Calm Parenting Podcast

Episodes page 1 of 6

1. When Kids Reject Your Help & Refuse To Listen to You #648

   25 Oct 2026 · 22 min

   Your child is visibly struggling with something they care about. You step in to help make it easier, and instead of saying "thank you," they explode. Suddenly, you're locked in a massive fight—feeling angry,…

2. Script When An Angry, Frustrated, Anxious Child Is In Your Face & Feels Helpless #647

   21 Oct 2026 · 24 min

   Do you ever feel helpless when your child is melting down? Of course. Your child likely feels helpless as well. In this very personal and powerful episode, I give you the exact script I used to diffuse these…

3. Get Help For Your Child At School: Listen to Zero Reject From Understood.org

   19 Oct 2026 · 32 min

   Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya…

4. Do This When There Are Power Struggles Over EVERYTHING & Kids Choose A Harsher Consequence #646

   18 Oct 2026 · 22 min

   “If you would simply do what I ask you to do, you would be done in 7 minutes. But you would rather argue with me for 7 hours or days or weeks or years and lose everything you own!” That was our son! I tried to change…

5. 7 Quick Ideas To Reset, Change Negative Momentum & Get Your Kids Back on Track #645

   16 Oct 2026 · 23 min

   If you feel overwhelmed with the stress and demands of school, extracurriculars, and a challenging child, you are not alone. So let’s make 7 stress-free shifts to calm the chaos, build positive momentum, and start…

6. 10 Ways to Get Kids to Care About School & Spark Internal Motivation #644

   14 Oct 2026 · 23 min

   You have tried everything to get your kids to care about school—and nothing has worked. These are kids who cannot be externally motivated. How can you internally motivate strong-willed kids to care about school? How…

7. DO NOT Fight, Stress, and Destroy Your Child’s Confidence Over This #643

   11 Oct 2026 · 23 min

   I have watched countless families ripped apart, spending 18 years fighting with their kids over something that doesn’t matter. It destroys both your child’s confidence and your relationship…so neither you nor your…

8. The Secret to A More Adaptable, Flexible, Resilient Child #642

   7 Oct 2026 · 21 min

   Do you have a child who struggles when plans change, who becomes rigid and digs in, or who completely melts down and can’t recover? I want to show you how to teach kids of all ages to be resilient emotionally, control…

9. How To Use Strategic Silence: You Talk Less, Your Kids Listen More. #641

   4 Oct 2026 · 24 min

   Want your kids to exhibit self-control and actually be responsible for their own emotions? Then you must learn the power of strategic silence. Whether you’re dealing with a toddler throwing a tantrum or a teenager…

10. How to Change Situations Quickly: Toddler Screaming, Teen Refusing, Child Losing It At Bedtime. #640

    2 Oct 2026 · 26 min

    Your kids ARE going to misbehave, not listen, refuse to help, scream when you say no, have meltdown at the worst times like bedtime. They may not live up to their potential so you’ll naturally be anxious about their…

11. A Back-Talking Kid, A Dad Who Feels Disrespected & A Mom Caught In The Crossfire. BIG NEW IDEA! #639

    30 Sep 2026 · 21 min

    You have a strong-willed child who triggers you by talking back, blurting out, dawdling, having a messy room, doing things the hard way. Moms and Dads have different triggers. You will learn three ways to handle your…

12. Messy Bedrooms, Messy Behavior: Get Kids to Be Responsible For Their Rooms & Relationships #638

    27 Sep 2026 · 24 min

    You want your kids to clean up their rooms. You also want them to handle the inevitable frustration and disappointment of life's biggest messes—without throwing tantrums, whining, or fighting with siblings. In this…

13. Why Does Putting On Shoes Take 45 Minutes?! 10 Ways to Get Dawdlers Moving Faster! #637

    23 Sep 2026 · 22 min

    If getting your kids out the door, into bed, or to school feels like preparing for combat, this episode is your rescue mission. Whether your child is naturally a dawdler, struggles with focus, or uses resistance to…

