The Human Skills Lab

Heidi Peace and Cobi Campbell

Welcome to The Human Skills Lab, a podcast where real conversations meet practical tools for growth. Hosted by school counselor and LCSW Cobi Campbell and veteran educator Heidi Peace, we’re putting human skills back at the heart of learning and life.

Episodes

  1. 12/05/2025

    Episode 8: Complaining

    In this episode, we dive into the surprisingly complex world of complaining: why we do it, what it’s trying to accomplish, and how to respond without getting pulled into someone else’s spiral. Complaining is far more nuanced than we think: it can create connection, serve as a form of venting, justify our viewpoint, act as a humble brag, or even help us process real change. But it can also trap us in negativity if we’re not aware of what’s driving it. We explore the triggers behind complaints and the underlying beliefs that create emotional “mud”, the kind of suffering that can either grow seeds of positivity or reinforce patterns that keep us stuck. You’ll learn strategies rooted in the Circle of Control, how to feed what you want to grow, and how to shift from hardship mindset to post-traumatic growth. You’ll also hear practical ways to gently “unloop” someone who’s spiraling: how to recognize when you’re being hooked into their narrative, how to validate without absorbing their stress, and what to actually say, like asking, “Do you want support, solutions, or someone to just listen?” Finally, we talk about protecting your peace: recognizing others’ complaining patterns, checking in with your own internal state, and unhooking yourself when you’ve been pulled in unintentionally. This episode is a guide to understanding complaining without judgment, yours or anyone else’s, and choosing how much you want to suffer, engage, or grow. Tune in to learn how to navigate negativity with clarity, compassion, and boundaries.

    58 min
  2. 11/28/2025

    Episode 7: Entitlement, Appreciation and Healthy Boundaries

    In this episode, we dig into one of the most confusing and common parenting/teaching challenges: entitlement. What does it actually look like in everyday life, and how do we address it without guilt, shame, or damaging the relationship? We start by exploring the spectrum of entitlement behaviors, from the mundane (“You didn’t appreciate dinner… again”) to the more disruptive: tantrums over instant gratification, refusal to take responsibility, frustration intolerance, and the belief that simply showing up should earn rewards. Then we zoom out to the societal factors that make entitlement more common today. We also normalize the developmental side of it: “moments” of entitlement vs. an attitude of entitlement. We look at the effects of “friend parenting,” giving kids too much say, the absence of chores, and our own discomfort watching them struggle. Sometimes the most important learning comes from frustration and they really will live and learn. We explore our own feelings and how to navigate resentment, ambivalence, and the fear of causing guilt while still holding boundaries that protect our energy, resources, and relationships. You’ll hear practical tools for fostering appreciation without guilt, what to do when nothing goes to plan, and how to handle difficult situations with compassion. We offer “tiniest next steps and tackle unpopular opinions about how to handle entitled behavior. This episode is a blend of honesty, strategy, compassion, and real-life examples to help you raise and teach kids who appreciate, contribute, and grow without losing your sanity (or your relationship) along the way.

    1h 1m

About

Welcome to The Human Skills Lab, a podcast where real conversations meet practical tools for growth. Hosted by school counselor and LCSW Cobi Campbell and veteran educator Heidi Peace, we’re putting human skills back at the heart of learning and life.