Shows
webe TogetherThe Connection Dance: A 4-Week Journey from Conflict to ConnectionWhat if conflict wasn’t something to avoid—or “win”—but something that could actually create more connection?In today’s podcast episode, Matthew Lederman introduces a new 4-week course on transforming conflict into connection.This course isn’t about saying the “right” words.It’s about creating safety, clarity, and connection—so needs can be seen, valued, and met.✨ Each week includes:• Short, practical lessons• Real-life integration• An AI coach that helps you apply the tools to your actual conversationsStart Transforming Conflict Into Connection🎧 Listen to t...
2026-02-1305 minwebe TogetherEp. 55: The High Cost of Being Right: Why Your “Helpful Corrections” Might Be Quietly Breaking Your RelationshipsWhen does “being accurate” become the very thing that disconnects us from the people we love most? In this episode, Matt & Alona pull back the curtain on the subtle — and often invisible — ways our instinct to correct, fix, and fact-check can shut down our kids, silence our partners, and sabotage the connection we’re actually longing for. ❤️🔥We explore why “connection before correction” isn’t just a catchy line — it’s a nervous-system shift, a mindset reset, and a relational game-changer. You’ll hear stories about kids crumpling when we try to “fix” their pain, how correcting your spouse in public creates shame...
2025-11-2533 minwebe TogetherEp. 54: Stop Being “Right.” Start Being Close. 💬❤️What if your need to be right is actually what’s breaking your connection? In this episode, Matt & Alona unpack how “correcting” can quietly shut down your child—or partner—and how to shift from facts to feelings instead. You’ll learn a 4-step pause that replaces fixing with empathy and helps you connect before you correct.Moments that hit home:✨ When your kid says “nobody likes me” — and why “that’s not true” misses the moment.💔 The “helpful” correction that made a child shut down.💡 Why couples jump in to be “right,” and how waiting protects closeness.Hav...
2025-11-0442 minwebe TogetherEp. 53: Your child isn’t “too sensitive”—you’re under-connecting. Try “The Gift.”You’ll learn how to receive tough feedback from your kids (and partners) without spiraling into shame or defensiveness, and how to turn “you embarrassed me” into a deeper bond—not a bigger rift. We unpack “The Gift,” a simple framework to let their feelings land, repair fast, and create third-way solutions where everyone’s needs matter. You’ll also hear why empathy isn’t coddling—it’s a multi-generational superpower that shapes who our kids become. 🌱Moments that may sting (and change you):“Don’t hug me at pickup.” How to translate the pain, validate belonging needs...
2025-10-2745 minwebe TogetherEp. 52: Chased by Love, Cornered by Truth: Are You Brave Enough to Hear Your Child’s “Gift”? 🎁🔥You’ll hear Matt & Alona flip the script on “feedback” — turning unmet needs into a loving gift that deepens trust instead of detonating connection. They walk through real moments at home, show you how to receive a “gift” with genuine excitement (yes, even when it stings), and model the exact words to repair without defensiveness. You’ll also hear Alona’s raw confession about a parenting moment that cut against her core values — and how her daughter’s “I have a gift” became the bridge back to closeness.Challenging highlights you’ll want to hear:“The Gift” mindset: shar...
2025-10-2149 minwebe TogetherEp. 51 with Veena: Stop Teaching ‘Perfect.’ Start Modeling Love, Choice, and RepairChallenging highlights you’ll want to hear:Former Miss California and mom Veena shares how a 30-day, low-oil/low-salt reset and “taste the rainbow” bowls transformed her energy—and her kids’ plates. 🍓🍋🍅 Matt & Alona unpack collaborative parenting (think NVC “natural giraffe”), where kids get real choices—eat your greens or drink them?—and parents lead by modeling, not mandates. 🦒✨ The marriage micro-habits that shift a whole home: weekly Sunday check-ins and a daily 6–7 second kiss to reconnect nervous systems (and let the kids witness repair). 💬❤️🩹 Lean-in moments that might sting (in a good way):“Perfect is the enemy of good”—ordering Swe...
