150: What Teens Wish Their Parents Knew: A Conversation with Youth Expert Mimi Loftus
Release Date: 04/23/2025
Shine History: Tourette’s, Tic Tacs, and Tenacity: How Ashley Hadley Shines Bright
What's Your Shine?
Join Dr. Shine on this illuminating episode of What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast as she welcomes Ashley Hadley—longtime educator, leader, and relationship-builder whose passion for guiding youth is matched only by her deep commitment to listening with intention. With a career rooted in public education and mentorship, Ashley brings a grounded, heartfelt perspective on what it means to truly see students—especially those on the margins. In this rich conversation, she shares how small gestures of kindness and curiosity can open the door to life-changing relationships, and how her own...
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156: From Curiosity to Calling: How Asking Better Questions Changes Lives with Cherie Morgan
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Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for an energizing conversation with Cherie Morgan, the powerhouse behind transformative partnerships at House of Shine. In this inspiring episode, Cherie shares how a lifetime of servant leadership, corporate excellence, and relentless curiosity led her to discover the joy of connecting mission-driven organizations to the resources they need most. Cherie sheds light on how ordinary relationships can spark extraordinary impact—and why saying “yes” to one simple invitation can change the trajectory of your life. Through her work in...
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155: “Feeding the Soul: The Power of Meals, Community, and Care with Courtney Johnson
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Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for an inspiring conversation with Courtney Johnson, founder of Culinary Care—a nonprofit redefining how we support cancer patients through the power of food and community. In this heartfelt episode, Courtney shares how the loss of her father to cancer sparked her mission to deliver made-to-order meals to patients during treatment, ensuring no one faces chemotherapy on an empty stomach. Discover how Culinary Care is about far more than meal delivery. As Courtney puts it, “We are a community organization—and the way that we bring...
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154: Building Trust, Serving All: Assistant Chief Graves on Policing with Purpose
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Join us for an insightful episode of What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast as Dr. Shine sits down with Chief Graves of the Grapevine Police Department to explore what it means to lead with heart, humility, and hope in modern law enforcement. With decades of experience, Chief Graves brings wisdom, warmth, and clarity to a profession often misunderstood. “When someone calls 911, they’re not calling to complain—they’re calling because they need help,” she shares. “Our job is to show up ready to serve, with empathy and excellence.” This episode goes beyond policies and procedures...
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153: Designing Connection: Brad Holley on Creativity, Community, and the Power of Outdoor Space
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Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for a captivating conversation with Brad Holley—visionary outdoor designer, creative mind behind Undesign, and winner of the prestigious Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge. In this episode, Brad shares the heart behind his award-winning outdoor environments, which are far more than luxury backyards—they’re places where people gather, celebrate, and grow. He also opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, learning the power of mentorship, and how design can shape behavior and build community. But that’s not all—Brad dives...
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152: Why Boredom Matters: Ashlynn McKay on Screens, Storytelling, and Mental Health
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Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for a powerful and practical conversation with content creator and former educator Ashlynn McKay, as she explores the crisis facing our kids: a silent decline in creativity, connection, and mental health. In this episode, Ashlynn draws from her experience as both a teacher and digital storyteller to unpack what we’re losing in an increasingly screen-centered world—and what we can reclaim. From the pressure cooker of modern childhood in North Texas to the classroom policies that unintentionally squash imagination, Ashlynn shares...
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151: Transforming Your Life One Page at a Time: Klint Guerry on Journaling, Self-Disruption, and Building a Legacy
What's Your Shine?
Join Dr. Shine for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation with Klint Guerry—seasoned executive, author, leadership coach, and the creative mind behind A Guide to Self-Disruption and The Guerry Notebook. As one of the featured contributors to House of Shine’s journaling exhibit, Klint shares how a simple blank notebook—and a desire to rewrite his story—changed the trajectory of his life forever. In this episode, Klint opens up about his journey from a chaotic, unstable childhood to becoming a purpose-driven leader overseeing thousands. He credits journaling as the single most...
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150: What Teens Wish Their Parents Knew: A Conversation with Youth Expert Mimi Loftus
What's Your Shine?
Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for a heartfelt, eye-opening conversation with Mimi Loftus, House of Shine’s go-to youth expert and self-proclaimed “teen whisperer.” In this deeply relatable episode, Mimi shares powerful insights from real teens about what they wish their parents knew—and how adults can better connect with the young people in their lives. Based on anonymous feedback Mimi gathered directly from adolescents, this episode breaks down three core themes that keep showing up: teens want to be understood, not “fixed”; they need their interests...
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149: Finding Yourself Between the Pages: Travel Journaling with Tien Tran
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Join Dr. Shine on this week’s episode of What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for a heartfelt, wanderlust-filled conversation with Tien Tran—global citizen, intentional traveler, and one of the featured journalers in our GROW: Journaling Through the Seasons exhibit at House of Shine. Inspired by The Diary of Anne Frank at age 11, Tien picked up his first journal—a Harry Potter notebook—just weeks before returning to Vietnam for the first time since childhood. That moment sparked a journaling journey that now spans 43 journals, 10 countries, and six continents. In this episode, Tien...
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148: Unlocking Creativity Through Junk Journaling with Peggy Sue Robinson
What's Your Shine?
Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation with Peggy Sue Robinson—longtime friend of the House of Shine, resident creative, and passionate junk journaler. In this joyful episode, Peggy Sue shares her journey from “lurker” on the original House of Shine blog to creative contributor whose influence can be felt throughout our museum space. Together, they explore the evolution of journaling as a practice—not just as a place to write thoughts, but as a powerful form of self-expression. Peggy Sue introduces us to the art of...
info_outlineJoin Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for a heartfelt, eye-opening conversation with Mimi Loftus, House of Shine’s go-to youth expert and self-proclaimed “teen whisperer.” In this deeply relatable episode, Mimi shares powerful insights from real teens about what they wish their parents knew—and how adults can better connect with the young people in their lives.
Based on anonymous feedback Mimi gathered directly from adolescents, this episode breaks down three core themes that keep showing up: teens want to be understood, not “fixed”; they need their interests respected; and they long to feel safe opening up without judgment or comparison.
With humor, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom, Mimi and Dr. Shine unpack the nuance of parenting through adolescence—including how good intentions can unintentionally feel invasive, and why listening might be the most powerful parenting tool of all.
Key Topics:
Why your teen’s interests matter—even when they change
How to show support without hijacking their passions
The emotional toll of comparison (including to siblings or yourself)
What it means to create “safe space” for teens to open up
Why letting go of the need to always teach or solve can actually deepen your connection
Whether you're parenting a teen, mentoring one, or simply trying to understand the next generation, this episode offers practical, compassionate advice for showing up with more empathy, curiosity, and trust.