If you grew up in the '90s or early 2000s, chances are The Care and Keeping of You played a starring role in your introduction to puberty—especially if no one at home was talking about it. For so many families, those conversations were awkward, avoided, or skipped altogether. But what if they didn't have to be?

In this episode, Vanessa is joined by Julie Taylor as they ask the question: how can we take the cringe out of puberty and replace it with honesty, confidence, and care? Joining as an expert guest is Dr. Cara Natterson—pediatrician, author, and podcaster—who served as a medical consultant on The Care and Keeping of You and has spent her career helping kids and adults navigate puberty with clarity and compassion. Dr. Natterson shares why these conversations matter, where we tend to go wrong, and how we can do better—for the next generation and ourselves.

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Vanessa is joined in this episode by her four sisters! They chat about real scenarios that have happened both when they were in school as children, and to their own 30+ children that they have amongst them. The discuss how they react as moms when they get a call from the school about a child's behavior and how to not immediately jump into protective mode while still making room for discipline. They also ask the community to share how they've handled a tricky situation with a teacher.

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In this episode, Vanessa is joined by writer, author, content creator, and host of the Be There in Five podcast, Kate Kennedy. Together, they explore how the things we love, like pop culture and trends to hobbies and nostalgia, can help us better understand ourselves and connect with others. Together, they talk about curiosity, empathy, and why certain interests that are often dismissed as "silly" or mindless actually matter.

Vanessa shares insights on parenting, judgment, and the science behind curiosity, including how paying attention and staying open can bring us closer to our kids, our communities, and ourselves. This conversation is a reminder that curiosity isn't just about learning more — it's about staying connected.

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Accounts mentioned:

• @sharonsaysso
• @lucyontheground