On Purpose: The Heidi Stevens And Dr. John Duffy Podcast

On this week's episode we discuss the cannot miss upcoming book "Parent Nation" that Heidi has been working on, how to understand the drivers underneath the stress and anxiety of today's kids, how to find a good therapist for your kid, and more!

Today, we talk with Heidi's courageous friend, Deb, sharing some of the struggles she's experienced in her family, and offering brilliant advice on how we can react with kindness and empathy, and avoid unwittingly causing unnecessary emotional pain. This is a good one!

Today, after a somewhat prolonged hiatus, Heidi and John are back. In the wake of the recent talk of banned books, they are are talking about the material: books, media, halftime shows, and Joe Rogans, that we might expose our kids to, and what we keep out of their hands. They also talk about the ways in which challenging materials and topics can enrich the parent-child relationship. And believe it or not, they plan to be back soon with another episode!

Sen. Josh Hawley's recent comments about masculinity being under attack compelled us to put together our thoughts on this topic, especially amongst our youth. We talk porn, video games, Aaron Rodgers, and more!

On this episode of On Purpose, we're talking about the phenomena of college enrollments continuing to drop over the past two years, and the growing tendency for young adults to retreat into video games and parents' basements. What's driving this trend? And perhaps more importantly, what can be done about it? 

We're back! This week we're talking about the tidal wave of phone calls John's office usually receives this time of year as modern kids juggle typical age-related stresses with the looming existential threats that dominate the news these days. Also, some advice for parents on how we can help out our kids by simply becoming better listeners!

This week, we discuss Heidi's decision to move on from her long-time role at The Chicago Tribune. We talk about the story of her time there, how her column "Balancing Act" came to be, as well as what's next on the horizon. Enjoy!

Illinois is finally reopening! As normal life begins to resume, we're noticing that a lot of people are changing directions. In this episode, Heidi & John explore why that might be. John also recounts how meeting his wife, Julie, inspired him to quit accounting to become a psychologist, and much more!

This week we're discussing the changing views about relationships and marriage amongst youngsters these days. Power dynamics are balancing out, and marriage doesn't necessarily have to be everyone's end goal. Find out what we think and more!

Heidi and John are checking in to give an update on all things pandemic parenting. They talk about how strict/lenient we should be with our kids during this time, growing up as a boy versus a girl these days, and more!

The worst of the pandemic is hopefully behind us, and some of the kids in our area are returning to school. So this week, John and Heidi are talking about some of the challenges they might encounter as they begin to socialize again. We also discuss the role of leniency in parenting during the pandemic as a way to promote positive family vibes!

This week we talk to Michelle Icard, who is an accomplished speaker, educator, and author of the new book, "Fourteen Talks By Age Fourteen." The book covers essential conversations to have with your teen or tween before they start high school. Michelle is one of our favorite experts on all things teenagers, so don't miss this one!

This week we're talking about President Joe Biden's inauguration and the uplifting atmosphere it created. We also unpack some of the underlying psychology of why certain people may be vulnerable to believing in lies that would make them participate in events like storming the Capitol. Enjoy, and take a deep sigh of relief!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

This week we're talking about the unique holidays that are upon us, reflecting on 2020, and considering the crucial role that therapy might play in 2021 and beyond. Happy Holidays and New Year! 

Today, we reflect on the celebratory announcement from Elliot Page that he is transgender, and how our thinking around this community has changed so radically toward acceptance in a very short period of time. 

We're back! Heidi recently recovered from Covid and is back to her usual self, so this week she's sharing the full story of her experience. 

This week, John finally reveals the secret retailer from which his vests are purchased! We talk about the ways that work and life are beginning to blend, the future of what American life might look like, the recent shenanigans of you-know-who, and whether or not kindness and nuance can ever prevail over the current situation. Nothing heavy here! 

This week we're talking about the recent CDC study reporting that one-quarter of young adults has contemplated suicide during the last month. We attempt to unpack the pandemic-induced hopelessness this generation is facing, whether or not a popular coping mechanism is actually helpful, and how simply listening can be the best way to start sorting through this. 

The ongoing, ever-changing situation about the uncertainty of the upcoming school year seems to have our kids in a general funk of disconnection and indifference. What can we, as parents, do about this? Can the pandemic actually serve as a common enemy for parents and kids to bond over? This week we're breaking down some of these things in an attempt to figure out how can we best help our kids during this time. Enjoy!

This week we're talking about therapy in weird places, and how the ongoing quarantine is beginning to make friendships difficult to maintain. We also talk about the likely rise of social anxiety amongst kids as certain activities are allowed to resume —particularly the habits of dwelling on worst-case scenarios and predicting negative outcomes.