Mindshift: Transforming Perspectives on Parenting & Education
Mindshift isn't just another education podcast – it's your go-to guide for revolutionary perspectives on raising, teaching, and empowering the next generation. Join hosts Dr. Christopher Villarreal and Dr. Deb Anderson as they tackle real challenges facing families and educators today, bringing you straight talk from experts who've been in the trenches. Whether you're a parent navigating screen time, a teacher seeking fresh strategies, or anyone invested in youth success, Mindshift delivers the aha moments you've been searching for. Because sometimes the best solution starts with a shift in perspective.
Episodes
46 episodes
What Are the Warning Signs of an Eating Disorder? A Psychologist's Guide
Everybody Eats, Everybody Has a Body: A Conversation About Eating DisordersEating disorders affect far more people than most of us realize, and the warning signs can be easy to miss. In this episode, hosts Dr. Christopher Villarre...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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15:45
Is My Child Being Bullied? How to Spot It and What to Do
What "Bullying" Really Means and What to Do About It"Bullying is just a part of life and you just have to deal with it." That's what people told Dr. Patricia Newman 25 years ago when she started the Respect Organization. She didn'...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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15:37
Is Less Homework Bad for Learning? What Teachers Want Parents to Know
Let Kids Be Kids: Rethinking What Supports Learning at Home"Their brain should hurt at the end of the day — that's how hard we're pushing them in the classroom." If you've ever wondered whether your child's lighter homework load m...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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15:33
How to Raise Kids with Positive Body Image: A Therapist's Guide
Healthy at Every Size: Raising Kids with Positive Body ImageBy age six, most children have already formed strong opinions about what they'd like to change about their bodies. In this episode of Mindshift, hosts Dr. Chri...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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15:36
Is It Normal for Siblings to Drift Apart? What Parents Need to Know
Beyond Best Friends: The Truth About Sibling RelationshipsThey used to be inseparable. Now they can't be in the same room. Sound familiar? In this honest conversation, hosts Christopher Villarreal and Deb Anderson sit down wit...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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15:35
What High School Students Really Need From Parents: A Student Panel Discussion
"Do you want to vent or do you want a solution?" That simple question could transform how you support your teenager, and it came straight from a high school junior. In this groundbreaking episode of Mindshift, host Dr. Christopher Villarreal tu...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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15:09
It's Not Laziness: What Parents Get Wrong About ADHD
"They're just not trying hard enough." If you've ever thought this about a struggling kid, Dr. Ashnoo Nanavati is here to change your mind. This board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist joins hosts Dr. Christopher Villarreal and Dr. De...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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16:12
Why Period Products Matter for Student Success and Attendance
How Period Product Access (and Other Barriers) Impact EducationWhat if something as basic as access to period products or deodorant was keeping students out of the classroom? In this eye-opening episode of Mindshift, hosts Chr...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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16:06
How to Help Kids Express Emotions: Art Therapy Strategies for Parents
Creative Tools for Emotional ExpressionLicensed clinical social worker and expressive arts therapist Betsy Funk reveals how creative activities help children process emotions when words aren't enough. Learn practical strategies pa...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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15:32
Balancing Academic Expectations: When to Push and When to Support
How Much Academic Pressure Is Too Much?PLSHS Principal Jeff Spilker reveals the "sweet spot" between helpful stress that motivates learning and harmful pressure that paralyzes students. Learn why today's students put more pressure on the...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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15:36
How to Start a Difficult Conversation Without Making It Worse
How to Navigate Difficult Conversations That Build TrustJoin communication coach Nicole Paul as she reveals why we avoid difficult conversations and how to transform them into relationship-building opportunities. Learn the critical d...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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15:40
How Do Schools Use Test Scores? Understanding Assessment Data
Understanding School Testing: A Parent's Guide to MAP and State AssessmentsJoin hosts Dr. Christopher Villarreal and Dr. Deb Anderson as they demystify school testing with Angie Wright, Director of Assessment at Papillion La V...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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16:06
