Best Cool Mom Picks Podcasts (2024)

1
A college guidance expert and former admissions officer helps de-stress the application process. Phew! | Ep 301 34:45

3M ago34:45

34:45

It is so tough to navigate the college search and admission process -- emotionally, practically, financially. (Eep!) It completely stressed me out, and I'm a pretty Type B mom. So learn from my mistakes! To kick off a new year of Spawned, we're lucky to be getting super helpful tips from Alyse Levine, one of the foremost college counseling experts …

1
How moms can find some holiday joy for themselves: With Margaret Ables | Ep 300 25:34

4M ago25:34

25:34

At the end of such a tough year, we're looking to find all the holiday joy where we can, and make fun for our kids -- but why do moms always seem to be the people behind the fun, and not part of the fun? Liz is joined by Margaret Ables, co-host of the fabulous What Fresh Hell parenting podcast to commiserate, and we're offering smart tips (eg stop …

1
Parenting kids in a gender-nonconforming world: Kate Brookes of Transister | Ep 299 35:34

9M ago35:34

35:34

We all say we want to raise kids who are happy, healthy, and can be their authentic selves. So what happens when your kid is becoming someone who's really different from what we had imagined? That's the story Kate Brookes tells in the wonderful Transister: Raising Twins in a Gender-Bending World. She's incredibly forthcoming, funny, reflective, and…

1
Dr. Devorah Heitner on Keeping Kids Healthy on Social Media | Ep 298 34:06

10M ago34:06

34:06

When the Surgeon General issued his recent advisory on social media and the health of our kids, I knew author, columnist, and adolescent digital media expert Dr. Devorah Heitner would be the perfect person to ask for guidance and reassurance. And wow does she come through! Here, she offers incredibly helpful, specific tips about what we can do as p…

1
Dr. Lisa Damour on the emotional lives of teenagers | Episode 297 27:41

11M ago27:41

27:41

Bestselling author, podcast host, and psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour shares her insights and thoughtful advice on raising emotionally connected and resilient teens and discusses the impetus for her newest book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. Visit Cool Mom Picks for show notes, and follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Learn…

1
Luvvie Ajayi Jones on raising "good troublemakers" | Ep 296 25:58

12M ago25:58

25:58

I have wanted to talk with best-selling author, TED Talk phenom, and "professional troublemaker" Luvvie Ajayi Jones for so long! With the release of her wonderful new children's book, Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess, it's the perfect time. We discuss what it means to make good trouble, tips for talking to kids when they break the rules, and why to…

1
Dr. Ken Ginsburg: The ultimate guide to parenting teens | Episode 295 39:02

1y ago39:02

39:02

One of our all-time favorite guests, Dr. Ken Ginsburg, is back to chat about his newest book, Congrats—You're Having a Teen! and debunk some of the most common myths about parenting teenagers. Dr. Ginsburg's insights and work have changed the way we parent our kids, so let's just say if there's an episode of Spawned to listen to, it's this one. Tha…

1
Michelle Icard: The hard talks we need to have with our kids (and how to have them) | Episode 294 37:32

1y ago37:32

37:32

Author Michelle Icard chats about her book "14 Talks By Age 14," sharing how parents can approach the difficult conversations we know we need to have with our kids. Find Michelle's helpful book, wherever you buy your books. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. And for show notes, visit CoolMomPicks.com. About our sponsor, Ca…

1
Melinda Wenner Moyer: Parenting strategies for raising good kids into great adults | Ep 293 44:06

1y ago44:06

44:06

We all want to raise kind, generous, caring, empathetic kids -- who turn into great adults. So we turned to the perfect guide: Parenting author, science columnist and researcher Melinda Wenner Moyer. She shares so much science-backed data and turns it into parenting strategies, we can all put to use in our own families immediately. We think you'll …

