Your words are planting something. The only question is whether those seeds grow thorns of fear or roots of resilience. We sit down with author and corporate well-being coach Barry Nicolaou to unpack how subconscious “soil” works, why language like “hard” quietly programs outcomes, and how small intentional shifts can help kids and parents move toward calm, confidence, and connection.

Barry shares the soil metaphor for the subconscious—neutral, fertile, and ready to grow whatever we repeatedly think and say. We explore generational fear and scarcity, how worst-case thinking hijacks parenting, and a simple worldview check inspired by Einstein: do you believe the world is friendly or hostile? From that foundation, we get practical. Learn how to replace “I’m proud of you” with “You must be proud of yourself,” install nightly gratitude so anxiety has less room to run, and set clear boundaries without catastrophizing. We also talk about modeling mistakes and repair, building psychological safety at home, and choosing language that invites kids to move toward values instead of away from threats.

If you’re ready to reset intention and grow a family culture rooted in love, patience, and agency, this conversation offers tools you can use tonight. We close with where to find Barry’s latest book, Move the Mountain, and how his corporate programs blend mindset science with purpose-driven practices. Subscribe, share this with a parent who needs some peace, and leave a review so more families can find these tools. What seed will you plant today?

For more on Barry's work, visit his website or read his book.

Lindsay Miller is a distinguished kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast. She is known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh. When she's not cheering on her daughter or rollerblading on local trails with her husband, you can find her using her 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification to dream up new ways to get kids excited about deep breathing. Having been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms and publications, Lindsay’s words of wisdom are high impact and leave a lasting impression wherever she goes.

To sign up for Lindsay's "Calm & Collected" Newsletter click here.

To review the podcast click here.

What if a few quiet moments each day could help your child bounce back faster, sleep more easily, and feel steadier in their own skin? In this episode we share a few ways that gratitude can flip the nervous system from fight-or-flight into rest-and-digest. Drawing from research at UCLA, USC, and studies by Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough, we connect the dots between gratitude, emotional regulation, resilience, and long-term health.

I walk through the brain science in clear, friendly language: where gratitude lights up neural networks and why that matters for stressed families, and how parasympathetic activation invites better focus and calmer choices. Then we get practical. You’ll learn the Three Moments ritual that fits in the car, at dinner, or before bed, plus Three Happy Things And One Thank You—scripts kids and teens will actually answer. We show how to blend gratitude with one strength-based question so children name something hard and how they got through it, building a durable narrative of resilience.

You’ll also hear why a simple gratitude jar can anchor the habit on tough days, how ending on a high note supports sleep, and what studies say about benefits like improved immune function and lower inflammation. We close with a short guided pause so you can feel gratitude soften your body in real time. No perfection required—consistency, warmth, and low pressure make this work.

If this episode brings a little more ease to your home, share it with another parent who needs a calm boost, then subscribe, leave a review, and join the email list for more research-backed tools you can use today.

Sources:

Systematic Review on Physical Health Outcomes PubMed

UCLA Health – Health Benefits of Gratitude UCLA Health

Greater Good Science Center (Berkeley) – Gratitude and Sleep / Inflammation Greater Good

Meta-Analysis on Psychological Well-Being Proof Positive

Randomized Controlled Trial (6-Month Follow-Up) SpringerLink

Original Experimental Gratitude Study (McCullough & Emmons) wisebrain.org

Physiological / Biomarker Evidence AHP

Behavioral/Relationship Benefits Greater Good

Lindsay Miller is a distinguished kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast. She is known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh. When she's not cheering on her daughter or rollerblading on local trails with her husband, you can find her using her 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification to dream up new ways to get kids excited about deep breathing. Having been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms and publications, Lindsay’s words of wisdom are high impact and leave a lasting impression wherever she goes.

To sign up for Lindsay's "Calm & Collected" Newsletter click here.

To review the podcast click here.

What happens when a former speech therapist realizes the “perfect plan” for parenting doesn’t exist—and chooses presence over pressure? We sit down with Carrie Lingenfelter to explore how mindful attention, compassionate language, and simple spiritual practices can transform family life, especially for highly sensitive and neurodiverse kids.

Carrie shares her journey from evidence-first frameworks to heart-led parenting that honors each child’s wiring. We unpack how labels can open doors to support without defining identity, why words like gifted, spirited, and sensitive change a child’s inner story, and how to build a shared family language that spotlights strengths. From quick pre-pickup resets to modeled boundaries that sound like “give me five minutes to recharge,” we offer practical steps that shift the home from reactivity to co-regulation.

You’ll learn kid-friendly energy tools that actually stick: morning “white and gold light” protection, grounding roots into the earth, a simple mantra to keep emotional spillover at bay, and bedtime meditations that release the day’s weight. We talk about helping children become experts of themselves—recognizing when empathy serves and when a clear boundary is the most caring choice. Friendship dynamics, reflective questions, and story-based coaching round out a toolkit that helps sensitive kids navigate loud social worlds with clarity and confidence.

If you’re craving strategies that feel human, doable, and steadying, this conversation offers a path back to calm connection. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a little extra ease, and leave a review to help more parents find these tools. Your presence is the most powerful practice—start with one small ritual today.

