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Episode 113 “School Shooting Anxiety”
June 14, 2022
School shootings are here to stay and we need to start focusing on how we will harden our schools for when another happens.
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Episode 112 “Sexting and Sextortion”
May 24, 2022
Sexting is something all kids will have to deal with and it’s our job as parents to talk to them about it. Lately
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Episode 111 “Sad Teenagers”
May 6, 2022
Over 40% of teenagers surveyed reported feeling depressed or persistent sadness. This is a trend that has been on the rise even before
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Episode 110 “Anxiety Benefits”
April 28, 2022
Anxiety is a normal response to a potentially dangerous or threatening situation. While we typically think about anxiety as a bad thing, numerous
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Episode 109 “TikTok Brain”
April 20, 2022
A new study recently showed how addicting TikTok is on young brains. The result of this addiction is the wiring of brains to
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Episode 108 “Too Much Pleasure”
April 12, 2022
Our world today is saturated with pleasures. The problem? Our brains are designed to handle very limited, fleeting amounts. Things like sugary foods,
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Episode 107 “The Oscars, Will Smith, and Mental Health”
April 4, 2022
Last week Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, and all I kept reading were debates as to who was wrong. For
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Episode 106 “Why are we so defensive?”
March 24, 2022
Being defensive is a common behavior of many humans and can wreak havoc on our ability to communicate and form healthy relationships. Why
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Episode 105 “Family Dinner Benefits”
March 16, 2022
The family dinner is becoming a lost tradition and it is needed now more than ever. Sitting together as a family for a
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Episode 104 “Anxiety of War”
March 8, 2022
War is terrible, and for for kids in particular, it can evoke anxieties around feeling safe. When kids hear about or see images
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Episode 103 “Raising Imperfect Kids”
March 1, 2022
The world is imperfect, so we should teach kids how to embrace imperfection. This is not an easy task in a society that
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Episode 102 ” Kids, Masks, & Mental Health”
February 14, 2022
Masks have been a critical tool in the battle against COVID. While they have been effective, it didn’t come without a cost. For
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Episode 101 “Take Mental Showers”
February 7, 2022
We take showers to rid our bodies of the daily dirt and sweat we accumulate. These leave us feeling fresh and clean for
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Episode 100 “Anxiety Lessons”
January 24, 2022
On the 100th episode, I explore 10 lessons I have learned these past three years in my battle with anxiety. These range from
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Episode 99 “Something On My Mind”
January 11, 2022
My 9 year old recently came to me and said, “Dad, I have something on my mind” and I was so proud. Why?
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Episode 98 “Workplace Stress”
December 30, 2021
Workplace stress is often cited as a major driver of mental health deterioration. The pandemic has made this worse withe labor shortages forcing
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Episode 97 “Specialize Kids Early”
December 13, 2021
As a parent I often struggle with how much to encourage a broad set of activities to my son versus letting him pick
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Episode 96 “It’s the Unknown”
November 28, 2021
The unknown is the root of many, if not all anxieties. Sometimes, the anxiety is not actually caused by the fear of bad
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Episode 95 “The Metaverse”
November 14, 2021
Facebook recently announced its name change to Meta, aligning with its focus on building a virtual reality internet. What does this mean? A
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Episode 94 “Sleep, Sleep, Sleep”
October 31, 2021
Sleep. We all know a good nights rest matters, but how many of us actually get one. It’s a vicious cycle. People with
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Episode 93 “The Power of Touch”
October 17, 2021
Touch is so powerful, more so than we think.. Evolutionarily, it is the most important way that mammals communicate safety to one another
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Episode 92 “Fear or Phobia?”
