Cover art for podcast Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting

167 EpisodesProduced by Dr. Lisa Damour/Good Trouble ProductionsWebsite

Raising kids can be a bumpy, stressful, and uncertain process – which is why Dr. Lisa Damour is here to help. The author of bestsellers Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers brings her sane, informed, and practical perspective to your timely and timeless parenting questions… read more

167 Episodes | 2020 - 2024

Farewell

February 22nd, 2024

0:39

An important message from RadioPublic

163: Encore: My Kid Looked at Porn. What Should I Do?

March 26th, 2024

30:52

It’s not always comfortable to talk with our kids about pornography - but it’s something all parents need to do. Indeed, research shows that 12 is the average age at which kids first encounter pornography, and that by …

162: How Do I Talk with My Teen about Fentanyl?

March 19th, 2024

33:48

Illicit fentanyl has contaminated the drug landscape and is causing record deaths among young people. How should parents talk with their teens about …

161: How Do I Get my Teens to Want to Spend Time with Me?

March 12th, 2024

26:17

A concerned parent seeks Dr. Lisa's guidance on building and maintaining a connection with her teenage son. Despite efforts to spend quality time together, most family activities are met with resistance. The parent …

160: Can I Require my Teen to Be on Birth Control?

March 5th, 2024

31:55

A devoted parent seeks advice on whether her 15-year-old daughter should be on birth control. Despite having open discussions about many topics, the …

159: Should I Worry That My Teen Is So Introverted?

February 27th, 2024

27:23

When should parents be concerned about a teen who resists making social plans and chooses to hang out at home instead? A parent writes asking if she …

158: Practical Optimism with Dr. Sue Varma

February 20th, 2024

36:43

Can we boost our sense of happiness and overall well-being? Why do some individuals not only survive - but thrive - in the face of life's challenges? Dr. Sue Varma, a psychiatrist and cognitive behavioral therapist …

157: My Kid Has Diagnosed Herself on TikTok. What Should I Do?

February 13th, 2024

29:36

There’s a growing concern shared by many adults: How do we help teenagers make sense of mental health misinformation on social media? Dr. Lisa and …

156: Is There a Gentle Way to Drop a Friend?

February 6th, 2024

28:42

An incredibly thoughtful question from a 14-year-old in the United Kingdom helps us look at the complexities of teen friendships. The letter writer …

155: Should I Be Worried that My Son Is Obsessed with Weightlifting?

January 30th, 2024

28:30

A mom writes in concerned about the fact that her 13-year-old son has developed an interest in bulking up. Though he's an active kid, he sees himself …

154: The 5 Principles of Parenting: with Dr. Aliza Pressman

January 23rd, 2024

44:15

Special guest Dr. Aliza Pressman, developmental psychologist and podcast host, discusses her new book, "The Five Principles of Parenting," with Dr. …

153: Encore: How Do We Help Kids Through Divorce?

January 16th, 2024

31:47

It’s never easy to decide to end a marriage. Parents want to protect their kids as the divorce process unfolds and want to help them navigate …

152: Will Social Media Harm My Kid?

January 9th, 2024

29:08

Parents often find themselves caught between frightening headlines about the dangers of social media and kids who want access to it. Dr. Lisa and Reena address a letter from a parent of three - ages 9, 12, and 14 - …

151: How Do I Find Balance in 2024?

January 2nd, 2024

31:23

Happy New Year! As we turn to making New Year’s resolutions, Dr. Lisa would like us to approach 2024 in a fresh way: instead of trying to “optimize” …

150: Encore: How Do I Get My Son to Stop Picking On His Little Sister?

December 26th, 2023

30:52

Why are tweens and teens sometimes so cruel to their younger siblings? This is a common dynamic in family life, and one that can get worse over the …

149: Encore: Should I Bribe My Kid?

December 19th, 2023

29:10

What can parents try when we can’t get our kids to do what we ask? Dr. Lisa and Reena unpack how to motivate kids without nagging or yelling and discuss when bribery might be an effective strategy to consider. Their …

148: What Should I Do With Dicey Information About Other People’s Kids?

December 12th, 2023

26:49

When a teen tells us about a peer’s risky behavior, what’s the right thing to do? Should we keep our teen’s confidence, or should we alert the …

147: Girls Are Harassing My Son. What Should I Do?

December 5th, 2023

33:29

Getting a lot of attention from girls might not seem like a problem. But a mother writes in asking Dr. Lisa for advice on how to deal with the fact that girls are fawning over her son who wants no part of it. He feels …

146: What's the Best Way to Help a Kid with ADHD?

November 28th, 2023

27:26

Dr. Lisa and Reena tackle the nuances of ADHD: what to look for, when to be concerned, and the overlap between ADHD and executive functioning challenges. Dr. Lisa unpacks how, ideally, an ADHD diagnosis is made and the …

145: Encore: My Kids Lose it When They Make Sports Mistakes. How Can I Help?

