Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Valentine’s Day crafts and activities you can do with your kids | Spawned Ep 188
With Valentine's Day around the corner, we've got fun craft ideas and activities on the brain. Because if you're like us, the lingerie and dinner out just isn't in the cards, which to be honest, is perfectly fine with us. So on this episode of Spawned with Kristen and...
Peggy Orenstein on Boys and Sex… and hookups and love and masculinity and consent and yes, porn | Spawned 187
When our sound engineer writes to us and says that this podcast interview with Peggy Orenstein is "easily top 5...maybe top 3" of all our interviews, well that's saying something. And we agree. Whether you are raising sons or raising daughters, we think you'll be...
Tackling one of the trickiest parts of parenting: Discipline | Spawned Ep 186
Parenting is hard. We know that's an obvious statement. But some parts are decidedly harder than others, and one of them is discipline. That's why we're happy to be chatting with school psychologist Lynn Burrell, who's also the co-founder of our sponsor Weldon. She...
More coolness from recent weeks…
7 homemade mason jar spa gifts all made with safe, edible ingredients.
I think these DIY mason jar spa gift ideas are just so incredibly perfect for the holidays, Mother's Day, anniversaries...you name it. I mean, is there anyone among us who could not use a little pampering right now? The way I see it, if you can't afford to gift...
The Best Black Friday Deals 2019 online: From the big brands to the small businesses we love.
If you’re looking for the very best 2019 Black Friday shopping deals and discounts around the web, you've come to the right place. Because our thing is, stay home! Be with your family! Shop in your PJs! You too? Got you covered. Here are some of the deals and...
Holiday tech gifts: 11 of the coolest STEM toys and gifts for big kids and tweens
STEM toys and gifts are definitely high on lots of holiday wish lists this season, so we're rounding up some of the coolest options for big kids and tweens. From cool STEM building sets to STEM subscription boxes, in every single price range (hey, we know that...
How writing thank you letters could totally change your life
You can probably hear your mom's voice right now. "Did you write a thank-you note, dear?" I can't be the only one whose mom was a stickler about thank-you notes. Well, as I learned from our recent Spawned podcast guest, author Nancy Davis Kho, there are more reasons...
2 smart baby gadgets to help make new parenting easier | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message for SunvalleyTek Technology has helped make parenting so much easier that it's often at the top of many baby registries and baby shower wish lists. That's where you'll find the VAVA Baby Monitor and the TaoTronics Humidifier, both of which...
12 of the coolest Advent calendars this year, to make the countdown even more fun
I am usually a big advocate for letting Thanksgiving have its own precious time before shifting my focus on to Christmas. But, with Thanksgiving falling so late in November this year, those of us who celebrate Christmas will want to have a cool Advent calendar ready...
It’s here! Our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide. And it’s very 2019.
We are incredibly thrilled to present our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide. Whoo! If you can believe, this is our 14th annual holiday gift guide, and this year, well, we think we might have outdone ourselves. (Or maybe it's just the exhaustion talking). We've curated over 200...
A modern Christmas story that will be a new family favorite for years to come | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message for Candlewick Press There's nothing like a magical story to get kids into the Christmas spirit, which is why you'll be so glad to have Dasher, a new book with a female protagonist (yay!) from New York Times bestselling author Matt...
Nike nurses’ shoes honor everyday heroes working in medicine and healthcare.
Sometimes the best way to appreciate the work someone does is simply to recognize it. Which is why all of us were so thrilled to come across the new Nike Zoom Pulse. People are calling them "Nike nurses' shoes," because it's their first shoe designed specifically for...
The best deals on men’s gifts at Zulily right now: 5 gifts we love, for the men we love
If you're already up on your holiday shopping, good for you! If you need a little nudge, then our partner Zulily just may give you the motivation you need to get it going. You'll find thousands of products up to 70% off including gifts for men. (And if you know our...
On acting, activism, and taking action: A conversation with Alysia Reiner
Considering we're pretty passionate about activism and binge watching, it's probably no surprise that we're a big fan of Alysia Reiner, known best for her role as Natalie "Fig" Figueroa in Orange is the New Black, a show that might have been the first use-case for the...
Adopt a letter to Santa and make a child’s holiday wish come true
Every year, the USPS gets tons of letters to Santa from children from all over the country, many of whom come from low-income families where the holidays present quite a hardship. Well, this year, the USPS is helping to make these kids' wishes come true with their...
This monthly earring club for kids will also come to your house and pierce their ears. Whoa.
I am so excited about the concept behind Rowan, an ear-piercing service and monthly earring club subscription for kids. Because it's not just really fun, but truly useful. I'm a huge fan of subscription boxes in general to help build my kids' wardrobes, from clothing...
Big family tips for families of any size | Spawned Episode 176
With eight kids between us, Liz and I have come to learn tips, systems, and organizational advice over the years that's help make life a little easier for us. So on this episode of our Spawned Parenting Podcast, we're sharing them with the hopes that they'll simplify...
5 incredible deals on home decor at Zulily right now. It’s holiday entertaining season!
If you're looking to score some deals right now without dealing with the Black Friday madness, our partner Zulily.Is a great option. You'll find thousands of products up to 70% off including an entire home & garden category. If you're freshening up your home for...
5 reasons this STEM toy should be at the top of your holiday shopping list
Every year, we keep an eye on hot holiday toy trends, and no surprise here, STEM toys are still a big ticket item for the 2019 holiday season. When we look for STEM toys, we particularly appreciate ones that teach kids STEM concepts by encouraging creative,...
Tons of beloved Hammitt handbags go on sale, big time. Why wait until Black Friday?
When our own Lisa told me about a massive sale on "my favorite handbags" from Hammitt Los Angeles, I clicked over immediately. Lisa has great taste, first off. And, well, I love bags. If you're in the market, don't wait until Black Friday! Check out their Farewell...
5 fun Frozen 2 crafts for kids, because we get it. They’re obsessed. Again.
Who's got Frozen fever? We've only been hearing about Frozen 2, oh, since last year sometime. And I know that's not just my own kids. With a November 22 launch date -- and who knows whether you can even get tickets for opening weekend at this point -- I get that you...
5 smart laundry tips for families that actually work. Because we use them ourselves.
No matter how many kids you have in your house, it somehow always means lots of laundry, and over the years, we've figured tried lots of laundry tips to help make the process a whole lot easier. Of course, it doesn't matter what size your family is, you still need...
How to be a tech-positive parent (and why you want to be one) | Spawned Episode 175
When we started Cool Mom Tech almost 10 years ago, there wasn’t a lot of language around digital parenting. But considering we tend to be the non-alarmist type of parents, we approached parenting our own digital-native kids like other difficult parenting topics: with...
Illustoria is the perfect gift for your favorite thinking kid.
As the holidays get closer and our annual search for off-the-beaten path gifs for kids gets more intense, I'm so delighted to recommend a subscription to Illustoria. A magazine "for creative kids and their grownups," it makes an amazing gift for kids and tweens who...