When adult children struggle to handle stress, responsibility, or uncertainty, parents want to know how to help them. But what if the most powerful influence isn’t what parents say or do for their adult children, but how they manage themselves? In this episode of LAUNCH, I’m joined by Dr. Kate Lund, licensed clinical psychologist, resilience expert, TEDx speaker and best-selling author, for a conversation that shifts the focus where it belongs. We talk how adult children learn resilience by w...
Do you want to know why you can't set boundaries without coming across as controlling, bossy or even disappointed? It's because with every attempt, it sounds like you're trying to tell them what to do, which drives them nuts, so you've given up. The problem is that most parents confuse boundaries with rules or threats and that's exactly why they don't work. But I have the solution. If you've tried setting boundaries with your adult children only to be ignored, dismissed, or met wi...
If your adult child says, "I'm an adult, you can't tell me what to do" while living rent-free under your roof, doing absolutely nothing with their life, and expecting you to take care of everything – this episode might be exactly what you need. This deeply flawed and delusional statement gets thrown in the faces of kind-hearted parents who feel powerless to respond without triggering days of silent treatments. Let’s be honest. Adulthood is not something you declare because you're over 18. It'...
Have you've ever wondered if your relationship with your parents shaped how you show up as a parent today? If so, you'll find this episode very interesting. I sat down with Marc Cameron, author of Understanding Your Attachment Style: The Path to Overcoming Unhelpful Patterns and Building Healthy Secure Relationships to explore how parents attachment patterns shape their relationships with their children. Attachment theory explains how our earliest relationships shape the way we co...
If your adult child is easily overwhelmed, has poor communication skills, struggles with most adulting responsibilities, is unwilling to leave their room and go out into the world, emotional intelligence may be the missing piece. In this episode, we break down what emotional intelligence is, how to recognize the signs in your adult, and what you can do to manage it, for yourself and for them. You will learn why their reactions often feel disproportionate or personal, and what the resear...
If your adult child is struggling to make friends, feels socially anxious, avoids real-life interactions, or seems unsure how to build meaningful connections, this episode will give you clarity and direction. Many parents assume social skills are something young adults simply pick up, but the truth is that these skills must be understood, taught, and practiced in real life. Social skills are so important. They shape confidence, emotional wellbeing, communication, relationships, and ulti...
If your adult child is unmotivated, uninterested, lacks direction, lives without purpose, ambition or desire to do anything with their life, this episode will speak directly to you. So many young adults today have lost their spark. They feel disconnected, bored, and uninterested in almost everything, except maybe gaming. They have no goals, no plans and no passion for anything. It is nothing short of heartbreaking for a parent to watch. And the worst part is, you can't understand why. This is...
In this episode, we’re talking about the power of community, and why helping your adult child reconnect with others may be one of the most transformative steps you can take because the research is clear: meaningful relationships are the strongest predictors of happiness, mental well-being and longevity. You’ll learn what decades of studies reveal about why social connection matters so deeply, and more importantly, 5 ways that you can help your adult child step out of isolation and start build...
If you’re the parent of an adult child who has considered, possibly even attempted suicide, this episode is for you. If your adult child is severely depressed and you worry about whether they've considered suicide, this episode is for you. However, if this is not your adult child, I know that you will still find it incredibly interesting because my guest is not just an expert on the subject, but has lived through this experience and her story is deeply moving and inspiring. Mental...
Today marks one year that this podcast was born and I am celebrating it with a very special guest. In this heartfelt episode, a 25-year-old young adult shares her honest insight into what it’s really like to grow up today, the challenges, the pressures, the mental energy, the importance of communication, self-care, friendships, therapy and most importantly what young adults need from their parents to feel seen, supported, and understood. Often times, the deepest truths come from the peo...
Parental estrangement is one of the most painful and complex experiences a parent can go through, especially when an adult child goes no contact. It’s a situation filled with unanswered questions, shame, guilt, and the aching silence of disconnection. In this follow-up episode, we reconnect with a mother who previously shared her personal experience with estrangement from her adult children. This time, she returns with an update, but we’re not here to give away the ending. Instead, we t...
If you’ve tried everything and your adult child is still struggling to launch, you’re not alone. You’re part of a very large group of parents quietly suffering in silence, wondering what else they can possibly do. Today, I revisit my very first “Failure to Launch” episode and go through the 15 signs that reveal just how serious things are at home for your adult child. I explain why, if nothing has worked so far, what you can do differently to finally see change. The question is, how lon...
Isolation has quietly become one of the most serious threats to young adults today. In this episode, I’m joined by author and speaker Elaine Uskoski to talk about how loneliness and social disconnection are impacting kids today. The U.S. Surgeon General recently declared loneliness a public health crisis, warning that social isolation can raise the risk of depression, addiction, heart disease, dementia, and even premature death. But for many young adults, spending hours alone in their room - ...
Most parents I speak to share the same story; their young adult has so much potential but struggles with low self-confidence, fear of failure, lack of motivation, anxiety, and dependence that keeps them from moving forward in life. In this episode, we’re talking about what confidence really is, how it shows up when it’s missing, and why it’s one of the most powerful traits your adult child can develop. More importantly, you’ll learn 8 confidence-boosting strategies for adult children that are...
In this episode, I sit down with transformational life coach Nicole Weston to talk about the mother wound and how the relationships we had with our mothers continue to influence our identity, our confidence, and how we show up as parents. Nicole shares the signs that we may be carrying an unhealed mother wound, and discussed how this can affect the way we raise our own children. Most importantly, Nicole offers insight and practical ways to begin the healing process, so we can brea...
In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Janet Krebs, speaker, HR consultant, educational strategist, and 4X best-selling author who empowers parents and influencers to lead with confidence, self-reliance, and heart, blending practical leadership tools with real-world parenting strategies. We talk about why parenting is leadership and how parents can raise strong, confident, and independent adults. Janet shares her insights on the essential life skills kids need to thrive, the 3 C’...
If you grew up with a narcissistic parent or experienced childhood trauma, you may still feel the effects today most notably in how you parent your own children. In this episode of LAUNCH, I sit down with Certified Inner Child Reparenting Coach Maria Riegger to talk about how healing past trauma can not only transform the way you raise your kids but build an "unshakeable" foundation. We cover what it really means to heal childhood trauma, how unresolved wounds from a narcissistic mom or dad c...
Are you a mature parent wondering if you’re financially prepared for retirement? Maybe you still have a few working years ahead, but you know planning for your retirement should be a priority. Or perhaps retirement is already on your mind, but you’re worried it could be delayed because your adult kids are still living at home. My guest today is Eric Mangold, founder of Argosy Wealth Management. I'll warn you, this might not be the sexiest interview - I mean, who loves talking about money? But...
One of the hardest parts about being a parent is watching your adult child move through life feeling hopeless, stuck in a negativity loop about how bad their life is. You can’t give them confidence or purpose but you can model a practice proven by neuroscience to change the brain’s chemistry. In this episode, I'll explain how something as simple as practicing gratitude impacts their brain, interrupts their ruminating thoughts, lifts their mood, reduces their worries, improves their slee...
Resilience and emotional regulation are two of the most critical life skills a young adult needs, but how do they develop and what role do parents play? In this episode, I sit down with Miki Johnston, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience working with teens, young adults, and their families. Together, we explore why so many young adults today struggle with handling emotions, coping with setbacks, and bouncing back from life’s challenges and what parents can do to ...