Zen Parenting + Pop Culturing
Podcast Archive
Cathy and Todd answer listeners question about what to do when life gets messy, unpredictable, and uncertain. They discuss movies to bring the family together, how to support our children who are dealing with friend issues, and how to figure out what “fair” means over and over again. Connect with us! Join Team Zen Ask Us Anything! Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: ...
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Todd & Cathy return for the 1978 classic Grease. Grease is a 1978 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Randal Kleiser (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Bronté Woodard and an adaptation by Allan Carr, based on the stage musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The film depicts the lives of greaser Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and Australian transfer student Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John), who develop ...
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Todd & Cathy talk with Michelle Anderson and Lauren Massarella from The Sister Project. They discuss the hygge lifestyle (a Danish word that loosely translates as cozy, comfy, and overall wellness), parenting, birth, and women’s health. Cathy, Michelle and Lauren lost their moms to dementia, so they discuss what it’s like to care for someone with dementia and how to support them through the process of death. They discuss the pain and beauty of grief ...
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Cathy & Todd discuss 4 invitations to being a positive parent. They discuss 1) What do we want for our kids? 2) Relationship b/w EQ (Emotional intelligence) IQ (Intelligence Quotient) & BQ (Body Intelligence) 3) When we cop out 4) Discussion, not discipline Ask Us Anything Understanding Our Daughters Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for ...
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Cathy & Todd celebrate their 700th episode by discussing the universal principles of Zen Parenting, the importance of civil conversation, and what has remained the same for the last 12 years. Part 1 of 2. Ask Us Anything Understanding Our Daughters Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World ...
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Todd & Cathy discuss the different aspects of self-compassion and take the quiz to see who is more self-compassionate. They also talk about the movie Grease & Mr. Rogers. Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page Emotional Labor Checklist This week’s ...
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Todd & Cathy share how their roles have changed over the years and who does what around the house. They discuss the importance of communication around household expectations, and how roles are supposed to evolve and change as the kids grow. The discuss how invisible labor can be overlooked and why not everything we “do” can be found on a checklist. Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile Subscribe to ...
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Dr. Shefali returns to ZPR to discuss her new book The Parenting Map: Step-by-Step Solutions to Consciously Create the Ultimate Parent-Child Relationship (available for preorder NOW, released on 2/28). They discuss how to check our own egos, recognize our children’s psyches, and make connection the cornerstone of our parenting experience. Dr. Shefali is hosting a FREE Parenting Mastery Online Summit with 30 Global Experts (Cathy is one of them!). Click here to register. Connect with ...
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Cathy & Todd discuss how our children learn by watching how we live and how we react, and why owning our emotional responses creates connection and opportunity for learning. They discuss the difference between responding and reacting (especially when it comes to anger), why “do what I say, not what I do” doesn’t land well, and why comparing our childhood experiences is like apples and oranges. Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a ...
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Cathy & Todd discuss how we handle trauma, why boys are falling behind in school, and why the emotional intelligence of fathers is essential for cultural change. They also share a personal example of conflict, listening, and repair, and why self-compassion is essential if we are going to communicate effectively. Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring ...
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Todd & Cathy discuss ways to engage in deeper conversation with teenage boys, and how every suggestion is helpful to all relationships and conversations. They also discuss Prince Harry’s new book Spare, and how he learned to deal with “hover monkeys” and “mind squirrels” when becoming an Apache helicopter pilot. While his experience is unique, what he learned is helpful to all of us. Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect ...
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Cathy and Todd discuss the passing of Cathy’s mom, Cathy’s recent diagnosis and surgery, and how they support each other in a crisis. They discuss their patterns of behavior, what they need from each other, and why showing up for each other in crisis can be difficult. Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and ...
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Instead of posting a new podcast, we are reposting one of our favorites, the one where we interview our moms. Unfortunately, Cathy’s mom passed away yesterday, and we wanted to share this to honor her. We share some great stories and have some great laughs. Please listen and enjoy – and even more important, be good to each other. In honor of Mother’s Day, we invited our moms to talk about what we were like ...
