Parenting Shrink Wrapped

Samantha Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

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. 3d ago ·  Video

    Lost Boys: Supporting the Mental Health of Young Men

    Send us Fan Mail Teen boys can be difficult to read, but that doesn't mean they're impossible to reach. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner welcome licensed counselor, Jarrod Hoffman, for an honest conversation about raising adolescent boys in today's world. Together they discuss why boys often become quieter during adolescence, how parents can continue building meaningful relationships through shared experiences, and why curiosity often creates better conversations than constant questioning. They also explore anxiety, gaming, emotional development, and the unique cultural pressures facing young men today. Whether you're parenting a son who's becoming more independent or simply want to better understand adolescent development, this episode offers practical encouragement and strategies you can begin using today. In this episode you'll learn: Why emotional withdrawal is often a normal part of adolescent developmentHow to strengthen your relationship through play and shared interestsWhy lowering expectations can reduce frustration for everyoneThe connection between anxiety, gaming, and isolationPractical ways to support healthy emotional growth in teen boysResources Mentioned Jarrod Hoffman's "Does My Teen Need Therapy?" quizJarrodHoffman.comAbout Jarrod: Jarrod is a licensed professional counselor. He believes that teens are resilient and that parents are valuable. He was a teenage boy himself from 2004-2011. He loves reading books and is still on the fence about Messi or Renaldo. He's experienced many life-changes like his parents divorce when he was 10 and his dad's death when he was 28. He strives to help others find healing from wounds and triumph through suffering.  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 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.

    39 min
  2. When Did Youth Sports Stop Being Fun?

    Jun 29 ·  Video

    When Did Youth Sports Stop Being Fun?

    Send us Fan Mail When did youth sports become so stressful? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Sam Straub welcome communication expert, former collegiate athlete, coach, and author Betsy Butterick for a thoughtful conversation about the evolving world of youth sports and how parents can better support young athletes. From increasingly competitive youth leagues and early sports specialization to social media, recruiting pressure, and the changing relationship between coaches, athletes, and parents, Betsy shares practical insights that extend far beyond the playing field. Together they discuss why today's athletes need connection before correction, how parents can encourage independence instead of overprotection, and why asking more questions instead of giving more answers helps children build confidence and resilience. In this episode, you'll learn: Why youth sports have become increasingly competitiveHow early specialization can impact kids' enjoyment of sportsThe role parents play in shaping the athletic experienceWhy communication is one of the most important coaching skillsHow to help young athletes develop confidence and resiliencePractical ways to support your child without adding pressureWhether you're a parent, coach, teacher, or mentor, this episode offers encouraging, practical advice for helping kids enjoy sports while developing skills they'll carry for the rest of their lives. About Betsy As a former collegiate athlete and coach, Betsy utilizes her background in sport and degree in psychology to proactively help teams and organizations improve the quality of their communication at every level of team. Her work helps people shorten the distance between INTENTION and IMPACT one conversation at a time, and her reach extends beyond sport to parents, educators, and leaders.  Learn more about Betsy Butterick and her new book, Kids These Days: Effective Strategies for Coaching Gen Z...and Beyond, by visiting her website or following her on social media. 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 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.

