Raising Good Humans

Aliza Pressman

As a parent, do you ever wish someone could just whisper some realistic and trustworthy support in your ear? And not make you feel awful for not having all the answers? Well, that's what I'm here for.

I'm Dr. Aliza Pressman, developmental psychologist, NYT bestselling author of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans, Associate Clinical Professor, and Co-Founder of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center. And I'm a mom... trying to raise good humans myself, so I'm in this with you!

In each episode, we'll go deep (but brief) with both experts and parents to share the most effective approaches and tools and talk about the important bigger picture of raising good humans. My goal is to make your parenting journey less overwhelming and a lot more joyful!

Please join me every Friday for new episodes of Raising Good Humans.

Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

396 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes396

Newest first

March 20 · 32 min
How to Reduce Mealtime Tension
Join me for a solo episode this week, and a look into alleviating mealtime tension and how to deal with body image baggage. I give six helpful tips to make mealtime easier, and discuss the acronym BALANCE, which you can use to ease mealtime stress. I also discuss the three principles for kids to grow up with a positive body image, and the importance of doing the work to shift how we see our bodies and others. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Pre-order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Yo
March 13 · 1 hr 18 min
The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness w/ Professor Arthur Brooks
In today’s episode I sit down with professor Arthur Brooks to explore what actually makes a life feel meaningful in a culture obsessed with achievement, optimization, and measurable success. We talk about why happiness is more than a feeling, the difference between pain and suffering, how meaning is built through coherence, purpose, and significance, and why so many high achievers still feel empty. We discuss practical ways to resist the pressure to turn ourselves and our kids into “human doings
March 6 · 1 hr
Resilience: What It Really Means & The “Ordinary Magic” It Takes to Build It w/ Professor Ann Masten
In today's episode I sit down with professor Ann Masten to unpack what resilience actually means—and why it’s so often misunderstood. We explore her powerful definition of resilience as the capacity of a system to adapt to serious challenges, not just a personality trait or inner toughness. From everyday stress to real adversity, we discuss the difference between harmful trauma and growth-building challenges, and why kids need support—not perfection—to thrive. We talk about the “ordinary magic”
February 27 · 1 hr 7 min
Behavioral Genetics 101: How Genes Shape Mental Health w/ Professor Kathryn Paige Harden
In this episode, I sit down with behavioral geneticist and professor Dr. Kathryn Paige Harden to talk about what behavioral genetics can actually tell us about our kids—and what it can’t. We unpack the reality of psychiatric risk, family history, and the limits of control, and why genes are not destiny. We discuss how thousands of tiny genetic differences shape mental health, why diagnoses are messier than we think, and how warmth and firm boundaries still matter more than any “magic bullet.”
February 20 · 1 hr 16 min
The Nature of Nurture with Professor Jay Belsky
In today’s episode I sit down with developmental psychologist Dr. Jay Belsky to explore a question so many parents wrestle with: is temperament destiny? We talk about why children differ in how deeply they’re shaped by their environments, what “developmental plasticity” really means, and why the same parenting can land so differently depending on the child. We discuss the difference between sensitivity and susceptibility, the limits of attachment research, and why focusing only on long-term outc
February 13 · 1 hr 4 min
The Power of Real Optimism: What It Actually Means (and How to Practice It) w/ Dr. Deepika Chopra
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Deepika Chopra to talk about what real optimism actually means — and why it’s so different from toxic positivity. We unpack the science behind resilience, curiosity, and staying open when life is hard, and we get practical about how to grow your “optimism muscle” in everyday moments. We talk about language shifts (like the power of “never” and “always”), parenting through low-capacity seasons, rituals that ground families, and why affirmations and manifestati
February 6 · 41 min
10 Practical Ways to Boost Cooperation and Listening in Kids
In this solo episode, I’m diving into 10 practical tips to help make listening and cooperation with your kids easier. I’ll walk you through straightforward strategies for strengthening connection and communication, plus I’ll share a quick mindfulness exercise to keep you feeling centered, even on the toughest days. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newslett
January 30 · 47 min
How to Parent When the News and World Feel Really Heavy
In this solo episode, I talk directly to parents about how to show up for our kids when the world feels heavy and unsettling—without turning the conversation into politics. I share what research tells us about stress, co-regulation, and why our kids absorb our emotional state even when we think we’re hiding it. I also offer practical guidance for talking to children at different ages, setting healthier boundaries around the news and doom scrolling, and staying grounded so we can provide safety,
January 23 · 42 min
The 7 Conversations to Have with Your Kid Before They Get a Device w/ Dr. Jean Twenge
In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist and author Dr. Jean Twenge to talk about the seven essential conversations to have with kids before they get a device. We break down what kids need to understand about privacy, posting, and why nothing online is ever truly private. We also discuss the tech rules that matter most—like no devices in bedrooms at night—and how to set limits without panic, guilt, or power struggles. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parent
January 16 · 52 min
Mattering: The Secret to Building a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose w/ Jennifer Wallace
