

Connected Parenting
Jennifer Kolari
Connected Parenting shares techniques that therapists use to help parents soothe their child as well as enhance the parent-child bond and is based on the understanding that correcting and guiding behavior works best when it is preceded by and linked to empathy. At the heart of this parenting model is the CALM Technique which helps parents accurately attune to children’s affect and experience. These empathic interactions release reward chemicals in the brain that stimulate positive emotions and increase order and balance in the nervous system. Reward chemicals, including natural opiates, endorphins, and a powerful hormone called oxytocin, reduce and inhibit stress hormones and bathe the brain in positive emotions that ripple through every cell in the body. The benefits of empathy and compassion have a strong base in science that cannot be underestimated. Simply put, it is brain food, the emotional nutrition all of us need, perhaps our children most of all.
Although many parenting techniques stress the importance of empathy, Connected Parenting will show you how to use it skillfully to repair frayed bonds, deescalate tantrums, contain and correct difficult behaviors and help your child to become more confident and emotionally resilient. We use a collaborative and supportive coaching model and provide inspirational, easy-to-understand techniques grounded in neuroscience and attachment. In the end, your child will be more compliant, more relaxed, and – most importantly – happier. Connected Parenting will bring out the best in you and your child.
Although many parenting techniques stress the importance of empathy, Connected Parenting will show you how to use it skillfully to repair frayed bonds, deescalate tantrums, contain and correct difficult behaviors and help your child to become more confident and emotionally resilient. We use a collaborative and supportive coaching model and provide inspirational, easy-to-understand techniques grounded in neuroscience and attachment. In the end, your child will be more compliant, more relaxed, and – most importantly – happier. Connected Parenting will bring out the best in you and your child.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 19, 2023 • 43min
From Anxiety To Empowerment with Dr Friedemann | CP112
My guest this week Dr Friedemann has for more than 20 years been helping people overcome fear and anxiety without medication --- ultimately supporting them in their break through of both their mental and emotional blocks to eventually become the empowered leaders of their lives. Dr. Friedman is the author of the award winning book the Fear and Anxiety Solution. His newest book, The Empowerment Solution just came out in March and focuses on activating the healing power of the subconscious mind to switch out of the stress and anxiety driven survival mode and make authenticity and confidence the everyday way of being. He has worked with people from childhood right up into the later years in life and is here today to share his wisdom for how we can help to support ourselves and our kids when dealing with fear and anxiety.JOIN US!Meet Dr FriedemannDr. Friedemann, a physician with a Ph.D. in molecular biology, left his career in allopathic medicine to pursue his passion and purpose of helping people overcome fear and anxiety without medication. For more than twenty years, he has helped thousands of his clients worldwide to break through their mental and emotional blocks and become the empowered leaders of their lives. Dr. Friedemann is the author of the award-winning book, The Fear and Anxiety Solution. His newest best-selling book, The Empowerment Solution, focuses on activating the healing power of the subconscious mind to switch out of stress- and anxiety-driven survival mode and make authenticity and confidence the everyday way of being. Website: drfriedemann.comInstagram: @dailyempowermentsolutions Instagram: @dr.friedemannschaub

Apr 5, 2023 • 21min
When Your Child Has No Friends | CP111
As a parent, it's heart-wrenching to see your child starting school without a social safety net, left feeling alone and disconnected.It's natural to feel helpless and overwhelmed by the situation, but there are actionable steps you can take to empower your child and navigate through this trying experience.Together, let's explore the best ways to support your child during this difficult time, while managing your own emotions and fostering a positive path forward.Meet Jennifer KolariJennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).

Mar 29, 2023 • 11min
College Blues | CP110
The college acceptance season is upon us and emotions are running high for both students and parents. Some are elated with the news of acceptance, while others are crushed by rejection.Whether you have a college-bound kid or not, helping them navigate the turbulence of rejection can be challenging.In this episode, we’ll explore ways to connect with and support your child through the rollercoaster of emotions that come with disappointment. From mirroring their feelings to validating their experience, I am sharing tips to help you guide your child towards healing and moving forward.Meet Jennifer KolariJennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).

