Power Your Parenting: Moms With Teens
by Colleen O'Grady LPC, LMFT, author, speaker & C-Suite Radio
Colleen O'Grady, MA. is a speaker, trainer and author of the award-winning and best-selling book Dial Down the Drama: Reduce Conflict and Reconnect with Your Teenage Daughter---A Guide for Mothers Everywhere. Colleen shares her wisdom from twenty-five years of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist which translates into over 50,000 hours of working with parents and teens. Colleen, known as the parent-teen relationship expert helps you raise the bar of what's possible for the teenage years. Colleen not only knows this professionally she has been a mom in the trenches with her own teenage daughter. You really can improve your relationship with your teen and dial up the joy, peace, and delight at home and work. Every episode is geared to uplift you, give you practical parenting tips that you can apply right away and keep you current on the latest in teen research and trends.
Episodes
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# 397 Under the Mother Load
I love this next guest. I love metaphors. I love humor. And I love authenticity and she has all three. If you ever have felt buried under a mother load, you will really enjoy this real conversation. We talk about invisible battles, toxic positivity, and how moms crave real. MEREDITH ETHINGTON is…
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# 396 Teens and Consent
How do you talk to your teens about consent? If you have a daughter you worry that if she wears that short skirt she could get sexually assaulted. If you have a son you can worry that he would be accused of sexually assaulting a girl. You think not my daughter or not my son. Today we are going to...
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# 395 Are you Parenting From Fear?
What if the most powerful question you could ask yourself as a mom is, “What is the most courageous choice I can make right now?” Parenting teens can bring up so much fear—fear about their choices, friendships, and future. But what if instead of letting fear lead, we learned to parent with…
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# 394 Staying True to You
Are you teaching your teen to be themselves—or unintentionally pressuring them to become who you think they should be? As moms, we want our teens to be confident, authentic, and true to their values. But what happens when their values clash with ours? How do we help them fit in without losing...
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#393 Is Anxiety Driving Your Parenting?
What if the very thing you think makes you a good mom—worrying about your teen—is actually getting in the way of the relationship you want with them? In this episode, I talk with licensed professional counselor and anxiety and OCD expert Jenna Overbaugh about the difference between normal…
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#392 College Applications Without the Drama
Are college applications creating more stress, anxiety, and conflict in your home than they need to? The college application process can feel overwhelming for both teens and parents. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Jill Constantino, author of The People’s Guide to College Applications: A...
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# 391 Are You Raising a Leader?
Are you raising your teen to follow directions—or are you helping them become someone others want to follow? In this episode of Power Your Parenting: Moms with Teens, I talk with Dr. Pam Manfredo-Curtis, author of The Origin of a Leader: Transforming Family Patterns into Leadership Power. Pam...
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# 390 Boys Adrift: Why Are Boys Struggling?
Why are so many bright, capable boys becoming unmotivated, disengaged from school, and more interested in the virtual world than real life? In this eye-opening episode of Power Your Parenting: Moms with Teens, I talk with Dr. Leonard Sax about the newly released third edition of his bestselling...
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# 389 The Impact of Anxiety on Families
Do you spend a significant time worrying about all things, especially your kids. Anxiety is sneaky and gets inside your head. It convinces you that you are being a good mom if you worry and that you are a bad mom if you don't. It deceives you into thinking that worrying and obsessing is…
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#388 The Reward Trap: Are Rewards Killing Motivation?
What if the rewards you’re using to motivate your teen are actually making them less motivated? In this episode of Power Your Parenting: Moms with Teens, I talk with Dr. Özgür Bolat, author of The Reward Trap: Why Rewards Backfire and the Real Science of Motivating Kids, about the surprising...
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# 387 Teens: What's Going On Under the Surface?
What if your teen’s defiance, withdrawal, lying, or disrespect isn’t actually the problem—but a signal that something deeper is going on beneath the surface? Geoffrey Owen is the founder of Biologically Aligned Parenting and author of The Parenting Assumption. Drawing on decades of observation…
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#386 Out of Control Teens
What if your teen’s extreme behavior isn’t proof that you’re failing as a mom—but a sign that you simply need different tools? When your teen is disrespectful, defiant, anxious, aggressive, using substances, or struggling emotionally, it’s easy to wonder, Where did I go wrong? In this episode of...
