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
42 episodes
#42 College Admissions Tips for Parents: What You Need to Know About the Application Process
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa welcome Sam’s sister, Kate Peltz—an experienced college admissions counselor and former director of college counseling at Concord Academy. Kate shares what parents often don’...
•
Episode 42
•
42:37
#41 Who’s Watching the Kids? Finding, Trusting, and Letting Go of Childcare
Childcare is one of the biggest challenges modern parents face—whether it’s during a crisis like COVID, while juggling work schedules, or simply trying to carve out time for your own sanity. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped,...
•
Episode 41
•
41:52
#40 Parenting with Purpose: Checking Your Motivation and Building Resilient Kids with Christa Welch
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Melissa and Sam welcome Christa Welch, LCSW-C, founder of The Betty Center in Annapolis, MD. Krista shares the inspiring story behind naming the center after her mother, “OG Betty,” a...
•
Episode 40
•
43:43
#39 Nature of the Beast | Back to School Tips for Elementary with Jennifer Ruef
Back-to-school tips for elementary kids go beyond pencils and backpacks. Sam and Melissa talk with child therapist Jennifer Ruef about what kids—and parents—really face from kindergarten to 5th grade, academically, socially, and emotional...
•
Episode 39
•
47:34
38 Nature of the Beast | Managing Middle School with Mary Foard
Middle school—the years of awkwardness, growth spurts, eye rolls, and endless energy. In this Nature of the Beast series episode, Sam and Melissa sit down with Mary Foard, a veteran middle school counselor and mom of twins, to u...
•
39:52
#37 The Nature of the Beast: High School Back-to-School Tips for Parents
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrap, Melissa and Sam dive into the unique challenges, milestones, and surprises that come with each year of high school. From wide-eyed freshmen still running to class, to confident (and sometimes c...
•
Episode 37
•
38:02
#36 Nature of the Beast | Parenting a College Freshman with Dr. Kelly Wilcox
College drop-off isn’t the end of parenting—it’s just the beginning of a new phase. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kelly Wilcox, Dean of Student Success at Haverford College, to talk about what parents can expect as their teen transitions...
•
Episode 36
•
42:05
#35 Parenting with Chronic Illness: Showing Up with Self-Compassion, Even on Hard Days with Dr. Katie Lawliss
In this powerful conversation, Sam and Melissa welcome Dr. Katie Lawliss—a licensed psychologist specializing in chronic illness and ADHD, who also lives with cystic fibrosis. Katie shares her personal journey from childhood diagnosis to becomi...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 35
•
36:13
#34 Storm or Sky Mind? How to Stay Present When Parenting Triggers You
We’ve all had moments where a messy room or a missed assignment feels like the end of the world—and we explode. But is it really about that sock on the floor... or something deeper?In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 34
•
29:37
#33 Why Your Kid Can’t Sit Still—And How OT Might Help with Samantha Hyali
Is your kid constantly in motion? Refuses to wear socks? Melts down over tags in their shirts? You’re not alone—and you’re not imagining it.In this eye-opening episode, Sam and Melissa sit down with occupational therapist and mom of thre...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 33
•
35:59
#32 ADHD Unwrapped Part 2: Why “Just Try Harder” Doesn’t Work (and What Actually Might)
In Part 2 of our ADHD series, Sam Straub, LCPC, and Dr. Melissa Wellner, MD, dive deeper into the lived experience of parenting—and being—a kid with ADHD. This episode moves beyond the textbook and into real family dynamics: the misunderstandin...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 32
•
37:12
#31 ADHD Unwrapped: Myths, Superpowers & Real Struggles Parents Miss
In this insightful episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, hosts Sam Straub and Melissa Wellner dig into the many dimensions of ADHD—busting myths, exploring emotional highs and lows, and celebrating the often-overlooked strengths that co...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 31
•
35:46
#30 Trauma Is Real, Healing Is Possible: Understanding ACEs and Resilience with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C
In this powerful episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with Laura Reagan—somatically oriented trauma therapist, founder of the Trauma Therapist Network, and host of the widely acclaimed podcast Therapy Chat (ove...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 30
•
41:11
#29 Trauma Doesn’t Have to Define Your Parenting with Kristen Keuleman
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrap, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner engage with Kristen Keuleman, a licensed professional counselor specializing in trauma therapy, particularly EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). They...
•
34:21
#28 Winging it Like a Pro: Real Talk with Dad's Dr. Charles Parmele and Bryan Levy
In this heart-opening episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Sam Straub sit down with two thoughtful dads, Charles Parmele and Bryan Levy, for a conversation that’s equal parts real talk and reflection. Together, ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 28
•
35:26
#27: Surviving the End of the School Year
Feeling crispy-fried by May? You’re not alone. In this short and real-talk episode, Sam and Melissa break down why everyone’s burnt out—from teachers to teens to you—and how to make it to summer without losing your mind.We cover:...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 27
•
19:48
#26: Hormones & Mental Health: What Every Parent Should Know About Mood Shifts Across the Lifespan with Dr. Milena Smith
In this eye-opening episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Sam Straub welcome psychiatrist Dr. Milena Smith to talk about the emotional and mental health impacts of hormonal changes—from the postpartum period to p...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 26
•
40:20
#25: Shots, Swabs & Stress: Helping Kids Cope with Medical Anxiety with Dr. Missy Hendricks
Why does your usually sweet kid turn into a full-blown meltdown in the doctor’s office? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Melissa and Sam talk with pediatric health psychologist Dr. Missy Hendricks about how to help kids man...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 25
•
42:59
#24: The Sandwich Generation: Parenting While Being Parented
In this deeply personal episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Melissa and Sam explore what it means to parent your own children while still navigating the lifelong role of being someone’s child. From generational expectations and emotio...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 24
•
33:06
#23: More Than a Game: Building Life Skills Through Youth Sports with Courtney Parfitt
What if sports weren’t just about winning—but about raising resilient, self-aware, and confident kids? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Melissa and Sam sit down with Courtney Parfitt, founder of Thrive Gym in Annapolis, to ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 23
•
37:36
#22: Busting Mental Health Myths: What Parents Really Need to Know
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Melissa Wellner and co-host Sam Straub tackle three of the most common and harmful myths they hear from parents about kids and mental health. From the idea that “teens are just moody” to the belief...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 22
•
30:47
#21: Horses, Parenting & Presence: Lessons from the Ring with Maria Alessandri
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Melissa and Sam are joined by Maria Alessandri—mom of five, natural horsemanship coach, and founder of the Horse and People Project. Maria shares how training rescue horses taught her profou...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 21
•
38:06
#20: More Than Just Play: Unlocking the Power of Play Therapy with Vanessa Kellner
In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and co-host Sam Straub sit down with special guest Vanessa Kellner, a registered play therapist and founder of Wholesome Healing in Severna Park, Maryland. Together, they...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 20
•
38:55
#19: Raising Kids on the Autism Spectrum with Dr. Taylor Day
An autism diagnosis can feel overwhelming for families—but what if there was a better way to navigate it? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with Dr. Taylor Day (Dr. Tay), a licensed psychologist spec...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 19
•
36:06
#18: Beyond Birth: Sleep, Support & the Power of Postpartum Care with Kimberly Marie-Ferrol
Every new parent needs support—but what if we told you there's a whole profession dedicated to making birth and postpartum easier? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with Kimberly Marie Ferrol, pediat...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 18
•
32:49