
Mastermind Parenting Podcast
Welcome to Randi Rubenstein’s Mastermind Parenting Podcast. So, the big question is this - How do parents like us know that we aren’t messing up the biggest role of our lives, especially when we happen to have a strong-willed kiddo that is constantly pushing our buttons? We’ve all heard that kids don’t come with a manual, so how can we know for sure that we are saying the right things or that we’re getting this parenting thing right. On this podcast for parents of toddlers to teens, we’ll be giving you real tools you can use right away so that your kids will feel like they can talk to you about absolutely anything and everything. At Mastermind Parenting, we believe when your thoughts grow, the conversations in your home flow. This podcast will help you make a crucial shift in your home from the old lecturing style to convos that feel collaborative, connecting and most importantly…PRODUCTIVE.
Latest episodes

Apr 29, 2025 • 1h
Our Review of the Netflix Show Adolescence: Teens, Screens, and Toxic Masculinity
Spoiler alert! Ya’ll probably know that I LOVE a good TV show. A comfy blanket and a cozy watch is a reliable happy place for me. So when my family recommended the Netflix thriller, “Adolescence,” I have to say I was a little resistant. But eventually they convinced me, and I am SO GLAD they did!“Adolescence” is a short 4-episode drama series about a teenage boy accused of murdering a girl in his class. But unlike most murder mysteries, this show really digs down into how a seemingly normal kid could become capable of committing such an awful crime. Critics and audiences are giving it rave reviews, and Avery and I want to tell you why. We talk about Avery’s experience growing up in the digital age, and how you can talk to your own kids about what awaits them online.MAJOR SPOILERS in this one gang, so watch the show first, then enjoy our discussion. You’ll be glad you did!As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-321About 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 26, 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/Links“Adolescence” on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81756069 Our 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/

Apr 15, 2025 • 1h 12min
Do You Have To Play With Your Kids To Be A “Good Mom”? (with Dr. Shawn Hondorp)
Raising a strong-willed kid is harder. Even draining sometimes. Sitting on the floor and playing with toys felt like the worst to me. I now realize that I found other playful ways to be with my kids… but I still sometimes feel a little guilty about not being a Barbie or Legos kind of mom.So when Dr. Shawn Hondorp invited me on her podcast, The Innovative Therapist, to talk about play and pack leadership, I have to admit, I may have baby barfed a little. But I love Shawn, and I had so much fun working out a definition of Pack Leadership with her recently, that I knew I could trust we’d have a great conversation. And I was SO right.It turns out that a playful attitude counts as playing with your kids. Woohoo. It is also a part of my personal recipe for Pack Leadership. It’s a great way of thinking about leadership in any context, and I think you’ll love this conversation as much as I did. I just love Shawn. Enjoy!As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-320About 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 26, 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/LinksPart 1 of our discussion, What Even Is Pack Leadership? https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-318 Our 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/

Apr 1, 2025 • 53min
The Biggest Mistake We Make Around Homework (And what to do instead!)
You want to help your kids succeed in school - that’s a given. School success is a big area of anxiety and worry I often see with parents I coach. Many well-intentioned parents get more and more involved in their kids’ homework - but more involvement often leads to more long term struggles.Becoming the homework helpline might help get your kids’ grades up temporarily. But it also teaches them to rely on you instead of learning how to figure things out for themselves. There’s no opportunity for your kid to develop agency.Without your constant concierge-level concern, the kid finds themselves flailing and potentially feeling like a failure. Obviously, this is the polar opposite of how you want them to feel. Avery is back and joining me this week to share her experiences with my less-than-obsessed attitude toward homework, and how it helped and possibly hindered her too! As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-319About 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 26, 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/

Mar 18, 2025 • 1h 16min
What Even Is Pack Leadership? (with Dr. Shawn Hondorp)
You’ve probably heard me talk about pack leadership, and how I believe it’s the holy grail in creating a more peaceful family. Humans learn through stories, and I have SO MANY stories about empowered parents, stronger family connections, and sensitive kiddos who finally feel understood.But sometimes you have to go back to basics, like I did this week with therapist, podcaster, and long-time Masterminder, Dr. Shawn Hondorp. On a recent episode of her show, The Innovative Therapist, she asked a simple question. What is pack leadership? The answer was a discussion about feminism, society, parenting styles, and the expectations we place on ourselves to be super great at raising kids. Whether you’re just starting to ask how you can step up for your family, or you’re a confident pack leader yourself, you’ll get something helpful out of our exploration. Enjoy!As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-318About 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 26, 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/

Mar 11, 2025 • 42min
How and (How Not To) Apologize… Better
Apologizing can feel hard. Maybe even harder than we care to admit to ourselves. It’s vulnerable to look at a situation where you may have hurt someone you love…especially when that someone is your own kid. Owning your mistake in a heartfelt way can potentially repair a fractured relationship.Which is why Avery and I had to talk about a very public apology we listened in on, from a recent episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast. Mel and her daughter Sawyer talked about their new book The Let Them Theory, and had a candid discussion about Mel’s presence in Sawyer’s life when she was growing up.Avery and I both thought their reckoning left out some important steps. We thought walking through it would be a great way to help you learn what makes a genuine, empathetic apology, and how learning to apologize better can deepen the trust in your family.As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-317About 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 26, 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/

