Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Why our parenting stories matter, with author Zibby Owens | Spawned Episode 270
Liz and I have a special place in our hearts for storytelling, because that's how we first met online almost 17 years ago. That can't be right, can it? We connected through our personal blogs—Mom 101 and Motherhood Uncensored—and the rest is Cool Mom Picks history....
Gen Z: They’re not snowflakes, they’re warriors. Here’s the data to prove it. | Spawned Ep 269
The world feels like a pretty awful place right now. I've seen a lot of people in my social feeds say things like, "it must be hard to have kids and have to explain things like the Russian aggression against Ukraine to them." I always think that yes, sure it is --...
“There’s nothing romantic about depression” | Spawned Ep 268
This week, I was really happy to get to sit down and chat with Amy Koppelman, director, writer, and producer of the recent film A Mouthful of Air starring Amanda Seyfried and Finn Wittrock. It's based on on Amy's critically acclaimed novel inspired by her own...
More coolness from recent weeks…
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...
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...
7 fantastic books for kids about Martin Luther King Jr. to help educate our younger children
Monday, we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday and his innumerable contributions to this nation's history and advancement. Books for kids about MLK can be a great way to help little ones understand the importance of the day. Although it's a holiday in most...
SaneBox may be the best thing to ever happen to email organization.
This is a sponsored message from SaneBox Whether that little red email badge is showing you 20 unread messages or 20,000, it can be overwhelming to feel like you'll never get to the bottom of it. Enter SaneBox. Trusted by TechCrunch, The New York Times, Forbes and...
Preserving memories in the 21st century. Shouldn’t this be easier? | Spawned Episode 290
If you're like me, you thought that smartphones and tablets would make it a whole lot easier to grab photos and videos of your kids. But while they do make it easier to make memories, actually preserving them and being able to organize and then find them is a whole...
COVID in the house: How to best prepare yourself and your family
After two and a half years, we finally had COVID in the house. I'm certainly grateful for science (we're all fully vaccinated and boosted) because the folks (including me) who were infected had relatively mild cases. And while I knew that at some point we would...
5 simple things I’m doing to stay calm, centered, and not lose my *$&t this year.
The past few years have been -- as if you didn't live through them too -- kind of hellish. Okay, very hellish. You don't need me to share the many many articles about how much work moms in particularly have been doing to balance everyone's needs and help keep everyone...
7 quick things you can do right now to save money and manage money better in 2023
If you have a few minutes to spare, you can literally save money. And that sounds like a good way to start the new year, right? Of course I'm sure a lot of us have some version of "get my finances in order" on our list of New Year's resolutions, or "be wealthy beyond...
Spawned Parenting Podcast: The Best Advice, Tips, and Guidance of 2022
It's been an incredible 2022 for Spawned. We welcomed guests from film directors and political pundits to authors, activists, top journalists, and experts of all kinds So this week, we thought we'd take a look back at some of the best episodes of the year. Take a...
4 New Year’s resolutions you can actually tackle, with lots of resources to help
January 1 is my favorite holiday, and making New Year's resolutions is my favorite way to celebrate. Okay, that and cleaning out my closets! (I know, I'm a party animal). I know that there are various approaches to New Year's resolutions, many of which we've featured...