Where Parents Talk: Evidence-based Expert Advice on Raising Kids Today

Why are so many young adults struggling with independence today—and what can parents do differently?
In this episode of the Where Parents Talk Podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks with licensed school psychologist, author and father David Krasky, whose book Raising Future Adults explores how parents can prepare children and teens for real-world success.
Drawing on two decades of experience working with families and students, Krasky explains how modern parenting trends—including overprotection, helicopter parenting, and the pressures of technology—may unintentionally limit a child’s ability to build independence and essential life skills.
The discussion explore practical strategies for helping kids develop executive functioning skills, resilience, and social confidence—while balancing the parental instinct to protect with the long-term goal of raising capable adults.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
• Why independence among teens and young adults is declining
• The long-term risks of overprotective or “helicopter” parenting
• The critical role of executive functioning skills in real-world success
• Why social skills may be one of the most important predictors of future success
• How “lighthouse parenting” can help parents guide children without controlling them
• Practical ways parents can encourage self-advocacy and independence
• Strategies for supporting neurodiverse children while fostering autonomy
This podcast is for parents, guardians, teachers and caregivers to learn proven strategies and trusted tips on raising kids, teens and young adults based on science, evidenced and lived experience.
You’ll learn the latest on topics like managing bullying, consent, fostering healthy relationships, and the interconnectedness of mental, emotional and physical health.
Links referenced in this episode:
whereparentstalk.com

On this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast host Lianne Castelino sits down with leading body image researcher Dr. Charlotte Markey, professor at Rutgers University and author of The Body Image Book for Girls, for a conversation about raising confident kids in a social media-saturated world.
With nearly 30 years of research on body image, eating behaviours, puberty, and mental health, Dr. Markey unpacks the unprecedented pressures facing today’s tweens and teens — especially girls aged 9 to 15 — as they navigate hormonal changes alongside relentless digital comparison. From influencer culture and device use to bullying and shifting weight-loss trends, she explains how cultural ideals can distort self-perception and contribute to dieting, disordered eating, and low self-worth.
This evidence-based discussion equips parents with tools to:
Recognize early warning signs of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating
Navigate puberty conversations beyond just physical changes
Build media literacy and resilience in the age of social media
Foster open communication about consent, relationships, and emotional health
Create a body-positive home environment without overemphasizing appearance
Understand when professional support may be needed

Dr. Markey also explores the lasting effects of the pandemic, the rise in eating disorder rates, and how parents’ own attitudes toward food and appearance shape their children’s beliefs.
If you’re raising a tween, teen, or young adult and want science-backed strategies to help them develop body confidence, independence, and emotional resilience in a world that often prioritizes image over well-being, this episode is essential listening.
Links referenced in this episode:
whereparentstalk.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:
Rutgers University

This podcast is for parents, guardians, teachers and caregivers to learn proven strategies and trusted tips on raising kids, teens and young adults based on science, evidenced and lived experience.
You’ll learn the latest on topics like managing bullying, consent, fostering healthy relationships, and the interconnectedness of mental, emotional and physical health.

On this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino sits down with picky eating expert, educator, and founder of Raising Healthy Families, Katie Kimball.
Kimball explains why teaching teens to cook is about far more than food. It’s about:
Reducing teen anxiety through competence and ownership
Building executive functioning and life skills
Strengthening family connection
Preparing kids for independent adulthood
Avoiding the “avalanche effect” at age 18
Creating a healthy family culture around food

With teen anxiety and depression rates rising, parents are searching for practical ways to empower their children. Kimball shares research-backed insights on how cooking builds confidence that spills into academics, social life, and emotional well-being.
The conversation shares approaches on how to raise a confident, capable adult who can budget, meal plan, feed themselves, and build meaningful community.
This podcast is for parents, guardians, teachers and caregivers to learn proven strategies and trusted tips on raising kids, teens and young adults based on science, evidenced and lived experience.
You’ll learn the latest on topics like managing bullying, consent, fostering healthy relationships, and the interconnectedness of mental, emotional and physical health.
Links referenced in this episode:
whereparentstalk.com
raisinghealthyfamilies.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:
Raising Healthy Families
Kids Cook Real Food

How do you raise safe, confident kids in a world of gaming chats, AI tools, social media, and constant connectivity?
In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to cybersecurity professionals Chad Rychlewski and Kae David, who share expert, practical advice from their book Cyber Smart Parenting. As both industry insiders, they translate enterprise-level cybersecurity strategies into realistic steps families can use at home.
You’ll hear:
Why digital safety conversations should begin in kindergarten
The risks of oversharing photos in the age of AI
How gaming voice chats expose children to strangers
Why locking your child’s credit protects against identity theft
How to talk to teens about their digital footprint without shame
The importance of family digital contracts
Why being present matters more than being technical

Instead of fear, this conversation focuses on empowerment. The safest kids aren’t the most restricted — they’re the ones who feel safe coming to their parents before a crisis happens.
This podcast is for parents, guardians, teachers and caregivers to learn proven strategies and trusted tips on raising kids, teens and young adults based on science, evidenced and lived experience.
You’ll learn the latest on topics like managing bullying, consent, fostering healthy relationships, and the interconnectedness of mental, emotional and physical health.
Links referenced in this episode:
whereparentstalk.com

Why do so many parents feel like they’re failing — even when they’re doing everything “right”?
In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino is joined by Manu Brune, postpartum specialist, parent coach, mother of 3 and author of Overcorrecting: Parenting in the Middle While the World Shouts in Extremes. They unpack a timely issue facing parents today: overcorrection.
Brune explains how many parents are unconsciously parenting in reaction to their own childhood experiences, swinging between extremes in an effort to “break generational cycles.” The result? Chronic stress, nervous system dysregulation, parental burnout, and growing self-doubt.
This episode explores:
How nervous system regulation shapes parent-child relationships
Why perfectionism and hyper-vigilance are exhausting parents
The long-term impact of reactive parenting on children’s mental health
What co-regulation means and how children “borrow calm” from adults
How to parent with consistency without rigidity
Why the space between parenting decisions matters more than the decisions themselves

This podcast is for parents, guardians, teachers and caregivers to learn proven strategies and trusted tips on raising kids, teens and young adults based on science, evidenced and lived experience.
You’ll learn the latest on topics like managing bullying, consent, fostering healthy relationships, and the interconnectedness of mental, emotional and physical health.
Links referenced in this episode:
whereparentstalk.com