2025-10-1546 minwebe TogetherEp. 50: Stop Starving Your Worth: Veena Goel on Mom Burnout, Body Image, and the 30-Day Reboot That Actually StuckChallenging highlights you’ll want to hear:From baton-twirling 🎀 Miss California to a mom juggling work, sleep 😴, and school drop-offs 🚗—Veena gets real about the moment a 13-year-old’s crush 💔 triggered years of body dysmorphia, how “doing it all” quietly kills self-care, and why a plant-forward 30-day reset (think low-oil, low-salt, whole-foods…yes, even potatoes 🥔) skyrocketed her sleep quality, slashed inflammation 🔥, and brought her energy ⚡—and presence—back to her family. You’ll hear the messy middle: pre-eating before events 🍽️, airport food fails ✈️🍔, embracing grace over guilt ❤️, and teaching kids to notice how food actually feels in their bodies 👨👩👧👦.Three listen-in...
2025-09-3047 minwebe TogetherEp. 49: Chasing Success, Losing Yourself?Wake-Up Call Time!Matt & Alona unpack with Marcos Spaziani's how relentless hustle, 16-hour days, and “I’ll get healthy later” thinking crash into reality… and how to pivot toward inner boundaries, sleep, connection, and delicious plant-powered eating that actually sticks. 🍽️💥🌱 Lean-in moments that might sting (in the best way):“Early detection is late detection.” Why waiting for labs to flag trouble is a dangerous myth—and what to do now.The grind lies: building an empire while your body breaks. Marcos’ hospital wake-ups vs. the fantasy of “I’ll rest after launch.”Inner boundaries >...
2025-09-2353 minwebe TogetherEp. 48: Evergreen High School - Charlie Kirk, what do we tell our kids about these horrific acts?Quit Telling Your Kids “You’re Safe.” Teach Them How to Face Violence—Without Losing Their Humanity.When your child sees a real shooting video or hears about school violence, the instinct is to soothe, distract, or promise safety. Matt & Alona push back. They show you how to sit in the fear together, regulate first, name what happened honestly, offer real empathy, and only then reassure—without false promises. They also tackle the deeper trap: how “us vs. them” language and dehumanization at home quietly trains kids to accept violence as normal. You’ll learn the sim...
2025-09-1246 minwebe TogetherEP. 47: Stop Waiting for “After the Rush” ⏳🔥 Chef Marcos’ Hard Truth on Hustle & HealthChallenging highlights you’ll want to hear:🌍 From dishwasher with no English to executive chef in 3 months, Marcos cooked for presidents, celebrities, and sports legends. He starred on TV, lost his restaurant to betrayal, then clawed it back stronger.💪 A 30-day plant-based reset gave him energy, weight loss, and freedom from pain… until the grind pulled him back into 16-hour days, junk food, and dangerous health scares.⚡ This episode is a wake-up call for anyone telling themselves, “I’ll take care of me later.”Stories that...
2025-09-0948 minwebe TogetherEp. 46 - Laugh It Off—or Hide Behind It? How Humor Builds (and Breaks) Connection at Home 😅👉❤️When is a joke a bridge—and when is it a shield? In this episode, Matt & Alona get real about humor as a parenting and partnership superpower… and a sneaky escape hatch from vulnerability. You’ll hear how laughter can regulate a tense nervous system, turn bickering into bonding (hello, surprise British accent), and even help kids feel safer after a misstep. You’ll also hear when jokes land like criticism, mask discomfort, or block repair—and how to course-correct without killing the vibe. From the episode:• 🍲 The “casserole” confession: how using light, cari...
2025-09-0232 minwebe TogetherEp. 45 w/ guest Chris Spencer: Jokes blocking your kid’s heart? When humor heals—and when it hurts 🤐❤️🩹Comedian/producer Chris Spencer joins Matt & Alona to unpack how humor can be a bridge to connection—or a wall that hides our real feelings. From a “hickeys & frozen spoons” teen moment 😳🥄 to laughing through grief, to intimacy cramps that turn into days of belly laughs 😂—this episode gets real about emotional safety at home. We also explore culture, presence, and why simple, steady communication keeps families close (and kids honest). A few spicy moments that might challenge you (in a good way):Are you using jokes to dodge vulnerability? When humor masks discomfort...
2025-08-2630 minwebe TogetherEp. 44: When “Guidance” Becomes Control: Are You Building Trust...or Quiet Resentment?You love your kid and want the best—yet your “help” keeps landing as control. In this episode, Matt & Alona flip the script with Values in the Mirror, a tool that swaps power plays for collaboration so your child learns to steer with their own compass. Expect honest letters from real parents, zero judgment, and practical language you can use tonight. 🧭🤝Challenging highlights you’ll want to hear:🍩 The 6 a.m. donut before a race—how one parent turned “Put that down” into a values check that ended with a banana now, donu...
2025-08-1939 minwebe TogetherEp. 43-When "Guidance" Feels Like Control — Why Your Kid Pushes Back (and How to Change It)Ever try to guide your child with ❤️ only to end up as “the enemy”? 😅 Matt and Alona unpack why even well-intentioned boundaries around 📱 devices, 🍦 junk food, or commitments can trigger resistance—especially in strong-willed kids 💪.From ice cream showdowns 🍨 to summer camp standoffs 🎪, they explore how control sparks rebellion 🚫 (or resentful submission 😤) and how shifting to true collaboration builds connection 🤝 instead of conflict.💡 Hear how they use real-life parenting fails (including a Halloween candy overload 🎃🍬 and an epic camp meltdown) to reveal a roadmap for keeping shared fami...
2025-08-1254 minwebe TogetherEp. 42: 💣 Are You Dropping Emotional Bombs or Building Connection?What if the way you're venting to your partner is actually pushing them away—and your kids are watching it all unfold? In this episode, Matt & Alona get real about emotional spirals, invisible resentments, and those subtle daily habits that either build connection or destroy it 💥.Hear the powerful tool called the "30-second container" that transforms explosive moments into connection—even if your partner laughs it off. 🧠 Learn why rituals like a 2-minute hug at pickup, authentic thank-yous, and “hard hugs” with your kids can radically shift your family’s emotional climate.💔 Feeling seen...
2025-08-0547 minwebe TogetherEp. 41: What happens when we stop caring for our partners the way we care for our kids?Is your relationship running on logistics and low fuel? This episode calls out what so many parents feel but never name — the subtle, painful erosion of connection with the person you once couldn’t stop touching. 😮💨 Matt and Alona get real about what happens when we pour everything into our kids and forget to show up for our partners... and ourselves.🧠 Matt & Alona share personal moments that will feel uncomfortably familiar:That moment you vent your frustrations without warning — and accidentally trigger a defensive warzone.The difference between showing up for your kids with warmth and for your partner...
2025-07-2949 minwebe TogetherEP. 40: How our Presence Shapes Connection-Letters from our listenersChallenging highlights you'll want to hear:In this episode of webe Parents, Matt and Alona dive into the uncomfortable truth: most of us walk around performing connection instead of living it. 🙃 We force smiles, suppress our real feelings, and accidentally teach our kids—and partners—to do the same.They’ll unpack why authentic presence matters more than “getting it right” and how chasing joy from the outside inleaves us disconnected from ourselves and those we love. 🎭🔥 Hear about the viral moment when a parent’s tears on the first day of preschool overshadowe...
2025-07-2245 minwebe TogetherEp. 39: Stop Waiting for Joy: How Parents Unknowingly Teach Their Kids to DisconnectChallenging Highlights You’ll Want to Hear:Are you unintentionally modeling disconnection for your kids? In this raw and uplifting episode, Matt and Alona dive deep into how presence—not perfection—shapes the emotional environment of your family. They break down why joy isn’t something that happens after you finish your to-do list, but something you can cultivate in every moment—even when life feels overwhelming.Matt shares a personal story about hiking Runyon Canyon, discovering how a simple wave or smile can change not just your day, but the energy you bring to your re...
2025-07-1553 minwebe TogetherEp. 38: You're Not Stressed—You're Unsafe: Why Your Body Is Paying the Price with Dr. Steve Cole (Part 2)😳 What if your stress isn’t just in your head, but coded into your biology? In this deeply personal and scientific episode, Matt & Alona sit down with Dr. Steve Cole to explore how your body responds to the vibe of your relationships, your thoughts, and even your to-do list.💥 The body doesn’t just react to danger — it prepares for it, and most of us are unknowingly telling our systems to brace every single day. From relationship disconnection to unspoken loneliness, these cues are impacting your genes, your immune system, and your children’s well-being.💔 You’ll want to he...
2025-07-0848 minwebe TogetherEp. 37: Kid’s Immune System Isn’t Just About Germs — It’s About You: With Dr. Steve ColeYour Kid’s Immune System Isn’t Just About Germs — It’s About You🔥 What if your child’s immune system is actually responding to you? In this eye-opening episode, Matt & Alona sit down with Dr. Steve Cole, a pioneering social genomics researcher, to expose the invisible ways our relationships — and even our vibes — shape our family’s biology. From chronic disease to viral vulnerability, connection turns out to be a major health intervention.😳 Dr. Cole explains how emotional disconnection, unpredictable social environments, and even parenting in “survival mode” can silently activate stress responses in our ki...
2025-07-0152 minwebe TogetherEp. 36: Stop Living Like a Parent Martyr: Your Kids Need the Real You💥 Ever feel like you're parenting on empty? This episode of the webe Pärents podcast might just shake you awake. Drs. Matt and Alona dive deep into the silent epidemic of parental burnout — not from neglect, but from over-devotion. If you’ve ever felt like your identity is swallowed by your kid’s schedule, or your marriage feels more like a carpooling contract, this one hits hard.🚨 You’ll hear:A mom who cheered at every game—until a panic attack in the parking lot forced her to face the truth.A dad who gave his son “everything”—...
2025-06-2435 minwebe TogetherEp. 35: Stop Punishing, Start Impacting: Why Your Kids Keep Breaking Agreements (and What To Do Instead)🚨 Tired of Repeating Yourself? You’re Not Alone.Every parent has been there: you make an agreement with your kid, they break it, and your gut says “punish”—but what if there’s a better way? In this powerful episode, Matt and Alona dive into the rollercoaster ride of parenting through broken agreements, emotional exhaustion, and the choice to lead with connection instead of control. 💥💬 From iPads and missed curfews to dishwashers and forgotten promises, they show us how the real power comes when we shift from punishment to impact—when your child doesn't just re...
2025-06-1750 minwebe TogetherEp. 34: When They Stop Reaching for Your Hand: Letting Go Without Losing Them🔥 Podcast Summary:🥲 Remember the first time they reached for your hand? What happens when they stop? In this powerful episode, Matt and Alona explore the raw, heart-tugging transitions every parent faces — when our kids pull away, grow up, and evolve beyond our rituals.💔 A mom grieves the end of morning hair-braiding — until a quiet tea ritual emerges. A dad wrestles with his son’s refusal to hold hands. And a parent mourns the disconnect from their newlywed daughter, questioning who they even are now. These aren't just stories — they’re mirrors.🧠 What if the key to sta...
2025-06-1033 minwebe TogetherEp. 33: Letting Go: If You're Holding On, You're Already Losing: Why Letting Go is the Hardest (and Most Loving) Thing a Parent Can DoEver felt your child slipping through your fingers as they grow? 😩 In this episode of webe Pärents, Matt & Alona tackle the brutal truth every parent faces: the only constant in parenting… is change. From outgrowing tiaras to resisting bedtime stories, this conversation dives deep into why clinging tighter is actually disconnecting us from our kids — and how letting go might be the most connected thing you can do.💥 You’ll hear how grief is not your enemy — it’s proof of your love.💔 Why your child might push you away on purpose just to protect thei...
2025-06-0344 minwebe TogetherEp. 32 - Letters: Parenting on Empty💥 You’re Not Just Tired — You’re Disappearing 💥😮💨 Ever feel like you're running a taxi service instead of living your life? This week, Matt & Alona dive into the raw truth so many parents are living: we're parenting on empty — and it’s breaking more than just our energy. This isn’t about self-care bubbles or spa days. It’s about reclaiming your identity, your marriage, and your worth before it all vanishes beneath your kid’s schedule.🔥 Panic attacks in parking lots. Marriages reduced to logistics. Parents who can’t even remember what they like anymore. These stories will hit har...
2025-05-2733 minwebe TogetherEp. 31: Parenting on Empty-You’re Not Failing — You’re Just ExhaustedWhat if your exhaustion wasn’t a sign you’re doing it wrong — but proof you’ve been doing too much for too long? 😮💨 In this soul-shifting episode of webe Pärents, Matt & Alona crack open the “Super Parent” myth and expose how hustle culture is silently draining joy, connection, and self-worth from families.😩 Ever feel like your identity is swallowed by your child’s schedule?🤯 Wonder why brushing your teeth alone feels like a luxury?💔 Hear the moment Matt confesses that showing up to all six of his daughters’ identical performances nearly broke him — and what they finally did instead.
2025-05-2043 minwebe TogetherEp. 30 - 💥 Are Your Kids Trusting AI More Than You? What That Might Say About You 💥What if your child confided in AI before coming to you? 😳 In this episode of webe Pärents, Matt & Alona get deeply personal, sharing the emotional, surprising, and sometimes unsettling ways AI is showing up in family life. This isn’t your typical tech talk — it’s a raw, real look at how connection, parenting, and emotional support are being reshaped by artificial intelligence.🤯 One child said Amari, the AI coach, made her feel so deeply heard it brought tears to her eyes.💔 Another reached out to AI during a conflict — because they didn’t feel safe talking...
2025-05-1348 minwebe TogetherEpisode 29: A family group chat explodes over politics. A 9-year-old parrots a divisive comment from school. A parent watches herself repeat the same judgmental tone she swore she'd never use.Disagreeing Without Disconnecting-Letters from our listeners: A family group chat explodes over politics. A 9-year-old parrots a divisive comment from school. A parent watches herself repeat the same judgmental tone she swore she'd never use.Episode 29 of webe Parents is raw, real, and wildly useful: it dives into what happens when disagreement becomes disconnection—and how to change that pattern, starting today.Drs. Alona Pulde and Matthew Lederman don’t shy away from the mess. Instead, they introduce the Three C Bridge—a powerful tool for staying Curious, Compassionate, and Connected even when you’re...
2025-05-0639 minwebe TogetherEp. 28 - Disagreeing without disconnecting in an increasingly polarized worldIn today's increasingly polarized world, disagreement often leads to disconnection — but it doesn’t have to. In this episode of webe Pärents, Drs. Alona Pulde and Matthew Lederman explore how we can model compassionate disagreement for our children, teaching them that connection can thrive even when opinions differ. Using the “Three C Bridge” — Curiosity, Compassion, and Connection — they offer real-life examples, practical tools, and inspiring insights for staying grounded, even during the toughest conversations. Discover how empathy, not agreement, becomes the path toward stronger families and a more united future.In this episode, you’ll learn:W...
2025-04-2941 minwebe TogetherEP. 27 - When Parenting Becomes Your Identity - Letters from our listenersEver feel like you're more than just a soccer mom or the homework helper? 😅 In this episode, Drs. Alona Pulde & Matthew Lederman dive deep into the subtle (and often sneaky) ways we lose ourselves in our kids’ lives.💡 Real stories from parents like: ✨ Lisa, the dance mom who found herself (and a new photography biz) after her daughter left for college.🏈 Mark, the football dad who reconnected with his son beyond the game.🧠 A dad who realized his academic pressure was turning love into stress.🛠️ Learn the Triple A Tool – Awareness, Adj...
2025-04-1529 minwebe TogetherEP. 26 - When does support become pressure?In this heartfelt episode of webe Pärents, Dr. Alona Pulde and Dr. Matt Lederman explore the often hidden emotional struggles of parenting—from feeling unseen to navigating meltdowns (both our kids’ and our own). They dive into how early childhood experiences shape our reactions today, why “meeting needs” is at the heart of every behavior, and how guilt-free parenting starts with self-connection.You’ll hear:Why showing up for yourself is the first step to showing up for your kidsA fresh lens on tantrums: what your child’s behavior is really telling youHow our own unmet needs a...
