Sibling Fights: When to Step In (and When to Stay Out)

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1. 

   E164 · 9 Oct 2026 · 40 min

   Is Gentle Parenting Making Kids Run the Show?

   Gentle parenting turned permissive? Somewhere between "because I said so" and "is it okay if we go to bed now?", many well-meaning parents lost their footing. In this episode of Raising Good Humans, Dr. Siggie and Dr. Aliza are answering listener questions to unpack how gentle parenting can quietly slide into permissive parenting, and why children actually feel safer when a parent leads with structure, warmth, and clear boundaries. What you’ll learn: - Why "all feelings are welcome, all behaviors are not" works better than punishment when your child hits a sibling - The problem with letting…

2. 

   E163 · 2 Oct 2026 · 47 min

   The Homework Episode for Overwhelmed Parents

   Does homework time in your house end in tears, arguments, or a kid still awake at midnight? In this episode, Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with Dr. Ellen Braaten, founding director of the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. Together they unpack why homework has become such a point of tension in families, why more homework isn't actually better for kids, and how too much of it can quietly chip away at sleep, motivation, and mental health, whether your child is in second grade or…

3. 

   E162 · 25 Sep 2026 · 47 min

   How to Help Your Child Make Friends (and Be a Good One)

   Does your kid actually know how to be a good friend — or are they just hoping the right friends find them? In this episode, Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with Sissy Goff and David Thomas, therapists at Daystar Counseling in Nashville, hosts of the Raising Boys and Girls podcast, and New York Times bestselling authors of Capable. Together they unpack why the back-to-school season triggers so much social anxiety in kids, and why shifting the focus from "how do I find friends" to "how do I be a good friend" is one of the most powerful reframes parents can offer, whether their child is walking…

4. 

   E160 · 11 Sep 2026 · 38 min

   Dr. Shefali: The Hormones Behind First Love, Heartbreak, and Hookup Culture

   Why does a teenage breakup feel like the end of the world for girls, but barely register for boys? Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with Dr. Shefali — clinical psychologist, founder of the conscious parenting movement, and New York Times bestselling author of Raising Conscious Daughters and Raising Conscious Sons — for a conversation that finally explains the biology behind teen dating, heartbreak, and hookup culture. From the surge of estrogen and oxytocin that wires girls to bond instantly, to the testosterone spike that turns boys into what Dr. Shefali calls "novelty seekers," this episode…

5. 

   E159 · 4 Sep 2026 · 48 min

   Angela Duckworth on the Hidden Forces Shaping Your Kid's Behavior

   Is your child's behavior really about who they are — or is it about where you've put them? In this episode, Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with Dr. Angela Duckworth, bestselling author of Grit, MacArthur "Genius" Grant winner, and University of Pennsylvania psychologist, to unpack her powerful new book, Situated. Together they explore why the "fundamental attribution error" causes so many parents to blame a child's character when the real culprit is the situation around them — and why editing that situation, from where you keep your phone to which zip code you live in, is one of the most…

6. 

   E158 · 28 Aug 2026 · 44 min

   Were 'Covid Kids' Really Damaged? What 17 New Studies Show

   Blaming your kid's attention span on Covid? In this episode, Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with Georgetown Professor and developmental psychologist, Dr. Anna Johnson, to unpack a landmark special section of 17 longitudinal studies published in Child Development, the field's top journal. Together they walk through what parents have been told about "Covid kids" versus what the actual research shows about learning loss, executive functioning, and child mental health five years later. What you’ll learn: ● Why longitudinal research tells a different story than the "learning loss" headlines ● Which…

7. 

   E157 · 21 Aug 2026 · 30 min

   Here's the Talk to Have Before Your Teen's First Party

   Sending your teen to their first party? In this solo episode, developmental psychologist Dr. Aliza Pressman walks parents through exactly how to talk to teenagers about parties before the car ride there. From the alcohol and drug conversation to setting a code word and exit plan, this episode is a practical guide for parenting teenagers through one of the most anxiety-provoking adolescent milestones. What you’ll learn: ● Curiosity-first scripts for the "parties, alcohol, and drugs" conversation with your teenager ● Setting a code word and no-questions-asked exit plan for teen safety ● How to…

8. 

   E156 · 14 Aug 2026 · 46 min

   Picky Eating & Food Guilt with Jennifer Anderson

   Is your child's relationship with food already shaped by guilt, fear, or "good food/bad food" rules — even before they can talk? Registered dietitian Jennifer Anderson, founder of Kids Eat in Color, joins Dr. Aliza Pressman to unpack "embodied independence" — the idea that raising confident eaters means combining a healthy relationship with food and the practical skills to take care of one's body. This is a must-listen for any parent trying to raise a healthy eater without passing down diet culture baggage. What you’ll learn: Why labeling foods "good" or "bad" creates food rules, guilt, and…