Parents & Teens Rising: Practical Tools for Raising Confident, Connected Teens

Jasmyne Chandler, Teen & Parent Coach and Rites of Passage Guide
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Parenting

Welcome to Parents and Teens Rising, the podcast where we dive deep into the challenges and triumphs of raising teens and young adults in today’s world. Hosted by Teen and Parent coach Jasmyne Chandler, this show is all about empowering parents, teens, and young adults to step into confidence, connection, and courage.Through practical tools, real conversations, and inspiring stories, you’ll learn how to build stronger relationships, support your teen’s authenticity, and navigate everything from anxiety and self-esteem to purpose and independence.Whether your teen feels stuck, stressed, or simply different from the “norm,” this podcast will help you show up with more clarity, compassion, and confidence—while giving your teen the tools they need to rise.

  1. 5d ago

    Ep 57. Why Teens Need to Do Hard Things: Rites of Passage, Self-Talk, and Real Confidence

    In today's episode, I'm sharing a conversation where I was the one in the guest chair on Parenting Shrink Wrapped with Samantha Straub, licensed clinical counselor and parenting coach, and Dr. Melissa Wellner, double board certified psychiatrist and child and adolescent psychiatrist. We talk about my own rites of passage story, what happens on our Guided Passages trips, and how teens build real confidence by doing hard things. In This Episode, You'll Hear: How a rites of passage trip at 19 changed the direction of my lifeWhat happens in council, on solo, and at our Welcome Home CeremonyWhy confidence comes from doing hard things rather than hearing complimentsThe self-hate, comparison, and negative self-talk so many teens are carryingHow teens create their own risky rites of passage when adults don't offer safe onesResources Mentioned: Episode 52 with Samantha Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner: Discipline vs. Punishment and Why Punishment Doesn't Work for Teens [link]Parenting Shrink Wrapped podcastWork With Me: I'm offering wilderness rites of passage trips, one-on-one virtual coaching for teens and young adults ages 12 to 24, and the Parents of Teens Rising Coaching Circle for parents who want support on this journey. Website: guided-passages.comInstagram: @jasmyne.guidedpassages

    Ep 57. Why Teens Need to Do Hard Things: Rites of Passage, Self-Talk, and Real Confidence

  2. Sep 23

    Ep 56. The Social Media Driver's License: Preparing Your Tween or Teen for Their Phone with Jennifer Berger

    Would you let your teenager get behind the wheel of a car with zero lessons and no permit? That's basically what we do with smartphones, and today's guest is here to change that. I'm joined by Jennifer Berger, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Ready Set Screen, and honestly, this is the conversation I wish I'd had access to when my own kids were still preteens. Jennifer has spent 20 years as a media literacy educator, and has worked directly with more than 10,000 preteens and teens, with 95% of them reporting real improvements in their mental health and self-esteem afterward. Her organization recently launched its flagship program, the Social Media Driver's License, and we get into exactly what that is and why she built it that way. If you've ever felt torn between wanting to protect your kid from their phone and knowing you can't realistically keep them off it forever, this conversation is going to feel like a deep breath. We get into a lot, including: Why Jennifer thinks of preparing kids for social media the same way we prepare them to drive a car, and why "the driver's license" metaphor just makes senseHer honest take on monitoring apps and reading your teen's texts, and why she compares heavy monitoring to restrictive dietingWhat she actually says to parents who are worried something serious might be going on with their teen onlineHow the course handles harder topics like AI, porn, and online strangers without over-scaring or under-preparing kidsWhy shame, even over something as small as an accidental Google search, is one of the biggest things getting in the way of kids talking to usWhy the research on phones and mental health is messier than people think, and how Jennifer still landed on taking action anywayThe reality that "just delay it" isn't always realistic when a kid's entire social world is already onlineWhy teaching kids to simply question what they're seeing, who made it and why, can change how they feel about themselves almost immediatelyI really loved this one, and I think you will too. Jennifer's approach isn't about fear, it's about equipping your kid to actually think for themselves out there. About Jennifer Berger: Jennifer Berger has been a media literacy educator for 20 years. She's helped more than 10,000 preteens and teens learn to question the messages they receive through media, with 95% reporting improvements in indicators of their mental health and self-esteem. Jennifer is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Ready Set Screen, based in San Francisco, and recently launched its flagship program, the Social Media Driver's License. Connect with Jennifer & Ready Set Screen: Website: www.readysetscreen.org Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn & TikTok: @readysetscreen The Social Media Driver's License is available now to families: socialmediadriverslicense.org Free Sample of the Social Media Driver's License: https://courses.socialmediadriverslicense.org/sign-up More media literacy resources Jennifer mentioned: National Association for Media Literacy Education: namle.org | YouTube MediaWise: www.mediawise.org | YouTube American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health: aap.org Connect with Jasmyne: Instagram: @jasmyne.guidedpassages 🔗 https://guided-passages.com/

    Ep 56. The Social Media Driver's License: Preparing Your Tween or Teen for Their Phone with Jennifer Berger

