Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Pandemic fails, data-driven parenting, and how to make better decisions for your family, with author Emily Oster | Spawned Podcast episode 262
In the course of our parenting lives, we make a whole lot of decisions, so when I read Emily Oster's most recent book The Family Firm, which offers a very smart, data-driven method to decision making, I really wanted to chat with her on our Spawned podcast. But then I...
Kids, gratitude, and the holiday season: Can parents do better? | Spawned ep 261
As we head into the holiday season, which can be filled with the abundance of food, gifts, and celebrations, we know that a lot of us struggle with all the excess. It's valuable for us to slow down as parents, and consider ways to help develop and express more...
Answering parents top questions about the Covid-19 vaccine for kids 5-11 | Spawned Ep 260
While some of us (including Kristen and myself) are rejoicing about the approval of the Covid-19 vaccine for kids 5-11, we know that a lot of parents still have questions. As you should! This is our kids we're talking about, and as parents, we research everything --...
More coolness from recent weeks…
How to get into college: Invaluable tips and fascinating insights from Ned Johnson | Spawned Ep 278
Was the college search always this overwhelming or does it just feel that way? Do my kids really need to take the SATs? Does test-optional really mean optional? How did covid impact admissions? When should I be signing up my kid for college tours? Or wait...should...
Donate to an abortion fund. You’ll save a life.
To say that I am furious about an activist Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade (held up in 1992 in Planned Parenthood vs Casey) and thereby overturning 50 years of constitutionally protected rights to reproductive healthcare -- well, that would be the understatement...
The coolest lanyard pattern instructions that every camper needs.
Lanyards are a summer camp mainstay -- remember making them back in the day? But like so many things from our own childhoods, these knotted summer crafts have only gotten way cooler. Lanyards (also called scoubidous, scoobies, boondoggles, scooby doggles, gimps, and...
Helping kids foster positive relationships and learn effective communication, with Catherine Newman | Spawned Episode 277
After two years in a pandemic, I'm sure I'm not the only one with kids who are struggling with various aspects of their social lives. From fostering positive relationships with friends and school peers, to learning effective communication in the many awkward...
Period underwear to menstrual cups: 4 tampon alternatives we’ve tried that can save you during the tampon shortage
Is there actually a tampon shortage right now? Evidently, yes. As if the recent formula shortage hasn't been hard enough on (mostly) women, now...this. Sigh. But at least there are some great alternatives, if not permanent solutions to tampons or pads. And...
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...
Get all shook up with Kristen’s debut novel, A Thousand Miles to Graceland
To say that I'm thrilled to share that my debut novel, A Thousand Miles to Graceland, is now available for pre-order and hitting stands on January 24, 2023 is an understatement. I've been working on this story of fun, heartfelt mother-daughter road trip from El Paso,...
Pride Month: 5 simple ways to be a good LGBTQ ally
While we've shared so many resources for Pride Month over the years, we wanted to write today about ways to be a good LGBTQ ally, whether you're a parent, friend or family member of someone who is LGBTQ, or whether you just want to step up and be a more compassionate,...
feelClings: A little inspiration, right on your mirror
If you're like me, there have been a lot of days, especially as of late, where it's been hard to rally yourself, between the news, the pandemic, and just being a mom. Well, our longtime friend, author, and mom of 4 Jill Krause took her practice of hanging...
Another free download we wish we didn’t need: A Kids Book About School Shootings
The fact that a book called A Kids Book About School Shootings even exists should tell you exactly how big a problem this has become in the years since the horrific Columbine school shooting over 20 years ago. As we shared in today's post How to talk to your children...
How to talk to your children about mass shootings, bombings, and other tragedies in the news: Helpful resources
Another day, another mass shooting. And I'm not being flip. This week it's the unfathomably awful shooting at Robb Roy Elementary in Uvalde Texas. Just last week it was a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. This just adds to the already unconscionable list of mass...
20 unique gifts (good ones!) for dads who have everything | Father’s Day Gift Guide
It can be tough each Father's Day to look for unique gifts for dads, grandpas, or stepdads, especially when you're shopping for gifts for dads who have everything already -- or worse, they say "I don't need anything." (C'mon... a little help please?) My go-to source...
If you think the answer to the formula shortage is more breastfeeding, read these perspectives first.
Though my "babies" are all old enough to drive a car, I've been following the nationwide baby formula shortages with alarm over the rhetoric being aimed at parents who are feeding their babies formula. Instead of trying to find ways to help panicked parents feed their...
RuPaul’s new Little People Collector set sashays down the runway today.
Fans of RuPaul, you'd better work on getting your hands on this new, fabulous set from Fisher Price's Little People Collector because it could sell out faster than you can say Sashay! Shante! This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small...
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...
I tried this affordable, highly-rated bathing suit from Amazon and here’s what I thought
Last year, I decided to take a peek at Amazon for an affordable bathing suit, and after reading a ton of reviews, I grabbed this one from the brand Sporlike. And let's just say, it didn't disappoint. I feel fantastic in it, and every time I wear it, I get tons of...
20 kids shared what they wish they could give their moms for Mother’s Day. Their answers are awesome.
With Mother's Day right around the corner, we thought it would be so fun to ask the kids in our lives, if you could have anything delivered to your mom, what would it be? Let's just say our kids know us very, very well! Also, who has a direct line to George Clooney,...
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...
8 cool ways to wear lime green, this season’s hottest color
If there's ever a seasonal style trend I can behind, it's a specific color, especially this year's lime green, mostly because it can be super easy and mostly affordable to add to your existing wardrobe. I'm already a big fan of bright colors, so grabbing a few lime...
25 special Mother’s Day gifts under $25, which we totally want ourselves
Mother's Day gifts don't have to be extravagant or expensive to be wonderful -- something I'm very appreciative of considering the price of everything from groceries, to gas, to how many kids are we putting through college? In fact, my favorite Mother's Day gifts will...
The new Simone Biles x Athleta Girl collab is a lot more meaningful than you might think.
I can't think of a better role model for young athletes (and young people in general) than GOAT gymnast and mental health advocate Simone Biles, so I was thrilled to see the new Simone Biles collaboration with Athleta Girl. The collection for girls 6-16 features fun...