Pivot Parenting: Expert Tips for Navigating Teen and Tween Challenges

• 296. Protecting Harm with Connecting Conversations, with Jason Reid

  Today I'm talking with Jason Reid about one of the hardest parts of parenting: having real, honest conversations with our kids about the things nobody wants to bring up. The messy things. The scary things. The things we hope aren't happening—but often are. Jason shares his family's story of losing his 14-year-old son to suicide, and the gained wisdom he's sharing with all of us. He reveals the number one mistake we simply cannot afford to make as parents, and how small shifts in our conversations can genuinely protect our kids. This isn't an episode about fear—it's about clarity, courage, and the kind of connection that makes all the difference. We talk about how to support our kids through their struggles without pretending we have it all together, and how to keep it real with our own emotions in the process. If you're wanting practical, compassionate guidance for navigating hard conversations, strengthening trust, and being a safe place for your teen when life gets heavy, this episode will meet you right where you are.   About my guest:  Jason Reid is a partner at CEO International, where he coaches CEOs on how to be successful. He co-founded National Services Group, which employs 2500 people across three brands nationwide. He is a leader, entrepreneur, and family man. Following the loss of his 14-year-old son to suicide in 2018, Jason started the foundation TellMyStory.org, a nonprofit organization built to educate and empower parents by sharing the best and latest resources they need to identify and understand how to support their children's mental health struggles. Through its sister organization, Mental Wellness Media, it helps generate awareness through powerful media projects that compels parents and kids to better communicate and share their stories. Jason has shared his experience in two TEDx talks, the documentary films Tell My Story, What I Wish My Parents Knew and Tell My Story's other educational programs.

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• 295. Teenage Loneliness Epidemic

  Teenagers today are more "connected" than ever—and also more alone than ever. In this episode, I break down what researchers are calling a teenage loneliness epidemic and how it's quietly shaping our kids' emotional, social, and spiritual health. Large global studies show that about 1 in 9 adolescents worldwide report feeling lonely "most of the time" or "always." Long-term data also shows that by 2018, high loneliness levels in adolescents had nearly doubled compared to 2012. In the U.S., young people hold some of the highest loneliness rates of any age group, with one national report showing 61% of young adults experiencing "serious loneliness." We'll also get into the conversation around a "male loneliness epidemic." Some recent findings show men ages 15–34 report higher day-to-day loneliness than women the same age, even though overall, large-scale research suggests gender differences in loneliness are actually quite small. So what does that mean for your son—or your daughter? In this episode, I talk about: What's really driving the rise in teen loneliness (and why it's not as simple as "social media = bad"). How our parental habits—pace, expectations, emotional modeling—can unintentionally deepen the problem or help solve it. Practical, realistic ways to create connection with teens who seem withdrawn, prickly, or hard to reach. How boys and girls experience loneliness differently, and what each needs from the adults in their lives. How to offer yourself compassion as you learn new ways of showing up for your teen. This isn't about guilt. It's about naming what's real, supporting families with compassion, and giving you tools that bring connection back into the relationship. I'd love to chat with you about how this is playing out in your home. Book a free call HERE References 1. World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Adolescent mental health: Global prevalence of loneliness in 13–17 year olds. https://www.who.int/publications 2. López Steinmetz, L. C., et al. (2021). Loneliness among adolescents across 37 countries: Trends from 2000–2018. Journal of Adolescent Health, 69(6), 993–1002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.08.009 3. Harvard Graduate School of Education: Making Caring Common Project. (2021). Loneliness in America: How the pandemic has deepened an epidemic of loneliness and what we can do about it. https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu 4. Cigna. (2020). U.S. Loneliness Index: Gen Z and young adults experience the highest loneliness levels. https://www.cigna.com 5. Gallup. (2023). Men report higher rates of daily loneliness than women in many age groups. https://news.gallup.com 6. Maes, M., Van den Noortgate, W., & Goossens, L. (2016). Gender differences in loneliness across the lifespan: A meta-analysis. European Journal of Personality, 30(1), 70–85. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2034

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• 294. Purity Culture and Teens

