Parenting Shrink Wrapped
Parenting Shrink Wrapped is your all-access pass to the wild and wonderful journey of raising kids! Hosted by Dr. Melissa Wellner, a double board-certified psychiatrist and child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Samantha Straub, a licensed therapist, educator, and parenting coach, this dynamic duo brings a perfect mix of professional expertise and mom humor. With five kids between them—and thousands more they’ve supported in their professional roles—they’re here to share practical strategies and real-life stories that will help you navigate everything from tantrums to teen drama. Whether you're handling sleepless nights or the chaos of carpool, you'll find relatable advice and a good laugh along the way. Strap in, because parenting is a ride, and we're here to make it a little smoother!
Episodes
96 episodes
When Childhood and Teen Depression Doesn’t Look Like Sadness
Teen depression doesn’t always look like sadness.Sometimes it looks like anger, irritability, talking back, stomachaches, withdrawal, not doing schoolwork, or a teenager who simply doesn’t seem like themselves.So how can parents t...
How to Support Your LGBTQ+ Child Without Having All the Answers
What happens when your child comes out and you're not sure what to say, what to do, or even how you feel yet?In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner welcome
Building Confidence in Teens
What actually builds confidence in teens?In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk with Jasmyne Chandler, trauma-informed life coach and founder of Guided Passages
Analog Childhoods, AI Parents, and the Tech Middle Ground
Parents are being encouraged to give their kids an analog childhood while relying more and more on AI, smartphones, and technology in their own daily lives. Is that hypocrisy, or simply the reality of raising kids in the middle of a massive tec...
When Drinking Stops Feeling Like a Choice: Understanding Gray Area Drinking
Do you have to hit rock bottom before you're allowed to question your relationship with alcohol?Absolutely not.In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner sit down with gray area drinki...
How to Help Your Teen Build a Healthy Relationship With Food
Are the things we say about food unintentionally affecting how our kids feel about eating and their bodies?In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa are joined by Christiana Cortina, founder of
Are You Parenting on Autopilot? How to Become a More Intentional Parent
What if some of the skills that make you a better leader at work could also make you a better parent at home?And what if parenting could make you a better leader, too?In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa si...
Is Your Child Ready for the Latest Trend? Let's talk about Ebikes, technology and more.
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner unpack one of the biggest parenting trends of the summer and explain why this conversation goes far beyond bikes.While e-bikes offer fun, freedom, a...
What My Parents Did Right: A 19-Year-Old Reflects on Growing Up with Divorce and ADHD
What do children actually remember after their parents divorce?In this unique episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner welcome 19-year-old college student Tilghman Grim to share his firsthand persp...
High-Conflict Co-Parenting: How to Reclaim Your Power and Protect Your Kids
Co-parenting is challenging enough when two parents generally get along.When the relationship is contentious, every pickup, schedule change, forgotten belonging, or parenting decision can become part of a larger power struggle.In ...
Helping Kids Feel Seen: Why "Somebody-ness" Changes Everything
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Sam Straub sit down with Joe Vercellino, award-winning educator, musician, and founder of The Lionheart Experience, to explor...
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Why Chores Matter More Than a Clean House
If asking your child to empty the dishwasher feels like starting a negotiation, welcome to our club.In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and parent coach, Sam Straub, tackle one of the most common parenting st...
Lost Boys: Supporting the Mental Health of Young Men
Teen boys can be difficult to read, but that doesn't mean they're impossible to reach.In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner welcome licensed counselor, Jarrod H...
When Did Youth Sports Stop Being Fun?
When did youth sports become so stressful?In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Sam Straub welcome communication expert, former collegiate athlete, coach, and author Betsy Butterick for a thoughtful convers...
Representation Matters: Helping Neurodivergent Kids Thrive
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Sam Straub sit down with Lynn and Jon Greenberg, the mother-son team behind The Creative Cab Company and the award-winning books Robbie the Dyslexic Taxi and the Airport A...
Getting Real About Fatherhood
In this special Father's Day episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner welcome filmmaker, educator, podcast host, and father Dan Gvozden for a candid conversation about the realities of fatherhood.From neigh...
The CALM Approach: Raising Kids Differently Than You Were Raised
Many parents find themselves repeating parenting patterns they never intended to carry into their own families. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner welcome parenting coach
What does ADHD really look like in children and teens?
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Sam Straub are joined by child psychiatrist Dr. Chad Lennon to unpack the re...
What do Teens Really Need from Parents Right Now?
What do teens really need from parents right now?In this powerful episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with 19-year-old TEDx speaker and Cloud9 founder
Understanding Healthy Sleep Environments with Naturepedic
What creates a truly healthy sleep environment for kids and teens?In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with Arin Schultz, Chief Growth Officer of Naturepedic, to ...
How to Spot and Reverse Math Anxiety with Dr. Aditya Nagrath, Ph.D
What if math anxiety isn’t about intelligence at all?In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with Dr. Aditya Nagrath, founder of Elephant Learning Mathematics Acad...
The Truth About Mom Guilt, Mental Load & What Moms Really Want for Mother’s Day
Motherhood is a mix of joy, pressure, connection, and–a whole lot of invisible work.In this Mother’s Day episode, Sam and Melissa hit record in the middle of a real conversation about what it actually feels like to be a mom. From deeply ...
A Parent's Guide to Handling Bullying with Melissa and Sam
Bullying is one of the most challenging situations a parent can face–and knowing how to respond isn’t always clear. In this episode, Sam and Melissa break down what bullying actually is, how to recognize the signs, and how to support your child...
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How to Talk to Kids About Depression: A Parent’s Guide to Emotional Language
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with Kendall Concini, author of Cloudy Day Chronicles, to explore what it looks like to parent while navigating your o...
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When Your Teen is On Fire. Understanding Self-Harm and Big Emotions
When teens feel overwhelmed by big emotions, their behavior can become confusing—and sometimes frightening—for parents. In this episode, we’re joined by therapist Katie May to unpack what’s really happening beneath high-risk behaviors like self...
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