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The Self-Driven Child: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Ned Johnson
Helping parents raise kids with healthy motivation and resilience in facing life's challenges. Oh, and having more fun while doing it!
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- 3 weeks ago1h 13m
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 place. Drawing from his groundbreaking book 10 to 25, David explains why teens aren’t “lazy” or irrational at all. They’re deeply motivated by status, belonging, respect, and purpose — and when adults learn how to connect healthy behaviors to those drives, everything changes. We also unpack the “mentor mindset” that helps parents...
- Apr 9, 20261h 6m
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 today’s world. We dig into the idea that modern life isn’t just busy—it’s fundamentally out of sync with how humans are wired to live. Stephanie introduces a powerful framework around the “dangerous weather” we’re all navigating and why so many families feel overwhelmed, overstimulated, and stretched thin. Together, we explor...
- Mar 26, 202652 min
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 "nihilistic" violence without clear motives --- many parents and caregivers are left wondering: How do we talk about this with our kids? And more importantly, how do we process our own feelings so that we don't become overwhelmed or paralyzed by fear, uncertainty, or anger? In this episode, Ned speaks with teen mental health...
- Mar 3, 202656 min
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 conversation, I sit down with author and parent coach Michelle Icard to explore why setbacks—real, uncomfortable, sometimes humiliating ones—are not detours from development but the very path toward adulthood. Michelle joins me to talk about her latest book, Eight Setbacks That Can Make a Child a Success, and to unpack why ...
- Jan 29, 202645 min
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 you. In this conversation, I sit down with New York Times bestselling author and researcher Jennifer Wallace to explore one of the most fundamental human needs we rarely name directly: mattering. Jennifer joins me to talk about her latest work and the research behind why feeling valued—for who we are, not just what we d...
- Jan 16, 202635 min
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 doing during the middle school and teen years. We explore why this stage of life is less about “figuring kids out” and more about understanding the intense social, emotional, and neurological work they’re already doing every day. Chris offers a powerful frame that I love: adolescents as identity scientists, running experiments...
- Dec 16, 202538 min
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 hiding in plain sight: sleep. We talk about why so many kids, teens, and frankly adults are walking around chronically exhausted—and what that’s quietly doing to learning, emotional health, and overall well-being. This conversation grew out of a powerful question a student asked us after we issued a real-world “sleep challenge,”...
- Nov 25, 202517 min
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 our kids. If you’ve ever wondered why the things you anticipate don’t always end up being the things that actually fill your heart, you’re not alone. I explore the science behind pleasure versus happiness, why we confuse the two, and how small intentional choices can make the holiday season feel richer, calmer, and more meani...
About The Self-Driven Child
Helping parents raise kids with healthy motivation and resilience in facing life's challenges. Oh, and having more fun while doing it!
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