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# 385 Can Moms Do it All?
What if the secret to doing it all isn’t trying harder—but finally putting yourself back into the equation? In this episode of Power Your Parenting: Moms with Teens, Colleen O’Grady talks with Dr. Anne Welsh, psychologist, executive coach, working mother of four, and author of Ambitious Mother:...
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#384 Mom Reset: From Depletion to Radiance
Have you become so busy taking care of everyone else that you've forgotten how to take care of yourself? In this inspiring conversation, Colleen welcomes Cherie Ashana, author of The Sacred She Reset, to discuss why so many moms feel depleted, overwhelmed, and disconnected from themselves during...
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#383 Raising Critical Thinkers in the Digital Age
How do we raise teens to be critical thinkers so they won't believe everything they read online? In this episode I have a conversation with Julie Bogart who recently published, Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parents Guide to Growing Wise Kids In the Digital Age. Julie Bogart is the creator of the...
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# 382 Riding Out Teenage Emotions
Have you ever looked at your teen's angry outburst and wondered, "What's really going on underneath?" When our teens slam doors, snap at us, or seem completely irrational, it's easy to react to the behavior we see. But what if those explosive moments are actually covering fear, anxiety,...
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#381 Are Your Teens Ready for College?
One of the biggest challenges your teen will face when they enter college is self-management. Managing what they eat, managing alcohol , managing stress, managing sleep , managing relationships, exercise and their time. Self- management is everything for the college student without it they don't...
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# 380 Drive Safely
Is your teen really ready to drive—or are you handing them the keys before they've earned the responsibility? "Driving isn't a right—it's a privilege that has to be earned." Driving is one of the biggest milestones in a teenager's life—and one of the most dangerous. In this episode, Colleen…
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# 379 Skills for Resilient Parents and Teens
Are you raising your child to avoid struggle—or to become resilient enough to overcome it? In this powerful conversation, Colleen sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Jerry Weichman to discuss the mental health skills every parent and teen needs today. Drawing from nearly three decades of...
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# 378 Money Lessons with Teens
Are you accidentally raising a teen who knows how to spend money—but not how to manage it? In this episode, Colleen O'Grady talks with real estate investor and financial educator Jonathan Greene about how parents can help teens develop healthy money habits, financial confidence, and long-term...
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# 377 Bringing Calm to Your Teens
I’m excited to have Hunter Clarke Fields (AKA Mindful Mama) back with us today, to tell us about her new book, Raising Good Humans Every Day. Hunter shares some very practical tips to help us busy and often stressed moms to come back to calm. Make sure you stay to the end of the episode where she...
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#376 Teens and Consent
This is such an important conversation on how to raise our teens with agency so that they have the skills to set boundaries, and know what they want and know what they don't want. This conversation about consent explores all the nuances of a true consent. We address what moms can do to reduce the...
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# 375 Girl Drama
Have you ever felt your heart break watching your daughter come home devastated by friendship drama—and wondered if helping might actually make things worse? In this episode of Power Your Parenting Moms with Teens, Colleen O’Grady sits down with friendship expert and author Shari Gazitt to unpack...
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# 374 When Your Adult Child Strays
Have you ever looked at your adult child and wondered, “How did we get here—and how do I love them without losing myself in fear, grief, or control?” In this powerful episode of Power Your Parenting Moms with Teens, Colleen O’Grady sits down with bestselling author and parenting expert Jim Burns…
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# 373 Moms and the Juggling Act
Do you ever feel like you’re carrying the entire mental load of your family while trying to hold together your work, your home, your relationships, and yourself? In this episode of Power Your Parenting Moms with Teens, Colleen O’Grady talks with Sarah Armstrong about the reality of modern...
