🎙️ Hey Other Parents — S04E009: Big Milestones, Bigger Pressure?

This week we’re talking about big milestone celebrations — Bar Mitzvahs, Sweet 16s, and Quinceañeras — and the quiet pressure that comes with them.

Are we throwing the party our kids actually want… or the one we feel expected to throw?

We look back at the milestone events we attended as kids — the fancy ones, the overwhelming ones, the ones where we felt left out — and then shift to what it feels like being the parent who now has to plan (and pay). From social media comparison to invisible competition, we ask the uncomfortable question: are we creating a memory for our child… or proving something to other adults?

We explore big parties vs. big trips, what “big” really means, and how to ask better questions so your child feels seen instead of pressured. Because a milestone doesn’t need an audience to count.

If your kid looks back and remembers feeling loved, relaxed, and understood… you did it right.

🔌 Parenting Unplugged

Heit: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman (Book 2 & 3)

Sara: The Servants of Twilight (Dean Koontz audiobook)

Levine: Trying something new — Top Golf

❓ Question of the Week

Do you prefer a big party or a big trip?

📞 Join the Conversation

📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437)

📩 Email: [email protected]

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyotherparents

This is S04E009: Hey Other Parents Episode 065 — an honest discussion about raising kids.

Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents

Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co

🎙️ Hey Other Parents — S04E008: AI and Parenting: What Kids Need From Us Now (feat. Liam)

This week, we’re talking about AI — what it is, what it isn’t, and how parents can help their kids use it without panic or blind trust. What starts as a funny attempt to let AI solve a simple parenting problem quickly turns into a bigger conversation about cheating vs. learning, critical thinking, and why “AI knows everything” is a dangerous assumption.

We’re joined by special guest Liam, who brings a student perspective to how AI is actually being used in school (not just how adults think it’s being used). We break down the good, the bad, and the lazy uses of AI, why better prompts matter, and why this technology isn’t going anywhere — making guidance far more useful than avoidance.

This episode is about curiosity over fear, helping kids think for themselves, and learning how to navigate AI as a tool instead of treating it like magic.

🔌 Parenting Unplugged

• Heit: Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Stole Time (co-op with Liam)

• Sara: The Rip (Matt Damon & Ben Affleck)

• Levine: 100Hz Insignia monitor

❓ Question of the Week

How do you feel about AI right now — excited, nervous, or totally unsure? How are you handling it with your kids?

Join the Conversation

📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437)

📩 Email: [email protected]

This is S04E008: Hey Other Parents Episode 064 — an honest discussion about raising kids.

Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents

Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co

🎙️ HEY OTHER PARENTS – Date Night Doesn’t Have to Be Dinner!

This week, we’re talking about date night — and why it doesn’t have to revolve around going out to dinner to count.

We dig into the idea that the real goal isn’t the restaurant, the reservation, or the perfect plan — it’s spending time together. Whether it’s a quick window between responsibilities or something totally unplanned, connection matters more than the setting.

From chaotic restaurant dates gone wrong to creative, low-pressure ways to reconnect, this episode is about zooming out and focusing on the bigger picture: being together.

🎧 In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Why dinner doesn’t have to be the centerpiece of date night

• Short, low-pressure dates that still feel meaningful

• Creative alternatives to restaurants

• Making the most of limited time

• Romantic vs. practical connection

• Multi-part dates and daytime options

• The planner vs. non-planner dynamic

• When it’s okay to leave the kids — and when it’s not

🔌 Parenting Unplugged

• Heit:

Fallout – Season 2

• Sara: Planners (Hobonichi dupes & Sunee planners)

• Levine:

World of Warcraft — Next Expansion & Player Housing update

❓ Question of the Week

What’s a creative, fun, or unexpectedly great date you’ve been on that didn’t revolve around going out to eat?

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📞 Join the Conversation

📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437)

📩 Email: [email protected]

📱 Instagram: @HeyOtherParents

⭐ Support the Show

If you’d like to help support Hey Other Parents and keep episodes like this coming, there’s a donation link in the show notes.

If not, sharing the show or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps more than you know.

🎧 New episodes drop Fridays.

This is S04E007: Hey Other Parents Episode 063 — an honest discussion about raising kids.

Thanks for hanging out with us this week. Hug your kids, charge those Chromebooks, and we’ll see you next time on Hey Other Parents.

Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents

Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co

🎙️ HEY OTHER PARENTS – S04E006: Raising a Child With Autism

This week, we sit down with our friend, Michael Orlep, for an honest conversation about raising a child with autism — beyond labels, assumptions, and stereotypes.

