Ep. 43 - Breaking Away from Toxic Achievement Culture with Jennifer Breheny Wallace

Ep. 43 - Breaking Away from Toxic Achievement Culture with Jennifer Breheny Wallace

Author: Local Moms Network June 17, 2025 Duration: 36:15
Moms, this may be controversial, but it’s a fact: pushing a child to succeed can put their mental health at risk.It’s all outlined by Jennifer Breheny Wallace in her breakthrough book Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-and What We Can Do About It. Today’s episode is a wake-up call to draw the line between encouragement and pressure.  We spoke with Jennifer when MomCast first launched and this encore presentation deserves not only a second listen, but ongoing conversation with our spouses and partners.An award-winning journalist and author, Jennifer uncovered links between children at “high achieving schools”-both public and private-and mental health issues like anxiety and depression.Most importantly, she offers hope! She reframes how we talk to our children about their role in their family and in their community, and answers the looming question that parents have to answer: “so what now?”Wallace insists this is not an anti-achievement book.In this must-hear episode she shares her trademark tips for how to frame success, including:*teaching parents what “mattering” means*specific steps to then help your child matter beyond their grades, skills, and talents*the vocabulary to help disconnect a child’s achievement from their self worth*why household chores are critically important and how to link chores with your child’s individual strengths*how we moms can bolster ourselves, in turn boosting our child’s knack for resilience  The studies Jennifer sources in her book include a 2019 government report and further research by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.You can follow her @jenniferbrehenywallace or learn more at jenniferbwallace.comJoin us!Find us at thelocalmomsnetwork.comFollow us on IG @thelocalmomsnetworkSend us your ideas for our next podcast!Email demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com

Hosted by Demetra Ganias-a writer and mother of three who’s navigating the same daily realities-MomCast is a conversation from the trenches of modern parenting. This podcast, from the Local Moms Network, moves beyond simple tips to explore the nuanced, often unspoken layers of family life, culture, and society that shape our days. Demetra guides honest talks with both leading experts and fellow moms who get it, tackling questions about child development, personal identity, and the balancing act that rarely feels balanced. The dialogue here is less about perfect answers and more about shared understanding, offering perspectives that resonate whether you’re in the car line or stealing a quiet moment. It’s a space where the complexities of raising kids intersect with everything else, acknowledging that motherhood is as much about the world we’re preparing our children for as it is about the snack currently ground into the car seat. Tune in for a genuine, sometimes messy, but always connecting look at this defining chapter. You’ll find a sense of community in this podcast, a feeling that someone is putting words to your own experience, making the journey feel a little less solitary and a lot more seen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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Ep. 45 - Ereka Vetrini Talks Food, Family & Following Your Passion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:07
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