1
Reaching your organizational goals: Sarah-Hart Unger on prioritizing, organizing, and managing time | Ep 292 23:24

1y ago23:24

23:24

Prioritizing and organizing your life, your family schedule, and especially your time is something a lot of moms (like, uh me!) can use help with. Take a listen for some terrific tips from Sarah Hart-Unger, host of Best Laid Plans podcast and co-host of Best of Both Worlds. She shares her genius "nested goals" approach, offers advice for list-makin…

1
Being mixed race in America: A conversation with author Lauren Kung Jessen | Episode 291 36:34

1y ago36:34

36:34

As a mixed-race Chinese American, I've struggled to feel a sense of belonging. I grew up feeling more accepted by the German (white) side of my family. Then, as I got older, I learned more about the Chinese side of my family and felt a connection to the experiences of Asian Americans. Just recently, especially as I was editing my book, A Thousand M…

1
Preserving memories in the 21st century | Spawned Ep 290 25:03

1+ y ago25:03

25:03

With the invention of smartphones (and tablets), keeping track of our digital memories (think photos, videos, scans), has become more difficult than we might have expected. In this episode, David Vaskevitch, CEO of Mylio Photos, shares the challenges that he experienced with digital memory preservation, and how families can make it a whole lot easi…

1
The Best of 2022 } Spawned 289 35:37

1+ y ago35:37

35:37

We've talked to so many incredible guests in 2022 -- film directors, authors, journalists, political pundits, activists. So we thought we'd share some of our favorite quotes and thoughtful advice in this fun look back at what we've learned over the past year here. If there's one you want to hear more about, you're already on your podcast app! Just …

1
Moms need more fun over the holidays! | Ep 288 27:56

1+ y ago27:56

27:56

Moms are so busy trying to make fun for everyone over the holidays, sometimes we forget that we're supposed to be having fun too! How do we do that without adding "have more fun" to our to-do lists? Margaret Ables, co-host of the fabulous What Fresh Hell parenting podcast is joining me to offer smart tips, sweet stories, a lot of laughter, and a lo…

1
Why the sex talk with your kids is more important than ever | Episode 287 37:37

1+ y ago37:37

37:37

We've discussed the sex talk on Spawned a few times, however, if your school district is like mine (and many across the country), they are making sex education an optional, home-taught module. That means, we need to be more invested than ever in ensuring our kids are getting comprehensive sex education. That's what Andrea Brand's new book, “Stop Sw…

1
Why our teens are so darn tired, with author Lisa L. Lewis | Episode 286 39:52

1+ y ago39:52

39:52

Just when I thought I was pretty aware of what I needed to know about teens and sleep, I got my hands on Lisa L. Lewis's book The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teenagers Are So Tired, And How Parents And Schools Can Help Them Thrive and I realized there was so much I didn't know. That was all solidified during this episode. Whether you have teens or…

1
Anya Kamenetz: The impact of Covid on kids - what we know and what we don't yet | Spawned Ep 285 30:55

1+ y ago30:55

30:55

What's been the impact of Covid on kids? On mothers? How about on education? On class division? On our careers? On healthcare? Today I'm welcoming back author and NPR Education Reporter Anya Kamenetz who researched it all and put it into the must-read book The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Kids' Lives....and Where We Go Now. Her fascinating point:…

1
Let's talk about perimenopause, with Dr. Makeba Williams | Episode 284 32:03

1+ y ago32:03

32:03

If you're like Kristen and in the throes of perimenopause, then you're probably wondering why no one talks about it. Well, that's about to change as Kristen chats with Dr. Makeba Williams, a physician who specializes in the healthcare needs of midlife and menopausal women. She answers all of Kristen's burning questions, which might just be yours to…

1
The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care, with Rina Raphael | Spawned 183 31:25

1+ y ago31:25

31:25

I will never think about yoga, supplements, activated charcoal or bath salts the same way after speaking with Rina Raphael, author of the utterly fascinating new book The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care. How did wellness go from a legitimate health need to a $4.4 trillion industry? What's the role of wellne…