We talk about recognizing early differences, advocating for support, navigating school systems, balancing protection with independence, and preparing kids for adulthood. This episode is about seeing the whole child, supporting the whole family, and understanding that progress doesn’t follow one timeline.

🎧 In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Noticing early signs that your child’s needs might be different

• Advocating for academic and social support

• Private vs. public school experiences

• Social challenges that aren’t always visible

• High-functioning labels and hidden struggles

• Balancing support with independence

• Preparing kids for adulthood and self-advocacy

• What parents wish they had known earlier

🔌 Parenting Unplugged

• Heit: Fantasy Life I

• Sara: His & Hers (Netflix)

• Levine: The Studio (Apple TV+)

❓ Question of the Week

What’s a misunderstanding people have about autism?

📞 Join the Conversation

📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437)

📩 Email: [email protected]

📱 Instagram: @HeyOtherParents

⭐ Support the Show

If you’d like to help support Hey Other Parents and keep episodes like this coming, there’s a donation link in the show notes.

If not, sharing the show or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps more than you know.

🎧 New episodes drop Fridays.

This is S04E006: Hey Other Parents Episode 062 — an honest discussion about raising kids.

Thanks for hanging out with us this week. Hug your kids, charge those Chromebooks, and we’ll see you next time on Hey Other Parents.

Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents

Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co

🎙️ HEY OTHER PARENTS – S04E005: Teacher Feedback — What They Wish Parents Knew

This week, we’re talking about the things teachers wish parents understood — the stuff that rarely makes it into emails, conferences, or back-to-school nights.

Inspired by honest conversations and very real educator feedback, we dig into what school looks like from the other side, why some behaviors don’t magically transfer from home to the classroom, and how good intentions can turn into accidental rescue missions.

It’s not about blame. It’s about perspective, empathy, and remembering that everyone is figuring this out in real time.

🔌 Time to Unplug

Because parents need something that isn’t about the kids.

Heit: Stranger Things finale

Sara: Being more intentional with daily time — walks, space, and small resets

Levine: Hitting the gym before work 💪

❓ Question of the Week

What’s the most interesting, awkward, or unexpected phone call you’ve ever gotten from your kid’s school?

📞 Join the Conversation

📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437)

📩 Email: [email protected]

📱 Instagram: @HeyOtherParents

⭐ Support the Show

If you’d like to help support Hey Other Parents and keep episodes like this coming, there’s a donation link in the show notes.

If not, sharing the show or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps more than you know.

🎧 New episodes drop Fridays.

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This is S04E005: Hey Other Parents Episode 064 — an honest discussion about raising kids.

Thanks for hanging out with us this week. Hug your kids, charge those Chromebooks, and we’ll see you next time on Hey Other Parents.

Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents

Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co

Hey Other Parents – S04E004: Small Changes, Big Impact

Tiny wins can make a big difference.

This week, we’re talking about the small systems, habits, and cheap fixes that quietly make parenting school-age kids more manageable. These aren’t miracle hacks — just realistic changes that help mornings run smoother, reduce arguments, and keep parents (mostly) calm.

We cover routines, independence, screen-time boundaries, and the little purchases that actually pull their weight.

❓ Question of the Week:

What’s your biggest tiny win as a parent?

📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437)

📩 Email: [email protected]

📱 Instagram: @HeyOtherParents

🔌 Parenting Unplugged:

Michael — The Puzzled Patron

Sara D — The Beast in Me

Mike Levine — Stranger Things

🎧 New episodes drop Fridays.

This is S04E004: Hey Other Parents Episode 063 — an honest discussion about raising kids.

Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents

Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co

🎙️ In This Episode:

This week, we’re talking about the parenting double standards that somehow still exist — even in 2025.

Why is a dad praised for doing basic parenting tasks while a mom is questioned for the same thing? When did “babysitting your own kids” become a thing, and why won’t it die?

We dig into how we were raised, how expectations followed us into adulthood, and how judgment shows up differently depending on who’s doing the parenting. From doctor visits to park trips to household responsibilities, the bar is uneven — and we’re calling it out.

🔌 Parenting Unplugged:

Because parents need a break too.

• Heit:

Dinner Time Live with David Chang (Netflix)

• Sara:

All Her Fault (Netflix)

• Mike Levine:

Diablo IV (Xbox / PS5 / Steam / Battle.net on PC)

❓ Question of the Week

What’s a parenting double standard you’ve noticed — growing up or right now?

📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437)

📩 Email: [email protected]

📱 Instagram: @HeyOtherParents

🎯 Support Hey Other Parents

If you enjoy the show, consider donating to help us keep making it — or share the episode with a friend and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more than you know.

🎧 New episodes drop Fridays — join us for another honest discussion about raising kids.

