Parenting Shrink Wrapped

Samantha Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner

Parenting Shrink Wrapped is your all-access pass to the wild and wonderful journey of raising kids! Hosted by Dr. Melissa Wellner, a double board-certified psychiatrist and child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Samantha Straub, a licensed therapist, educator, and parenting coach, this dynamic duo brings a perfect mix of professional expertise and mom humor. With five kids between them—and thousands more they’ve supported in their professional roles—they’re here to share practical strategies and real-life stories that will help you navigate everything from tantrums to teen drama. Whether you're handling sleepless nights or the chaos of carpool, you'll find relatable advice and a good laugh along the way. Strap in, because parenting is a ride, and we're here to make it a little smoother!

  1. 5d ago ·  Video

    Is It Okay to Lie to Your Kids? Privacy, Honesty, and Trust

    Send us Fan Mail Do parents need to tell their children everything? Dr. Melissa Wellner opens this episode with a confession: She and her husband took a secret trip to Hawaii while their children were visiting their grandparents. Their “Operation Secret Getaway” sparks a candid conversation with Sam Straub about privacy, honesty, and the uncomfortable reactions parents sometimes try to avoid. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa explore how developmental readiness shapes what children need to know, why teens notice double standards, and how to hold boundaries without making up excuses. They also discuss the importance of owning your choices when your family discovers you haven’t been truthful. In this episode: • The difference between keeping adult information private and being dishonest. • Considering whether information affects your teen’s safety, security, or daily life. • Asking whether you’re protecting your teen or avoiding their reaction. • Letting your teen feel disappointed without abandoning an honest boundary. • Taking responsibility instead of adding another lie. Contact: parentingshrinkwrapped@gmail.com Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes. Follow: Sam – Instagram & Facebook Melissa – Facebook Work with Us: Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass. Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos. Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.

    Is It Okay to Lie to Your Kids? Privacy, Honesty, and Trust
  2. Oct 26 ·  Video

    Celebrating 100 Episodes of Parenting Shrink Wrapped: A Look Behind the Microphone

    Send us Fan Mail One hundred episodes, countless conversations, and plenty of unexpected tangents! Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner celebrate the 100th episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped by taking listeners behind the scenes. They revisit their beginnings around one microphone, memorable guests and conversations, technology mishaps, and the shared-inbox habits that don’t quite match. At the heart of the celebration is gratitude for the listeners who have made the show part of their lives. Sam and Melissa reflect on the messages they hope have come through across these first 100 episodes: parents can be knowledgeable and imperfect, relationships need repair, and warmth can work alongside clear boundaries. They also share their hopes for the future—and invite you to help the community keep growing. IN THIS EPISODE: • The conversation that helped launch the podcast. • Four hours of work for their first 17-minute episode. • Recording mishaps and memorable Sam tangents. • Favorite conversations from the first 100 episodes. • Their biggest disagreement: starred versus unread email. • Authenticity, connection, and the parenting lessons they keep returning to. • A thank-you to longtime listeners and a welcome to new ones. CELEBRATE WITH US: Share the show with a parent who could use some support, revisit an earlier episode, and let us know which conversation has stayed with you. Thank you for raising the next generation of world changers. We’ll see you for episode 101! Contact: parentingshrinkwrapped@gmail.com Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes. Follow: Sam – Instagram & Facebook Melissa – Facebook Work with Us: Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass. Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos. Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.

    Celebrating 100 Episodes of Parenting Shrink Wrapped: A Look Behind the Microphone
  3. Oct 19 ·  Video

