Eps 605: Middle School Series Part One - Growth, Change and Belonging

Eps 605: Middle School Series Part One - Growth, Change and Belonging

Author: Casey O'Roarty September 4, 2025 Duration: 29:29
Middle school is a wild ride — bodies changing, moods shifting, friendships evolving, and parents wondering how to keep up. In this first episode of my four-part middle school series, I unpack the developmental landscape of early adolescence and share how we can shift from managing to mentoring our kids. Listen in for insight on belonging, peer influence, critical thinking, and why curiosity is your greatest parenting tool during these years. You’ll also get practical conversation starters for tough topics like tech, sex, and mental health. Middle school can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. Let’s navigate it together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parenting adolescents often feels like navigating a landscape without a reliable map, where the old rules no longer apply and connection can feel just out of reach. Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens, hosted by Casey O'Roarty, meets you right in that uncertainty. This podcast operates from a simple, powerful belief: the challenges of raising tweens and teens, while deeply personal, are also a shared human experience. Instead of offering quick fixes, conversations here focus on the foundational work of building and repairing relationships, fostering essential life skills in our kids, and perhaps most importantly, doing the internal work required of us as parents. You’ll hear honest discussions that blend practical strategies with compassionate insight, all aimed at transforming this demanding season from a battle of wills into an opportunity for mutual growth. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining a thoughtful, experienced friend who reminds you that courage isn't about being fearless, but about finding joy and resilience within the beautiful mess of family life. It’s a resource for anyone who wants to move beyond reaction and toward a more intentional, connected approach with the young adults in their home.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens
Podcast Episodes
Eps 620: Meditation as a parenting tool with Katie Krimitsos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:02
As a parent coach working with families for over 20 years, I've learned that raising teenagers requires us to pause before reacting. In this episode, I sit down with meditation expert Katie Krimitsos to discuss how mindf…
Eps 619: Life Skills for Launching Teens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:47
I'm diving deep into teaching life skills to teens—from driving and money management to cooking and getting their first job. If you're stressed about whether your teen is "ready" to launch, this episode is for you. I sha…
Eps 618: Loving the teen you have with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:13
I sat down with pediatric psychologist Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart to discuss her groundbreaking new book about transforming teen conflict into connection. We explored rejection sensitivity in teens with ADHD, perfectionism…
Eps 617: Revisiting Having the Courage to Let Go [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:00
In this replay episode, I'm getting real about having the courage to let go as our teens approach adulthood. I share my own journey parenting two very different kids. I talk about why our teens need space to develop cruc…
Eps 613: How to Be the Parent Your Teen Actually Turns To [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:24
In this episode of the Joyful Courage Podcast, I'm breaking down how to build real trust with your teenager—the kind where they believe you when you say "you can tell me anything." It's not about what we say, but how we…
Eps 612: Emily Redondo on Recovery & Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:07
In this episode of Joyful Courage, I sit down with Emily Redondo, a mom, author, and survivor of addiction, to talk about the messy, beautiful reality of parenting. We dive into how shame, regret, and perfectionism can h…