Don't Screw Up Your Kids
by Kaleesha Washington Your Parenting BFF
Don’t Screw Up Your Kids is a thoughtful, justice-aware parenting podcast that helps parents and caregivers think more intentionally about how their choices, beliefs, and systems impact children.Through honest conversations with parents, educators, advocates, and community leaders, the podcast explores parenting as leadership — moving beyond fear-based advice toward reflection, accountability, and long-term well-being for families and communities.This podcast isn’t about telling parents what to do. It’s about helping them think through options.
Episodes
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How to S.H.I.F.T. from Trauma to Truth | Coach PBJ
What if the shame, hurt, insecurity, fear, and trauma you carry today are connected to experiences you never fully addressed? In this episode of the Don't Screw Up Your Kids Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Paula Burton Jackson, also known as Coach PBJ, to discuss healing, self-awareness, faith…
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What 28 Years of Marriage Taught Us About Raising Kids | Nate & Kim Newman
What does it take to stay married for nearly three decades while raising four children and building a successful business together? In this episode of the Don't Screw Up Your Kids Podcast, I sit down with Nate and Kim Newman to discuss marriage, parenting, homeschooling, entrepreneurship, and the...
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I Choose Healing | Shari Paskel
At 26 years old, Shari Paskel received a lupus diagnosis that changed everything. Doctors told her she would likely need medication for the rest of her life. They also warned her that having children could create serious health complications. Instead of accepting that as her only option, Shari…
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How to Stop Treating Symptoms and Start Healing | Dr. Leona
How to Stop Treating Symptoms and Start Healing | Dr. Leona What if the symptom is not the real problem? In this episode of the Don't Screw Up Your Kids Podcast, Kaleesha Washington sits down with Dr. Leona, chiropractor, author, wellness strategist, and founder of Freedom Health Systems, for a...
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How Unprocessed Grief Can Affect You for Decades | Dr. Darlene Williams
What happens when grief is never fully processed? In this episode of the Don't Screw Up Your Kids Podcast, Kaleesha Washington sits down with grief therapist, author, professor, minister, and executive coach Dr. Darlene Williams to discuss the lasting impact grief can have on our lives. Dr....
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The Damage Outlived the Lies | Whole to Three-Fifths: Dehumanization | PTSS Series Part 10
In Part 10 of the Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome series, Kaleesha Washington concludes Chapter 2, “Whole to Three-Fifths: Dehumanization,” by examining how false theories about race were used to justify centuries of oppression and why the effects of those ideas are still visible today. This…
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How the Biggest Lie in History Was Created | PTSS Series Part 9
In Part 9 of the Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome series, Kaleesha Washington continues Chapter 2, “Whole to Three-Fifths: Dehumanization,” by examining how ideas about race, beauty, intelligence, morality, and human worth were transformed into a system of white superiority. This episode explores…
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The Real Reason Why Women Just Want You To Listen
One of the biggest lies we've been told is that women are more emotional than men. The evidence is everywhere, yet most people never stop to question the assumption. Men get angry. Men get jealous. Men get possessive. Men start wars. Men commit most crimes of passion. Men refuse directions when...
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Easing the Conscience | Whole to Three-Fifths | PTSS Series Part 8
In Part 8 of the Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome series, Kaleesha Washington continues Chapter 2, “Whole to Three-Fifths: Dehumanization,” by exploring the section titled “Cognitive Dissonance: Easing the Conscience.” This episode examines the psychology behind oppression and asks a difficult...
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All Because of South Carolina? | The Three-Fifths Compromise | PTSS Series Part 7
In Part 7 of the Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome series, Kaleesha Washington continues Chapter 2, “Whole to Three-Fifths: Dehumanization,” by examining the Three-Fifths Compromise and the political decisions that allowed slavery to continue in the newly formed United States. This episode explores…
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Dehumanization | Whole to Three-Fifths | PTSS Series Part 6
In Part 6 of the Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome series, Kaleesha Washington begins Chapter 2, “Whole to Three-Fifths: Dehumanization,” from Dr. Joy DeGruy’s groundbreaking book. This episode explores how slavery in America evolved into a uniquely brutal system that depended upon the dehumanization...
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How to Break Generational Money Cycles | With Che Willis
What if the financial struggles many families face are not just about income—but about inherited patterns, habits, and mindsets? In this episode of the Don’t Screw Up Your Kids Podcast, Kaleesha Washington sits down with Che Willis of Wealth Is a Journey to talk about breaking generational money...