  3. Sep 16

    Ep 55. Five Ways To Get Your Teen To Actually Open Up

    In today's episode, I'm talking about how to help your teen open back up if things have felt shut down lately and you want to be the one they turn to again.  Here's what we cover: The most common reasons teens pull away, including overwhelm, fear of judgment, their biological drive toward independence, and broken trustWhy age 13 tends to be the peak of the pulling-away phase, and why that's actually a good sign developmentallyWhy forcing a conversation almost always backfires, and what to do insteadPlus, five strategies you can start using today to help your teen open back up: Respect their space without disappearingRebuild trust by owning your reactionsListen without trying to fix everythingBuild connection in everyday momentsChoose collaboration over controlThis episode is for any parent who wants their teen to come to them when things get hard, not just when they have to. 📘 Free Guide: 10 Steps to Build More Connection with Your Teenager https://youth.guided-passages.com/connect-to-your-teen-freebie Want more support? Join Parents of Teens Rising, my monthly parent coaching community, for live coaching circles, monthly workshops, and weekly voice notes for just $24/month. Parents of Teens Rising Coaching Circle Connect with Jasmyne: Instagram: @jasmyne.guidedpassages 🔗 https://guided-passages.com/

    Ep 55. Five Ways To Get Your Teen To Actually Open Up

  4. Sep 9

    Ep. 54 Your Teen Isn't Overreacting: The Science Behind Teen Anxiety

    If your teen freezes up before school, avoids social situations, or spirals into what-if thinking, this episode is for you. I'm walking you through what's really happening beneath your teen's anxiety and why pep talks and reassurance so often fall flat. We'll cover why some teens' alarm systems run louder than others, how the pandemic disrupted key years of social practice, why LGBTQIA+ and marginalized teens carry an extra layer of anxiety, and the data behind what's become a national trend. And we'll get into the first grounding principle that changes how you support your teen: anxiety is a body-first experience, not a logic problem. In this episode, you'll learn: Why you can't reason your teen out of anxietyHow the amygdala and prefrontal cortex shape your teen's response to stressThe difference between functional worry and concerning anxietyWhat the latest CDC and Trevor Project data tell us about teen anxiety ratesWhy body-based tools like breathing and grounding come before any thinking toolResources mentioned: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtUnder Pressure by Lisa DamourCDC data on anxiety disorders in children and teensThe Trevor Project's 2024 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental HealthGet the freebie: 5 Steps to Help Your Anxious Teen a free guide with practical steps you can start using with your teen today.  Connect with Jasmyne: Instagram: jasmyne.guidedpassages Website: https://guided-passages.com

    Ep. 54 Your Teen Isn't Overreacting: The Science Behind Teen Anxiety

  5. Sep 2

    Ep 53. Parenting Through Grief, Loss, and a World in Crisis

    In today's episode I'm sharing something a little different, a more personal and vulnerable episode than usual. Life has been hitting hard lately, both in my own world and in the world around us, and instead of showing up with tips and strategies like I normally do, I wanted to be honest about what it actually looks like to navigate hard seasons as a parent. I have a feeling a lot of you are carrying something heavy right now too. Here's what we cover: Why letting our kids face hard, uncomfortable transitions, even when every instinct tells us to rescue them, is often exactly what they needHolding grief and big life transitions at the same time, and what that's taught me about staying present for my family while still being humanWhy it's okay, and even important, for our kids to see that we don't always have it all togetherPlus, the tools that are helping me stay grounded through hard seasons, and might help you too: Allow yourself to actually feel itUse your regulation tools (breath work, movement, pausing before reacting)Practice real self-compassionPrioritize joy and gratitude, even in hard seasonsLean into creativity as an antidote to anxietyFind and stay in communityCommit to small, consistent micro actionsTell your kids the truth, in an age-appropriate wayThis episode is for any parent feeling the weight of things right now, personally or in the world around them, who needs a reminder that they're not alone in it. Connect with Jasmyne: Instagram: @jasmyne.guidedpassages 🔗 https://guided-passages.com/

    Ep 53. Parenting Through Grief, Loss, and a World in Crisis

  6. Aug 26

    Ep 52. Why Punishment Doesn't Work: Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner on Moving From Control to Connection With Your Teen

    In today's episode I'm joined by Dr. Melissa Wellner, a double board certified adolescent psychiatrist, and Samantha Straub, a licensed therapist, educator, and parenting coach and founder of Teen Savvy Coaching. Together they co-host the podcast Parenting Shrink Wrapped, and they brought so much wisdom and lived experience to this conversation, both as clinicians and as moms themselves. This was such a rich discussion, and I know you're going to walk away with a lot from it. Here's what we cover: The real difference between discipline and punishment, and why those words get used interchangeably even though they're not the same thingWhy punishment tends to teach kids to hide their mistakes or lie instead of actually learning from themSam's simple framework for figuring out what's actually needed in a moment: safety, values, or skillsWhy discipline has to evolve as your child moves through different developmental stages, and why what worked last month might not work nowHow to regulate your own emotions in the heat of the moment so you can come back and actually teach instead of reactWhat to do when your teen pushes back or refuses to engage with the repair processHow to move from a control mindset to a teaching mindset, and why starting small mattersWhy relationship is the foundation that makes all of this possible, especially with a resistant teenThe one shift both Melissa and Sam want every parent to walk away withThis episode is for any parent trying to hold boundaries and accountability without sacrificing connection and trust with their teen. Connect with Samantha Straub / Teen Savvy Coaching: Website: teensavvycoaching.com Facebook: @TeenSavvyCoachingWithSamanthaStraub Instagram: @teensavvycoaching Connect with Dr. Melissa Wellner / Annapolis Psychiatry: Website: annapolispsychiatry.com Facebook: Annapolis Psychiatry Parenting Shrink Wrapped (Melissa & Sam's podcast): Instagram: @parentingshrinkwrapped Facebook: facebook.com/parentingshrinkwrapped YouTube: @ParentingShrinkWrapped Connect with Jasmyne: Instagram: @jasmyne.guidedpassages 🔗 https://guided-passages.com/