Mar 22, 2023 • 45min
A Conversation with Retired Navy SEAL Commander Jimmy May | CP109
Get ready for an exhilarating journey today as we launch into our first-ever interview series that will take us through the awe-inspiring lives of phenomenal individuals with powerful stories, wisdom to share, and tips to elevate our lives – and parenting game! It is with immense pleasure that I welcome our first guest and real-life superhero, my good friend, Jimmy May. A retired Navy SEAL Commander with 22 years of unparalleled courage and leadership under his belt, our conversation with Jimmy promises to be nothing short of phenomenal! So buckle up, and let's dive in!Jennifer Takeaways:How To Help An Energetic Child (8:43)Dad's Passing (11:44)Potential & Greatness In A Tiny Body (17:46)The Navy (19:59)Gratitude For Seal Team's Support (26:33)The Difference Between Toxic & Healthy Shame (35:38)Beyond The Brotherhood (39:19)Meet JimmyJimmy is an active duty Navy SEAL Commander with 22 years of service. He developed and teaches curriculums on combat leadership to all SEAL Chiefs and OICs and Combat Ethics to the Naval Special Warfare Community and the Navy JAG community.Commander May has seven deployments to the middle east and has an array of awards including 3 Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. He has experience working across the globe in high-stakes situations to find common ground across a wide array of conflict scenarios. He completed his undergraduate work at Texas and post-graduation studies at Harvard as an alumni of the Program for Leadership Development. Jimmy is CEO of Sushi Assassin, an in-home sushi catering business for private events and recently started Mayday Executive Services to help companies develop camaraderie and unit cohesion through shared intense experiences.He serves as CEO and a board member of Beyond the Brotherhood, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Navy SEALS of character transition from the Teams to the civilian sector and is sought after as a keynote speaker for events across a wide variety of organizations. Jimmy is fluent in Arabic, an avid spear fisherman, surfer, martial artist and amateur bee-keeper. He resides in Ocean Beach, San Diego with his family and prides himself on doing good things for good people.Connect with Jimmy:Website: https://www.beyondthebrotherhood.org/about/MEET JENNIFER KOLARIJennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid(Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really) Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).Thanks for Listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others would love to listen, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode, or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!Follow The PodcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!Leave Us an Apple Podcasts ReviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Don't forget to visit our Connected Parenting Youtube Channel! Check it out! Like us and Subscribe!

Mar 15, 2023 • 11min
It's Child's Play | CP108
Today, I'm going to do a bit of a deep dive into the importance of play, especially in terms of children's psychosocial development and how unstructured, non-guided play is absolutely critical to good mental health in children. Jennifer Takeaways:Children Work Life Out In Play (1:57)Noticing Themes (5:09)Playing Alone Is Healthy (7:16)Kids Have Amazing Imaginations (8:49)The Importance Of Play (10:26)MEET JENNIFER KOLARIJennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid(Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really) Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).Thanks for Listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others would love to listen, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode, or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!Follow The PodcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!Leave Us an Apple Podcasts ReviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Don't forget to visit our Connected Parenting Youtube Channel! Check it out! Like us and Subscribe!

Mar 8, 2023 • 12min
Screaming Teenage Hair Fits | CP107
As a parent of teens, you might be familiar with what I like to call the dreaded "screaming teenage hair fit," caused by everything from finding the perfect outfit before an important event, a haircut gone wrong or even just a pimple on their face.Transition times with teens can be especially turbulent; and leave you feeling pulled you into their emotional "vortex" with no way to get yourself out of it.If this sounds familiar join me for today's discussion where I'll look closer at why this phenomenon occurs and explore strategies for navigating these emotionally charged situations with your teenager - plus learn what age range is more likely to experience improvement in such frustrating scenarios.Join me now as I dissect the teenage screaming hair fit.