How Do I Help My Child Cope with Death and Grief? Finding Hope in Loss
How to Talk to Kids About Death, Grief, and HopeWhen 1 in 15 kids lose a parent or sibling by age 18, knowing how to support grieving children becomes essential. In this powerful episode, grief expert Cliff McEvoy from the Col...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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16:03
How to Manage Holiday Stress and Overwhelm: Expert Strategies
What Holiday Chaos Teaches About Priorities and ConnectionJoin hosts Dr. Christopher Villarreal and Dr. Deb Anderson as they welcome wellness coach Heather Kearney, a 15-year veteran of stress management with military service in both the...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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16:06
How to Set Boundaries with Kids Without Feeling Guilty
Why Boundaries Actually Build Stronger KidsIn this game-changing episode, hosts Dr. Christopher Villarreal and Dr. Deb Anderson explore why setting boundaries feels so hard, and why the repair after breaking them matters even more...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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15:55
What to Do During Child Meltdowns: Teaching Kids Emotional Regulation
Child Meltdowns and Tantrums: Teaching Emotional Regulation SkillsIs your child having daily meltdowns and tantrums? In this essential episode, veteran first-grade teacher Carla Heumann shares 17 years of proven strategies for man...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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15:44
Youth Sports Parenting: Supporting Without Pressuring Your Athlete
The Youth Sports Pressure Cooker: When Does Support Become Too Much?Remember when youth sports were just... fun? Dr. Lisa Chipps, Senior Associate Athletic Director at Creighton University, joins hosts Dr. Christopher Villarreal a...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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15:46
What to Do When Your Kid Says 'I Don't Care' About Homework
When your kid says "I don't care" about homework, what are they really telling you? Nick Zadina from the Boys Town National Hotline joins us to flip the script on motivation. Drawing from his work in crisis intervention and motivational intervi...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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15:42
How to Tell if a School Threat is Real: FBI Expert Explains
In this critical episode, hosts Dr. Christopher Villarreal and Dr. Deb Anderson sit down with FBI Supervisory Special Agent Brian LeBlanc to decode school threats and expose the online predators targeting our children.Agent LeBLanc, who ...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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15:58
What Happens During a School Shooting: A First-Hand Account
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of school violence that may be sensitive for some listenersWhat really happens when a school goes into lockdown during an active shooter incident? In this powerful episode, Dr. C...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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16:34
Parental Controls for Devices: Where to Start and What to Watch For
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by device settings or wondered what your kid's school Chromebook is actually filtering, this one's for you. PLCS Director of Technology Matt Moore breaks down the difference between what schools manage and what y...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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15:49
Stop Fighting About Food: Expert Tips for Picky Eaters
Ever wonder why your child loved blueberries yesterday but refuses them today? Jennifer Anderson from Kids Eat in Color joins us to solve the "blueberry lottery" mystery and share game-changing strategies for feeding picky eaters. Learn why put...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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15:44
Do School Cell Phone Policies Actually Work? Principal Shares Results
The kids themselves are saying it: "Thank you for putting in a cell phone policy." In this revealing episode of Mindshift, hosts Dr. Christopher Villarreal and Dr. Deb Anderson sit down with Papillion La Vista High School Principal Jason...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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14:52
What Are the Real Dangers of Vaping? Medical Expert Explains
One in ten eighth graders has tried vaping in the last 30 days. In this eye-opening solo episode, host Dr. Christopher Villarreal sits down with pediatrician and addiction medicine specialist Dr. Ken Zoucha to decode the vaping epidemic ...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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15:28
When Your Kid Struggles: Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Support
When teens withdraw to their rooms or kids say "I'm fine" through tears, how do you know when to worry? In this crucial episode of Mindshift, mental health expert Julia Hebenstreit joins Christopher and Deb to demystify suicide prevention and t...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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17:09