Your teenager can turn a simple request into a full-blown war, and the worst part is how fast it happens. I’m joined by Inger Masson, an energy psychology therapist and the founder of the Empowered Parenting Framework, to unpack what’s really going on when teens “push our buttons” and why the secret isn’t a perfect script, it’s a regulated nervous system. We talk about her approach that sits between gentle parenting and control based parenting: regulated leadership that moves families from anxiety and conflict into calm, connection, and emotional resilience.

We get practical about identifying your triggers, including the surprisingly common one: when your teen shuts down, disappears to their room, and won’t let you in. Inger explains how a parent’s fear can be real and instinctive, but also how pushing for answers can create shame and deeper silence when teens don’t yet have the words. You’ll hear brain-based tools like Dan Siegel’s hand model, why teens misread tone and facial cues, and how co-regulation (staying calm when they can’t) changes everything. We also touch on EFT tapping as a tool for “uninstalling” old emotional buttons so your teen can’t accidentally hijack you into anger or tears.

We wrap with a powerful shift: our job in adolescence changes from fixing to containing, and boundaries work best when they’re rooted in family values like safety and respect, not arbitrary rules. If you’re parenting teens and want better communication, fewer blowups, and steadier leadership at home, this conversation will hit home. Subscribe, share this with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find these tools.

Connect with Inger

Visit her website, and find her on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green.

I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you.

Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in

Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts. And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

If you’ve ever nodded along while your mind races toward advice, corrections, or the perfect response, you already know the uncomfortable truth: “listening” can be a performance. I sit down with Dr. Randall Alifano, clinical psychologist, ordained minister, and author of Listening in the Raw, to talk about what changes when we drop the techniques and practice real receptivity. Not the kind that sounds polished, but the kind that lets another person’s experience actually land, even when we don’t know what to say yet.

We dig into why kids and teens can sense our intention instantly. When we listen to fix, manage, or prove we’re right, they pull away, shut down, or come back with anger. Dr. Alifano explains how tone and curiosity matter more than any “active listening” checklist, and why the most powerful words a parent can say might be, “I’m not following, can you say more?” We also talk about everyday parenting moments like cooking dinner or walking in the door exhausted and how to protect connection without pretending we have endless time.

Then we get practical about repair. If you feel distance with your teen, Dr. Alifano offers a brave starting point: own your part, invite the hard conversation, and ask what it was like for them when you didn’t listen. The payoff is trust, emotional safety, and a family culture where curiosity becomes mutual.

If this resonates, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share the episode with a parent friend who needs it, and leave a quick review to help more families find healthier communication and stronger relationships.

Connect with Randall

Visit his website and listen to his podcast here.

Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green.

I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you.

Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in

Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts. And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Your child’s “good” might mean “I don’t have the words yet” or “I’m not sure it’s safe to say it.” That is why we wanted this conversation with Ashley Noelle, founder of Blended Bond, a conversation card company designed to help families build stronger relationships through meaningful questions and consistent check-ins.

We dig into what actually changes when parents stop guessing and start asking. Ashley shares how her own blended family began using short, intentional family meetings to help kids name emotions, voice needs, and shape new routines together. We talk about why listening is the real confidence builder, how to make questions more specific without turning them into yes or no traps, and why simple tools like “this or that” prompts or a one-to-ten scale can unlock honest answers for kids who shut down with broad questions.

You will also hear practical parenting tips for quieter kids who need more time, plus strategies for blended families with tweens and teens where trust takes longer and connection cannot be forced. Ashley explains what is inside the Blended Bond deck, including growth, trust, connection, takeaway, and fun cards, along with activity ideas that create bonding without pressure. If you want better family communication, stronger co-parenting rhythms, and kids who advocate for themselves at school and in life, this is a great place to start.

Subscribe for more tools that help kids speak up with confidence, share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review with the one question you plan to ask at dinner tonight.

Connect with Ashley

Head to the Blended Bond website for a free download you can try tonight with your family. Check out Blended Bond on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green.

I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you.

Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in

Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts. And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!