1
How to raise media-savvy kids and BS-proof our brains: Dr Seema Yasmin | Ep 282 37:24

1+ y ago37:24

37:24

We don't want our kids to fall for false news, rumors, or disinformation. But how do we teach our kids media literacy when we can't even keep up with all the social media apps? Journalist, professor, and UCLA/Stanford professor Dr. Seema Yasmin joins Liz to talk about her incredibly engaging, very important new YA Handbook, "What the Fact?!: Findin…

1
Developing healthy eating habits and positive food relationships with our tweens and teens, with Nicole Cruz, RD | Episode 281 49:02

1+ y ago49:02

49:02

As parents, one of the most challenging parts of raising kids is feeding them. It's especially hard if you have your own issues with body image and food, like many Gen X parents do. Thankfully, experts like Nicole Cruz, a registered dietitian nutritionist, and mom of three can really help. Her intuitive eating and non-diet approach to food felt rev…

1
The world needs funny women. With Wendi Aarons. | Ep 280 35:44

1+ y ago35:44

35:44

You wouldn't think in 2022 that an author would have to fight to keep a female protagonist in a book, and yet that's just what happened to award-winning humorist Wendi Aarons when she first pitched her middle-grade book, Ginger Mancino: Kid Comedian. (Spoiler: It got published, Ginger is indeed a girl, and it's wonderful.) Wendi joins Liz to talk a…

1
How our relationship with mobile phones has changed (and changed us) | Spawned Ep 279 35:14

2y ago35:14

35:14

Since I got my first smartphone back in 2006, my relationship with my phone has certainly changed my life. It's also changed how I function as a person in this world, for better and for worse. Turns out, I'm not the only one, which is why I was so excited to chat with Emmy-award-winning journalist, and host of the new Mobile Diaries podcast from T-…

1
How to get into college: Invaluable tips and fascinating insights from Ned Johnson | Ep 278 44:19

2y ago44:19

44:19

Author, educator, and Prep Matters founder Ned Johnson joins Liz once again to talk us through -- or talk us down from -- the college application process. And yes, I mean parents! You'll appreciate his thoughtful insight on the whole process, "test optional" schools, financial aid, the pitfalls and benefits of stress, the impact of Covid, how Black…

1
Helping kids foster positive relationships and learn effective communication, with author Catherine Newman | Episode 277 31:53

2y ago31:53

31:53

By Cool Mom Picks

1
Roo Powell of Undercover Underage on her experience catching online child predators | Ep 276 33:17

2y ago33:17

33:17

By Cool Mom Picks

1
Are moms okay? : Insight from Jessica Grose, NY Times Parenting Editor 33:13

2y ago33:13

33:13

By Cool Mom Picks

1
The best digital photo organization tips EVER, with Casey von Stein aka Miss Freddy | Episode 274 42:16

2y ago42:16

42:16

By Cool Mom Picks

1
The ultimate self-care episode with author and podcast host, Kate Spencer | Episode 273 41:16

2y ago41:16

41:16

Who better to talk about self-care with than the ultimate self-care expert, Kate Spencer. You probably know her as the co-host of the super-popular podcast Forever 35. But she recently released her first rom-com novel, In a New York Minute. On this episode, Kate talks about self-care, tackles a common complaint about rom-coms, and shares her curren…

1
How do you figure out "What's next for me?" with Katherine Goldstein | Ep 272 28:12

2y ago28:12

28:12

This week, Liz is so happy to be speaking (again!) with award-winning journalist and The Double Shift founder Katherine Goldstein, about her recent HuffPost article, There's a Coach for That. It lead Katherine to research the difference alllll the many kinds of coaches out there, and today she's explaining what different coaches do, who they can he…

1
How to talk to kids about Ukraine: Melinda Wenner Moyer | Ep 271 32:30

2y ago32:30

32:30

So many parents are wondering how to have conversations with kids -- of all ages -- about the increasingly frightening attack on Ukraine. We want our kids to be informed, but we don't want to overwhelm them with anxiety and fear. So Liz is chatting once again with the wonderful journalist/author Melinda Wenner Moyer for some helpful advice. We're e…

