Robot Unicorn
Nurtured First
Join me, Jess VanderWier, a registered psychotherapist, mom of three, and founder of Nurtured First, along with my husband Scott, as we dive deep into the stories of our friends, favourite celebrities, and influential figures.
In each episode, we skip the small talk and dive into vulnerable and honest conversations about topics like cycle breaking, trauma, race, mental health, parenting, sex, religion, postpartum, healing, and loss.
We are glad you are here.
PS: The name Robot Unicorn comes from our daughter. When we asked her what we should name the podcast, she confidently came up with this name because she loves robots, and she loves unicorns, so why not? There was something about the playfulness of the name, the confidence in her voice, and the fact that it represents that you can love two things at once that just felt right.
In each episode, we skip the small talk and dive into vulnerable and honest conversations about topics like cycle breaking, trauma, race, mental health, parenting, sex, religion, postpartum, healing, and loss.
We are glad you are here.
PS: The name Robot Unicorn comes from our daughter. When we asked her what we should name the podcast, she confidently came up with this name because she loves robots, and she loves unicorns, so why not? There was something about the playfulness of the name, the confidence in her voice, and the fact that it represents that you can love two things at once that just felt right.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 10, 2024 • 45min
Spanking, Timeouts, And Taking Things Away: When Is Punishment Ok?
Join child discipline expert Jess, who sheds light on effective parenting strategies. They dive into the impact of traditional punishments like spanking and timeouts, revealing how these methods may undermine the parent-child bond. Jess emphasizes understanding children's emotional needs and offers insights into fostering healthy relationships through respectful consequences. Personal anecdotes add humor and relatability, making this a valuable discussion for any parent navigating the complexities of discipline.
Jun 3, 2024 • 1h 18min
Sex After Baby, Unlearning Shame, And Finding Your Sexual Self With Shan Boodram
Shan Boodram, a world-renowned sexologist and professional sex educator, shares her transformative journey in sex education. She unpacks the societal shame surrounding intimacy and emphasizes the need for open dialogues about sexuality, particularly empowering parents to discuss these topics with their children. Shan tackles the balance between motherhood and sexuality, offering insights on reigniting intimacy postpartum. Listeners are encouraged to challenge internalized stigma and reshape narratives around intimacy for future generations.
May 27, 2024 • 48min
Do We Overcomplicate Parenting? The Problem With #ParentingExperts
Jess, a high school student turned online parenting educator, shares her insights on navigating the complex world of parenting advice. Scott joins her to discuss the troubling prevalence of misinformation and the need for credible guidance. They stress that building a strong attachment with children can be achieved through simple everyday acts of love. The duo also emphasizes that parenting isn't as complicated as it seems on social media, advocating for a critical approach to online parenting resources.
5 snips
May 20, 2024 • 1h 7min
What No One Talks About: Baby Sleep, Self-Worth, And Periods With Ashley Greene
Ashley Greene, known for her role in the Twilight movies, shares her personal journey to motherhood. She candidly discusses the challenges of postpartum life and the pressure to ensure her baby sleeps through the night. The conversation delves into the significance of reparenting and emotional regulation. Ashley emphasizes the importance of self-compassion for both parents and children, tackling topics like women’s health and menstrual education. She advocates for celebrating effort over perfection and fostering open dialogues about periods with the next generation.
May 13, 2024 • 32min
Forcing Kids To Do Hard Things: Raising Resilient Kids Who Can Tolerate Frustration
Exploring the balance of pushing kids to do hard things, the fine line between encouraging potential and pushing past limits. Discussing resilience, self-doubt, and nurturing persistence in children. Navigating complexities in parenting, emphasizing self-awareness and guiding with belief in capabilities.
May 6, 2024 • 1h 17min
Feeling Misunderstood As A Sensitive Child: How Christina Perri Found Her Voice
Singer-songwriter Christina Perri opens up about her journey from a sensitive child to a superstar. She talks about finding solace in songwriting, navigating fame, experiencing pregnancy loss, and advocating for prenatal testing. The episode explores themes of sensitivity, creativity, grief, and vulnerability, emphasizing the power of connection and shared experiences.
Apr 29, 2024 • 42min
Is It Healthy Eating, Or Is It Trauma? Unpacking Scott's Relationship With Food
Guest Scott shares his journey to a healthy relationship with food despite lacking positive role models. Topics of discussion include childhood trauma's impact on food habits, body image challenges post-pregnancy, gender disparities in societal body standards, and raising intuitive eaters. The episode delves into intuitive eating, overcoming food rules, and creating a positive body image for children.
Apr 22, 2024 • 1h 9min
Snickers For Breakfast: How To Let Go Of Perfectionism And Be Less Triggered
Former educator and mom Tryphena discusses the challenges of raising her neurodivergent son. They explore healing the inner voice, reparenting, and childhood wounds. Also, the journey of cultural identity and supporting biracial children. Focus on vulnerability in friendships and authenticity. Insightful episode on parenting and self-discovery.
Apr 11, 2024 • 4min
Welcome To Robot Unicorn!
Welcome to Robot Unicorn! In this trailer, you’ll meet my incredible co-host. We will explain the meaning behind the name and share what you can expect from this show.Robot Unicorn will officially premiere on April 22, 2024, at 5:00 am EST! We can’t wait for you to see all the magic we have in store for you!