    42 min
  3. Representation Matters: Helping Neurodivergent Kids Thrive

    Jun 22 ·  Video

    Representation Matters: Helping Neurodivergent Kids Thrive

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Sam Straub sit down with Lynn and Jon Greenberg, the mother-son team behind The Creative Cab Company and the award-winning books Robbie the Dyslexic Taxi and the Airport Adventure and Suzy the ADHD Taxi and the Sightseeing Adventure. Together, they discuss what it's like to raise and advocate for neurodivergent children, the challenges of navigating school systems, and why finding the right environment can be the key to positive change. Jon shares his own experience growing up with dyslexia and how understanding his learning differences became a source of strength rather than shame. Lynn offers encouragement for parents who are fighting to get their children the support they need. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why intelligence and learning differences are not the same thing • How parents can advocate for children with dyslexia and ADHD • Why labels can provide clarity and self-acceptance • The importance of finding the right educational environment About Lynn and Jon Lynn Greenberg has dedicated her life to championing children as a trained attorney, practicing family law and providing pro bono work for kids. When her youngest son Jonathan was diagnosed with dyslexia, Lynn naturally became his advocate, using her skills to develop a road map to success for him. This experience inspired her to support all neurodivergent children. Writing the children’s book "Robby the Dyslexic Taxi and the Airport Adventure" with Jonathan was a natural progression for Lynn, aiming to create characters that neurodivergent children can relate to. Lynn plans to continue creating relatable stories for all children. Jon is an artist with an MFA and is the talented illustrator behind the Creative Cab Company series.  Resources: The Creative Cab Company:  https://creativecabcompany.com/ Robbie the Dyslexic Taxi and the Airport Adventure: https://creativecabcompany.com/robby-the-taxi/ Suzy the ADHD Taxi and the Sightseeing Adventure: https://creativecabcompany.com/suzy-the-adhd-taxi/  Because every child deserves to bloom in the right greenhouse. 🌷 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 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.

    42 min
  4. Getting Real About Fatherhood

    Jun 15 ·  Video

    Getting Real About Fatherhood

    Send us Fan Mail In this special Father's Day episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner welcome filmmaker, educator, podcast host, and father Dan Gvozden for a candid conversation about the realities of fatherhood. From neighborhood adventures and childhood imagination to work-life balance and parenting confessions, Dan shares what he's learning while raising a preschooler and building a business. Together, they explore why presence, curiosity, and listening may be some of the most important gifts parents can give their children. Filled with humor, honesty, and heartfelt reflections, this episode celebrates fathers while offering meaningful insights for all parents striving to build stronger connections with their kids. About Dan With over fifteen years of experience teaching filmmaking, photography, and creative writing at prestigious private high schools and universities, Dan’s passion for teaching his students to use the filmic arts to express their voices, regardless of budget, resources, or ability, led him to found The Backlot - Film School and Studio. Dan earned a BFA in Film & Television Production from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, an MA in Cinema and Media Studies from UCLA, and has a decade of published work as a film critic and a lifetime of film production, and prides himself as a passionate pied-piper for creativity in all of its forms! Connect with Dan and Backlot Follow Backlot on Facebook 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 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.

    44 min
  5. The CALM Approach: Raising Kids Differently Than You Were Raised

    Jun 8 ·  Video

    The CALM Approach: Raising Kids Differently Than You Were Raised

    Send us Fan Mail Many parents find themselves repeating parenting patterns they never intended to carry into their own families. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner welcome parenting coach Angie Weber, founder of The Parent Toolbox and creator of the CALM Approach. Angie shares her personal journey of recognizing generational parenting patterns and explains how parents can begin creating healthier relationships with their children through intentional communication, emotional awareness, accountability, and modeling. Together, they discuss emotional regulation, discipline versus punishment, perfectionism in parenting, co-parenting challenges, and practical ways parents can create more connection and calm in their homes. In This Episode: What generational parenting cycles look likeThe four pillars of the CALM ApproachWhy emotional regulation starts with parentsHow awareness creates meaningful changeThe role of accountability and repairWhy your kids don't need a perfect parentPractical ways to create stronger family connectionsAbout Angie Angie Weber, owner of The Parent Toolbox, developer of the C.A.L.M. Approach to Parenting©, creator of The C.A.L.M. Family Planner, and host of the podcast Mom Essentials, is on a mission to help break generational parenting cycles.  Angie helps parents upgrade their own toolboxes with new strategies and approaches to create more communication, connection, and calm in their homes!  Connect with Angie Weber Website: https://theparenttoolbox.info Social Media:  @theparenttoolbox 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 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.

    37 min
  6. What does ADHD really look like in children and teens?

    Jun 1

    What does ADHD really look like in children and teens?

