181 episodes

Raising kids can be a bumpy, stressful, and uncertain process – which is why Dr. Lisa Damour is here to help. The author of bestsellers Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers brings her sane, informed, and practical perspective to your timely and timeless parenting questions. Co-host and journalist Reena Ninan, a former White House and foreign correspondent, gets the answers parents need. In each episode, Dr. Lisa and Reena blend expert knowledge with their experience and struggles as parents themselves to tackle real-life questions sent in by listeners.

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting Dr. Lisa Damour/Good Trouble Productions

    • Kids & Family
    • 4.8 • 620 Ratings

Raising kids can be a bumpy, stressful, and uncertain process – which is why Dr. Lisa Damour is here to help. The author of bestsellers Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers brings her sane, informed, and practical perspective to your timely and timeless parenting questions. Co-host and journalist Reena Ninan, a former White House and foreign correspondent, gets the answers parents need. In each episode, Dr. Lisa and Reena blend expert knowledge with their experience and struggles as parents themselves to tackle real-life questions sent in by listeners.

    178: Encore: My Son and his Friends Use Slurs. Can I Stop This?

    178: Encore: My Son and his Friends Use Slurs. Can I Stop This?

    A mother writes in about the fact that her teen son and his friends - who come from a mix of racial, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds - "jokingly" use slurs. Does she have the power to stop this? Dr. Lisa and Reena explore what's driving the rise in hateful language and what adults can do to address this hurtful behavior. Reena asks whether it's realistic for adults to think they can change the dynamics that unfold when teens are with their friends. Dr. Lisa offers advice on how to guide teenagers toward acting with empathy and respect.

    Follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can see all our latest video episodes: https://youtube.com/@asklisapodcast
    And follow us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn @AskLisaPodcast, @Lisa.Damour, @ReenaNinan.
    Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources: https://www.drlisadamour.com/

    Ask Lisa is produced by: https://www.goodtroubleproductions.com
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    • 29 min
    177: Encore: My Teen Is into Sports Betting. Help!

    177: Encore: My Teen Is into Sports Betting. Help!

    With online betting now legal in most states, sports coverage is increasingly saturated with commentary focussed on betting and ads for gambling apps. Teens are noticing - and some of them are getting in on the action. It's increasingly easy and common for teens to bet on sports and, at times, to lose large sums of money. Dr. Lisa and Reena address how teens find ways to place bets, why they want to, and what parents and caregivers need to know if they have a teen who might be interested in sports betting. Dr. Lisa lays out the psychological science explaining why gambling can be addictive and offers guidance on how to talk with teens about the potential dangers of sports betting.  

    Follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can see all our latest video episodes: https://youtube.com/@asklisapodcast
    And follow us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn @AskLisaPodcast, @Lisa.Damour, @ReenaNinan.
    Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources: https://www.drlisadamour.com/

    Ask Lisa is produced by: https://www.goodtroubleproductions.com
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 33 min
    176: Encore: My Child is Turning Into a Teenager. How Do I Handle It?

    176: Encore: My Child is Turning Into a Teenager. How Do I Handle It?

    When kids hit thirteen they often become highly emotional. What happens in the brain and the body during this time? Dr. Lisa explains and also talks about the process of "separation-individuation" where young people seek to define their own identities - often by being hard on their folks.
    Parents sometimes assume that age thirteen is the beginning of adolescence. But is it really? And how can you help a tween or teen who's having an emotional meltdown? Dr. Lisa has good news: the intensity of early adolescence doesn’t last forever and there are effective things parents can do to manage bumpy moments with their teen.

    Follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can see all our latest video episodes: https://youtube.com/@asklisapodcast
    And follow us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn @AskLisaPodcast, @Lisa.Damour, @ReenaNinan.
    Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources: https://www.drlisadamour.com/

    Ask Lisa is produced by: https://www.goodtroubleproductions.com
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 31 min
    175: Encore: Should I Track My Teen’s Location?

    175: Encore: Should I Track My Teen’s Location?

