it’s easy to fall down a rabbit hole of comparison and criticism, leaving many feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated, and questioning whether they’re failing at parenting altogether. So to help you navigate all the advice, opinions and take off the pressure, You’re Doing It Right brings together evidence-based insight, trusted experts, and honest conversations about the realities of raising children today.

Across this 12-episode series, listeners will hear practical guidance and compassionate perspectives on topics including:

• Trust Yourself as a Parent
• Are You Listening to Me? Meeting Your Child’s Needs
• Screen Time Solutions: Helping Kids Navigate the Digital World 
• Sleep Like a Baby: Helping Kids (and Yourself) Get Rest
• Foundations of Family Wellness
• Parenting without Punishment: Tools for Positive Discipline
• Family Anger Happens: Managing Big Feelings for All
• Making Memories: Simple Ways to Build Strong Family Bonds
• Restoring Balance When Life Feels Chaotic
• Dinner Table Drama: Supporting Your Picky-Eater 
• Finding Support: Resources for Newcomer Families
• Happy Holidays: Low(er) Stress Parenting for the Season

Each episode blends research, real-life experiences, and conversations with leading experts in parenting and child psychology, offering practical tools parents can actually use in everyday life.

At the heart of this podcast is a simple premise: parenting was never meant to be done alone. And the promise is this - to give you trusted evidence, practical tools, and a compassionate perspective so you can feel more confident, more connected, and a little less overwhelmed. 

Most importantly, this podcast is a reminder that parenting was never meant to be perfect, and that more often than we realize, we’re already doing it right.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, including YouTube, and learn more at youredoingitrightpodcast.ca

Follow along on Instagram:
 @youredoingitrightpodcast

#podcast #mentalhealth #parenting 

On this episode of You’re Doing It Right, we’re diving into one of the biggest questions parents are wrestling with right now: screen time. How much is too much? What actually matters? And why does it feel like every headline and every household is having the same debate.

Our hosts, psychologists Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Lianne Tomfohr‑Madsen, hear these worries every day. Parents wondering if they’re being too strict, not strict enough, or unintentionally shaping their kids’ habits through their own. And as Lianne likes to point out, this isn’t just a kid issue, adults are struggling with screens too.

The research backs it up. It’s not just about counting minutes. It’s about what screens are replacing: sleep, social connection, downtime, real‑world experiences. It’s about balance, emotional regulation, and the digital habits kids see modeled at home.

To help us make sense of it all, Leslie and Lianne bring in clinical psychologist Dr. Jo Ann Unger, an expert on how technology is shaping children’s emotional and social well‑being — and how families can build healthier digital routines without fear, shame, or guesswork.

This is an episode for anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re getting it right… or if “right” even exists when it comes to screens.

At the heart of this podcast is a simple belief: parenting was never meant to be done alone. Our promise is to provide trusted guidance, compassionate support, and practical takeaways that help you feel more informed, more connected, and more confident in your parenting journey.  On this episode of You’re Doing It Right, we’re diving into one of the biggest questions parents are wrestling with right now: screen time. How much is too much? What actually matters? And why does it feel like every headline and every household, is having the same debate.

Our hosts, psychologists Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Lianne Tomfohr‑Madsen, hear these worries every day. Parents wondering if they’re being too strict, not strict enough, or unintentionally shaping their kids’ habits through their own. And as Lianne likes to point out, this isn’t just a kid issue, adults are struggling with screens too.

The research backs it up. It’s not just about counting minutes. It’s about what screens are replacing: sleep, social connection, downtime, real‑world experiences. It’s about balance, emotional regulation, and the digital habits kids see modeled at home.

Parenting is one of life's greatest joys, and one of its greatest challenges. It's rewarding, exhausting, heartwarming, frustrating, and sometimes all of those things before you've even had your first cup of coffee.

