Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Taking the stress out of the college application process | Spawned Ep 237
It's kind of crazy to think we started this site writing about cool swaddles and baby carriers, and now we're thinking about...college applications. (Insert sobbing emoji x 100000.) And yes, it's stressful. So we turned to one of the most knowledgeable, supportive,...
Rene Syler on speaking up and speaking out about racism and racial injustice | Spawned Ep 236
No sooner did we all feel the relief of the George Floyd verdict last week, that even more Black Americans were needlessly shot and killed by police officers. It's upsetting, it's infuriating, it's terrifying. And we all need speak up and work toward the long overdue,...
Empowering tweens and teens with books, with author Helena Dahlgren | Spawned Episode 235
By now, you know that we're pretty big book fans here at Cool Mom Picks, so we always jump at the chance to talk about them, and to their authors. This time, we're so thrilled to chat with an author of books for older kids like ours, and ones that have such an amazing...
More coolness from recent weeks…
3 cool ways to turn memories into art for Mother’s Day
As moms ourselves, we can say that photos gifts for Mother's Day are one of our favorite gift ideas, especially these days when so many of the pics of our kids (and with our kids) are sitting on our phones or hard drives. That's why we're so excited to be working with...
Empowering tweens and teens with books, with author Helena Dahlgren | Spawned Episode 235
By now, you know that we're pretty big book fans here at Cool Mom Picks, so we always jump at the chance to talk about them, and to their authors. This time, we're so thrilled to chat with an author of books for older kids like ours, and ones that have such an amazing...
18 meaningful Mother’s Day gift ideas for the far-away mom or grandma you really miss.
While I think any and all Mother's Day gifts are meaningful, this year is different. If you normally see your mom on Mother's Day, like I do, this year is going to be extra hard if we're not able to have those huts, that time together, those...
The perfect pandemic era Mother’s Day cards, from hilarious to oof…my heart.
Leave it to Em & Friends, the site formerly known as Emily McDowell and Friends, to create the perfect pandemic-era Mother's Day cards. From funny to encouraging, insightful to empathetic, they're got to be one here that suits someone you know. As soon as I saw...
Here’s a fantastic deal on a Trade Coffee subscription gift. Just in time for Mother’s Day!
For years, we've been recommending cool subscription gifts that make great gifts, and that includes Trade Coffee. So we're happy to partner with them on a fantastic deal -- right in time for Mother's Day and Father's Day. too. Right now, we're offering our readers 50%...
Judith Warner on “that article” about adolescents getting through the pandemic | Spawned Ep 234
Last week, my entire social network (online and off) buzzed loudly about author Judith Warner's New York Times article about adolescents and the pandemic, Stop Calling It a Lost Year. Parents had very strong opinions! Especially those who didn't actually read the...
5 free online courses that look fun to take with your mom for Mother’s Day
So far, we've loved what's happening with The We Time Project that we introduced last month: In order to help you connect more with far away friends and family around shared experiences, we've been offering our readers 30 days worth of unlimited free online courses...
10 super cute summer backpacks that help you say buh-bye to a long winter
Oh hi, it's me, your handbag-obsessed friend in NYC, now looking for cute backpacks for summer. As I virtually window shop my way across the internet I'm seeing lots of cute, colorful backpacks that are on trend for 2021 and my "add to cart" finger is getting itchy....
Why parents need a laugh right now (and a little something to help with that).
So, how about 2021, parents? It's been a pretty rough year (which we know, understatement of the century), and well, let's just say, we could use a laugh. We could also use a few other things too (cough hugging friends cough), but for now, a good hearty laugh will do....
6 comprehensive bike safety tips for kids, from a serious biking family who knows
After such a long winter, it's finally bike-riding season: Hooray! And, whoa are you all getting on those bikes! I've seen so many kids riding bikes in our neighborhood, that my son's mountain bike team has doubled in size since last year. Bike shops and bike...
11 fantastic gifts for stepmothers on Mother’s Day. Because we love them too. | Mother’s Day Gift Guide
We certainly couldn't forget to include cool gifts for stepmothers in our Mother's Day Gift Guide this year. After all, for a lot of us, Mother's Day is a chance to give thanks to all the nurturing women in our lives who have helped make us who we are -- and that...
Amira’s Picture Day: A lovely children’s book about Eid
For years, we've gotten plenty of pitches from publishers for countless children's books about holidays. And by holidays I mean, generally Christmas. But that's starting to change, and we're so thrilled to see more representation of all kinds of families, and all...
How to raise addiction-resistant children: Jessica Lahey | Spawned Ep 233
For years, Jessica Lahey has been one of our favorite parenting columnists and authors. So we were honored she joined us to offer her wise advice on talking with our kids about drug use, abuse, and addiction, all of which you can find in her essential new book, The...
Beyond cantering: 4 life lessons my daughter has learned from horseback riding
As someone who didn’t grow up around animals, I’ve learned a lot raising kids who love them, especially my youngest who is an avid horseback rider. When she first asked to take riding lessons, I thought it might be a passing phase, especially considering she had tried...
7 must-read children’s books about inspiring Asian-Americans
When it comes to creating empathy and developing a commitment of justice and respect in my children, I tend to turn toward good children's books. In fact, we've shared some of our favorite children's books about important African American figures, great kids books...
The Dolly Parton Little Golden Book we’ve all been waiting for. (“We” being my entire family.)
If you know anything about me and my family, you might have guessed that we'd be marking our calendars for the launch of My Little Golden Book About Dolly Parton, which will be added to the Little Golden Book library this coming September. As a Nashville-native, I've...
Can you really be a feminist dad? Jordan Shapiro on fatherhood, masculinity, and gender roles in parenting. | Spawned 232
While we love all of our Spawned guests, there are some interviews that truly reshape our views on parenting. That's just how we feel about this chat with global education expert Jordan Shapiro. He changed our views on kids and technology thanks to his...
Your tweens and teens will love this empowering book series
This is a sponsored message on behalf of Star Stable Entertainment What do you get when you combine magic, friendship, and horses? The answer is... Soul Riders, the popular trilogy from Star Stable Entertainment, the makers of the popular Star Stable Online that my...
8 stylish planters that totally zhuzh up your living space indoors
If you had'n't noticed, houseplants are having a real moment right now. I'm cracking up over friends who are naming their plants and calling themselves "plant parents." It's a serious obsession and considering the year we've had, I get the need to fix up your home in...
Hey, it’s April 1! And you know what that means around here…
It means nothing. Absolutely nothing in 2021. &$#*# April Fool's Day! I mean, can't we just have one day when we are not terrified about something -- real or otherwise? So my April Fool's Day proposal is we just get rid of it. And that's not a meta April Fool's...
“Just embrace the Janet Jackson rule” and other tips for supporting women in the workplace.| Spawned Episode 231
What is the "Janet Jackson rule" exactly? Let's just say it could really help you succeed in your career (and has nothing to do with wardrobe malfunctions that were entirely the fault of a guy but that's another story). If you're a working woman -- or a man, frankly...