What if the fastest way to help your child make better choices is to change how you show up as a parent? That question drives a candid conversation with author and mentor Richard Ramos, whose journey from at‑risk youth counseling to parent coaching revealed a hard truth: when the home isn’t healthy, everything else struggles to stick. We dig into practical, human strategies that replace power struggles with connection, and rigid rules with durable influence.

Richard breaks down attachment and psychological safety in simple terms—less interrogation, more curiosity. Instead of “Why did you do that?” try “What’s pulling you toward this?” We talk about the exact moment trust is won or lost, like when a teen confesses breaking an online rule. You’ll hear how to set proportionate consequences without shutting down future honesty, plus realistic guardrails for VR and social platforms that keep kids safe while keeping communication open. His “Home Field Advantage” framework offers a clear roadmap: gardener from 0–2, trainer from 2–5, coach from 5–12—preparing kids for separation and real‑world infiltration, not isolation. Along the way, we unpack identity development, helping children discover who they are so you can develop their strengths without comparison.

Respect, Richard insists, is earned, not demanded. That means prioritizing the relationship over being right, apologizing when we blow it, and modeling the kind of leadership we want our kids to carry into classrooms, teams, and jobs. Emotional maturity sits at the core of it all: know yourself to grow yourself. When we regulate our reactions, keep promises, and repair quickly, home becomes the training ground for resilience, integrity, and responsible freedom. If you’ve wondered how to raise confident, grounded kids who can handle failure, peer pressure, and the messy parts of life, this conversation offers a playbook you can start using tonight.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more parents find these tools. Then tell us: what boundary or habit will you revisit this week?

Connect with Richard

Find him on Facebook, listen to the podcast, and sign up for his Parent on a Mission course here.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

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What if you could have a conversation with your great-grandmother? Not just read her diary or look at old photos, but actually ask her questions and hear her voice tell you stories about her life? This isn't science fiction—it's becoming reality through innovative storytelling technology that's preserving family legacies in remarkable new ways.

Jeremy Horne joins us to share his passion for capturing family stories that might otherwise be lost forever. His journey began as a child in Perth, Australia, recording his grandparents on borrowed video equipment, and has evolved into creating Winnie, an app designed to facilitate meaningful conversations between generations. But he's not stopping there. His newest project, Forever You, uses those recorded stories to create digital avatars that future generations can actually interact with.

The conversation takes us deep into why these connections matter so much. Jeremy explains the concept of "social health"—the third pillar of wellbeing alongside physical and mental health—and how genuine human connection nourishes us in ways that social media never can. He shares fascinating research showing that children who understand their family history develop greater resilience and confidence, giving them an anchor to their past that helps them navigate their future.

What makes this episode particularly powerful is the practical advice for fostering these connections. Whether it's being intentional about scheduling time for meaningful conversations, learning the art of asking good questions, or simply giving people space to tell their stories, Jeremy offers tools anyone can use to strengthen their relationships and preserve their family legacy.

As we navigate an increasingly digital world where we're simultaneously more connected yet lonelier than ever, this conversation reminds us of what truly matters. The technology Jeremy describes isn't about replacing human connection—it's about enhancing and preserving it across generations. His parting words offer both wisdom and urgency: "I'm yet to meet anyone who regrets interviewing their parents, but I've met plenty who wish they could do it and no longer have that choice."

Ready to start capturing your family's stories? Listen now and discover how these conversations might be the most precious gift you can give future generations.

Connect with Jeremy

Find him on Facebook or Instagram, or download the Winny app.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Have you ever wondered why modern parenting feels more challenging than ever before? In this eye-opening conversation with licensed family therapist Todd Sarner, we explore how parents can transform daily stress and disconnection into calm, confident leadership at home.

Todd shares his profound insight that effective parenting starts with placing relationship first. Drawing from decades of experience helping thousands of families, he reveals that most parenting should be proactive rather than reactive—focusing on building strong connections, creating supportive environments, and developing crucial maturity processes in children.

The discussion delves into three essential maturity processes children need to develop: integrative energy (the ability to weigh different perspectives), emergent energy (creativity and self-expression), and adaptive energy (processing frustration and change). Todd explains how technology and social media can interfere with these natural developmental processes, leaving children ill-equipped to handle life's inevitable challenges.

Perhaps most powerfully, Todd emphasizes that "empathy does not mean you agree"—encouraging parents to take time understanding their child's experience before problem-solving. This simple shift in approach creates the connection children need to naturally want to cooperate. As he notes, "When we're connected and honoring the connection, you don't need to convince me to do stuff most of the time."

With the rapid advancement of AI and technology presenting unprecedented challenges for families, Todd's attachment-first approach offers a refreshing perspective on what children truly need from parents that no technology can provide: genuine empathy, emotional regulation, and human connection.

Tune in to transform your approach to parenting and discover how to create the calm, confident home environment your family deserves.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Gary Chubik, mental performance coach to pro athletes and organizations like the FBI, shares his journey from a shy, reluctant speaker to a confident professional communicator with practical frameworks anyone can use.

• Building self-trust is essential for confident communication
• The "Me-We-Topic-You-Us" framework provides a simple structure for effective presentations
• Preparation and proving skills to yourself creates genuine confidence
• The CAPE method (Control, Assess, Plan, Execute) helps manage high-pressure situations
• Focus on communicating one or two key points rather than overwhelming your audience
• Find the optimal level of emotional engagement using the Yerkes-Dodson scale
• Parent with emotion, not emotionally, for more effective communication with children

Find Gary on Instagram or at elitemindset.nation.com to learn more about unlocking your potential through mental performance coaching.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

The college landscape has transformed dramatically in a single generation. What once cost $7,000 annually now approaches $70,000, creating unprecedented financial pressure on families navigating the higher education maze. In this eye-opening conversation with Lee Norwood, founder of College Sharks, we unravel the complexities of finding the perfect college fit while managing costs.

