Mastermind Parenting Podcast

We’ve come a long way in understanding how neurodivergence expresses itself in kids, compared to when I became a new mom. But even now, an Autism diagnosis can feel like some of the most dreaded words imaginable to a parent.Can you fathom what it was like for parents in the 1980s?Leland Vittert can. And even though his parents chose not to share his diagnosis with him until his early 20’s, he now knows the whole story of what they went through for him.Leland is a successful journalist with his own nightly news show. But when he was a kid, Leland struggled to relate to his classmates. He was bullied by other kids, and at times, by teachers as well. After Leland was diagnosed with Autism, (now considered level 1, formerly known as Aspergers), his father made it his mission to help Leland learn the skills he’d need to function in a world that would not understand or mold to his differences.Leland tells the whole inspiring story in his new book Born Lucky: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism. He’s here to share his gratitude to his dad, and offer hope to parents who are anxious about how to best support their neurodivergent kids.Something clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-334About Randi RubensteinRandi Rubenstein coaches parents raising strong-willed kids. Randi searched endlessly to find the magical resource that would help her own highly sensitive, strong-willed child. (He’s now in his 20’s, healthy and happy-ish:). She’s been passionate about helping other “cycle-breaker” parents like herself for almost two decades.Randi’s Web and Social LinksWebsite: https://mastermindparenting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermindparentingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind_parenting/About Leland VittertLeland Vittert is the host of On Balance with Leland Vittert and serves as NewsNation’s Chief Washington Anchor. A veteran journalist, Vittert joined NewsNation in May 2021, where he has been pivotal in covering national affairs and delivering special reports across the network’s primetime weeknight newscasts. Before joining NewsNation, Vittert worked for Fox News from 2010 to 2021, starting as a foreign correspondent based in Jerusalem and later anchor and correspondent in Washington.Leland’s Web and Social LinksBorn Lucky: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism: https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/9781400254750/born-lucky/On Balance with Leland Vittert:

Thanksgiving and Having an Attitude of Gratitude

2025/11/27 | 24 mins.

In this episode I discuss what gratitude really means to me as a mom and a person. I believe the ultimate gratitude practice is believing your strong willed child happened “for” rather than “to” you and I walk you through an exercise about how to do that.Topics: Hedonic Adaptation Gratitude is a practice that can be cultivated and directly links to happiness Gratitude affects many areas of your life in positive ways - personality, health, emotional, social and career Strong willed kids happen “for” not “to” you “Future You” exercise to get you into a gratitude practiceSomething clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/ Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-333About Randi RubensteinRandi Rubenstein coaches parents raising strong-willed kids. Randi searched endlessly to find the magical resource that would help her own highly sensitive, strong-willed child. (He’s now in his 20’s, healthy and happy-ish:). She’s been passionate about helping other “cycle-breaker” parents like herself for almost two decades.Randi’s Web and Social LinksWebsite: https://mastermindparenting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermindparentingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind_parenting/Resources Discussed/LinksOur 12-week Basics Bootcamp program is now available as a 100% online self-study course! https://mastermindparenting.com/minimasters/Live assessment: https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/

Let’s be real. Lots of dads aren’t ready (or willing) to take on their share of responsibility in their families. And for the dads who do want to step up, where are the role models of dads doing their part and showing up as strong and loving pack leaders?Enter Jeff Hittner, leadership and fatherhood coach, and host of the Ambitious Dads podcast.Jeff spent years teaching executives how to lead and inspire teams in the workplace. But when it came to his lifelong dream of fatherhood, he was shocked to realize how hard it was to not repeat unhelpful patterns of the past.Now, Jeff is using his skills as a coach to help educate dads who want to lead in their families, and pass on a new definition of fatherhood to their kids.Something clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/ Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-332About Randi RubensteinRandi Rubenstein coaches parents raising strong-willed kids. Randi searched endlessly to find the magical resource that would help her own highly sensitive, strong-willed child. (He’s now in his 20’s, healthy and happy-ish:). She’s been passionate about helping other “cycle-breaker” parents like herself for almost two decades.Randi’s Web and Social LinksWebsite: https://mastermindparenting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermindparentingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind_parenting/About Jeff HittnerJeff Hittner is an executive coach, leadership expert, entrepreneur and father to two amazing boys that are the light of his life. This was only possible because Jeff learned how to disassemble a lifelong definition of what fatherhood was, in order to reimagine the possibilities. Jeff believes that all of us have the capacity to transform, even around our longest-held beliefs. Jeff’s Web and Social LinksWebsite: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/ Podcast: https://ambitiousdads.transistor.fm/ Substack: https://ambitiousdads.substack.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousdads/ Resources Discussed/LinksOur 12-week Basics Bootcamp program is now available as a 100% online self-study course! https://mastermindparenting.com/minimasters/Live assessment: https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/

