Season 4

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 👀 …

🎙️ 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. …

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) …

🎙️ 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 – 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 – 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 — 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 — 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 – S04E010: We Don’t Know Everything… Shocking Right? (S4 Finale)

🎙️ In This Episode:

It’s the Season Four finale — and we’re ending it with a little humility.

Sara D kicks things off by putting Heit and Levine to the test in a Dad vs. Dad parenting quiz. From developmental milestones to everyday parenting scenarios (plus a little pop culture to bring it home), confidence quickly meets reality.

After the quiz, we shift into a real conversation about the things we’ve had to learn on the fly — what made us uncomfortable at first, what’s gotten easier over time, what’s gotten harder as the kids grow, and the things we’ve accepted we may never fully figure out.

Parenting has a funny way of reminding us that we’re all still learning. …