November 21st, 2023

31:15

Sports is not just about the final score. It’s an opportunity for kids to grow, to learn how to improve their skills, and to be a good teammate. But athletics today can be incredibly competitive, aggressive, and …

144: How Much Should I Share About My Kids?

November 14th, 2023

29:53

Parents can feel worried when their teen first starts driving or riding around in friends’ cars. What can parents do to help teens stay safe behind …

142: Should My Teen Be In Cars with New Drivers?

October 31st, 2023

28:52

Parents can feel worried when their teen first starts driving or riding around in friends’ cars. What can parents do to help teens stay safe behind …

141: How Do Stop Riding My Kid's Emotional Roller Coaster?

October 24th, 2023

31:53

A parent writes in about a middle schooler's intense emotional swings which leave the parent feeling uncertain about how to respond. Dr. Lisa and …

140: Can I Talk My Teen Out of a Toxic Romance?

October 17th, 2023

29:19

A mother writes in asking how to protect her teen from a controlling and degrading relationship. Dr. Lisa and Reena discuss the nature of unhealthy …

139: This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained with Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Bennett

October 10th, 2023

57:49

So what’s really happening when kids go through puberty? Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Bennett join the Ask Lisa podcast to talk about their new book This is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained. The conversation takes …

138: Should Our Teen Stay Home Alone When We Leave Town?

October 3rd, 2023

29:29

Parents who need to be out of town for the weekend worry their 16-year-old son will throw a party while they’re away. They want to trust him but …

137: How Do I Parent a Teen with a Chronic Health Condition?

September 26th, 2023

30:23

Dr. Lisa and Reena tackle two letters about the challenges of parenting teens with chronic health conditions. The first letter centers on addressing a teen’s sense of feeling “different” and asks what parents can do to …

136: Should I Allow My Tween To Wear Crop Tops?

September 19th, 2023

28:38

A parent feels uncomfortable when her preteen daughter wears crop tops. She worries about the attention her daughter might receive, but also wonders if she's the one who's out of touch. Dr. Lisa and Reena address the …

135: How Do I Combat My Kid's Perfectionism?

September 12th, 2023

26:38

What causes kids to struggle with perfectionism? Dr. Lisa explains why young people sometimes hold themselves to unsustainable standards and how …

134: My Son and His Friends Use Slurs. Can I Stop This?

September 5th, 2023

28:36

A mother writes in about the fact that her teen son and his friends - who come from a mix of racial, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds - "jokingly" use slurs. Does she have the power to stop this? Dr. Lisa and …

133: A Conversation with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy

August 29th, 2023

57:50

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy visits the Ask Lisa Podcast to talk about the public health crisis you might not know about: loneliness. He joins co-hosts Dr. Lisa and Reena for a wide-ranging conversation on …

132: Never Enough: Confronting Toxic Achievement Culture (with author Jennifer Wallace)

August 22nd, 2023

39:29

Season four of the Ask Lisa podcast kicks off with a special guest, author and journalist Jennifer Breheny Wallace, who discusses her brand new book: …

131: Encore: How Do I Help My Disorganized High School Kid?

August 15th, 2023

32:42

Getting kids ready for the new school year can be a hard transition from summer. In this encore episode we look at helping teens manage their …

130: Encore: Should I Kick my Kid Off TikTok?

August 8th, 2023

27:54

When should parents limit - or even forbid - the use of TikTok? Dr. Lisa and Reena take a deep dive into the upsides and downsides of social media …

129: Encore: My Kid Was Dumped by Her Friends. How Can I Help?

August 1st, 2023

29:52

Why do kids suddenly turn on friends and ice them out of a group? It’s something Dr. Lisa says she's been hearing about more often in recent months …

128: Encore: Should I Track my Teen's Location?

July 25th, 2023

30:47

It’s easy to track kids using cell phone technology. But is it a good idea to do so? Today's technology allows us to know a lot more about our kids …

127: Encore: How Much Gaming is Too Much?

July 18th, 2023

28:37

What are the signs of a gaming addiction? It’s easy in the summer to have lax rules and allow more gaming and screen time. But when does gaming cross …

126: Encore: Raising an Athlete? Advice from an Olympic Mom

July 11th, 2023

25:02

Three time Olympian and Mom of three, Lauren Regula explains how we can all better manage the stresses of school sports. What do you really need to …

125: Encore: How Do We Talk to Kids About Justice? Special Guest Preet Bharara

July 4th, 2023

36:50

How can we help our kids understand justice and fairness? Special Guest Preet Bharara, a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, joins the Ask Lisa Podcast to discuss his children’s book, Justice Is… …

124: Encore: How and When Do I Give My Kid a Phone?

June 23rd, 2023

27:03

What’s the right age to give a kid a smartphone? There’s no simple answer to this question, but guidelines we can bear in mind when kids - at increasingly young ages - ask for one. In this encore episode Dr. Lisa …

123: Here's To Summer!

