Shows
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 17: How to Make College Planning Less Stressful - with Lee Norwood of College SharksIn this episode of The FOCUS Podcast, Taralee sits down with Lee Norwood, founder of College Sharks, to unpack the emotional and logistical challenges families face when preparing teens for college. Lee shares how her virtual platform simplifies the college application journey with clear, bite-sized resources that reduce stress for both students and parents. They dive into everything from choosing the right school, understanding financial aid (including lesser-known programs like the Academic Common Market), and why early, informed planning makes all the difference. Lee also talks about how unintentional pressure from parents can impact teens, and how...2025-08-0828 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 16: Chicken Fried Women with Melissa Radke 🎙 Episode 16 – Chicken Fried Women with Melissa Radke In this special episode of The FOCUS Podcast, I’m joined by the one and only Melissa Radke — bestselling author, speaker, podcast host, and queen of telling it like it is with heart and humor. We talk about her brand-new book, Chicken Fried Women, and the unforgettable, real-life women who shaped her into who she is today. Trust me… you’re going to laugh out loud (hello, pet parade story!). We cover it all — motherhood, marriage, messy family moments, and even Melissa’s obsession with dirty sodas (a kindred spirit...2025-08-0145 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 15: We Are Wired for Connection - The Truth About Why Relationships Matter So MuchIn this episode of The FOCUS Podcast, Taralee explores the real reason relationships can feel so hard—especially with the people we love most. Are we really too busy to connect? Or are we using busyness to avoid the discomfort of disconnection? Drawing on insights from Mel Robbins, Brené Brown, and her own coaching practice, Taralee breaks down the four biggest roadblocks that get in the way of meaningful connection: 👉 The addiction to busyness 👉 Unmanaged thoughts and emotional blind spots 👉 Fear of vulnerability 👉 Emotional immaturity and dysregulation With warmth, clarity, and pr...2025-07-2511 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 14: Why Connection Changes Everything- A Conversation with Todd SarnerEpisode 14 – Why Connection Changes Everything: A Conversation with Todd Sarner What if the most effective parenting strategy isn’t a strategy at all—but a relationship? In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Taralee sits down with parenting coach and psychotherapist Todd Sarner, founder of Transformative Parenting and former faculty member at the Neufeld Institute, for a conversation that every parent needs to hear. Todd shares his personal journey into parenting work, shaped by his own adolescence and deeply informed by attachment science and the teachings of Dr. Gordon Neufeld (Hold On to Your Kids...2025-07-1853 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 13: What You Focus On Expands- 5 Mindset Shifts to Help You Reconnect with Your TeenHave you ever thought, “I just want my child back…” or found yourself in constant conflict, unsure how to repair the relationship? In this powerful episode of The FOCUS Podcast, I’m sharing 5 mindset shifts from my signature FOCUS Framework™ that can help you start rebuilding trust and connection with your teen—starting today. These are the same shifts that changed my relationship with my daughter—and the ones I now teach parents inside The Peaceful Parent Plan™. You’ll learn how to: Get grounded in the Facts instead of assumptions Own your...2025-07-1110 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 12: Summer Transitions: Guiding Your Teen with Calm & Confidence 🎙 Episode 12 – Summer Transitions: Guiding Your Teen with Calm & Confidence Summer break sounds dreamy—no early alarms, no lunch-packing chaos, no school pressure. But for many families, that sudden shift in structure can bring unexpected stress. Teens and young adults may seem unmotivated, disconnected, or emotionally on edge. And as a parent, it’s easy to feel confused or even helpless. In this episode of The FOCUS Podcast, we’re talking about what really happens beneath the surface during seasonal transitions—and how to respond with calm, compassion, and clarity. I’ll walk you through the emotional shift...2025-07-0417 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 11 — More in Control, Less in Control: The Paradox That Sets You Free🎙️ Episode 11 — More in Control, Less in Control: The Paradox That Sets You Free What if one of the most powerful truths you could embrace… is a paradox? In this episode of The FOCUS Podcast with Taralee, we explore a life-changing mindset shift: 👉 You are more in control than you’ve ever believed. 👉 And you have less control than you think. It sounds contradictory, but learning to live in this tension can radically transform how you parent, grieve, love, and grow. I’ll walk you through how this realization reshaped my own story — from cr...2025-06-2708 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 10: Talking with My Son About the Teen Years and BeyondIn this special episode, I sit down with someone who knows my parenting better than anyone else — my 18-year-old son, Tyler. We talk honestly and playfully about the teenage years, what worked, what didn’t, and what helped him feel safe, seen, and supported. He shares candid insights every parent needs to hear — from the hardest parts of being a teen to the ways parents can actually build trust (even when it feels like your teen is pulling away). We also chat about independence, growing up, and what he’d tell his 13-year-old self now that he’...2025-06-2029 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 9: What If Anxiety Is Trying to Help You?Episode 9: What If Anxiety Is Trying to Help You? Anxiety doesn't mean you're broken - it means your brain is