Parenting Teenagers Untangled

Rachel Richards
  • 5.0 (25)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

If you've found yourself wondering why is my teenager suddenly so angry? How much screen time is too much? Should I take their phone away at night? Why have they lost all motivation? What do I do about vaping, friendship problems, anxiety, parties, dating, exams… or a teenager who simply won’t talk to me? You're in the right place. This podcast helps you become a Fearless Parent: One who fears less and wonders more. Whatever the problem, message us and we'll either discuss it on the podcast or let you know which episode is best for you because there’s a very good chance we’ve already talked about it on this podcast. Teenagers Untangled has a huge and growing library of episodes covering the questions, worries and challenges that come with raising tweens and teenagers. Rather than scrolling through hundreds of episodes trying to find the right one, use the search bar to search for what’s happening in your family right now. How to search: Simply type a keyword or short phrase into the search box. Try things like: anger • anxiety • phones • motivation • sleep • ADHD • vaping • alcohol • friendship • school • exams • lying • boundaries • consequences • social media • first love • university • leaving home You can also try different words if your first search doesn’t bring up exactly what you need. For example, if you’re worried about your teenager being rude, you might also search respect, anger, conflict or communication. The search will bring up relevant Teenagers Untangled episodes so you can go straight to the conversations that are most useful to you. Think of it as a parenting database, So don't feel you need to start with our newest episode — start with your question. And if I haven't covered your question yet, tell me. Some of my best episodes begin with a question from a parent just like you. Whatever stage you're at, you don't have to figure it all out from scratch. Chances are, we've already started untangling it. For those of you who want to read my thoughts beyond the podcast, or who just want to help me feel like the pebbles I have dropped in the ocean of life are making a difference, why not join my community on Substack?  You’ll get one-to-one support and printable PDF’s that give you the top tips from each podcast episode so you have your own little, bespoke manual. COMMUNITY: I’ll be offering regular extras, including tips and thoughts, that help you tune into what matters. NOTES: So many listeners say they have rewound the episodes to write down notes, well now there’s no need. Paid subscribers will have a weekly, downloadable, summary of the top tips from each episode, so you don’t have to take notes. Please let me know if there are any old episodes for which you’d like the notes. I’m very happy to supply them.

  1. 15h ago ·  Video

    School Refusal, EBSA, and Teen Burnout: The Parent's Guide with Dr Naomi Fisher

    Ask Rachel anything What’s behind a teenager’s struggle to get to school—and how can parents help without turning every morning into a battle? In this episode, journalist and host Rachel Richards talks with clinical psychologist Dr. Naomi Fisher, author of The Teenagers’ Guide to Taking Control of Your Education, about school avoidance, burnout, demand avoidance, and the questions parents often have about autism and ADHD. Drawing on her own experience of struggling at school and decades of work with young people and families, Naomi challenges us to look beyond labels and ask what a teen is experiencing, what support they need, and how parents can work alongside them. They also explore the importance of connection, curiosity, and making room for young people to take an active role in their learning. In this episode, you’ll learn: What may be behind school avoidance—and how to look for specific school-day stressors rather than assuming a child is simply refusing.How to work with your teen, not against them, while still acknowledging that education needs to happen.What burnout can look like and why stepping back may help some teenagers recover.How to think about demand avoidance and autism or ADHD diagnoses without letting labels replace curiosity about what a young person needs.Why following a teen’s interests and repairing your connection matter—especially when school has become a source of conflict.For more detailed notes and help on this go to my Fearless Parenting Substack  Support the show Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.  You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.  Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits. Find all the tips from the episode on Substack:  My email teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me Instagram Facebook