June 13th, 2023

6:08

Schools out! Now what? Dr. Lisa and Reena take a look back at the highlights of Season Three - from key topics to informative guests to the launch of …

122: How Much Structure Should Kids Have in the Summer?

June 6th, 2023

31:37

While summer is a great time to be more laid back, a parent writes in asking whether kids should really have less structure in the summer. Dr. Lisa …

121: Encore: Should I Bribe My Kid?

May 30th, 2023

28:52

It can be hard to get your kids to be self-starters. How do we motivate kids to do the things they don't want to do? Dr. Lisa explains that there are times in parenting when offering encouragement and reminders just …

120: My Teen Is Into Sports Betting. Help!

May 23rd, 2023

32:56

With online betting now legal in most states, sports coverage is increasingly saturated with commentary focussed on betting and ads for gambling apps. Teens are noticing - and some of them are getting in on the action. …

119: How Do I Get My Son to Stop Picking on His Little Sister?

May 16th, 2023

30:28

Why are kids mean to their siblings? Dr. Lisa unpacks the dynamics behind sibling conflict and takes us inside the mind of older siblings. The …

118: My Daughter Is Cutting Herself. What Should I Do?

May 9th, 2023

30:30

Why do young people engage in self-harm? A mother writes in asking for advice on how to respond when her daughter cuts herself. Dr. Lisa unpacks why …

117: My College-Bound Kid Is "Soiling the Nest." Help!

May 2nd, 2023

29:43

What’s the best way for parents to respond when their high school senior wants to spend every waking minute with friends? A mom writes in asking if …

116: Should I Kick My Kid Off TikTok?

April 25th, 2023

27:35

When should parents limit - or even forbid - the use of TikTok? Dr. Lisa and Reena take a deep dive into the upsides and downsides of social media …

115: How Do I Parent a Young Adult (and Deal with my Own Parents)? Guest: Laurence Steinberg, PhD

April 18th, 2023

39:58

Dr. Lisa and Reena welcome special guest Dr. Laurence Steinberg, Professor of Psychology at Temple University, to celebrate the publication of his …

114: Should My Kid Take a Gap Year?

April 11th, 2023

32:14

Does it always make sense for students to enroll in college immediately after high school? Dr. Lisa and Reena discuss when and why parents might want …

113: How Do I Help My Kid Deal with Unfairness?

April 4th, 2023

30:10

From not getting into a desired college to not making a team - how do we help kids process unfairness? A dad writes in asking for help when his high …

112: How Much Gaming is Too Much?

March 28th, 2023

29:56

How do you know if your child has a gaming addiction? A mom writes in worried about her son who used gaming to connect with friends during the pandemic but now games alone while his friends spend time together in …

111: What Kind of Therapy is Right for My Kid?

March 21st, 2023

32:10

Parents seeking professional support for their kids often run into a confusing array of therapies to choose from. In this episode, Dr. Lisa provides a neutral guide on the various options - DBT, CBT, talk therapy, …

110: What Is Real Self-Care for Parents? Special Guest and Author: Pooja Lakshmin, MD

March 14th, 2023

30:16

What’s the difference between real and faux self-care? Dr. Pooja Lakshmin helps us rethink what it means to care for ourselves and answers listeners' questions related to her new book, Real Self-Care: A Transformative …

109: Encore: Why Are Our Kids So Mean To Us?

March 7th, 2023

32:46

How should you respond when your kids are mean to you? What’s age appropriate behavior and what should not be tolerated? Dr. Lisa and Reena unpack …

108: How Do I Help My Disorganized High School Kid?

February 28th, 2023

33:36


Preparing for life after high school is about more than just getting into college - it’s also about having the ability to operate independently. A …

107: Lisa's New Book! The Emotional Lives of Teenagers

February 21st, 2023

33:57

Dr. Lisa’s new book The Emotional Lives of Teenagers is officially out today in print and audio book. 

In this episode Lisa and Reena discuss Lisa’s new book and the research behind it. Lisa explains why she felt …

106: Should I Give the Sex Talk if I Think I'm Already Too Late?

February 14th, 2023

32:04

Parents should view sexual development as a facet of overall healthy development, but that's not always easy to do. Dr. Lisa and Reena unpack the …

105: My Kid Complains Constantly. How Do I Get Him to Stop?

February 7th, 2023

29:18

How should a parent respond to a kid who seems to complain all the time? Dr. Lisa explains why complaints, though often tedious to listen to, can …

104: How Do I Support My LGBTQ+ Daughter?

January 31st, 2023

32:08

A teen confides to her mother that she is gay but doesn’t want her dad to know. Her mother writes the Ask Lisa podcast with several questions: How can parents best support teens who identify as LGBTQ+? Is it right to …

103: How Do I Talk My Teen Out of Vaping?