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Learning About the World | I Don’t Even Notice Race | PTSS Series Part 5
In Part 5 of the Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome series, Kaleesha Washington continues Chapter 1, “I Don’t Even Notice Race,” by exploring the sections “It’s About Time” and “Learning About the World” from Dr. Joy DeGruy’s groundbreaking book. This episode examines how culture shapes the way people...
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The Preeminence of Relationship | I Don’t Even Notice Race | PTSS Series Part 4
In Part 4 of the Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome series, Kaleesha Washington continues Chapter 1, “I Don’t Even Notice Race,” by exploring the section titled “The Preeminence of Relationship” from Dr. Joy DeGruy’s groundbreaking book. This episode examines the central role relationships play within...
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The Myth of Race | I Don’t Even Notice Race | PTSS Series Part 3
In Part 3 of the Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome series, Kaleesha Washington begins Chapter 1, “I Don’t Even Notice Race,” by exploring the section titled “The Myth of Race” from Dr. Joy DeGruy’s groundbreaking book. This episode examines the idea of race as a social construct rather than a...
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Sankofa: Return and Get It | PTSS Series Part 2
In Part 2 of the Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome series, Kaleesha Washington explores the introduction chapter, “Sankofa: Return and Get It,” from Dr. Joy DeGruy’s groundbreaking book. This episode examines how generational trauma, survival behaviors, and historical oppression continue to shape...
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Are the Children Well? | PTSS Series Part 1
In Part 1 of the Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome series, Kaleesha Washington begins a deep discussion of Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing by Dr. Joy DeGruy. This episode centers around one powerful question: “How are the children?” Through reflection on...
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How Homeownership Changes a Family Legacy
On this episode of the Don’t Screw Up Your Kids Podcast, Kaleesha sits down with Shanee Singleton — real estate professional, wife, and mother of four — for a conversation about parenting, financial literacy, homeownership, and building generational wealth. Shanee shares how growing up with a...
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How to Help Kids Manage Their Emotions Through the Arts | Lisa McClendon
What do you do when your child doesn’t have the words to express what they’re feeling? In this episode of the Don’t Screw Up Your Kids Podcast, Kaleesha sits down with recording artist and nonprofit founder Lisa McClendon to talk about how children develop emotional intelligence, confidence, and...
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Raising a Black Son as a White Mom in Today’s America
What does it really take to raise a Black son when you’re not Black? In this episode, I sit down with Annie—a former educator and mother raising her 17-year-old son in a predominantly white community. We talk about the parts of parenting most people don’t say out loud: – preparing your child for...
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The Lies We Tell Ourselves About Staying “For the Kids” | Toxic Marriage, Narcissistic Behavior & Parenting
In this episode of the Don’t Screw Up Your Kids Podcast, Kaleesha Washington sits down with her former student, Veronica Requejo, for an honest conversation about relationships, parenting, and the difficult decisions many parents face when a marriage becomes unhealthy. Many people believe staying...
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When Parents Are Stretched Thin
We talk about predators. We don’t always talk about access. In this episode, I explore how economic pressure and long work hours can leave families stretched thin — and how that can impact child safety. I review the data and ask harder questions about presence, protection, and capacity. For those...
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Breaking Generational Silence: Protecting Children Inside Families
⚠️ Content Warning: Child Sexual Abuse In this powerful episode of Don’t Screw Up Your Kids, host Kaleesha Washington sits down with Larissa Rhone, survivor empowerment coach, author, and nonprofit founder, for a necessary conversation about generational trauma and the cost of silence inside...
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Parents Remember Intent, Kids Remember Impact
In this episode, I reflect on a moment that woke me up in the middle of the night — literally and emotionally. At 3:30 a.m., I found myself reliving memories of spanking my son when he was a child. What shook me wasn’t just the memory itself, but the realization that while those moments faded for...
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Discipline Without Spanking: Consequences, Trust, and Raising a Son Who Thrives
How do you discipline a child without breaking their spirit — and still build a relationship that lasts into adulthood? In this episode of the Don’t Screw Up Your Kids Podcast, host Kaleesha Washington sits down with Angela Marcano, a retired educator, district administrator, and author, and her...
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Trauma Leaves Clues: Hidden Signs Parents Miss in Kids | Chevonna Gaylor, LMFT
Trauma in children doesn’t always show up as tears or silence. Often, it shows up as behavior, physical complaints, or emotional reactions that adults misunderstand. In this episode of Don’t Screw Up Your Kids, host Kaleesha Washington is joined by Chevonna Gaylor, a Licensed Marriage and Family...
