TELL ME IT WILL BE OK

Dawn Friedman MSEd

Tell Me It Will Be OK is the conversation for parents of anxious kids who have read all the books, listened to all the experts, and still feel like something is missing. Host Dawn Friedman, MSEd, has spent over thirty years in the trenches with families as an educator, family case manager, and clinical counselor. She knows that in a world of climate crisis, political upheaval, and digital noise, there is no such thing as a "quick-fix" script or a one-size-fits-all solution. Parenting bright, sensitive, and anxious children requires more than just a new technique—it requires a paradigm shift. Each week, Dawn moves beyond the "how-to" to dig into the "why" and the "what now?" through: --Deep-Dive Interviews: Conversations with researchers, activists, authors, and practitioners who look at the big picture of raising children today. --Practical Wisdom: Evidence-based clinical insights (including SPACE and infant-toddler mental health) applied to the messy reality of daily life. --The "No-Need-To-Be-Perfect" Philosophy: Shifting away from anxious perfectionism and toward the inner wisdom that helps us connect with our kids when things are hard. To learn more about Dawn and the work that she does, you can check out her site, Open Book Parenting.

  1. APR 15

    Growing as Parents with Dr. Michael Schwartzman

    The episode of the Tell Me It Will Be Okay podcast features an interview with New York–licensed psychologist and psychoanalyst Dr. Michael Schwartzman about his book The Anxious Parent: Freeing Yourself from the Stresses and Fears of Parenting and how parents can separate their own anxiety from their child’s needs through reflection and child-development awareness. Schwartzman discusses how modern parenting includes more unknowns, why consistency matters more than occasional “perfect” responses, and how children learn through experience, including useful failure, risk-taking, and independence. He shares personal stories of his own anxious parenting and explains how parents can avoid over-identifying with their child while still providing empathy and guidance. We discuss how “the problem is the point,” encouraging experimentation, tolerating discomfort, and authoring one’s own parenting based on values rather than quick-fix advice. You can connect with Dr. Schwartzman and learn more about his books at his website, MichaelSchwartzmanPhD.com. He also mentions two books in his podcast. They are: The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Raising Self-Reliant Children by Wendy Mogul PhDThe Ordinary is Extraordinary: How Children Under Three Learn by Amy Laura Dobro and Leah Wallach 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:34 How Parenting Changed 06:00 Separating Parent vs Child Anxiety 07:40 Social Media Parenting Fixes 10:55 Consistency Over Perfection 12:50 Developmental Expectations 16:09 Shaping Child and World 17:59 Anxious Parent Origin Story 21:36 Time Travel and Triggers 27:03 Letting Kids Own Their Lives 28:35 Raising Kids to Leave 32:16 Learning Through Adjustment 33:29 Letting Kids Struggle 35:19 Confidence Through Parenting 37:38 Working With Resistance 40:16 Benign Versus Harmful Neglect 43:05 Try It Your Way 43:52 Parenting Resources 46:39 School Psychologist Role 48:15 Becoming A Parent 52:56 Parenting Is Messy 55:06 Problem Is The Point 58:15 Author Your Parenting 01:01:03 Learning Is The Point 01:03:15 Final Takeaways

    1h 4m
  2. APR 1

    How to Talk with Kids About Death and Other Hard Topics (with Dr. Elena Lister)

