Raising Good Humans
by Aliza Pressman
Latest episode
Bedtime Battles: 5 Mistakes Making Sleep Harder From Toddlers to Teens
Bedtime Battles: 5 Mistakes Making Sleep Harder From Toddlers to Teens
About this podcast
As a parent, do you ever wish someone could just whisper some realistic and trustworthy support in your ear? And not make you feel awful for not having all the answers? Well, that's what I'm here for.
I'm Dr. Aliza Pressman, developmental psychologist, NYT bestselling author of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans, Associate Clinical Professor, and Co-Founder of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center. And I'm a mom... trying to raise good humans myself, so I'm in this with you!
In each episode, we'll go deep (but brief) with both experts and parents to share the most effective approaches and tools and talk about the important bigger picture of raising good humans. My goal is to make your parenting journey less overwhelming and a lot more joyful!
Please join me every Friday for new episodes of Raising Good Humans.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 411 episodes
- Bedtime Battles: 5 Mistakes Making Sleep Harder From Toddlers to Teens · 26 min · Episode 169Bedtime battles every night? Developmental psychologist Dr. Aliza Pressman shares 5 bedtime mistakes and what to do instead, from toddlers to teens. Why do bedtime battles get…
- Screens in School: What EdTech and AI Are Doing to How Kids Learn · 60 min · Episode 168Is your child's school Chromebook really helping them learn? Neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath on what screens, edtech, and AI in school are doing to how kids learn. We…
- “Everyone Else Has One”: What Your Kid’s Envy Is Really Telling You · 29 min · Episode 167Hearing "It's not fair!" or "Everyone else has one"? Dr. Aliza Pressman and Dr. Stacy Kim on what envy is really telling your child and how to help them use it for good. If…
- Is AI Making Kids Stop Thinking? How to Raise Curious Kids · 42 min · Episode 166Worried AI will make your kids stop thinking? If you’ve watched your child ask a chatbot for the answer and wondered what that’s doing to their brain, you’re not alone, and the…
- Why "How Was Your Day?" Doesn't Work, And What Actually Gets Kids Talking · 29 minGetting nothing but "fine"? Dr. Aliza Pressman on why your questions shut kids down and what actually gets them to open up and talk to you. If "How was your day?" only ever…
- Is Gentle Parenting Making Kids Run the Show? · 40 min · Episode 164Gentle parenting turned permissive? Somewhere between "because I said so" and "is it okay if we go to bed now?", many well-meaning parents lost their footing. In this episode of…
- The Homework Episode for Overwhelmed Parents · 47 min · Episode 163Does homework time in your house end in tears, arguments, or a kid still awake at midnight? In this episode, Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with Dr. Ellen Braaten, founding…
- How to Help Your Child Make Friends (and Be a Good One) · 47 min · Episode 162Does your kid actually know how to be a good friend — or are they just hoping the right friends find them? In this episode, Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with Sissy Goff and…
- Sibling Fights: When to Step In (and When to Stay Out) · 39 min · Episode 161Sibling fights making you crazy? If you've ever wondered when to intervene in sibling fights versus when to let your kids work it out themselves, this episode gives you a…
- Dr. Shefali: The Hormones Behind First Love, Heartbreak, and Hookup Culture · 38 min · Episode 160Why does a teenage breakup feel like the end of the world for girls, but barely register for boys? Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with Dr. Shefali — clinical psychologist, founder…
- Angela Duckworth on the Hidden Forces Shaping Your Kid's Behavior · 48 min · Episode 159Is your child's behavior really about who they are — or is it about where you've put them? In this episode, Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with Dr. Angela Duckworth, bestselling…
- Were 'Covid Kids' Really Damaged? What 17 New Studies Show · 44 min · Episode 158Blaming your kid's attention span on Covid? In this episode, Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with Georgetown Professor and developmental psychologist, Dr. Anna Johnson, to unpack a…
- Here's the Talk to Have Before Your Teen's First Party · 30 min · Episode 157Sending your teen to their first party? In this solo episode, developmental psychologist Dr. Aliza Pressman walks parents through exactly how to talk to teenagers about parties…
- Picky Eating & Food Guilt with Jennifer Anderson · 46 min · Episode 156Is your child's relationship with food already shaped by guilt, fear, or "good food/bad food" rules — even before they can talk? Registered dietitian Jennifer Anderson, founder…