    Separation Anxiety in Kids: How to Offer Comfort and Build Confidence

    Send us Fan Mail Separation anxiety doesn’t always look like a young child clinging at drop-off. For teenagers, it may show up as constant texting, repeated requests for reassurance, or difficulty participating in overnight trips and other experiences away from home. In this episode, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner explore what parents can notice–and why it matters to understand the worry underneath the behavior. The co-hosts discuss pairing validation with confidence, keeping goodbyes warm and predictable, and planning communication before a separation. They also explore the parent’s side of the experience and when additional support can help. IN THIS EPISODE: • Considering intensity, duration, developmental stage, and impact on daily life. • Recognizing possible separation-related worries in teens without jumping to conclusions. • Understanding the repeated-reassurance loop. • Offering comfort while holding appropriate boundaries. • Practicing manageable separations and discussing check-ins. • Knowing when to seek support for your teen—or yourself. This Episode Is Sponsored by Lovebug Probiotics Parenting is complicated enough. Supporting your family’s gut health doesn’t have to be. This episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped is brought to you by Lovebug Probiotics, a family-focused probiotic brand with options for kids and adults. Lovebug was founded by a mom on a mission. After co-founder Ashley Harris received broad-spectrum antibiotics during the birth of her son, Hudson, she began learning more about the gut microbiome and the role it plays in our overall health. That journey ultimately inspired Lovebug and its line of probiotics for the whole family. Lovebug offers several kid-friendly options, including infant and toddler drops and powers, and chewables for older kids, as well as adult formulas including Advanced Strength, Immune Support, Mood Support, and blends made JUST for women.* Whether you’re looking for a probiotic for your kids or want to give your own gut a little more attention, you can explore Lovebug’s different formulas and find the option that best fits your family’s needs. Ready to find your Lovebug? Visit here: https://lovebug.com/ Shop Lovebug Probiotics and use code WRAPPED20 for 20% off your first order. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Read the companion blog here Follow Parenting Shrink Wrapped so you don’t miss an episode, and share this conversation with a parent who could use some support. Contact: parentingshrinkwrapped@gmail.com Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes. Follow: Sam – Instagram & Facebook Melissa – Facebook Work with Us: Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass. Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos. Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.

    Separation Anxiety in Kids: How to Offer Comfort and Build Confidence
  4. Oct 12 ·  Video

    How Your Childhood Shows Up in Your Parenting

    Send us Fan Mail You may know what you want to do differently from your own parents. But what happens when that determination becomes pressure to get everything right? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner welcome Julianna Burmesch, author of Life with Less of Me. Julianna shares how a childhood marked by abuse and neglect shaped her experience of motherhood, including her efforts to be a perfect parent and the self-blame she carried when things went wrong. Together, they explore the relationship patterns we bring into adulthood, the experience of seeing other families respond differently, and the support Julianna sought while writing her memoir. This is a conversation about painful experiences, honest reflection, and the possibility of continuing to learn. INSIDE THIS EPISODE: • How childhood experiences can shape expectations about conflict, mistakes, and parenting. • Why doing things differently doesn’t require becoming a perfect parent. • What Julianna learned from watching a family calmly handle spilled milk. • Recognizing the negative messages we give ourselves when parenting is difficult. • Julianna’s experience of trauma therapy and finding a way to tell her story. About Julianna Julianna Burmesch is a former school principal, speech pathologist, early brain development trainer, parent educator, and child advocate. In writing her memoir, “Life with Less of Me” (Books Fluent, June 23, 2026), she wants to help people understand the effects of adverse childhood experiences and unresolved trauma on one's long-term physical and mental health. Julianna is a mother, grandmother, potter, and occasional jewelry artist. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, John, and her beautiful dogs, Bella and Ruby.  Contact: parentingshrinkwrapped@gmail.com Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes. Follow: Sam – Instagram & Facebook Melissa – Facebook Work with Us: Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass. Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos. Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.

    How Your Childhood Shows Up in Your Parenting
  5. Oct 5 ·  Video

    When Their Hearts Break: Helping Kids Through Social Setbacks, Rejection & Breakups

    Send us Fan Mail Your kid gets dumped. Their best friend stops speaking to them. They aren't invited. Or suddenly they're on the outside of the friend group looking in. What should you do? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner tackle one of the hardest parts of parenting: watching your child experience rejection. Sam and Melissa talk about why social rejection can feel enormous to kids and teens, even when adults know the situation probably won't matter years from now. They explain why minimizing the pain doesn't build resilience and why immediately jumping in to fix the situation can sometimes make things worse. You'll hear practical strategies for helping kids identify and tolerate difficult emotions, navigate school and social situations after a rejection, fill the empty spaces left behind after a breakup, and begin separating "I was rejected" from "I am unworthy." They also discuss when parents should step in and the mental health warning signs that may indicate your child needs additional support. In This Episode: Why rejection hits kids and teens so hardSocial exclusion and friendship dramaTeenage romantic breakupsWhy minimizing their feelings backfiresThe difference between validating and pityingWhy calling the other parent is usually not the answerHelping your child plan for school after rejectionBreakups and the grieving processHelping teens fill the holes left in their routineBuilding emotional resilienceSeparating rejection from self-worthWarning signs that your child may need additional helpHow parents can manage their own emotions when their child is hurtingHave an episode idea or follow-up question? Sam and Melissa would love to hear from you at ParentingShrinkWrapped@gmail.com. We love you. We love your kids. Thank you for raising the next generation of world changers. Contact: parentingshrinkwrapped@gmail.com Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes. Follow: Sam – Instagram & Facebook Melissa – Facebook Work with Us: Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass. Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos. Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.