    School Refusal, EBSA, and Teen Burnout: The Parent's Guide with Dr Naomi Fisher

  2. Sep 30 ·  Video

    Cancel Culture: Helping Your Teen Handle Disagreement and Exclusion

    Ask Rachel anything Has your teenager come home upset because their friends have suddenly turned against them? Or have you heard that your child is part of a group chat where everyone is being urged to stop talking to someone? When a friendship conflict spreads through a whole group—and onto social media—it can be hard for parents to know what to say, when to step in, and how to help without making things worse. In this episode of Teenagers Untangled, I’m joined by Dr Dominique Thompson, a physician and expert in supporting young people, to explore why teenagers can be so quick to exclude someone, and why it can feel so difficult to stand apart from the group. We talk about the role of peer pressure, black-and-white thinking and social media—and the difference between challenging hurtful behavior and shaming someone. If your child is being ostracized, you’ll hear how to support them, work with the school and help them find other sources of connection. And if you’re worried your teen might be joining in, we discuss how to start a conversation that encourages empathy without simply lecturing or blaming them. We’ll also share practical ways to make home a safe place for difficult conversations—and a simple question that might help a young person pause before they join a pile-on. If this piece has raised anything difficult for you or your child, Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123 (UK). If you want to read Rachel's expanded thoughts on this topic, click here Dr Dominique Thompson Support the show Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.  You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.  Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits. Find all the tips from the episode on Substack:  My email teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me Instagram Facebook

    Cancel Culture: Helping Your Teen Handle Disagreement and Exclusion

  3. Sep 27 ·  Bonus Video

    Are we parents too soft on our teens or too hard on ourselves? Weekend Wonder Room

    Ask Rachel anything It’s one thing hearing what experts think, but I’m always left wondering how their advice translates into the real life of a parent. If you’re wondering too then you’re going to love this chat between Katharine Radice and me. In it, we discuss what was said in my interviews with Dr Leonard Sax and Dr Tara Porter.  Basically we cover the reality of setting healthy boundaries around gaming and phones, talking with teens about online risks, choosing supportive schools, mentors & building trust, confidence, and independence—without chasing perfection. Don’t forget to tell us what you think. What helped and what advice deserves to go in the bin? Links mentioned in the show: Rachel Richards website & SubstackKatharine Radice website & SubstackDr. Tara PorterDr. Leonard SaxBrendan Kwiatkowski Melanie SandersonMalcolm GladwellEileen GuAngela DuckworthMitchell OsmondDr. David Yaeger Support the show Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.  You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.  Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits. Find all the tips from the episode on Substack:  My email teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me Instagram Facebook

    Are we parents too soft on our teens or too hard on ourselves? Weekend Wonder Room

  4. Sep 23 ·  Video

    Motivating Boys in a World of Gaming, AI & Porn.

    Ask Rachel anything If your son seems apathetic, glued to gaming, or strangely unbothered by school, you are not alone, and you are not imagining it. I decided to create this discussion because I have been contacted by so many parents about the lacklustre attitudes they are seeing in their sons, looking for advice on what to do. Around the world, boys are falling behind academically, drifting socially, and retreating into screens. Meanwhile, girls are outstripping boys at school and university, and often hiding their own struggles under high achievement (a topic I recently covered both here with Dr Tara Porter and here with Dr Suzanne Garfinkle-Crowell.) In this episode, I talk to Dr Leonard Sax—family physician, psychologist, and author of Boys Adrift and Why Gender Matters—about why so many boys are losing motivation and the practical things parents can do about it, starting now. You’ll learn: What’s really going on with boys today and why we should all care, because this isn’t just a schooling issue; it’s a future-partner, future-father, future-society issue.How modern schooling can switch boys off.Gaming: when it’s harmless and when it’s stealing your son’s life, including clear, research-backed limits and rules you can put in place at home.ADHD or something else? The hidden role of sleep and screens.Masculinity, role models, and “good men” in a disrespectful culture.Porn, AI “girlfriends”, and the pull away from real relationships.Most importantly: how to pull your son back into real life.Dr Sax published his first version of this book twenty years ago and the issues it described; falling male achievement, rising screen immersion, AI companions, and collapsing couple relationships, are accelerating rather than levelling off. The habits and boundaries we choose while our sons are still at home may shape not just his grades, but his ability to form healthy relationships, be a good partner and father, and build a life he cares about in the real world. If you’re worried about an unmotivated, gaming-obsessed, or emotionally flat son, this conversation will give you clarity, language, and concrete steps you can start using today. Don’t forget to share this with anyone who is struggling with the issues or who might find it helpful. Link to my Substack where you can find all of the notes and a handy PDF cheat sheet for parenting Support the show Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.  You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.  Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits. Find all the tips from the episode on Substack:  My email teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me Instagram Facebook

    Motivating Boys in a World of Gaming, AI & Porn.