  Purity culture isn't the opposite of sin—it's the counterfeit of real purity, emotional maturity, and healthy sexuality. In this episode, we unpack how purity culture quietly slips into our parenting, our faith conversations, and our expectations of teens… and how to replace it with something actually healing. We'll cover five practical steps that help your teen build healthy sexuality, spiritual resilience, emotional wellbeing, and genuine self-trust—without shame, fear, or pressure. You'll walk away with: A clear understanding of how purity culture harms both boys and girls emotionally, spiritually, and developmentally. Five actionable ways to support your teen in forming healthy, grounded sexuality rooted in connection and worthiness. Tools to model emotional maturity and normalize curiosity, agency, boundaries, and self-expression. Shame-free approach for talking about bodies, relationships, desire, and consent. A grounded roadmap for raising teens who feel confident, connected, spiritually anchored, and safe being themselves. If you're ready to parent with more peace, confidence, and connection—and less fear and control—I'd love to help you get there. Book a free Peaceful Parenting Strategy Call here

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• 293. Stop Fixing Them, Start with You- with Chris Rich

  If you've ever thought, "Why do my teen's moods control the whole house?"—this episode is for you. Instead of doubling down on control (which never works), I'll walk you through how to regulate yourself first, so you can actually connect with your teen and get real results. Here's what you'll walk away with: 3 steps to ground yourself fast (including Chris's "Safety Sequence" you'll want in your back pocket forever). Why high emotions = low intelligence, and how to flip the script in heated moments. How to retrain your brain so you see possibilities instead of just problems. The secret to creating peace in your home—even when your teen is tired, stressed, or flat-out pushing your buttons. Parenting isn't about "fixing" your teen—it's about showing up as the parent you'll be proud of. Book your free Peaceful Parenting Strategy Call today and let's create a plan that finally works for your family. About my Guest: Chris Rich is a certified life coach, corporate mental health presenter, and host of The Mixed Faith Relationship Podcast. She specializes in helping individuals strengthen connection, resilience, and emotional well-being—especially when navigating the challenges of faith shifts and family dynamics. Chris combines her professional training with her lived experience in a mixed faith family to offer practical tools, compassion, and hope. www.chrisrichcoaching.com [email protected] Host of The Mixed Faith Relationship Podcast @chrisrichcoaching Instagram Subscribe to Mixed Faith Friday Emails

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• 292. Help! My Teen Is Using and I Don't Know What to Do, with Brenda Zane

  What do you do when you get that call in the middle of the night—the one that flips your world upside down? For Brenda, it was the night her son was picked up for wilderness therapy because his substance use had reached a breaking point. In this honest, gut-punch of an episode, Brenda and I talk about what actually helps when your teen is using—and spoiler alert, it's not pretending everything's fine or doubling down on shame. We get into: Why your kid's using makes total sense (yes, really) Realizing your child is not your report card How to talk to siblings without scaring them or hiding the truth The #1 thing Brenda wishes every parent knew when their teen is using If you feel alone, scared, or like you're doing it all wrong—you are not. This conversation will help you breathe again. And if you want to talk through what's happening in your home, we've got you. You don't have to do this alone. About my Guest:  Brenda Zane is a highly recognized family advocate, TEDx Speaker, Mayo Clinic Certified Health Coach and podcast host whose career and personal transformation have shaped her unique impact on families and communities. After a 20+ year career in marketing and advertising, working with Fortune 500 brands like Nike, PepsiCo, Starbucks and Microsoft, Brenda made a life-changing decision at 50 to dedicate herself to supporting parents navigating the complexities of substance misuse and mental health issues in their children. In 2020, she co-founded Hopestream Community, a global 501c3 nonprofit organization. Brenda's personal journey includes nearly losing her oldest son to multiple fentanyl overdoses, which fuels her passion to help others. Today, Brenda combines her strategic expertise with hard-won wisdom to help parents of teens and young adults (ages 12-29) use evidence-based strategies to support their children through substance use and mental health challenges. Drawing from both research and the trenches of her own family's recovery journey, she compassionately guides parents toward approaches that strengthen connection, reduce harm, and motivate healthier lives for themselves and their kids. Brenda Zane Co-Founder, Hopestream Listen to the Hopestream podcast  Hear about our impact with families  Hopestream is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization

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