Are we raising strong kids—or emotionally fragile adults?
In this powerful and candid episode of Super Life, Darin Olien sits down with Jennifer Cohen, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, performance coach, and host of the Habits & Hustle podcast. Jen brings her bold, no-BS mindset to a conversation about parenting, resilience, and what it really takes to build mental strength in kids and ourselves.
From her viral TED Talk to personal stories of parenting struggles and triumphs, Jen unpacks why today’s “coddle culture” is setting kids up for failure—and what we can do to reverse it.
This episode goes way beyond parenting. It’s a raw, honest exploration of confidence, self-efficacy, discipline, and the truth about social media, AI relationships, and the epidemic of loneliness.
(00:00:00) Introduction – Why this episode is critical for anyone raising kids—or trying to raise themselves
(00:04:39) Jen’s Spit-and-Catch Story – How boredom sparks creativity and why we’ve eliminated it
(00:08:27) Coddle Culture & Lost Coping Skills – How “gentle parenting” may be creating emotional weakness
(00:12:27) Emotions Aren’t Facts – Why letting feelings drive actions is dangerous
(00:16:02) Jen & Darin’s Childhood Stories – How adversity shaped their confidence and grit
(00:19:08) Competence Breeds Confidence – Why doing things for your kids hurts their growth
(00:22:13) Parent Ego vs. Real Growth – How we’re sabotaging our kids in the name of love
(00:24:18) Tech Boundaries & Screen Addiction – Why you must stop negotiating with your child about devices
(00:27:20) Lead by Example – The powerful influence of what kids see you do
(00:28:03) Why These Habits Must Start Early – Self-discipline isn’t taught at 25
(00:29:29) Chores, Challenges & Resilience – Research proves struggle leads to success
(00:32:00) Real Life vs. Virtual Life – The terrifying impact of AI dating & filtered relationships
(00:38:01) The Loneliness Epidemic – Why social media is not social and what to do about it
(00:42:00) Practice Makes Presence – Why we’re losing the basic skill of human connection
(00:46:00) Schedule Boredom – One of Jen’s most powerful parenting tips
(00:48:06) Team Sports & Fitness – The underrated confidence builder for kids
(00:52:12) Fitness as the Ultimate Antidepressant – Why physical strength creates emotional resilience
(00:56:18) Common Sense Isn’t So Common – Why lived experience matters more than credentials
(00:58:34) There’s No Ma