  5. Sep 16 ·  Video

    Stressed About Parenting Your Teen? Reduce Perfectionism

    Ask Rachel anything Are you trying so hard to be a good parent that you might be doing too much for your tween or teen, and accidentally making life harder for both of you? In this episode of Parenting Teenagers Untangled, Rachel Richards talks with clinical psychologist and author Dr. Tara Porter about her new book "Good Enough" and why good enough parenting is actually the best kind of parenting. Drawing on more than 25 years working in adolescent mental health, Tara explains how so many teens—whatever their diagnosis—secretly feel they are not “enough”: not clever enough, organized enough, pretty enough, or successful enough. She links this to a wider achievement-obsessed culture, fueled by: An education system caught in a “grade arms race”Social media’s like-and-kudos economyThe professionalization of parenting and the tsunami of advice aimed at parentsAgainst this backdrop, Tara shares her three core principles of good enough parenting: A good enough attitude – Letting go of perfection, resisting the urge to optimize every aspect of your child’s life, and accepting that zigzags and setbacks are normal.Relationship-based parenting – Prioritizing connection over outcomes, being “like wallpaper” in the background: present, warm, and available without crowding them or trying to control everything.Firm and kind boundaries – Finding the balance between warmth and firmness (authoritative parenting), gradually letting go of authority through the teen years so that by adulthood, your child is guided by their own internal compass, not your rules.Rachel and Tara explore: Rescuing vs building resilienceTwo common struggle patterns in teensThe perfectionist achiever The rebellious non-complier How to set boundaries that still protect the relationshipBetter conversations with teens Tara’s two key listening tools:Empathy – stepping into your teen’s perspective, so they feel genuinely understood.Curiosity – asking open questions rather than jumping in with solutions.Rachel adds the idea of “LUFU – Listen Until they Feel Understood”, and both discuss why advice rarely lands until a teen first feels deeply heard.Mental health labels vs hope and growthRachel's personal blog on getting the balance right  Dr Tara Porter Support the show Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.  You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.  Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits. Find all the tips from the episode on Substack:  My email teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me Instagram Facebook

    Stressed About Parenting Your Teen? Reduce Perfectionism

  6. Sep 13 ·  Bonus Video

    A Better Way for Parents to talk to Teens About Screen Time: Fear Less & Wonder More

    Ask Rachel anything We’re living through an age where it can feel like our teenagers’ entire lives are happening behind a screen we can’t see.  Meanwhile mental health problems in teens are a rising problem that is being blamed on their devices.  The instinctive response for many of us is to clamp down: ban certain apps, monitor every move, or take away devices altogether. But as Professor Candice Odgers put it so powerfully: “You can’t ban your way out of a mental health crisis. You have to build instead.” In this Wonder Room conversation Katharine Radice and I explore how parents can move beyond panic about phones and toward curious, constructive conversations that help teens feel safe enough to be honest. These are some of the core things we cover in this episode: Shifting focus from the phone to the child Phone use is often a symptom of underlying distress or needs, not the core problem.Moving from monitoring to understanding Hours and apps matter less than the quality of your teen’s relationship with their online world and how it makes them feel.Creating conditions for honesty instead of forcing lies Avoid loaded, judgmental questions and big emotional reactions that make teens hide or lie about what they’re doing online.Naming the role of algorithms and external forces Ask “What is the algorithm feeding you?” to shift some responsibility away from the teen and toward the tech design, making honest conversations safer.Scaffolding self-reflection and self-regulation Use curious questions (“Are you stuck?”, “Any surprises in your screen time?”) to help teens build lifelong skills in reviewing and adjusting their own digital habits.For my Fearless Parenting community members I have gathered the key ideas and given you practical questions you can use tonight with your teen. Katherine has a Substack full of help and ideas for parents of teenagers Support the show Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.  You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.  Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits. Find all the tips from the episode on Substack:  My email teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me Instagram Facebook

    A Better Way for Parents to talk to Teens About Screen Time: Fear Less & Wonder More

