Parenting teenagers untangled. 🏆 Your Weekly Hug cover art

Parenting teenagers untangled. 🏆 Your Weekly Hug

Parenting teenagers untangled. 🏆 Your Weekly Hug

By: Rachel Richards
Listen for free

About this listen

Hello, I'm Rachel Richards, former BBC Correspondent, CNBC Europe World News Anchor and mum, on a mission to make parenting teens much less stressful, and even enjoyable.


In this award-winning ‘audio hug’ you can put down the baggage your parents handed you and relax.


It’s your chance to reflect on what's in your baggage; what's still working, and what needs to be tossed aside. You'll also pick up skills and ideas to help you navigate each new stage of your parenting journey.


Each week, I pick a topic, research it, and find you the best answers. Whether interviewing experts, chatting with my mindfulness guru friend, Susi Asli, or getting the lowdown from my own teenagers.


You'll hear what experts are saying about the problems we face and the way other parents are struggling. It’s a chance to think about your parenting, shame and judgement free.


As the world leading expert on your own child you can then make your own choices about what works for you and your family.


Do you have a question, a story, or just need to vent? Drop me a line at teenagersuntangled@gmail.com (total privacy, no judgment, promise).


What the Independent Podcasting Awards Said:

“The advice in this podcast is universally helpful—not just for parents of teenagers.”

“A great mix of personal stories and professional insight—refreshing, informative, and packed with extra resources.”

“The chemistry between Rachel and Susie is fantastic. It’s like sitting down with smart, funny friends who actually get it.”


Join the conversation! Find me on Facebook & Instagram.
Want more from Susie? Check out her courses at www.amindful-life.co.uk

© 2026 Parenting teenagers untangled. 🏆 Your Weekly Hug
Parenting & Families Personal Development Personal Success Relationships
Episodes
  • Why Young Adults Cut Off Their Parents, with Dr Joshua Coleman
    Feb 18 2026

    Ask Rachel anything

    When Brooklyn Beckham publicly announced he didn't want to reconcile with his parents he was joining a painful catalogue of family stories that have gone wrong.

    Estrangement is reportedly on the rise in Western societies but what's behind it?

    Dr Joshua Coleman spends his life working with estranged parents so he sees, first hand, the main factors that can lead to it. He highlights that while emotional abuse is often cited as a cause, it's often a matter of unmet expectations and generational differences.

    Some of the core drivers are divorce, children marrying someone who doesn't get on with your family, social media ideals, therapy culture and individualism.

    Given that estrangement can be emotionally devastating for parents, leading to feelings of isolation and loss, he advises parents to take their children's complaints seriously and to be open to therapy and family discussions.

    Dr Joshua Coleman:

    Family Troubles: https://joshuacolemanphd.substack.com/

    https://joshuacolemanphd.substack.com/p/how-to-not-become-estranged

    https://www.drjoshuacoleman.com/

    Teenagers Untangled Community Substack:

    https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/

    Support the show

    Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.

    You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.

    Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.
    My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com
    My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:
    www.teenagersuntangled.com

    Find me on Substack https://Teenagersuntangled.substack.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/
    Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/

    You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk

    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Body image, and getting teens to do chores. Vintage
    Feb 11 2026

    Ask Rachel anything

    For all of the tips click here:

    https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/p/how-to-talk-to-your-teen-about-body

    https://open.substack.com/pub/teenagersuntangled/p/how-to-get-your-kids-to-do-their?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer

    A healthy body image: Feeling happy and satisfied with your body and what it can do.

    An unhealthy body image: Highly self-critical, comparing their body to others and obsessing about some aspect of it.

    Beauty and body image are universal triggers for shame. Shame is a deeply painful sensation from the belief that we’re not good enough and will not be accepted by a group.

    Only 5% of American women have the body type that advertising depicts as ideal. People magazine poll found that 80% of women respondents felt insecure when they viewed images of women in TV and films. There’s an entire industry fueling our negative feelings regarding body image.

    Resources:

    https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/healthy-lifestyle/body-image/body-image-teens
    The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
    I Thought it was just me by Brené Brown

    Previous episode:

    https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/104-teen-weight-and-body-image-a-mother-and-daughter-explore-the-issues/

    Chores:

    Household duties develop a sense of purpose. Lack of purpose is one of the most reported problems in suicidal people. Teens are capable of doing practically any household duty and gives them a sense of belonging to the family team.

    The Gift of Failure Jessica Lahey: Children prefer parents who hold them responsible for not meeting expectations over those who monitor their children.

    teenagersuntangled.substack.com

    Support the show

    Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.

    You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.

    Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.
    My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com
    My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:
    www.teenagersuntangled.com

    Find me on Substack https://Teenagersuntangled.substack.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/
    Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/

    You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk

    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Why teen friendships feel so intense, and the most important thing to say
    Feb 4 2026

    Ask Rachel anything

    'Early adolescence is a friendship meat grinder, and your kid will eventually find their people,' according to Megan Saxelby of Wild Feelings. But oh boy it's tough!

    Megan wants parents to know that using words like “dramatic” to describe genuine social pain can accidentally give us permission to dismiss their emotional reality and teach our kids that their experiences doesn’t deserve to be taken seriously.

    In today’s episode we explore why it hurts so much to watch our child struggle socially, and why our instincts to either dismiss or ‘fix things’ can often make it worse.

    The good news is that there’s new research, by the eminent Dr David Yeager, that shows there’s one thing our kids can learn that can reduce depression in teens by nearly 40%.

    We hear the details and some great tips for us parents on the frontline.

    Megan Saxelby:

    https://wildfeelings.substack.com/

    Rachel's Substack:

    https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/

    The Study:

    https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-022-00009-5

    This is such a big topic I have created a lot of content to cover it:

    https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/boy-friendships-and-supporting-our-sons-in-forming-positive-friendships-also-what-the-we-sho-1/

    https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/114-friendships-frenemies-and-boy-banter-parenting-our-teens-through-the-relationship-pitfalls/

    https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/puberty-toxic-friendships-pick-me-girls-top-tips-for-parenting-teenagers-from-teenagers-147/

    https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/top-friendship-tips-for-teen-girls-lessons-from-real-life-sisters/

    https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/139-preparing-for-secondary-school-friendship-groups-and-those-awkward-talks-about-porn-and-sexti/

    https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/friendship-girls-and-toxic-groups-also-resilience-how-to-get-your-teen-to-keep-going-instead-of-g/

    Support the show

    Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.

    You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.

    Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.
    My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com
    My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:
    www.teenagersuntangled.com

    Find me on Substack https://Teenagersuntangled.substack.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/
    Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/

    You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk

    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.