    When Their Hearts Break: Helping Kids Through Social Setbacks, Rejection & Breakups
  6. Sep 28 ·  Video

    When Childhood and Teen Depression Doesn’t Look Like Sadness

    Send us Fan Mail Teen depression doesn’t always look like sadness. Sometimes it looks like anger, irritability, talking back, stomachaches, withdrawal, not doing schoolwork, or a teenager who simply doesn’t seem like themselves. So how can parents tell the difference between typical teenage ups and downs and something that may need more attention? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner are joined by Jennifer Williams, LCPC, PMH-C, licensed therapist and author of If My Depression Had a Name. Jennifer explains why teens may struggle to find the words to describe depression and how emotional distress often shows up through behavior instead. She also shares practical ways parents can create connection without forcing a conversation and why slowing down before reacting can help us see what may be happening underneath a teen’s behavior. We also talk about the very understandable parental urge to fix uncomfortable feelings. Buying something new, planning a fun outing, or reminding your teen about everything they have to be grateful for may provide a temporary boost, but those things don’t treat depression. Sometimes what teens need most is permission to feel what they’re feeling and a parent who can stay present with them while they do. In this episode, we discuss: Signs of teen depression that parents may overlookWhy depression can show up as anger and irritabilityHow behavior can communicate emotional distressWhy parents should slow down before reactingHow to connect when your teen answers every question with “fine”Why you don’t always have to fix sadnessHow a parent’s own emotions can influence their responseHelping teens develop language for difficult feelingsJennifer’s book, If My Depression Had a NameJennifer’s book is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you read the book, be sure to leave a review! About Jennifer: Jennifer C. Williams is a licensed therapist, perinatal mental health specialist, certified parental leave coach, and mom of two boys in the DC metro area. She helps parents and couples move from stress and disconnection back to calm and closeness through her virtual therapy practice, Pass Go! Therapy and Coaching. She is also the author of the children's book If My Depression Had a Name, which gives kids ages 9 to 15 the words to name hard feelings. Through her family brand, SONshines and Playtime, Jennifer shows parents that family experiences around travel, play, and mental wellness can bring joy and adventure to any home. Jennifer also moderates the Anxious Introverted Moms group on Facebook, to give moms a space to discuss everyday parenting wins and challenges.  Contact: parentingshrinkwrapped@gmail.com Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes. Follow: Sam – Instagram & Facebook Melissa – Facebook Work with Us: Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass. Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos. Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.

    When Childhood and Teen Depression Doesn’t Look Like Sadness
  7. Sep 21 ·  Video

