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PODCAST

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life

Dr. Lisa Damour

Parenting a tween or teen? Buckle up. Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life tackles the questions that keep parents up at night — academics, friendships, mental health, screens, meltdowns, and more. Every week, psychologist Lisa Damour teams up with a different expert to answer a real parent"s real question — no fluff, no judgment, just practical, evidence-based advice you can actually use. Dr. Damour and her colleagues also turn their attention to the emotional rollercoaster of raising kids — the

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

30:22

255: Can Teens Really Study While Scrolling?

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2026/01/20

Today’s teens often try to tackle their homework while fielding nonstop notifications, listening to music, and participating in group chats. Plenty of parents wonder if this is a fight worth having, or if this is just – as some teens say – “how kids study now.” In this episode of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack one of the most common (and maddening) modern parenting dilemmas: Can teens really focus while

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36:21

254: How to Help Kids Build a Healthy Relationship...

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2026/01/13

We all want for our kids to build a healthy relationship with food, but it’s not always clear how to make that happen. Special guest Dr. Reshma Shah offers a grounded, practical approach to navigating the common challenges parents face at mealtime. If you’re trying to guide your tween or teen toward healthier eating without power struggles, guilt, or the nightly “just take one bite!” battle, this episode is for you. In this episode of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, Lisa and

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25:45

253: How to Future-Proof Your Kids in 2026

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2026/01/06

Are you worried about how your tween or teen will navigate an unpredictable future?With AI accelerating, the economy shifting, and the world feeling increasingly fragile, many parents are asking, “How do I prepare my child for what’s ahead?” In this New Year’s episode of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan break down what kids actually need to thrive in 2026 and beyond. Drawing on psychology, developmental research, and decades of clinical

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32:51

252: ENCORE: Should I Talk with My Teens About My Own...

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/12/30

Perhaps you’ve struggled with anxiety, depression, or stress… and your teen is now old enough to notice. But how much should you share? Parents want to be honest, yet may not want to needlessly burden their kids. Getting that balance right is tricky, and deeply important.In this encore episode of “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens and Teens,” psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan explore how age-appropriate conversations about mental health can strengthen trust and

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41:23

251: ENCORE: How Do I Parent a Young Adult (and Deal...

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/12/23

Your kid is technically an adult, but still looking for–or needing–parental guidance. And maybe you still have your own parents weighing in, too. Parenting through this “in-between” stage can be complicated: How much guidance is too much? When do you let go? How do you stay close without taking over?In this encore episode of “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens and Teens,” psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan welcome Dr. Laurence Steinberg to discuss his book “You and

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25:00

250: Is It Okay to Push Back on My Kid’s Holiday Wish...

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/12/16

Are you staring at your tween or teen’s holiday wish list wondering… is it okay to say NO?When every friend seems to be getting the “cool” brands, the pricey sneakers, or the latest tech, it can feel impossible to balance your family’s values with your child’s need to fit in. This episode helps you navigate that emotional middle ground with clarity, compassion, and practical tools you can actually use. Psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack why kids get so fixated on

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28:17

249: When Teasing Turns Toxic, What’s a Parent to Do?

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/12/09

Middle school can be rough—emotionally, socially, and developmentally. When teasing crosses the line into cruelty, it usually puts a dent in kids’ confidence and sense of belonging. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack the complicated social dynamics of middle school, explain why meanness can become a source of power, and why empathy can be in short supply.Drawing from years of clinical experience, Dr. Lisa explains how bullying emerges, why even “good kids” sometimes

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26:57

248: Should Our Tween Dictate Our Post-Divorce...

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/12/02

When parents divorce, how much say should a tween or teen have in deciding where they live, and how often they switch homes?Divorce is hard on everyone, but for kids it often comes with a lot of upheaval. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack what divorced parents can do to minimize the emotional toll on their kids, ease the challenge of moving back-and-forth between homes, and create arrangements that grow with their child’s needs. Drawing on decades of clinical

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33:27

247: ENCORE: Lying, Sneaking, Cheating. What Keeps...

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/11/25

When your child lies about homework, screen time, or where they’ve been, it can feel like a punch to the gut. But what if lying isn’t a sign of bad character, and instead a normal part of growing up?In this encore episode of “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens and Teens,” psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan look at lying from a developmental standpoint and help parents understand what’s really going on when kids bend the truth. A request for privacy doesn’t always mean

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26:06

246: My Son is Becoming Sexist. How Do I Stop This?

