Power Your Parenting: Moms With Teens

• # 328 "You're So Hormonal!"

  Are your teen’s mood swings more than “just hormones”?Are your own symptoms—fatigue, anxiety, or low libido—being dismissed as “normal”? In this powerful episode, Colleen O'Grady interviews Dr. Julie Taylor, functional medicine physician and author of The Hormone Manual, about the misunderstood role hormones play in both teens and moms. Dr. Taylor debunks the myth that hormones are simply a “female issue” to be silenced, minimized, or medicated. Instead, she explains how hormones—especially progesterone and testosterone—are central to our emotional and physical well-being. From gut health in childhood to PMS, PMDD, birth control, perimenopause, and menopause, Dr. Taylor outlines how hormone imbalances often go undiagnosed and untreated, leading to anxiety, depression, migraines, and more. She urges moms to listen to their bodies—and their daughters’—and seek out root-cause, functional medicine solutions. Dr. Julie Taylor is a bioidentical hormone specialist and functional medicine doctor with a thriving practice in Pasadena, California. She aims to restore health and wellness to her patients by treating the whole person. She sees patients, men and women of all ages in her practice where she emphasizes preventive medicine reversing chronic disease and finding the root cause of all symptoms. She focuses especially on menopause management and helping women find quality of life as they age. 🗝️ Key Takeaways: Hormones are everything. Progesterone is a natural antidepressant, and estrogen/testosterone imbalances can lead to anxiety, mood swings, migraines, and loss of motivation or libido. Teen symptoms like PMS, heavy periods, acne, and even suicidal thoughts may stem from hormone imbalances, not mental illness—and can often be treated naturally. Birth control may mask symptoms but cut off vital communication between brain and ovaries. Non-hormonal options like the copper IUD are safer, and hormone testing is essential before defaulting to antidepressants. Find out more at: https://julietaylormd.com/ Follow on Instagram at : https://www.instagram.com/julietaylormd/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• #327 Create Calm with Your Teen

  Do you feel like your home energy often mirrors your teen’s mood—and not in a good way? What if you could shift the atmosphere in your home without saying a word? In this episode, Colleen O’Grady talks with Lisa Danahy, yoga therapist and founder of the nonprofit Create Calm, about how moms can bring more peace and regulation into their homes—and themselves. With decades of experience in education and yoga-based therapy, Lisa explains the role of the autonomic nervous system and the vagus nerve in our stress responses, and why physical practices—not just mental strategies—are the key to resetting our emotional states. She offers practical techniques like “Yoga Jacks,” “Washing Machine Twists,” and a rhythmic finger-tapping affirmation practice that moms can use to regulate themselves—and invite their teens to join. They also dive into the power of co-regulation, why mindfulness isn’t about control, and how big energy doesn’t have to lead to big drama. Lisa Danahy (C-IAYT, YACEP, MS) is a powerful educator and entrepreneur. Her non-profit, Create Calm, has facilitated cultural shifts and deep healing for thousands of students, teachers, and families in hundreds of schools and community organizations across the country since 2016. With an MS in Yoga Therapy and BA in Psychology, over 30 years as a school administrator and SEL curriculum developer, and certification as an advanced educator and trainer, Lisa is highly skilled at creating accessible, evidence-based, successful curricula for behavioral and emotional regulation, as well as physical and mental health. She is the author of Creating Calm in Your Classroom. Key Takeaways: Your calm is contagious. You don’t need to fix your teen’s mood. When you regulate yourself first—through breath, movement, or mindfulness—you model what emotional balance looks like and help them get there too. Energy is meant to move. Whether it’s stress, anxiety, or frustration, Lisa offers easy movement practices like “Washing Machine Twists” that help shift big energy safely out of the body. Start where you are. You don’t need a yoga mat or a quiet room. Mindful movements and breath can happen in the kitchen, before you walk in the house, or alongside your dysregulated teen—with or without their participation. Learn more at: https://createcalm.org/ Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/create_calm_yoga/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• # 326 Summer and Screens