January 24th, 2023

30:20

Vaping has become a growing concern for many parents of tweens and teens. What can adults do to steer kids clear of it, and what should we do to help …

102: Encore: My Son Messed Up. Can I Keep Him from Being Canceled?

January 17th, 2023

28:20

A parent writes in that her teen sent a group text to his classmates that contained racial and homophobic slurs about another kid. He thought he was being funny, but quickly realized that his classmates didn't agree. …

101: How Do I Get My Teen Sons to Talk to Me?

January 10th, 2023

33:28

Is it normal for my teen son to not want to talk to me? That’s the question we tackle this week. Dr. Lisa explains that it can feel like a personal …

100: How Can Parents Find Joy and Energy in the New Year?

January 3rd, 2023

33:58

We all want to start the New Year feeling our best, but that's a tall order for the many parents who feel mentally and physically exhausted. In response to a question from a parent asking how she can feel less stressed, …

99: Encore: How Do I Keep My Kids Grounded in a Materialistic World?

December 27th, 2022

28:12

The holidays can usher in a focus on spending and consumerism. How do we instill healthy values in our kids, make sure that they appreciate what …

98: My Friends' Kids Are Excluding My Kid. What Should I Do?

December 13th, 2022

34:05

Having friendships with families where the kids and adults love hanging out can be wonderful. But what happens when the kids’ relationships sour or …

97: Should I Track My Teen's Location?

December 6th, 2022

31:52

Today's technology allows us to know a lot more about our kids than our parents ever knew about us. So...is it a good idea to track your teen's …

96: How Do I Raise Financially Responsible Kids? Special Guest Bobbi Rebell

November 29th, 2022

37:35

Having conversations with our kids about money can be difficult. So how do we set them up for good financial health? Financial expert Bobbi Rebell, …

95: Encore: Happy Holidays? Dealing with Difficult Relatives

November 22nd, 2022

29:19

The holidays can be both joyful and stressful. Being in close quarters with relatives whose political or social views are completely different from …

94: My Clingy Teen Hates Going to School. How Do I Help?

November 15th, 2022

32:37

A parent writes in asking for help for their teen who feels intensely anxious about going to school and interacting with adults outside the home. Dr. …

93: Should I Monitor My Kid’s Grades Online?

November 8th, 2022

35:39

Grades can be a source of family anxiety and stress, and online grading portals can make the situation both better and worse. A dad writes in asking how parents and kids can better manage online grades. Reena explains …

92: I’m Not Ready for My Kid to Be in Love. Help!

November 1st, 2022

29:20


How should we talk to our kids about what it means to fall in love? Parents know how good it can feel to make a strong connection and be on the …

91: My Kid Hates Being A Late Bloomer. How Can I Help?

October 25th, 2022

33:19

How can we support kids who feel uncomfortable about the timing of puberty? A parent writes in asking what to say to a late bloomer who feels out of step with her peers. Dr. Lisa unpacks the research on what it means to …

90: Should My Kid Play Violent Video Games?

October 18th, 2022

32:47

Do violent video games normalize violence? A parent whose son becomes more aggressive with his sisters after playing certain games writes in asking …

89: How Do I Get My Teen To Take Charge of Her Life?

October 11th, 2022

31:22

How do we help teens take ownership of their lives, especially if they are feeling overwhelmed by all that adults are asking of them? Dr. Lisa …

88: How Do I Get My Son to Give Up Pot?

October 4th, 2022

31:58

How do you help a teen who won't stop smoking marijuana? When does a family need to step in? A mom writes in asking for help for her son who has been …

87: Do I Really Have to Send My Tween to Sleepovers?

September 27th, 2022

33:03

A parent who hates sleepovers writes in to ask if they are really necessary. Dr. Lisa and Reena weigh the social costs of not allowing kids to host or attend sleepovers and what parents can do instead. They also address …

86: How Do I Pay For College Without Going Broke? Special Guest: Author Ron Lieber

September 20th, 2022

49:16

College can be incredibly expensive, so how should parents think about covering the cost? What do we say to our kids about what we can, or are …

85: My Kids Lose it When They Make Sports Mistakes. How Can I Help?

September 13th, 2022

32:15

When kids get stuck or fall apart while playing sports, what should parents do? Dr. Lisa offers strategies for when kids lose their cool, and …

84: How Do I Encourage My Tween to Drop a Bad Friendship?

September 6th, 2022

30:51

Friends are supposed to make you feel better, but what about when kids have "friends" who leave them feeling awful? How do you help tweens and teens …

83: How Do I Get My Teen to Take School Seriously?

August 30th, 2022

32:38

After more than two years of pandemic-related disruption, there's a lot riding on this school year. But what do you do if your kid doesn't seem to …

The Danger Zone on Insta

June 21st, 2022

1:58

Join Dr. Lisa and Reena live with your parenting questions this Weds, June 22nd, 1pm EST on the @asklisapodcast Instagram live handle. 


