A thousand-pound therapist can teach you more about trust than a bookshelf of parenting guides. Shane Jacob—life coach, professional horseman, and former heavy drinker—opens up about a two-decade cycle of numbing, the wreckage it caused, and the unlikely path to healing through faith and horses. We unpack how an animal’s sensitivity turns into a powerful mirror, reflecting the energy we bring into every interaction and revealing why congruence, not perfection, builds connection.

We dive into the myth that life should feel good all the time and how that belief fuels escape behaviors for teens and adults alike. Shane explains the “speed of trust” with horses: when cues become fair and clear, they update quickly and stop keeping score. That lesson translates at home—separate behavior from worth, hold boundaries, repair fast, and then truly let it go. We explore communication breakdowns, why over-explaining escalates confusion, and how a few simple, shared cues can calm power struggles. Creating repeated correlations to parenting we recognize that sensitive kids read body language, tone, and pacing more than words; showing up aligned matters more than saying the perfect thing.

The heart of the conversation centers on self-compassion. Parents often weaponize their inner voice, then hope kids will somehow learn a kinder one. We offer practical, mindful tools—like the thought river shorthand and loving-kindness—to refill your cup and model emotional regulation. If you’ve ever wondered how to rebuild after mistakes, create unity between caregivers, or help a teen move from shame to resilience, these horse-powered insights will give you grounded, usable steps.

If this conversation helped, follow and share it with a friend who needs a dose of calm and hope. Subscribe for more mindful parenting tools, leave a quick review to help others find the show, and tell us: what cue will you try at home this week?

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.