This is S04E003: Hey Other Parents Episode 062 — an honest discussion about raising kids.

Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents

Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co

🎁 Bonus Episode Drop: The Receipts 🧾

Last week, we did the thing you’re never supposed to do — we actually scored our New Year’s resolutions.

So now it only felt right to post the episode where all of those goals were born.

This bonus episode takes you back to New Year’s Eve 2023 into 2024, when we confidently set our 2024 resolutions, talked big about family goals, and genuinely believed we were about to crush it.

If you just listened to S04E002: Dropping the Ball, this is the perfect companion episode. You’ll hear the original intentions, the competitive energy, the food-based rewards, and the optimism that only exists before January reality hits.

Some goals held up.

Some quietly disappeared.

And some… make last week’s scoring even funnier in hindsight.

Think of this as:

• the origin story

• the “before” picture

• and the receipts we probably shouldn’t have kept

Listen back. Judge gently. Or don’t. We didn’t.

🎧 This is a bonus re-release from Season 2, shared to pair with our latest episode.

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📞 Join the Conversation

What goals did you set for yourself — and which ones didn’t survive past February?

Voice/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437)

Email: [email protected]

We might feature your message in a future episode.

🎧 New episodes drop Fridays — subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

🖤 Follow us on Instagram: @HeyOtherParents

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❓ Question of the Week

What New Year’s resolution were you most confident about… and how did it actually go?

Voice/Text: 559-537-5437

Email: [email protected]

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🎯 Support Hey Other Parents

https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents

https://www.patreon.com/HeyOtherParents

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S02 BONUS | Series Episode 40

Intro voice recording done by the one and only Koltrane

Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents

Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co

HEY OTHER PARENTS – S04E002: Dropping the Ball

🎙️ In This Episode:

This week, we’re doing the thing you’re not supposed to do — looking back at last year’s New Year’s resolutions and actually scoring them.

We talk about which goals worked, which ones quietly fell apart, and why effort matters way more than perfection. January confidence was high. Reality showed up fast.

We revisit our scoring system, bring back some friendly trash talk, and yes… there are real consequences on the line.

🎯 Winner Choices (2025–26)

You’ll have to listen to find out who wins 👀

The winner gets to choose a group reward for 2025–26:

• Sara D:

paint night outing 🎨

• Heit:

Sara D joins us for a D&D session 🐉🎲

• Mike Levine:

family trip to a local theme park 🎢

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❓ Question of the Week

What was your biggest New Year’s resolution disappointment this year?

📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437)

📩 Email: [email protected]

📱 Instagram: @HeyOtherParents

🎯 Support Hey Other Parents

If you enjoy the show, consider donating to help us keep making it — or share the episode with a friend and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more than you know.

🎧 New episodes drop Fridays — join us for another honest discussion about raising kids.

Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents

HEY OTHER PARENTS – S04E001: Act Your Age! Staying Young at Heart, Fun vs. Cringe

🎉 Season 4 Premiere

We’re back! Season 4 kicks off with a big parenting question that doesn’t come with an instruction manual:

Do parents actually have to stop doing “childish” things… or is that rule completely made up?

🎙️ In This Episode:

This week, we’re talking about staying young at heart — where joy, fun, and nostalgia collide with embarrassment, judgment, and the occasional eye-roll from our kids. Inspired by Goldie Hawn’s philosophy of doing something playful every day, a piece about learning piano with no recital in sight, and a whole lot of adults proudly refusing to give up the things they love, we dig into the balance between fun and cringe.

From blasting music in the car and drinking chocolate milk to Lego therapy, cartoons, collectibles, Pokémon GO, and dancing like nobody asked you to stop — we explore why parents feel pressure to “act their age,” why we get judged no matter what we do, and how holding onto small joys actually models something really important for our kids.

We also talk about:

• How play reduces stress and burnout

• When being playful helps you bond vs. embarrasses your kids

• Whether our parents ever acted “young” when we were growing up

• The difference between being your kid’s friend and still being their parent

• And why you don’t need permission (or a reason) to enjoy the things that make you happy

It’s funny, honest, a little self-aware, and very much us — figuring it out as we go, together.

❓ Question of the Week

What’s one thing you do that makes you feel young at heart — no judgment?

📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437)

📩 Email: [email protected]

📱 Instagram: @HeyOtherParents

⏰ Time to Unplug

We wrap things up with what we’re watching and enjoying outside of parenting — because you’ll be a better we if you take care of me.

🎯 Support Hey Other Parents

If you enjoy the show, consider donating to help us keep making it — or tell a friend and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It genuinely helps more than you know.

This is S04E001: Hey Other Parents Episode 061 — an honest discussion about raising kids.

Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents