In this episode, I sit down with Joe Newman, author of the bestselling book Raising Lions and creator of one of the most effective approaches for understanding and motivating difficult behavior in children.
Joe was diagnosed with ADHD in the 1970s, and his own childhood challenges shaped a 30-year career working with the toughest kids and helping parents bring calm, clarity, and confidence back into their homes.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to respond when your child pushes your limits… this episode will change the way you see behavior.
In this episode we discuss:
How Joe developed the Raising Lions method
The role environment plays in shaping a child’s behavior
Why kids (and parents) are more capable than we assume — and how their responses guide us toward better solutions
How conflict functions as a “question” children are asking
Early connectedness and the beginning of separation around 14–18 months
Joe’s “Meet the Hand” philosophy explained
The problem with overwhelming kids with too much information
Why children follow what you do, not what you say
The three behavior types (malignant, benign, impulsive) and how to respond to each
What a “break” is, why it works, and how to do it effectively
How Joe would tweak my break
How kids naturally test the break and what that means for parents
Can you give too many breaks?
Does Joe believe kids are overmedicated?
Why praise can be detrimental
Rapid fire: real-life scenarios
If you found this episode helpful please share it with a parent in need!
To learn more about Joe's method, book a consultation, or purchase his book, visit RaisingLions.com