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Todd & Cathy share their experiences of what they find good, true and beautiful, and why finding and discussing these things makes life more meaningful. They talk about the joy of feeding the birds and squirrels, creating a comfortable sleeping environment, and why Todd is never late for a party. Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring ...
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Cathy & Todd discuss 8 peaceful things from 2022 and how to incorporate more peace and joy into 2023. They discuss the importance of music, why we need to embrace our creativity, and the TV shows they are watching with their teenagers. Morgan Harper Nichols Zen Parenting book Phil Stutz The Tools The Vow Drums Taylor Swift The Crown Stranger Things Severance Euphoria The Artists Way Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a ...
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Todd and Cathy replay their Pop Culturing episode on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a 1964 Christmas stop motion animated television special produced by Videocraft International, Ltd. (later known as Rankin/Bass Productions) and currently distributed by Universal Television. It first aired Sunday, December 6, 1964, on the NBC television network in the United States and was sponsored by General Electric under the umbrella title of The General Electric Fantasy Hour. The special was based on the Johnny Marks song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” which was itself based on the poem of ...
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Todd and Cathy offer 8 suggestions to make the holiday season more connective and less overwhelming. They discuss how to set boundaries, deal with grief, and find ways to limit social media and say no. They also discuss their new Team Zen app and the exclusive podcasts that will be shared on January 10th. Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s ...
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Todd and Cathy discuss their experience with the documentary Stutz by Jonah Hill and why developing life force energy is the first step toward any problem. They also discuss the importance of seeing clearly, how to deal with Part X, and why the movie Apollo 13 was an invitation to see and understand each other better. Connect with us! Tuesday, December 6th 12:00 PM Central Glenbard Parenting Series featuring Cathy Tuesday, December 6th 7:00 PM ...
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Todd and Cathy discuss how and why our kids trigger us, and how to lessen our reactivity and reframe our experiences. They also discuss the importance of gratitude and why we should learn to ride the waves and roll with the changes. Connect with us! Tuesday, December 6th 12:00 PM Central Glenbard Parenting Series featuring Cathy Tuesday, December 6th 7:00 PM Central Glenbard Parenting Series featuring Cathy Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect ...
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Todd and Cathy discuss Michael Singer’s The Untethered Soul, specifically what it means to manage our “thorns” or inner pain that we react to our do our best to avoid. They discuss the paradoxical nature of life and uncertainty, and how our goal is to manage discomfort, not runaway or avoid. They share some of their mindfulness tools and a new definition of enlightenment. Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect ...
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Cathy and Todd discuss how to help our kids discover intrinsic motivation (internally motivated because it feels good and right) instead of extrinsic motivation (external rewards such as grades, praise, fame). They also discuss MenConnect, a solution to the epidemic of lonely men, and how to make mornings calmer and more collaborative. Connect with us! Join Team Zen Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen ...
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Todd and Cathy do a deep dive into the five essential parenting practices that Cathy shared in her Zen Parenting Moment Newsletter last Friday. They share how these practices create connection and meaning in the home and beyond. Connect with us! Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Join Team Zen Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page This week’s ...
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Cathy and Todd discuss the importance of teaching both values AND safety, and why they work together to create an optimal environment for you kids. They also discuss the top 15 best parenting role models from pop culture and what made them so successful (a few are debatable…). Connect with us! Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Join Team ...
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Cathy and Todd discuss taking responsibility without blaming ourselves for everything that happens. They discuss how certain self-help books, groups, and cults have the power to convince people that they are “at cause” for everything that happens, negating how outside influences also play a role in eventual outcomes. They discuss the difference between reaction and response, why emotions like anger and envy can be helpful, and of course, Taylor Swift’s new album, Midnights. Connect with ...
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Cathy and Todd discuss codependency, enmeshment, over identification, and other issues that can be layered and difficult to define. They share the importance of learning to say no, why boundaries are important in every relationship, and how paying attention and questioning can become a daily habit. Connect with us! Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Join Team Zen Find ...
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Todd and Cathy are interviewed by their friend Dr. Alexandra Solomon. She ask them about how they met, their history, and the trials and tribulations of their couple hood. Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting Radio Loretta J. Ross: Don’t call people out — call them in | TED ZPR/MenLiving Nami Walk Time Stamp 1:04:58 Avid Co./Team Zen/Todd Adams Coaching Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling includes ...