    Dawn Friedman hosts the Tell Me It Will Be Okay podcast and interviews therapist and adult and child psychiatrist Dr. Elena Lister about her book Giving Hope: Conversations with Children about Illness, Death and Loss (co-written with Michael Schwartzman and Lindsay Tate). Lister explains that asking children about difficult subjects—including death and suicidal feelings—doesn’t “put ideas in their head,” but builds trust and opens communication, noting kids already think about these topics through experiences like Disney movies, nature, and news events. She emphasizes caregivers being grounded and “steady and sturdy,” using delaying or revisiting conversations when needed, admitting mistakes, and allowing children to set pace while keeping doors open. Lister shares her family’s experience when her daughter Liza was dying, discusses talking about uncertainty and differing beliefs about afterlife, offers guidance on cremation and funerals, and highlights that mentionable is manageable. 00:00 Welcome and Guest 02:55 Fear of Saying It 05:53 Disney and Death 07:42 Start Before Loss 10:50 Grounded Parent Mindset 12:43 Deer in Headlights 15:42 Good Enough Parenting 16:44 Classroom Disclosure Story 23:24 Anger and Humanity 26:55 Distress Tolerance Check 30:19 Death in the News 35:00 Living With Mortality 37:05 Aging and Nature 37:58 Afterlife Questions 40:26 Family Beliefs Clash 42:02 Living With Uncertainty 43:01 Grief Work Origin Story 45:25 Schools Can Talk 47:47 Let Kids Set Pace 53:41 Child Life Support 55:47 Cremation Explained 57:55 Funerals and Rituals 01:02:09 Preparing Kids for Loss 01:05:46 Final Thanks and Wrap Website: Elena Lister MDGiving Hope by Elena Lister MD, Michael Schwartzman PhD with Lindsey Tate (affiliate link on Bookshop)A Short Good Life by Philip Lister MD (affiliate link on Bookshop)

    1h 8m
  3. MAR 15

    The Power of Giving Up (Judiciously)

    Letting Go to Focus on What Matters in Parenting Dawn Friedman introduces her podcast and explains “judicious giving up,” a practice of letting go of solving a parenting problem immediately so families can clarify what truly matters, understand what’s underneath the issue, and choose a more fitting focus. Drawing on her transition from solutions-focused case management to therapy, she notes that the stated problem is often not the real problem, and that parenting challenges—like an anxious child who won’t sleep alone—may reflect bigger needs, family values, timing, capacity, and parents’ own triggers or identity beliefs. She critiques one-size-fits-all, quick-fix behaviorist advice and emphasizes individualized, developmentally informed plans built from self-reflection, understanding the child, and aligning with values. She also reframes recurring struggles as opportunities for learning and growth rather than proof of failure. (This is part of the Podcasthon 2026 event! My charity for the event is The Children's Defense Fund, which envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive.) 00:00 Welcome and Mission 00:43 Judicious Giving Up 01:11 From Casework to Therapy 03:09 The Problem Behind Problem 04:58 Parenting Anxiety Example 06:57 Choosing Your Focus 11:27 Beyond One Size Fits All 14:44 Problems Recur Over Time 18:55 You Can’t Fix Kids 20:17 Values Then a Plan 24:02 Mindset Reframe and Wrap

    25 min
  4. MAR 1

    Cultivating a Culture of Empathy and Kindness with Brandy Jemczura

    In this episode of Tell Me It Will Be Okay, I interview Brandy Jemczura of Columbus, Ohio, founder of Seeds of Caring, a nonprofit that connects children ages 2–12 (and some middle schoolers) with volunteer and activism opportunities to build empathy, kindness, and agency. We links service to anxiety support and resiliency, emphasizing four cornerstones: feeling lovable, capable, able to handle emotions, and developing a resilient self-concept. Brandy shares how Seeds of Caring grew from 285 child volunteer experiences in its first year to over 57,000 annually, now operating in Columbus and Indianapolis, and explains how programs use children’s literature, reflection, and hands-on projects to address tough topics without “othering,” using asset-framing language and reinforcing that everyone needs help sometimes. We discuss parent concerns, privilege, and how small actions can create hope and community impact. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:30 Action as Anxiety Relief 00:55 Resiliency Cornerstones 02:33 Volunteering Builds Regulation 04:38 Meet Brandy Gemchura 05:19 Seeds of Caring Origin Story 08:22 Scaling Up and Facing Fear 10:45 Why Ages Two to Twelve 14:00 What Two Year Olds Do 17:32 Culture of Caring Ripple Effects 19:37 Winning Over Nonprofit Partners 21:56 Talking Tough Topics With Kids 24:02 Hope for Overwhelmed Parents 25:22 Favorite Family Activities 25:44 Goldfish Fairness Lesson 27:43 From Empathy to Action 29:11 Avoiding Othering Language 32:07 Kids Growing With Service 35:09 Kindness Versus Nice 37:54 Privilege Into Next Steps 41:02 Helpers and Mental Health 43:56 Scaling to New Cities 45:17 Start Small Anywhere 46:58 Parents Modeling Kindness 49:24 Final Wrap and Resources Want to know more about Seeds of Caring? Of course you do! Who wouldn't?!? Check out their website here: SeedsofCaring.org You can find also find them on: Facebook: Columbus, IndianaInstagram: Columbus, IndianaLinkedinYouTube