Follow us on …

Summer Instagram Lives!

June 7th, 2022

2:00

Dr. Lisa and Reena have an update. Join them live with your parenting questions this Weds, June 8th, 1pm EST on the @asklisapodcast Instagram live …

82: How Should Kids Spend Summer 2022?

May 24th, 2022

32:38

Dr. Lisa runs down the five things she believes parents should focus on in summer 2022. The pandemic narrowed kids' opportunities for growth, but …

81: Why Is Our Kid Being So Mean to Us?

May 17th, 2022

32:39

How should you respond when your kids are mean to you? What’s age-appropriate behavior and what should not be tolerated? Dr. Lisa and Reena unpack …

80: Should I Push My Child Out of the Nest?

May 10th, 2022

32:42

How much should we shield our kids from risk? And how much should we go out of our way to make their lives more comfortable? Dr. Lisa explains the …

79: What Do Parents Need to Know about Suicide?

May 3rd, 2022

49:57

What causes a child or teenager to become suicidal? What steps can be taken to prevent suicide? Dr. Jonathan B. Singer co-author of Suicide in …

78: My Daughter’s Nude Selfie Got Out. What Do We Do Now?

April 26th, 2022

30:27

A parent writes in asking how to pick up the pieces after her daughter shared a nude selfie with a boyfriend who then sent it to other boys at …

77 Encore: I Hate Nagging My Kids. What Else Works?

April 19th, 2022

28:26

Getting kids to do things without hounding them can seem impossible. This week the Ask Lisa Podcast presents an encore episode on nagging. At what …

76: How and When Do I Tell My Kids Their Grandma is Dying?

April 12th, 2022

31:44

How do you deal with grief and explain death to your kids? Knowing that you are losing a parent is difficult but how do you also help your kids …

75: How Do I Help My Teen Deal With College Rejections?

April 5th, 2022

32:21

Not getting into desired colleges can be devastating for teens and their parents. How can you help your child move past what feels like a major life …

74: My Son Messed Up. Can I Keep Him from Being Canceled?

March 29th, 2022

28:00

A parent writes in that her teen sent a group text to his classmates that contained racial and homophobic slurs about another kid. He thought he was being funny, but quickly realized that his classmates didn't agree. …

73: I Saw My Daughter’s Shocking Texts. Should I Confront Her?

March 22nd, 2022

31:02

A parent discovers an alarming text about a classmate on her kid's phone and wonders if she should confront her child. How do you address text …

72: How Do We Talk to Kids About Justice? Advice from Preet Bharara

March 15th, 2022

38:29

How do you teach kids about justice and fairness? Special Guest Preet Bharara joins the Ask Lisa Podcast to discuss his new children's book, Justice Is...A Guide for Young Truth Seekers. The conversation addresses the …

71: My Kid Was Dumped by Her Friends. How Can I Help?

March 8th, 2022

31:24

Why do kids suddenly turn on their friends and ice them out of a group? It’s something Dr. Lisa says she's been hearing about more often. Kids need …

70: Do I Tell My Daughter She’s Beautiful?

March 1st, 2022

30:20

A dad writes in asking if it's okay to celebrate his daughter’s appearance and how this might help, or hurt, her self-confidence. How do we help kids feel good about themselves and their bodies, especially when they are …

69 Encore: Lying, Sneaking, Cheating. What Keeps Kids from Being Honest?

February 22nd, 2022

33:50

Nobody likes being lied to, especially by our own children. Why do kids lie? Dr. Lisa looks at lying from a developmental standpoint and points out that when a child asks for more privacy, it doesn't necessarily mean …

68: How Should Step-Parents Fit In?

February 15th, 2022

32:21

A step-parent asks for Dr. Lisa’s help as she finds herself parenting three kids under eight, two of them step-children. Should step-parents …

67: Should My Teen Go to a Sleepover with Her Boyfriend?

February 8th, 2022

29:00

A parent from Connecticut wants to know if it’s acceptable for her teen to spend the night at her boyfriend’s house. How should parents approach a …

66: Should I Bribe My Kid?

February 1st, 2022

30:27

No one wants to be that nagging parent. Dr. Lisa explains how the trickiest transition in parenting might be when nagging no longer works with your teen. At these times, is bribing a good strategy? Dr. Lisa walks us …

65: My Depressed Teen Refuses Therapy. How Do I Help?

January 25th, 2022

29:48

What are the signs a teen is suffering from depression and needs help? Dr. Lisa explains what you need to watch for. Reena asks what parents should …

64: How Do I Build My Kids' Confidence and Self-Esteem?

January 18th, 2022

30:45

How do you build confidence in kids? How do you lay the groundwork for better self-esteem? What age does confidence start to plummet in girls? Dr. Lisa and Reena tackle these questions, explain where self-esteem comes …

63: Raising an Athlete? Advice from an Olympic Mom.