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Todd and Cathy discuss John & Julie Gottman’s research around “bids for connection”, specifically how couples who acknowledge each other’s bids 86% of the time stay married and connected. They also discuss how music and pop culture helps us connect to our kids, and why acknowledging each other’s texts makes a big difference. Hurricane Ian Relief Organizations The Gottman Institute Bids for Affection Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: ...
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Todd and Cathy discuss the practice of gratitude (specifically how to notice, savor, and express) and how it helps the brain pay attention to what’s working. They discuss the four noble truths, appreciating people’s quirks, and songs named after the bands that sing them. Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Join Team Zen All things ZPR can be found ...
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Cathy and Todd discuss the wisdom of anxiety and why it’s a messaging system that reminds us to stay curious about ourselves and our loved ones. They process the difference between relieving and numbing anxiety, and how “healing” anxiety can involve getting to the core of our unconscious concerns and worries. Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Join Team ...
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Cathy and Todd talk with Sarah Edmonson and Anthony “Nippy” Ames from the A Little Bit Culty Podcast and HBO’s Documentary The Vow. They discuss how we can recognize cultish influence all around us – in the way we use language and jargon, in our communities and groups, and of course, our politics — none of us are completely immune to it. Those of us who consider ourselves seekers – or those of us who ...
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Todd and Cathy discuss Loretta Ross’ 2021 TED Talk titled Don’t Call People Out, Call Them In, about how the most effective activism begins with conversation, connection, and curiosity. They discuss how this applies to partnership and parenting, and how reactiveness and righteousness can get in the way of growth and change. Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting Radio Loretta J. Ross: Don’t call people out — call them in ...
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Cathy and Todd discuss several conversations that were prompted by the We Can Do Hard Things podcast titled “Why are there no pictures of us?!?!”. They share how they communicate through nuanced and challenging conversations, and how to speak up while also respecting your partner’s perspective. They offer examples of difficult discussions and what lives underneath the discomfort. Subscribe to Cathy’s weekly Zen Parenting Moment Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting Radio Time Stamp Zen Parenting ...
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Todd and Cathy discuss the grief and joy of back to school, and why they are memorable moments in time. Todd helps Cathy process through why this time of year is especially hard, and they discuss all the personas and running tapes that live inside of us and want to be heard. They also discuss why it’s important to be gentle with ourselves and how doing our “best” can mean something different every day. Subscribe ...
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Todd and Cathy discuss why it’s important for dads to practice feeling so their kids come to them with their pain and big emotions. They discuss why dads think moms are just “better” at feeling, and how kids can develop a trusted relationship, regardless of gender, if they feel seen and heard. They also discuss the importance of integrity and how we can use baseball stats to better understand our parenting. Buy Cathy’s Book Zen ...
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Cathy and Todd discuss Adam Grant’s research around why humans are fascinating, especially when it comes to parenting and partnership. They also discuss why optimism is essential and the beer-drinking games people play. Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting Radio Time Stamp Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, ...
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Cathy and Todd discuss how to “practice” peace through embracing our anger and how gender can play a role in how we experience anger. They also discuss how they differ in their driving choices and how making decisions that make you feel peaceful are the best approach. Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting Radio Time Stamp Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. MenLiving – ...
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Todd and Cathy talked with Dr. Dan Peters, psychologist, author, and host of the Parent Footprint Podcast. They discussed the difference between anxiety, fear, and worry, how to identify “paper” tigers, and how to talk to our kids about real world threats and safety. Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting Radio Time Stamp Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. MenLiving – A virtual and ...
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Todd & Cathy return to the topic of Stranger Things with two of their daughters (Camryn, 17 & Skylar, 14) to discuss unanswered questions from Season 4, Volume 2, and where they expect to go for Season 5. They also have some fun picking their favorite characters and testing their fandom cred with a little high-stakes Stranger Things trivia! ...
