

Make It a Great One with Dr. Dan: #1 Podcast for Inspiring Conversations to Live and Lead On Purpose
Dr. Dan Peters, Psychologist and Executive Leadership Coach
Make It a Great One with Dr. Dan is your weekly dose of inspiration, purpose, and practical wisdom for living a life aligned with your true self. Hosted by renowned psychologist and executive coach Dr. Dan Peters, this podcast helps you break free from autopilot and step fully into the life you’re meant to live.If you’ve ever wondered if you’re living up to your potential—or how to navigate challenges with more resilience and clarity—this show is for you. Dr. Dan combines expert insights, powerful interviews, and real-life tools to help you deepen your self-awareness, strengthen your mindset, and make a positive impact.With decades of experience guiding individuals and leaders toward lasting transformation, Dr. Dan brings heart, humor, and honesty to every episode—so you walk away feeling motivated and equipped to make each day count.Tune in to new episodes every Thursday to unlock your potential, ignite your purpose, and—most of all—make it a great one.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 20, 2021 • 50min
Unplug, Log-off, and Get Outside with Hans Aschim
In this new episode, Dr. Dan interviews adventure expert and author Hans Aschim. Hans is a journalist, world traveler, outdoor industry brand consultant, and proud uncle. He advocates for adventure - in your own backyard or beyond - and powering down technology in order to get outside more. His debut book, HOW TO GO ANYWHERE (AND NOT GET LOST): A Guide to Navigation for Young Adventurers , will inspire children and parents to learn how to navigate their world while also enjoying the journey. Hans has traveled the world writing for Outside, Esquire, Men’s Journal, and other publications. He mentors children for the sports and outdoors nonprofit, Stoked, and lives in Brooklyn, New York. For more information visit: http://www.hansaschim.com/.
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May 6, 2021 • 50min
Barbarians at the PTA: Parenting, Psychology, Teens, and Screens with Stephanie Newman
Dr. Dan interviews Stephanie Newman, Ph.D., a psychoanalyst, psychologist, author and public speaker about mental health and her new book BARBARIANS AT THE PTA. Stephanie has practiced in New York for over 25 years, treating adults, adolescents and families struggling with anxiety, depression, and more recently Covid-19 stress.
In the spirit of Desperate Housewives meets Mean Girls, Stephanie’s novel BARBARIANS AT THE PTA uses fictional characters to explore the timely topics of bullying, cliques, cyberbullying, anxiety, and eating disorders, among both teenagers and adults.
Stephanie earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Columbia University and a post-doctoral certificate in psychoanalysis from PANY (formerly NYU Institute). Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, on the Wall Street Journal’s website, and Psychology Today online. Dr. Newman lives in New York with her family. https://psychotherapistnextdoor.com/
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Apr 22, 2021 • 52min
Helping Teens Connect with Jeni Olsen
Dr. Dan interviews Jeni Olsen, Founder and Executive Director of Teens Connect and the Prevention Director at Napa’s Center for Mental Health Services (CA) in this new episode. Jeni’s work literally saves lives.
After two Napa teenagers died by suicide in 2016, Jeni closed her graphic design business and founded Teens Connect with a mission to give middle and high schoolers tools to manage their stress, learn resilience, provide safe places and people with whom to connect, and give them a voice. Although she is not a therapist, Jeni helps teens and their parents by teaching them that the sooner good mental health habits start the better outcome. Jeni also touches on these issues in her raw and revealing Parent Footprint Moment at the end of the show.
Jeni Olsen has received the Leadership Napa Valleyand been named a Senator Bill Dodd Community Champion. For more information visit: https://mentisnapa.org/
If you are in distress right now, call the NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE 1-800-273-8255
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Apr 8, 2021 • 46min
Parenting Ourselves with Katie McDonald
Dr. Dan interviews self-care strategist, certified holistic health coach, raw food chef and founder of b.nourished Katie McDonald. Katie encourages us to start thriving instead of simply surviving. Dr. Dan and Katie discuss perfectionism, self-care, mindfulness, and self-worth.