2025-04-0842 minwebe TogetherEP. 25 - The Power of Co-Regulation: How Letters Can Strengthen Your Connection with Your ChildEver had a moment where your child was overwhelmed, shutting down, or struggling to express their emotions? Instead of pushing for a conversation, try this: write them a letter. ✍️💙In this episode, we dive into the power of co-regulation through letter writing—a heartfelt way to help kids feel seen, heard, and safe. Whether it’s a note slipped under their pillow after a tough day or a message left in their lunchbox to remind them they’re loved, these small gestures can make a big impact.✨ Imagine your child waking up to a letter...
2025-04-0132 minwebe TogetherEp. 24: The Secret to a Calmer Home: How Your Emotions Shape Your Child’s BehaviorIn this episode of webe Parents, Dr. Alona Pulde and Dr. Matthew Lederman explore a powerful yet often overlooked parenting tool: co-regulation. Unlike self-regulation, which requires children to manage their emotions on their own, co-regulation is the process of parents helping their children regulate their nervous systems through calm and connected presence.Discover how your own emotions ripple through your family, affecting your child’s ability to handle stress, tantrums, and transitions. Learn simple yet transformative tools—like the reset ritual and the webe breath—to create a calmer, more connected home. Whether it’s bedtime struggles, sibling...
2025-03-2534 minwebe TogetherEp. 23: Chronic Illness-Letters from our Listeners💙 Parenting a child with a chronic illness can feel like an emotional rollercoaster—one filled with fear, guilt, exhaustion, and endless searching for answers. In this episode of webe Pärents, Dr. Alona Pulde and Dr. Matthew Lederman open up about their own struggles as their daughter’s Crohn’s disease flared, forcing them to confront not only her pain but also their own emotional patterns.They also share powerful listener stories:🔹 Miguel and his wife, who felt completely alone caring for their child—until they found a support group that changed everything.🔹 Sarah, who was so consumed by...
2025-03-1832 minwebe TogetherEp. 22 - When Love Isn’t Enough: Parenting Through Chronic IllnessHow do you keep going when, despite your best efforts, your child’s health isn’t improving? In this deeply personal episode of webe Pärents, Dr. Alona Pulde and Dr. Matthew Lederman open up about the emotional and mental toll of parenting a child with chronic illness.They share their own journey with their daughter’s Crohn’s disease, the challenges of balancing medical decisions with emotional connection, and the guilt, frustration, and helplessness that come with it. More importantly, they offer a roadmap to navigating these moments with resilience, presence, and compassion—both for your child and y...
2025-03-1143 minwebe TogetherEp. 21 - Micro Connections at work - How You Can Strengthen Relationship in Everyday MomentsIn this episode of webe Parents, Dr. Alona Pulde and Dr. Matthew Lederman explore the transformative impact of micro connections—the small but powerful moments of connection that can strengthen relationships amid the chaos of everyday life. Learn practical strategies for building emotional closeness with your partner, children, and family without waiting for the "perfect" moment. Hear real-life success stories and actionable tools, including The Connection Pause, that make deep connection possible—even in the busiest of schedules.🗣 "Connection isn't a luxury—it’s a lifeline." – Dr. Alona Pulde💙 "Think of it like a bank account...
2025-03-0440 minwebe TogetherEp. 20 MicroConnections: The Secret to Stronger Relationships ✨Parenting is chaotic. Life is busy. But deep connection doesn’t have to wait for the "perfect moment"—because let’s be real, that moment never comes. In this episode of webe Parents, Dr. Matthew Lederman and Dr. Alona Pulde dive into the power of micro connections—small, intentional moments that keep relationships strong, even in the middle of life’s chaos.💛 What You’ll Learn:✔️ How a 30-second hug can shift the emotional tone of your day✔️ Why eye contact and a simple smile can make all...
2025-02-2553 min