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…
13 truly creative DIY Mother’s Day gifts that kids can make and give | Mother’s Day Gift Guide
The truth is, handmade DIY Mother's Day gifts that kids can make and give themselves (or okay, maybe with a little help) are just extra touching. Of course as moms, we know that every gift from our kids is a special gift, whatever it is, whatever the cost. But, from...
Theraderm Cool Skin: A must-have for sunburn season (and beyond) | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message on behalf of Theraderm With summer right around the corner, that means it's sunburn season too, which can totally stop a family vacation or beach trip in its tracks. You probably already know how important aftercare can be to help prevent...
5 simple tips to help you save money that you can do right now
We’re always searching for ways to save money where we can, but with grocery and gas prices on the rise, it’s definitely on our minds. Thankfully, there are simple changes you can make right now that can save you money. And no, we’re not going to tell you to start a...
Give your kids behind-the-scenes access with Laurie Berkner’s Fan Club
My teens have grown up watching Laurie Berkner's fun-filled music videos on Nick Jr, and spent many afternoons dancing to her greatest hits like Victor Vito and I'm Going to Catch You. They've fallen to sleep listening to her gentle lullabies playing in the...
I tried Kim Kardashian’s Skims line and here’s what I thought
My relationship with Kim Kardashian is a bit fraught, so I was pretty reluctant to try her Skims line of undergarments. But after getting bombarded with Instagram ads after my search for a strapless tube bra, I figured I would give them a try. A little background on...
These gorgeous bracelets can help you manage anxiety and OCD with a little help from cognitive therapy techniques.
There's a lot of inspirational quote jewelry out here. And it's lovely -- but this is definitely not that. Instead, Presently has created a truly meaningful collection of bracelets, each engraved with mantras derived from actual cognitive behavioral therapy...
The Ryka x Chanel Miller sneaker collab that’s helping survivors of sexual assault.
I was immediately drawn to these Pro Courage Ryka Sneaker before I even learned that they were designed to support a truly important cause. Ryka, the shoe brand founded by survivor/entrepreneur/advocate Sheri Poe, has collaborated with the indomitable Chanel Miller on...
My all-time favorite jean shorts are back at Target. Hooray!
As someone who basically lives in jean shorts once the weather gets warm enough, I've purchased a lot of pairs from many different places over the years. But when Lisa introduced me to these jean shorts at Target a couple of years ago, I've never worn anything else....
A comparison of the best kids consignment shops online: Where to buy, and where to sell.
Lately I've been on the hunt for the best websites for kids' consignment clothes and trying to compare them to help me find the best option for my own needs. Buying gently pre-owned clothes is more sustainable, for one thing, plus kids grow so fast! I know that for a...
A Kids Book About War: A free download that we wish didn’t have to be written
We've been posting a lot of resources about how to talk to our kids about the war in Ukraine as well as a list of wonderful children’s books about anxiety and worry. We wish we didn't have to, but that's the world we are living in right now, and we know that even our...
Moms are wondering, “What’s next for me in life?” Here’s one way to figure it out. | Spawned 272
If you've hit a point where you're asking yourself, "what's next for me? Should I keep this career? Should I dump this side hustle? And where should my efforts go when my kids are getting older?" you're definitely not alone. And this is the podcast episode that may...
3 of my favorite styling products for grey hair
If you've been growing out your grey hair, or have already finished like me, you'll probably notice that your new grey hair requires slightly different products for styling. I'll be honest: I feel pretty fortunate that my current grey hair texture is the same as my...
Wonderful children’s books about anxiety: for kids who are worried about the world around them
We were actually surprised to realize that that we hadn't yet put together a list for parents of children's books about anxiety. Considering how many other topics that children's books have helped us with -- from books about neurodiversity to children's books about...
Wordle nation, we found a Wordle t-shirt that’s as clever as you are!
I instantly knew this super clever Wordle t-shirt from the funny folks at RAYGUN was going to be a hit with so many people I know. I mean, anyone else wake up to a flurry of Wordle scores from their friends slash competitors every morning on Twitter? Yes? Me too. So I...
How to talk to kids about war and Ukraine: Expert tips from Melinda Wenner-Moyer | Spawned 271
After science journalist and author Melinda Wenner Moyer published the NY Times article, How to Talk to Your Kids About Ukraine, I knew we had to have her back on Spawned to elaborate on her 5 expert tips. You may remember Melinda from our recent interview on raising...
Beautiful, authentic Ukrainian Easter egg coloring pages that help support Ukrainian artists
As Easter gets closer, sitting down with Ukrainian Easter egg coloring pages and crayons or markers opens the door to talk to our kids about what they’re coloring — just as we mentioned in our roundup of fabulous, famous International Women’s History Month coloring...
This absolutely wonderful preschool program lets kids learn right from home
This is a sponsored message from New Sphere Not every preschool-aged child is currently enrolled in preschool, for all kinds of reasons -- maybe the ones near you are expensive, there are no seats available, or maybe your kids are just learning at home with parents....
Discover the Joy of Movement with Beyond Yoga: Empowering Mothers One Pose at a Time
In the journey of motherhood, finding time for self-care and physical well-being is essential, but it's often challenging. Beyond Yoga, a lifestyle brand that champions comfortable, stylish, and inclusive activewear, offers solutions that resonate with mothers across...
Gifts supporting Ukraine: 11 wonderful ideas with 100% of proceeds giving back to Ukrainian causes
As the war intensifies in Ukraine, so does the worldwide support, and that includes gifts supporting Ukraine like the ones I'm sharing here. We love that there are so many organizations helping Ukraine right now, and while we encourage donating generously to your...
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....
10 simple ways to find more time in a busy day. No magic required.
We would probably all love an extra hour in the day. Or two. Or six. Especially with the busy holiday season upon us right now. But since we're not magicians and we don't own a time machine (yet), the only way we'll be able to find extra time is if we take a good look...