Trigger Warning: This episode discusses childhood sexual abuse. We share this with care, but please listen at your own pace and take care of yourself.

Deep breath, friends. This is one of THOSE episodes - the kind that feels a little heavy, a little scary, but is incredibly important, because the tools here could change your kid’s life. In this episode, I (Deena) am sharing my own experience with sexual abuse as a child. Not to scare you, but to give you something I didn’t have back then: Clear, practical tools to help keep your kids safer.

Because the uncomfortable reality is that sexual abuse doesn’t usually look like a stranger in a dark alley. It often happens between kids, between peers or people you know, in familiar places. And most kids don’t tell, because they’re confused, don’t have the language, or think they’ll get in trouble. So instead of fear, we’re focusing on power. This episode is your “bing bang boom - here’s exactly what to do” guide. You’ll walk away with:

Concrete, simple tools you can start using TODAY

• The exact words + scripts to teach body safety in a way that feels natural (not awkward or scary)
• A clear way to explain private parts, safe vs unsafe touch, and boundaries
• How to teach your kid to say no, get out, and tell someone
• How to build a “safety team” so your child always has trusted adults
• And how to create a home where your child knows, “I can tell my parent anything, and they will help me.”

Body safety isn’t about one, big scary talk. It’s about small, everyday conversations that build kids who know their body is theirs, trust their gut, use their voice, and feel safe coming to you, no matter what. You can give your child tools, language, and confidence that dramatically increase their safety.

So take a deep breath - we’re doing this together, and it’ll be worth it, I promise.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Nutrafol - Head to nutrafol.com and enter the promo code FEELINGS for $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping.

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Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you’ve ever asked yourself “Why am I so triggered by my child’s emotions?” “Why does this feel harder for me than it does for everyone else?” Or “How do I raise emotionally healthy kids… when no one taught me how?” This episode is for you. Kristin and Deena go beneath the surface of parenting and into the work most of us were never taught to do: regulating, repairing, and reparenting yourself while raising your child.

You’ll learn:

• The real reason parenting feels so hard (it’s not you - it’s your nervous system)
• The science behind regulation and how to actually build it in real time
• What generational healing looks and feels like - in messy, everyday moments
• Why grief is a part of parenting when you’re doing it differently than you were parented
• The 4 tools to start breaking cycles, even when you’re overwhelmed

This is the episode that helps you understand yourself. And when you understand yourself, you stop blaming yourself. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be the parent you needed.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Arey - Slow the growth of greys and get 15% off by using code BLF at arey.com.

First Day - Our listeners get up to 57% off and a free gift with code BLF at firstday.com.

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Little Spoon - Get 30% off your first order at littlespoon.com/BLF30 with code BLF30.

Quince - Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to quince.com/BLF for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

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Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We need to say something that might make you uncomfortable: we are over-parenting our kids. We are over-helping. Over-entertaining. Over-scheduling. Over-involving ourselves in every single moment of their lives. And it’s not making things better. It’s making our kids less independent, less resilient, and less capable of handling real life.

In this episode, we’re bringing back the parts that 90’s parenting got right (not the fear-based, emotion-dismissing, boooooorderline trauma parts), but the parts that actually built confident, capable kids. Because back then? Kids figured things out. They got bored. They solved problems. They had space to become themselves. And today? We’re doing so much for them… they don’t get the chance. This episode will challenge you — in the best way.

We’re talking about:

• Why your kid NEEDS boredom (and why it’s so hard for us to allow it)
• How constant involvement is quietly undermining confidence
• The science behind independent play and why it matters more than any activity
• Why fewer toys, fewer plans, and fewer interventions actually lead to better outcomes
• How to step back without feeling like you’re failing your kid

Your job is not to make your child’s life smooth. Your job is to raise a kid who becomes an adult who can handle a life that isn’t. This episode will help you pull back, without guilt, and start raising a kid who can stand on their own two feet. Repeat after me : PERMISSION TO DO LESS. Sound too good to be true? Tune in to find out just how easy this simple shift in parenting can be.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Experian - Get started with the Experian App now! See experian.com for details.

Little Spoon - Get 30% off your first order at littlespoon.com/BLF30 with code BLF30.

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Nutrafol - Head to nutrafol.com and enter the promo code FEELINGS for $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping.

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Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the goal of parenting isn’t raising kids who always listen…but raising kids who feel safe being fully themselves? In this episode, Kristin shares a realization that stopped her in her tracks: so much of her life has been shaped by the quiet pressure to be liked. To be the nice one. The agreeable one. The one everyone walks away from thinking, “Wow, she’s so kind.” From friendships to everyday interactions with strangers, that instinct to make sure everyone feels good about her has been deeply ingrained, and incredibly exhausting.

