Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Navigating step-parenting with Coach Naja Hall | Spawned Episode 250
We keep saying that we often get our best parenting podcast topic ideas from our readers, and a lot of you have asked for support navigating step-parenting. And that's just what we're talking about, in this dynamic, wonderful chat with Certified Parenting Coach and...
Raising resilient kids in a world gone sideways, with Dr. Madeline Levine | Spawned Episode 249
We've had a slew of amazing guests on our Spawned podcast recently, who have offered helpful advice on how to raise our kids. This week, we add another one to the list: Dr. Madeline Levine, a New York Times bestselling author, whose book Ready or Not: Preparing Our...
Tips to resolve sibling conflict from a psychologist and family counselor | Spawned Ep 248
With everything going on in the world right now, kids are extra-stressed, they're extra-restless, they're extra-anxious, and, if they have siblings, they're fighting. Yay! So what's a parent to do to help manage it all? After a few listeners asked us to take on this...
More coolness from recent weeks…
VOTE: The puzzle
Now that more of us know that voting isn’t just something we talk about on Election Day, and certainly not just every four years, I think this new women VOTE puzzle is the most wonderful gift for a civic-minded friend. Officially titled “Women Will Decide” (catch that...
10 voting rights organizations making sure all our votes count. Here’s who we’re supporting.
Each November, we urge our readers to vote, but this year in particular voting rights organizations are also top of mind for us, since they're working so hard to make sure we can actually vote in the first place. Whether Tuesday's election is a biggie for you (I'm...
Meet Stephanie V.M. Lucianovic and Vashti Harrison, the author and illustrator duo behind Hello, Star
It's probably no surprise that I'm a big children's picture book fangirl, considering I've got my own children's picture book coming out in late 2023, so when I got the opportunity to interview Stephanie V.M. Lucianovic and Vashti Harrison, the duo behind Hello, Star,...
Barbie’s Inspiring Women collection of dolls make the best gifts. (And not just for girls)
I want to be cynical, because you know, Barbie, but something moves me about the new Barbie Inspiring Women set of collector's dolls that I stumbled on last night as I browsed the Target site. To think that in my childhood, Barbie was...well, Barbie, and now there are...
My fave chunky boots for fall 2021 that take you right into winter. Bring on the lug soles!
I started browsing all the cool chunky boots for fall 2021 during a rare free moment of downtime this weekend, and wow -- leave it to fashionable footwear to get me excited for fall. (And yes, I know we're a month in but considering I've still been able to wear my...
100+ easy Halloween costume ideas for kids and parents. Because it’s all last-minute these days!
It's not too late to pull together an easy last-minute Halloween costume idea that helps make Halloween awesome.Even if you're doing everything last-minute lately. It's not just about the costumes, by the way; Liz recently shared some incredible ideas for alternate...
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...
My 5 best tips for how to grow out your grey hair – without pulling it all out in the process.
A couple of years ago, at the ripe young age of 43, I decided to grow out my grey hair. I got tired of the every few week hair coloring bill, and figured I could save the money and the chemicals and just own it. I'm not saying it was an easy decision. Thanks to...
The inspiring women of Fisher Price’s Little People. Yes, you read that correctly.
I'm already looking for ways to introduce my kids to inspiring women of history, and while we have tons of books on the subject of remarkable, inpspiring women, I love that Fisher Price's iconic Little People is out today with two new sets of all-star, Inspiring...
The best new parent advice from 9 of the smartest, most insightful parent bloggers we know
In addition to the hilarious bad parenting advice we once received, and the advice we wish we knew when our kids were babies, we're so grateful to be able to share some of the best advice from some of the most wonderful, caring, helpful parents we know. You might...
Why it’s important for kids to read diverse books, with author Meena Harris | Spawned Ep 251
With the recent news of the York Central School District book ban (only just a few hours from where Kristen lives, by the way), we thought it was important to re-share this amazing episode with the delightful, brilliant Meena Harris. She's an activist, strategist, mom...
10 fun just-because cards for a friend who could use a little pick-me-up right now. It’s hard out there.
Lately I've been thinking a lot about how to support my fellow pandemic parents, and I've landed on sending some funny, "just-because" cards as a start. To be clear, I think every parent who's survived the past 18 months deserves a personal chef, lifetime supply of...