Feb 22, 2023 • 11min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 106 – Texting Your Teens
As parents we have all heard the same messaging about – making sure our teens talk to us face-to-face and spend less time on their screens. However, when it comes to texting with them this may not always be the hard and fast rule.
So why on earth would I tell you to text your teen?
Tune into today’s episode and discover how texting your teen can make having conversations easier while also aiding in their growth and development.
MEET JENNIFER KOLARI
Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.
Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.
Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.
Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid(Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really) Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).
Thanks for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others would love to listen, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.
Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode, or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!
Follow The Podcast
If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!
Leave Us an Apple Podcasts Review
Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Don’t forget to visit our Connected Parenting Youtube Channel! Check it out! Like us and Subscribe!

Feb 15, 2023 • 15min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 105 – Mistakes
Making mistakes is guaranteed in life.
But they’re also an inevitable and intricate part of learning and growth. This means how we react to those mistakes, especially in front of our kids, really teaches them how to respond to errors and perfection.
Our kids are always watching us, and we are always teaching them — is the message clear?
VALENTINE’S SALE | HAPPENING NOW | It’s time for a revolution in parenting that’s based on the neuroscience of love.
To celebrate the month of LOVE, we are offering our Online Master Class for as low as $295 until Sunday at Midnight!
Join the supportive and growing number of parents discovering the joy, freedom, and fulfillment that comes with Connected Parenting.
––> Take the Connected Parenting Master Class – https://connected-parenting-online.mykajabi.com/connected-parenting-masterclass-1
MEET JENNIFER KOLARI
Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.
Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.
Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.
Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid(Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really) Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).
Thanks for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others would love to listen, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.
Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode, or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!
Follow The Podcast
If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!
Leave Us an Apple Podcasts Review
Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Don’t forget to visit our Connected Parenting Youtube Channel! Check it out! Like us and Subscribe!

Feb 8, 2023 • 17min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 104 – The Neurobiology of Love
February is the perfect month to explore the science behind love and its impact on parenting.
Discover how dopamine and oxytocin, aka ‘happy hormones’, can help you better understand yourself, build stronger relationships with your family, and foster meaningful connection through deeper insight of emotions..
Join us for an in-depth journey into the neurobiology of love.
Have you seen my latest course?
Master Procrastinator Course | “From No to Go” ….a course specifically designed to help your teen or young adult find their motivation.ENROLL HERE: https://connected-parenting-online.mykajabi.com/no-to-go-2
MEET JENNIFER KOLARI
Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.
Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.
Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.
Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid(Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really) Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).
Thanks for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others would love to listen, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.
Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode, or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!
Follow The Podcast
If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!
Leave Us an Apple Podcasts Review
Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Don’t forget to visit our Connected Parenting Youtube Channel! Check it out! Like us and Subscribe!

Jan 25, 2023 • 15min
CONNECTED PARENTING EPISODE 103 – The Protest
Ever feel like you are stuck in this never ending loop of back and forth with your kids?
In today’s episode, I’m talking about “the protest”. When it comes to strong-will kids or “Gladiators” as I lovingly call them you will often see this sort of pushing back, or automatic no to almost any new idea and or transition.
They just have a very powerful counter to whatever it is you say, that they hold strong to and don’t back down from. How you respond to the protest can really make a difference in terms of the quality of your life, and how these interactions play out.
If this sounds like a familiar scene in your home, join me and learn how not to feed into the protest.
Have you seen my latest course?
Master Procrastinator Course | “From No to Go” ….a course specifically designed to help your teen or young adult find their motivation.ENROLL HERE: https://connected-parenting-online.mykajabi.com/no-to-go-2
MEET JENNIFER KOLARI
Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.
Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.
Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.
Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid(Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really) Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).
Thanks for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others would love to listen, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.
Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode, or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!
Follow The Podcast
If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!
Leave Us an Apple Podcasts Review
Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Don’t forget to visit our Connected Parenting Youtube Channel! Check it out! Like us and Subscribe!