Lindsay Miller is a distinguished kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast. She is known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh. When she's not cheering on her daughter or rollerblading on local trails with her husband, you can find her using her 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification to dream up new ways to get kids excited about deep breathing. Having been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms and publications, Lindsay’s words of wisdom are high impact and leave a lasting impression wherever she goes.

To sign up for Lindsay's "Calm & Collected" Newsletter click here.

To review the podcast click here.

The glow of “perfect together” can hide a much harsher truth. We sit down with narcissism specialist Dr. Anthony Mazzella to unpack how the illusion of blissful union forms, why ordinary differences feel like threats, and what actually changes when you stop outsourcing your worth. From a psychodynamic perspective, we trace the arc from early unmet needs to adult relationships that demand constant validation, then explore the real cost of leaving: grief for the fantasy, and the devaluing voices you carry after the breakup.

We get practical fast. You’ll hear how to spot red flags—pressure to be “always positive,” fights over hobbies or time apart, and the panic that turns separation into abandonment. Dr. Mazzella demonstrates “containment,” a therapeutic process that pairs validation with mindful inquiry, so you can slow reactivity, notice discomfort, and choose differently in the moment. We contrast projection with mentalization, show how integration of self reduces idealize–devalue cycles, and share simple repair scripts and redo language to stabilize daily interactions.

Parenting patterns take center stage too. We map how a history of domination and powerlessness can resurface as rigid control of a child, and how mindful boundaries protect connection without shutting people out. Along the way, we challenge the myth that change is a straight line. Progress happens in moments: one honest pause, one contained feeling, one boundary you keep. If you’re navigating a narcissistic relationship, healing after one, or trying to end a generational cycle, this conversation offers clarity, language, and tools you can use today.

If this resonated, share it with someone who needs it, subscribe for more grounded guidance, and leave a review so others can find the show. Your support helps us grow a community built on calm, courage, and real change.

To listen to the other podcast episode that Dr. Mazzella and Lindsay recorded, check out this episode of the Narcissism Decoder Podcast.

For more information about Dr. Mazzella’s psychoanalytic affiliations and membership in The International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA) -which is restricted to psychoanalysts who fulfill the most recognized international standards for psychoanalytic training- visit his website.

Lindsay Miller is a distinguished kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast. She is known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh. When she's not cheering on her daughter or rollerblading on local trails with her husband, you can find her using her 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification to dream up new ways to get kids excited about deep breathing. Having been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms and publications, Lindsay’s words of wisdom are high impact and leave a lasting impression wherever she goes.

To sign up for Lindsay's "Calm & Collected" Newsletter click here.

To review the podcast click here.

One tall flower in a crowded field changes everything. Dr. Douglas Garland joins us to unpack Tall Poppy Syndrome—the ancient metaphor with very modern consequences—and gives parents a working language for envy, jealousy, pride, and the status games kids navigate every day. We dig into how cultures reward sameness or celebrate standouts, why the U.S. produces both more tall poppies and people who cut them down, and how social media keeps comparison always on.

We draw sharp lines between helpful envy that fuels emulation and growth, and the envy that sparks gossip, pile-ons, and cutting others down. Doug shares why anger and sloth intensify cutting in fast-result cultures, and how humility and kindness act as counterweights. He offers a candid story from his own career of being cut down at the top, then using that moment to reset, refocus, and build something larger—an approach families can model when a child’s wins trigger peer backlash.

Parents get a clear playbook: look for context before reacting, map power differences, and teach kids to read the field—family, classroom, team, and community. We cover practical scripts to help a child hold their ground without drifting into hubris, steps to distinguish bullying from status pressure, and a nuanced look at gender dynamics that shape how boys and girls experience and report bullying behavior.

Listen for a primer on Tall Poppy Syndrome and how to respond to it. For more on Doug's work visit his website or find him on Instagram.

Lindsay Miller is a distinguished kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast. She is known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh. When she's not cheering on her daughter or rollerblading on local trails with her husband, you can find her using her 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification to dream up new ways to get kids excited about deep breathing. Having been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms and publications, Lindsay’s words of wisdom are high impact and leave a lasting impression wherever she goes.

To sign up for Lindsay's "Calm & Collected" Newsletter click here.

To review the podcast click here.

Holiday seasons are loud, bright, sweet, and often overwhelming—and that’s exactly why they’re perfect for teaching kids (and ourselves) how to be present. We explore a simple presence practice that uses the five senses to bring a busy mind back to now, turning chaotic moments into chances for calm, clarity, and connection. From Halloween costumes and crinkly candy wrappers to warm pie dough and the glow of neighborhood lights, we show how everyday sensory details can anchor the nervous system and reduce stress.

You’ll hear a real family scene—a late‑night discovery of ants in a backpack—and how shifting attention to sights, sounds, textures, and smells transformed frustration into laughter and purposeful action. We unpack why acceptance is not giving up but stepping into reality long enough to choose a better response. Instead of fighting what’s happening or spiraling into what‑ifs, we practice noticing what is here, right now, and responding on purpose. That skill helps kids build emotional regulation, resilience, and self‑confidence while giving parents a steadier way to lead.

