The Whole Parent Podcast

In this Father’s Day conversation, we unpack the hidden mental health struggles of modern fatherhood, from postpartum anxiety in dads to feeling isolated, shut out, or unsure how to bond with your baby. If you’ve ever felt like parenting changed your identity, strained your relationship, or left you quietly struggling while everyone focused on the baby, this episode will hit home. Jon sits down with Kevin Seldon — founder of Dad Supporting Dads and author of The DILF Handbook — to talk about ...

In this conversation with Dr. Ross Greene, we unpack why so many kids struggle with frustration, big emotions, and power struggles… and why the usual parenting advice often makes things worse. If you’ve ever wondered why your child explodes over small things, refuses to cooperate, or seems overwhelmed by everyday expectations, this episode will completely shift how you see challenging behavior. We talk about toddler tantrums, emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, ADHD, anxiety, school ...

A viral clip says that telling your older child to “help your sister” damages both kids. I get why that message spreads fast, especially if you grew up as the oldest and felt like too much landed on your shoulders. But developmental psychology is more nuanced than a scroll-stopping soundbite, and mixing up parentification with age-appropriate help can leave parents stuck and anxious about every request they make. I break down what the research actually supports: yes, it can be unhealthy when...

If your toddler refuses to listen, has big meltdowns after screens, or seems obsessed with “just one more,” this video will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the behavior. We break down how dopamine drives your child’s need for more—not because they love it, but because their brain is being pulled into a loop. You’ll learn how this affects emotional regulation, why transitions feel so explosive, and what to do instead of constant limiting, negotiating, or power struggles. Wha...

Why some kids stop asking questions (and what to do at home to protect their curiosity). If your child seems disengaged, says “I’m not good at this,” or melts down over learning, it’s easy to assume it’s about attention, behavior, or motivation. But often, what looks like defiance or lack of focus is actually a loss of curiosity. In this video, we break down what’s happening in your child’s brain when learning becomes about performance instead of exploration—and how that shift can lead to res...

Why kids stop listening to parents (and how to rebuild connection without power struggles or punishment). If your child suddenly seems more influenced by friends, more sensitive to what others think, or harder to reach at home, you’re not imagining it. This video breaks down what’s actually happening beneath the surface when kids become more peer-focused, why it can lead to emotional instability, defiance, or withdrawal, and how to gently re-anchor your relationship without forcing control. I...

If your child jumps from toy to toy, asks for screens, or says “I’m bored” all day, this might be the real reason If your toddler or preschooler seems overwhelmed, constantly switching activities, refusing to play independently, or needing you to step in all the time, it’s easy to assume they need more stimulation. But often, the opposite is true. Too many toys can lead to shorter attention spans, more meltdowns, and less meaningful play. In this video, we break down what’s actually happening...

If your child resists helping, makes a bigger mess, or melts down during cleanup—this changes how you’ll see it. If you’ve ever thought “it’s just faster if I do it myself,” you’re not alone. When your toddler refuses to listen, turns simple tasks into chaos, or has a meltdown over cleaning up, it can feel pointless to even try. But what looks like small, frustrating moments—spilled food, ignored requests, messy “helping”—are actually shaping your child’s emotional regulation, confidence, and...

If your 3–5 year old refuses to listen, tests every rule, and melts down when you get stricter… this is what’s actually going on... If you feel like you’re saying the same thing 20 times a day—“stop jumping,” “come here,” “we’re leaving”—and your child still pushes back, this video will help you understand why. What looks like defiance or disrespect is actually a normal part of brain development, especially in toddlers and preschoolers. We’ll break down what’s happening beneath the behavior (...

In this conversation, Jon Fogel and Thais Gibson delve into the complexities of attachment styles and their impact on relationships and parenting. Thais shares her personal journey from experiencing a fearful avoidant attachment style to understanding and teaching about attachment theory. They discuss the dynamics of different attachment styles, how they manifest in relationships, and the importance of self-awareness and emotional regulation. Thais provides practical tools for rewiring attach...

In this episode, Jon slows down one of the most familiar parenting moments—“You need to say you’re sorry”—and asks what we’re actually teaching when we force an apology. Rather than treating “sorry” as proof of character or accountability, he explores what’s happening in a child’s brain when adults are tense, watching, and waiting for the right words. The episode reframes apologies not as a demand, but as one small part of repair, shifting the focus from appeasing adults to caring for the per...

This episode is for the parent quietly watching from the sidelines, wondering if their child is falling behind socially—or if they’re the only one who seems worried about it. We step into those moments where your kid hangs back, plays alone, gravitates toward adults, or misses social cues, and we slow the whole story down. Instead of rushing to labels or fixes, this conversation reframes social “lag” as temperament, context, and skill development unfolding on its own timeline. We explore how ...

In this episode, Jon sits with one of the most charged moments in parenting—the car door open, practice about to start, and a child saying, “I don’t want to do this anymore.” Through personal story and real parent questions, he explores why quitting is rarely about laziness or lack of grit, but about how kids experience overwhelm, unfairness, and frustration in their bodies. Parents will walk away with a steadier way to tell the difference between healthy discomfort and too much, language for...