Radical Parenting Podcast: Recent Episodes
Tony Shawcross
The Radical Parenting Podcast presents resources, books, and parenting approaches aimed at honoring and supporting your children’s autonomy, self-love, and confidence.
In parenting, there are no ends, there are only means. With that in mind, Radical Parenting is about considering the long-term impact of each moment on our children’s development. This podcast is for parents who wish to honor their child as a complete, autonomous being from day one and who have the humility to get out of the way of their children’s discovery and development.
Radical Parenting begins with absolute Acceptance. From there, we focus on understanding and connection. Understanding and connecting with our children, and supporting their understanding and connection with the people and world around them.
Relevant Links:
https://www.instagram.com/mrswurrly/?hl=en https://www.wurrlyedu.com/ https://www.mymamasays.com/
Free to Learn by Peter Gray
Sudbury Valley School
LetGrow.org
Alliance for Self Directed Education
Tipping Points Press - source for Peter Gray’s four collections of essays
Suniya Luthar - vulnerability and resilience among youth under high achievement pressure
Free Range Kids
Heathershumaker.com
List of 29 Renegade Rules
School for Young Children in Colombus, OH
The SYC Approach podcast
Relevant Links:
Strange Situation by Bethany Saltman
Ainsworth Maternal Sensitivity Scales
Skinner Box
Relevant Links:
Carol Dweck on “Fixed vs Growth Mindset” https://fs.blog/carol-dweck-mindset/
https://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com/
Watch Tuulia’s 10min video: Signs of a Codependent Parent at https://youtu.be/YX_u5eaOCtk
Summerhill by A.S. Neill
Free to Learn by Peter Gray
Sudbury Valley School
LetGrow.org
Alliance for Self Directed Education
Tipping Points Press - Peter Gray’s four collections of essays
Education Research Reading Room podcast with Peter Gray
Kara and Tony review "The Eight Concepts of Bowen Theory", a useful model for navigating and nurturing family and relationships. The book addresses the emotional unit of a family, with tools for understanding differentiation of self, triangles, cutoff, family projection, multigenerational transmission, sibling position, and emotional processes of society. The special sections in each chapter for parents, coaches and leaders bring each concept home for different roles readers bring to the book.
Kara and Tony review the Aware Parenting workshop: “Helping Children Heal From Stress and Trauma” from Developmental Psychologist, Aletha Solter
Tony and Kara talk about their mutual love and admiration for Fred Rogers and the impact his work with Mr Rogers’ Neighborhood has had on countless children.
Excerpt: When you listen to your child’s upset, her feelings will become intense, last awhile, and then evaporate. Her topsy-turvy limbic system heals fastest when it has her full concentration, and yours, on these feelings. Then, feelings ejected and connection made, it rights itself.
Tony and Kara discuss The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child, by Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson.
Tony Shawcross and Laura Turley discuss "The Explosive Child", Ross Greene PhD's "New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children."
Radical Honesty trainer and mother of a non-neurotypical child, Laura Turley shares the impact of implementing the lessons of this book with her daughter, Faye.
links and resources referenced in the podcast:
Invisibilia Podcast: https://www.npr.org/programs/invisibilia/378577902/how-to-become-batman
Peter Gray on Fear-Based Parenting: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201903/the-many-shades-fear-based-parenting
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/200907/play-makes-us-human-vi-hunter-gatherers-playful-parenting
The Culture of Childhood (We've Almost Destroyed It) Peter Gray: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201610/the-culture-childhood-we-ve-almost-destroyed-it
How to Raise An Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success (Julie Lythcott-Haims) https://www.julielythcotthaims.com/how-to-raise-an-adult
Janet Lansbury Podcast & Blog: https://www.janetlansbury.com/tag/podcasts/
Susan Stiffelman : https://susanstiffelman.com/
3 Ways to Stop Parenting out of Fear: https://medium.com/be-unique/3-ways-to-stop-parenting-out-of-fear-eebb785e9513
Aware Parenting Institute: http://awareparenting.com/
Simplicity Parenting with Kim John Payne: https://www.simplicityparenting.com/about-simplicity-parenting/about-kim-john-payne/
Free Range Kids: https://www.freerangekids.com/
Tony discusses the priorities and choices we make as parents with Tom Dyson, an undeniably radical parent, who recovered from divorce, depression, and a mid-life crisis by taking his family on a multi-year, round-the-globe trip that culminated in couchsurfing across over 30 homes in the US during the peak of COVID. Tom reminds us that the time we have with our kids is limited and precious and provides an inspiring example of a family that has prioritized that time together above all else.