Katie McDonald’s corporate career and motherly duties occupied her every waking moment. She was depleted and depressed — suffering from asthma, allergies, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, pneumonia, shingles and lung infections. The real threat of a compromised and shortened life span became all the inspiration Katie needed to transform her body-mind relationship.
In 2011, Katie founded b.nourished: a fulfillment of her vision to transform other people’s lives, one mindful habit at a time. Katie trained at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City and she is also a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.
Katie’s Parent Footprint Moment poignantly concludes this episode. For more information about Katie, her work, and her b.nourished tools please visit: www.bnourished.com.
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Mar 25, 2021 • 49min
Thrivers with Michele Borba
Dr. Dan interviews bestselling author and TODAY show contributor
Michele Borba, Ed. D. to discuss her new book THRIVERS:The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine.
Michele Borba, Ed. D., is the bestselling author of UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About Me World, and is an internationally renowned educational psychologist and an expert in parenting, bullying, and character development who has spoken to over one million participants on five continents. She is a regular NBC contributor who appears regularly on Today and has been featured as an expert on Dateline, The View, Dr. Phil, NBC Nightly News, Fox & Friends, Dr. Oz, and The Early Show, among many others.
As a teacher, educational consultant, and parent for 40 years, Dr. Borba has never been more worried for young people than she is about this current generation of kids. THRIVERS helps parents and educators teach the essential character strengths kids need to become “thrivers”-- young people who flourish in a rapidly changing, digitally- driven, and uncertain world. Dr. Borba discovered seven essential character strengths that set Thrivers apart (and set them up for happiness and greater accomplishment later in life): Self-confidence, Empathy, Self-control, Integrity, Curiosity, Perseverance, and Optimism.
Dr. Borba ends the interview with her incredible and powerful Parent Footprint Moment which will stay with listeners for a long time.
Michele Borba lives in Palm Springs, California, with her husband, and she is the mother of three grown sons. For more information visit: www.MicheleBorba.com
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Mar 11, 2021 • 49min
Fear, Facebook Mom Groups, and Kindness with Kristin Bair
Dr. Dan welcomes author and parent Kristin Bair to discuss her poignant, revealing, and popular essay published on Scary Mommy about Facebook Mom groups, kindness, empathy, bullying, and parenting in the digital age. Dr. Dan and Kristin also speak about fear and anxiety and her new novel AGATHA ARCH IS AFRAID OF EVERYTHING (named a best book by PEOPLE magazine).
Kristin’s Scary Mommy essay Why Some Women Wield Exclusion Like A Superpower instantly resonates with all parents everywhere because it deals with Facebook Mom Groups, exclusion, bullying, kindness, friendship, empathy, mean girls, and more.
Today’s episode encourages parents and families to discuss how to be kind and why kindness matters more than ever. Kristin shares a lovely Parent Footprint Moment about her daughter that will make listeners smile to wrap up the show.
Kristin Bair is the author of the novel Agatha Arch Is Afraid of Everything as well as The Art of Floating and Thirsty plus numerous essays about China, adoption, parenting, and more. Her work has appeared in The Gettysburg Review, The Baltimore Review, The Manifest-Station, Scary Mommy, The Christian Science Monitor, Poets & Writers Magazine, Writer’s Digest, and more.
Kristin has an MFA from Columbia College Chicago and a BA in English and journalism from Indiana University, Bloomington. Kristin is also a writing instructor and she has taught in classrooms and conferences around the globe, from Chicago to Boston to Shanghai, China, and many places in between. A native Pittsburgher, Kristin now lives north of Boston with her husband and two children. For more information and to read her writing visit: http://www.kristinbairokeeffe.com/
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Feb 25, 2021 • 52min
Family Finance with Benny Nachman
Dr. Dan speaks to Benjamin “Benny” Nachman, entrepreneur, Dad and cofounder of Jassby, a mobile wallet for families. In this new episode, Dr. Dan and Benny discuss how to raise money-smart kids.
