Stacy Rebeck, an adult adoptee and advocate for reform, shares her compelling journey and challenges regarding private infant adoption. She addresses the emotional and systemic issues faced by birth mothers and the ethics of the adoption industry. Stacy highlights the stark realities of the adoption system, discussing the pressures on pregnant women and the need for more open conversations about adoptee experiences. Her insights urge a reevaluation of adoption narratives and advocate for a child-centered approach in this sensitive topic.

Today’s episode is a follow-up to Episode 65, The Dark Underside of Family Vlogging, Part 1, which aired almost a year ago. My guest from that episode, Cam, returns to discuss her reaction to a recent big development in the world of family vlogging. Cam grew up as the child of one of the first well-known “Mommy bloggers,” and is an international advocate for the children of influencers and family vloggers. She shares her perspective on the new California law. Join us!Show Highlights: Understanding the basics of the Child Content Creator Act in California to protect kids’ rights (similar laws are being passed in Illinois and Minnesota) Legal ramifications for parents who don’t follow “the 30% rule” Children on reality TV shows do NOT fall under the new law. Understanding the Coogan Law Cam’s perspective on the protections of the law for children—and what she wishes the law included “The right to forget”: what it means and why it’s not included in the law Cam’s thoughts about a recent scary cancer diagnosis in light of her past history with vulnerability at the hands of her mom’s vlog Growing up with NO boundaries or privacy Laws in CA, IL, and MN to protect kids from being exploited Resources and Links:Connect with KC: Website, TikTok, Instagram, and FacebookGet KC’s book, How to Keep House While DrowningWe love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: www.strugglecare.com/promo-codes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a clinical psychologist and author specializing in children’s emotional health, discusses the critical distinctions between bullying and ordinary meanness. She emphasizes how mislabeling conflicts can affect resilience. The conversation explores parenting strategies for teaching self-compassion and the significance of understanding online negativity. Dr. Eileen shares techniques to help kids navigate feelings and establish connections, advocating for empathy and acknowledgment of emotions.

In a lively conversation with Jill Sirianni, co-host of the Frugal Friends Podcast and co-author of 'Buy What You Love Without Going Broke,' the hosts explore the inefficacy of traditional budgeting, especially for neurodivergent minds. Jill shares insights about the concept of being a 'financial goldfish' and discusses the psychological traps of impulse buying. They advocate for values-based spending and offer practical strategies like conducting a 90-day transaction inventory and creating pauses before purchases to foster mindfulness in financial decisions.

Nat Vikitsreth, a licensed clinical social worker and social justice organizer from Thailand, shares powerful insights on balancing self-care and community engagement. She emphasizes the importance of being your own ally and addresses the systemic roots of suffering like white supremacy and capitalism. Nat discusses the need for compassionate accountability and leads a compelling conversation on collective action versus individual burnout. Parents will find her practical advice on navigating personal joy while addressing community needs particularly enlightening.

Dr. Alec Pollard, a seasoned clinical psychologist and co-author of a book on aiding families with resistant loved ones, shares invaluable insights. He discusses the 'Family Well-Being Approach' and how appropriate support can foster recovery. Pollard highlights the dangers of enabling behaviors versus healthy accommodations and emphasizes the importance of creating incentives for treatment engagement. He also touches on self-care for caregivers, illustrating the delicate balance between aiding loved ones and maintaining one's own mental health.

If you joined us for last week’s episode, you know that we promised Part 2 of my conversation with Franchesca Ramsey. She brings an expert perspective on the various aspects of content creation, like authenticity, compassion, handling negative comments, the value of listening, and more. Franchesca Ramsey is an actor, writer, public speaker, and longtime content creator. She wrote and performed in the web series MTV Decoded, where she tackled race, pop culture, and other uncomfortable topics. Other notable accomplishments include writing for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore and a nomination for an NAACP award for one of the best books of 2018: Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist. Franchesca shares her expertise and insights about guarding your mental health as a content creator. Join us to learn more!Show Highlights: The skills we lack in being human, trusting each other, and genuinely calling someone IN The public vs. private sphere of an online presence Listening, forgiving, and doing the right thing Hard-earned perspectives on hot takes and being silent What’s your WHY for content creation? Handling critical and negative comments on social media Being authentic in content creation means sometimes logging off. KC’s thoughts on her WHY as a content creator Resources and Links:Connect with Franchesca Ramsey: Website, TikTok, Instagram, and bookConnect with KC: Website, TikTok, Instagram, and FacebookGet KC’s book, How to Keep House While DrowningWe love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: www.strugglecare.com/promo-codes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Franchesca Ramsey, an actor, writer, and public speaker, shares her journey as a longtime content creator known for MTV Decoded. She emphasizes the prevalence of burnout in the content creation world and discusses the importance of mental health and setting boundaries. The conversation dives into social media's impulsive nature and the need to prioritize joy in content. Ramsey also reflects on the challenges of cancel culture and managing public perception, offering valuable insights for staying authentic without sacrificing well-being.

Join us for today’s interesting conversation about ethics, boundaries, suffering, bullying, and being online/offline. There are many facets to these topics as they intertwine with morality, and we are diving into a discussion with Ellie Rushton, Show Highlights: Ellie’s background, work, and TikTok content about “cultivating bold spaces” Ellie’s definition of bullying: “doing something harmful several times on purpose for the sake of someone’s suffering” Thoughts on bullying and why people do it Holding someone accountable vs. bullying—what’s the difference? Ellie’s perspective on online comments to others’ content Thoughts on the roots of inequality, oppression, and suffering—and the problem with categorizing “good” and “bad” people People are afraid of embodying compassion. What is effective in online spaces Thoughts about boundaries, revenge, and retribution Standing up for what you believe while holding yourself accountable Resources and Links:Connect with Ellie: TikTokConnect with KC: Website, TikTok, Instagram, and FacebookGet KC’s book, How to Keep House While DrowningWe love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: www.strugglecare.com/promo-codes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this engaging discussion, Rachel Coler Mulholland, a therapist renowned for her impactful sex education content for children, sheds light on the critical gaps in traditional sex ed. She explores how purity culture adversely affects teens and emphasizes the importance of ongoing conversations about consent and emotional health. Rachel's Four Pillars of Safe Sex—confirmation, communication, lubrication, and enthusiastic participation—are key takeaways. She also shares practical insights for parents on when and how to introduce these vital topics to their children.