trying to protect you. But what if the way it's doing that is outdated, overreactive, or just plain confusing? In this episode of The FOCUS Podcast with Taralee, we explore a whole new way of understanding anxiety—as a signal, not a stop sign. Join me as I break down: 💛 Why anxiety shows up (and what it’s really trying to do) 🧠How your brain’s “ancient wiring” might be working against you2025-06-1314 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 8: When Your Teen Is Anxious and You Don’t Know What to DoWhat do you do when your teen is anxious and you feel helpless? In this heartfelt episode of The FOCUS Podcast, I sit down with my husband for a real and vulnerable conversation about parenting through anxiety. We talk honestly about what it’s like to watch your teen struggle and not know how to help, and the mistakes we’ve made along the way. We share: What anxiety actually looks like in teens (hint: it’s not always what you think) Common parenting reactions that don’t help - and what to...2025-06-0620 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 7: The Power of Emotional Safety: How to Create a Safe Space for Your Teen (and Yourself)Do your conversations with your teen often end in silence…or explosions? You're not alone—and there's a powerful reason why. In this episode of The FOCUS Podcast with Taralee, we explore what emotional safety really means, why it matters so deeply for your relationship with your teen, and how you can begin creating it in everyday interactions. Taralee breaks down the neuroscience behind your teen’s emotional reactivity and offers practical tools to help you shift from conflict to connection. Whether your teen is shutting down, lashing out, or pulling away, this episode will help y...2025-05-3020 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 6: You’re Not Broken—You’re Just HumanEver feel like something is wrong with you because you’re overwhelmed, emotional, or just plain exhausted in your relationships? This episode is a breath of fresh air. I’m pulling back the curtain on what it really means to be human—and why your struggles don’t mean you’re failing. You’ll hear heartfelt stories from clients, get practical mindset tools, and learn: Why “life is 50/50” can free you from guilt and shame How to stop walking on eggshells in your relationships The truth about emotional adulthood—and why it changes everyth...2025-05-2320 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 5 – Unshakable Self-Worth: The Foundation for Better RelationshipsEpisode 5 – Unshakable Self-Worth: The Foundation for Better Relationships Do you feel like you're doing everything you can in your relationships—but it's still not enough? Maybe you’re exhausted from trying to keep the peace, please others, or finally be seen. In this heartfelt and powerful episode, Taralee shares the truth that transformed her life—and the lives of countless coaching clients. You'll learn: Why most of us approach relationships backwards How “The Manual” is sabotaging your peace What real boundaries sound like (without guilt!) Why your worthiness is not up for negotiation—ever How to reclaim...2025-05-1628 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 4: Own Your Thoughts: The Secret to Staying Calm When Your Teen Isn’tIn Episode 4 of The FOCUS Podcast with Taralee, we unpack step two of the FOCUS Model: Own Your Thoughts—a powerful shift that can radically change how you parent, even in the heat of the moment. You'll discover how your thoughts—not your teen’s behavior—create your emotional experience. Taralee shares relatable coaching stories, practical mindset shifts, and simple reflection tools to help you move from reactivity to calm leadership at home. This episode is for every parent who has ever spiraled over a slammed door, a sarcastic comment, or a messy room and thought...2025-05-0923 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 3: Parenting the Moment(and the Aftermath)with FOCUSEver wish you had a reset button after a heated moment with your teen? Or a roadmap for navigating tough conversations without losing your cool? In this powerful episode, Taralee introduces two game-changing versions of her signature FOCUS framework: ✨ Reflective FOCUS — for those moments after the fact, when guilt or confusion creeps in. ✨ Real-Time FOCUS — to guide you through challenging conversations in the moment. You’ll learn how to shift from reacting to responding with intention, regulate your nervous system, and lead with connection—not control. With real-life examples and a free printable to...2025-05-0211 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 2: The FOCUS Framework – A Roadmap to Reconnection and Mental WellnessIf you’ve ever felt like your teen or young adult is shutting down emotionally, and you don’t know how to reach them, this episode is for you. In this heartfelt solo episode, parent coach Taralee shares her powerful FOCUS Framework: five key shifts that help parents reconnect with their struggling child, especially when anxiety, depression, or distance has taken hold. From understanding emotional shutdowns to choosing calm responses in tense moments, this episode is packed with real-life stories, gentle mindset shifts, and actionable tools. You’ll learn: Why your brain jumps to “th...2025-04-2520 min
The FOCUS Podcast with TaraleeEpisode 1: What You Focus on Expands In this first episode of The Focus Podcast with Taralee, I share the personal story behind my coaching practice, Peaceful Heart Journey, and introduce a powerful truth that has transformed how I work with parents: ✨ What you focus on expands. If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your teen, overwhelmed by the silence or daily struggles, this episode is your starting point for creating meaningful change. I’ll guide you through one simple mindset shift you can begin using right away to build connection and hope in your parenting journey. 🎧 Subscribe and stay tuned for pract...2025-04-1516 min