Bite Your Tongue: The Podcast

For this episode of Bite Your Tongue, we’re doing something quite a bit different.
This is the last episode of Season 7, and today it’s just me.
Me — and excerpts from one of my all-time favorite podcasts, This American Life with Ira Glass.
For those who may not know Ira’s work, he is the groundbreaking creator and host of This American Life, whose storytelling helped redefine public radio and podcasting. A recipient of the Peabody, Pulitzer, and Edward R. Murrow Awards, Ira is widely considered one of the most influential storytellers of our time.
Now, as you might guess, I would have absolutely loved to have Ira on as a guest. Sadly, that didn’t happen. But Ira did the next best thing — he very graciously gave me permission to use excerpts from his show in this episode. Honestly, I was so grateful. What a class act and what a thrill for me to connect, even briefly, with someone I admire so much.
So here’s how this all came about.
I was listening to a recent episode of This American Life called Call Your Parents, and it immediately caught my attention. As I listened, I found myself completely drawn in. In fact, when I mentioned the episode to Connie FIsher, our audio engineer, she told me she literally sat in her car until the episode finished because she was so engrossed in it.
In the episode, Ira shares recordings and conversations with his parents from when he was a young adult. While Ira never had children of his own, he has of course been an adult child — and like so many families, his relationship with his parents was loving, complicated, strained at times, and deeply human.
As I listened, I kept thinking:
Maybe this is not quite as new as we think it is.
For years on this podcast I’ve heard versions of the same questions over and over:
Why don’t they call?
Why don’t they visit?
Why are relationships with adult children so hard now?
Why does this generation seem so different?
But listening to Ira and his parents, I realized they were wrestling with many of the exact same issues decades ago.
His parents worried about his career.
He sometimes pulled away. There was judgment. Frustration. Love. Misunderstanding.
In other words, it all sounded incredibly familiar.
There are several moments in this episode that stayed with me long after I finished listening — moments that are funny, painfully honest, tender, and incredibly relatable for anyone navigating family relationships. You will love it.
And somewhere in the middle of all of it, I found myself wondering:
Are relationships between parents and adult children truly harder today? Or are we finally talking openly about struggles families have quietly carried for generations?
This finale became much more personal than I expected. It made me reflect not only on today’s struggles between parents and adult children, but on my own parents, my own choices, and the possibility that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Next up: We are dropping some short episodes called: Straight From the Listener Line," which aims to address real questions from listeners with expert insights. This initiative emphasizes the podcast's commitment to fostering dialogue and providing support for families navigating the complexities of adult relationships.
And don't forget our phone line (719-347-1106) and email address ([email protected]).  We will never play your message on the podcast without your approval first.   Let us know what is on your mind!
We are on SUBSTACK now too - with "Behind the Mic."  We talk about how the episode resonated with us and share some inside scoop that you won't want to miss.
Please follow us on social media now.  It helps us so much. 
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Huge thanks to Connie Gorant Fisher, our audio engineer.  
Website: biteyourtonguepodcast.com
Substack: Behind the Mic
Listener Line: 719-347-1106
Email: [email protected]
Support the show
 
 
The site and podcast do not contain any medical/health information or advice. The medical/health information is for general information and educational purposes only and is not suitable for professional device. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OF OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE OR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Weddings, Family Tension, and Modern Etiquette 
Episode Description:
If there is one life event that can bring together love, joy, tradition, money, and family tension all at once, it is a wedding.
In this episode of Bite Your Tongue, Denise talks with Lizzie Post — co-president of the Emily Post Institute, co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast, and great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post — about how weddings have changed and why they still create so many emotional landmines for families.
Together they explore what modern etiquette really means, how parents can support their adult children without taking over, and why communication matters so much when expectations, finances, and family traditions collide.
They also tackle listener questions about guest lists, controlling money, invisible groom’s parents, wedding gifts, complicated family dynamics, and how to navigate all of it with more respect and less resentment.
A few key takeaways from Lizzie Post:
Patience and flexibility matter more than ever
Listen carefully before reacting
Be honest about expectations, especially around money
A thoughtful apology can go a long way
Good etiquette is less about rules and more about respect, kindness, and consideration
Guest:
Lizzie Post is co-president of the Emily Post Institute, co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast, and author of several etiquette books, including Emily Post Etiquette and Emily Post Business Etiquette. Her upcoming book, The Emily Post Wedding Etiquette Book, will offer a completely modern look at weddings, relationships, and etiquette today.
Connect with Bite Your Tongue:
We hope all of you will call to share their stories, ideas, episodes they liked or did not like.  We'd like to begin answering these questions in each episode.  So give us a call now at
719-347-1106.
We are on SUBSTACK now too - with "Behind the Mic."  We talk about how the episode resonated with us and share some inside scoop that you won't want to miss.
Please follow us on social media now.  It helps us so much. 
Facebook Instagram

Huge thanks to Connie Gorant Fisher, our audio engineer.  
Website: biteyourtonguepodcast.com
Substack: Behind the Mic
Listener Line: 719-347-1106
Email: [email protected]