Jassby is a free iOS app for both parents and kids to share real money digitally. Parents can manage chores, pay allowances, and send money to their kids when they need it. Children can spend their allowance and learn in real time.
As the CEO of Jassby, Benjamin Nachman has always been a strong advocate for hands-on learning when it comes to his own kids' money management skills. When he faced the early years of giving his own children an allowance, he was inspired to start Jassby.
In this episode, Benny discusses topics with Dr. Dan including
Finance/personal finance is not taught in schools so when and how should parents start talking to kids about money?
Raising financially confident kids by training them to handle money and make spending decisions on their own.
Today, our child's banking future is cashless, how can we train them to be ready for digital banking?
Why concepts of saving, giving back, budgeting are the essential three keys parents must teach their kids because these are life skills
Listeners will all learn from Benny’s very honest Parent Footprint Moment.
For more information about Benny and Jassby visit https://jassby.com/.
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Feb 11, 2021 • 48min
Moms Don’t Have Time To … with Zibby Owens
Dr. Dan welcomes author, popular podcast host, and parent Zibby Owens to discuss her new book Moms Don’t Have Time To : A Quarantine Anthology.
Zibby Owens is mom of four and the creator and host of the award-winning podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, as well as her newly launched podcast “Moms Don’t Have Time to Lose Weight.” She is a regular contributor to ABC’s Good Morning America and her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Real Simple, Parents, Marie Claire, Redbook, the New York Times online, and many other publications.
In this episode Dr. Dan and Zibby discuss the pandemic, podcasts, Zibby’s parenting journey during the COVID-19, and how, ultimately, we all have much more in common than we think we do.
Zibby’s book (and podcast) features bestselling and award-winning authors (Chris Bohjalian, Sonali Dev, Gretchen Rubin, Jill Santopolo, Evangeline Lilly, Christina Geist, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Bill Dameron, John Kenney, Mary Laura Philpott, and Reema Zaman) and is divided into relatable sections: Read, Workout, Eat, Breathe, Have Sex.
The show ends with Zibby’s “Stay where your feet are” advice and her real and honest Parent Footprint Moment.
Zibby Owens serves on the boards of the Mount Sinai Health System, the Mount Sinai Parenting Center, the Child Mind Institute, and co-chairs the Library Council of the New York Public Library. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Business School, Zibby currently lives in New York with her husband and her four children ages 5-13.
For more information visit Zibby at: www.zibbyowens.com; @zibbyowens; @momsdonthavetimetoreadbooks; @momsdonthavetimetoloseweight
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Jan 28, 2021 • 44min
Unplugged Play with Bobbi Conner
Dr. Dan talks to author, journalist, and parenting expert Bobbi Conner about the power of play and unplugging from technology in the new episode of the Parent Footprint podcast. Bobbi Conner created the award-winning, nationwide public radio series The Parents Journal and hosted the program for twenty-four years. She is author of The Giant Book of Creativity for Kids (Parents’ Choice Recommended Seal) and Everyday Opportunities for Extraordinary Parenting and the new series Unplugged Play. Bobbi’s public radio program, audio interviews, books, and articles have been featured in USA Today, Newsweek, The Washington Post, Parade, Parents, Parenting, CBS This Morning, PBS Parents.org, and more.
In this inspiring (and playful!) episode, Bobbi joins Dr. Dan to talk about her three new, screen-free children’s activity books Unplugged Play: Toddler, Unplugged Play: Preschool, and Unplugged Play: Grade School. During the pandemic families have faced disruption in their young children’s lives in a significant way.
