Hope & Humor Podcast

Supporting a Child with Mental Health Struggles

Supporting a child who is struggling with mental health can feel overwhelming, confusing, and at times, heartbreaking. In this episode, Kristina shares simple, everyday actions that helped her support her own son through depression, anxiety, and ADHD. From building trust to communicating in ways that help a child open up, this conversation offers practical, usable guidance.
 
She also explores how to navigate high-stress moments without escalating, communicate in ways that empower your child, and what it truly means to be a steady, safe presence when they need it most. If you’ve ever felt unsure what to say or do, this episode will help you feel more grounded, confident, and less alone.

Cougar Puberty! (a.k.a. Perimenopause/Menopause)

Kristina sits down with her friend Amy for an honest, unfiltered conversation about the things no one warns women about when it comes to perimenopause and menopause. From lesser-known (and rarely discussed) symptoms to the emotional and mental shifts that can feel confusing or isolating, they shine a light on what so many women experience but few openly talk about. With humor, candor, and compassion, they explore the importance of advocating for yourself, nand finding the right kind of support. This episode is about feeling seen, less alone, and more empowered to navigate this stage of life on your own terms.

Answering your questions!

Kristina answers questions listeners have sent in. Should teenagers earn or be gifted a car? Should we be taking our child's phone away as a consequence? How to help a child who worries a lot? How to best support a friend whose teen is struggling? Creative ideas for bonding with your teen, and more.

Straight From a Pediatrician: What Actually Matters

A pediatrician, Dr Neela Sethi, with over two decades of experience shares whether parents should feel guilt about the thing things we so often feel guilty about, what actually matters, and how to thrive as a parent. You can find Dr Neela on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorneela/

I'm Struggling With My Mental Health

Kristina opens up about something many of us are feeling but don’t always say out loud: life has been heavy lately. She shares honestly about her recent mental health struggles with depression and anxiety, what it’s looked like behind the scenes, and the small ways she’s been working through it. This conversation is a reminder that you’re not alone and you deserve all the help you can get. 

Relationships and Marriage Are Hard!

In this episode, we talk honestly about marriage - why many single women are losing interest in it, how the mental load in relationships often goes unshared, and what it takes to have a truly healthy partnership. Kristina also opens up about a season that nearly broke her marriage and what she and her husband did to heal their relationship. This episode is filled with practical, real-life tips for anyone who wants a healthier, more supportive romantic partnership.
 

Parenting After Kids Turn 18: Navigating the Transition

In this episode, we talk about the difficult transition from raising children to parenting adult kids. How do we support them while respecting their independence? How do we respond when our adult children bring up ways we hurt them or mistakes we made while raising them? And how can we build the healthiest relationship possible with them?
This conversation explores letting go of control, staying connected, and growing alongside our adult children.

Why are we so cruel to ourselves?

In this episode, we discuss how we’re our own worst bullies, why putting ourselves down feels more natural than complimenting ourselves, and how to shift our self-talk out of self-hatred mode in order to become more confident and thrive.

Recognizing Mental Health Struggles in Your Child

In this episode, we discuss what we as parents need to do to recognize mental health struggles in our kids and how to approach them in ways that don’t cause them to shut down. We talk about how some kids are often mislabeled as “bad” or rebellious, when in reality they’re kids who are in pain. We also explore how creating an environment rooted in genuine curiosity helps our children feel safe opening up and accepting our support.

The Pressure To Get Parenting Perfect

So many parents feel like they're constantly falling short. This episode explores the unhealthy expectations placed on parents, the comparison and fear that creeps in, and why “good enough” parenting is actually more than good enough.