Mar 4, 2025 • 1h 22min
The Invisible Trauma of Why You Might be a Lone Wolf with Ruth Cohn
It might feel like terrible news that building our pack leadership involves going back into our own childhoods. It can feel scary to go back to the “belly of the beast”… after all, you survived your childhood. Who on this God’s green earth would actually choose to look back when you’re so focused on changing cycles and moving forward? When the patterns we’re trying to break involve the often invisible trauma of emotional neglect, they can be extra tough to identify. Grownups raised by neglectful parents can feel like their experiences weren’t “bad” enough to count, or that they should just feel lucky because other kids had it way worse. My guest this week is Ruth Cohn, an amazing therapist and author who writes about what she calls “the invisible trauma” of neglect. Why it can be hard to realize that neglect IS traumatic, how it affects the way we live, and how much we tend to blame ourselves for things that aren’t in our control. If you’re a parent who’s trying to do better than the way you were raised, you have to hear her wisdom!As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-316About 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 26, 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 Ruth Cohn:Ruth Cohn, MFT, is a psychotherapist living and practicing in the San Francisco Bay area. She has been specializing in work with survivors of trauma and neglect, their intimate partners, and families since 1988. She is a Certified Sex Therapist, certified in Neurofeedback, EMDR, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Imago Relationship Therapy. Ruth is also the author of numerous articles on sexuality, trauma, and neglect, and three books: Working With the Developmental Trauma of Childhood Neglect: Using Psychotherapy and Attachment Theory Techniques in Clinical Practice, Coming Home to Passion: Restoring Loving Sexuality in Couples With Histories of Childhood Trauma and Neglect, and Out of My Mind: Late Night Contemplations About Trauma and Neglect.Ruth Cohn’s Web and Social LinksWebsite: https://ruthcohnmft.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuthCohnMFT/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthcohnmft/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-cohn-1331b9b/ Resources Discussed/LinksThe Apology, by V (formerly Eve Ensler) https://www.eveensler.org/pf/book-the-apology/ Our 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/

Feb 18, 2025 • 51min
Similarities Between Strong-Willed Kids and Strong-Willed Horses!
Did you know that the parenting tools you learn on this podcast also work with other strong-willed creatures? I’m chatting with Avery “favorite daughter” Rubenstein this time about pack leadership and what she has learned from “Ben, the strong-willed horse”. I think it’s incredibly helpful to practice the tools you are learning here by applying them to other areas of your life…your work, your adult relationships and even your relationships with animals. You see, pack leadership is about becoming and remembering the person you were meant to be…the kind of person who shows up again and again with curiosity and badassery. I think you’re going to love our banter on this episode as well as Avery’s insights about using MMP tools with animals and understanding her equine therapy clients…many of which are on the Autism spectrum. As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-315About 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 26, 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/

Feb 4, 2025 • 57min
The Modern Classroom with Rob Barnett (sounds dreamy:)
Y’all probably know I’m not the biggest fan of the way learning happens in most classrooms…and oh, there are so many reasons. I have believed for a long time that traditional education is outdated and needs a ginormous revamp. However, I wasn’t willing to homeschool my own kids.I liked the break and having my days as my own. So year after year, I made a “self-ish” decision when it came to my own kids’ education. I always felt a tinge of guilt and don’t really think they received the best. So I was super excited to talk to Rob Barnett. He’s a former teacher and co-founder of the Modern Classrooms Project. They’re a non-profit that envisions a world where technology can help kids learn at their own pace, by making space for teachers to give every kid the time and attention they need. Rob’s new book, Meet Every Learner’s Needs, builds on his experience in the classroom and as an education advocate. It’s a blueprint for changing the way kids learn, and making teaching more rewarding. I just know you’ll hear something that you’ll want for your kids in their classrooms! As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-314About 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 26, 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 Robert Barnett:Robert Barnett co-founded the Modern Classrooms Project, which has empowered 80,000+ educators in 180+ countries to meet every learner’s needs. Before that he taught math, computer science, English, social studies, and law, from the middle-school to university levels, at public and private schools in the U.S. and Switzerland. He graduated cum laude from Princeton University and Harvard Law School; speaks English, French, and Spanish; and lives in Washington, DC. He hopes his two young children will learn in Modern Classrooms someday!Robert Barnett’s Web and Social LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-s-barnett/ Book website for Meet Every Learner's Needs.Enter to win a free copy of the book!More about the Modern Classrooms Project.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/

Jan 28, 2025 • 59min
Is It Ever Too Late To Change Destructive Patterns?
Is it even possible to continue building your relationship after your birdies leave the nest? Come be a fly on the wall for one of my catch-up calls with my daughter, Avery. We share a hilarious Modern Fam video and recap our winter break family vacation, including an old pattern that made Avery upset and embarrassed. I think you’re going to love our honest conversation about the “un-pretty” parts of our dynamic. Avery also teaches us a critical part of Pack Leadership and the term, weaponized incompetence. As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-313About 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 26, 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/

Jan 21, 2025 • 41min
Parents Learn Through Stories, Too!
How exciting is it when you have a conversation that sparks a ton of ideas you want to share?That’s how my daughter Avery and I felt after our chat with Michael DiMartino. Talking about how kids learn through stories got us thinking about how much stories have taught us, both as kids (mostly in her case) and in adulthood (mostly in mine). Our follow-up conversation takes the focus from the epic right down to the personal. Avery and I talk about some of the favorite books, movies, and TV shows we love, and how the stories they tell have helped us connect with each other.This one is extra good if you’re a parent who’s struggling to see the world from the perspective of your kiddo. No matter what their age, there’s a story out there that can help you remember, and give you a glimpse of what they’re going through now.As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-312About 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 26, 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/
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