Support the show
 
 
The site and podcast do not contain any medical/health information or advice. The medical/health information is for general information and educational purposes only and is not suitable for professional device. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OF OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE OR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Are you helping your adult child… or accidentally holding them back?
Many parents quietly support their adult children financially — paying rent, helping with debt, or covering emergencies. But when does helping become enabling?
In this episode, Denise talks with financial psychologist Dr. Brad Klontz about the emotional and psychological forces behind the “Bank of Mom and Dad.”
Dr. Brad tells it like it is and doesn't hold back.  He's says the right things - but sometimes they are hard to hear.  You decide. 
Together they explore why financial dependence happens, how parents unintentionally reinforce it, and what it takes to change the pattern.
This is a tough conversation — but an important one for any parent wondering if their financial support is truly helping their child thrive.
In this episode we discuss:
What a financial psychologist actually does
Why money is the #1 stressor for most Americans
The emotional drivers behind parents financially supporting adult children
The difference between helping and enabling
The psychology of financial dependence
Why adult children sometimes resent the parents supporting them
How guilt, divorce, and childhood experiences shape financial decisions
What parents can do when an adult child refuses to become independent
The psychological concept of an “extinction burst”
How to create boundaries around financial help
What to do when grandchildren complicate the situation
Whether helping with a house down payment is a good idea
How money can impact sibling relationships and inheritance
If you have something to add or if you have a question you'd like us to answer:
📞 Call the Bite Your Tongue listener line: 719-347-1106
You can also email us at [email protected].
We are on SUBSTACK now too - with "Behind the Mic."  We talk about how the episode resonated with us and share some inside scoop that you won't want to miss.  
Please follow us on social media now.  It helps us so much. 
Facebook  Instagram
Huge thanks to Connie Gorant Fisher, our audio engineer.  

Support the show
 
 
The site and podcast do not contain any medical/health information or advice. The medical/health information is for general information and educational purposes only and is not suitable for professional device. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OF OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE OR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Family estrangement is one of the most painful and least discussed challenges parents face today.
In this deeply personal and controversial episode, Denise speaks with journalist, entrepreneur, and author Laura Wellington, known online as Doormat Mom No More. After raising five children as a widowed mother, Laura found herself unexpectedly cut off by one of her adult daughters—an experience that left her heartbroken and searching for answers.
She tried desperately to find other parents who were suffering with similar loss.  But noone came forward.  Then, she did what she never thought she would do - put a video about her problem on TikTok.  What followed was something she never anticipated: thousands of parents reaching out with similar stories. She's been featured in so many places including The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine and The Doctor Phil TV Show. 
Laura is a bright accomplished woman and her story will resonate with many.  It's more than just about estrangement.  It's about finding yourself.
This conversation is raw, complicated, and at times uncomfortable—but it’s one many families are quietly navigating.
Whether you’re a parent, an adult child, or someone trying to understand a fractured relationship, this episode opens the door to a conversation we’re not having nearly enough.
Check out Laura's book -- Doormat Mom, No More! When Good Parents Finally say "Enough" to Their Ungrateful Kids.
If this episode resonates with you, we want to hear your story.
📞 Call the Bite Your Tongue listener line: 719-347-1106
You can also email us at [email protected].
We are on SUBSTACK now too - with "Behind the Mic."  We talk about how the episode resonated with us and share some inside scoop that you won't want to miss.  
Please follow us on social media now.  It helps us so much. 
Facebook
 Instagram

Huge thanks to Connie Gorant Fisher, our audio engineer.  

Support the show
 
 
The site and podcast do not contain any medical/health information or advice. The medical/health information is for general information and educational purposes only and is not suitable for professional device. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OF OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE OR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Do you lie awake at night running through every possible “what if” about your adult child?
What if they make the wrong choice?
What if they don’t land on their feet?
Should I call? Should I say something? Should I bite my tongue?
In this episode of Bite Your Tongue, Denise welcomes back psychologist and parent coach Jeffrey Bernstein, author of Freeing Your Child from Overthinking, to unpack the difference between anxiety and overthinking — and why that distinction matters so much in relationships with adult children.
What You’ll Learn:
Why overthinking is a mental habit — not just anxiety
How parents unintentionally fuel their adult child’s anxiety
Why “less is more” is often the most loving response
The danger of becoming a SWAT Team Parent
How to support an overthinking adult child without fixing or rescuing
The power of validation over advice
How retirement and extra time can increase parental overthinking
The PACE Method
Dr. Bernstein introduces a simple but powerful tool:
P — Pause
A — Acknowledge
C — Contain
E — Engage
When parents regulate their own overthinking, adult children don’t have to defend against it.
Key Takeaway:
Overthinking fuels anxiety — and anxiety leaks into relationships.
But calm, collaborative parenting builds emotional safety.
Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is stop managing… and start mentoring.
If this resonated, tap follow, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review—your support helps more families find their footing.
Don't forget about our listening line at 719.347.1106. 
We hope all of you will call to share their stories, ideas, episodes they liked or did not like.  We'd like to begin answering these questions in each episode.  So give us a call now at
719-347-1106.
We are on SUBSTACK now too - with "Behind the Mic."  We talk about how the episode resonated with us and share some inside scoop that you won't want to miss.
Please follow us on social media now.  It helps us so much. 
Facebook
 Instagram

Huge thanks to Connie Gorant Fisher, our audio engineer.  
Support the show
Support the show
 
 
The site and podcast do not contain any medical/health information or advice. The medical/health information is for general information and educational purposes only and is not suitable for professional device. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OF OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE OR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.