Best Valid Attempt Podcasts (2025)

1
How to become your true self 53:38

21m ago53:38

53:38

This Isn't Therapy... it's a juicy convo about what it takes to become self-led. In this episode, we talk about self-leadership and how to build a sturdy and reliable self-esteem that doesn't dissolve under the sometimes-crushing weight of criticism, negative feedback, shame and self-doubt. This is an active episode so grab your pens and notebooks.…

1
[#4] Telling a Genuine Story 29:48

10h ago29:48

29:48

Em here! I called Dan this morning to tell him how nervous I was about this episode because we attempt to tackle so much in this short 30 minutes. We move from the idea of having a creative process to applying that process toward writing about identity to the use of identity as a pathway to creative genuineness... and all of the ways that telling a…

1
RE-RELEASE: Finding Your Parenting Village: How Community Support Changes Everything at Home 51:21

6d ago51:21

51:21

Are you tired of facing family challenges alone? In this powerful episode, we witness the transformative journey of two parents who discovered that joining a parenting support group can change everything at home. Parenting wasn't meant to be a solo journey. When sleep deprivation, communication struggles with partners, and children's big emotions b…

1
S5 | Episode 14 | Finale: It's a Good Start 1:09:45

7d ago1:09:45

1:09:45

If you have any further information, and have yet to engage with Police please contact them. This can be done by updating them online or calling 105 using the reference number 211114/9270. Information can also be provided via Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. **For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the pod…

1
[#3] Fear of Screwing Up 23:23

4d ago23:23

23:23

Hiya! Emily again. Episode three. Fear of screwing up. Back in November when we recorded these first few episodes, I was so excited about the vision for this project that I would often go home and edit our long conversations down to a rough-cut episode just a day or two after recording. It became a ritual for Dan and I to sit around a laptop and li…

1
Validate me, please! 41:08

4d ago41:08

41:08

This Isn't Therapy... it's an episode about seeking validation (online). Are we becoming obsessed with our quest for constant reassurance, approval, and external validation? In this episode, Jake and Simon explore the sugar high that comes with too much external affirmation and how this weird, wacky, online world is eroding our sense of self. But i…

1
245: Does praise help or hurt your child? What research actually shows 1:02:58

13d ago1:02:58

1:02:58

Most parents believe praise is an essential tool for raising confident, well-behaved children. We've been told to "catch them being good" and "focus on the positive." But what if our well-intentioned praise is actually functioning as a subtle form of control? What if praise isn't just celebrating who our children are, but secretly shaping them into…

1
S5 | Episode 13 | A Lethal Dose 50:15

8d ago50:15

50:15

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** In Season Five of GUILT, Ryan journeys to the far north of New Zealand to investigate the tragic, brutal and cowardly murder of 67 year old …

1
[#2] Creative Criticism & Seeking Validation 27:56

11d ago27:56

27:56

Dan Vado here, welcome to the second episode of The Unexpected Mentor. I’m assuming you are here because you listened to and found something interesting in the first episode. As Emily mentioned in the previous episode notes, I was (at the time of this recording) involved mainly because I was trading my time for some help with my music venue's socia…

1
The problem with positivity: Unpacking the pressure to be happy 40:14

11d ago40:14

40:14

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about the pressure to be happy. In this episode, Jake and Simon talk about how to feel authentically happy when there's a lot of pressure to perform positivity or force happy feelings. Jake and Simon hear from two Lovely Listeners who wonder about the true meaning of happiness and how to spot the difference be…

1
RE-RELEASE: How to get your child to listen to you 50:10

20d ago50:10

50:10

Is your child's refusal to listen driving you CRAZY? You're not alone! In this transformative episode, mom-of-three Chrystal reveals how she went from constant power struggles to peaceful cooperation without sacrificing authority. Discover the exact approach that works when "because I said so" fails. Stop the exhausting battles TODAY and create the…

1
[#1] You Will Get Better 26:26

18d ago26:26

26:26

Emily here. Truly, honestly, thanks for tuning in. This podcast means a lot to us. This episode was our proof of concept. Neither of us were convinced at the time of recording this that the other party would have anything of value to say. At the time, I think Dan was just hoping to get some free social media consultation and I was certainly hoping …

