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
83 episodes
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...
.png)
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...
.png)
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...
.png)
How to Pay for College Without Putting Your Family at Risk
Paying for college has become increasingly complex, and for many families, the financial decisions involved can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Sam and Melissa are joined by financial planner Kimberly Weihbrecht to break down how FAFSA, fin...
.png)
How to Help Your Teen Find Career Direction with Jessica Roffe
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with career coach, Jessica Roffe, to talk about what career readiness really looks like for teens and young adults today. With over a decade of experience helping st...
.png)
The Importance of the Couple Relationship on the Family with Katharine Petzold
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk with therapist Katharine Petzold about how a couple’s relationship shapes a child’s emotional wellbeing. Through relatable (and often funny) moments, they explore ...
.png)
The Real Struggles of Work Life Balance for Parents
Working parents face some of the highest rates of stress and burnout globally.In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk with Dr. Rosina McAlpine about how workplaces can become truly family-friendly–and why burnou...
.png)
Family Vacation Expectations: How to Travel with Kids Without Losing Your Mind
Spring break season is here…and with it comes family travel.In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa explore how to manage family vacation expectations so you don’t come home needing another vacationYou’ll lear...
.png)
How to Teach Kids Healthy Financial Habits with Lori Atwood
Money is one of the biggest sources of stress in families — and one of the least discussed topics.In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with Lori Atwood, founder of Fearless Finance, to explore how parents...
.png)
Perimenopause and Parenting Teens: Why Your Anxiety, Brain Fog, and Sleep Changes Aren’t “All in Your Head”
In this episode, Sam and Melissa welcome Dr. Susan Zink, board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Elemental Integrative Psychiatry, to explore how perimenopause impacts mood, anxiety, sleep, cognition, and overall functioning.They dis...
How to Parent a Child with a Completely Different Personality Than Yours
What happens when your child’s personality is nothing like yours?In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with psychiatrist Dr. Brian J. Dixon to explore how temperament differences shape family dynamics....
.png)
Teen Mood Swings or Depression with Dr. Afshan Sultana
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Afshan Sultana to talk about teen depression–how it shows up, how it’s different from normal teenage mood swings, and what...
.png)
The Art of Step-Parenting with Richard Ramos
Step-parenting and blended families come with unique emotional challenges for both adults and kids.In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk with Richard Ramos, founder of
.png)
How to Help an Anxious Teen: When Worry Is Normal—and When It’s Not
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa are joined by therapist and author Sophia Vale Galano for a practical, compassionate conversation about supporting teens with anxiety....
.png)
How Parents Can Talk About Bodies, Boundaries, and Relationships Without Shame
Talking about bodies, boundaries, and relationships can feel uncomfortable for many parents — but silence often does more harm than good.In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa are joined by therapist, educa...
%20(1).png)
Kids These Days, Addressing Youth Mental Health with Dr. Will Dobud
Are teens being over-diagnosed? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk with researcher and educator Dr. Will Dobud about teen mental health beyond labels. They explore the difference between distress and diso...
.png)