In this episode, Dr. Dan interviews Bobbi Conner about various creative activities, games, and puzzles for children spanning the ages 1-10 years old. Each book in the Unplugged Play series offers a wealth of diverse and active games, from solo play to group play, indoor play to outdoor play, from parent and child play to birthday party games, and loads of busy-body play activities. Bobbi’s advice and her books will help parents and children -- especially during the pandemic.
Finding activities for kids that do not involve tablets or screens can bring joy and stress relief for the entire family:
Build a fort
Play tag
Hike
Ball or bean bag games (inside or outside as needed for safety)
Question and answer guessing games
Floor drawings on large paper sheets
Run around outside
Dr. Dan and Bobbi end the show with Bobbi's Parent Footprint Moment and a call to action to all parents and kids: Shut off the screens, turn off the TV, and rediscover the power of play today!
For more information on Bobbi, unplugging, and her books visit: https://unpluggedplay.com/
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Jan 14, 2021 • 50min
Making Social and Emotional Learning Stick with Elizabeth Sautter
Episode 104 Elizabeth Sautter
Ep. 104 Making Social and Emotional Learning Stick with Elizabeth Sautter
Dr. Dan welcomes back colleague, speech-language pathologist, author, and parenting expert Elizabeth Sautter for her second interview on the Parent Footprint podcast. Dr. Dan and Elizabeth discuss her current work, her new course and her new book MAKE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING STICK! - Practical Activities to Help Your Child Manage Emotions, Navigate Social Situations & Reduce Anxiety.
Elizabeth’s passion is to help children thrive socially and emotionally—without either kids or parents getting frustrated or overwhelmed. As a parent, she shares how she is also navigating challenges with her own children and her honesty will resonate with listeners.
The Mom’s Choice Award winner, Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick! shows families how to manage their child’s emotions, increase positive behavior and social skills, reduce anxiety, and much more. Both the book and the related new course feature the *WISE model and the make social learning **STICK model.
The WISE model-which stands for W-wisdom (knowing what is going on with your child with their strengths and areas of challenges) I-Intentional-being intentional with the support that you provide and being purposeful with parenting S-Self care/compassion and E-Every day strategies. This could lead into the daily teachable moments.
How to make social learning STICK:
S-see,
T-Think,
I-Interprete,
C-Connect,
K-Know
In this encore episode, Dr. Dan and Elizabeth explain how our children learn the most from US, their parents and caregivers. They are always watching and observing and as parents we can find teachable moments to help our children deal with anxiety, to build social skills, to master emotional regulation, to learn empathy, and to build resilience.
Elizabeth’s wise Parent Footprint moment wraps up this wonderful, educational episode.
Elizabeth A. Sautter, MA, CCC is a licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologist who has been working with clients and their families since 1996. She has worked with individuals ranging from preschoolers to adults in private practice, schools, and hospitals. Elizabeth has particular expertise in the areas of social communication, self-regulation, and executive functioning. She was the Clinical Director for the CW Center for 10 years and she has extensive training in Social Thinking and has completed a mentorship and internship with Michelle Garcia Winner, Stephanie Madrigal, and Pamela Crooke. She has also been trained by Mindful Schools and she is a collaborative Zones of Regulation® trainer and has co-authored articles and materials related to the Zones curriculum.
Elizabeth is the author of MAKE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING STICK! - Practical Activities to Help Your Child Manage Emotions, Navigate Social Situations & Reduce Anxiety (2nd edition) and co-authored two popular children’s books with Kristen Willson: Whole Body Listening Larry at Home and Whole Body Listening Larry at School. In her blog Make Social Learning Stick, she shares her own parenting and life experiences raising two boys, one with learning and attentional differences. Elizabeth is a member of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and is actively involved with the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA). Elizabeth received her master’s degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from San Jose State University. Her relationships with her sons, her sister, and extended family members with special needs have made her work a lifelong endeavor.
For more information about Elizabeth, her work, and the new book please visit: https://www.makesociallearningstick.com/
Watch this free video to learn more about Dr. Dan and Parent Footprint Awareness Training®.
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