And that realization led to a bigger parenting question: how often do kids learn to people-please because they feel their acceptance depends on it? Many of us grew up believing the highest compliment a child could receive was being called a “good kid.” The obedient one. The easy one. The one who doesn’t push back, question, or cause problems. But what if that expectation quietly teaches kids something we never intended, that their job is to make adults happy?

In this episode, we unpack the hidden pressure behind being the “good kid” and why prioritizing obedience above all else can sometimes make it harder for kids to develop confidence, boundaries, and trust in their own voice.

Kristin talks about:

• Why the idea of the “obedient child” can be misleading
• How kids internalize the need for approval from the adults around them
• The subtle ways people-pleasing starts in childhood
• The difference between respect and compliance
• Why it’s actually healthy for kids to disagree, push back, and express who they really are
• How we can create homes where kids feel safe showing up authentically...even when that’s messy

Because here’s the truth: our kids are going to grow up in a world where not everyone will like them. And while that’s uncomfortable, it’s also part of being human. The goal isn’t raising kids who never disappoint anyone. The goal is raising kids who trust themselves enough to be who they are, even when it means not everyone approves. And when kids know they’re loved exactly as they are, they don’t have to spend their lives shrinking themselves to earn it.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Bobbie - Head to hibobbie.com to find the formula trusted by parents and loved by their babies–700k and counting.

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Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is one of the most vulnerable conversations we’ve ever had on the podcast. In this episode, Deena shares something deeply personal: her experience with postpartum depression after the birth of her third baby. What started as exhaustion and overwhelm slowly turned into something heavier, constant tears, crushing shame, and dark thoughts she never imagined she would have as a mom.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing at motherhood… like everyone else is coping better than you… like your brain is telling you lies about who you are as a parent, this episode is for you. Together, Kristin and Deena talk honestly about what postpartum depression actually feels like from the inside, the warning signs that something wasn’t right, and the moment Deena realized she needed help. They also talk about the power of saying the scary thoughts out loud, the role of support from partners and friends, and the steps that helped Deena begin to find her way back.


In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What postpartum depression can actually look like in real life

• The thoughts many struggling moms are too ashamed to say out loud

• Why postpartum depression has nothing to do with being a “good” or “bad” mom

• How to recognize when it’s time to reach out for help

• The small steps that can start the path toward feeling better

If you are struggling, please know this: there’s nothing wrong with you, you are not alone, and help is out there. This conversation is raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful, because no mom should have to carry this alone. You can also contact Postpartum Support International (they have free helplines, tests, and local providers). If you’re in immediate danger, call or text 988 in the U.S. If you’re elsewhere, your local emergency number can connect you to crisis support.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Experian - Get started with the Experian App now! See experian.com for details.

Little Spoon - Get 30% off your first order at littlespoon.com/BLF30 with code BLF30.

Our Place - Stop cooking with toxic cookware and upgrade to Our Place today! Visit fromourplace.com/BLF and use code BLF for 10% off sitewide.

Nutrafol - Head to nutrafol.com and enter the promo code FEELINGS for $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping.

Quince - Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to quince.com/BLF for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Unreal Snacks - Visit unrealsnacks.com/BLF to get $2 off a bag of Unreal. Terms and conditions apply.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode was hard for me to do, because I’ll be honest: I don’t believe kids should be on social media. Full stop. And still… the reality is: teens (and preteens) are being pulled into this world whether we like it or not, and parents are left trying to make sense of it with a pit in their stomach and zero clear answers. So, we sat down with Meta to find the safest way to protect our kids in these social media times.

In this conversation, Kristin interviews Tara Hopkins (Global Director of Public Policy at Instagram/Meta — and a mom of two teens) and asks the questions parents actually have about teen accounts, content exposure, messaging, time limits, AI, and what “safety” really means in a world of short-form dopamine loops. Full disclosure, this episode isn't going to leave you saying, “Instagram is great for kids!” But, if you've already given your child instagram, if you're curious what limits you can place for your kid begging for social media, or you know someone in the thick of it, you'll walk away knowing *exactly* what you can, and can't do, to protect your kid online.

This is an information-forward, real-world conversation for parents who want to understand:

• What Instagram Teen Accounts actually are

• What protections exist (and where parents still need to step in)

• What parents can and can’t control

• How Meta approaches sensitive content and teen safety

• How time limits, sleep settings, and parental permissions work

• Where AI fits into all of this

My hope is simple: more clarity, less spiraling. Whether you’re firmly in the “no social media” camp, already navigating it with your teen, or you can feel the pressure creeping in… this episode gives you a clearer picture of what’s being built, how to use parameters that already exist, and what questions still deserve answers.