    50 min
  5. FEB 15

    Activism, Hope and Parenting: Talking with Frida Berrigan

    In a timely episode (hey, I planned it that way!) I'm sharing my conversation with Frida Berrigan, a peace activist and author, who shares her experiences growing up with activist parents, navigating tensions between parenting and activism, and raising her own children. We discuss the importance of engaging in activism while maintaining joy, the struggle of balancing multiple responsibilities, and the impact of ordinary acts in making a difference. Frida also emphasizes the significance of moral cheerfulness and acting within our capacity to contribute to positive change. As you'll hear in the podcast, Frida grew up in a family of famous peace activists and she wrote about her experience and how it inspired her own parenting decisions in the book It Runs in the Family: On Being Raised by Radicals and Growing into Rebellious Motherhood. You can also read her essays at WagingNonViolence.org and I recommend you start with her wonderful essay, Nuclear Weapons Ruined My Life (And I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way). 00:00 Welcome to the Tell Me It Will Be OK Podcast 00:52 Introducing Frida Berrigan: Peace Activist and Author 01:20 Frida's Family and Activism Background 01:59 Parenting Through Activism 02:46 Interview with Frida Berrigan Begins 03:09 Frida's Children and Parenting Journey 05:51 Balancing Caregiving and Activism 07:27 Frida's Unique Upbringing and Education 18:30 Navigating Tensions and Choices in Activism 27:22 Parenting Decisions and Sharing Information 29:47 Taking Action with Kids 31:11 Impact of School Shootings 32:11 Helping Refugee Families 36:26 Balancing Effort and Outcome 41:54 The Role of Ordinary Acts 49:02 Moral Cheerfulness and Joy 53:38 Accepting Imperfection Thanks for listening! And, of course, it helps if you will share, rate, and subscribe so more people can learn about and from Frida Berrigan and the other wonderful guest I have coming up! 🧡 Takeaways: In our increasingly complex world, parenting anxious children requires a multifaceted approach that embraces both awareness and empathy.Frida Berrigan's life experiences illustrate the challenges of balancing activism with parenthood in a meaningful and impactful manner.The significance of moral cheerfulness amidst adversity is a recurring theme, emphasizing the importance of joy in the face of life's difficulties.Engaging with community and activism can provide children with invaluable lessons on compassion, empathy, and the importance of standing up for justice.Understanding that our efforts, no matter how small, contribute to a larger movement is essential for both parents and children alike.The podcast stresses that navigating the imperfections of life and parenting is a shared journey that requires patience and understanding. Links referenced in this episode: wagingnonviolence.org

    58 min

About

Tell Me It Will Be OK is the conversation for parents of anxious kids who have read all the books, listened to all the experts, and still feel like something is missing. Host Dawn Friedman, MSEd, has spent over thirty years in the trenches with families as an educator, family case manager, and clinical counselor. She knows that in a world of climate crisis, political upheaval, and digital noise, there is no such thing as a "quick-fix" script or a one-size-fits-all solution. Parenting bright, sensitive, and anxious children requires more than just a new technique—it requires a paradigm shift. Each week, Dawn moves beyond the "how-to" to dig into the "why" and the "what now?" through: --Deep-Dive Interviews: Conversations with researchers, activists, authors, and practitioners who look at the big picture of raising children today. --Practical Wisdom: Evidence-based clinical insights (including SPACE and infant-toddler mental health) applied to the messy reality of daily life. --The "No-Need-To-Be-Perfect" Philosophy: Shifting away from anxious perfectionism and toward the inner wisdom that helps us connect with our kids when things are hard. To learn more about Dawn and the work that she does, you can check out her site, Open Book Parenting.