    It’s easy to track kids using cell phone technology. But is it a good idea to do so? Today's technology allows us to know a lot more about our kids than our parents ever knew about us. While parents might track their teens for supervision and safety reasons, teens often long for more independence and privacy than tracking allows. Dr. Lisa explains why this tension is an expectable, healthy part of adolescent development and unpacks two key questions: What, exactly, does tracking accomplish? And does it really help to keep teens safe? Reena asks about the downsides of tracking a teen’s location and Dr. Lisa lays out the tricky scenarios she's encountered in her practice. 

    Follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can see all our latest video episodes: https://youtube.com/@asklisapodcast
    And follow us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn @AskLisaPodcast, @Lisa.Damour, @ReenaNinan.
    Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources: https://www.drlisadamour.com/

    Ask Lisa is produced by: https://www.goodtroubleproductions.com
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 30 min
    174: The Making of "Inside Out 2"

    174: The Making of "Inside Out 2"

    Dr. Lisa and Reena explore the making of Disney-Pixar's "Inside Out 2" with special guest, Dr. Dacher Keltner, a UC Berkeley psychologist renowned for his research on emotions. The discussion begins with Lisa explaining her role in the film, highlighting how Riley, now 13, navigates the new emotions of adolescence. Dr. Keltner shares insights on selecting the original five emotions and introduces the sequel's new characters: Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui. Dr. Lisa draws on her expertise in adolescent anxiety to discuss how the character of Anxiety is portrayed in the film. Dr. Keltner delves into the significance of awe and his research findings in this area. The episode concludes with an exploration of the emotional complexities of adolescence and the cultural impact of "Inside Out 2," offering important takeaways for both parents and teens. This is the Ask Lisa podcast movie of the summer - you'll want to share it with the whole family!

    Follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can see all our latest video episodes: https://youtube.com/@asklisapodcast
    And follow us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn @AskLisaPodcast, @Lisa.Damour, @ReenaNinan.
    Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources: https://www.drlisadamour.com/

    Ask Lisa is produced by: https://www.goodtroubleproductions.com
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 34 min
    173: S.U.N.: Lisa's Three Keys to a Happy Summer

    173: S.U.N.: Lisa's Three Keys to a Happy Summer

    How can families make the most of their summer? Dr. Lisa says it’s all about the S.U.N.: "S" for sleep, "U" for unplugging, and “N" for nature. Dr. Lisa and Reena explore why it's essential to find time during the summer months to rest, disconnect, and spend time outdoors. They offer practical tips for family digital detoxes. Their conversation unpacks the research on the psychological benefits of being around nature and how summer offers the perfect opportunity to embrace it all. Dr. Lisa also explains the importance of scheduling, planning, and maintaining routines to help carry these habits into the fall.

    Follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can see all our latest video episodes: https://youtube.com/@asklisapodcast
    And follow us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn @AskLisaPodcast, @Lisa.Damour, @ReenaNinan.
    Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources: https://www.drlisadamour.com/

    Ask Lisa is produced by: https://www.goodtroubleproductions.com
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 31 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
620 Ratings

620 Ratings

BleuBijou ,

Love Lisa’s perspective and tools

Hi there, Brian so glad to find this podcast as I have read the emotionalize of teenagers and untangled twice now to tune up what I have learned and will be listening to this podcast every week. I do have a question if anybody can address if there is a podcast spec to helping teens deal with a tormentor in their friend group. And all suggestions are welcome.

Nieztejziemi ,

Eye opener. Relatable

I value Dr. Lisa’s voice because it is always spot on and backed up by research.

mrsamandamk ,

I tell everyone about Lisa Damour!

After reading untangled about four times, I stumbled across this podcast. I was thrilled to continue to get nuggets of wisdom from Dr. Lisa. There is truly no one who understands the young mind (especially during the transition through puberty and teen years) as she does! The only reason I took a star off is Lisa and the cohost both whisper-talk. It’s really distracting! This is my problem, not theirs, but I want to throw my phone across the room sometimes.🤣

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