Jen Lumanlan · Lifestyle

Your Parenting Mojo - Respectful, research-based parenting ideas to help kids thrive

Parenting is hard…but does it have to be this hard? Wouldn’t it be better if your kids would stop pressing your buttons quite as often, and if there was a little more of you to go around (with maybe even some left over for yourself)? On the Your Parenting Mojo podcast, Jen Lumanlan M.S., M.Ed explores academic research on parenting and child development. But she doesn’t just tell you the results of the latest study - she interviews researchers at the top of their fields, and puts current information in the context of the decades of work that have come before it. An average episode reviews ~30 peer-reviewed sources, and analyzes how the research fits into our culture and values - she does all the work, so you don’t have to! Jen is the author of Parenting Beyond Power: How to Use Connection & Collaboration to Transform Your Family - and the World (Sasquatch/Penguin Random House). The podcast draws on the ideas from the book to give you practical, realistic strategies to get beyond today’s whack-a-mole of issues. Your Parenting Mojo also offers workshops and memberships to give you more support in implementing the ideas you hear on the show. The single idea that underlies all of the episodes is that our behavior is our best attempt to meet our needs. Your Parenting Mojo will help you to see through the confusing messages your child’s behavior is sending so you can parent with confidence: You’ll go from: “I don’t want to yell at you!” to “I’ve got a plan.” New episodes are released every other week - there's content for parents who have a baby on the way through kids of middle school age. Start listening now by exploring the rich library of episodes on meltdowns, sibling conflicts, parental burnout, screen time, eating vegetables, communication with your child - and your partner… and much much more!

Episodes

Hitting behaviors and persistent demands for treats in young children often stem from underlying unmet needs rather than defiance. During a high-conflict divorce, a child’s hitting may be an expression of global stress or a misguided attempt to secure connection and autonomy when their environment feels chaotic. Parent...

RE-RELEASE: Parental Burnout: Is Your Exhaustion Affecting Your Children?

09 Feb 2026

1h 0m

Episode Summary 08: What Is Collaborative Parenting? Real Parent Story

02 Feb 2026

28m

Episode Summary 07: Is Your Child’s Behavior Really a Disorder? A Psychiatrist Explains

19 Jan 2026

21m

258: YPM 2025 Year in Review + What’s Coming in 2026

12 Jan 2026

23m

Episode Summary 06: When Holiday Gift Boundaries Don’t Work (What Does?)

24 Nov 2025

18m

Episode Summary 05: How to Enforce Boundaries When Someone Doesn’t Respect Them

10 Nov 2025

27m

257: I Don't Enjoy Playing With My Kid: Why It Happens & What To Do

20 Oct 2025

42m

256: Managing Anger as a Parent: The Two Types of Anger You Need to Know

29 Sep 2025

26m

AI processed

Parental anger often stems from two distinct sources that require different management strategies: Values-Aligned Anger and Reactive Anger. Values-Aligned Anger signals that core principles like fairness or safety are being violated, necessitating systemic changes rather than emotional suppression. Conversely, Reactive...

255: Why Do I Keep Snapping? Parenting Rage When Your Childhood ‘Wasn’t That Bad

22 Sep 2025

35m

AI processed

Parental triggers and the cycle of yelling often stem from unresolved childhood patterns rather than inherent flaws. Terese, a teacher and mother of three, experiences sudden outbursts that leave her feeling guilty, despite having a supportive home environment. Coaching reveals that her mother’s frequent yelling establ...

Episode Summary 04: Reparenting Yourself: Break Your Family’s Trauma Cycle

15 Sep 2025

21m

Episode Summary 03: How to Stop Yelling as a Parent: Emotional Regulation Techniques That Work

08 Sep 2025

19m

AI processed

Parental yelling often stems from an inability to manage overwhelming stress rather than a lack of willpower. When triggered by a child’s behavior, the nervous system enters a "flooded" state, prioritizing survival responses like fight or flight over rational thought. Recognizing early physical warning signs—such as sh...