1
Peak Parasocial: The social relationships that aren't 38:33

20d ago38:33

38:33

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about parasocial relationships; the one-sided emotional connections we have with casual acquaintances, people we "know" online, characters we watch in television and movies, and people we admire from afar. In this episode, Jake and Simon talk about some examples from pop culture, such as Chappell Roan's desire…

1
244: Gentle parenting doesn’t have to mean permissive parenting 50:01

22d ago50:01

50:01

Is gentle parenting just permissive parenting in disguise? This episode reveals a powerful framework for meeting both your needs and your child's, creating cooperation without sacrificing connection. Is gentle parenting the same as permissive parenting? No, gentle parenting is not the same as permissive parenting. Gentle parenting focuses on meetin…

1
Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn 49:22

29d ago49:22

49:22

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about the four F's: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. In this episode, Jake and Simon discuss the four threat responses and how to move through tough situations and face what's in front of us. This episode is for anyone who feels trapped by their reactions or is left feeling overwhelmed by stressful situations.…

1
243: Parent Conflict Over Discipline: How to Get on the Same Page 53:21

1M ago53:21

53:21

"How can we get on the same page about discipline?" is one of the most common questions parents face. Before having kids, most couples never realize how different family backgrounds, experiences, and parenting beliefs will collide into seemingly unbridgeable differences. This episode explores practical tools to navigate these differences, from de-e…

1
The Unexpected Mentor | An SLG Publishing Podcast 2:37

1M ago2:37

2:37

On The Unexpected Mentor, unlikely friends Dan Vado and Emily Parent attempt to sort out the truth of what it means to live – and attempt to make a living – as an authentic, independent artist.By Dan Vado & Emily Parent

1
The two most essential skills for relationships 48:08

1M ago48:08

48:08

This Isn't Therapy... it's a long overdue convo about the two most essential skills in relationships. In this episode, Jake and Simon discuss a statistic about emotional availability: on average, we are only emotionally available for our partners about 9% of the time. With that in mind, they discuss how to get closer to the 9% using the two essenti…

1
242: The secret to having feedback conversations your family will actually hear 1:04:44

1M ago1:04:44

1:04:44

Have you ever shared an observation with your partner or child, only to watch them immediately become defensive or shut down? You meant well, but somehow your words landed as criticism instead of the helpful insight you intended. In this episode, we explore The Feedback Process framework with Joellen Killion, examining how we can transform our fami…

1
S5 | Episode 12 | I Thought I'd Won 1:04:49

1M ago1:04:49

1:04:49

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** In Season Five of GUILT, Ryan journeys to the far north of New Zealand to investigate the tragic, brutal and cowardly murder of 67 year old …

1
Have we lost the plot in our attempts to de-stigmatize mental health? 52:06

1M ago52:06

52:06

This Isn't Therapy... it's a conversation about mental health stigma and how we may have lost the plot in our attempts to de-stigmatize mental health. In this episode, we unpack RaQuel Hopkins' viral videos about mental health language, turning mental health labels into identities, and expanding our resilience and personal capacity to tolerate diff…

1
S5 | Episode 11 | Shirley Speaks 54:51

1M ago54:51

54:51

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** In Season Five of GUILT, Ryan journeys to the far north of New Zealand to investigate the tragic, brutal and cowardly murder of 67 year old …

1
The Empathy Wars: Declining connection in a divided world 46:25

2M ago46:25

46:25

This isn’t therapy… it’s part three in our series about the war on human connection. In this episode, we talk about how overwhelming people with tragic and distressing information about the world leads to a decline in empathy. Jake and Simon discuss how a decline in rates of empathy affect our ability to practice perspective taking and experience e…

1
S5 | Episode 10 | It's About Time 52:19

2M ago52:19

52:19

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** In Season Five of GUILT, Ryan journeys to the far north of New Zealand to investigate the tragic, brutal and cowardly murder of 67 year old …

1
The Opinion Wars: Can we really "agree to disagree"? 47:51

2M ago47:51

47:51

This Isn't Therapy... it's a follow up to last week's episode about the attention wars. In this episode, we explore the concept of "agree to disagree" and how there seems to be a war of opinions playing out in our culture. Is it really possible to find common ground when opinions clash? We discuss strategies for navigating disagreements and the key…

