The college landscape has transformed dramatically in a single generation. What once cost $7,000 annually now approaches $70,000, creating unprecedented financial pressure on families navigating the higher education maze. In this eye-opening conversation with Lee Norwood, founder of College Sharks, we unravel the complexities of finding the perfect college fit while managing costs.

Contrary to popular belief, your child's most affordable option may not be that in-state university. Leigh reveals how merit scholarships can make seemingly expensive private colleges more budget-friendly than public alternatives. Her own experience attending Elon University for less than in-state Maryland tuition demonstrates this counterintuitive reality—a revelation that could transform your family's college search strategy.

Beyond finances, we explore what college admissions officers actually evaluate first: curriculum choices. Before GPA or test scores, they examine whether students challenged themselves appropriately within their school's offerings. This insight, along with Leigh's guidance on extracurricular involvement (quality over quantity), provides a roadmap for application success.

Parents of undecided students will find particular comfort in Lee's perspective that college remains a time of discovery, with excellent resources available for students still exploring potential paths. Meanwhile, homeschooling families receive specialized advice on documentation and transitioning to higher education. And for those questioning whether college remains essential, Leigh offers a balanced view acknowledging that while crucial for many careers, alternatives like trades or military service better suit some students.

The college journey needn't overwhelm your family. By breaking the process into manageable monthly tasks over junior and senior years, you can navigate this pivotal time with confidence rather than anxiety. Visit CollegeSharks.com to access Lee's structured guidance programs and free resources like her comprehensive two-year planning calendar.

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Mallary Tenore Tarpley shares her journey through eating disorder recovery and offers guidance for parents navigating these conversations with their children in today's challenging social media landscape.

• Understanding eating disorders beyond body image—Mallary's anorexia developed after her mother's death as an attempt to "stop time" and stay connected to her
• The importance of recognizing the "middle place" in recovery where both progress and slips coexist
• Teaching children that all bodies deserve respect regardless of size or shape
• Avoiding labeling foods as "good" or "bad" which can create harmful associations for children
• Creating positive relationships with food by involving children in meal preparation and giving them appropriate autonomy
• Approaching concerns about disordered eating with curiosity rather than accusation
• The importance of early intervention and seeking specialists in eating disorders when concerned
• Recognizing that recovery's middle ground is not settling for stagnation but learning to manage vulnerability
• Understanding slips as opportunities for growth rather than evidence of failure

Check out Mallary's memoir "Slip" to learn more about navigating the complex journey of eating disorder recovery.

Connect with Mallary on Facebook or Instagram!

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

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+.

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"Your psychology is everything. The way you interpret events matters more than the events themselves."

These powerful words from licensed clinical social worker Yuri Mello capture the essence of a transformative approach to parenting teenagers. As a father of five and co-founder of School Pulse, Mello brings decades of clinical experience and personal wisdom to the challenging landscape of parent-teen relationships.

Most parents find themselves stuck in reactive patterns, responding to each crisis as it emerges rather than building the foundation for lasting connection. Mello introduces a revolutionary framework that distinguishes between "inviting" positive outcomes and "provoking" resistance in our interactions with teens. This simple but profound shift in approach can transform even the most strained parent-teen dynamics.

At the heart of Mello's approach is the "positive interaction ratio" - maintaining at least three positive moments for every challenging conversation. Our brains are wired to remember negative experiences more vividly than positive ones, which means parents must intentionally create an abundance of positive interactions to balance the inevitable difficult moments. When this ratio flips negative, relationships deteriorate rapidly.

Mello reimagines Maslow's hierarchy of needs for parenting, placing emotional safety at the foundation, followed by trust, kindness, and only then accountability. Too many parents invert this pyramid, focusing primarily on discipline while neglecting the relationship layers that make discipline effective. Through practical examples and vulnerable personal stories, Mello demonstrates how parents can position themselves to be among the first people their teens turn to in times of need.

The conversation also explores School Pulse, an innovative program delivering positive psychology content directly to students via text messages and videos, creating pathways for support before crises occur. This proactive approach represents the future of mental health support for young people.

Listen now to discover practical strategies for maintaining connection during the turbulent teen years and building relationships that will last a lifetime. Your approach to parenting challenges today shapes not just your child's behavior, but who they become and how they'll relate to you for decades to come.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

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

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How do our own childhood wounds shape our parenting? Certified conscious parenting coach Shelly Robinson reveals that our most triggering moments with our children often stem from unhealed parts of ourselves - even when we had seemingly idyllic childhoods.

Through a powerful story about a bath time battle with her four-year-old that escalated into screaming, Shelly shares how this moment became her wake-up call. "I didn't want to do that ever again," she explains, describing how the incident led her to discover that her disproportionate anger wasn't about her son's behavior at all, but about moments from her own childhood when she felt unheard and insignificant.

The conversation explores practical strategies for breaking generational cycles, including understanding developmental expectations, practicing self-awareness before reacting, and learning to repair relationships through sincere apologies. Shelly's approach is refreshingly humble, acknowledging that perfect parenting isn't the goal - compassionate awareness is. She introduces her family's "Communication Station" practice, where family members take turns speaking while others practice deep listening without judgment - a simple but transformative tool for developing conflict resolution skills.

For parents of tweens and teens wondering if it's too late to change established patterns, Shelly offers heartening advice: "It's never too late. Children never stop wanting secure attachment with their parents." The pathway forward involves ownership of past mistakes, genuine apologies, and consistent change. Whether you're just beginning your parenting journey or looking to strengthen relationships with older children, this conversation provides both the inspiration and practical tools to create the connected, calm family life you've been seeking.

Connect with Shelly

Visit her website, or connect on Facebook or Instagram. Grab the Connected Kid Toolkit here.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

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+.

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Kim Hartrum from the National Alliance on Mental Illness South Carolina shares her personal journey with mental health challenges and how she now helps students recognize warning signs of mental illness and suicide. Through her lived experience with anxiety since childhood and a suicidal episode as an adult, Kim offers invaluable insights for parents on maintaining open communication with children about mental health.

• Anxiety in children often manifests as physical symptoms like stomachaches or resistance to attending school
• Young children can experience suicidal ideation - Kim's daughter asked "why she wanted to die" at just eight years old
• Mental health should be treated with the same urgency and normalization as physical health conditions
• Warning signs to watch for include withdrawal from activities, changes in sleep patterns, and extreme mood changes
• Resources available include NAMI support groups, school counselors, private therapists, and crisis lines
• Creating an environment where children feel comfortable sharing their feelings is crucial to early intervention
• Parents should learn their child's "red flags" and be prepared to act when multiple warning signs appear
• Isolation can be the most damaging aspect of mental health struggles
• Therapy can benefit children even before crisis points are reached to build coping skills

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, help is available 24/7 through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

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!

Richard Reed, behavioral psychologist and organizational consultant, shares strategies for developing charisma in children through emotional intelligence, mindfulness practices, and creating psychological safety.

• Charisma is fundamentally about connecting with others and generating appropriate emotions within them
• Both extroverts and introverts can be charismatic in different ways
• Emotional intelligence forms the foundation of charisma—recognizing our emotions creates capacity to consider others
• Children need opportunities to experience and tolerate boredom to develop emotional regulation
• Simple mindfulness practices like eating in silence for one minute help build emotional vocabulary
• Becoming comfortable with conversational silence creates space for deeper connections
• Small shifts in conversation style (asking "what was that like?" instead of yes/no questions) elicit more meaningful responses
• Creating psychological safety allows children to express themselves fully and develop their authentic presence
• Modeling humility and discussing our own mistakes helps children develop a growth mindset

Check out Richard's new book "Charisma Unlocked" on Amazon for more practical insights on developing these connection skills.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

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!

Carrie Conrad, expert in prevention, protection, and defense for women and children, shares her "secret sauce" for raising safe kids in today's challenging world.

• Communication is key, but listening matters more than talking when keeping kids safe
• When children share concerning information, our reaction determines whether they'll continue to be open with us
• Meeting children's need for attention is crucial—if parents aren't listening, someone else will be
• The traditional "stranger danger" approach is misleading and potentially harmful
• Children need to trust their instincts, and parents need to model this behavior
• For reluctant communicators, try stating incorrect information—kids can't resist correcting adults
• Small conversations about seemingly trivial topics build the foundation for discussing serious matters

For free resources including "Mistakes Well-Meaning Moms Make That Put Kids at Risk," visit Carrie's website.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

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!

Communication is a delicate dance requiring awareness of four critical layers: what we mean to say, what we actually say, what others hear, and what they think we mean. Amanda Schenkenberger and Elizabeth Green explore how understanding these layers transforms family dynamics and builds stronger connections.

• The "yellow light" approach: slowing down when tension rises to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting
• Using breathing techniques (longer exhales than inhales) to calm your nervous system in tense moments
• Understanding how different personality types and values affect communication styles
• Adapting your communication to match your child's unique wiring and needs
• Transitioning from "sage on the stage" to "guide on the side" as children grow
• Allowing natural consequences to build responsibility in a safe environment
• Recognizing metacognition (thinking about your thinking) as the foundation of self-awareness

Join Amanda for her free "Calm the Chaos" event in early April, specifically designed for homeschool moms wanting to address internal, routine, and relational chaos.

You can also connect with Amanda on Facebook, Instagram, and her website.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

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!