“Healthy Gamer” sounds like an oxymoron. But not necessarily according to our guest, psychiatrist Dr. Alok Kanojia, who untangles the upsides from the downsides of video games. Why are kids drawn to gaming? Why is gaming more addictive today than ever before? How does it build community and shape identity? Does it feed into toxic masculinity? And how in the ... Show More
Mar 17
Exam Stress: Turning Down the Volume
Exams have always been a stressful part of growing up. But layer on growing college admissions pressure, spiraling teen mental health, and recognition of the wide variety of learning styles, and the volume turns way up. This episode was prompted by a listener's question seeking a ... Show More
54m 59s
Mar 10
The Hidden Science of Teen Motivation
What makes kids tick? Even when they appear uninterested, defiant, or lazy, there’s usually much more lurking under the surface. To learn how to pull it out of them––and how to connect and communicate, too––we’re joined by Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees and Wannabes (insp ... Show More
1 h
Mar 3
How Kids Get Emotionally Intelligent
Emotional intelligence is often called EQ. Some might say it’s a soft skill, but in fact research shows it’s central to lifelong resilience and wellbeing. Building EQ takes years and years––adults are still working on it too!––but starting young, kids can develop self-awareness, ... Show More
45m 48s
Jul 2024
Red Light, Green Light foods: Why labeling foods as “good” or “bad” can do more harm than good
The Red Light, Green Light food labeling system has been around to categorize foods as good and bad and was initially created to support weight loss in children with obesity. However, there are many flaws to this system that can backfire when it comes to child health. I welcome D ... Show More
32m 57s
May 2025
The Follow-Up: How Phones and Social Media Impact Kids
In this insightful follow-up episode, Dr. Mona is joined by Bill Brady—CEO of Troomi Wireless and a father of five—for a powerful conversation about the realities of kids and phones. They discuss the benefits of tech, the very real risks of social media, and how parents can intro ... Show More
14m 59s
Sep 2024
2712: Parents Influence On Eating Behavior AND How to Create a Good Exercise Program by Chalene Johnson
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 2712:
Parents play a critical role in shaping their children's eating habits, often without realizing the long-term impact ... Show More
12m 37s
Dec 2022
Girlology’s Dr. Melisa Holmes on Talking to Your Kids about Puberty
Dr. Melisa Holmes is an OBGYN, an author, and a health educator. She is also the co-founder and CEO of Girlology, which is a platform designed to provide girls and their caregivers with health resources to support them through puberty and adolescence. In this conversation, Dr. Ho ... Show More
36m 56s
Apr 2025
The Follow-Up: 5 Science-Backed Parenting Principles
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Aliza Pressman (@raisinggoodhumanspodcast), developmental psychologist, author, and host of the Raising Good Humans podcast, to break down her science-backed framework for parenting: the 5 R’s — Reflection, Regulation, Rules, Repair, and Relat ... Show More
14m 45s