January 11th, 2022

26:36

Three-time Olympian and mom of three, Lauren Regula joins Dr. Lisa and Reena to talk about what kids should really be getting out of athletics. How …

62: How Do I Boost Mental Health in 2022?

January 4th, 2022

29:53


What’s the best way to help boost mental health in 2022? Dr. Lisa walks us through her five mental health resolutions for the new year. Reena asks …

61: Encore: My Kid Looked at Porn. What Should I Do?

December 28th, 2021

32:14

This week we present an encore episode of one of our top performing shows. American singer Billi Eilish recently spoke about the devastating effects porn had on her when she was exposed at eleven. Dr. Lisa explains how …

60: How Do We Help Kids Through Divorce?

December 14th, 2021

33:14

As divorce numbers rise in the pandemic, we take a closer look at how divorce affects children. Dr. Lisa walks us through how children at different ages process their parents' separation. How can parents make the …

59: My Daughter Is the Mean Girl. What Do I Do?

December 7th, 2021

31:13

What if your child is the one who is hurting other kids feelings at school? A concerned mom discovers that her daughter, who has been struggling …

58: Does My Child Have OCD?

November 30th, 2021

31:38

How do you know if your child has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? A parent writes in worried about her daughter’s compulsive behavior and …

57: Happy Holidays? Dealing with Difficult Relatives.

November 23rd, 2021

28:43

As we reconnect with family over the holidays how do we deal with difficult relatives? Dr. Lisa explains the importance of crafting a plan that can …

56: Encore - My Child is Turning Into a Teenager. How Do I Handle It?

November 16th, 2021

31:08

Managing the teenage years can be overwhelming. Dr. Lisa explains what the toughest year is for teens and why. When kids hit thirteen they often become highly emotional. What happens in the brain and the body during …

55: How Do I Keep My Kids Grounded in a Materialistic World?

November 9th, 2021

28:13

What should parents do when their kids want to own the same luxury goods that belong to some of their friends and classmates? Dr. Lisa explains how …

54: How and When Do I Give My Kid a Phone?

November 2nd, 2021

28:26

What’s the right age to get your kid a cell phone? Dr. Lisa and Reena look at the research on both sides of the debate. When a parent writes in …

53: Should I Comment on My Child’s Weight?

October 26th, 2021

30:58

How do we teach kids healthy eating habits without focusing on calories or portion size? A parent writes in asking for advice about whether she …

52: What Do Parents Need to Know About Edibles?

October 19th, 2021

30:32



Dr. Lisa offers a deep-dive into the world of edible marijuana and how to talk with your child about the dangers of trying edibles. Reena asks what’s the difference between CBD and THC? How does marijuana affect the …

Welcome to Ask Lisa!

October 14th, 2021

1:49

Raising kids can be a bumpy, stressful, and uncertain process – which is why Lisa’s podcast brings her sane, informed, and practical perspective to …

51: I Hate Nagging My Kids. What Else Works?

October 12th, 2021

28:26

At what age should kids be expected to manage their responsibilities without constant reminders? Dr. Lisa explains how parents can help kids remember …

50: How Do I Build My Kid’s Confidence and Self-Esteem?

October 5th, 2021

30:26

Where do confidence and self-esteem come from? What contributes to kids' highs and lows and how can parents help kids build a sturdy sense of self-esteem? Dr. Lisa describes the age at which self-esteem tends to drop …

49: Should My Teen Socialize With Unvaccinated Friends?

September 28th, 2021

26:27

A Mom writes in from the deep South with concerns about whether to allow her daughter to socialize with a good friend who is unvaccinated. Dr. Lisa discusses the importance of framing the issue around the child’s safety …

48: How Often Should I Be in Touch with My College Freshman?

September 21st, 2021

27:55

Getting into college is hard work. So how do you raise kids who will thrive once they get there? Dr. Lisa explains how parents can prepare their kids …

47: Should Teens Be Allowed to Drink at Home?

September 14th, 2021

30:04

Dr. Lisa and Reena get a letter from parents who are torn about allowing their underaged child to drink in their home. Dad wants the child to feel …

46: How Do You Help a Kid Who Shuts You Out?

September 7th, 2021

28:23

You’ve heard people say, “I want to get this off my chest,” but what if your kid doesn’t know how to express emotion? How do you get children and …

45: I Don't Like My Kid's Friends. What Do I Do?

August 31st, 2021

28:42

Is it ever too late to help your child rethink a friendship? How do you lay the groundwork to help children choose the right people to be in their lives? Dr. Lisa explains how the friends our kids chose can also give us …

44: Seriously?! How Do I Face Back-to-School 2021?

August 24th, 2021

27:28

Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan kick off Season Two of Ask Lisa by talking about how to cope with another school year under Covid-19. They tackle a …

43: What Should My Kids Do This Summer?

