The Whole Parent Podcast

In this episode Jon explores the tension many modern parents feel between connection and control and why “validation is not the same thing as leadership.” He reframes one of the hardest identity shifts in parenting: having “the courage to be disliked” in the moments that matter most. Listeners will walk away with a clearer, calmer way to lead their kids through big emotions, without losing connection or authority. 
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In this conversation, Jon Fogel and Thais Gibson delve into the complexities of attachment styles and their impact on relationships and parenting. Thais shares her personal journey from experiencing a fearful avoidant attachment style to understanding and teaching about attachment theory. They discuss the dynamics of different attachment styles, how they manifest in relationships, and the importance of self-awareness and emotional regulation. Thais provides practical tools for rewiring attachment wounds and emphasizes the significance of treating oneself well to foster healthier relationships. The conversation concludes with resources for further exploration and personal development.

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Links to help you and me:
To support the Podcast, Subscribe on Substack
Get Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation Games
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting
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In this episode, Jon speaks directly to parents worn down by constant power struggles—especially those navigating an ODD or PDA diagnosis—starting with the raw truth that holding the line often makes everything explode. Instead of doubling down on consistency or control, he reframes defiance as a nervous system response to perceived threat, not a character problem or a parenting failure. Listeners will walk away with relief, language for what’s really happening in these moments, and a steadier way to hold boundaries without becoming the enemy—grounded in safety, flexibility, and the radical idea that a child’s push for autonomy is not something to extinguish, but something to work with.
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Support the show
Links to help you and me:
To support the Podcast, Subscribe on Substack
Get Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation Games
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram,
Tiktok,
Facebook,
Youtube

In this episode, Jon slows down one of the most familiar parenting moments—“You need to say you’re sorry”—and asks what we’re actually teaching when we force an apology. Rather than treating “sorry” as proof of character or accountability, he explores what’s happening in a child’s brain when adults are tense, watching, and waiting for the right words. The episode reframes apologies not as a demand, but as one small part of repair, shifting the focus from appeasing adults to caring for the person who was hurt. Parents will leave with a clearer, calmer way to handle these moments—one that builds empathy, responsibility, and real reconciliation instead of compliance. 

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Support the show
Links to help you and me:
To support the Podcast, Subscribe on Substack
Get Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation Games
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram,
Tiktok,
Facebook,
Youtube

In this episode, Jon explores what we often call “bossy” behavior and reframes it as leadership energy colliding with an underdeveloped social brain. Through vivid playdate moments and real parent questions, he unpacks why telling kids to stop being bossy misses the point—and how correction can quietly turn into shame, especially for strong-willed kids. Parents will walk away with a clearer way to distinguish control from influence, language that builds social awareness without dulling confidence, and a grounded reminder that the goal isn’t to soften a child’s intensity, but to help them learn how to lead in ways others want to follow.
Send a text
Support the show
Links to help you and me:
To support the Podcast, Subscribe on Substack
Get Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation Games
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram,
Tiktok,
Facebook,
Youtube