The Self-Driven Child

Let’s Play! An interview with Dr. William Stixrud on the neuroscience of play, the critical ingredient for a child’s resilience and motivation

What if one of the most important things we can do to raise confident, resilient, and motivated kids is simply to let them play? And I don't mean organized sports, a

Why Children Need More Freedom to Thrive with Dr. Peter Gray

Maybe it wasn’t all about the cell phones after all. In this episode, I’m joined by eminent psychologist, researcher, and author Dr. Peter Gray to explore what may reall

An interview with Juliette Blake: the teen tech founder who became a mom and built a safer social media platform for girls

All of us worry about the potentially negative impacts of technology. We worry our kids are online too much, that social media is disrupting their sleep, academics, menta

Teens Talk: Teen Takeovers and Third Spaces

What do teens really need to grow into confident, capable adults? In this episode, I sit down with two remarkable young advocates—Rona Majumder and Faris Smith—to explore

Grade A+ Deception: student journalists on the academic pressure to cheat

What happens when academic pressure becomes so intense that cheating starts to feel normal? In this conversation, I’m joined by student journalists Ethan Chan and Meryem

Tapping into what really motivates teens: an interview with bestselling author and psychologist Dr. David Yeager

Dr. David Yeager joins me for a fascinating conversation about what really motivates adolescents — and why so many adults misunderstand teenage behavior in the first plac

Simply weathering the storm of modern life? Help your kids survive and THRIVE!

In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Stephanie Malia Krauss to unpack what it really means to help our kids—and ourselves—not just survive, but truly thrive in

When the World Feels Too Big: Talking With Our Kids About Hard Things

In a world where violent incidents, political upheaval, and shocking news dominate headlines --- from immigration enforcement violence in Minnesota to studies pointing to

8 Setbacks to Make A Child a Success: With Michelle Icard

If you’ve ever watched your child struggle and felt that almost unbearable pull to step in, fix it, smooth it over, or make it disappear, this episode is for you. In this

Mattering: an interview with Jennifer Wallace

 If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the right things—checking boxes, meeting expectations—yet still wondering whether any of it really matters, this episode is for

Adolescents Are Identity Scientists: Exploring With Chris Balme

In this episode, I sit down with education leader, parent, and author Chris Balme for a deep, thoughtful, and often funny conversation about what adolescents are really d

Why We Sleep - The Great Sleep Challenge

In this episode of The Self-Driven Child Podcast, I sit down with my longtime partner, co-author, and neuropsychologist Dr. William Stixrud to dig deep into something hid

How to Have Happy Holidays: What Science Suggests

In this episode, I dig into one of my favorite topics—what really makes us happy—and why the holidays are the perfect time to rethink how we create joy for ourselves and

Great Parenting Advice From Lenore Skenazy ("America's Worst Mom") Or, "Why I Let My 9 Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone"

Ever wonder if we’re raising our kids with too much fear and not enough freedom? In this episode, I’m joined by Lenore Skenazy—founder of Let Grow, author, and self-descr

What Are They Thinking?: The Neuroscience of Nagging in Parents and Teens

If you've ever caught yourself reminding your kid—again and again—to get that homework done, check in with the coach, or finally read that book, this episode is for

Stress Relief vs. Stress Release: What We All Need In Anxious Times

Hey folks, Ned here. If you’ve ever felt like life’s got you underwater—like you’re just barely catching your breath before the next wave crashes in—this one’s for you. I

Wise Effort with Diana Hill

We all want our kids to thrive—not just survive the pressure of school, sports, and life. But let’s be honest, it’s not easy. Too often we fall back into the same old hab

Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You

In this episode of The Self-Driven Child Podcast, I sit down once again with my good friend and New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo. You probably know Jeff fro

Your Child Is Ready For College. Are You?

Hey folks, Ned here! In this episode, I sit down once again with my friend and co-author Dr. Bill Stixrud for a candid, real-world conversation not just about whether you

Challenge Accepted: 50 Adventures to Make Middle School Awesome

As parents, we often think of middle school as a gauntlet—something our kids just need to survive. But my guest today, education leader, author, and school founder Chris