June 8th, 2021

33:38

Should we be pushing children and teens to make up for lost learning this summer? Or should we let them call the shots on how they spend their time? …

42: How Do I Talk to My Child About Racism? With Special Guest: Emmanuel Acho

June 1st, 2021

36:44

Lisa and Reena are joined by guest Emmanuel Acho, former NFL linebacker, current FoxSports analyst, host of the YouTube hit "Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man," and author of a book by the same name. Most …

41: How Do I Help My Kid Find Friends Again?

May 25th, 2021

32:42

The pandemic has disrupted our kids' social lives. What can parents do to help a child make new friends if they've withdrawn from their peers? How do we help kids who are reluctant to reach out, or who rub their …

40: My Kid’s Room Is a Hot Mess. What Should I Do?

May 18th, 2021

29:26

Should you be concerned if your child has a messy, disorganized room? A mom emails asking for advice on how to handle a kid's room that feels out of …

39: How Do I Get My Kids to Stop Fighting?

May 11th, 2021

33:32

After more than a year of being stuck at home in a pandemic, it’s no surprise siblings are getting on each other's nerves. Should parents step in - …

38: How Do I Teach My Kids About Consent?

May 4th, 2021

33:34

Talking to kids about their love lives can be uncomfortable, but discussing consent is one of the most important conversations to have with our children. Dr. Lisa explains why she feels that when we focus on consent, we …

37: How Do I Know If My Child Has an Eating Disorder?

April 27th, 2021

32:33

Experts are finding that the pandemic has led to an alarming rise in eating disorders. Dr. Lisa explains how eating disorders can sneak up on …

36: Helping Kids Manage Grief and Loss

April 20th, 2021

33:40

"If the pandemic is about anything, it's about loss,” says Dr. Lisa Damour. Grief can come in different forms - from losing a loved one, to mourning …

35: Sexy Social Media. Where Should Parents Draw the Line?

April 13th, 2021

32:22

How do you talk to kids about social media postings that might cross a line? What's the best way to start a conversation with your sons and daughters about what's too sexy for public consumption? A parent writes to Lisa …

34: How to Raise an Adult

April 6th, 2021

34:36

How do you prepare kids for life in the real world? Author Julie Lythcott-Haims joins Lisa and Reena for a conversation on the non-academic skills …

33: Encore Podcast: Toolbox for Terrible Times

March 30th, 2021

32:41

As we move into the next phase of this pandemic we take listeners back to an encore presentation of "Toolbox for Terrible Times: How to Manage …

32: Lying, Sneaking, Cheating. What Keeps Kids From Being Honest?

March 23rd, 2021

34:00

There are many reasons why kids lie to parents. Dr. Lisa gives several explanations for why kids sometimes don’t tell the truth and shares stories …

31: My Kid Looked at Porn. What Should I Do?

March 16th, 2021

32:02

Talking to a child about pornography might not be a conversation most parents think of having. However, by the age of sixteen, 90% of kids have looked at porn. Dr. Lisa Damour explains that kids' interest in sex is …

30: My Kids & I Have Hit a Wall. How Do We Keep Going?

March 9th, 2021

32:05

With the one year anniversary of the pandemic approaching there are reasons to be hopeful. The infection rates are dropping and more vaccines are …

29: How Do I Get My Kid Into Mindfulness?

March 2nd, 2021

34:23

Finding time to quiet your mind can have real benefits for you and your child. Author, instructor, mom, and entrepreneur Mallika Chopra is our special guest. She says that meditation isn’t just repeating mantras - there …

28: Bored, Sad, & Smoking Weed: How Do We Talk to Kids About Drug Use?

February 23rd, 2021

31:06

A parent writes in asking for help to address a teenager's marijuana use. Some teens are turning to drugs in this pandemic as they are looking for ways to cope with the sadness and boredom. Dr. Lisa explains what …

27: What Do I Do When Friends and Family Don't Share Our Covid Rules?

February 16th, 2021

30:22

Should you speak up when you disagree with the approach other families are taking with their Covid rules? Reena discusses the latest news on the …

26: My Child is Turning Into a Teenager. How Do I Handle It?

February 9th, 2021

33:02

When kids hit thirteen they often become highly emotional. What happens in the brain and the body during this time? Dr. Lisa explains and also talks about the process of "separation-individuation" where young people …

25: How Do I Get My Smelly Teen to Shower?

February 2nd, 2021

32:37

How do you get kids to understand the importance of hygiene? A mom writes in that her son is making life unbearable at home because he refuses to …

24: My Daughter Is Questioning Her Gender. What Do I Do?

January 26th, 2021

32:12

A single mom writes in feeling worried because her daughter is questioning her gender. Dr. Lisa explains what we understand about gender identity and sexual orientation, and offers advice on what to do when you are at …

23: I Can’t Make Sense of America. What Do I Tell My Kids?

January 19th, 2021

33:03

It’s not always easy to be the grownup in the room. What are the teachable moments for our children as we watch alarming events unfold in Washington …

22: My Kid Hates Remote Learning. What Do I Do?