We also share quick, repeatable prompts that fit into busy days: tasting candy with attention, listening to neighborhood laughter, feeling cool air on your skin, and watching lights flicker. These micro‑rituals train the brain to settle faster, make good memories more vivid, and lower the temperature during meltdowns. The holidays become a training ground for year‑round calm, where presence turns modern chaos into manageable moments and families reconnect with what matters most.

If this resonates, share the episode with a friend who needs a little extra calm, and leave a quick review so more parents can find the show. Want more tools? Visit thestressnanny.com and subscribe so you never miss a practice that helps your family breathe easier.

Lindsay Miller is a distinguished kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast. She is known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh. When she's not cheering on her daughter or rollerblading on local trails with her husband, you can find her using her 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification to dream up new ways to get kids excited about deep breathing. Having been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms and publications, Lindsay’s words of wisdom are high impact and leave a lasting impression wherever she goes.

To sign up for Lindsay's "Calm & Collected" Newsletter click here.

To review the podcast click here.

Ever wish your teen would text more than “k,” while your paragraphs go unread? We dive into a simple framework that makes family communication clearer and calmer: six modes—sending, talking, meaning-making, tacit knowing, signaling, and advocacy—and how to switch between them without adding more stress. Our guest, Craig Mattson, professor of communication and author of Digital Overwhelm, brings research from modern workplaces into everyday parenting, showing how the same pressures and patterns play out at the dinner table, in the car, and over text.

We unpack what each mode looks like at home: when to broadcast logistics, when to go one-on-one, how to explain the why behind rules, and why some skills are best learned by doing rather than explaining. We also decode the subtle stuff—tone, timing, punctuation—so your messages land the way you intend. Craig shares a memorable bookstore story where a plan fell apart and flexibility saved the day, modeling how small experiments (QR codes, short videos, quick chats) can reach different people with the right touch at the right time.

Mindfulness threads through the conversation. We talk about noticing your default mode, spotting the moment you’re “stuck,” and choosing a new approach on purpose. You’ll hear practical language shifts that create distance from big feelings, drawing on relational frame theory: “you’re having overwhelm” rather than “you are overwhelmed.” We close with simple ways to teach kids a wider range of modes—clear updates, compassionate talks, meaning checks, subtle signals, and brave advocacy—plus a reminder to lean on your village of coaches, teachers, and mentors so you don’t have to do it all yourself.

Listen for real-world examples, short scripts you can try today, and a calm path forward when life is loud. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a little more ease, and leave a quick review so more parents can find these tools.

For more on Craig's work click here. To get Craig's book click here.

Lindsay Miller is a distinguished kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast. She is known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh. When she's not cheering on her daughter or rollerblading on local trails with her husband, you can find her using her 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification to dream up new ways to get kids excited about deep breathing. Having been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms and publications, Lindsay’s words of wisdom are high impact and leave a lasting impression wherever she goes.

To sign up for Lindsay's "Calm & Collected" Newsletter click here.

To review the podcast click here.

Homework shouldn’t feel like a bear attack, yet for many ADHD families, everyday tasks trigger fight, flight, or freeze. We invited ADHD coach and mindfulness facilitator Corie Wightlin to help us turn those explosive moments into opportunities for calm, connection, and growth. Corie blends neuroscience, executive function know-how, and lived experience to show how a simple “pause” can redirect the entire evening—and how a practical “fast-forward” thought experiment helps parents choose the next right move without the guilt spiral.

We dig into what actually works when brains are overwhelmed: sensory resets like cold touch, fresh air, or a 60-second song; visible, tactile pause signals; and nonverbal cues that defuse rather than escalate. Then we move from crisis to design. Instead of one-size-fits-all checklists, Corie walks through micro-step sticky notes placed where action happens, pre-staging friction points the night before, and turning time into a friendly cue with Alexa timers or playlists. You’ll hear how a small shift—like keeping shoes with the laid-out clothes in the living room—can shave minutes off the morning and unlock a child’s sense of competence.

Because novelty fades, we build “falter plans” that anticipate boredom and change, keeping systems fresh without starting from scratch. We also talk directly to moms who see themselves in their kids’ profiles: late-diagnosed ADHD, rejection sensitivity, and the exhaustion that comes from running on adrenaline and perfectionism. Corie offers a self-compassion framework and boundary-setting scripts that lower cognitive load, protect bandwidth, and model healthy regulation at home.

If you’re craving fewer meltdowns, smoother mornings, and more moments where your child genuinely believes “I can do this,” this conversation offers tools you can try tonight. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a gentler plan, and leave a review to let us know which strategy made the biggest difference for your family.

For more on Corie's work click here.

Lindsay Miller is a distinguished kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast. She is known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh. When she's not cheering on her daughter or rollerblading on local trails with her husband, you can find her using her 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification to dream up new ways to get kids excited about deep breathing. Having been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms and publications, Lindsay’s words of wisdom are high impact and leave a lasting impression wherever she goes.

To sign up for Lindsay's "Calm & Collected" Newsletter click here.

To review the podcast click here.