In this episode, I sit down with award winning journalist and author Jennifer Wallace, to talk about her new work on mattering—the need to feel seen, valued, and needed. We explore how mattering emerged as a powerful protective factor for kids growing up in high-pressure, achievement-driven environments, and why so many adults today feel lonely, disengaged, or untethered. Jennifer shares the SAID framework—feeling significant, appreciated, invested in, and depended on—and we talk about what this
January 9 · 35 min
Listener Q&A: Biting, Potty Training, Separation Anxiety & Early Lying
I answer four listener questions—toddler biting, potty training pressure, emotional daycare drop-offs, and early “lying” in preschoolers—breaking down what’s developmentally normal, what to do in the moment, and the practical, compassionate strategies that actually help (without shame, power struggles, or panic). I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Here: https://bit.ly/3rMLMsL Subscribe to my free newsletter
January 2 · 36 min
Independent Play, Play Pockets, and What to Do When Your Child Says “I’m Bored” with Lizzie Assa
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by education expert Lizzie Assa to talk about independent play—why it matters, what it actually builds in kids, and how to make it work in real life. We break down the difference between independent play and ignoring your child, how to respond when kids say “I’m bored,” and simple ways to set up your home so play can happen more naturally. Lizzie shares practical strategies like play prompts, play pockets, and quiet time, along with reassurance for parents who
Dec 26, 2025 · 53 min
The Tell: A Conversation About Healing and Re-Parenting Oneself with Amy Griffin
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Amy Griffin for a deeply personal conversation about what it means to re-parent yourself—and how that inner work quietly transforms your parenting. We talk about the pressure to be perfect, the role of control and trust in family relationships, and how healing your own story can create more safety for your kids. Amy shares how telling the truth, setting boundaries, and staying in the light reshaped the way she shows up as a mother, partner, and person—and wh
Dec 19, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
What Happens to Your Brain When You Become a Parent (Including Dads) w/ Dr. Darby Saxbe
In this week’s episode I am joined by Dr. Darby Saxby, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Southern California as we delve into the transition to parenthood, particularly focusing on fathers and the concept of the 'dad brain.' We discuss how fathers experience physiological and psychological changes despite not giving birth, the vulnerability and opportunities for growth these changes bring, and how societal structures often fail to support new parents adequately. Dr. Saxb
Dec 12, 2025 · 57 min
Einstein Never Used Flash Cards: How Our Children Really Learn--and Why They Need to Play More with Professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek
In this week’s episode, I sit down with professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek to rethink what learning actually looks like—and why play is at the center of it. We break down the science behind playful learning, the Six Cs kids need to thrive in a rapidly changing world, and why pressure, perfectionism, and early achievement often get in the way. Kathy and I talk about how play builds resilience, creativity, and real problem-solving skills, and why boredom is not a crisis but a developmental gift. I WR
Dec 5, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
The Stories We Tell Ourselves and How To Let Go Of The Ones That Don’t Serve Us w/ Elise Loehnen
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by NY Times bestselling author and host of Pulling The Thread Podcast Elise Loehnen for a conversation about the stories women absorb—about being good, selfless, agreeable—and how those narratives shape our lives in ways we rarely notice. We talk about the difference between feelings and facts, why so many of us default to over-functioning, and how these inherited scripts show up during big transitions like pregnancy and early motherhood. Elise and I unpack wha
Nov 28, 2025 · 38 min
10 Tips to Decrease Entitlement and Increase Gratitude
In this solo episode, I’m sharing 10 science-backed, practical ways to foster gratitude and prevent entitlement in kids. As the season of giving approaches, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how we can help our children appreciate what they have while staying grounded. I’ll cover everything from modeling gratitude in everyday moments to teaching kids the value of chores, delayed gratification, and empathy. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Ess
Nov 24, 2025 · 45 min
Practical Tools to Protect Your Kids in the Digital Age: Phones, AI Chatbots & Online Safety w/ Founder of Aura Hari Ravichandran
In this episode, we take a clear-eyed look at how parents can protect their kids in a fast-moving digital world. After a recent conversation about AI left many listeners worried, I wanted to offer practical guidance—not panic. I’m joined by Hari Ravichandran, founder of a leading digital safety platform Aura, to talk about what kids are actually doing on their devices, how AI chatbots are being used, and why so much of it happens out of parents’ view. We break down simple, transparent ways to ke
Nov 21, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
Adolescence Isn’t What We Think: The Real Reason Your Teen Isn’t Listening to You, Why They Push Back, and More w/ New York Times Journalist Matt Richtel
In this week’s episode, I talk with New York Times reporter Matt Richtel about what adolescence actually is—and why so much of what we think we know about teens is outdated. We discuss an entirely new framework for understanding the adolescent brain: a period designed for intense information processing, where kids are constantly reconciling what they’ve been taught with a fast-changing world. We unpack why teens don’t listen (and why it’s not personal), why overwhelm shows up as emotional explos
Nov 14, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
Is Your Child "Sensitive"? Tools, Truths, and What the Research Really Shows w/ Renowned Temperament Researcher Professor Michael Pluess
In this week’s episode, I speak with Professor Michael Pluess, renowned temperament researcher, to explore what it really means to have a "sensitive" child. We break down the science behind sensitivity as a key part of temperament, why some kids are more reactive to both positive and negative experiences, and how parenting can shape their outcomes. We discuss the genetic and environmental roots of sensitivity, common misunderstandings around the trait, and what parents can do to support emotiona