October 3, 2021
Being afraid of something can lead to strong feelings of anxiety, even when that trigger is not present. Some of these fears go
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Episode 91 “Toxic Instagram”
September 19, 2021
Instagram and Facebook have been associated with mental health issues amongst young people for quite some time, but the company has always downplayed
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Episode 90 “Active Listening”
September 5, 2021
Listening is not hearing. When we actively listen we are consciously receiving information and processing what it means. Through this process, the person
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Episode 89 “Masks and Mental Health”
August 22, 2021
Another school year in a pandemic, more mask mandates, and more angry parents screaming about the harm masks are causing their children. But
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Episode 88 “Simone Biles: Why it Matters”
August 1, 2021
Image courtesy of Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images By now most of us have heard about gymnast and Olympian Simone BIles withdrawal from
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Episode 87 “Accept Criticism”
July 18, 2021
Accepting criticism is not easy for most humans but I argue it is one of the best ways we can grow. Often times
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Episode 86 “Practice Boredom”
June 28, 2021
Being bored is viewed as a negative state, something we are constantly trying to escape. Feeling bored? Take your phone out and scroll,
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Episode 85 “Post-Pandemic Anxiety”
June 14, 2021
As the pandemic is winding down, the mental health pandemic has already begun. In particular, anxiety rates have gone way up amongst all
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Episode 84 “Lower Your Expectations”
June 6, 2021
Having high expectations can cause stress and anxiety. The idea of tying some sort of pleasure or reward to something that may or
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Episode 83 “Smiling Matters”
May 23, 2021
Another important lesson learned during the COVID pandemic was that smiling matters. As the world became masked, we quickly recognized how different societies
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Episode 82 “What Others Think”
May 9, 2021
We care way too much about what others think. This is not an opinion, this is a fact. And in the age of
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Episode 81 “Empathy & Anxiety”
April 25, 2021
Empathy is the ability to ‘feel with’ another person, to identity with them, and sense what they’re experiencing. Anxiety is a feeling of
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Episode 80 “Military Kids”
April 19, 2021
April is designated as Month of the Military Child, a time to honor the sacrifices made by military families worldwide, with an emphasis
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Episode 79 “Mental Guard Rails”
April 12, 2021
Guard rails are a means to prevent or deter access to dangerous or off-limits areas. The most common of these are the guard
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Episode 78 “Gun Violence & Mental Health”
March 29, 2021
It seems like whenever a mass shooting occurs, mental health or illness makes its way into the conversation. Why? Because mental illness is
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Episode 77 “Teaching Critical Thought”
March 15, 2021
Critical thought is what defines as a human. Our ability to use rationale thought allows us to take the emotion out of our
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Episode 76 “The Bad Stuff & Anxiety” ft. Maia James
March 1, 2021
A major source of anxiety for many people, kids and adults included, is the constant worrying about all of the bad stuff that
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Episode 75 “Happy Childhood, Better Mental Health?”
February 15, 2021
It is known that negative experiences during childhood can have a poor outcome on our mental health as we get older. But what
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Episode 74 “Weighted Blankets”
February 1, 2021
Weighted Blankets have been suggested to help soothe anxiety and reduce insomnia. The theory behind weighted blankets is rooted in neuroscience and the
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Episode 70 “Are Schools Safe?”
December 6, 2020
COVID spread is the highest it has been since the pandemic began, and kids are still in school. Should they be? Is it
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Episode 69 “Boost Your Holiday Mood”
November 22, 2020
The 2020 COVID Holiday season will have a different feel this year, and with many families choosing to not get together, an already
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Episode 68 “Seasonal Affective Disorder on COVID”
November 8, 2020
The changing of seasons, especially heading into the colder and darker months can lead to a type of depression know as Season Affective
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Episode 67 “Tech Tantrums Solved”
October 25, 2020
Tantrums are inevitable with kids, and if you are a parent like me, you are always looking for new effective strategies to control
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Episode 66 “The Future is the Enemy”
October 15, 2020
How much time do you spend each day thinking about the future? New research suggests that our minds tend to live in the
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Episode 65 “Social Media Age Restriction”
September 27, 2020
What does Cocaine, Alcohol, and Social Media have in common? They both manipulate our brains into raising the pleasure and addiction chemical, dopamine,
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Episode 64 “How Are You?”