1
241: Validating children’s feelings: Why it’s important, and how to do it with Dr. Caroline Fleck 1:18:04

2M ago1:18:04

1:18:04

What exactly is validation? Dr. Fleck defines it as communication that demonstrates you are mindful, understand, and empathize with another person's experience, thereby accepting it as valid. In this illuminating conversation with Dr. Caroline Fleck, author the book Validation, we explore the powerful concept of validation and how it can transform …

1
S5 | Episode 09 | Papa Dave 53:55

2M ago53:55

53:55

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** In Season Five of GUILT, Ryan journeys to the far north of New Zealand to investigate the tragic, brutal and cowardly murder of 67 year old …

1
The Attention Wars: How the attention economy is reshaping the world… and us 41:42

2M ago41:42

41:42

This Isn't Therapy... it's a frank discussion about the "attention economy"—where companies compete to capture our focus to sell us products. We break down the difference between attention, focus, and concentration, and examine how the constant battle for our attention impacts our mental health, productivity, and relationships. We discuss the hidde…

1
240: How to prepare your kids for the real world 1:06:17

2M ago1:06:17

1:06:17

In this episode, we explore how to prepare children for the real world without sacrificing their authentic selves. Drawing on research about food habits, screen time, social expectations, and discipline approaches, this discussion offers balanced strategies that prioritize connection over control. You'll learn how to guide children through external…

1
S5 | Episode 08 | He was wearing Gloves 57:58

2M ago57:58

57:58

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** In Season Five of GUILT, Ryan journeys to the far north of New Zealand to investigate the tragic, brutal and cowardly murder of 67 year old …

1
How to be alone without feeling lonely 46:48

2M ago46:48

46:48

This isn't therapy... it's a deeper dive into the topic of loneliness. Through stories submitted by the Loveliest Listeners, Jake and Simon discuss the crisis of loneliness and how to differentiate between feelings of loneliness and being alone. They also talk about the number one protective factor to combat loneliness and share their own reflectio…

1
239: First year for your newborn baby: The 7 ideas that really matter 56:22

3M ago56:22

56:22

What truly matters in a baby’s first year? This episode explores the top seven things parents should focus on, helping you set priorities with confidence. Questions this episode will answer How much influence do parents really have on their child’s development? What parenting practices actually make a long-term difference? Should you be worried abo…

1
S5 | Episode 07 | Victor 49:21

3M ago49:21

49:21

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** In Season Five of GUILT, Ryan journeys to the far north of New Zealand to investigate the tragic, brutal and cowardly murder of 67 year old …

1
What to do when therapy isn't working 46:58

3M ago46:58

46:58

This isn't therapy... and it's not working out, either! In this episode, Jake and Simon discuss what to do when therapy isn't working. Importantly, they talk about how to know if therapy is actually working and what to do when you feel like it's not. This episode is based on a Lovely Listener question: "If I cry in therapy, does that mean it's work…

1
S5 | Episode 06 | Hatred & Contempt 47:09

3M ago47:09

47:09

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** In Season Five of GUILT, Ryan journeys to the far north of New Zealand to investigate the tragic, brutal and cowardly murder of 67 year old …

1
External validation and the quest for self-worth 41:08

3M ago41:08

41:08

This Isn't Therapy... it's an episode about seeking validation (online). Are we becoming obsessed with our quest for constant reassurance, approval, and external validation? Piggy backing off last week's episode on narcism, Jake and Simon explore the sugar high that comes with too much external affirmation and how this weird, wacky, online world is…

1
S5 | Episode 05 | Viciousness 50:49

3M ago50:49

50:49

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** In Season Five of GUILT, Ryan journeys to the far north of New Zealand to investigate the tragic, brutal and cowardly murder of 67 year old …

1
Where did all these narcissists come from? 49:00

3M ago49:00

49:00

This Isn't Therapy... it's the long-overdue episode about narcissism. In this episode, we break down what narcissism really is, how it differs from strong self-esteem and healthy narcissism, and why the term is being overused in today’s culture. While true narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a serious condition, many of us display narcissist…