Raising Good Humans

How to Reduce Mealtime Tension

The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness w/ Professor Arthur Brooks

Resilience: What It Really Means & The “Ordinary Magic” It Takes to Build It w/ Professor Ann Masten

Behavioral Genetics 101: How Genes Shape Mental Health w/ Professor Kathryn Paige Harden

The Nature of Nurture with Professor Jay Belsky

The Power of Real Optimism: What It Actually Means (and How to Practice It) w/ Dr. Deepika Chopra

10 Practical Ways to Boost Cooperation and Listening in Kids

How to Parent When the News and World Feel Really Heavy

The 7 Conversations to Have with Your Kid Before They Get a Device w/ Dr. Jean Twenge

Mattering: The Secret to Building a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose w/ Jennifer Wallace

Listener Q&A: Biting, Potty Training, Separation Anxiety & Early Lying

Independent Play, Play Pockets, and What to Do When Your Child Says “I’m Bored” with Lizzie Assa

The Tell: A Conversation About Healing and Re-Parenting Oneself with Amy Griffin

What Happens to Your Brain When You Become a Parent (Including Dads) w/ Dr. Darby Saxbe

Einstein Never Used Flash Cards: How Our Children Really Learn--and Why They Need to Play More with Professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek

The Stories We Tell Ourselves and How To Let Go Of The Ones That Don’t Serve Us w/ Elise Loehnen

10 Tips to Decrease Entitlement and Increase Gratitude

Practical Tools to Protect Your Kids in the Digital Age: Phones, AI Chatbots & Online Safety w/ Founder of Aura Hari Ravichandran

Adolescence Isn’t What We Think: The Real Reason Your Teen Isn’t Listening to You, Why They Push Back, and More w/ New York Times Journalist Matt Richtel

Is Your Child "Sensitive"? Tools, Truths, and What the Research Really Shows w/ Renowned Temperament Researcher Professor Michael Pluess