August 14, 2020
How are you doing? This is the question we must take time to ask ourselves during this difficult time. It is so important
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Episode 63 “Back To School Risks”
July 14, 2020
Will kids go back to school this fall? This question is getting a lot of attention right now, and rightly slow. Kids have
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Episode 62 “The Real Second Wave”
June 24, 2020
We are still going…still in the first wave of this pandemic. And while the second wave hasn’t started just yet, I argue the
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Episode 61 “Isolation is NOT the Answer”
May 5, 2020
Isolation was a necessary step at first to combat the unknown of this virus. But not that we know a lot more about
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Episode 60 “Homeschool Must Stop”
April 23, 2020
In this episode I argue that homeschooling needs to end. While we have really tried our best to continue educating our children through
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Episode 59 “Don’t Be a Hero”
March 25, 2020
We are living through scary, unprecedented times. People are sick, dying, losing their jobs, working from home, all while watching and home schooling
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Episode 58 “Coronavirus & Kids”
March 3, 2020
The spread of the coronavirus across the world has everyone on high alert for good reason. Never have we watched something like this
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Episode 57 “Screen Time Hysteria?”
February 6, 2020
Screen time is the number one topic I get asked about, in particular, is too much bad for my kid . While the
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Episode 56 “Anxious or Shy?”
January 22, 2020
Is your child anxious or just shy? If you have ever thought about this, you are not alone. A lot people have asked
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Episode 55 “It Starts With You”
January 3, 2020
It all Starts With You. No one else. In this new year 2020, let us all take some time to focus on ourselves
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Episode 54 “Video Game Strategies”
December 10, 2019
It has finally happened for me…I am about to enter the world of being a parent of a kid with a video game
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Episode 53 “Be More Thankful”
November 27, 2019
Thankful and Thanksgiving go hand in hand, so on Episode 53 we discuss ways to be more thankful. We live in a fast
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Episode 52 “Year In Review- What I’ve Learned”
November 12, 2019
Episode 52 marks the one year anniversary of this show, and I want to thank everyone that has joined me on this journey.
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Episode 51 “Tylenol and Autism”
November 4, 2019
A new study was has caused quite a stir in the national news and on social media reporting an association between taking Tyelnol
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“Self-Confident Kids” Episode 50
October 24, 2019
The world is becoming an increasingly judgmental place. That, coupled with rising depression and anxiety rates , can lead to a mentally unstable
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Episode 49 “Eye Contact Is Important”
October 15, 2019
Eye contact is one of the most important things for humans to learn and practice. Why? Well to start, eyes are designed to
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“Is Vaping Safe?” Episode 48
October 4, 2019
Is Vaping safe? Vaping has been in the news for its association to mysterious string of lung diseases across the country. Over 800
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Episode 47 “Reading and Writing” ft. Joseph Fasano
September 25, 2019
Reading and writing was once considered not just a necessity of life, but also a way for humans to communicate effectively, engage their
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Episode 46 “Only Human”
September 16, 2019
Mental Health issues will arise with all humans, the question is, how do we handle the down turn when it hits us or
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Why Helicopter Parenting is Now the Rule
September 10, 2019
We hear a lot these days about “helicopter” parenting, or a parent who takes an overprotective or excessive interest in the life of
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Episode 45 “Extracurricular Activities”
September 6, 2019
Kids and young adults that feel disconnected from their peers are more likely to feel anxious and depressed, and since suicide is the
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Episode 44 “What’s Your Struggle”
August 28, 2019
The end of summer is upon us and that can lead to changes in routine and increases in stress, especially if you are
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Suicide: It Can Happen to Your Kids
August 27, 2019
September is back to school and maybe coincidentally, suicide awareness month. I don’t just say that off the cuff, the incidences of suicide
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Episode 43 “Our Kids Are Not OK”
August 22, 2019
Our kids are not OK…if you don’t believe me, believe the numbers that are coming out regarding kids mental health, depression, loneliness, and
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What’s Your Struggle? Be Inspired By Others.