1
Why moms need to tell their stories, with author Zibby Owens | Episode 270 32:11

2y ago32:11

32:11

It was the power of storytelling that connected Liz and me back almost 17 years ago, and it's still the lifeline for many parents, looking for community and commiseration in their parenting journey. This week, we're chatting with author and podcaster Zibby Owens about her newest anthology, Moms Don't Have Time to Have Kids, and why our stories matt…

1
Gen Z: They're not snowflakes, they're warriors, with John Della Volpe | Ep 269 30:38

2y ago30:38

30:38

Right now, the world is a pretty terrifying place, but we think you'll find a lot of reason for hope in this interview with John Della Volpe. Especially if you're raising a tween or teen right now -- or a kid who will be one soon. John is a notable expert on data around Gen Z and youth movements, the Director of Polling at Harvard's Kennedy School,…

1
Destigmatizing Postpartum Depression: "A Mouthful of Air" director/producer Amy L Koppelman 30:41

2y ago30:41

30:41

This week, Liz chats with Amy L. Koppelman, writer, director and producer of the new film A Mouthful of Air, starring Amanda Seyfried and Finn Witrock. It's based on on Amy's critically acclaimed novel inspired by her own struggles with postpartum depression 20 years ago. Join us for a thoughtful discussion about issues around women and mental heal…

1
How to be an adult, with author Julie Lythcott-Haims | Episode 267 41:42

2y ago41:42

41:42

In this episode, we're chatting with New York Times bestselling author Julie Lythcott-Haims about her new book Your Turn: How to Be an Adult. You might know Julie from her first book, "How to Raise an Adult," which was a New York Times bestseller and was the antidote to overparenting culture. Thankfully, she's back with a sort of follow-up to that …

1
What you need to know about executive function skills in kids | Episode 266 35:14

2y ago35:14

35:14

We've been so grateful to our recent expert Spawned guests who have offered their help in navigating these last two years with our kids. And this week's expert, Mara Koffmann, is no exception. She shares her expertise from years working with kids and families as co-founder of Brain Trust Tutors, especially in the area of executive function skills. …

1
Liz + Kristen's 10 favorite holiday gifts this year | Ep 265 29:56

2+ y ago29:56

29:56

As we round out the year (yes we made it, phew) we're keeping things light with an entire COOL PICKS EPISODE. We're sharing 10 of our favorite holiday gifts that we recommended across our sites this year, but if you know us, we've always got a few more we sneak in! Take a listen, don't stress the gifts (seriously), shop local when you can, find tim…

1
Lessons in gratitude, for the holidays and every day | Episode 264 42:10

2+ y ago42:10

42:10

As Liz and I try to keep our heads afloat this holiday season, we decided to take a week off and instead, re-share a timely episode with a message we all need right now. A couple of years ago, I interviewed our friend, author Nancy Davis Kho, about her book The Thank You Project. This gratitude project changed her life, and well, with all that's ha…

1
The best ever advice for better parent-child communication. | Ep 263 48:19

2+ y ago48:19

48:19

This interview with William Stixrud Ph.D. and Ned Johnson may be one of the most helpful episodes we've ever run, and if you've ever struggled to help your child manage any kind of problem at all, we think you'll agree. They're the best-selling co-authors ofThe Self-Driven Child, and we're talking about advice from their brand new book, What Do You…

1
Pandemic fails, data-driven decision making, and more: A lively chat with Emily Oster | Episode 262 33:44

2+ y ago33:44

33:44

We originally had researcher and author Emily Oster on the show to chat about her book, The Family Firm, which is a helpful guidebook for parents that offers a smart method for making decisions (because as parents, we make a lot of them). However, we couldn't have her on and not chat about some of the research she has done about opening the schools…