  Is your teen glued to their screen this summer? Do you know the difference between typical teen behavior and true digital distress? In this powerful episode, Dr. Jennifer Zumarrarga, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, joins Colleen O’Grady to talk about the growing issue of digital distress—the emotional strain and anxiety caused by excessive screen use. Together, they explore how screens are impacting teens' mental health, from sleep issues to depression and even self-harm. Dr. Zumarrarga shares how her clinical work has evolved as digital habits have become a root cause of many emotional and behavioral issues in teens. The conversation dives deep into how the pandemic escalated screen dependency, how to spot signs of distress, and why setting boundaries around technology use is more critical than ever—especially during summer. Jennifer Zumarraga, MD is a specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology at El Camino Health in California. She has over a decade of experience working with children and adolescents of all ages. Dr. Zumarraga began her career in research at the National Institute of Mental Health, focusing on youth with ADHD. She went on to complete her training at the University of Rochester and the University of Southern California. Three Key Takeaways: Excessive screen time affects the basics: Sleep, nutrition, mood, and social interaction often suffer when teens are glued to their devices. Look for changes like irritability, withdrawal, or academic decline. Limits are necessary—and hard: Teens often push back when you try to cut screen time. But consistency, clear boundaries, and calm conversations (held when everyone is regulated) can help establish healthier habits. Help teens reclaim their summer: Work with your teen to create a list of 30–50 non-digital activities, develop a daily structure, and encourage real-world social connections. This effort now can prevent more serious mental health issues later. Learn more at: https://www.getcare.elcaminohealth.org/providers/jennifer-zumarraga-md-1518987601-1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• # 325 Risky Behavior and the Teen Brain

  Are you worried your teen will experiment with alcohol, vaping, or other risky behaviors?Do you wonder how to have those crucial conversations without getting shut down—or tuned out? In this powerful episode, Dr. Crystal Collier joins Colleen to unpack the science behind teen decision-making, impulsivity, and risk. With compelling insights from her own story and decades of research, Dr. Collier explains how dopamine, brain development, and social pressure collide in the adolescent years. She shares how high-risk behaviors like vaping, binge drinking, and overusing tech can alter executive functioning—and what parents can do to help. From early prevention strategies to family code building, refusal skills, and brain-based praise, this episode offers actionable steps to help your teen thrive. Crystal Collier, PhD, LPC-S, is a therapist, prevention researcher, educator, and author of The NeuroWhereAbouts Guide and Know Your Neuro: Adventures of a Growing Brain children's book series. The Know Your Neuro prevention model was selected for the Prevention and Education Commendation from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. Key Takeaways: You can prevent risky behavior—but it takes consistency, brain-based conversations, and setting a clear family code. Starting early (even in 3rd grade) is ideal, but it’s never too late to begin. Risky behavior alters brain development. Dopamine surges from vaping, drinking, or pornography can delay or damage the frontal lobe’s growth—impacting impulse control, empathy, and decision-making. Refusal skills matter. Teens are more likely to say yes when they haven’t rehearsed saying no. Helping your teen develop assertive or even humorous ways to resist peer and social media pressure is critical to their safety and confidence. Let your parenting be grounded in neuroscience—and empower your teen to protect their most valuable asset: their brain. Learn more at https://www.drcrystalcollier.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• # 324 Teens, ADHD, and Big Emotions

  Are you parenting a teen with ADHD and wondering why they seem so emotionally intense? Have you ever felt helpless watching your child spiral from rejection or frustration, unsure how to support them? In this deeply compassionate and eye-opening episode, Colleen interviews Jheri South—a mom of seven neurodivergent children, ADHD coach, and parent mentor—about the often overlooked emotional side of ADHD, especially Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). Jheri shares her raw and inspiring journey from being a single mom in survival mode to becoming an empowered advocate and guide for parents of neurodivergent teens. Together, they discuss why ADHD isn’t just about distractibility—it’s about difficulty regulating attention and emotion. Jheri explains how understanding the neurological wiring of ADHD can radically shift a child’s self-worth and a parent’s approach. She also unpacks how a simple coaching tool helped her son break through emotional paralysis—and why parents must do their own work to create a stable foundation for healing and growth. Jheri’s insights are grounded in both lived experience and professional expertise. She explains why many parents misinterpret emotional dysregulation as defiance, how girls often mask their symptoms, and why RSD episodes are not moments for discipline but for space and understanding. If you’ve ever wondered whether medication, coaching, or mindset work is the right path, Jheri provides a balanced, informed perspective—along with hope that your teen can thrive. 💡 Takeaways for Moms ADHD is not just about focus—it’s deeply emotional. Many kids (and adults) with ADHD struggle with rejection sensitivity and emotional swings that can look like laziness, disrespect, or defiance. Recognizing this rewires your approach from frustration to empathy. Connection matters more than perfection. Sherri emphasizes that building a relationship based on fun, love, and trust—not just academic success or behavior management—is what truly sustains teens, especially those with ADHD. Support starts with you. Parents who ask, “How can I do this better?” create a healing path forward. Your mindset, consistency, and willingness to understand your child’s brain can make the difference between chaos and clarity. Find out more at: https://jherisouth.com/ Follow Jheri at https://www.instagram.com/msjherisouth/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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