Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens
Welcome to the Joyful Courage Podcast - a place where parents of tweens and teens come to find inspiration, information and encouragement in the messy terrain of adolescence This season of parenting is no joke - and while the details of what we are all moving through might be slightly different, we are having a collective experience. This is a space where we center building relationship, nurturing life skills, and leaning into our own personal growth. My name is Casey O’Roarty, I am a parent coach, Positive Discipline LEad Trainer, and captain of the adolescent ship over at Sproutable. I am also a speaker and published author. I have been working with parents and families for over 20 years and continue to navigate being a mom with my own two young adult kids. I am honored that you are here… Please give back to the pod by sharing it with friends, or on social media, and rate and review on Apple or Spotify - work of mouth is how we grow! Thanks - enjoy the show!
Episodes
December 8, 2025 • 56 mins
In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Runyon, a child psychotherapist with 22 years of experience and author of "Free to Fly." We tackle some uncomfortable truths about modern parenting—how our well-intentioned approaches might actually be contributing to our kids' struggles.
Nicole shares why children are "canaries in the coal mine," sending us messages through their behavior about toxic environments (yes, including screens). ...
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December 4, 2025 • 30 mins
In this solo show replay, I'm reflecting on what life teaches us through the messiness of parenting teens, navigating marriage, and building a business. In this vulnerable episode, I share three powerful lessons from each area of my life—from recognizing that our teens know what they want, to learning that surrender isn't giving up but meeting life as it unfolds. Whether you're struggling with connection, feeling burned out, or que...
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December 1, 2025 • 58 mins
In this week's interview episode, I sit down with licensed therapist Katie May to discuss one of parenthood's hardest challenges: supporting teens through self-destructive behaviors and overwhelming emotions. Katie, founder of Creative Healing Teen Support Centers and author of "You're On Fire, It's Fine," shares proven DBT strategies that actually work. We dive deep into mood-dependent behavior, validation techniques, and why your...
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November 27, 2025 • 28 mins
In this Thanksgiving replay episode, I'm reflecting on gratitude during challenging times—and trust me, 2020 tested us all. I share how we can be grateful not for our struggles, but for who we become when we choose to grow through them. You'll hear about the spiral of personal growth and why we keep facing the same challenges (spoiler: we're different each time). I discuss self-regulation, staying centered when life knocks us off b...
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November 24, 2025 • 53 mins
In this episode, I sit down with Marielle Melling to explore the invisible forces driving our least favorite parenting moments and how to interrupt them. We dive deep into the gap between knowing better and actually doing better, discussing what Marielle calls our "bottom underlying truth" (BUT)—what we're really making important in heated moments with our teens. Marielle shares practical, actionable tools for pausing before reacti...
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November 20, 2025 • 46 mins
I'm sharing some things that are deeply personal today about navigating life's hardest moments—from my daughter's mental health struggles to my husband's cancer diagnosis. This episode isn't about parenting strategies; it's about the inner work of choosing how we meet each moment. I'll walk you through my five-step process for staying present and intentional when everything feels overwhelming: self-awareness, willingness, breath, e...
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November 17, 2025 • 46 mins
In this eye-opening episode, I explore functional mushrooms and adaptogens with my friend Nicole Erdrich from Four Peaks Medicinals. We demystify how these powerful organisms support parents through stress, brain fog, and the unique challenges of midlife. Nicole shares practical insights on lion's mane for cognitive function, turkey tail for immune support, and adaptogens that naturally balance your stress response. We also discuss...
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November 13, 2025 • 46 mins
Building a strong parenting foundation with teens isn't about quick fixes—it's about creating a supportive container for their growth. In this replay episode, I break down my "House of Positive Discipline" framework, starting with the most critical piece: your own personal development. From there, we layer in relationship-building, systems and routines, and finally those in-the-moment tools you need. This isn't about having all the...
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November 10, 2025 • 49 mins
Feeling overwhelmed by college admissions? I sat down with David Blobaum, a national test prep expert, to demystify the entire process. We discuss how test-optional policies really work, what admissions officers actually look for, and why prestigious schools aren't always the best choice. David shares insider secrets like using the Common Data Set to decode admissions criteria and understanding when to submit (or skip) test scores....
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November 6, 2025 • 48 mins
I'm sharing something crucial about setting boundaries with teens that most parents miss. When our teenagers push back against our "no," our nervous systems can get completely hijacked by their anger and disappointment. In this episode, I break down the neuroscience of what happens in these heated moments and offer practical tools using curiosity and validation to stay grounded. I'll show you how to hold firm boundaries while maint...
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November 3, 2025 • 46 mins
In this episode, I sit down with my son Ian, a college sophomore, for an honest conversation about navigating college life in 2025. We discuss communication strategies between parents and college students, balancing academics and social life, managing finances and groceries, maintaining health and wellness, and building independence. Ian shares what goes through his mind when I reach out, how he stays organized, and his advice for ...
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October 30, 2025 • 41 mins
I'm diving deep into the messy, beautiful work of parenting teens with intention and compassion. In this episode, I explore why changing our parenting patterns feels so hard (hint: it's like forging a new path through the forest), how to practice non-attachment while staying fiercely committed, and the power of pausing to check in with ourselves throughout the day. I share real talk about trusting your gut, honoring your family's u...
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October 27, 2025 • 52 mins
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 mindfulness helps parents navigate adolescent chaos without making things worse. Katie shares practical ways to go within, manage parental anxiety, and stay grounded when your teen's choices trigger you. If you're strugg...
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October 23, 2025 • 36 mins
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 share how I navigated the messy middle of raising two very different kids, why mistakes are actually gifts, and how to stop micromanaging and start believing in your teen's ability to figure things out. Learn when to s...
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October 20, 2025 • 59 mins
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 and procrastination, and why our adolescents shut down or explode over simple feedback. Dr. Lockhart shares practical strategies for parents struggling with teens who feel misunderstood, offering compassionate appro...
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October 16, 2025 • 39 mins
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 crucial life skills like organization, time management, and problem-solving before they leave home. It's not just about getting them to college; it's preparing them to thrive there. I offer practical tools like family m...
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October 13, 2025 • 54 mins
In this eye-opening conversation, I speak with pediatric sleep expert Jessica Bryant about the silent epidemic affecting our teenagers: chronic sleep deprivation. We uncover how overscheduled lives, screens, and caffeine are stealing the 8-10 hours teens desperately need—and how sleep loss mimics mental health issues, tanks academic performance by 40%, and threatens their developing brains. Jessica shares actionable strategies pare...
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October 9, 2025 • 49 mins
Today I'm sharing powerful insights that transformed how I navigated my teens' adolescent years—and they're thriving now in college because of it. If you're caught between wanting control and knowing you need to let go, this episode is your lifeline. I break down the critical differences between boundaries, rules, and agreements, and why getting this wrong keeps you stuck in power struggles. Your teen's brain is wiring for independ...
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October 6, 2025 • 36 mins
Today is a replay - I'm diving into one of the biggest challenges we face as parents of teens: letting go of energetic responsibility. If you're exhausted from holding the weight of your teen's schoolwork, choices, and future while they seem to coast along, this episode is for you. I'll explain why our kids can't truly learn responsibility until we stop carrying it for them, share my own raw story about my daughter and vaping, and ...
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October 2, 2025 • 44 mins
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 show up when mistakes happen. I share practical ways to stay calm during the hard conversations, validation techniques that work, and how our daily micro-moments cement safety. If you want your teen to come to you f...
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