Authentic Parenting

Jeff Hittner on the invisible pressures dads carry every day—balancing ambition with presence, holding emotions they were never taught to express, feeling the weight of being a provider while wanting to be deeply connected, and silently wondering whether they're doing enough. 03:18 — Why dads default to fixing 06:10 — How conflict exposes emotional patterns you didn't realize you were repeating 09:27 — What happens inside your body in the first seconds of reactivity 12:55 — How shame hides in anger or withdrawal and shifts your parenting 16:40 — Why ambition and presence feel at odds—and how to hold both 19:12 — How the definition of "providing" can create hidden distance 22:03 — What kids actually need from you when they're dysregulated 26:44 — How small repairs rebuild connection after hard moments 29:58 — Why dads often hide their struggles and how vulnerability helps 33:21 — How real-time emotional attunement works—and what derails it 37:49 — What regulated fatherhood looks like in everyday interactions 41:30 — Why self-compassion matters more than perfect parenting 44:56 — How tiny daily habits build long-term emotional resilience 48:20 — What keeps parents stuck in reactive cycles and how to break them LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.

Dr. Laura Froian, a clinical professional renowned for her expertise in intentional parenting and trauma-informed approaches, joins the conversation on incorporating practical strategies for more connected family life. They explore the impact of screens on presence, the importance of decluttering both mentally and physically, and fostering community to alleviate parental overwhelm. Tips include prioritizing shared meals for connection and viewing technology use as a 'secondhand smoke.' Reflection exercises and adapting strategies as children grow are also highlighted for mindful parenting.

An OG podcaster, the founder and CEO of the Women's Meditation Network Katie Krimitsos on listening to your inner knowing, trusting your intuition and taking action even if you don't know all the answers. 04:00 – How fear and tears marked her first podcast recording. 06:30 – Why starting with no plan led to building a six-figure business. 09:00 – The intuitive pull that sparked an entirely new meditation show. 11:00 – How to follow intuition even when fear shows up. 13:00 – Confronting impostor syndrome as a meditation guide. 15:00 – Why early download success confirmed she was on the right path. 17:00 – The difference between intuition's whisper and fear's noise. 19:00 – How meditation became her tool to hear inner guidance. 21:30 – A "whisper moment" that led to comforting a grieving friend. 24:30 – Teaching her daughter to trust her gut over peer pressure. 27:00 – How she recognized school struggles and ignored conventional advice. 29:30 – Why listening to intuition transformed her daughter's learning journey. 32:00 – How journaling, walks, and reflection guide big life pivots. 34:30 – Why failure is just a stepping stone in following your inner voice. 37:00 – How meditation can unlock your intuition and live an aligned life. LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services. Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

Dr. Laura Froyen, a clinical psychologist and parent coach, joins to explore the complexities of parenting teens. They discuss how to balance authority and support without becoming a friend to your child. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding acting-out behaviors as cries for connection, the limitations of typical online advice, and the value of family therapy. They emphasize building trust and skills early on to prevent crises later, advocating for a loving yet firm parenting style that nurtures healthy autonomy.

GG Renee Hill, an author and creative coach, dives into how our childhood narratives impact our parenting today. She emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with our inner child to parent authentically and overcome harmful patterns. Hill discusses reframing cultural expectations of strength, particularly for Black mothers, and the significance of modeling accountability for children after making mistakes. Finally, she highlights the healing power of storytelling and rewriting personal narratives, offering tools for growth and transformation.

00:00 – Introduction to Andrea Leigh Rogers 02:15 – From dancer to wellness entrepreneur 04:40 – Creating Xtend: blending Pilates and dance 06:55 – The birth of Small Moves, Big Life 09:10 – Why small moves matter 11:25 – Escaping the cycle of overwhelm 13:45 – Motivation follows action 16:05 – Redefining success for modern women 18:30 – The FEEL framework explained 21:10 – Letting go of mom guilt 23:25 – Doing less, living more 25:50 – Finding joy in movement 28:15 – Simplifying routines and priorities 31:00 – Self-compassion in daily life 33:20 – Raising confident, balanced kids 36:10 – Andrea's final message of encouragement LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services. Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

