
Jenny Lawson on depression, anxiety and why we have to talk about it | Spawned Episode 255
We can't believe after all these episodes of Spawned, we've never had the chance to chat with Jenny Lawson. A.K.A. The Bloggess. A.K.A. the best-selling author. A.K.A. new indie bookshop owner. A.K.A. the woman who first left a comment on Liz's blog comparing her to a...

Why it’s important to talk to your kids about religion (even if you’re not religious): 3 books to help guide your conversation
As a full-time religious studies professor for the past fifteen years, I’ve lost track of how many fellow parents have asked for recommendations when their kids started asking questions about religion. While evangelical Christians and other religious “insiders” tend...

12 awesome kids and baby Halloween costumes made with pajamas. Comfy, easy and cool.
For years, I've had tons of fun using plain pajama sets -- like the ones you can find at Primary or Hanna Andersson -- as the base for my kids' Halloween costumes. With some head-to-toe monochromatic pajamas, all I've had to do is add some detail -- a DIY that's easy...

How to be a compassionate parent of LGBTQ kids | Spawned Episode 254
If you have questions about parenting LGBTQ+ kids, wow do we have the answers, thanks to the absolutely delightful Kristin Russo, author of This is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids. If you know her -- or her terrific book, or popular podcast about Buffy the Vampire...

Chance Basketballs give every move on the court more style. But that’s not all they do.
Looking for a fabulous gift for an athletic kid this year? I've got you! Whether your teen can hit a three-point shot from half court, or your grade schooler is still trying to fling the ball high enough to touch the net, the next Lebron James or Sue Bird will get...

The Schitt’s Creek Monopoly game is simply the best… at least as far as Monopoly games go.
If you've been missing your "Ew, David!" fix, or Moira's capacious vocabulary (see what I did there?), I give you the ultimate family game night board game: The brand new Schitt's Creek Monopoly game. Let's just say that if you are ever going to get me to play...

How Ada Twist, Scientist is making STEM more accessible to girls | Spawned Episode 253
In a very exciting first for Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we chat with aerospace engineer, Keji Sojobi, who is a part of the new book-to-TV adaptation of the very popular Ada Twist, Scientist. We love how she's working to make STEM more accessible to girls,...

Hair accessories to make growing your hair out a little easier
I decided to grow my grey hair out a couple of years ago, but a couple of months ago, I decided to get my hair down past my shoulders, a place it hasn't been in a very, very long time (I'm definitely a short bob kind of girl). One of the reasons I tend to keep it...

Is the Color WOW Dream Coat anti-frizz treatment the miracle product that influencers claim? We tried it.
I bought into the hype and tried the Color WOW Dream Coat anti-frizz hair treatment to see if it really works. I have frizzy hair. Like, really frizzy. 90% humidity doesn't help, and it's still insanely humid in Nashville right now. Plus, rainy season is coming up for...

Instagram, girls and body image: What parents need to know | Spawned Ep 252
Recently, I wrote about that article, the one about Instagram, teens, body image and self-esteem -- and the conversation I had about it with my 14-year-old daughter. It generated so much great conversation on our social feeds, that Kristen and I wanted to chat more...