    How to Support Your LGBTQ+ Child Without Having All the Answers

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when your child comes out and you're not sure what to say, what to do, or even how you feel yet? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner welcome Heather Hester, author of Parenting with Pride and host of More Human, More Kind, for an honest conversation about supporting LGBTQ+ children while navigating the very real learning process parents may experience themselves. Heather shares how her work began after her son came out as gay at almost 17. After he disappeared from home one freezing Chicago night, he finally called Heather and tearfully told her, "Mom, I'm gay." Her immediate response was, "Thank God, I thought you were dead." That moment began a journey of learning and unlearning that ultimately changed not only her son’s life, but Heather's and her entire family's. Together, Heather, Sam, and Melissa discuss what children may experience before coming out, why parents don't need to understand everything immediately, and how staying curious and connected can preserve the relationship even through uncertainty. In This Episode Heather's son's unforgettable coming-out storyWhat kids may experience before coming outWhy coming out requires tremendous trust and courageHow parents can respond when they're caught off guardSupporting children who are questioning their identityWhy "believe your child" mattersSexual orientation vs. gender identityWhy children shouldn't be responsible for educating their parentsRecognizing when fear is driving your parentingExamining unconscious beliefs and biasesStaying present through uncomfortable conversationsWhy apologizing and trying again strengthens parent-teen relationshipsLetting go of perfect parentingAbout Heather Hester Heather Hester is the author of Parenting with Pride and host of the three-time Women in Podcasting award-winning podcast More Human, More Kind. She is a speaker, writer, coach, and consultant who helps parents, allies, and organizations move from fear toward understanding, connection, and love. Heather lives outside Chicago with her husband, four children, and one very opinionated Bernedoodle. Learn more at HeatherHester.net or listen to More Human, More Kind, where Heather has more than 300 episodes exploring these conversations.  Be sure to grab Heather’s free resource: Panic to Plan Contact: parentingshrinkwrapped@gmail.com Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes. Follow: Sam – Instagram & Facebook Melissa – Facebook Work with Us: Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass. Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos. Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.

    How to Support Your LGBTQ+ Child Without Having All the Answers
  8. Sep 14 ·  Video

    Building Confidence in Teens

    Send us Fan Mail What actually builds confidence in teens? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk with Jasmyne Chandler, trauma-informed life coach and founder of Guided Passages, about why meaningful challenges, mentorship, nature, and rites of passage can be so powerful for teenagers. Jasmyne shares how her wilderness programs give teens opportunities to disconnect from technology, push themselves physically, reflect on who they are becoming, and experience being truly seen and heard by both peers and adults. The conversation also explores why praise alone doesn't create confidence, the self-criticism many teens carry, why adolescents naturally seek novelty and risk, and how parents can give kids safe opportunities to stretch themselves. In This Episode: Why doing hard things helps teens develop real confidenceWhat a modern rite of passage can look likeWhy teens need opportunities to be taken seriouslyHow being heard and witnessed affects teen connectionSelf-hatred, comparison, and negative self-talk among teensWhy successful and high-achieving teens aren't immuneHow nature and time away from devices can create space for reflectionWhy teenagers naturally seek novelty, challenge, and increasing independenceHow safe challenges can provide an alternative to unhealthy risk-takingWays parents can create meaningful growth experiences without a wilderness tripJasmyne offers one-on-one virtual coaching for tweens, teens, and young adults ages 12–24, along with in-person programs and wilderness experiences through Guided Passages. About Jasmyne Jasmyne Chandler is an International Coaching Federation Certified, Trauma-Informed Professional Life Coach for teens, young adults, and parents. She is also the mom of two teens and has spent the past 17 years working with young people as a high school teacher, GED instructor and advisor, life coach, council facilitator, and wilderness rites of passage guide. She is the founder of Guided Passages, which offers youth programs, wilderness rites of passage trips, and life coaching for teens, young adults, and parents in Southern Oregon and beyond. Her work focuses on supporting teens, young adults, and their parents through additional guidance, mentorship, and encouragement to help shift stuck energy, negative self-talk, and disconnection so they can better embrace and accept who they are, move toward positive change, and create the lives and relationships they truly desire. Connect with Guided Passages: guided-passages.com Get Jasmyne’s free resource: 5 Steps to Minimize Teen Anxiety Contact: parentingshrinkwrapped@gmail.com Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes. Follow: Sam – Instagram & Facebook Melissa – Facebook Work with Us: Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass. Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos. Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.

    Building Confidence in Teens
5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Parenting Shrink Wrapped is your all-access pass to the wild and wonderful journey of raising kids! Hosted by Dr. Melissa Wellner, a double board-certified psychiatrist and child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Samantha Straub, a licensed therapist, educator, and parenting coach, this dynamic duo brings a perfect mix of professional expertise and mom humor. With five kids between them—and thousands more they’ve supported in their professional roles—they’re here to share practical strategies and real-life stories that will help you navigate everything from tantrums to teen drama. Whether you're handling sleepless nights or the chaos of carpool, you'll find relatable advice and a good laugh along the way. Strap in, because parenting is a ride, and we're here to make it a little smoother!

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