It’s no secret that kids can put a real damper on your sex life. Kids just have so many needs - the feeding, bathing, playdate coordinating…and let’s not forget all the freaking paperwork. Those school forms nearly about killed me with three kids. It seems like a small miracle if there is still desire for your partner after a long thankless day involving all that. My guest, Dr. Rebecca Eudy, has spent over a decade helping couples navigate the complex realities of intimacy during the parenting years. Now, she’s written a book to share her insights and help with this tough topic affecting so many of us.If sex secretly feels like another chore in your life, you won’t want to miss this convo!Something clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/ Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-331About Randi RubensteinRandi Rubenstein coaches parents raising strong-willed kids. Randi searched endlessly to find the magical resource that would help her own highly sensitive, strong-willed child. (He’s now in his 20’s, healthy and happy-ish:). She’s been passionate about helping other “cycle-breaker” parents like herself for almost two decades.Randi’s Web and Social LinksWebsite: https://mastermindparenting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermindparentingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind_parenting/About Dr. Rebecca EudyDr. Rebecca Howard Eudy, LMHC, is an AASECT-certified sex and couples therapist and author of Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids (2025). She blends cutting-edge research with 15 years of clinical experience to help couples navigate sex, desire, and connection in the whirlwind of parenting, even when life (and kids) make it feel impossible. Dr. Eudy’s Web and Social LinksBook link: https://a.co/d/8RcMcYJ Website: rebeccaeudy.com Instagram: @rebeccahowardeudySubstack: @parentsinloveResources Discussed/LinksOur 12-week Basics Bootcamp program is now available as a 100% online self-study course! https://mastermindparenting.com/minimasters/Live assessment: https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/

Don’t you just love how little kids play so completely? They experience fun and joy without any self-consciousness or worrying about what others might think.But for many of us, this concept can feel elusive and far away as adults. If you grew up in a house where you walked on eggshells, you may not be conditioned for joy and play. I know this has been perplexing for me to think about in my own life. It’s even been a source of shame. I often struggle with the thought, ”What kind of person doesn’t know how to play or identify joy!?”A person that got through childhood in a mostly survival state, that’s who. I’m diving into this with psychologist and podcaster, Dr. Shawn Hondorp. Shawn has been taking dance lessons recently. She’s a mom with a full plate who often juggles the demands of work and raising kids. And yet she makes time several times a week for her play and joy through reconnecting with her love for dance.Her experience around a recent recital showed how hard it can be to purposefully work toward reclaiming joy. I was so lucky to be a fly on the wall of her experience (which involved terrible neck pain leading up to the performance). And now you get to hear us unpack what Shawn has learned, and what she’s gained, through this process.Something clicked while listening?We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/ Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-330About Randi RubensteinRandi Rubenstein coaches parents raising strong-willed kids. Randi searched endlessly to find the magical resource that would help her own highly sensitive, strong-willed child. (He’s now in his 20’s, healthy and happy-ish:). She’s been passionate about helping other “cycle-breaker” parents like herself for almost two decades.Randi’s Web and Social LinksWebsite: https://mastermindparenting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermindparentingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind_parenting/About Dr. Shawn HondorpDr. Shawn Hondorp is a clinical psychologist whose goal is to create safe learning environments for those who want to explore innovative approaches to healing, one authentic conversation at a time. Learn more about her work, and subscribe to The Innovative Therapist Podcast, at https://drshawnhondorp.com/ Resources Discussed/LinksOur 12-week Basics Bootcamp program is now available as a 100% online self-study course! https://mastermindparenting.com/minimasters/Live assessment: https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/