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/11/18

It’s not always easy to be a seventh grade boy. Their confidence may be fragile, they tend to lag behind girls in terms of pubertal development, and at school-a place that can feel like it's built for girls- boys may start to feel like they’re falling behind. When that happens, they can become vulnerable to harmful influences and start adopting views–even sexist ones–that can worry parents.In this episode, psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack what’s really going on

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32:00

245: Puberty + Menopause: How Are We Supposed to Cope?!?

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/11/11

When your hormones are downshifting and your teen’s hormones are surging, it can feel like an emotional collision course. If you’ve ever wondered why your tween or teen seems moody, distant, or irritated (and you’re also running out of patience and estrogen), this episode is for you.Psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack the double whammy of puberty and menopause under one roof: Why it feels so intense, what’s actually happening biologically, and how families can navigate

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24:21

244: What If Anxiety Won't Let My Teen Sleep?

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/11/04

If your tween or teen lies awake with worries spinning in their mind, or if you’ve wondered whether it’s anxiety, hormones, or something more, this episode is for you. Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan break down why anxiety and sleep are so deeply connected, and how parents can help kids find calm at night without turning bedtime into a battleground.In this compassionate conversation, Dr. Lisa explains what’s normal about changing sleep patterns during puberty, when to worry about

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34:29

243: How Do I Talk with My Teen About Alcohol and Weed?

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/10/28

How do you tell your teen not to drink or use weed… while also letting them know they can let you know if they’ve made a bad choice? It can feel impossible to balance rules with approachability. In this episode, psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack how to have open, judgment-free conversations about alcohol and marijuana--conversations that keep kids safe and keep communication flowing.Substance use among teens can feel scary and overwhelming, especially with today’s

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27:20

242: How Do I Get My Kids to Like Each Other?

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/10/21

How do you get your kids to like each other… or at least stop fighting all the time?If you’re parenting tweens and teens, sibling conflict can feel endless. One moment they’re laughing together, the next they’re at each other’s throats. You want them to grow up valuing each other, but the daily bickering (and your role in it) can leave you wondering: Am I making things WORSE? In this episode of “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens,” psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena

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23:44

241: Is My Teen Defining Herself by her "Depression"?

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/10/14

Here’s the good news: today’s tweens and teens talk openly about mental health. Here’s the not-so-good news, sometimes they inaccurately diagnose themselves or organize their emerging identities around a diagnosis. So what happens when your child insists they’re depressed, and you’re not sure whether it’s sadness, distress, or something more serious?In this episode of “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens,” Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan unpack how to navigate these deeply sensitive

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41:27

240: Talk to Your Boys: Raising Confident, Caring...

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/10/07

Many boys are struggling, and parents are often left wondering how to reach them. If your tween or teen son seems distant, gives one-word answers, or is spending too much time online, you’re not alone. In this episode of “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens,” psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan sit down with Joanna Schroeder and Christopher Pepper, authors of the book “Talk to Your Boys,” to tackle one of the toughest challenges parents face: raising confident,

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35:16

239: AI Companions & Teens: Connection or Concern?

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/09/30

What happens when your tween or teen turns to AI for advice… or even FRIENDSHIP? Today’s kids sometimes experiment with AI chatbots in ways that many parents don’t see coming. While some of their interactions may be harmless, the risks are real.In this episode of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack the hidden dangers of AI companions, the developmental vulnerabilities of younger teens, and the steps every parent can

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31:48

238: Zyns, Vapes & Teens: What Do Parents Need to Know?

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/09/23

Your teen may already know about Zyns, even if you don’t. These discreet little nicotine pouches are popping up in schools, backpacks, and social media feeds, and many parents are only just starting to hear about them. But what makes Zyns so appealing to kids, and how worried should you be if you find them in your home?In this episode of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack the rise of Zyns and vaping among teens. With warmth,

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26:36

237: Homesick at College: What Parents Can Do?

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/09/16

Watching your child head off to college is a proud moment. But what happens when the late-night phone calls come, full of tears and homesickness? If your teen or young adult is struggling with the transition, you’re not alone. More and more students are finding the leap to college emotionally overwhelming, and parents are often left wondering: Should I step in, or step back?In this episode of “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens,” psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena

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37:43

236: Dream School: How Do You Find the Right College...

Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life ·

2025/09/09

Is the pressure of college admissions overwhelming your family? You’re not alone. Between endless AP classes, campus tours, and the unspoken competition of “where did your kid get in?”, it’s easy for parents to feel consumed by stress and worry. But what if the path to your teen’s success isn’t about getting into the “best” school, but finding the right one?In this episode of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan sit down with bestselling

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