Episodes

  • Eps 642: Skip the Punishment, Focus on Solutions

    Eps 642: Skip the Punishment, Focus on Solutions
    Feb 17 2026
    In this episode, I'm unpacking the unintended results of punishment, and why it isn't helpful with teenagers — and what actually is. We dig into the adolescent brain science behind why our kids make impulsive choices, why consequences are often just punishment in disguise, and how focusing on solutions builds the critical thinking skills our teens actually need. If you've ever wondered what to do instead of grounding, lecturing, or taking the phone away, this one's for you. Come listen and let's shift the mindset together. Casey O'Roarty is a parent coach, positive discipline lead trainer, speaker, and author of Joyful Courage: Calming the Drama and Taking Control of YOUR Parenting Journey. With over 20 years of experience supporting families, Casey specializes in helping parents of tweens and teens build connected, skill-based relationships through her membership program, coaching, and the this podcast. For more show notes and info go to https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-642-skip-the-punishment-focus-on-solutions/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Eps 641: Well being is an inside job

    Eps 641: Well being is an inside job
    Feb 10 2026
    I'm diving deep into what happens when we release others—including our teens—to their own journeys. As parents, we hang on so tight, resisting what scares us, but what we resist persists. I'm sharing my own messy middle of personal growth work, walking through the five principles of Positive Discipline from a radically honest place about marriage, parenting teens, and the hardest truth: our wellbeing is an inside job. If you're navigating the push-pull of adolescence while doing your own inner work, this episode is for you. Guest Bio: This is a solo episode with Casey O'Roarty, Parent Educator, Positive Discipline Lead Trainer, and host of the Joyful Courage podcast. Casey has over 20 years of experience supporting parents of tweens and teens through her coaching practice, Be Sprout­able, and her Living Joyful Courage membership program. Find more show notes and info at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-641-well-being-is-an-inside-job/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Eps 640: Relationship Reset with your Teen

    Eps 640: Relationship Reset with your Teen
    Feb 3 2026
    Feeling like you're living with a wildfire instead of just putting out fires with your teen? In this solo episode, I explore why traditional discipline approaches fail when relationships are ruptured, and introduce the concept of a "relationship reset" - an energetic cast that gives both you and your teen space to heal. Learn how disengaging with love (not indifference) can restore influence, rebuild trust, and create the connection your struggling teen desperately needs. This is a solo episode with Casey O'Roarty, parent educator, Positive Discipline lead trainer, and host of the Joyful Courage podcast. Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-640-relationship-reset-with-your-teen/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    28 mins
  • Eps 639: Politics and Parenting with Alyson Schafer

    Eps 639: Politics and Parenting with Alyson Schafer
    Jan 27 2026
    In this powerful conversation, I sit down with psychotherapist and Positive Discipline expert Alyson Schafer to explore how we can support our teens through today's turbulent political climate. We discuss Alfred Adler's vision for raising cooperative citizens, reading our kids' stress signals, using curiosity over lectures, and helping teens move from doom-scrolling to meaningful action. If you're struggling to hold space for your teen's big feelings about current events while maintaining hope for the future, this episode is essential listening. Guest Bio: Alyson Schafer is a psychotherapist, bestselling author, and one of the leading voices in Positive Discipline and Adlerian psychology. She has written multiple books including Breaking the Good Mom Myth and Ain't Misbehavin', and her work has helped families worldwide move from power struggles to cooperation. Alyson hosts her own podcast and runs child guidance programs rooted in democratic parenting principles. She lives in Canada and continues the legacy of Adlerian psychology through her international community work. For more show notes and info at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/politics-and-parenting-with-alyson-schafer/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Eps 638: School-Based Mental Health Solutions with Kevin Dahill-Fuchel

    Eps 638: School-Based Mental Health Solutions with Kevin Dahill-Fuchel
    Jan 26 2026
    I recently sat down with Kevin Dahill-Fuchel to explore what's really happening with teens' mental health today and why traditional models aren't enough. We discussed the crisis of isolation among adolescents, how schools can become centers of healing, and the critical importance of adults modeling healthy relationships. Kevin shares powerful insights about meeting kids where they are, making suicide a speakable word, and why staying present with our teens—even when they push us away—matters more than ever. If you're wondering how to support your teen's mental health while managing your own overwhelm, this conversation offers hope and practical wisdom. Kevin Dahill-Fuchel is the Executive Director of Counseling in Schools, a pioneering organization that embeds mental health professionals directly into New York City public schools. With over 30 years of experience, Kevin has led his organization through major collective traumas including 9/11, Superstorm Sandy, and COVID-19, evolving their model to provide comprehensive community-wide support that now serves over 6,700 students, nearly 2,000 families, and 1,400 school staff across 52 schools. His healing-centered, anti-oppressive approach recognizes emotional and social wellbeing as foundational to student success. Find more info and show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-638-school-based-mental-health-solutions-with-kevin-dahill-fuchel/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Eps 637: Dr. Jared Horvath-EdTech Harms Learning

    Eps 637: Dr. Jared Horvath-EdTech Harms Learning
    Jan 13 2026
    I sat down with Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, a neuroscientist who's worked with over 1,000 schools globally, and what he shared about educational technology absolutely validates what so many of us have been feeling. After reviewing six decades of research, Jared reveals how ed tech actually undermines our kids' learning—and why COVID didn't change that. Dr. Horvath earned his doctorate from University of Melbourne and master's from Harvard, and he breaks down the neuroscience of why analog learning beats digital every time. If you've felt uneasy about your teen's screen-based schoolwork, this conversation will empower you to push back. Listen now. For more about the guest and show notes, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-637-dr-jared-horvath-edtech-harms-learning/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Eps 636: Create, Don't Correct in 2026

    Eps 636: Create, Don't Correct in 2026
    Jan 5 2026
    I'm starting 2026 at the heart of everything I teach: the shift from problem-focused to possibility-focused parenting. This solo episode dives deep into the work I've been doing with parents for nearly 20 years—understanding why your tools disappear when emotions run high and what actually bridges that gap. I'll unpack the neuroscience of focus, share the embodiment practices that ground my approach, and explain why self-regulation isn't just another task—it's the core of transformation. This isn't about New Year's resolutions or fixing your teen. It's about the daily practice of becoming the parent you want to be, one intentional moment at a time. For full show notes and more, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-636-create-dont-correct-in-2026/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • Eps 635: Winter break with teens

    Eps 635: Winter break with teens
    Dec 18 2025
    In this solo episode, I'm getting real about navigating the holiday break with your teen. I'll walk you through the both/and of this season—how to hold hope and anxiety at the same time, including the grief that might be present. We'll explore how break is actually a low-stakes laboratory where teens practice essential life skills like managing unstructured time and problem-solving boredom. I'm sharing powerful language shifts that move you from exhausted cruise director to connected partner, plus a three-part gratitude practice to close the year with intention. If you're feeling anxious about break, this episode offers encouragement and practical tools. For show notes and more info go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-635-winter-break-with-teens/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 mins