Get on Their Turf with Dr. Suzanne Simpson

Is your teenager is struggling, and are you done waiting for a broken system to catch up? In this episode, I sit down with Chris Coulter, a father who lost his 14-year-old daughter Maddie to suicide in 2015. Chris learned the hard way where the public mental health system failed his family, and turned that knowledge into action. He built MindGrade to hold schools accountable for student mental health, and MentorWell to give teenagers the kind of consistent adult presence many of them are miss...

An Honest Talk About Domestic Violence and Boys with Eugene Z. Bertrand Domestic violence against males is real and often invisible. In this powerful conversation, best selling author Eugene Bertrand discusses the hidden epidemic of domestic and intimate partner violence against boys, teens, and men. Eugene shares his personal experience as a survivor, how childhood trauma shapes self-worth, and why so many men stay silent due to stigma, shame, and cultural expectations around masculinity. Th...

Why do teenagers shut down, pull away, or get angry with the people who love them most? In this episode, Dr. Suzanne Simpson shares research from inside a youth psychiatric unit and the honest truths teens told her about what they need from the adults in their lives. Their answers were simple and powerful: support, understanding, and care. If your teen is struggling with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, loneliness, or disconnection, this conversation will help you understand what is happening un...

How to Reconnect With Your Child: Get on Their Turf and Build Trust AgainWhen your child feels distant, defiant, or disconnected, it can leave you feeling invisible at home. In this episode, Dr Suzanne Simpson shares a practical way to rebuild trust by getting on your child’s turf, meeting them where they are, and leading with presence. This is not about control or fixing, it is about showing up on purpose so your child feels seen, valued, and safe. Follow Dr Suzanne Instagram: @drsuzannesim...

When you’re not OK, your kids don’t need perfection – they need your presence. In this conversation with Steve Phillip of The Jordan Legacy, we talk about how to be honest with your kids on hard days, how to listen first, and how vulnerability at home strengthens attachment, safety, and trust. Steve shares Jordan’s story, the warning signs he wishes he had recognized sooner, and practical ways families can talk about mental health; including how to name suicide responsibly and age-appropriat...

When Tears Meet Hope: Parenting Through Unexpected Challenges This episode is for every parent who sobbed when their child was born. When fear met hope in the delivery room, everything shifted. Michael Ray opens up about the overwhelming moment when his daughter, born with Down syndrome, arrived. What began in tears became a journey of unexpected resilience, joy, and profound connection—proof that hope can be found even in the most fragile beginnings. In this episode, you'll discover: • How ...

The Truth About Parenting and Kids’ Mental Health: Why It Starts at Home with Nicole Runyon #drsuzannesimpson #getontheirturf Is it really fair to say that mental health starts at home? Nicole Runyon says yes—and more importantly, she says it’s where healing begins. In this episode, Nicole and I unpack one of the most debated truths in parenting: the home is where kids learn safety, love, and self-worth. But in a world that often outsources mental health to schools, professionals, and ...

Parenting a Nonverbal Child with Down Syndrome | A Smile That Changed Everything #downsyndromeawareness #parentingjourney #specialneedsparenting What does it mean to hear “I love you” without words? That question shaped my entire journey as a father. My daughter Maddie was born with Down syndrome and is nonverbal, yet she taught me more about love than words ever could. Her smile became our unspoken language, leading me to start the Smile Project—a mission to spread authentic joy and connect...