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Blending a Family of 10: How 8 Kids Became ONE Team | Taryna & Greg Nolan
Blending families isn’t just about combining households—it’s about building trust, safety, and belonging for children who didn’t choose the situation. In this episode of Don’t Screw Up Your Kids, Kaleesha sits down with her cousins Taryna and Greg Nolan, a real-life blended family of 10 (4 kids +…
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From “Deadbeat” to Present Dad: Rebuilding Trust With Your Kids
In this episode of Don’t Screw Up Your Kids, Kaleesha sits down with Eddie Alexander II, a father of ten who is currently raising five children full-time as a single dad. Eddie shares his journey with honesty and humility—from being absent in his older children’s early years to the moment his…
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If Someone Breaks Into Your Home, Do NOT Do This (with Kenny DuBose Jr.)
If you heard a noise in your house tonight, what would you do first? In this episode of Don’t Screw Up Your Kids, host Kaleesha Washington sits down with Kenny DuBose Jr., a husband, father, and firearms professional with over 30 years of experience, to talk about how families actually respond in...
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Teen Mom at 18: The “Village” That Helped Her Raise an Incredible Daughter | Philicia Hastings
In this episode of Don’t Screw Up Your Kids, I’m joined by Philicia Hastings—wife, mother, entrepreneur, and community connector I’ve known since we were kids in South Central Los Angeles. Philicia became a mom at 18, and she shares what helped her not only survive—but build a strong family...
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Raised by My Grandmother: Multi-Generational Homes & the Impact on Kids
In this solo episode of The Don’t Screw Up Your Kids Podcast – Freedom Through Parenting Live, I talk about multi-generational households through lived experience—not theory. I was raised by my grandmother in a multi-generational home, and that upbringing shaped everything: how I learned, how I...
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Raising Healthy Kids in a World of Ultra-Processed Food
Ultra-processed foods are everywhere—and they’re quietly shaping our children’s health, behavior, and long-term outcomes. In this episode of Don’t Screw Up Your Kids, we talk honestly about why feeding kids healthy food feels so hard, why it’s not a parenting failure, and what families can...
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What Parents Need to Know About Drugs, Vaping, and Teen Health --A Nurse's Warning
In this episode of Don’t Screw Up Your Kids, nurse Verna Boyd shares what she has seen from the medical side of teen drug use, vaping, and substance exposure — and why parents cannot afford to ignore it. From nicotine addiction and vaping-related lung injuries to marijuana’s impact on the...
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Kicked Out of Daycare Twice: A Millennial Mom’s Autism Advocacy Story
In this episode of the Don’t Screw Up Your Kids podcast, I’m joined by Aujanee Cosey—one of my former students from Sacramento High—who is now a single mom advocating fiercely for her 3-year-old son after he was diagnosed with autism. Aujanee shares the early signs she noticed, especially speech...
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Why Are You Making Everything About Race?
Why Are You Making Everything About Race? That question comes up a lot—especially from parents who are trying to do the “right” thing and don’t want to confuse, scare, or divide their kids. In this episode of Don’t Screw Up Your Kids, we slow the conversation down and actually unpack that…
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Parents Are Leaders: Build a Home Kids Don’t Quit From
Don’t Screw Up Your Kids isn’t about telling parents what to do — it’s about helping parents think through options. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Tawana L. Wiggins, a parent, educator, and systems strategist who helps individuals, families, and organizations build environments people don’t...
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Raising Emotionally Healthy Kids: Kyle S. King on Co-Parenting, Culture, and Growth
In this episode, Kaleesha Washington sits down with school leader, author, and culture expert Kyle S. King for a real conversation about parenting, emotional intelligence, and co-parenting with intention. Kyle shares how therapy helped him expand his emotional “language,” how parents can build...
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Five Ways to Set Your Child Up for Success at School
In this episode of Don’t Screw Up Your Kids, Kaleesha Washington breaks down what it really means to partner with your child’s school — and why that partnership matters more than most parents realize. Drawing from decades of experience as both a parent and an educator, Kaleesha walks through...
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Parenting on Purpose: Breaking Cycles and Building Something Better
In the very first episode of Don’t Screw Up Your Kids, Kaleesha Washington introduces the heart behind the podcast — parenting with intention instead of reaction. This episode explores how our childhoods show up in our parenting, why love must remain present even in “tough love,” and how breaking...
About this show
Don’t Screw Up Your Kids is a thoughtful, justice-aware parenting podcast that helps parents and caregivers think more intentionally about how their choices, beliefs, and systems impact children.Through honest conversations with parents, educators, advocates, and community leaders, the podcast explores parenting as leadership — moving beyond fear-based advice toward reflection, accountability, and long-term well-being for families and communities.This podcast isn’t about telling parents what to do. It’s about helping them think through options.
Hosted by
Kaleesha Washington Your Parenting BFF
Categories