Libsyn Directory

Ep. 105 [Revisited] - Gender, Emotion and Perfectionism: A conversation with Lisa Damour

Release Date: 08/13/2025

Ep. 169 - Self-Care Beyond A Trip To The Spa

Parenting Understood

Michelle and Erin recorded a podcast episode discussing emotional exhaustion and burnout in parenting, focusing on the importance of mom friendships and community support. They explored how meaningful connections with other parents can provide validation, reduce stress, and benefit both parents and children, particularly during adolescence when multiple attachment figures become important. The conversation covered practical strategies for building these friendships, including starting small and being patient with the process, while also addressing how digital technology has impacted both...

Ep. 168 - Building Better Behavior Through Play with Dr. Kim

Parenting Understood

We welcome back Dr. Kim Van Dusen to Parenting Understood. Dr. Kim discusses her newly released parenting book centered on creative, play-based strategies for building better behavior and deeper connection with children, primarily targeting parents, caregivers, coaches, and teachers of kids between the ages of 3 and 10. The book weaves together three evidence-based frameworks — including solution-focused therapy and positive behavior interventions — into what the author describes as a "trifecta" for more peaceful, connected parenting. A core message throughout is that children...

Ep. 20 [Revisited] - Making Parental Decisions through Data with Professor Emily Oster

Parenting Understood

We are thrilled to be re-airing our episode with Emily Oster on making parenting decisions through data. Emily is a Professor of Economics at Brown University and the author of Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm. She holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard. Prior to being at Brown she was on the faculty at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Emily’s books analyze the data behind choices on parenting and pregnancy. She is also founder and CEO of Parent Data, which provides information for parents, people who want to be parents, or anyone who likes to do their...

Ep. 37 [Revisited] - Utilizing Journalism for Parenting with Melinda Wenner Moyer

Parenting Understood

In today’s episode, we are excited to be joined by Melinda Wenner Moyer. Melinda Wenner Moyer is a contributing editor at Scientific American magazine and a regular contributor to The New York Times, Washington Post, and other national magazines and newspapers. She is a faculty member in the Science, Health & Environmental Reporting program at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. Her first book, How To Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes, was published in July 2021 by J.P. Putnam’s Sons. We speak with Melinda on her research, publications, and being a mother. We also...

Ep. 167 - The Lifelong Anchor: Navigating the Messy Reality of Attachment

Parenting Understood

In this episode, after a brief hiatus, we reunite to dive deep into a topic that resonates both professionally and personally: attachment. While often discussed as a phenomenon of early infancy, we explore how attachment serves as a lifelong regulatory system. We discuss the "messy" reality of applying developmental theories to real-world parenting, the challenge of maintaining a "secure base" while fostering autonomy in adolescence, and how attachment styles are fluid and capable of change.

Ep. 133 [Revisited] - Dr. Niobe Way: Rebels with a Cause

Parenting Understood

In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Niobe Way about her new book, Rebels with a Cause, which expands on her earlier work about boys and friendships. Niobe explores "boy culture," a term she uses to describe the privileging of stereotypically masculine qualities over feminine ones. As she discusses, this creates a crisis of connection for everyone, not just boys and men. Niobe further emphasizes that "hard" and "soft" skills are equally important for being a full human, and should stop being gendered. She also discusses how this cultural imbalance regarding skills affects...

Ep. 70 [Revisited] - Motherhood in America with Jessica Grose

Parenting Understood

We are thrilled to be joined in our first episode of the New Year by Jessica Grose. Jessica is an opinion writer at The New York Times who writes a popular newsletter on parenting. Jessica was the founding editor of Lenny, the email newsletter and website. She also writes about women’s health, culture, politics and grizzly bears. She was named one of LinkedIn’s Next Wave top professionals 35 and under in 2016 and a Glamour “Game Changer” in 2020 for her coverage of parenting in the pandemic. She is the author of the novels Soulmates and Sad Desk...

Ep. 166 - Navigating the parenthood transition: A conversation with Jessica Hill of the Parent Collective

Parenting Understood

In this episode of Parenting Understood, we speak with Jessica Hill, founder of The Parent Collective, to discuss the vital yet often neglected postpartum period. Jessica highlights the isolation many new parents face and emphasizes the importance of building a support network before the baby arrives, rather than waiting for the chaotic fourth trimester. We explore practical strategies for preparation, specifically the need for honest partner communication regarding the division of labor to prevent future resentment. Jessica advocates for establishing a "system" early on so both parents...

Ep. 165 - Navigating Online Play with Sony Interactive’s Sean Whitcomb

Parenting Understood

In this episode of Parenting Understood, we speak with Sean Whitcomb from Sony Interactive Entertainment about supporting children in safe and balanced online play. Sean discusses PlayStation’s “safe and inclusive by design” philosophy, emphasizing connection over control through tools like the PlayStation Family App. We explore how gaming may foster real friendships, teach digital responsibility, and strengthen family relationships. Sean also addresses moderation, screen time, and evolving play habits across ages. For more information please visit and .

Ep. 164 - Flourishing as a preemie parent: A conversation with Jodi Klaristenfeld

Parenting Understood

In this episode of Parenting Understood, we speak with Jodi, founder of Flrrish, about her journey as a NICU mom after her daughter was born at 28 weeks. Jodi shares the shock, fear, and identity shifts that followed her daughter's early arrival, as well as the loneliness many NICU parents experience. She explains how these challenges inspired her to support other preemie families through coaching, community, and guidance navigating early intervention services. Lastly, we discuss parental mental health, the stigma around seeking help, and the importance of meeting children—and...

More Episodes

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Damour about the emotional lives of teenagers. We pay especial attention to the pressures that both genders feel yet how those may be manifested differently across genders, at times. Dr. Damour unpacks parent-child relationships, especially the mother-daughter relationship, and the role of identification in that relationship as girls mature. We also discuss how research methods may not always allow for the identification of areas of concern for boys.

Dr. Lisa Damour is the author of three New York Times best sellers: Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. She co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Dr. Damour is also a regular contributor to The New York Times and CBS News.

Dr. Damour serves as a Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University and has written numerous academic papers, chapters, and books related to education and child development. She maintains a clinical practice and also speaks to schools, professional organizations, and corporate groups around the world on the topics of child and adolescent development, family mental health, and adult well-being.

Dr. Damour graduated with honors from Yale University and worked for the Yale Child Study Center before earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Michigan. She has been a fellow at Yale’s Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy and the University of Michigan’s Power Foundation. She and her husband are the proud parents of two daughters.

To learn more about Dr. Damour and her work please visit https://drlisadamour.com/ and follow her on instagram @lisa.damour

TOPICS