14. Why You Do NOT Want Kids to Be Immediately Obedient: Raising Fearless Leaders, Not Fearful Robots. #636

    20 Sep 2026 · 23 min

    Do you ever feel like you are doing something wrong because your strong-willed child doesn’t readily comply? Do you ever feel caught in the middle playing peacekeeper between a spouse or rigid family with unrealistic…

15. Why “Name It To Tame It” & Punching Pillows Don’t Work For Intense Kids #635

    16 Sep 2026 · 22 min

    Deep breathing, punching pillows and “naming the emotion” sound great on paper—until you try them with an intense child. These traditional calming tools can actually backfire—leaving your child angrier and feeling…

16. There Is Hope For Your ADHD Neurodivergent Child Who Can’t Focus (& 10 Ways to Stop Homework Battles) #634

    13 Sep 2026 · 22 min

    Do you have a child who would rather argue for 2 hours over homework rather than complete it in 20 minutes?! Those of us with ADHD or neurodivergent brains learn in different ways, but schools usually only teach one…

17. Q&A With Casey: How Do You Repair Feeling Like “The Bad Kid”? #633

    11 Sep 2026 · 29 min

    Casey shares his first memory of feeling strong-willed and getting judged for it in school…and why it sticks with him to this day. He gives in-depth insight into how to repair your relationship and help your child not…

18. Why Kids Choose the Harder Path & Procrastinate: 10 Secrets to Stop Power Struggles #632

    9 Sep 2026 · 23 min

    It would be so much easier if your kids would simply do things your way, but they won’t. They will procrastinate and create unnecessary stress. They will purposefully choose the harder path and get burned. Some may…

19. Disciplining & Loving Kids When They REALLY Mess Up : A Guide to Tough Talks & Tough Love #631

    6 Sep 2026 · 24 min

    You and I have impulsive, emotional kids who are prone to sneaking screens or food at night and experimenting with porn, drinking, vaping, and drugs. They may steal your credit card for an online purchase. Just…

20. Child Goes From 0-60 Emotionally? Lies When Confronted? 10 Quick Phrases to Calm Any Situation. #630

    2 Sep 2026 · 22 min

    It’s easy to escalate situations. I want to make it easy to diffuse tense situations with intense kids. Even when they argue like attorneys, try to push your buttons, are struggling with anxiety or feeling overwhelmed,…

21. Why More Rigid Child Can’t Lose Games, Can Boss Siblings, Must Prove Their Point? #629

    30 Aug 2026 · 25 min

    Why does losing a game trigger a massive meltdown? The same reason your kids boss siblings, obsess over fairness and have to prove their point, wear the same clothes and eat the same foods, struggle with changes in…

22. Scripts to Set Effective Boundaries With Critical Parents & In-Laws #628

    28 Aug 2026 · 24 min

    Your primary responsibility is to the family you created, not the family you came from. But standing your ground can feel scary with an intimidating, critical, or manipulative parent. If you’ve spent your whole life…

23. “Your Boots Are Dumb & My Friend’s Mom is Better!” Turning Ugly Moments into Bonding Memories #627

    26 Aug 2026 · 23 min

    "Your boots are dumb and I don’t even like them!" "My friend’s Mom buys her better things." Ouch. Is this really what you envisioned when you decided to have kids? Whether your child is throwing hurtful insults,…

24. Why Natural Consequences Backfire With Strong-Willed Children (And What Works) #626

    23 Aug 2026 · 23 min

    Our kids often see your boundaries and consequences as a challenge to overcome, not as something to avoid! They won’t give in…and neither should you. But this can lead to never-ending power struggles. I want to show…

25. Expect Big Battles From Morning to Midnight: Here’s Your 5-Step Game Plan #625

    19 Aug 2026 · 27 min

    Morning grumbling. After-school complaints. Grocery store meltdowns over cookies. Sibling fights while you’re trying to cook dinner, all while your spouse gets increasingly stressed by a picky eater... and you haven’t…