- How to Disagree With Your Kids Without Fighting · 55 min · Episode 155Do you know how to disagree with your kid without a fight breaking out? Most of us have been told that the fix for a bad disagreement is more empathy — really try to see it from…
- How to Raise an Imaginative Child — and Why Imagination Matters More Than You Think · 40 min · Episode 154Do you use your imagination enough? Most parents think of imagination as something for playtime — a "nice to have" that fades once kids get older and life gets "serious." But…
- Hard Parenting Questions Answered: 'I Hate You,' Porn Talks, Vapes, and School Pickup Meltdowns · 31 min · Episode 153Dr. Aliza Pressman answers your hardest parenting questions: toddler tantrums, screen time guilt, porn talks, vaping teens & social media limits. Real parenting questions don't…
- Your Brain Isn't Declining — It's Waiting for You to Do These Five Things · 1 h 3 min · Episode 152Can you actually grow your brain? Johns Hopkins neurologist Dr. Majid Fotuhi reveals 5 science-backed ways to build brain volume — even in the chaos of parenthood. In this…
- What a Neuropsychological Evaluation Actually Reveals About Your Child · 38 min · Episode 151Should your child get a neuropsychological evaluation? Neuropsychologist Dr. Joanna Jacobs explains what it reveals, who needs one, and why it's not scary. If you've ever been…
- Why Your Kid Needs More Chores, More Boredom, and More Frustration (Yes, Really) · 43 min · Episode 150Why do constraints help kids thrive? Dr. Aliza Pressman & David Epstein reveal the counterintuitive science of raising resilient, confident children. If you've ever wondered…
- Dating After Divorce: What to Tell Your Kids and When · 26 min · Episode 149What if the hardest part of dating after divorce isn't whether you're ready, but whether your kids are? This solo episode tackles one of the most-asked, least-discussed…
- The Science of Dad Brain: How Fatherhood Changes Men Forever · 51 min · Episode 148Postpartum depression isn't just for moms. Dr. Darby Saxbe explores why new dads struggle, identifies the often unrecognized signs, and demystifies the science of paternal mental…
- Adam Grant + Dr. Aliza: The Real Science of Effective Parenting · 40 min · Episode 147What does it actually mean to be a good parent and why does knowing the research make it harder, not easier? This week I'm sharing an interview I did with Adam Grant on his…
- Why Are All the Young People So Insecure? · 45 min · Episode 146What if raising secure kids has less to do with what you do wrong as a parent — and more to do with teaching them to build the right relationships from the start? My guest this…
- Your Kids Are Wired to Flourish — Here's How to Get Out of Their Way · 46 min · Episode 142What if the most powerful thing you could do for your child's brain development has nothing to do with them at all? This episode is for any parent who has worried about screen…
- Deodorant, Porn, and Nudes: How to Actually Talk to Your Tween About the Hard Stuff · 45 min · Episode 144What if the reason the hardest conversations with your middle schooler keep going badly isn't the topic — it's that we keep starting them like a lecture? This episode is for any…
- Perfectionism Isn't High Standards. It's Hurting Your Kid · 28 min · Episode 143What if what we call high standards in our kids, and quietly admire in ourselves, is actually something much more painful underneath? This episode takes on a question that hits…
- Perimenopause Starts Earlier Than You Think — What Every Mom Needs to Know Now · 43 min · Episode 142What if the years where you feel less rested, less resilient, less yourself aren't burnout or bad parenting — but a hormonal transition no one prepared you for? This episode…
- The 3 Tools That Actually Work When Your Kid Won't Listen · 28 min · Episode 141What if your child's most "defiant" behavior at home isn't a discipline problem — but a sign of how safe you've made them feel? This solo episode tackles one of the most common…
- Are You Oversharing With Your Kids — or Not Sharing Enough? · 1 h 2 minWhat if oversharing isn't the real problem — and the quieter habit of holding back is what's keeping us, and our kids, from the connection we're looking for? Dr. Aliza Pressman…
- Is Anxiety Your Secret Weapon? · 35 minWhat if anxiety isn't the enemy but the edge you've been missing? Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with clinical psychologist, professor, and author Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary to…
- Dopamine Kids: A Science-Based Plan to Rewire Your Child's Brain and Take Back Your Family in the Age of Screens and Ultraprocessed Food w/ Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff · 45 min · Episode 139In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff to unpack what dopamine actually is—and how understanding it can completely shift the way we approach screens, food…
- The Family as a Team: Why It Matters & How to Build It at Home · 18 min · Episode 138In today’s episode, brought to you by Skylight, I walk through how shifting from being the “family manager” to a team leader can dramatically reduce the invisible load so many of…
