Join me, Jess VanderWier, a registered psychotherapist, mom of three, and founder of Nurtured First, along with my husband Scott, as we dive deep into the stori...
In this episode, Jess and Scott discuss how to support anxious or worried kids. Jess, a psychotherapist, shares the "Mind Table" concept - a powerful tool for helping children manage anxiety and difficult emotions. She shares the story of her own daughter's fears and explains how visualizing different emotions as characters sitting around a table can help kids externalize and cope with their worries.Jess and Scott explore why this approach works so well for children and how it differs from simply suppressing emotions. They also include practical tips for parents supporting anxious kids.Listeners will learn about key signs of childhood anxiety, the importance of maintaining strong parent-child relationships when addressing fears, and why gradually exposing children to challenges (rather than total avoidance) helps build resilience.With practical, real-life examples and Jess’ clinical expertise, this episode provides valuable strategies for parents who want to help their children develop emotional awareness and healthy coping skills.Check out the post Jess reads at the beginning of the episode here.Click here to learn more about The Worry Toolkit Jess and the Nurtured First team created to help parents support their anxious children.Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids' printable activities at Nurtured First using the code ROBOTUNICORN.Learn more about The Body Safety Toolkit here! We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email: [email protected]:Editing by The Pod CabinArtwork by Wallflower StudioProduction by Nurtured First
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34:18
Is Screen Time Terrible?
Jess and Scott break down the nuanced reality of giving your kids screen time through personal experiences and research-backed insights about gaming, social media, and device use, offering practical guidance for parents.Key takeaways include the importance of being present during screen time, understanding age-appropriate limits, and protecting children through clear boundaries rather than expecting them to self-regulate.Whether you're struggling with screen time battles or trying to make informed decisions about devices and social media for your kids, this episode provides valuable perspective on finding balance in our digital world.Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids' printable activities at Nurtured First using the code ROBOTUNICORN.Learn more about The Body Safety Toolkit here! We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email: [email protected]:Editing by The Pod CabinArtwork by Wallflower StudioProduction by Nurtured First
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54:02
How To Set Realistic Parenting Goals For 2025
Scott and Jess have a candid discussion about New Year's resolutions and goal-setting, particularly through the lens of parenting and personal growth.They share their plans to prioritize family dinners, create more one-on-one time with each of their three children, and discuss how to teach their kids about resilience and nuanced thinking in an increasingly polarized world.Jess opens up about her journey with people-pleasing and burnout, while Scott reflects on finding balance between his drive for constant learning and the need to slow down.Listeners will gain valuable insights about setting meaningful goals, the importance of self-reflection, and how to approach resolutions with both ambition and self-compassion.If you want to share your goals with the Robot Unicorn community, send us a DM with an audio message on @robotunicornpodcast and let us know your name, where you are from and what your goal is for the new year!Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids' printable activities at Nurtured First using the code ROBOTUNICORN.Learn more about The Body Safety Toolkit here! We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email: [email protected]:Editing by The Pod CabinArtwork by Wallflower StudioProduction by Nurtured First
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47:01
Grieving Over The Holidays With Libby Ward
CW: Death, suicide, miscarriageGrieving over the holidays can feel all-consuming and complex. Today, Jess and Scott are joined by returning guest Libby for a raw and honest conversation about navigating grief during the holiday season. They discuss various forms of grief, from the loss of loved ones to mourning relationships with living family members who are estranged or there is a complex relationship.Libby shares her experience losing her father three years ago around Christmas, while Scott opens up about childhood trauma and his grandfather's death. Listeners will gain valuable insights on coping strategies like allowing yourself to feel emotions fully, maintaining connections with trusted friends, and finding meaningful ways to honour memories.The episode also explores how to support grieving loved ones with practical advice on what to say (and what not to say) to someone who is hurting.If you want to hear more from Libby, check out the first episode she recorded with Jess and Scott here.You can also follow Libby at @diaryofanhonestmom on Instagram or visit her website.Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids' printable activities at Nurtured First using the code ROBOTUNICORN.We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email: [email protected]:Editing by The Pod CabinArtwork by Wallflower StudioProduction by Nurtured First
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1:06:09
Are You Raising An Entitled Kid?
In this episode, Scott and Jess discuss raising resilient children who are not entitled, a common concern they hear from people who are skeptical about the style of parenting Jess teaches.They explore how allowing children to experience natural disappointments and frustrations - while providing emotional support - actually helps develop crucial coping skills. Through practical examples like saying no to extra juice boxes and managing screen time boundaries, they demonstrate how parents can validate feelings while still maintaining limits.Key takeaways from this episode include: The importance of letting kids engage in appropriate risky play Avoiding the trap of constantly trying to make children happy Understanding that building frustration tolerance is a vital life skillJess and Scott also challenge the narrative of "entitled generations," highlighting how modern kids face unique challenges that require parental understanding rather than judgment.Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids' printable activities at Nurtured First using the code ROBOTUNICORN.Learn more about the Solving Bedtime Battles course here.We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email: [email protected]:Editing by The Pod CabinArtwork by Wallflower StudioProduction by Nurtured First
Join me, Jess VanderWier, a registered psychotherapist, mom of three, and founder of Nurtured First, along with my husband Scott, as we dive deep into the stories of our friends, favourite celebrities, and influential figures.
In each episode, we skip the small talk and dive into vulnerable and honest conversations about topics like cycle breaking, trauma, race, mental health, parenting, sex, religion, postpartum, healing, and loss.
We are glad you are here.
PS: The name Robot Unicorn comes from our daughter. When we asked her what we should name the podcast, she confidently came up with this name because she loves robots, and she loves unicorns, so why not? There was something about the playfulness of the name, the confidence in her voice, and the fact that it represents that you can love two things at once that just felt right.
Canada - english