Welcome to You're Doing It Right, the parenting podcast where science meets real life. Hosted by psychologists Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Lianne Tomfer-Madsen, this is a judgment-free space for honest conversations about raising children in today's complex world.

Across this 12-part series, we tackle the questions parents face every day, from sleep and behaviour to screen time, emotional regulation, family wellness, and mental health. Each episode combines the latest research, expert guests, practical strategies, and real-life experiences to help you navigate parenting with greater confidence and less stress.

What makes You're Doing It Right different? We bridge the gap between what science says and what actually works in real family life. You'll hear from leading researchers, clinicians, and specialists who translate evidence into actionable tools you can use immediately;without guilt, judgment, or unrealistic expectations.

At the heart of this podcast is a simple belief: parenting was never meant to be done alone. Our promise is to provide trusted guidance, compassionate support, and practical takeaways that help you feel more informed, more connected, and more confident in your parenting journey.

Every episode of You're Doing It Right is built on one promise: to help you feel supported, informed, and empowered as a parent. Through expert insight, evidence-based strategies, and authentic conversations, you'll gain tools that support both your child's well-being and your own.

Because parenting isn't about being perfect. It's about showing up, learning as you go, and remembering that you're not alone.

Subscribe now and join us each week as we explore the science, stories, and strategies that help families thrive, and remind parents everywhere that, in more ways than they realize, they're doing it right.

About the hosts:

Dr. Leslie Roos

Dr. Leslie Roos is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba whose work is dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of children, youth, and families. As a clinician-scientist, she leads innovative research focused on expanding access to evidence-based mental health supports, particularly for families facing barriers to care. As a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Chair in Implementation Science, she is dedicated to ensuring that families can access high quality services through the public health system. 

Dr. Roos is the co-lead of the PRIME Initiative (Partnering for Research Innovation in Mental Health through eHealth Excellence), a nationally recognized program that develops and evaluates digital mental health solutions for families. Her research focuses on family mental health, early childhood development, mental health equity, and community-based approaches that help translate scientific knowledge into practical tools for everyday life. She is also the creator and co-developer of several evidence-based programs, including the BEAM program, which supports the mental health of both parents and children in an accessible App-based format with connection to peer coaches, parents, and resources in your community.

A former Junior Fellow at Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child, Dr. Roos has worked with organizations and communities around the world to strengthen family well-being through research, innovation, and implementation science. Her work is grounded in collaboration with families, community organizations, healthcare providers, and policymakers to ensure that mental health supports are accessible, culturally responsive, and effective.

Through her research, clinical expertise, and passion for knowledge sharing, Dr. Roos is committed to helping families thrive by turning the latest science into practical, compassionate strategies that support parents and children through every stage of development.

Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen

Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen is a psychologist, researcher, and professor whose work focuses on supporting the mental health and well-being of parents, children, and families. She is the former Clinical Professor of Child Health Psychology through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and the current Canada Research Chair in...

Parenting is one of life's greatest joys, and one of its greatest challenges. It's rewarding, exhausting, heartwarming, frustrating, and sometimes all of those things before you've even had your first cup of coffee.

Welcome to You're Doing It Right, the parenting podcast where science meets real life. Hosted by psychologists Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Lianne Tomfer-Madsen, this is a judgment-free space for honest conversations about raising children in today's complex world.

Across this 12-part series, we tackle the questions parents face every day, from sleep and behaviour to screen time, emotional regulation, family wellness, and mental health. Each episode combines the latest research, expert guests, practical strategies, and real-life experiences to help you navigate parenting with greater confidence and less stress.

What makes You're Doing It Right different? We bridge the gap between what science says and what actually works in real family life. You'll hear from leading researchers, clinicians, and specialists who translate evidence into actionable tools you can use immediately;without guilt, judgment, or unrealistic expectations.

At the heart of this podcast is a simple belief: parenting was never meant to be done alone. Our promise is to provide trusted guidance, compassionate support, and practical takeaways that help you feel more informed, more connected, and more confident in your parenting journey.