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# 372 Parenting Tips From a Navy Seal
Welcome back to another episode of Power Your Parenting Moms with Teens. Have you ever wondered if some of the same mental toughness strategies used to train Navy SEALs could actually help us raise more resilient, confident teens? In today’s episode, we explore how allowing our kids to struggle,...
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# 371 Reclaim Connection with Your Teen
Have you ever felt like your teen is more disconnected than ever—and you’re not quite sure how to reach them? In this episode we're talking about something so many moms are feeling but may not fully understand—this sense of disconnection with our teens. It can feel like you’re trying, but…
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#370 Helping Teens Think Critically
In this eye-opening episode, Colleen O’Grady sits down with Dr. Maree Davies, cognitive psychology expert and author of Teaching Critical Thinking to Teenagers: How Kids Can Be Street Smart About AI, Algorithms, Fake News, and Social Media. Together they explore why critical thinking is one of…
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# 369 The Well Educated Teen
In this thought-provoking episode, Colleen O’Grady sits down with educator and author Dr. Deborah Kenny to explore what it really means to raise a well-educated teen in today’s world. While many parents feel pressure around grades, test scores, college resumes, and performance, Dr. Kenny offers a...
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# 368 Handling Big Mom Emotions
368 Handling Big Mom Emotions In this powerful and deeply validating episode, Colleen O’Grady talks with returning guest Eli Harwood, licensed therapist, attachment expert, bestselling author, and founder of Attachment Nerd. Eli shares insights from her new book, How to Deal with Your ______ So...
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#367 Maintaining Your Calm
Do you think you can maintain your calm and parent a teen? Well Hesha Abrams believes you can. In fact, she believes you can "Hold the Calm". Hesha Abrams is on a mission to help people from all walks of life to find a solution when it seems impossible. A recipient of the Brutsche Award for...
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# 366 Can Moms Live Their Best Life?
Are you a mom who feels like you’ve lost your spark—like so much of your life has been poured into raising your teen that you’re no longer sure what lights you up? In this episode, I sit down with Laura Best, author of Born to Buzz, to talk about how moms can reconnect with their passions without...
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# 365 Why Good Teens Suffer
Were you a “good kid” growing up—and did anyone ever ask how you were really doing on the inside? In this eye-opening episode, Colleen O’Grady sits down with trauma therapist and author Maggie Nick to explore the hidden cost of being the “good kid.” While these kids are often praised for being...
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# 364 Your Teen is Not Their Weight
In this episode, Colleen O’Grady talks with pediatric obesity specialist Dr. Joey Skelton about one of the most sensitive topics for parents of teens: how to address weight and eating habits without causing shame or harm. Drawing from his new book, Your Child Is Not Their Weight: Parenting in a...
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# 363 Instill Optimism in Your Teen
How do we help our teens stay hopeful when life is hard? In this episode, I talk with psychologist and optimism expert Dr. Deepika Chopra, author of The Power of Real Optimism: A Practical Science-Based Guide to Staying Resilient, Curious, and Open Even When Life Is Hard. We explore the…
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# 362 How to Speak Teen Fluently
Is your teen being disrespectful — or just dysregulated?Are power struggles in your home really about control… or miscommunication? In this episode, Colleen sits down with adolescent psychologist Dr. Cam Caswell, also known as the “Teen Translator,” to unpack what it truly means to speak teen.…
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# 361 Raise Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Teens
You are going to love this episode. Today we are going to dive into a teenager's emotional life. I think what makes parenting teens so challenging is dealing with their intense emotions. Sometimes you're the target of their emotional storms and sometimes they turn their emotions inward. You worry...
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# 360 Talking to Teens About Relationships
How do we talk to our teens about friendships, dating, sex, and consent—without panicking, preaching, or pushing them away? In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dr. Bronwen Carroll, pediatric emergency medicine physician, mom of four, and child protection advocate. With over 20 years of...
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# 359 Why Midlife Moms are Burning Out
Midlife moms are carrying so much—parenting teens, managing work, holding families together, and often supporting aging parents at the same time. It’s no surprise so many moms feel emotionally depleted, overstretched, and quietly burned out. In this episode, Colleen O’Grady sits down with Dr....
