Why Control Didn't Keep Me Safe Unlearning My Childhood Crap with Jon Fogel's Empowered Parenting

In this Unplugged episode, Kathy Baldwin takes you on a deeply personal journey—sparked by Jon Fogel’s viral TikTok on “SA-proofing your kids.”

Kathy unpacks what it was really like to grow up in a world of control, obedience, and closed-door conversations—and how those patterns created “crap” she’s spent decades unlearning. Using Jon’s principles from Punishment Free Parenting,

Kathy explores how the rules of her childhood actually led to hiding, people-pleasing, and a lack of boundaries, and what it means to reclaim empowerment as an adult. If you’re a parent, a cycle breaker, or someone working to heal their inner child, this episode will give you new tools, fresh perspective, and a powerful invitation to unlearn what no longer serves.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Jon Fogel (@wholeparent on TikTok)
• “Punishment Free Parenting” (book)
• Kathy’s own journey 

Subscribe, comment, share. Visit Kathy at https://kathybaldwin.me

Timestamps:
0:00 – Why this TikTok changed everything
3:00 – What I wish I’d learned as a child
8:00 – Control, boundaries, and what didn’t keep me safe
15:00 – Jon Fogel’s empowered parenting principles
20:00 – Breaking the cycle and reparenting as an adult
23:00 – Reflection prompts and closing

Keywords:
Jon Fogel, wholeparent, punishment free parenting, SA proof kids, unlearning, parenting podcast, childhood healing, cycle breaker, people pleasing, emotional safety, empowered parenting, boundaries, podcast