1
238: Feeling exhausted and overwhelmed? Tools to help you cope 54:35

3M ago54:35

54:35

Feeling Overwhelmed by Parenting Stress? You’re Not Alone. If you’re exhausted, stretched too thin, and struggling with the stress of parenting, you’re not the only one. Many parents—especially mothers—find themselves running on empty, constantly trying to meet everyone’s needs while their own go unnoticed. Parenting stress can leave you feeling fr…

1
S5 | Episode 04 | Hate is the Fuel 51:12

3M ago51:12

51:12

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** In Season Five of GUILT, Ryan journeys to the far north of New Zealand to investigate the tragic, brutal and cowardly murder of 67 year old …

1
Inside the mind of a Chameleon Kid 42:52

3M ago42:52

42:52

This Isn't Therapy... it's a deep dive into the world of “chameleon kids” — children who adapt their personalities, emotions, and behaviours to fit their surroundings and meet the unspoken needs of others. These kids are often labeled as “the good child,” “the helper,” or “the rule-follower,” but beneath the surface lies a complex mix of empathy, s…

1
237: 8 reasons your child won’t tell you what’s wrong – and how to help 25:46

3M ago25:46

25:46

Struggling to get your child to open up? Discover 8 key reasons kids resist sharing their feelings—and actionable strategies to create real connection. Why Your Child Won’t Open Up—and What You Can Do As parents, we deeply want to support our children, but when we ask, “What’s wrong?” and get silence or resistance in return, it can feel frustrating…

1
S5 | Episode 03 | The Promise 1:03:56

3M ago1:03:56

1:03:56

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** In Season Five of GUILT, Ryan journeys to the far north of New Zealand to investigate the tragic, brutal and cowardly murder of 67 year old …

1
Nanoships, microconnections, and bite-sized bonds 45:21

4M ago45:21

45:21

This Isn't Therapy... it's a frank convo about the ever-changing language we use to describe our relationships. From loud looking to kiss-mets, the way we're seeking and obtaining connections continues to change alongside changes in technology and culture. This week, we discuss how nanoships, or in other words bite-sized relational moments, may be …

1
236: How to heal the anger in your relationship with your spouse 1:09:40

4M ago1:09:40

1:09:40

How to heal the anger in your relationship with your spouse Parent Laurie was doing really well when she had two kids. She had been with her partner for a long time, she had just achieved her first managerial role at work, and things were going great - so they thought it would be a good time to add a third child. Then: Pandemic. Two kids under thre…

1
S5 | Episode 02 | One of Life's Characters 58:22

4M ago58:22

58:22

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** If you have information related to the murder of Dave Davan, and believe you could claim the reward, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 55…

1
Regret It or Forget It: When to regret and when to release 38:59

4M ago38:59

38:59

This Isn't Therapy... it’s a juicy convo about the power of regret. In a culture that would prefer us to "get over it" and "forget it" altogether, we unpack the ways that regret and remorse play out across the lifespan. Through listener story submissions, we discuss when it’s best to regret and when it's better to release. This conversation is for …

1
235: Children’s threats: What they mean and how to respond 56:07

4M ago56:07

56:07

Children’s threats: What they mean and how to respond "If you don't give me a lollipop, I won't be your friend anymore.” Said to a sibling: “If you don’t come and sit down, I'll take your toy.” “If you don't give me candy before dinner, I'll hit you.” Has your child made threats like this (or worse ones) when things don't go their way? Whether it’s…

1
S5 | Episode 01 | The Far North 53:46

4M ago53:46

53:46

**For all details on how to subscribe using Apple or Spotify and support the podcast plus get early release, ad free listening and bonus episodes please visit https://www.theguiltpodcast.com/how-to-subscribe** In Season Five of GUILT, Ryan journeys to the far north of New Zealand to investigate the tragic, brutal and cowardly murder of 67 year old …

1
Can AI replace real relationships? 52:35

4M ago52:35

52:35

This Isn't Therapy... it's a thought-provoking episode about the growing influence of artificial intelligence in our personal lives. We ask the big question: Can AI truly replace human relationships? From AI companions and virtual therapists to chatbots that promise emotional support, technology is reshaping the way we connect. But what happens whe…

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