Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Tips for keeping kids safe from online predators, from Roo Powell of Undercover Underage | Spawned 276
This week's Spawned podcast guest, Roo Powell, is the perfect person to help us with tips and advice for keeping kids safe online. She's the co-founder of SOSA (Safe from Online Sexual Abuse) and has put her child advocacy skills to use by...disguising herself as a...
Are moms going to be okay? Terrific insight from NY Times Parenting Editor Jessica Grose | Spawned 275
Are moms okay right now? I really want to know. So I called on the one guest I knew would have a terrific birds-eye view: Jessica Grose, author and The New York Times Parenting Editor. If you've ever had a must-read parenting article sent to you by a friend, it's...
The best digital photo organization tips with Casey von Stein, aka Miss Freddy
If you've got as many photos on your phone as we do, then you know how challenging it can be to find what you need when you need it. Holy smokes. But we are not alone! How do I know this? Well, this week's Spawned podcast guest, Casey von Stein, aka Miss Freddy, a...
More coolness from recent weeks…
24 cool, creative Easter basket ideas for kids all under $20. (We love them all!)
We love finding cool, creative Easter basket ideas for kids that are still affordable. I mean, yes, there are always jellybeans and Peeps, but maybe consider some of these cool Easter basket ideas under $20 as ideas that can be a little more special -- after all,...
What’s the story of the real St. Patrick’s Day? History Channel to the rescue.
If you're one of those parents who can answer any question without saying let's go check the internet! like I do, then more power to you. As for me, I was researching the story of the real St. Patrick's Day to help explain it to my kids, and came across the wonderful...
14 seriously cute Easter gifts for babies to keep them from eating the fake grass
Looking for cute Easter gifts for a baby's first (or second) Easter is always so fun. So much cuteness! So much pastel! So many rabbits! And the best part is, you can save all the good chocolate for yourself. We skipped the fussy baby bow ties and itchy crinoline...
Melinda Wenner Moyer’s parenting strategies to raise good kids into great adults | Spawned Episode 293
We often discuss what it takes to raise kind, generous, ambitious, resilient, wonderful kids who will become kind, generous, ambitious, resilient, wonderful adults. Which is why we wanted to bring back one of our favorite interviews -- parenting and science journalist...
Velotricbike: Empowering Moms with Eco-Friendly, Stylish Commuting Solutions
As a dedicated online shopping site that values the diversity and dynamic nature of women, especially active mothers aged 25 to 50, we're excited to introduce you to Velotricbike. Velotricbike's mission resonates deeply with the essence of modern motherhood, focusing...
5 ways summer camp can help your kids grow emotionally: From a mom who’s seen it first-hand.
I am what you'd call a camp evangelist, especially after seeing all the ways summer camp has helped my kids grow. And I've had a long time to be able to see that growth -- our youngest is about to finish her ninth (!) year at the same camp, while her stepsister is now...
7 cool, reusable snack containers for kids that beat plastic bags
We've got a gaggle of snackers in our homes, so cool snack containers for kids are an absolute must. They're a far more eco-friendly choice over plastic bags, which as we all know by now, not only saves waste but plenty of money over the long run. Plus, we've found...
16 of our favorite hygge gifts for everyone who needs more comfort and coziness right now
Hygge gifts may be a new category for a lot of us who don't have families from Denmark, but it's something we could all use more of these days. It's the Danish concept of coziness -- a lifestyle all about finding comfort, pleasure, and warmth in simple things that...
7 wonderful children’s books about African-American pioneers your children may not know — yet
It's safe to say that during Black History Month in particular, our children are learning all about our nation's great civil rights leaders, like Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglass. But, as you may recall from the film Hidden Figures, it...
Timeless Elegance Meets Modern Motherhood: Discover Movado
In the whirlwind of motherhood, where every minute counts, a reliable and stylish timepiece can be a mother's best ally. Enter Movado, a brand synonymous with luxury, precision, and timeless design. Catering to the modern woman who juggles so many roles, Movado offers...
Reaching your organizational goals: Sarah Hart-Unger on prioritizing, organizing, and managing time | Ep 292
Is a messy desk a sign of a messy mind? Is organization something we just have to give up for a while as parents? Is a single, perfect whiteboard the key to solving all your time management woes? Sarah Hart-Unger of the podcasts Best Laid Plans and Best of Both Worlds...
24 cheap, easy, sexy ideas for date night at home. Because shockingly, parents can’t always get out.
We're all about trying to find enjoyable, cheap and easy ideas for date night at home, especially for those of us with kids who'd like a little extra help rekindling that proverbial spark when we're stuck sans sitter. Even if it's just a few hours off from actually...
The Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria: What we can do to help
As the overwhelmingly huge rescue and recovery efforts are underway in southern Türkiye and northern Syria after the devastating 7.8 earthquake, so many of us want to find ways to help the 15 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The numbers of dead keep...
These creative teens have turned a passion for tie-dye into an amazing charitable effort.
We have heard that the kids are alright. And in today's world, it's always exciting to see teens who are not just being entrepreneurial, but doing good things with their efforts. Like really, really good things. Enter Tie Dye For A Good Cause. New York teens Ella, Eve...
Cool Valentine’s Day jewelry for women: 14 pieces that are edgy, funky, and anything but traditional.
I have always loved the range of cool Valentine's Day jewelry for women, like me, who aren't quite into the traditional stuff. Nothing wrong with a solid sterling Tiffany heart necklace of course! But if you're shopping for Valentine's Day jewelry for a woman who...
14 excellent new children’s books for Black History Month – and the rest of the year too
February is Black History Month, which gives us a great opportunity to share some of our favorite new books about Black history for kids. But honestly, we are always looking for smart, educational, and enlightening children's books about and by Black Americans for our...
16 truly special Valentine’s gifts for best friends who could use a little extra love right now
Valentine's gifts for best friends isn't always something that comes top of mind when we're shopping for gifts for the kids or our significant other. But c'mon -- could we have gotten through the past couple of years without all the amazing friends in our lives?...
Outstanding videos and resources to teach our kids about the Holocaust on Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Today marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Holocaust Memorial Day. It's particularly poignant this year, with the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Death Camp. The sad truth is, the older we all get, the more the survivors and...
Why you should take A Thousand Miles to Graceland for a spin.
Another year, another Good Reads Challenge goal, and I'm so happy to get the year started with the first novel by Cool Mom Picks' own co-founder Kristen Mei Chase, A Thousand Miles to Graceland. If you love to read tender, funny, and cathartic stories about...
What’s up, doc? The cutest new baby gifts for the Year of the Rabbit.
Today marks the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac and after last year's "Year of the Tiger", I'm more than ready to settle down with something a little more calm and sweet. This means our kids will roar less, right? To commemorate the start of...
Being mixed race in America, with author Lauren Kung Jessen | Spawned Episode 291
As a mixed-race Chinese American, I've struggled to feel a sense of belonging. I grew up feeling more accepted by the German (white) side of my family. Then, as I got older, I learned more about the Chinese side of my family and felt a connection to the experiences of...