“Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting” is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you...

“Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting” is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you...

“Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting” is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you...

“Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting” is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges.  Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you...

“Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting” is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges.  Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you...

Is your child uninterested in team sports in a sports-obsessed town? In this episode, Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena offer practical advice for parents on finding alternative activities that align with your child's passions, while still fostering social connections. They explore the importance of nurturing your child’s confidence and self-worth, whether or not that includes team sports.  We want to hear from you! Do you have a kid in a similar position?  Follow and subscribe to our YouTube...

Wondering how to approach the topic of masturbation with your teen? In this episode, Dr. Lisa and Reena dive into the challenges and importance of having open conversations about sexual development. They explore how sex-positive parenting can help remove shame from these discussions while respecting teens' need for privacy and boundaries. They also cover the influence of pornography and how parents can guide their teens toward healthier understandings of sex and relationships through...

Feeling overwhelmed by the college admissions process? Dr. Lisa and Reena talk with Rick Clark, Executive Director of Strategic Student Access at Georgia Tech, to address key questions from listeners. From when to start the process, how to navigate standardized tests, to what it takes to craft a standout college essay, Rick shares expert advice on how to help your teen shine. Tune in to hear Rick’s perspective on financial aid, academic scholarships, athletic scholarships, and when it makes...

Is your teen acting entitled? In this episode, Dr. Lisa shares practical tips to help parents and caregivers address entitlement and guide teens toward becoming responsible, empathetic adults. Dr. Lisa and Reena explore how holding high expectations, giving kids meaningful responsibilities, and being empathic can help teens move past self-centered behavior. We want to hear from you! How do you handle entitlement and maintain perspective during this phase? Follow and subscribe to our YouTube...

Is your middle schooler caught in the whirlwind of trash-talking and competitive behavior? You’re not alone. A parent writes asking for guidance on how to handle the social dynamics that boys often face in middle school, where establishing social power can involve trash-talking and intense competition. But what happens when your child feels uncomfortable with these behaviors? Dr. Lisa offers expert advice on how parents can be sensitive to their kids’ feelings, offer empathy, and start...

Are you struggling to support your teen through the ups and downs of body image and self-acceptance? Reena & Dr. Lisa dive into the complex psychology of parenting teens and tweens as they navigate eating, weight, and activity levels during puberty. A concerned parent writes in about her daughters’ struggles with body image. This episode explores the critical role parents play in supporting their teenagers through weight gain and body changes, addresses the dangers of dieting and...

Ready to make this school year your child’s best year yet? We’re kicking off Season 5 with special guest U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona! In this episode, Reena and Lisa explore the initiatives shaping the future of education. They discuss the importance of building community in schools, reducing chronic absenteeism, enhancing out-of-school activities, and expanding access to mental health support. Secretary Cardona shares powerful advice for parents on advocating for their...

Live from New York, it’s the Digital Parenthood Summit! In this live episode, Dr. Lisa and Reena dive deep into the challenges of parenting in the digital age, exploring top concerns like managing kids' screen time, the pressure to get devices, and handling social media's impact on teens. They also discuss valuable strategies for putting boundaries on technology use, keeping phones out of bedrooms, and dealing with the reality of kids encountering toxic content online. We want to hear from...

Preparing for life after high school is about more than just getting into college - it’s also about having the ability to operate independently. A parent writes in worried about a charming, but disorganized, son. Dr. Lisa explains what executive functioning skills are - and how to help kids build them. Dr. Lisa and Reena address what drives procrastination in kids, how adults can provide executive functioning "training wheels," and how to get kids to do things like homework without having to...

Our special guest this week is author and journalist Jennifer Breheny Wallace, who discusses her brand new book: “Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic - And What We Can Do About It.” Dr. Lisa, Reena, and Jennie address how achievement pressure harms kids and what parents can do to combat grind culture. They unpack research from Harvard and the London School of Economics to answer key questions: What do the kids who are thriving in high pressure situations do differently? What...

Sleep is essential for mental and physical health, but most teens don’t get nearly enough of it. Special Guest Lisa L. Lewis, journalist and author of "The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teenagers Are So Tired, and How Parents and Schools Can Help Them Thrive," joins Dr. Lisa and Reena to answer listener questions about teens and sleep, tech use, summer bedtimes, school start times and more. Their conversation unpacks the results of the Stanford Sleep Study, and Reena finds out how Lisa L....

A mother writes in about the fact that her teen son and his friends - who come from a mix of racial, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds - "jokingly" use slurs. Does she have the power to stop this? Dr. Lisa and Reena explore what's driving the rise in hateful language and what adults can do to address this hurtful behavior. Reena asks whether it's realistic for adults to think they can change the dynamics that unfold when teens are with their friends. Dr. Lisa offers advice on how to...

With online betting now legal in most states, sports coverage is increasingly saturated with commentary focussed on betting and ads for gambling apps. Teens are noticing - and some of them are getting in on the action. It's increasingly easy and common for teens to bet on sports and, at times, to lose large sums of money. Dr. Lisa and Reena address how teens find ways to place bets, why they want to, and what parents and caregivers need to know if they have a teen who might be interested in...

When kids hit thirteen they often become highly emotional. What happens in the brain and the body during this time? Dr. Lisa explains and also talks about the process of "separation-individuation" where young people seek to define their own identities - often by being hard on their folks. Parents sometimes assume that age thirteen is the beginning of adolescence. But is it really? And how can you help a tween or teen who's having an emotional meltdown? Dr. Lisa has good news: the intensity of...

It’s easy to track kids using cell phone technology. But is it a good idea to do so? Today's technology allows us to know a lot more about our kids than our parents ever knew about us. While parents might track their teens for supervision and safety reasons, teens often long for more independence and privacy than tracking allows. Dr. Lisa explains why this tension is an expectable, healthy part of adolescent development and unpacks two key questions: What, exactly, does tracking accomplish?...

Dr. Lisa and Reena explore the making of Disney-Pixar's "Inside Out 2" with special guest, Dr. Dacher Keltner, a UC Berkeley psychologist renowned for his research on emotions. The discussion begins with Lisa explaining her role in the film, highlighting how Riley, now 13, navigates the new emotions of adolescence. Dr. Keltner shares insights on selecting the original five emotions and introduces the sequel's new characters: Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui. Dr. Lisa draws on her...

How can families make the most of their summer? Dr. Lisa says it’s all about the S.U.N.: "S" for sleep, "U" for unplugging, and “N" for nature. Dr. Lisa and Reena explore why it's essential to find time during the summer months to rest, disconnect, and spend time outdoors. They offer practical tips for family digital detoxes. Their conversation unpacks the research on the psychological benefits of being around nature and how summer offers the perfect opportunity to embrace it all. Dr. Lisa...

When should you consider limiting your child's use of TikTok? A parent seeks advice on managing a tween’s use of the popular social media platform. Dr. Lisa and Reena discuss the appeal of TikTok and address the concerns that many parents have. Reena asks several key questions including: What are the downsides of consuming short-form video content, much of which seems to be mindless? How and when should parents set boundaries around TikTok use? And if parents are really worried about their...

How do parents balance their wish to know about their kids’ lives with their teens’ right to privacy? Dr. Lisa and Reena talk through the tension of respecting teens’ autonomy while staying informed as parents, particularly in the context of teenagers keeping personal journals. A letter from a thoughtful mother of four teenagers raises important questions about navigating boundaries and fostering open communication. Dr. Lisa explores the ethical implications of secretly reading a teen’s...