January 12th, 2021

32:34

Parents are finding it hard to get their children to feel motivated about school, especially when they are learning remotely. Dr. Lisa explains …

21: How Do I Hit the Reset Button for 2021?

January 5th, 2021

30:57

Lisa and Reena kick off the new year with a look at positive psychology. What is it and how exactly does it work? How do you stay positive when …

20: Kids & Covid: Pediatrician & Covid-19 Expert Dr. Cara Natterson Answers Your Questions

December 22nd, 2020

33:11

When can your kids get vaccinated? If my child has recovered from Covid-19, how long does immunity last? How do you know when it’s really safe to …

19: How Will the Pandemic Affect my Child Long-term?

December 15th, 2020

35:38

We like to think that time can heal a lot, but when do we need to worry about the pandemic's lasting impact on our children? Lisa introduces us to the concept of “ordinary magic” - protective processes that happen at …

18: Can Online Socializing Go Too Far?

December 8th, 2020

34:58

What’s the limit for children socializing online? Many kids use social media to connect with their friends and as an escape from the monotony of this pandemic. Lisa walks us through the pros and cons of being online - …

17: How Do I Get My Kid To Open Up?

December 1st, 2020

34:25

How do you approach your child when you know they may be struggling but won’t open up? Lisa shares what she learned when she asked teens why they sometimes clam up around their parents. Lisa and Reena consider how much …

16: How Do You Handle Holidays in a Pandemic?

November 24th, 2020

33:24

Navigating the holidays under Covid has its own pressures. A season that should be marked by joy is being met with sadness and loss by so many. Lisa …

15: How Has the Pandemic Changed College Admissions?

November 17th, 2020

32:18

High school seniors are feeling the disruption of the pandemic as they tackle the college admissions process. How do we help them manage these …

14: Dads & Daughters, Mothers & Sons: How Does Gender Shape Parenting?

November 10th, 2020

31:46

How do dads differ from moms when it comes to raising kids? Lisa unpacks the research on the different roles each parent plays while pointing out …

13: How Do I Motivate My Kid to Do Homework?

November 3rd, 2020

32:55

Students are finding it hard to focus on school in the midst of a pandemic. But laying a good foundation for how homework gets done is a skill that …

12: What Can Kids Learn from a Tense Election?

October 27th, 2020

30:31

How can parents help children cultivate the ability to have tough conversations? How do we teach tolerance? Lisa explains the building blocks of …

11: Where's the Line Between Being Healthy and Having an Eating Disorder?

October 20th, 2020

31:27

Eating concerns are an issue in many families, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic. What should a parent look out for? When is it time to be …

10: How Do I Parent When I Feel Like I’m Drowning?

October 13th, 2020

35:49

Parents are faced with new pressures under Covid-19, and many of us are barely holding it together. When does having personal struggles translate …

9: What to Do When Kids Don’t Listen: Advice for Threenagers to Teenagers

October 6th, 2020

35:35

What really works when kids just won’t listen? Dr. Lisa explains there are two different mental states that parents should toggle between — warm …

8: Apathetic, Cranky, Frustrated: Dealing with Kids' Distress About School

September 29th, 2020

34:10

What should parents do when their kids are fed up and unhappy about school? Psychologists are witnessing the rise of emotional distress in children …

7: When Is Anxiety a Disorder? When Does Sadness Become Depression?

September 22nd, 2020

34:58

Anxiety often serves as a normal and useful warning system - an emotional alarm that rings when something isn't right. Lisa discusses the difference …

6: Will the Pandemic Disrupt My Kid’s Social Development?

September 15th, 2020

32:43

When should parents hit the panic button over their child’s social development? A mom writes in about her shy, introverted teen, wondering if her …

5: Toolbox for Terrible Times: Managing Helplessness and Hopelessness

September 8th, 2020

30:16

How do we get through the pandemic without losing our minds? Lisa offers parents four distinct tools to help ourselves and our children through these …

4: Helping Kids Eat Well and Stay Active Under Covid-19

September 1st, 2020

29:58

How do we encourage our kids to be active when they want to couch surf? Lisa tackles a listener’s question about a tween who has become sedentary …

3: How to Deal with Conflict While Stuck at Home

August 28th, 2020

31:05

Conflict is unavoidable. Having a strategy can help. Divorce rates have increased in some countries under lockdown from Covid-19. When can a relationship not be repaired? How do we teach our kids to deal with conflict? …

1: Parenting During a Pandemic

August 24th, 2020

30:14

How can you tell when your child is not coping well during this Covid-19 pandemic? Dr. Lisa breaks down what to watch for in a child’s behavior. How much screen time is bad for a child’s brain? She also explains the …

2: Back to School During Coronavirus

August 24th, 2020

30:03

Uncertainty surrounds this school year amid all the Covid-19 news. Dr. Lisa talks about what families need most as they juggle working from home and …

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