- Understanding Status: The Science Behind Respect and Influence (And What It Means for Parenting) w/ Professor Alison Fragale · 49 min · Episode 137In today’s episode, I sit down with psychologist and professor Alison Fragale to explore the concept of status—what it really means, why the need to be respected is such a…
- Real Ways to Stay Regulated When Parenting Feels Overwhelming w/ Dr. Elisha Goldstein · 52 min · Episode 136In today’s episode I sit down with Dr. Elisha Goldstein to explore how small, practical shifts can help us break out of the constant overwhelm so many parents are living in. We…
- How to Reduce Mealtime Tension · 33 min · Episode 135Join me for a solo episode this week, and a look into alleviating mealtime tension and how to deal with body image baggage. I give six helpful tips to make mealtime easier, and…
- The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness w/ Professor Arthur Brooks · 1 h 18 min · Episode 134In today’s episode I sit down with professor Arthur Brooks to explore what actually makes a life feel meaningful in a culture obsessed with achievement, optimization, and…
- Resilience: What It Really Means & The “Ordinary Magic” It Takes to Build It w/ Professor Ann Masten · 1 h 0 min · Episode 133In today's episode I sit down with professor Ann Masten to unpack what resilience actually means—and why it’s so often misunderstood. We explore her powerful definition of…
- Behavioral Genetics 101: How Genes Shape Mental Health w/ Professor Kathryn Paige Harden · 1 h 7 min · Episode 132In this episode, I sit down with behavioral geneticist and professor Dr. Kathryn Paige Harden to talk about what behavioral genetics can actually tell us about our kids—and what…
- The Nature of Nurture with Professor Jay Belsky · 1 h 16 min · Episode 131In today’s episode I sit down with developmental psychologist Dr. Jay Belsky to explore a question so many parents wrestle with: is temperament destiny? We talk about why…
- The Power of Real Optimism: What It Actually Means (and How to Practice It) w/ Dr. Deepika Chopra · 1 h 4 min · Episode 130In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Deepika Chopra to talk about what real optimism actually means — and why it’s so different from toxic positivity. We unpack the science…
- 10 Practical Ways to Boost Cooperation and Listening in Kids · 41 min · Episode 129In this solo episode, I’m diving into 10 practical tips to help make listening and cooperation with your kids easier. I’ll walk you through straightforward strategies for…
- How to Parent When the News and World Feel Really Heavy · 48 min · Episode 128In this solo episode, I talk directly to parents about how to show up for our kids when the world feels heavy and unsettling—without turning the conversation into politics. I…
- The 7 Conversations to Have with Your Kid Before They Get a Device w/ Dr. Jean Twenge · 42 min · Episode 127In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist and author Dr. Jean Twenge to talk about the seven essential conversations to have with kids before they get a device. We break down…
- Mattering: The Secret to Building a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose w/ Jennifer Wallace · 53 min · Episode 126In this episode, I sit down with award winning journalist and author Jennifer Wallace, to talk about her new work on mattering—the need to feel seen, valued, and needed. We…
- Listener Q&A: Biting, Potty Training, Separation Anxiety & Early Lying · 36 min · Episode 125I answer four listener questions—toddler biting, potty training pressure, emotional daycare drop-offs, and early “lying” in preschoolers—breaking down what’s developmentally…
- Independent Play, Play Pockets, and What to Do When Your Child Says “I’m Bored” with Lizzie Assa · 37 min · Episode 124In this week’s episode, I’m joined by education expert Lizzie Assa to talk about independent play—why it matters, what it actually builds in kids, and how to make it work in real…
- The Tell: A Conversation About Healing and Re-Parenting Oneself with Amy Griffin · 53 min · Episode 123In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Amy Griffin for a deeply personal conversation about what it means to re-parent yourself—and how that inner work quietly transforms your…
- What Happens to Your Brain When You Become a Parent (Including Dads) w/ Dr. Darby Saxbe · 1 h 8 min · Episode 122In this week’s episode I am joined by Dr. Darby Saxby, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Southern California as we delve into the transition to…
- Einstein Never Used Flash Cards: How Our Children Really Learn--and Why They Need to Play More with Professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek · 58 min · Episode 121In this week’s episode, I sit down with professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek to rethink what learning actually looks like—and why play is at the center of it. We break down the science…
