Parenting Teens Unfiltered with Cat & Nat

Teens start to sail away. One minute they’re cuddly, the next they’re distant, and the easy check-ins are gone. Now the challenge is unlocking that connection. Sometimes it’s a car ride, sometimes it’s shoveling snow together. It’s not about rules or routines anymore, it’s about us showing up and connecting on a deeper level. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What defines good parenting and how do you know if you’re doing it right? In the first ten years, we felt like we were exceeding expectations—an A+—even though it was physically and mentally exhausting. There were routines and the satisfaction of giving kids structure. Parenting changes as they get older. Now, it’s about sharing the role, letting them make their own decisions, and shifting into more of a coaching mindset. Parenting is the ultimate freight train ride.This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parenting teens feels like uncharted territory. It doesn’t get easier, it just changes. This might be one of the most challenging phases yet: helping our kids learn how to launch. What used to be a natural progression into independence now feels far less automatic, and more dependent on us. We love that our kids still want to be close, but does that closeness help them grow or quietly hold them back? Will we have to literally push them out of the nest? And how much should they really be sharing with us?This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We promise to be back soon with new episodes but life is just life'ing. In this repeat episode Nat shares how not one, but two people completely broke down in tears right in front of her. And while we all get that emotions can run high, Nat is definitely not the “let’s hug it out” type. After today’s episode, it’s clear she’s also not the shoulder to cry on type. Nat prefers to shut it down before things get too carried away!This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this repeat episode, we’re celebrating the next powerhouse generation of girls. Whether it’s the aftermath of Covid or just life doing its thing, we’re seeing a shift: young girls who are bold, fierce, and unapologetically themselves. They speak up, stand their ground, and sometimes get stubborn just to prove a point. It’s inspiring, it’s game-changing, and it’s completely redefining what the future looks like for girls everywhere! We hope you are enjoying your holidays and will be back in the New Year with new episodes!This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this repeat episode we are bringing you another parenting conundrum: you decide to spend your life with someone… but how much of the really important stuff do you actually talk about first? Parenting styles? How you handle conflict? The tricky stuff—like your kid’s sexual orientation or dating rules for your teens? Most couples barely scratch the surface before walking down the aisle. You can bet we didn't!This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a personal story. Everyone's story is different. This is our story. Kids are masters at being chameleons. They don't want to be different or learn differently. They are very good at hiding their struggles, until one day the wheels come off. Teachers and school systems are not always equipped to fully understand learning disabilities. But you don’t have to rely on the system to teach your child how they learn. Understanding your child’s IEP, their brain, and giving them tools to navigate their challenges can help give them a roadmap to succeed on their own terms. We celebrate effort over perfection, understand gaps instead of shaming them, and help our kids grow confident. All we want to do is protect their confidence. You can get back everything else, but you can't get back confidence.This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before we did the research on Roblox, we honestly thought it was just a simple video game. Most parents probably do. But the reality is far more complicated. Roblox is a massive gaming platform with millions of user-created games inside it. Anyone can build a game, and kids can jump in and play — which means there’s essentially no real regulation. And because kids are kids, they don’t always recognize what’s happening. Groomers often pretend to be the same age as the child they’re interacting with, and they know exactly how to move conversations off the platform where they can’t be traced. These people are highly skilled at what they do, which is why parents need to know what’s really happening behind the scenes. We created a guide to help you navigate it all at https://www.thecommonparent.com/.This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As our American friends enjoy Cyber Monday we are bringing you a repeat of an infortive interivew with Phinnah Chichi. Adolescence naturally comes with risk-taking, but for parents, it can feel like navigating a whole new world. Phinnah is a parenting consultant and coach who supports parents of tweens and teens as they move through these years together, strengthening their relationship instead of drifting apart. She’s the author of The Parenting Teens Navigation System: Journeying Successfully Through the Changes and Challenges of Parenting Teenagers and provides courses, workshops, and community spaces for both parents and young people. For more resources, follow Phinnah at @parentingteenssolutions.This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re talking about doom scrolling — why we do it, why our kids do it, and how it can quietly become the way we mute feelings we don’t want to deal with. Scrolling can make you feel everything, or it can make you feel nothing at all. Either way, it pulls you out of your own life without you even noticing. At some point, your kids will need to study or focus without you taking the phone away from them, and understanding their doom-scrolling habits is important for both you and them.This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re talking about an important part of growing up that often gets overlooked: rejection. Boys need to know that being broken up with isn’t something to be embarrassed about. Not every connection is a fit. Admitting they were rejected isn’t a weakness — it’s part of learning who they are and how to move forward in a healthy way. When we normalize rejection, we help them build resilience and emotional confidence. As parents, our job is to keep the conversation open and ongoing so our kids understand that rejection is a normal part of life. This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katherine Schwarzenegger, New York Times bestselling author and mother of three, joins Cat & Nat (once again!) to share her candid insights on the journey of motherhood. She takes us inside her new children’s book, Kat & Brandy, inspired