Contrary to popular belief, your child's most affordable option may not be that in-state university. Leigh reveals how merit scholarships can make seemingly expensive private colleges more budget-friendly than public alternatives. Her own experience attending Elon University for less than in-state Maryland tuition demonstrates this counterintuitive reality—a revelation that could transform your family's college search strategy.

Beyond finances, we explore what college admissions officers actually evaluate first: curriculum choices. Before GPA or test scores, they examine whether students challenged themselves appropriately within their school's offerings. This insight, along with Leigh's guidance on extracurricular involvement (quality over quantity), provides a roadmap for application success.

Parents of undecided students will find particular comfort in Lee's perspective that college remains a time of discovery, with excellent resources available for students still exploring potential paths. Meanwhile, homeschooling families receive specialized advice on documentation and transitioning to higher education. And for those questioning whether college remains essential, Leigh offers a balanced view acknowledging that while crucial for many careers, alternatives like trades or military service better suit some students.

The college journey needn't overwhelm your family. By breaking the process into manageable monthly tasks over junior and senior years, you can navigate this pivotal time with confidence rather than anxiety. Visit CollegeSharks.com to access Lee's structured guidance programs and free resources like her comprehensive two-year planning calendar.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Mallary Tenore Tarpley shares her journey through eating disorder recovery and offers guidance for parents navigating these conversations with their children in today's challenging social media landscape.

• Understanding eating disorders beyond body image—Mallary's anorexia developed after her mother's death as an attempt to "stop time" and stay connected to her
• The importance of recognizing the "middle place" in recovery where both progress and slips coexist
• Teaching children that all bodies deserve respect regardless of size or shape
• Avoiding labeling foods as "good" or "bad" which can create harmful associations for children
• Creating positive relationships with food by involving children in meal preparation and giving them appropriate autonomy
• Approaching concerns about disordered eating with curiosity rather than accusation
• The importance of early intervention and seeking specialists in eating disorders when concerned
• Recognizing that recovery's middle ground is not settling for stagnation but learning to manage vulnerability
• Understanding slips as opportunities for growth rather than evidence of failure

Check out Mallary's memoir "Slip" to learn more about navigating the complex journey of eating disorder recovery.

Connect with Mallary on Facebook or Instagram!

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

"Your psychology is everything. The way you interpret events matters more than the events themselves."

These powerful words from licensed clinical social worker Yuri Mello capture the essence of a transformative approach to parenting teenagers. As a father of five and co-founder of School Pulse, Mello brings decades of clinical experience and personal wisdom to the challenging landscape of parent-teen relationships.

Most parents find themselves stuck in reactive patterns, responding to each crisis as it emerges rather than building the foundation for lasting connection. Mello introduces a revolutionary framework that distinguishes between "inviting" positive outcomes and "provoking" resistance in our interactions with teens. This simple but profound shift in approach can transform even the most strained parent-teen dynamics.

At the heart of Mello's approach is the "positive interaction ratio" - maintaining at least three positive moments for every challenging conversation. Our brains are wired to remember negative experiences more vividly than positive ones, which means parents must intentionally create an abundance of positive interactions to balance the inevitable difficult moments. When this ratio flips negative, relationships deteriorate rapidly.

Mello reimagines Maslow's hierarchy of needs for parenting, placing emotional safety at the foundation, followed by trust, kindness, and only then accountability. Too many parents invert this pyramid, focusing primarily on discipline while neglecting the relationship layers that make discipline effective. Through practical examples and vulnerable personal stories, Mello demonstrates how parents can position themselves to be among the first people their teens turn to in times of need.

The conversation also explores School Pulse, an innovative program delivering positive psychology content directly to students via text messages and videos, creating pathways for support before crises occur. This proactive approach represents the future of mental health support for young people.

Listen now to discover practical strategies for maintaining connection during the turbulent teen years and building relationships that will last a lifetime. Your approach to parenting challenges today shapes not just your child's behavior, but who they become and how they'll relate to you for decades to come.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

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How do our own childhood wounds shape our parenting? Certified conscious parenting coach Shelly Robinson reveals that our most triggering moments with our children often stem from unhealed parts of ourselves - even when we had seemingly idyllic childhoods.

Through a powerful story about a bath time battle with her four-year-old that escalated into screaming, Shelly shares how this moment became her wake-up call. "I didn't want to do that ever again," she explains, describing how the incident led her to discover that her disproportionate anger wasn't about her son's behavior at all, but about moments from her own childhood when she felt unheard and insignificant.

The conversation explores practical strategies for breaking generational cycles, including understanding developmental expectations, practicing self-awareness before reacting, and learning to repair relationships through sincere apologies. Shelly's approach is refreshingly humble, acknowledging that perfect parenting isn't the goal - compassionate awareness is. She introduces her family's "Communication Station" practice, where family members take turns speaking while others practice deep listening without judgment - a simple but transformative tool for developing conflict resolution skills.

For parents of tweens and teens wondering if it's too late to change established patterns, Shelly offers heartening advice: "It's never too late. Children never stop wanting secure attachment with their parents." The pathway forward involves ownership of past mistakes, genuine apologies, and consistent change. Whether you're just beginning your parenting journey or looking to strengthen relationships with older children, this conversation provides both the inspiration and practical tools to create the connected, calm family life you've been seeking.

Connect with Shelly

Visit her website, or connect on Facebook or Instagram. Grab the Connected Kid Toolkit here.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!