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Sam Straub are joined by child psychiatrist Dr. Chad Lennon to unpack the realities of ADHD beyond the stereotypes. Together, they discuss: Why ADHD is often misunderstoodEmotional regulation and mood instabilityThe role dopamine plays in ADHDWhy bedtime and transitions can become so difficultADHD in Black and Latino childrenThe impact of cultural bias and school disciplineMedication, therapy, and parenting support strategiesWhy ADHD has nothing to do with intelligenceThis episode offers practical insight, compassionate perspective, and reassurance for parents navigating ADHD at home. About Dr. Lennon Dr. Chad Lennon is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist at Sheppard Pratt’s Baltimore/Washington Campus. He earned his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt Residency Program, followed by a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Mt. Sinai Elmhurst Hospital. Dr. Lennon is widely published and has presented on topics including ADHD, anxiety, suicide prevention, trauma, and mental health in children and adolescents. He is especially passionate about increasing awareness around mental health in underserved communities and has written extensively about the stigma surrounding mental illness in the African American community. 🛜Connect with Dr. Lennon 🌐Dr. Lennon on LinkedIn 🎧 Subscribe for more Parenting Shrink Wrapped episodes every week. 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 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.

    46 min
  7. What do Teens Really Need from Parents Right Now?

    May 25

    What do Teens Really Need from Parents Right Now?

    Send us Fan Mail What do teens really need from parents right now? In this powerful episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with 19-year-old TEDx speaker and Cloud9 founder Sonia Suthar for an eye-opening conversation about communication, emotional intelligence, and what truly helps teens feel connected to their parents. Sonia shares practical advice for building trust, reducing pressure, and creating emotional safety at home, including her powerful “3 H’s” framework: Heard, Helped, or Held. This episode is full of wisdom, hope, and actionable tools for parents navigating the teen years. About Sonia Sonia is a 19-year-old founder who built Cloud 9 because she lived the gap herself, the one between what school teaches and what teens actually need to navigate real life. She works with teens and parents to build the kind of emotional intelligence and self-awareness that changes how families actually talk to each other. Her whole thing is that when a teen grows, the parent has to grow too, and that's where the real magic happens.  Connect with Sonia: LinkedIn: Sonia Katara YouTube: TedX Facebook: Cloud9 Instagram: Cloud9 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 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.

    36 min
  8. Understanding Healthy Sleep Environments with Naturepedic

    May 18

    Understanding Healthy Sleep Environments with Naturepedic

    Send us Fan Mail What creates a truly healthy sleep environment for kids and teens? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with Arin Schultz, Chief Growth Officer of Naturepedic, to talk about safe sleep practices, organic mattresses, environmental toxins, and how sleep environments may impact emotional regulation, nervous system health, and overall wellness. Together, they discuss what many parents never think about when it comes to sleep, including off-gassing, mattress materials, safe sleep recommendations for babies, and why sensitive kids (of any age) may react more strongly to environmental stressors. This practical and thoughtful conversation helps parents better understand how small environmental changes may support healthier sleep for the whole family. About Arin: Chief Growth Officer, Arin Schultz, joined Naturepedic in 2014, bringing a strong background in manufacturing business development and sales operations. Working for the certified organic, non-toxic mattress pioneer has opened Arin’s eyes to the dangers of harmful chemicals and their pervasive presence in households across the globe and this knowledge has added a deeper purpose to his relentless push to help transform the brand’s vision into reality. As the lead on all Naturepedic sales and marketing efforts, Arin develops and implements strategies that support the company’s business growth, customer retention, product innovation and sustainability goals. He also plays a key role in all educational initiatives, including thought leadership articles, webinars, live events and more. A father of four and an empathetic listener, Arin leads with  his genuine desire to help families make the safest, healthiest sleep choices.  Resources:  • Learn more about Naturepedic: Naturepedic 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 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.

    35 min
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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!

Information

  • Creator
    Samantha Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    84
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Parenting Shrink Wrapped
  • Show Website
    Parenting Shrink Wrapped

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