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Cathy and Todd discuss the truth about suffering (or life is suffering) which is #1 of The Four Noble Truths. They discuss how this truth is so easily misinterpreted and how it actually offers deep wisdom and relief. They use several analogies and metaphors to make their point (some better than others…) and recognize the resilience and hope that lives at the heart of our experiences. Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting Radio Time Stamp Avid ...
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Cathy and Todd are joined by their kids Jacey (19), Camryn (17), Skylar (14) to discuss and explain their favorite Taylor Swift songs, the impact she has made on music and their lives, and how her lyrics are multilayered and filled with metaphors. Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Her discography spans multiple genres, and her narrative songwriting—often inspired by her personal life—has received critical praise and widespread media coverage ...
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Todd and Cathy discuss focusing on the little things to find joy, especially finding a sense of community and paying attention to nature. They discuss how to “do hard better”, how to take care of ourselves during difficult times, and the genuine and warm nature of Jeff Bridges Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting Radio Time Stamp Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. MenLiving ...
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Todd and Cathy discuss how to get in touch with our essential humanity to navigate difficult times. They talk about getting up again and again, specifically how to pay attention, make a difference, and focus on what matters most. They also discuss Tom Cruise movies, Stranger Things, Mythology, and finding joy in what inspires us. Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting Radio Time Stamp Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, ...
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Cathy and Todd discuss the impact of the overturn of Roe V Wade, finding joy through the sadness, and how we can show up during difficult times. We also mention this blog by Adam Grant titled How to Argue about Abortion Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting Radio Time Stamp 28:17 Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. 28:17 MenLiving – A virtual and in-person ...
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Cathy & Todd discuss how paradoxical emotions are common and normal, and how we can accept rather than avoid our emotional experiences. They discuss why experiencing uncomfortable emotions are not a failure or an inability to keep our inner impulses in check, but rather the way we experience the normal ups and downs of life. They also debate whether the person grilling has the most power and how Chicago baseball is going. Subscribe to Cathy’s ...
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Todd & Cathy are joined by two of their daughters (Camryn, 17 & Skylar, 14) to discuss Season 4, Volume 1 of Stranger Things. They discuss how the season was influenced by horror movies from the 80’s (Carrie, The Amityville Horror, A Nightmare on Elm Street to name a few….) plus other fan favorites from Generation X (Star Wars, War Games, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, etc). They each choose a song to help them ...
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Todd & Cathy are joined by two of their daughters (Camryn, 17 & Skylar, 14) to discuss Season 4, Volume 1 of Stranger Things. They discuss how the season was influenced by horror movies from the 80’s (Carrie, The Amityville Horror, A Nightmare on Elm Street to name a few….) plus other fan favorites from Generation X (Star Wars, War Games, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, etc). They each choose a song to help them ...
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Cathy and Todd talk with actor, comedian, and author Michael Ian Black (The State, Wet Hot American Summer, Inside Amy Schumer, The Baxter) about his book A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son. They discuss healthy masculinity, why language keeps us from understanding each other, and how communication and empathy can keep us connected to ourselves and our kids. Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting Radio Watch this podcast on Vimeo here Time ...
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Todd and Cathy discuss common sense gun laws that can make a difference, and discuss the work that Moms Demand Action and Founder Shannon Watts have done and are doing. They discuss how optimism is the recognition that something can be done, and also how taking care of yourself and taking breaks from the news are part of the process. They also discuss Cathy’s latest Zen Parenting Moment about Stranger Things and Kate Bush, and ...
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Todd and Cathy talk with Ben Feller, former AP White House reporter under George W Bush and Barack Obama, and now author of Big Problems, Little Problems, a story of how a dad teaches his son to solve the daily challenges of life. They discuss priorities, lessons from our children, what it’s like to work in the White House, the state of journalism, and also debate their favorite journalism movies (Michael Keaton happens to be ...
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Cathy and Todd process what “every day is a good day” actually means, and how to recognize the challenges of the world and also take care of ourselves in our day to day lives. They also discuss disenfranchised grief (when your grieving doesn’t fit in with your larger society’s attitude about dealing with death and loss) and how to recognize and process what hurts, even if others can’t relate. Buy Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting Radio ...
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