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#358 Is My Teen Normal?
Is your teen’s behavior a sign that something is “wrong”… or could it be part of normal development in a high-pressure world?When should parents seek help—and when might labels actually do more harm than good? In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Colleen O’Grady sits down with child…
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#357 Teens with Intense Emotions: Interview with Katie K. May
Do you have a teen whose emotions feel huge and explosive—and nothing you say seems to calm things down?Do you find yourself reacting out of fear, walking on eggshells, or second-guessing whether you’re doing any of this “right”? In this episode, Colleen O’Grady talks with therapist and author...
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# 356 What I Won't Tolerate in 2026
What are things you tolerated in 2025 that you don't want to tolerate in 2026? Today we are going to explore tolerations, messes, and irritations. You know the things that annoy you on a daily basis and steal your I feel good energy. If I ask you the question what are you tolerating? What’s the...
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#355 Navigating Grief in Your Family and Life
What if grief isn’t something you “get over,” but something you learn to carry—without losing yourself in the process? In this powerful conversation, Colleen O’Grady talks with grief expert and widowed mom Krista St. Germain about what grief really looks like—beyond the outdated “five stages”…
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#354 Time to Reset: Boundaries, Trust, and Connection
In this episode I interview Dr. Charles Sophy, author of FAMILY VALUES: Reset Trust, Boundaries, and Connection with Your Child . He is the medical director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and a regular contributor on the Dr. Phil show. Dr. Sophy has helped…
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#353 Teens and the 2 AM Spiral: Interview with Kevin Logie
Does your teen wake up in the middle of the night overwhelmed with worries they can’t shut off? Have you noticed that everything feels so much bigger for teens at 2:00 AM than it does in the light of day? There’s been a surge in what experts are calling the “2 AM Spiral”—a late-night loop of...
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#352 Mom, You Are Enough!
Our guest today is a wonderful human being and has so much well-earned wisdom to share with us in this episode and she is also a relatable and engaging writer. Which you can find in her recently published book, Mom Enough: Inspiring Letters for the Wonderfully Exhausting but Totally Normal Days…
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# 351 What Modern Teens Need to Thrive
Are you parenting a teen in a world that feels far more complex than the one you grew up in? What if understanding the adolescent brain could actually help your teen not just survive—but truly thrive? Today’s teens and young adults are growing up on a very different bridge to adulthood than...
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# 350 Five Habits That Cultivate Hope
• Do you ever feel so burdened, overwhelmed, or stressed that hope feels out of reach? And do you wonder how to help your teens hold onto hope when life feels heavy—for them and for you? In this inspiring conversation, psychologist, author, and speaker Dr. Julia Garcia shares why hope isn’t...
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# 349 Transform Conflict into Connection
Have you ever wondered why some conflicts deepen relationships while others tear them apart? What if the very moments that feel the most uncomfortable with your teen—or your partner—could become the doorway to more intimacy and trust? In this rich and eye-opening conversation, Colleen talks with...
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# 348 Instilling Awe and Wonder in Your Teens
In todays show we talk about the importance of awe and wonder. Research reveals that the benefits of being awe-seekers is that you are more generous, curious, and more humble. Is the feeling of awe within our control or does it just happen unexpectedly? How do moms help their teenagers experience...
About this show
Colleen O'Grady, MA. is a speaker, trainer and author of the award-winning and best-selling book Dial Down the Drama: Reduce Conflict and Reconnect with Your Teenage Daughter---A Guide for Mothers Everywhere. Colleen shares her wisdom from twenty-five years of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist which translates into over 50,000 hours of working with parents and teens. Colleen, known as the parent-teen relationship expert helps you raise the bar of what's possible for the teenage years. Colleen not only knows this professionally she has been a mom in the trenches with her own teenage daughter. You really can improve your relationship with your teen and dial up the joy, peace, and delight at home and work. Every episode is geared to uplift you, give you practical parenting tips that you can apply right away and keep you current on the latest in teen research and trends.
Hosted by
Colleen O'Grady LPC, LMFT, author, speaker & C-Suite Radio