🎙️ 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…

🎙️ 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…

🎙️ 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 …

🎙️ 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 …

🎙️ 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. …

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) …

🎙️ 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. …

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. …

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 👀 …

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…