August 20, 2019
Some days feel harder than others. Some days the rain keeps pouring down and feels like it never will end. But this is
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Episode 41 “Strength and Depression” ft. Tony Horton (Re-Post)
Despair and depression can strike anyone, at anytime, no matter how much money you have, or how famous you may be. Our guest
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In an Instagram World, Teach Self-Compassion
August 16, 2019
I read an interesting article the other day on why we should forget about teaching and focusing on self-esteem and start focusing more
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Episode 42 “Discipline Without Yelling”
August 14, 2019
One of the hardest things for me as parent is being able to stay calm in the face of my son’s bad behavior.
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Guns or Mental Health? New study looks at which leads to more gun violence.
August 6, 2019
As as a human being and also a parent, every time I hear about these mass shootings I cringe. Walmarts, restaurants, bars, festivals,
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Your Child’s Brain Is Wiring- Make Sure it Does So Correctly
August 4, 2019
People ask me a lot about how the brain “works” and I often smile before taking a deep breath and answering. The simplest
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Episode 40 “Mental Health Days Off”
August 1, 2019
There has been a lot of news around a bill recently passed in the state of Oregon that would allow students to take
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Mental Health Days Off for Students- A good idea, or too sensitive?
July 30, 2019
There has been a lot of news around a bill recently passed in the state of Oregon that would allow students to take
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More Evidence Pets Benefit Mental Health
July 28, 2019
On Episode 12 of my podcast I discussed ways that having a pet can positively affect our mental health. While I don’t have
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Are Productivity Apps Anti-Productive? 4 Questions Answered.
Recently I was asked about productivity apps and my thoughts on how effective they can be. When it comes to technology to keep
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Episode 39 “Screen Time Strategies”
July 23, 2019
A kid’s health and mental health can be negatively affected by too much screen time during development. Research shows that kids who grow
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Episode 38 “Family Vacations”
July 17, 2019
Research shows that Family Vacations are excellent for a child’s development and mental health. Thinking back on my childhood, I have countless memories
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Episode 37 “Talking to Kids About Death”
July 9, 2019
Death can be a confusing subject for kids to understand. Depending on their age, many kids have a difficult time understanding the concept
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Episode 36 “Resilience” ft. Dr. Deborah Gilboa
July 1, 2019
Resilience is defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. As a parent I struggle with this with my kid. When
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Episode 35 “Virtual Reality”
June 25, 2019
Virtual reality (VR) is an experience taking place within simulated and immersive environments that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. While
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Episode 34 “Darkness of Comedy” ft. Paul Gilmartin
June 18, 2019
Laughter is indeed the best medicine, but what is it about the comedic mind then lends itself to darkness? Many comedians suffer from
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Episode 33 “Sick Of Drinking”
June 12, 2019
Drinking alcohol has been associated with serious physical and mental health risks, so any news showing drinking to be on the decline would
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Episode 32″ Are You A Burnout?”
June 4, 2019
Burnouts used to be something completely different when I was growing out, but nowadays, being a burnout is steadily in the rise, and
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Episode 31 “Grudges Will Kill You”
May 29, 2019
Grudges will kill you and I wish I was joking. Research has shown that people who hold grudges are more likely to suffer
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Episode 30 “Ask These Questions”
May 21, 2019
Over the past few weeks I have listened to your questions and in Episode 30 I discuss one of the most frequently asked…How
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Episode 29 “Too Soft”
May 14, 2019
A high school in Ohio just announced it will be removing the valedictorian and salutatorian awards from graduations as part of their overall
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Episode 28 “Feel Your Way”
May 8, 2019
It is OK to not be OK…and that is what we discuss on Episode 28. Our title is taken from a recent campaign
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Episode 27 “ADHD Diet”
April 30, 2019
ADHD has been a complicating disease to get at the root of when trying to figure out what causes or aggravates some of
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Episode 26 “Boomerang Kids”
April 25, 2019
Did you know that kids are more likely to come back home to live in their parents home then previously before? In fact,
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Episode 25 “Talk About It”
April 16, 2019
Episode 25 is part two of our conversation about the rise of suicide and how we should approach this topic with our kids.
