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

Are today's children missing the life skills they need to succeed—not just in school, but in life?
In this episode of Where Parents Talk, host Lianne Castelino speaks with educator, former classroom teacher, and Anywhere Learning founder Amélie Drouet about why traditional education often falls short when it comes to teaching resilience, independence, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
After spending 15 years in the classroom, Drouet noticed that more students were struggling with foundational life skills that directly affected their ability to learn. Her experience homeschooling her own children while travelling inspired a new approach: combining academics with meaningful, real-world experiences that spark curiosity and confidence.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
Why life skills and academic learning should go hand in hand
Simple everyday activities that teach math, literacy, science, and responsibility
How cooking, chores, travel, and family routines become powerful learning opportunities
Why boredom may actually be essential for creativity and child development
How parents can use technology as a learning tool instead of a distraction
Practical ways to raise capable, independent, and motivated children—without adding more to your busy schedule

Whether your child attends public school, private school, or is homeschooled, this episode offers practical parenting strategies to help children thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
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

Are today's parents protecting their children—or unintentionally holding them back?
In this episode of the Where Parents Talk Podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks with Lenore Skenazy, founder of the Free-Range Kids movement, co-founder of Let Grow, journalist and author, about why childhood independence has become one of the most important parenting conversations of our time.
Nearly two decades after being labeled "America's Worst Mom" for allowing her nine-year-old son to ride the New York City subway alone, Skenazy explains how parenting culture has shifted—and why fear, anxiety and overprotection continue to prevent many children from developing confidence, resilience and real-world life skills.
Learn why manageable risk is essential for healthy child development, how parents can distinguish between genuine danger and exaggerated fear, and why giving children more age-appropriate freedom may actually reduce anxiety for both kids and parents.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why childhood independence is critical for building resilience and confidence
How over-parenting and constant supervision can limit healthy development
The surprising research on children's safety and parents' perceptions of risk
Why free play and unstructured time matter more than ever
How the Let Grow movement is helping families raise capable, confident children
The connection between independence, anxiety and emotional well-being
Practical ways parents can gradually give children more age-appropriate freedom
Why kids often want real-world independence more than additional screen time

Whether you're raising elementary-aged children, tweens or teens, this conversation offers evidence-based insights that challenge conventional parenting wisdom while helping families prepare children for adulthood with confidence.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
Let Grow
Free Range Kids
New York Daily News
University of Michigan
Daniel Schuchman
Peter Gray
Jonathan Haidt

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

Is your child's gaming really about the game — or something deeper? On this episode of Where Parents Talk, host Lianne Castelino talks with Nathan Graham, AI strategist, entrepreneur, and author of Why Won't He Just Log Off? A Parent's Guide to Video Game Addiction and the Needs Behind the Screen.
Nathan spent nearly seven years as a self-described gaming addict, losing a job and nearly losing his relationship to marathon sessions of World of Warcraft, before a single conversation with a mentor changed the course of his life. Today he helps parents understand what's really driving compulsive gaming in kids and teens.
In this conversation, Nathan unpacks the four core human needs — certainty, adventure, significance, and connection — that video games so effectively fulfill, and why understanding them is the key to helping a child who games too much. He explains how parents can tell the difference between a kid who simply loves gaming and one who's using it to cope, why timers, confiscated consoles, and lectures so often backfire, and how to set screen time boundaries that actually hold — without alienating your teen.
Parents will walk away with practical, compassionate strategies for connecting with a gaming-obsessed child: how to build trust, ask the right questions, and help kids meet those same needs for belonging and significance in healthier ways.
Takeaways:
Navigating the complex world of gaming addiction requires understanding the emotional needs of our children.
Parents should engage in open communication, entering their child's gaming world without judgment to truly understand their perspective.
Setting boundaries collaboratively with teens fosters a sense of independence and responsibility, making rule-breaking less likely.
Recognizing the signs of gaming as a coping mechanism can help parents address underlying emotional health issues effectively.
Gaming can provide valuable life skills like teamwork and resilience, highlighting the importance of a balanced approach in parenting.
Ultimately, parenting is about progress, not perfection; small changes can lead to significant improvements over time.

Links referenced in this episode:
whereparentstalk.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:
World of Warcraft
Todd Skinner

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

How do sports shape the values our children carry into adulthood?
In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to award-winning sports journalists Donovan Bennett (CBC Sports) and Kate McKenna (TSN, CTV's The Social). The couple share how working in sports has impacted the way they are raising their two young sons.
From navigating healthy competition and emotional resilience to balancing screen time, encouraging teamwork, and redefining modern masculinity, Donovan and Kate offer thoughtful, real-world parenting insights rooted in both their professional and personal lives. They discuss the lasting life lessons sports can teach, the importance of positive role models, why youth sports should prioritize participation over performance, and how parents can foster confidence, empathy and inclusion in today's rapidly changing world.
Takeaways:
Navigating the complexities of parenting amidst hormonal changes in children requires effective communication and discipline.
The impact of device usage and social media on children's emotional health is a pressing concern for today's parents.
Promoting independence in children involves teaching them about consent and healthy relationships from an early age.
Bullying remains a significant issue in sports culture, and parents must address it proactively with their children.
Physical health and emotional well-being are intertwined, especially during the formative years of adolescence.
Encouraging participation in sports can foster resilience and teamwork, countering the pressure of a win-at-all-costs mentality.

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
Companies mentioned in this episode:
CBC
TSN
CTV
Raptors
Tempo
PWHL
NWSL
Ottawa Rapid
Lewis Hamilton
Serena Williams
Shae Gilgeous Alexander
Jared McCain
Natalie Achonwa

Why do so many parents feel exhausted, moody, or stuck in survival mode — and what is that stress actually doing to their bodies?
In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks with Dr. Alicia Newsome, a functional medicine practitioner, entrepreneur and mother of three, about the root causes of parental burnout, hormone imbalance and chronic stress.
Dr. Newsome explains how functional medicine identifies "check engine light" symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, decision fatigue and stubborn weight gain, and why treating symptoms without addressing root causes leaves parents running on empty.
The conversation covers the difference between acute and chronic stress, how a parent's nervous system affects their children's sense of safety, why energy — not time — is the real currency of parenting, and practical daily transition routines that build stress resilience.
Dr. Newsome also discusses the generational impact of ignoring self-care, the lingering effects of pandemic-era isolation on parent mental health, and simple, science-backed steps parents can take today to protect their energy, mood and long-term health.
Takeaways:
Understanding hormonal changes is crucial for managing stress and emotional health as parents.
Effective communication with partners is essential for maintaining a healthy family dynamic amidst stress.
Discipline in technology use can significantly impact the mental health of tweens and teens.
Recognizing the signs of bullying and social media pressure can empower parents to support their children better.
Prioritizing consent and healthy relationships is foundational to building independence in young adults.
Physical health and emotional well-being are interconnected, influencing how we parent and engage with our children.

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

Companies mentioned in this episode:
Tylenol
Advil
Facebook
Arizona