1
Kids, gratitude and the holidays | Ep 261 32:02

2+ y ago32:02

32:02

This time of year, when we're aware of those who have so much and those who don't, we wanted to have a candid, frank conversation about kids and gratitude during the holiday season. This is a great talk about what we can do to raise kids who value gratitude, practice empathy, and see the joy in giving back. We hope you love it too. Much thanks to o…

1
Kids and the Covid-19 vaccine: Dr. Preeti Parikh answers parents' top questions | Ep 261 24:47

2+ y ago24:47

24:47

We're so happy to be joined by a top NYC pediatrician, Dr. Preeti Parikh, to answer parents' biggest questions about the Covid-19 vaccine and kids 5-11 so you can make the best health decisions for your family. We think you'll get a lot from her thoughtful, thorough answers -- we even learned a few things too! This episode is graciously brought to …

1
The benefits of Minecraft for kids, with author Delilah Dawson | Episode 259 32:16

2+ y ago32:16

32:16

If your kids are like ours, they're obsessed with Minecraft, which is why were so excited to chat with author Delilah Dawson, whose new book Minecraft Mobsquad is all about... Minecraft! She's the perfect person to share why Minecraft can be a really positive experience with kids. And as always, we share our Cool Picks of the Week. Thanks to our sp…

1
How to work for change in the world, without losing your joy, with Karen Walrond | Episode 258 43:25

2+ y ago43:25

43:25

We know that over the last few years in particular, many of us have felt extra activated to help make change in the world. But if we're honest, being an activist can be exhausting and soul sucking. Well, our good friend and author Karen Walrond has a whole lot to share about this exact issue, and what we can do about it. She's chatting about her ne…

1
Raising good digital citizens with Diana Graber | Ep 257 32:44

2+ y ago32:44

32:44

Ever wondered about the 5 principles of being a good digital citizen? Well this week we're talking to Diana Graber, founder of CyberWise and author of Raising Humans in a Digital World: Helping Kids Build a Healthy Relationship with Technology. As you might have guessed.... we talk through how we can raise our kids to use digital tools safely, resp…

1
Why we're so excited about Hello, Star, the most anticipated children's book of the fall | Episode 256 33:05

2+ y ago33:05

33:05

Considering our kids are well beyond picture book age, it might seem odd that we're so excited about a picture book. (Okay, okay, so Kristen does have one of her own coming out in late 2023, but still). Hello, Star, by author Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic and illustrator Vashti Harrison is a wonder to behold, and how lucky are we that they came by Spaw…

1
Jenny Lawson on depression, anxiety, and why we have to talk about it | Ep 255 40:03

2+ y ago40:03

40:03

This week we're talking to Jenny Lawson. and we can't even believe we hadn't done it before! The best-selling author, humorist, new indie bookstore owner, and all around amazing human is joining us in time for National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month for a candid discussion about...well depression. And anxiety. And other mental health …

1
Parenting LGBTQ+ kids with Kristin Russo | Ep 254 34:27

2+ y ago34:27

34:27

For ages, we've wanted to cover the topic of raising LGBTQ+ kids with kindness, compassion, understanding... and we have the absolute perfect guest for that: Kristin Russo, the honest, hilarious and incredibly helpful author of This is a Book for for Parents of Gay Kids. So basically the 3 H's. We know you'll love this chat, which is like an entert…

1
How to make STEM more accessible to girls, with aerospace engineer Keji Sojobi | Episode 253 32:32

2+ y ago32:32

32:32

It's a big Spawned milestone as we welcome our first ever aerospace engineer, Keji Sojobi, who chats about her work with the new Netflix show, Ada Twist, Scientist. She shares how she's working hard to make STEM more accessible to girls, particularly girls of color. And of course, we close out our show with our Cool Picks of the Week. You can find …

1
Instagram, girls, and body image: What parents need to know | Spawned Episode 252 38:45

2+ y ago38:45

38:45

We parents feel the pressure of social media, so it's no surprise that our kids are feeling it too. And according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, it's young women and the effect of Instagram on their body image that's a huge problem that Facebook is not talking about. So... we are! We chat about the problem, but better, offer possible solu…

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