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 common friendship struggles, bullying, and how to help kids solve problems in their friendships. They also discuss their own experiences with friends growing up. Listeners will get practical takeaways to help them cultivate healthy friendships with their kids. Want more? Check out this episode on kids’ friendships. Or, grab the Friendship Toolkit for 10% OFF 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]. Credits:Editing by The Pod Cabin Artwork by Wallflower Studio Production by Nurtured FirstÂ
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How Do You Stop Yourself From Yelling At Your Kids?
In this episode, Jess and Scott dive deep into the complexities of parental anger and yelling sparked by a controversial social media post.They explore cycle-breaking, emotional regulation, and practical strategies for staying calm with kids. They share their personal experiences - Scott as someone who broke generational trauma patterns and Jess as a parent working through postpartum struggles. Listeners will gain valuable insights on visualizing the parent they want to be, understanding their triggers, and the power of repair after losing your cool. This honest conversation offers both validation and actionable tools for parents striving to create calmer, more connected relationships with their children while acknowledging that the journey isn't always perfect.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]. Credits:Editing by The Pod Cabin Artwork by Wallflower Studio Production by Nurtured FirstÂ
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32:18
How Can I Help My Worried Child?
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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More Kids & Family podcastsMore Kids & Family podcasts
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.
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