For access to more helpful tools and expert guidance, parents can visit https://familycenter.meta.com.

● Instagram Teen Accounts —now inspired by 13+ movie ratings—are designed to give parents peace of mind that their teens are safer with the right protections in place. Learn more about Instagram Teen Accounts at https://about.fb.com/news/2025/10/instagram-teen-accounts-pg-13-ratings/

● Support your family’s online experience with expert guidance and tools from Meta’s Family Center. Explore resources today, including Meta’s Screen Smart Program, at https://familycenter.meta.com.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you’re raising a boy, this episode will light a fire in you - in the best, most empowering way. Because here’s the truth: The kind of men our boys become is not random - it’s not just personality, or fate. It’s shaped - day by day - in childhood. In how we respond to their anger, their tears, their mistakes.

Parents are not just witnessing who their sons become; we are actively building the men they will be - through parenting. And the most hopeful part? There are concrete, science-backed things you can start doing today that measurably shift your child’s emotional trajectory - and the kind of partner, friend, and human he will one day be.

In this bold, honest, sometimes funny-so-you-don’t-cry episode, Deena goes straight at the stuff that feels big and scary to say out loud: male entitlement, emotional shutdown, aggression, consent failures, unequal partnership, and why “boys will be boys” has quietly lowered the bar for generations. Then, she flips the script - with science, real stories, and concrete parenting tools you can start literally today - so you walk away knowing exactly how to raise a boy who feels deeply, respects boundaries, takes accountability, and is safe to love.

Here are the 10 daily actions that turn little boys into great men - starting TODAY:

• Why emotional skills in men are built - or blocked - in early childhood

• The critical difference between allowing anger vs. allowing harm

• How to teach consent and bodily autonomy starting in toddlerhood

• Why boys receive less emotional coaching (and how to change that)

• Rough play, wrestling, and what it’s actually doing in the brain

• Teaching boys about periods, care work, and partnership early

• How to build empathy and perspective-taking in daily moments

• Accountability and repair: the skill many men never learned

• Why punishment and shame backfire - especially for boys

• The core message boys need about love, power, and safety

You’ll leave this episode feeling seen in the weight of raising boys today, and radically empowered in how much influence you actually have. Because you’re not just raising a child; you’re shaping the kind of man the world will one day meet. And once you hear this, you’ll parent your son differently tomorrow morning.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at bollandbranch.com/BLF with code BLF.

Experian - Get started with the Experian App now! See experian.com for details.

Hiya Health - Receive 50% off your first order of Hiya’s best selling children’s vitamin. Head to hiyahealth.com/BLF.

Ka’Chava - Go to kachava.com and use code BLF for 15% off your first order!

Peloton - Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com

Pique - Head to piquelife.com/BLF for 20% off.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you’re a woman - or you love one! - this episode will change how you understand women’s bodies. Because here’s the sad truth: Women’s health has been built on research that largely ignored women. We’ve been handed one-size-fits-all advice for bodies that are anything but. And millions of moms are walking around exhausted, depleted, hormonally off, and wondering, “Why the hell do I feel like this?” So today, we’re going deep into what’s actually happening inside women’s bodies, and what real support should look like.

Deena sits down with Victoria Thain Gioia, co-founder and CEO of Perelel, a doctor-backed women’s health brand created after her daughter was born with a nutrition-related birth condition - a moment that exposed just how massive the gaps are in prenatal and maternal care.

Together, they unpack the reality women live every day:

• Hormones that shift constantly

• Nutrient needs that change across life stages

• The invisible physical load of motherhood

• The pressure to function while depleted

• Why “just take a vitamin” was never enough

This episode is designed to be practical, with simple tweaks you can start making today to optimize your health. You’ll learn:

✔ Why women’s bodies need different support than men’s

✔ The biggest daily nutrition gaps affecting moms

✔ How protein, fiber, and muscle health impact hormones and energy

✔ Why simple routines matter more than perfection

✔ What “stage-specific” support actually means

✔ The small daily shifts that help women feel better in their bodies

This conversation is equal parts science, motherhood reality, and permission to make yourself high up on your to-do list. If you’ve ever felt exhausted, off, depleted, or like your body changed after kids, this episode will make you feel seen, informed, and empowered to start supporting yourself again. Because moms give everything. It’s about damn time someone supported YOU.

Visit www.perelelhealth.com and use code BIGLITTLEFEELINGS for 20% off your first purchase.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Bobbie - Head to hibobbie.com to find the formula trusted by parents and loved by their babies–700k and counting.

Experian - Get started with the Experian App now! See experian.com for details.

Nutrafol - Head to nutrafol.com and enter the promo code FEELINGS for $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping.

Square - Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/BLF. #squarepod

Produced by Dear Media

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.