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. 31: When Everyone Else's Parenting Advice Makes Things Worse
Generic parenting strategies don't just fail neurodivergent kids — they actively increase stress. Learn why and what actually works instead.
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. 12: Why Behavior Gets Worse Before It Gets Better (And How to Survive It)
When behavior intensifies after you try something new, it usually means it's working. Learn what an extinction burst is and how to survive it.
Ep. 11: Backtalk and Defiance: What Your Child Really Means (And How to Respond)
Most backtalk isn't disrespect — it's a poorly delivered attempt at self-advocacy. Learn what's underneath it and how to respond without losing authority.
Ep. 10: What's Normal Pushback vs. Actual Disrespect (By Age)
Not every pushback is defiance. Learn how to tell the difference between developmentally normal behavior and genuine disrespect — by age.
Ep. 9: Why Your Boundaries Matter More Than You Think (And How to Set Them)
Healthy boundaries aren't about control — they're about teaching your child what safe relationships look like. Learn why yours matter more than you think.
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. 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. 2 — Clear Expectations: The Parenting Hack For Kids Who Never Listen
Unclear expectations are the hidden driver of most conflict with ADHD, autism, and anxious kids. Learn the simple framework that actually works.
Ep. 1: Clear Expectations: The One Parenting Hack That Changes Everything
If your child ignores directions and turns every request into a battle, this episode changes how you see what's actually happening. It's not defiance.
Trailer: Welcome to Climbing Fish Parenting
If you have a child who's wired differently and just doesn't respond to typical parenting strategies—this show is for you. In every episode, I'm giving you practical, actionable strategies rooted in behavioral science that work WITH your child's unique wiring, not against it.
No fluff. No judgment. Just real tools for real parents navigating real challenges.