Seth Gillihan, PhD says the path to peace isn't fixing yourself — it's expanding yourself. We explore how to stop chasing "better" and start living fully, now. We'll explore mindfulness practices, stoic wisdom, and practical tools for quieting anxiety, facing fear, and reclaiming presence in a culture that conditions us to believe we are broken. 00:00 — Why we're wrong about self-improvement 02:45 — The hidden cost of chasing perfection 07:30 — The real location of happiness A surprising shift in perspective that could change your life. 12:15 — Self-worth sabotage How society quietly convinces us we're not enough — and what to do about it. 17:40 — Self-expansion vs. self-improvement A game-changing distinction most people miss entirely. 22:10 — The overlooked truth about worry and how to break free from it. 28:55 — Doing it scared 34:20 — Stoic practices that actually work Simple, practical tools that could transform your daily life. 40:10 — Secrets to avoiding burnout A mindset shift and daily ritual that keeps energy high. 45:00 — The closing truth OTHER EPSIODES YOU MAY LIKE The Power of Acceptance with Seth Gillihan, PhD (LIVE PODCAST) Finding Healing, Peace and Joy with Seth Gillihan, PhD-Part 1 LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services. Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

Dr. Levin on the often misunderstood topic of traumatic grief — how it differs from ordinary grief, why it can feel so overwhelming, and what truly helps in the healing process. 00:00 – Introduction to thanatology and grief work 02:15 – What makes grief traumatic 05:20 – Traumatic vs. non-traumatic loss 07:45 – Common reactions after sudden loss 10:05 – When grief becomes stuck 12:30 – Stabilizing the nervous system 15:10 – How trauma impacts meaning-making 17:40 – The theory of shattered assumptions 20:25 – Post-traumatic growth and hope 23:00 – Continuing bonds with the deceased 25:35 – Integrating loss and healing 28:10 – Supporting others through grief LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services. Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

Licensed Clinical Social Worker and trauma therapist Estefana Johnson shares what makes CMI unique, how it differs from other trauma modalities like EMDR, why our nervous system often overrides logic, and how tuning into 'signals' — rather than symptoms — can transform healing. (00:00) Introduction to CMI — what Critical Memory Integration is and how it reframes "symptoms" as "signals." (03:45) Difference Between CMI and EMDR — how CMI diverges from EMDR in theory, process, and focus on organic experience processing. (08:20) The Roots and Creation of CMI — how the model emerged from integrating multiple trauma modalities into one cohesive approach. (11:10) Present-Day Focus — why CMI starts with current discomfort rather than diving directly into past memories. (14:25) The Mind vs. the Nervous System — why mindset alone isn't enough and how the nervous system shapes perception and healing. (18:40) Understanding "Critical Memories" — what makes some memories so influential and how they form lifelong behavioral patterns. (22:15) Beyond "Big T" and "Small T" Trauma — why trauma categories are subjective and how CMI honors each person's lived experience. (26:00) The CMI Process — how clinicians assess tolerance for discomfort and guide clients through following body-based signals. (33:10) A Self-Guided CMI Practice — a simple exercise for tuning into sensations and emotions with curiosity and compassion. (40:00) Integration, Compassion, and Regulation — the role of self-compassion, co-regulation, and practical tools like breathwork in healing. (45:30) Closing Reflections — trusting your body's wisdom and learning more about CMI training through Arise Alliance. Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

Dr. Amy Apigian on the fascinating and often overlooked—biology of trauma. [00:00] Introduction and shared connection around trauma, resilience, and Armenian heritage. [05:00] Story of becoming a foster parent during medical training and first encounter with childhood trauma. [15:00] Struggles of supporting traumatized children without adequate tools or professional guidance. [25:00] Personal health breakdown leading to chronic fatigue, autoimmunity, and a deeper look into trauma biology. [35:00] Discovery that therapy alone wasn't enough — biology and physiology also play key roles in trauma. [45:00] Explanation of stress at the cellular level, mitochondria changes, and the "cell danger response." [55:00] Distinction between stress, overwhelm, trauma, and how burnout develops. [01:05:00] How trauma is stored in memory and physiology, with a personal story illustrating hidden trauma. [01:20:00] Exploration of chronic pain, sleep issues, IBS, and how they relate to a dysregulated nervous system. [01:35:00] Survival mode shuts down detoxification and accumulates toxins over years, leading to illness. [01:45:00] Why nervous system regulation is the essential first step in healing — but not the full solution. [01:55:00] Introduction of cellular repair to address oxidative stress, DNA damage, and generational trauma. [02:10:00] A holistic framework for healing: mind, body, and biology working together ("small hinges move big doors"). [02:25:00] Guidance on where to start: choosing manageable steps that build momentum and confidence. [02:35:00] Closing reflections on living more fully alive, plus resources, book, and social links. LINKS AND RESOURCES Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15) 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail. info@authenticparenting.com Send audio messages using Speakpipe. Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook. Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services. Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11