    Ep 52. Why Punishment Doesn't Work: Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner on Moving From Control to Connection With Your Teen

  7. Aug 19

    Ep 51. Back to School Dread: How to Help Your Teen Start the Year Off Right

    In today's episode I'm digging into something that's showing up in my own house right now and in nearly every coaching call I'm having lately: the end-of-summer dread that hits as school comes back into view. If your teen has been dragging their feet, snapping at small things, or straight up grieving the loss of summer before it's even over, you are not alone, and neither are they. Here's what we cover: What's actually going on underneath the back-to-school angst, and why dread is the dominant feeling for most teens heading into a new yearWhy validating your teen's feelings works so much better than trying to talk them out of itThe fine line between offering real, tangible support and trying to fix everything for themPlus, six tips to help your teen walk into this school year steadier than they walked out of the last one: Get curious, validate, and give supportGet the routine set early and consistentlyGet their support team on boardGet them involved in after school activitiesGet them a plannerHelp them do the mindset workThis episode is for any parent watching their teen mourn the end of summer and wanting real tools to help them head into the new school year with more confidence, structure, and hope. Connect with Jasmyne: Instagram: @jasmyne.guidedpassages 🔗 https://guided-passages.com/

    Ep 51. Back to School Dread: How to Help Your Teen Start the Year Off Right

  8. Aug 12

    Ep 50. How to Send Your Kid to College Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Money) with Shellee Howard

    In today's episode I'm joined by Shellee Howard, founder and CEO of College Ready, and named the 2026 Global Educational Consultant of the Year. Shellee is a two-time best-selling author, has been featured on Fox, NBC, CBS, and US News and World Report, and over the past 18 years she and her team have helped more than 3,000 families secure college acceptances, including 327 Ivy League placements and over $80 million in scholarships earned. She's also a mom of four whose own kids have graduated from schools ranging from Harvard to the University of Alabama, most of them debt free. This conversation was so illuminating for me, and honestly could not have come at a more perfect time as I navigate this exact process with my own kids. Here's what we cover: The story of how a painful conversation with a high school counselor turned Shellee into "the mom on a mission" who started College ReadyWhy getting into college and getting out without debt are actually two separate goals, and why families need a plan for bothThe number one thing colleges want to know about your teen, and why so many teens genuinely can't answer itWhy college should be thought of as a stepping stone to adulthood rather than the end goal, and how that reframe changes everythingWhy picking a major before picking a college (not after) can save families tens of thousands of dollarsThe four "buckets" of college money, including one of the most overlooked sources of fundingHow independent scholarships work, why kids as young as fourth grade can start applying, and how this strategy can help close the "gap" even after a student has already committed to a schoolWhat one step to take this week if you're feeling behind or overwhelmed about the college processThis episode is for any parent who wants to help their teen find their best-fit college and walk away with real scholarship money, without draining their own retirement to get there. Shellee Howard Links Free 30-Minute College Clarity Call a gift to listeners  www.collegereadyplan.info Free Resources — 7 tools you can use at no cost, including help finding your child's core values and calculating your student aid index www.collegereadyplan.com/resources Nonprofit: Empower Education www.empowereducation.world Books: How To Send Your Student To College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money amazon.com/dp/1546749624 The College Admissions PLAN Simplified: A Busy Parent's P.L.A.N. to a Debt-Free Degree amazon.com/dp/B0DQ48NLLV Connect with Jasmyne: Instagram: @jasmyne.guidedpassages 🔗https://guided-passages.com/

    Ep 50. How to Send Your Kid to College Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Money) with Shellee Howard
See All (57)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Parents and Teens Rising, the podcast where we dive deep into the challenges and triumphs of raising teens and young adults in today’s world. Hosted by Teen and Parent coach Jasmyne Chandler, this show is all about empowering parents, teens, and young adults to step into confidence, connection, and courage.Through practical tools, real conversations, and inspiring stories, you’ll learn how to build stronger relationships, support your teen’s authenticity, and navigate everything from anxiety and self-esteem to purpose and independence.Whether your teen feels stuck, stressed, or simply different from the “norm,” this podcast will help you show up with more clarity, compassion, and confidence—while giving your teen the tools they need to rise.

Information

You Might Also Like