links and resources referenced in the podcast:
Invisibilia Podcast: https://www.npr.org/programs/invisibilia/378577902/how-to-become-batman
Peter Gray on Fear-Based Parenting: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201903/the-many-shades-fear-based-parenting
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/200907/play-makes-us-human-vi-hunter-gatherers-playful-parenting
The Culture of Childhood (We've Almost Destroyed It) Peter Gray: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201610/the-culture-childhood-we-ve-almost-destroyed-it
How to Raise An Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success (Julie Lythcott-Haims) https://www.julielythcotthaims.com/how-to-raise-an-adult
Janet Lansbury Podcast & Blog: https://www.janetlansbury.com/tag/podcasts/
Susan Stiffelman : https://susanstiffelman.com/
3 Ways to Stop Parenting out of Fear: https://medium.com/be-unique/3-ways-to-stop-parenting-out-of-fear-eebb785e9513
Aware Parenting Institute: http://awareparenting.com/
Simplicity Parenting with Kim John Payne: https://www.simplicityparenting.com/about-simplicity-parenting/about-kim-john-payne/
Free Range Kids: https://www.freerangekids.com/
Tony and Kara discuss the significant and surprising impact our expectations and fears have on our children. Beginning with a 2015 Invisibilia podcast about a blind man who found that the expectations of his parents helped him develop the ability to see without his eyes, the discussion moves to Peter Gray, the unschooling champion who has written extensively about fear-based parenting and the ways our fears handicap our children… literally handicap them.
links and resources referenced in the podcast:
Invisibilia Podcast: https://www.npr.org/programs/invisibilia/378577902/how-to-become-batman
Peter Gray on Fear-Based Parenting: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201903/the-many-shades-fear-based-parenting
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/200907/play-makes-us-human-vi-hunter-gatherers-playful-parenting
The Culture of Childhood (We've Almost Destroyed It) Peter Gray: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201610/the-culture-childhood-we-ve-almost-destroyed-it
How to Raise An Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success (Julie Lythcott-Haims) https://www.julielythcotthaims.com/how-to-raise-an-adult
Janet Lansbury Podcast & Blog: https://www.janetlansbury.com/tag/podcasts/
Susan Stiffelman : https://susanstiffelman.com/
3 Ways to Stop Parenting out of Fear: https://medium.com/be-unique/3-ways-to-stop-parenting-out-of-fear-eebb785e9513
Aware Parenting Institute: http://awareparenting.com/
Simplicity Parenting with Kim John Payne: https://www.simplicityparenting.com/about-simplicity-parenting/about-kim-john-payne/
Free Range Kids: https://www.freerangekids.com/
Tony and Kara discuss one of Tony’s favorite essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson and its implications for parenting, waxing philosophical about the intuitive wisdom in each of our beings, our capacity for self-direction and independent perception, and the ever changing nature of honesty and truth.
Tony Shawcross talks with Belfast therapist and mother Etain O'Kane, the voice of the Radical Parenting audiobook. Etain discusses the importance of healing your own wounds as a parent and the steps that enable you to parent consciously. Etain focuses on developing a relationship with your child and keeping the relationship goals you have with your child first and foremost in all interactions with your child.
Tony and Kara review children's books that support (or inhibit) a "radical parenting" approach, based in trust and respect for the child. Beginning with books that help practice emotional literacy and empathy, this podcast reviews over two dozen children's books, including: Amos & Boris (and other books by William Steig): https://amzn.com/031253566X Sing, Sophie! by Dayle Ann Dodds: https://amzn.com/0763601314 Bats! By Gail Gibbons: https://amzn.com/0823443558 Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love: https://amzn.com/0763690457 The Wizard, The Fairy, and the Magic Chicken: https://amzn.com/B003X09Y92 Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow and Maurice Sendak: https://amzn.com/0064430200 My Body Sends a Signal:by Natalia Maguire: https://amzn.com/3982142830 Listening to My Body: by Gabi Garcia : https://amzn.com/099895800X
Tony and Kara discuss the book Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn, whose previous work includes "Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes". Though Unconditional Parenting was Kohn's 10th book, it was his first focused entirely on parenting. Unconditional Parenting reviews the shortcomings of Behaviorism and other efforts to control our children's behavior and focuses instead on understanding and acceptance.
Tony and Kara discuss the book Elevating Childcare by Janet Lansbury, Respectful Parenting icon. So much of Janet’s work aligns with Radical Honesty, and this particular book focuses on infancy and the early years of parenting with messages such as: The gift of allowing our children to fully experience and fully express their feelings; Trusting our children to explore, learn and develop at their own pace and according to their own interests; Designing a “yes space” for your baby; Taking care of one’s own needs as a parent; and The dangers of giving praise and offering distractions.
We look at the communication tools presented in this renown book through a Radical Parenting lens. Empathizing with our children, describing rather than evaluating, sidestepping power struggles, finding alternatives to punishment, and more. A highly useful book for parents on the front lines, searching for practical tools to replace old school parenting paradigms.
Tony Shawcross and Kara Poorbaugh discuss their history with Radical Honesty and Radical Parenting, and the design and vision for the upcoming season 1 of the Radical Parenting Podcast.
Tony Shawcross and Kara Poorbaugh discuss parenting resources, books, and philosophies to be explored in Season 1 of the Radical Parenting Podcast, including works by Janet Lansbury, Alfie Kohn, Daniel Siegel, and Tina Payne Bryson, among others.