The Self-Driven Child

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Talep

Maybe it wasn’t all about the cell phones after all. In this episode, I’m joined by eminent psychologist, researcher, and author Dr. Peter Gray to explore what may really be driving the decline in children’s mental health. While smartphones and social media often take center stage in conversations …

All of us worry about the potentially negative impacts of technology. We worry our kids are online too much, that social media is disrupting their sleep, academics, mental health, and relationships—and frankly, taking away good time outdoors. And it doesn’t feel good to have the same fight over scr…

What do teens really need to grow into confident, capable adults? In this episode, I sit down with two remarkable young advocates—Rona Majumder and Faris Smith—to explore why today's teens are asking for more autonomy, more trust, and more places where they can simply exist. Together, we unpac…

What happens when academic pressure becomes so intense that cheating starts to feel normal? In this conversation, I’m joined by student journalists Ethan Chan and Meryem Orazova from Palo Alto High School’s award-winning newspaper, The Campanile. Their investigation into academic dishonesty uncover…

Dr. David Yeager joins me for a fascinating conversation about what really motivates adolescents — and why so many adults misunderstand teenage behavior in the first place. Drawing from his groundbreaking book 10 to 25, David explains why teens aren’t “lazy” or irrational at all. They’re deeply mot…

In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Stephanie Malia Krauss to unpack what it really means to help our kids—and ourselves—not just survive, but truly thrive in today’s world. We dig into the idea that modern life isn’t just busy—it’s fundamentally out of sync with how humans are wired to …

In a world where violent incidents, political upheaval, and shocking news dominate headlines --- from immigration enforcement violence in Minnesota to studies pointing to "nihilistic" violence without clear motives --- many parents and caregivers are left wondering: How do we talk about t…

If you’ve ever watched your child struggle and felt that almost unbearable pull to step in, fix it, smooth it over, or make it disappear, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I sit down with author and parent coach Michelle Icard to explore why setbacks—real, uncomfortable, sometimes humi…

 If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the right things—checking boxes, meeting expectations—yet still wondering whether any of it really matters, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I sit down with New York Times bestselling author and researcher Jennifer Wallace to explore one of t…