by her own childhood pony, Brandy. Katherine explores themes of courage, trust, and overcoming fear, while reflecting on the powerful bonds we form with animals—connections that help us feel strong, confident, and ready to face challenges we never thought possible. Plus, we get a fun glimpse into what chores looked like when she was growing up! Find more at https://www.katherineschwarzenegger.com/kat-and-brandyThis podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this repeat episode we sat down with parenting expert Dr. Becky Kennedy — clinical psychologist, mom of three, and the genius behind the “Good Inside” movement that’s changing how we think about raising kids. Dr. Becky has a gift for breaking down what’s really going on with our kids and turning it into simple, real-life strategies that actually work. Her book Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be helps parents move from second-guessing everything to leading with confidence and calm. Such a great listen! Follow @drbeckyatgoodinside for more parenting wisdom.This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We had to talk about the big thing this week that’s so disturbing — the creepiness of Grok. Who programmed this thing?? It’s asking inappropriate questions (yes, even about n*des), and it’s raising a big red flag for moms everywhere. X’s chatbot is already known to be a little naughty, but what happens when this kind of tech ends up in the hands of curious teens? We need to keep our kids safe in a world that’s moving a little too fast.This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $24.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook Follow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re thrilled to tackle this timely topic with lawyer Duncan Embury, who’s representing four major Ontario school boards in a landmark case against Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat. He explains why schools are pushing back, how these platforms are impacting kids’ learning and mental health, and why this legal fight matters for parents and families who are trying to navigate the social media landscape. Social media is the "white van" of our generation. Get informed. For more info visit https://neinstein.com/personal-injury-lawyers-areas-of-expertise/social-media-lawsuit.This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $49.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/guideFollow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As parents, we’re all trying to figure out how to keep our kids safe in a world that’s constantly online. Anti-trafficking expert Laila Mickelwait is taking that fight to the next level — working to get child sexual assault material off streaming platforms for good. Her new book, Takedown, tells the unbelievable true story of how she sparked a global movement of more than two million people — and together, they pulled off what’s being called “the biggest takedown of content in Internet history.” This interview might not be for everyone, however if you are seeking further information you can check out @lailamickelwait. This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $49.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/guideFollow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have been touring universites and wow - these kids are putting so much pressure on themselves to figure it all out. Our advice is start early. Exploring options sooner helps to take the weight off and make the decision process simpler in Grade 12/seniour year. Remind kids that their first choice might not be their forever choice. With the right guidance, they can always change direction. Sometimes just knowing it’s not forever makes the whole journey so much easier.This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $49.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/guideFollow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back with brand-new parenting episodes every Monday, and this week we are talking about screens, kids, and the chaos that comes with both. Remember when we thought parenthood would be easy? Between SnapMaps showing everyone's location, and the cesspool that is Snapchat, it’s enough to fry your brain. We’re talking about how to protect your kids from themselves, why monitoring their digital world is a full-time job, and how even with our ScreenSense guide (that breaks it ALL down for you in a super easy and digestible way) our own kids still managed to get around screen time. Because of course they did. Parenting is a full-time job—you put in all this effort, and now the extra work isn’t carpools or lunches, it’s keeping up with what they’re doing online. That's exactly why we created https://www.thecommonparent.com/screen-sense-ebook.This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $49.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/guideFollow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We sat down with The Tea: The Talk author Alicia Crespin for an open and honest conversation about navigating those tricky—and often awkward—moments with our kids. From puberty to relationships to the curveball questions that leave us speechless, Alicia shares practical advice on approaching “the talk” with confidence. The Tea: The Talk is more than just a parenting guide—it’s a powerful collection of stories from over 30 women, spilling the tea on their pasts. By breaking the silence around stigmatized topics, Alicia shows how we can empower the next generation to grow up stronger, more informed, and more connected. Known for her straightforward, no-nonsense style, Alicia is on a mission to help us raise the best version of tomorrow’s adults. Learn more about Alicia at aliciacrespin.com and @spilltheteawithalicia, and grab your copy of The Talk on Amazon.This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $49.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/guideFollow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this repeat episode we are back wtih a Cat & Nat parenting dilemma! Nat’s facing a question so tricky, we hope none of you ever have to deal with it. And we’re stumped. That’s why we’re turning to you—what would you tell your teen to do if they were in this situation?This podcast is presented by The Common Parent. The all-in-one parenting resource you need to for your teens & tweens. We've uncovered every parenting issue, so you don't have too.Are you a parent that is struggling understanding the online world, setting healthy screen-time limits, or navigating harmful online content? Purchase screen sense for $49.99 & unlock Cat & Nat’s ultimate guide to parenting in the digital age. Go to https://www.thecommonparent.com/guideFollow @thecommonparent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonparent/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.