26. Why Do I Have to Do This?" How to Motivate the Child Who Questions Everything #624

    16 Aug 2026 · 26 min

    Do you have a child who pushes your buttons, avoids hard tasks, and always asks "Why?" instead of just doing what you ask? It’s exhausting! It's easy to label them as lazy or rude—but there’s a better way to look at…

27. Q&A With Casey #1: Mistaking Intensity for Unhappiness, Feeling Like A Bad Kid & More #623

    12 Aug 2026 · 29 min

    What is it like to grow up as an intense, strong-willed child—and how does that intensity follow you into adulthood and marriage? In this special Q&A episode with my son, Casey reveals what he’d tell his 8-year-old…

28. Let's Make Discipline Easy Without Being Authoritarian or Permissive #622

    9 Aug 2026 · 23 min

    What works with most kids backfires with our kids! So how can we discipline without being authoritarian or permissive? How can we go beyond consequences that don't work to actually change behavior while building trust?…

29. Adoption #2: Kids Who Never Seem Full or Happy, Unhealthy Attachments, Separation & Sleep Issues #621

    7 Aug 2026 · 24 min

    In this special episode, I address these specific issues from parents of adopted kids: Our son will attach himself to anyone who gives him positive or negative attention. Our daughter always wants to be attached to…

30. Dreading Calls from School? The Ultimate Back-to-School Behavior Guide #620

    5 Aug 2026 · 22 min

    There is nothing worse than the pit in your stomach when you see the school's number on your phone. If your child struggles with following directions, transitions, impulse control, blurting out, or acting silly in…

31. "I'm Not Going!" 5 Ways to Overcome School Refusal & Separation Anxiety #619

    2 Aug 2026 · 22 min

    You know those morning meltdowns and battles are coming! What specific words and actions work when you have a child who struggles with separation anxiety, doesn’t like and refuses to go to school, and becomes rigidly…

32. Do Adopted Kids Struggle More? Part #1 #618

    31 Jul 2026 · 34 min

    Parents often believe if you adopt a child from birth and provide a loving home, that will mitigate most issues. It doesn’t usually work that way. There is no judgment here. Just the reality that trauma triggers…

33. The Meltdown That Changed Me Forever (And 2 Phrases You Must Use To Teach Instead of Punish). #617

    29 Jul 2026 · 27 min

    This is the day I realized I was so consumed with how my son’s attitude made me feel, that I wasn’t actually helping him. I needed him to behave... so I could behave. In this episode, I provide a step-by-step guide for…

34. Stop the Stand-Offs: Real-Life Fixes for Your 5, 10, or 15-Year-Old #616

    26 Jul 2026 · 20 min

    Ever find yourself locked in a screaming match with your strong-willed child and suddenly realize, "Wait... I’m arguing with a five-year-old?" Whether you're dealing with a tantrumy toddler, a 10-year-old who makes…

35. Questions Parents Are Afraid to Ask Out Loud: Do You Agree or Disagree With My Answers? #615

    24 Jul 2026 · 23 min

    What do you do when your child defies you at every turn, refuses to let go of clutter, or prefers their grandmother over you? In this jam-packed episode, Kirk tackles some of the toughest, most sensitive questions…

36. 5 Options to Get Kids To Do What You Ask (Chores, S’Mores & More) #614

    22 Jul 2026 · 23 min

    I want to give you options so you don’t have to choose between being a tyrant and a pushover in daily life. How can you use the tough approach without feeling guilty? When do you give kids some leeway without creating…

37. Sibling Scripts: Your Summer Guide to Turn Provoking Into Peace #613

    19 Jul 2026 · 22 min

    Usually there’s a provoking child and the more compliant one who gets picked on and has a hard time speaking up. How can you get your strong-willed child to stop provoking siblings? How can you teach your compliant…