In this episode, Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Leanne Tomfohr Madsen explore a powerful shift in parenting: viewing children’s behavior as communication rather than defiance. When children struggle to express their emotions and needs with words, their actions often tell the story.

The conversation covers how to recognize the needs underneath challenging behavior, when to seek additional support, and practical ways to create more connection, predictability, and cooperation at home. The hosts also discuss the importance of parental self-compassion and why strengthening the parent-child relationship is often the most effective foundation for behavior change.

Key topics include:

• Behavior as communication
• How children express emotions and unmet needs through their actions.
• Recognizing underlying needs
• Looking beyond the behavior to understand what a child may be struggling with.
• The FIDO framework, using Frequency, Intensity, Duration, and Onset to assess when behaviors may warrant additional support.
• Practical parenting strategies
• Building routines, providing clear expectations, setting boundaries, and using positive reinforcement effectively.
• Connection and one-on-one time
• Why child-led interactions can reduce conflict and strengthen relationships.
• Parental self-care and repair
• Managing stress, recovering from difficult moments, and modeling healthy relationships.
• Debunking common myths
• Why most challenging behaviors are not intentional attempts to be difficult, but reflections of complex developmental and emotional needs.

Instead of asking “How do I stop this behavior?” try asking “What is my child trying to tell me?”

Every episode of You're Doing It Right is built on one promise: to help you feel supported, informed, and empowered as a parent. Through expert insight, evidence-based strategies, and authentic conversations, you'll gain tools that support both your child's well-being and your own.

Because parenting isn't about being perfect. It's about showing up, learning as you go, and remembering that you're not alone.

Subscribe now and join us each week as we explore the science, stories, and strategies that help families thrive, and remind parents everywhere that, in more ways than they realize, they're doing it right.

About the hosts:

Dr. Leslie Roos

Dr. Leslie Roos is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba whose work is dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of children, youth, and families. As a clinician-scientist, she leads innovative research focused on expanding access to evidence-based mental health supports, particularly for families facing barriers to care. As a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Chair in Implementation Science, she is dedicated to ensuring that families can access high quality services through the public health system. 

Dr. Roos is the co-lead of the PRIME Initiative (Partnering for Research Innovation in Mental Health through eHealth Excellence), a nationally recognized program that develops and evaluates digital mental health solutions for families. Her research focuses on family mental health, early childhood development, mental health equity, and community-based approaches that help translate scientific knowledge into practical tools for everyday life. She is also the creator and co-developer of several evidence-based programs, including the BEAM program, which supports the mental health of both parents and children in an accessible App-based format with connection to peer coaches, parents, and resources in your community.

A former Junior Fellow at Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child, Dr. Roos has worked with organizations and communities around the world to strengthen family well-being through research, innovation, and implementation science. Her work is grounded in 

collaboration with families, community organizations, healthcare providers, and policymakers to ensure that mental health supports are accessible, culturally responsive, and effective.

Through her research, clinical expertise, and passion for knowledge sharing, Dr. Roos is committed to helping families thrive by turning the latest science into practical, compassionate strategies that support parents and children through every stage of development.

Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen

Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen is a psychologist, researcher, and professor whose work focuses on supporting the mental health and well-being of parents, children, and families. She is the former Clinical Professor of Child Health Psychology through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and the current Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Equity at the University of British Columbia. Her research examines the psychological and social factors that influence healthy development and family functioning, with a strong emphasis on creating practical, evidence-based solutions that improve outcomes for both parents and children.

She is the co-lead of the Pregnancy During the Pandemic study, the largest longitudinal COVID-19 pregnancy cohort study in the world, which has provided critical insights into the mental health impacts of the pandemic on families. Dr. Tomfohr-Madsen also co-leads research on innovative digital mental health interventions, including the BEAM (Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Health) program, designed to improve pare...