Mothers of Boys Survival Guide

Divorce is one of the biggest life changes a child can experience, but boys don't always show they're struggling in obvious ways. In this episode, counselor Jarrod Hoffman shares how trauma can affect boys differently, the warning signs parents should watch for, and a simple framework—intensity, frequency, and recency—to help determine when a behavior may be more than a normal reaction to stress. He also explains why fe...

Paying for college can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. In Part 2 of this conversation, Suzy Shaw sits down with college admissions expert Shellee Howard, founder of College Ready, to break down practical strategies for making higher education more affordable. Shellee explains the four ways families can pay for college, how scholarships and financial aid really work, common FAFSA mistakes to av...

What comes after high school? Four-year college, community college, trade school, entrepreneurship, a gap year, or the workforce? With more options—and higher college costs—helping your son choose the right path can feel overwhelming.

In Part 1, Suzy talks with Shellee Howard, founder of College Ready, about helping teens discover their strengths, find their “why,” and make thoughtfu...

As parents, we naturally celebrate our children's achievements—but what if success is hiding anxiety, perfectionism, or self-doubt?

In this episode, elite mental performance coach Dr. Carla Caturia explains why achievement alone doesn't build confidence and shares practical strategies to help boys develop resilience, emotional intelligence, and a strong sense of self. We discuss recognizing the signs of burnout, supporting ch...

As moms, it's easy to believe that successful parenting is about finding the right strategy, solving problems, and helping our children avoid mistakes. But what if the most important work we do as parents has less to do with changing our children and more to do with understanding ourselves?

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, Suzy Shaw talks with Conscious...

Co-parenting can be one of the most challenging aspects of raising children, especially when parents bring different childhood experiences, expectations, and parenting philosophies into the family. In this episode, Katherine Winter-Sellery returns to discuss how parents can communicate more effectively, reduce mixed messages, navigate power struggles, and create greater consistency at home.

Through practical examples and thoughtful...

What if the way we react to our children has more to do with our own upbringing than their behavior?

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, I talk with Katherine Winter-Sellery, founder of the Conscious Parenting Revolution, about how generational patterns, emotional triggers, and fear-based parenting can quietly shape our relationships with our kids.

We discuss: • Why listening changes everything • Parentin...

In this heartfelt episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, Suzy Shaw speaks with author Kate Markland about how storytelling helped her stay connected to her young son during a painful separation. What began as one intentional hour a week of imaginative storytelling evolved into published books, school workshops, and StoryQuest Global, a project helping children become creators instead of cons...

Why do so many boys start saying “I hate school” as early as kindergarten?

In this eye-opening episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide, Suzy Shaw talks with Jennifer Fink—author of Building Boys and The First Time Mom’s Guide to Raising Boys—about why so many boys struggle in elementary school, often long before parents expect it.

From behavior referrals and reading frustration to developmental d...

Teaching kids about money can feel overwhelming—especially when many of us weren’t raised having open conversations about finances ourselves.

In this episode, Geoff Howard, dad of two and CEO of the Money Confidence Project, shares practical ways parents can help tweens, teens, and young adults build confidence with money, develop healthier financial habits, and learn real-world skills that last far beyond childhood.

Fr...

What happens when a boy grows up feeling unseen?

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, Suzy Shaw talks with E.A. Johnson—father, motivational speaker, and creator of the VIBE Success System—about how childhood trauma and the pressure to “tough it out” can shape boys into adulthood.

E.A. shares his journey from abuse, bullying, and addiction to rebuilding his life with purpose and off...

Artificial intelligence is everywhere—but most of our kids are only using it, not understanding it. So the real question is: are we raising kids who can just use technology… or kids who know how to think with it?

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, I talk with tech entrepreneur and Coco Coders' founder Elizabeth Tweedale about why coding and computational thinking are becoming essential life ...

Are you just getting through the day… or intentionally raising a good man?

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide podcast, I talk with Nathaniel Turner, author of Raising Supaman, about how to raise boys with purpose—without adding pressure or perfection to your already full plate.

Nate shares the intentional framework he and his wife used to raise their son as a “Man in Training,” including ...

If you’ve ever wondered how your kids can grow up in the same home yet be completely different, birth order may have more to do with it than you think. In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, Suzy Shaw talks with Dr. Robert Hurst, author of Life’s Fingerprint: How Birth Order Affects Your Path Throughout Life, about how birth order shapes personality, behavior, and sibling dynamics—especiall...

Middle school is a turning point for boys—and for parents. As curiosity grows and boundaries are tested, it can be hard to know what’s normal and what might signal something more concerning.

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, Suzy talks with educator and recovery coach Chris Rogers about risky behavior in middle school boys—how to spot early warning signs and how to respond in a way tha...

Parenting can be joyful, but it can also feel overwhelming. In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, Suzy Shaw talks with mental fitness coach and mom of five, Penny Wilson, about what happens when parenting stress pushes moms into survival mode—and how learning to pause, breathe, and reset can help us respond more calmly in the heat of the moment.

Penny shares practical tools for regulating th...

Some children don’t follow the typical developmental path—and when that happens, many moms suddenly find themselves navigating a maze of evaluations, acronyms, therapies, and school meetings.

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, I talk with special education advocate Michelle Choairy, a mom who knows this journey firsthand. Michelle shares her story of raising her son, who was born prematurely ...

Raising boys on your own can feel overwhelming—but you are not alone.

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide podcast, host Suzy Shaw talks with Pat Hankin, author of The Field Guide for Single Parents, about the real-life challenges and strengths of solo parenting. Drawing on insights from a community of more than 470,000 single parents, Pat shares practical advice on managing finances, building a reliable supp...

Raising kids online can feel overwhelming—especially with AI, gaming, and social media changing faster than most parents can keep up.

In our latest Mothers of Boys Survival Guide podcast, I sit down with a cybersecurity expert and mom of three boys to talk about what parents really need to know about online risks today—from predators and scams to AI and digital privacy.

This is a calm, practical conversation about: ✔️ ...