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You can cry easily, snap quickly, or feel “flooded” all day and still not be truly feeling your feelings. That sounds backwards, but it explains why so many of us walk around exhausted, reactive, and secretly ashamed of how big our emotions get. In today's episode, we slow this down and unpack a simple truth that changes everything: having feelings isn’t the same as feeling them, and resilience grows when we learn to stay with an emotion long enough to understand the message it carries. Then we get practical. I walk you through a four-step skill you can use right away: name the emotion (affect labeling), notice where it shows up in your body, get curious about what matters underneath the surface reaction, and bring compassion so you can choose your next move instead of being hijacked. If you want more confidence, calmer leadership at home, and deeper connection, start here.

If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:

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If you’ve ever found yourself repeating the same instruction three, four, or five times while your child seems to completely ignore you, you’re not alone. In this episode, I walk you through a brain-first parenting framework that helps children actually hear, process, and act on what you ask the first time. Instead of escalating, repeating, or assuming defiance, we look at what’s really happening inside a child’s developing brain and nervous system—and how small leadership shifts from parents can dramatically improve cooperation.

I share five powerful steps that help children listen more effectively while also protecting the parent-child relationship. These tools work with toddlers, school-age kids, and even teens because they focus on communication that matches how developing brains actually function. If you want calmer mornings, fewer power struggles, and a way to lead your family without yelling, this episode will give you practical strategies you can start using immediately.

If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:

https://leighgermann.com

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If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:

https://leighgermann.com

Send a text

What if you could keep your high standards as a mom and lose the constant pressure that says you’re never enough? That’s the promise of a research-backed shift from perfectionism’s heavy “concerns” to its healthy “strivings,” and it can change the way you parent—and how you feel—starting today.

In this episode, I show you how to protect the part of you that wants to grow while refusing the self-criticism that steals joy. You’ll learn the telltale signs that you’ve crossed the line—like all-or-nothing thinking, deflecting praise, and chronic comparison—and get simple tools to reset your nervous system before you spiral. Then we put compassion to work, not as a slogan, but as a daily practice that fuels motivation without shame.

If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:

https://leighgermann.com

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Some seasons of life are meant to be intense—but temporary. We tell ourselves, I can do this for a little while, and we push through on adrenaline, determination, and grit. But what happens when that season doesn’t end?

In this episode, I talk about what happens when a sprint quietly becomes a marathon—and why the strategies that helped you survive short-term stress can actually start working against you over time. We’re not talking about changing your circumstances. We’re talking about changing how you’re running your race so you don’t burn out, shut down, or lose yourself in the process.

If you’ve been feeling more irritable, exhausted, emotionally flat, foggy, or like sleep doesn’t quite fix things anymore, this conversation will help you understand why—and what to do instead. I’ll walk you through how to recognize marathon mode, why self-care becomes non-negotiable (not indulgent), and how to make small, sustainable shifts that protect your energy, your nervous system, and your joy.

This episode is for any mom who is carrying a long season with courage—and needs permission, wisdom, and compassion to run it differently.

If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:

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We have two jobs as parents — loving and teaching — and most of us blur them together without realizing it. When you understand which job you're doing in the moment, everything shifts. Parenting becomes clearer, calmer, and so much more connected so that we can love our kids in the two ways our children need the most!

If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:

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If your home feels endlessly chaotic — toys everywhere, dishes piling up, laundry that never ends — and it leaves you feeling overstimulated, irritable, or ashamed, you’re not alone. In this episode, I break down why this experience has nothing to do with personal failure or not “handling it well enough,” and everything to do with how your nervous system responds to visual clutter, mental load, and chronic overstimulation. We’ll look at the neuroscience behind why mess feels so overwhelming (especially for moms), why your partner may genuinely experience the same space differently, and how your thoughts about the mess can either intensify shame or create relief. I’ll also walk you through practical, compassionate steps to protect your nervous system — without chasing perfection or tying your worth to clean countertops.

If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:

https://leighgermann.com

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When your inner critic gets loud, it doesn’t feel like a thought—it feels like reality.
It feels urgent, convincing, and personal.

In this episode of the Leadership Parenting Podcast, I’m breaking down why the inner critic gets so intense under pressure—and why trying to “argue with it” often makes things worse.

You’ll learn how nervous system activation gives the critic a microphone, why volume is not the same as truth, and how to use my RESET framework to come back to yourself with steadiness and leadership.

This isn’t about silencing your thoughts or forcing positivity.
It’s about learning how to recognize self-attack, reconnect with what you care about underneath it, and respond from your calm, grounded, adult self—even when things feel hard.

If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:

https://leighgermann.com