In this episode Erin Walsh, parenting expert and author of It’s Their World: Teens, Screens, and the Science of Adolescence, joins Dr. Kiyah Duffey for a candid conversation about raising teens in today’s tech-saturated world. Together, they dig into the science of adolescent development, the importance of healthy risk-taking, and why curiosity (not control) is your best tool as a parent.

From screen-time battles to social media stress, Erin offers practical, judgment-free strategies to help you foster open communication and build digital agency in your kids. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the pace of tech or unsure how to guide your teen through it all, this episode will leave you feeling more grounded, confident, and connected.

Minneapolis-based Erin Walsh has spent over a decade translating brain science into practical strategies for families navigating tech, mental health, and modern adolescence. In her forthcoming book, It’s Their World: Teens, Screens, and the Science of Adolescence (May 13, 2025), she helps parents move beyond fear and toward a research-based, developmentally grounded approach to raising teens in the digital age.

** Resources Mentioned **

⁠AAP Conversation Starters⁠⁠Harvard Center for Digital Thriving⁠:

⁠Purchase It's Their World⁠

** Connect & Follow **

Learn More About Erin at ⁠Spark & Stitch⁠

Subscribe to the ⁠Weekly Parent Newsletter⁠

Follow Dr. Kiyah on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠, or ⁠at her website

In this solo episode, Dr. Kiyah Duffey explores the changing landscape of breakfast cereals, highlighting a recent study that reveals a decline in nutritional quality over the years. She discusses the implications of these changes for children's health and offers practical advice for making informed choices in the cereal aisle.

** Free Resources **

🥦 ⁠Guide to Picky Eating⁠

✅ ⁠Meal Planning Cheatsheet⁠

😋 ⁠50 Snack Ideas⁠ (for You AND Your Kids):

** Let's Connect! **

📩 Read The ⁠Weekly Parent Newsletter⁠

📥 ⁠Subscribe⁠ to The Weekly Parent

📷 Follow Kiyah on ⁠Instagram⁠

** Keywords **

cereal, nutrition, breakfast, health, kids, food choices, sugar, fiber, protein, dietary habits

** Chapters **

00:00 The Cereal Dilemma: A Closer Look at Breakfast Choices

03:02 Understanding Nutritional Changes in Breakfast Cereals

05:37 Making Informed Choices: Reading Labels and Ingredients

08:27 Practical Breakfast Alternatives and Strategies for Families

Stop giving-in to your kids' requests (demands?) for "something else" for dinner.

In this solo episode of the Weekly Parent Podcast, Dr. Kiyah Duffey discusses the challenges parents face during meal times, particularly with picky eaters.

** Resources Mentioned **

Learn more about The Division of Responsibility

Subscribe to the Weekly Parent Newsletter

Read The Weekly Parent

Read Dr. Kiyah's Blog

** Free Resources **

🥦 ⁠Guide to Picky Eating⁠

✅ ⁠Meal Planning Cheatsheet⁠

😋 ⁠50 Snack Ideas⁠ (for You AND Your Kids):

** Let's Connect! **

📩 Read The ⁠Weekly Parent Newsletter⁠

📥 ⁠Subscribe⁠ to The Weekly Parent

📷 Follow Kiyah on ⁠Instagram⁠

** Keywords **

parenting, meal time, kids eating, division of responsibility, picky eaters, family meals, healthy eating, parenting strategies, meal planning, food autonomy

In this episode, Michelle Swaney, founder and CEO of The Potty School and author of The Complete Guide to Potty Training. Michelle discusses the complexities and stresses of potty training. She explores the role of cultural influences, the importance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and the need for education and planning in the potty training process. Michelle emphasizes the significance of positive reinforcement and the role of consultants in guiding families through this challenging milestone. The discussion also highlights the unique challenges faced by parents of children with special needs.

** Resources Listed **

The Potty School

The Complete Guide to Potty Training

Subscribe to The Weekly Parent Newsletter

Read The Weekly Parent

** About **

Michelle is the founder and CEO of The Potty School, a team of caring parents who earnestly desire to see progress with your pottying journey. We give you the skills to help your family make progress with potty training. All of our consultants are thoroughly trained by The Potty School, and all consultants are background checked and cleared regularly.
We serve families across the United States via in-home consultations, and have the privilege of serving families around the globe via phone/video chat consultations and our online courses and membership.

** Let's Connect! **

📩 Read The ⁠Weekly Parent Newsletter⁠

📥 ⁠Subscribe⁠ to The Weekly Parent

📷 Follow Kiyah on ⁠Instagram⁠

** Keywords **

potty training, parenting, child development, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, cultural influences, potty training consultant, education, special needs, parenting support

** Summary **

In this solo episode, Dr. Kiyah Duffey discusses the concept of baby-led weaning, exploring its benefits and challenges. She emphasizes the importance of allowing children to control their eating, continually introducing a variety of textures and flavors, and the significance of family meals. She also addresses potential nutritional gaps and the need for flexibility in feeding practices. Ultimately, Kiyah advocates for a balanced approach to feeding that fosters a positive relationship with food for children.

