Authentic Parenting

This is our final episode of the year, and today I'm doing something I always love—looking back and reflecting. I'll be revealing the Top 10 most downloaded episodes of 2025, sharing why these conversations resonated so deeply, and highlighting a couple of episodes and guests that were personal favorites for me. Top 10 Mastering the Art of Validation: How to Make People Feel Seen and Understood with Caroline Fleck, PhD How to Raise Capable and Resilient Children with Sheryl Ziegler Raising Emotionally Aware Boys Who Turn into Strong Men with Tosha Schore  Reclaiming Your Inner Child: Heal the Past and Live Fully with Nina Mongendre The Family Dynamic: The Mystery of Sibling Success with Susan Dominus Why Kids Are Struggling—and How to Help Them Thrive with Ned Johnson Stop People Pleasing: How to Value Yourself and Your Needs with Amy Wilson How to Recover from Burnout by Regulating Your Emotions and Nervous System with Michelle Grosser How to Connect Deeply With Yourself and Others with Kristy Lauricella 7 Ways to Improve Well-Being, Reduce Stress, and Stay Grounded in Difficult Times with Anna Seewald and Laura Froyen LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.  [email protected] Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.  Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11  

In this final episode of the year, we slow down and reflect on what this year held—the meaningful moments, the hard ones, and the lessons we want to remember. I'm joined by my dear friend Kristy Lauricella as we answer reflective questions (available to download), share our unexpected words of the year, and talk about the books, podcasts, and shows that stayed with us. This conversation isn't about doing the year "right," but about noticing, closing the year with intention, and offering ourselves a little more self-compassion. Download this free PDF with pwoerful questions.  LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.  [email protected] Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.  Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11  

Jeff Hittner on the invisible pressures dads carry every day—balancing ambition with presence, holding emotions they were never taught to express, feeling the weight of being a provider while wanting to be deeply connected, and silently wondering whether they're doing enough. 03:18 — Why dads default to fixing 06:10 — How conflict exposes emotional patterns you didn't realize you were repeating 09:27 — What happens inside your body in the first seconds of reactivity 12:55 — How shame hides in anger or withdrawal and shifts your parenting 16:40 — Why ambition and presence feel at odds—and how to hold both 19:12 — How the definition of "providing" can create hidden distance 22:03 — What kids actually need from you when they're dysregulated 26:44 — How small repairs rebuild connection after hard moments 29:58 — Why dads often hide their struggles and how vulnerability helps 33:21 — How real-time emotional attunement works—and what derails it 37:49 — What regulated fatherhood looks like in everyday interactions 41:30 — Why self-compassion matters more than perfect parenting 44:56 — How tiny daily habits build long-term emotional resilience 48:20 — What keeps parents stuck in reactive cycles and how to break them LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.  [email protected] Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.     

Are you ready to start the new year with calmer, more connected parenting? In this episode, I share 7 practical ways to parent with intention in 2026 while avoiding common pitfalls that can derail your goals. We cover screen time, home environments, children's play, shared meals, technology, and the small but powerful shifts that can transform your family life. You'll also hear exercises and tips to check in with yourself, stay intentional, and create a year filled with connection and purpose. LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.  [email protected] Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.  Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

An OG podcaster, the founder and CEO of the Women's Meditation Network Katie Krimitsos on listening to your inner knowing, trusting your intuition and taking action even if you don't know all the answers.  04:00 – How fear and tears marked her first podcast recording. 06:30 – Why starting with no plan led to building a six-figure business. 09:00 – The intuitive pull that sparked an entirely new meditation show. 11:00 – How to follow intuition even when fear shows up. 13:00 – Confronting impostor syndrome as a meditation guide. 15:00 – Why early download success confirmed she was on the right path. 17:00 – The difference between intuition's whisper and fear's noise. 19:00 – How meditation became her tool to hear inner guidance. 21:30 – A "whisper moment" that led to comforting a grieving friend. 24:30 – Teaching her daughter to trust her gut over peer pressure. 27:00 – How she recognized school struggles and ignored conventional advice. 29:30 – Why listening to intuition transformed her daughter's learning journey. 32:00 – How journaling, walks, and reflection guide big life pivots. 34:30 – Why failure is just a stepping stone in following your inner voice. 37:00 – How meditation can unlock your intuition and live an aligned life. LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.  [email protected] Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.  Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11