Welcome to
Climbing Fish Parenting Podcast
Your Weekly Dose of Sanity
Deep-dive episodes on the biggest parenting challenges
Behavioral science made simple and actionable
For parents who’ve tried everything - and need something different
Your kid isn’t broken. Your parenting isn’t broken. Sometimes, we’re just asking our fish to climb trees.
If you're an exhausted parent who's tried everything and nothing has worked—this podcast is for you. You're carrying guilt about your parenting. Your child's behaviors don't respond to the typical strategies. The advice from books, friends, and even professionals just... doesn't fit.
Here's what I need you to know: You're not failing. You're just using the wrong map.
I'm Dr. Kristi, a psychologist and behavior analyst, and I help parents understand their child's unique wiring and use strategies that actually work. Whether your child has a diagnosis or you just know they're wired differently—whether it's ADHD, ASD, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or they're just... not like the parenting books describe—this is for you.
No fluff. No shame. Just practical, evidence-based guidance from someone who gets it.
Each episode gives you real strategies for real challenges—meltdowns, school struggles, bedtime battles, and everything in between. This is where we stop asking fish to climb trees and start helping them swim.
Ep. 33: What Mother's Day Showed You (That Nobody Else Could See)
Mother's Day carries a specific weight when your child is wired differently. Learn how to reframe the hard moments and honor the invisible work you do every day.
Ep. 30 When You Realize You’ve Been Performing Calm - What Comes Next
Children detect the gap between your calm voice and your activated nervous system. Learn the difference between performed calm and genuine co-regulation.
Ep. 26: Why Your Child's Meltdowns Don't Mean They Hate You
Meltdowns with safe caregivers aren't a sign of a broken relationship — they're a sign of one that's working. Learn the neuroscience behind why and what to do.
Ep. 24: When Your Tween Pushes You Away But Still Needs You
The tween push-pull is exhausting — especially when your child is wired differently. Learn why distance isn't disconnection and how to stay close without pushing them further away.
Ep. 17: Your Nervous System Matters Too: Co-Regulation Starts with Self-Regulation
You can't co-regulate your child from a depleted nervous system. Learn practical self-regulation strategies that work even on your hardest days.
Ep. 14: The Power of Validation: Why Your Kid Desperately Needs It
Validation isn't about agreeing or removing consequences. It's about acknowledging feelings — and that one shift reduces meltdown intensity over time.
Ep. 13: Grief and The Holidays: How to Help Your Child (And Yourself) Through Loss
Grief looks different across ages and neurotypes — especially during the holidays. Learn how to help your child process loss without creating shame.
Ep. 7: Whining Decoded: How to Stop It Without Losing Your Mind
Whining works — and that's exactly why kids do it. Learn why it's so triggering for parents and how to respond without accidentally making it worse.
Ep. 6: When Your Teen Can't Handle 'No': Door-Slamming, Silent Treatment, and What Actually Works
Adolescent brains are wired for intensity. Learn how to validate without caving and help your teen build frustration tolerance without destroying your relationship.
Ep. 5: Frustration Tolerance: When 'No' Starts World War III
Explosive reactions to limits aren't manipulation — they're a lagging skill. Learn the empathy-first framework that builds frustration tolerance.
Ep. 4: Co-Regulation: How to Actually Help Your Child Calm Down
Children can't reason during meltdowns. Learn how co-regulation actually works — and how your calm nervous system helps your child recover faster.