Reflections
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E36 – Learning Strategies Every Student (and Parent) Needs
What if learning and doing well in academics (and life) meant doing less, not more? In this conversation between host Sonia Dong and Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer, founder and CEO of Awakened Learning, we learn how to unpack what it really means to support your kids as learners without the burnout. Dr. Deena shares how…
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E35 – What Are the 7 Types of Rest You and Your Family Need?
What does it actually mean to rest? In this episode, host Sonia Dong chats with Karen Choi, founder of Balm, to explore why so many of us feel exhausted even when we think we’ve rested. Drawing on Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith’s framework of the seven types of rest, Karen unpacks what kind of labor we’re doing…
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E34 – Understanding Your Teen’s Mind and Mood
What’s “normal” and what warrants concern? Host Sonia Dong sits down with psychologist Nadia D’Iuso to explore the real challenges parents face as their children move through adolescence. Whether your teen is struggling with stress, anxiety, academic pressure, or peer relationships, this conversation offers a compassionate glimpse into the adolescent mind, as well as actionable…
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E33 – The Financial Head Start Your Teen Needs
Inspired by rising inflation and her desire to give her sons a head start, Jane Kwan chats with host Sonia Dong to share practical strategies parents can use to open money conversations with their kids. From budgeting at the grocery store to explaining needs vs. wants, she breaks down key tools like TFSAs, RESPs, and…
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E32 – Helping Teens Thrive Beyond Mom and Dad
In this episode, host Sonia Dong explores the world of teen and young adult coaching with Sandi Huminek, a certified life coach who is passionate about helping the next generation thrive. We discuss the difference between coaching and therapy, what it looks like when parents, teens, and coaches work together, and why leading with curiosity…
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E31 – Father Figures Who Steer Rather Than Stifle Teenage Sons
What does it really take to raise confident, emotionally grounded teenage boys? In this episode, host Sonia Dong sits down with Edmund Chien, a retired finance professional, public speaker on behavioural finance, and military veteran. Edmund shares how studying attachment theory transformed his own parenting and why he parents by “steering vs. stifling”. He also…
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E30 – It’s All About the Baby Steps
Before a child can walk on their own, they fall about 2,500 times (2012 study from New York University’s Infant Action Lab). And every single time, we cheered them on.So why do we expect our teens and tweens to get it right on the first try? In this talk, speaker and host of Raising the…
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E29 – Teens, Sportsmanship, and Navigating Disappointment
In this episode, Sonia welcomes Kimberly Snider, a strategic leadership coach and team builder, for an engaging conversation about raising resilient children. They discuss mindset management during unexpected challenges like airline strikes, the power of maintaining optimism, and how family travel teaches valuable life lessons. Kimberly shares insights from raising two sporty teenagers, exploring how…
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E28 – Teen Money Skills and Post-Secondary Budgeting Tips
In this episode of Raising the Next Gen, host Sonia Dong welcomes Tara Downey, owner of Tru Insurance & Investments, to discuss financial literacy for teens and young adults. Tara shares her journey as a single mom navigating financial challenges while raising three children, now aged 20-27. She reveals practical strategies for teaching money habits…
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E27 – Parents Are the Algorithm Behind Digitally Savvy Kids
Sonia is joined by Yetty Williams on Raising the Next Gen for a conversation about raising digitally savvy kids. As a digital parenting coach and social entrepreneur who helps families navigate raising children in a highly connected world, Yetty is passionate about supporting parents to parent intentionally in the digital age. Yetty introduces the idea…