38. Parenting A Take-Charge Child Without Butting Heads Or Giving In #612

    15 Jul 2026 · 22 min

    It’s easy to lock horns with a demanding, strong-willed child who barges into a room and declares what they are going to do…without asking your permission! Does your child ever delay bedtime because they just HAVE TO…

39. Social Skills Playbook: 10 Scripts For Kids Who Struggle With Friendships #611

    12 Jul 2026 · 22 min

    Do you have children who struggle to connect with kids their own age, miss social cues or act silly in class? Who dominate conversations, get bossy during play dates or with siblings, become possessive of a friend? Do…

40. Special Q&A With My Son, Casey? What Do You Want to Know?

    10 Jul 2026 · 1:54

    I have two very important things to share with you that will take less than two minutes! If you could ask Casey anything about his experience as a strong-willed child, what would you ask him? Email…

41. Child Who Touches Hot Stove, Does Bare Minimum, Appears Self-Centered? #610

    8 Jul 2026 · 25 min

    Do you have a child who resists what you want first, refuses to do chores or anything the easy way, and insists on touching that hot stove? Who is not immediately obedient, doesn’t respond to consequences, appears…

42. Why Is EVERYTHING So Hard With This Child? A Guide to Make It Easier. #609

    5 Jul 2026 · 25 min

    What other parents take for granted can be a huge struggle for your child—and for you. Because you are likely that exhausted caregiver just trying to get through the day. Listen now. You get specific action steps and…

43. Surviving Summer Vacation With Bored, Complaining Kids & Judgmental Relatives #608

    1 Jul 2026 · 25 min

    I am going to hit a lot of hot buttons in this episode with scripts and action steps. What exactly do you say when kids are bored or complain? How can you get grandparents and relatives to be constructive instead of…

44. 5 Ways We Misunderstand Our Intense, Deeply Feeling Kids & How to Change That #607

    28 Jun 2026 · 22 min

    Our kids often feel very misunderstood, lonely, and like there is something wrong with them. We obviously don't want that and there's no real instruction manual for these kids. This episode will give you rare insight…

45. 3 Ways to Teach Your Kids How to Confidently Overcome Their Weaknesses #606

    26 Jun 2026 · 23 min

    Your kids have super powers other kids don’t have. They also have real weaknesses and struggles. We don’t want them to feel overwhelmed or less than. Instead, let’s give our kids practical tools to overcome their…

46. What You Can & Should Never Try to Fix About Your Kids #605

    24 Jun 2026 · 25 min

    Your kids have brains that work differently. Some have a specific diagnosis. How can you teach your kids about their nature in a positive, constructive way without shame, negativity, or singling them out? I give you…

47. How I Changed from Triggered Dad to Calm Guy: 10 Practical, Doable Ideas #604

    21 Jun 2026 · 25 min

    Before I was the Calm Guy, I was the Triggered Dad! My default mode was, “My strong-willed son is doing things on purpose to irritate me and I need to correct him for that.” But then I learned how to turn those…

48. Ultimate Cheat Sheet For Meltdowns: 10 Quick Ideas #603

    17 Jun 2026 · 22 min

    Meltdowns are going to happen and you need a quick-fix guide. This episode is it! What specific action steps de-escalate even the toughest meltdowns? What should you NEVER do when intense kids are upset? And how can…

49. "I Wish I Had An Easier Kid." #602

    14 Jun 2026 · 22 min

    You're not alone and you shouldn't feel guilty if you've had this thought. Our kids often don't listen, "make bad choices," and do embarrassing things in public. I want to show you, through a very powerful and vivid…

50. My Best Podcast Ever: Defiance & Reconciling With My Son #601

    10 Jun 2026 · 32 min

    I have told this story before, but today a new flood of emotions came out as I realized this story with my own son…mirrored my experience with my own Dad. Walk step-by-step with me through the ups and downs of…