Parents & Teens Rising: Practical Tools for Raising Confident, Connected Teens

Are you helping your teen athlete grow, or are you accidentally adding more pressure?

In this episode, I talk about how sports can be one of the most powerful developmental experiences in a young person’s life, and it's one way teens can learn perseverance, teamwork, leadership, and how to bounce back after mistakes.

But there’s something we don’t talk about enough... The role parents play in shaping that experience. What we say from the sidelines, in the car ride home, and during the hard moments can either build confidence or add stress.

Here are some of the powerful reminders for supporting teen athletes that we'll dive into:
Listen before problem-solving - Sometimes, they need to vent.
Ask before giving advice. - “Do you want help with this, or do you just want me to listen?”
Help them reset after mistakes. - Feel it → Flip it → Find the next play.
Remember the bigger picture. - Sports aren’t just about the scoreboard; they’re about the kind of person your teen is becoming.
It's a great opportunity for Connection.
These moments with our teens, on the sidelines, in the car rides, during practices, are powerful opportunities for connection and growth.
It’s in these ordinary moments that extraordinary bonds are formed.
I would also love to invite you to join our Free Wilderness Info Session on March 18th at 6 PM PST where you can learn all about our two Backpacking Rites of Passage trips for teens this Summer.
Rites of Passage Trips Info Session
📅 Wednesday, March 18th at 6pm Pacific
🔗 youth.guided-passages.com/wilderness

And if this episode resonated with you, don't forget to subscribe, share it with a friend, and send me a quick note about the insight that stood out most for you.
Come join us for a Free Info Session to learn more about our two wilderness rites of passage trips for teens this summer. Go to youth.guided-passages.com/wilderness to save your seat!

Every summer, I watch teens step into the wilderness and come home transformed. 
Out there, they learn they can do hard things, discover strength they didn’t know they had, connect with people outside their usual circles, and feel the freedom of being fully themselves. 
Here are seven powerful lessons they carry back from our Rites of Passage journeys:
Resilience – “I can do hard things and survive.”
Inner Strength & Confidence – uncovering courage they didn’t know they had.
Unexpected Friendships – connecting with peers outside their usual circles.
Authenticity – embracing their uniqueness and being fully themselves.
Gratitude – appreciating comforts after going without.
Connection to Nature – feeling at home in the wild.
Transformation Through Challenge – growing in ways that shape their future.
💫 If you’d like to learn more, join me for our free Wilderness Info Session on March 18th at 6 PM PT.
Rites of Passage Trips Info Session
📅 Wednesday, March 18th at 6pm Pacific
🔗 youth.guided-passages.com/wilderness
I would love to see you there and answer all your questions.
And if this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to subscribe, share it with a friend, and send me a quick note about the insight that stood out most for you.
Come join us for a Free Info Session to learn more about our two wilderness rites of passage trips for teens this summer. Go to youth.guided-passages.com/wilderness to save your seat!

In this episode, I explore the powerful lessons in Alyssa Liu’s journey, from stepping away to winning Olympic gold on her own terms, and what her story teaches us about teens, identity, agency, and authentic success.

Her story isn’t just about sports. It’s about joy, ownership, and becoming who you truly are.
 Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: 
Why teen motivation strengthens when it feels like their choice
 How to help teens build an identity bigger than achievement
 The difference between support and control (and why it matters)
 Why joy and authenticity actually fuel excellence
 How to help teens define success for themselves
 Why mistakes build real confidence, not perfection 
 If this episode resonated with you, explore our transformational wilderness experiences that empower teens to build resilience, self-trust, leadership, and lasting maturity. 
Rites of Passage Trips Info Session
📅 Wednesday, March 18th at 6pm Pacific
🔗 youth.guided-passages.com/wilderness
Take a moment to leave a review, subscribe, and send me a message with your key insight. 
Come join us for a Free Info Session to learn more about our two wilderness rites of passage trips for teens this summer. Go to youth.guided-passages.com/wilderness to save your seat!

In this episode, I break down what respect really looks like during adolescence, why it matters so deeply, and how we can lead our teens with both firmness and dignity. 
When teens feel dismissed, talked down to, or controlled, their brains go into defense mode. But when they feel respected, they’re far more likely to stay open, honest, and cooperative even when the conversation is hard. 
So often, we fall into the mindset that respect is something our teen has to earn. But the truth is, with teenagers, respect is often the fastest way to rebuild connection and increase influence. 
 Here’s what we’ll explore: 
 Why respect is the foundation of connection and influence
 How subtle disrespect leads to resistance and shutdown
 Why teens are neurologically wired to care about dignity and status
 The “high expectations + high support” approach from researcher David Yeager
 Why collaboration beats control when setting boundaries
 What teens notice most about respect at school and at home
 How modeling respect is the quickest way to receive it back
 Why repair after conflict builds trust faster than perfection
 One of the most respectful parenting shifts: not rushing in to fix, correct, or advise 
Free Support for Parents:
Teen Confidence Breakthrough Workshop (Free Live Training)
📅 Tuesday, Feb 24th at 10am Pacific
🔗 youth.guided-passages.com/workshop
Rites of Passage Trips Info Session
📅 Wednesday, March 18th at 6pm Pacific
🔗 youth.guided-passages.com/wilderness
If this episode helped you, please leave a 5-star review, subscribe, and send me a DM with your biggest takeaway!
Come join us for a Free Info Session to learn more about our two wilderness rites of passage trips for teens this summer. Go to youth.guided-passages.com/wilderness to save your seat!

I’m sharing a simple but powerful shift that can completely change your relationship with your teenager: learning what’s actually in your control and what isn’t.
When your teen is shutting down, acting out, bringing attitude home, or struggling with motivation, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of trying to control their behavior in the heat of the moment. But the truth is, the more we try to control what we can’t, the more disconnected and overwhelmed we feel.
In this conversation, I break down how focusing on your own response instead of your teen’s emotions is where your real influence and leadership live.
This episode is for parents navigating:
Teen attitude and disrespect
Emotional meltdowns and big feelings
Power struggles and constant conflict
Motivation and follow-through challenges
Setting boundaries without yelling or nagging
We’ll discuss the Circle of Control (inspired by Stephen Covey), the power of co-regulation, and what it truly means to “Let Them” (from Mel Robbins) without letting everything slide.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, reactive, or exhausted, this episode will remind you that the most powerful thing you can do is return to what you can control: your own nervous system, your boundaries, and your next move.
 Want Support Beyond the Podcast?
You don’t have to do this alone.
If you're looking for more tools, guidance, and a supportive community of parents raising teens with connection and calm boundaries, join me in my Parents of Teens Rising Circle
And if this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your takeaway.
Send me a DM on Instagram or share this episode with a parent friend who needs the reminder.
Come join us for a Free Info Session to learn more about our two wilderness rites of passage trips for teens this summer. Go to youth.guided-passages.com/wilderness to save your seat!