** Free Resources **

🥦 Guide to Picky Eating

✅ Meal Planning Cheatsheet

😋 50 Snack Ideas (for You AND Your Kids):

** Let's Connect! **

📩 Read The Weekly Parent Newsletter

📥 Subscribe to The Weekly Parent

📷 Follow Kiyah on Instagram

** Keywords **

baby-led weaning, parenting, nutrition, feeding, child development, family meals, self-feeding, food relationships, healthy eating, parenting tips

** Chapters **

00:00 Introduction to Baby-Led Weaning

03:10 Benefits of Baby-Led Weaning

06:03 Challenges and Critiques of Baby-Led Weaning

10:09 Conclusion and Personal Reflections on Feeding

** About**Dr. Kiyah Duffey, a celebrated nutrition expert with a PhD from UNC-Chapel Hill and founder of Kizingo, leverages her 20 years of experience to parents towards fostering healthier food habits in themselves and their children. As a mother of three and a globally recognized speaker and entrepreneur, she combines personal insight and professional expertise to help you transform your family’s relationship with food.

This week, I’m talking with Nicole Runyon, a psychotherapist, parent coach, parent, and author of Free to Fly. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, from how parenting has shifted in the digital age to what it means to build resilience - real resilience - foster independence, and support kids’ mental health, not just protect it. We talk about body image, food choices, and how to help our kids develop real-world social skills in a tech-saturated world.

I met Nicole in 2024 and felt an immediate connection with her. Not just because we both are deeply for parents and helping them become the best version of themselves that they can, but because Nicole bring her authentic self into her work. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

** Key Takeaways **

• The transition from psychotherapist to parent coach is driven by the need to address children's mental health issues.

• Technology's impact on children is significant, and parents play a crucial role in mediating this influence.
• Permissive parenting can hinder children's independence and resilience.
• Parents must allow children to experience discomfort to build resilience.
• Critical thinking skills are essential for children, and parents should encourage problem-solving rather than jumping in to fix issues.
• Not all painful experiences are trauma; understanding this distinction is vital for effective parenting.
• Healthy eating habits are crucial for children's overall well-being and should be prioritized by parents.
• Independence is a critical aspect of child development, and parents should foster it at appropriate ages.
• Real-life social skills are essential for children, and parents should encourage face-to-face interactions.
• The relationship between parents and children evolves, and fostering independence can lead to stronger adult relationships.

** Connect & Follow **

Learn More About ⁠Nicole⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get your own copy of her book, Free to Fly

Follow Nicole on LinkedIn or Instagram

Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Weekly Parent Newsletter⁠⁠

Follow Dr. Kiyah on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠at her website⁠

** Chapters **

00:00 The Journey from Psychotherapy to Parenting Coaching

02:00 Understanding Technology's Impact on Children

07:30 The Role of Parents in Child Development

10:20 Building Resilience in Children

15:27 Effective Communication with Teens

20:42 Navigating Family Dynamics and Boundaries

26:14 Differentiating Painful Experiences from Trauma

29:34 The Connection Between Food, Health, and Parenting

33:14 Navigating Food Choices and Family Dynamics

36:13 The Challenge of Body Image and Health Conversations

40:19 Independence and Parenting: Balancing Freedom and Guidance

44:12 Technology and Social Media: Setting Boundaries for Kids

56:51 Fostering Independence: The Importance of Life Skills

** Keywords **

parenting, technology, resilience, mental health, independence, food, trauma, critical thinking, social skills, child development

In this episode we dive (deep) into the complexities of aging, finding our purpose (in our late 40s), and questioning our legacies. Shit gets real, fast. Consider yourself warned.

** Connect & Follow **

Learn More About ⁠Amanda⁠⁠⁠⁠

Grab her book, ⁠The Chameleon Diaries⁠

Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Weekly Parent Newsletter⁠⁠

Follow Dr. Kiyah on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠at her website⁠

** Chapters **

00:00 Introduction to Amanda Greaves

01:30 New Chapter

02:19 Personal Health Journey

05:15 Navigating Life Changes and Career Reflections

08:10 Who am I now?

09:26 Exploring Legacy and Future Goals

12:06 Amanda's Book and Personal Growth

15:06 Challenges in Public Speaking

18:06 Finding Balance in Work and Life

20:55 Adapting to New Energy Levels

23:50 Conclusion and Future Aspirations

26:32 Navigating Influences and Grounding in Purpose

29:22 Emotional Transitions: Selling a Company and Finding New Paths

31:47 Building a New Legacy: The Journey of Self-Discovery

33:59 Creating Space for Ideas and Personal Growth

38:46 The Importance of Not Knowing: Embracing Uncertainty

43:14 Legacy in Motion: The Living Nature of Our Impact

50:47 Valuing Time and Relationships

53:50 Navigating Middle School Challenges

58:30 The Emotional Toll of Parenting

01:03:01 Legacy and Parental Concerns

01:07:52 Professional Growth and Networking

01:09:23 TWP Podcast Video Outro-with music.mp4

** Keywords **

aging, identity, ambition, legacy, health, personal growth, career evolution, motherhood, reinvention, self-discovery, legacy, storytelling, personal growth, relationships, parenting, collaboration, self-discovery, emotional health, community, wisdom

Welcome to The Weekly Parent—a podcast for parents who Google everything, overthink most things, and occasionally spiral wondering if they’re totally screwing it all up.

I’m your host Dr. Kiyah Duffey, Former perfectionist, and current entrepreneur, nutrition expert, and mom of 3.

I’m not here to hand out gold stars or add one more item to your to-do list. I’m here to ask questions, gather advice from people who know more than I do, and ... hopefully ... help us all make life a little lighter.

Each week, you’ll get honest conversations, expert insights, and practical tips about parenting, routines, well-being, and everything in between.

Parenting is hard enough without pretending you’ve got it all together or feeling like you have to. And it’s so much more fun when we do it with friends. So Let’s dive in.