  7. Sep 9 ·  Video

    Banning Social Media Won't Work: How Parents Can Actually Help Teens

    Ask Rachel anything Are smartphones and social media really damaging our teenagers’ mental health – or are we looking in the wrong place? In this episode, Rachel Richards talks with Professor Candice Odgers, a leading expert on adolescent mental health in the digital age, to unpack what decades of research actually show about teens, tech and wellbeing. We explore why today’s teenagers are doing better than many headlines suggest, the real size of the link between phones, social media, anxiety and depression, and why offline risks are the biggest predictors of online problems. Candice explains how family stress, academic pressure, inequality, climate anxiety and adult mental health all play a powerful role in teen distress – and why focusing all our fear on phones can distract us from where we can genuinely make a difference. You’ll hear practical guidance on monitoring vs. connection, how to talk with teens about their online lives without pushing them away, what “ready for a phone” really means, and how social media affects girls and body image. If you feel overwhelmed by scary stories about screens, this conversation will help you move from panic to evidence‑based, compassionate parenting. Candice Odgers  via her website or on Substack My substack: Support the show Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.  You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.  Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits. Find all the tips from the episode on Substack:  My email teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me Instagram Facebook

    Banning Social Media Won't Work: How Parents Can Actually Help Teens

  8. Sep 6 ·  Bonus Video

    Nagging Your Teenager? We Parents Talk Family Routines, in the Wonder Room

    Ask Rachel anything As a teenager, I grew up in a home with almost no routines. No one talked about what needed to happen when, and I remember constantly thinking, “What am I supposed to do now?” Life felt like reinventing the wheel every day. I didn’t feel safe, and I felt a lot of energy went into trying to cope in the chaos. Now, as a parent and host of Teenagers Untangled, I’ve come to see routines not as dreary box‑ticking exercises, but as powerful tools for connection, calm, and joy. In this Wonder Room conversation, I sat down with teacher and parent Katharine Radice to explore how routines, habits, and rituals can serve our teenagers—and us. You can find all of the notes and recommendations made in this bonus episode by clicking here: Sign up for free emails to let you know when a new episode comes out www.teenagersuntangled.com Support the show Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.  You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.  Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits. Find all the tips from the episode on Substack:  My email teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me Instagram Facebook

    Nagging Your Teenager? We Parents Talk Family Routines, in the Wonder Room
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About

If you've found yourself wondering why is my teenager suddenly so angry? How much screen time is too much? Should I take their phone away at night? Why have they lost all motivation? What do I do about vaping, friendship problems, anxiety, parties, dating, exams… or a teenager who simply won’t talk to me? You're in the right place. This podcast helps you become a Fearless Parent: One who fears less and wonders more. Whatever the problem, message us and we'll either discuss it on the podcast or let you know which episode is best for you because there’s a very good chance we’ve already talked about it on this podcast. Teenagers Untangled has a huge and growing library of episodes covering the questions, worries and challenges that come with raising tweens and teenagers. Rather than scrolling through hundreds of episodes trying to find the right one, use the search bar to search for what’s happening in your family right now. How to search: Simply type a keyword or short phrase into the search box. Try things like: anger • anxiety • phones • motivation • sleep • ADHD • vaping • alcohol • friendship • school • exams • lying • boundaries • consequences • social media • first love • university • leaving home You can also try different words if your first search doesn’t bring up exactly what you need. For example, if you’re worried about your teenager being rude, you might also search respect, anger, conflict or communication. The search will bring up relevant Teenagers Untangled episodes so you can go straight to the conversations that are most useful to you. Think of it as a parenting database, So don't feel you need to start with our newest episode — start with your question. And if I haven't covered your question yet, tell me. Some of my best episodes begin with a question from a parent just like you. Whatever stage you're at, you don't have to figure it all out from scratch. Chances are, we've already started untangling it. For those of you who want to read my thoughts beyond the podcast, or who just want to help me feel like the pebbles I have dropped in the ocean of life are making a difference, why not join my community on Substack?  You’ll get one-to-one support and printable PDF’s that give you the top tips from each podcast episode so you have your own little, bespoke manual. COMMUNITY: I’ll be offering regular extras, including tips and thoughts, that help you tune into what matters. NOTES: So many listeners say they have rewound the episodes to write down notes, well now there’s no need. Paid subscribers will have a weekly, downloadable, summary of the top tips from each episode, so you don’t have to take notes. Please let me know if there are any old episodes for which you’d like the notes. I’m very happy to supply them.

Information

  • Creator
    Rachel Richards
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    222
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Parenting Teenagers Untangled
  • Show Website
    Parenting Teenagers Untangled

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