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Episode 24 “The Mind Gets Sick”
April 9, 2019
With more reports coming out showing suicide on the rise, these next two episodes will be dedicated to this topic, in particular relating
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Episode 23 “Pollution & Psychosis”
April 2, 2019
Pollution of our environment, in particular our air, has been on the rise over the past decade and its negative effects on our
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Episode 22 “Physical Fitness”
March 26, 2019
Being strong encompasses two facets, mental strength and physical strength. The beauty of this arrangement is that each one can help and increase
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Episode 21 “CBD Oil”
March 19, 2019
Marijuana use for therapeutic purposes has been an intense area of research for decades now. Recently, this theory has extended to mental disease,
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Episode 20 “Depression Nasal Spray?”
March 12, 2019
The FDA recently approved a new drug to treat severe depression using a derivative of the street drug Ketamine. What makes this drug
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Episode 19 “Momo Challenge?”
March 5, 2019
Have you seen this viral topic circulating on social media and the news lately called the Momo Challenge? Apparently Momo is a devilish
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Episode 18 “Mental Health First Aid”
February 26, 2019
If you or a loved one hurts themselves physically in some way, you know exactly what the response should be. Since we were
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Episode 17 “Alarming Study”
February 18, 2019
The growing sentiment in the USA is that the mental health issues are on the rise amongst children and that many of these
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Episode 16 “Brain Reset”
February 11, 2019
When our computers or phones freeze up or get stuck in a loop, sometimes a “Reset” is all it needs to get things
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Episode 15 “Kids Must Think”
February 5, 2019
Critical thought is what separates humans from the other animal species. Our ability to stop, think, plan, and then make a decision is
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Episode 14 “Are Schools Pushers?”
January 28, 2019
Classrooms have begun to look more like a Best Buy story than a school nowadays. With TVs, and Chromebooks, and tablets everywhere, why
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Episode 13 “Emotional Toolbox”
January 21, 2019
All kids know that when they have a cut or a bruise they can go to the nurse for a band aid located
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Episode 12: “Pet Benefits”
January 14, 2019
Pet’s have been apart of the family unit for roughly 11,000 years with obvious and known accounts of how pets can increase happiness
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Episode 11: “Discipline Dont’s”
January 6, 2019
Disciplining children is one of the most researched and sought out topics by parents looking for better ways to teach right from wrong.
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Episode 10: “2019 Mental Goals”
December 30, 2018
Every year should be better than the next. Often we hear of people making New Year’s resolutions that revolve around physical improvement or
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Episode 9: “Holiday Wellness”
December 23, 2018
Remember the time when we counted down the days until Christmas arrived? Remember when the holiday season was a stress free, joyous time
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Episode 8: “Being Brave”
December 16, 2018
On today’s show we talk about a topic that I think is really important to a healthy mindset and something that should really
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Episode 7: “Social Media Lonely” ft. Dr. Melissa Hunt
December 9, 2018
Welcome to another episode of The Better Mental Health for Kids and Parents podcast. On today’s show we discuss the affects of social
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Episode 6: “Bullying Research” ft. Dr. Kelly Lynn Mulvey
December 2, 2018
Bullying can come in many different forms. Sometimes, kids bother others on the playground, in the halls at school or even online on
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Episode 5: “Family First”
November 25, 2018
Nowadays spending quality time with family is becoming more rare than ever do to a more hectic work life for both parents. Research
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Episode 4: “Screen Time”
November 18, 2018
Screen time, that is, how much time someone spends in front of a TV screen or device is one of the most discussed
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Episode 3: “Mindfulness Matters” ft Samara Zelniker
November 11, 2018
The practice of mindfulness is one of the simplest ways to help lead a more mentally healthy life. While the techniques of mindfulness
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Episode 2: “Anxious Humans”
November 4, 2018
Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental disorders and the numbers in children have been increasing over the past years. Anxiety is
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Episode 1: “We Are Suffering”
October 27, 2018
It is time for an intervention, so lets get it over with on the first episode. On Episode 1 we are going to have
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Episode 0: “Introduction”
This episode will be an introduction to who I am, what the show will be, and why it was created. Each show will
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Episode 112 “Sexting and Sextortion”
May 24, 2022
Why Helicopter Parenting is Now the Rule
September 10, 2019