Spawned With Kristen And Liz Of Coolmompicks

It's here! Our annual holiday gift guide, and we're sharing some of our favorites from the hundreds of gifts we scoured the web to find. It's like an entire episode of Cool Picks of the Week. Whether you're finishing off your holiday shopping, or just getting started, we've got lots of suggestions. And opinions, of course. We love hearing from you! Drop us an email spawned@coolmompicks.com, follow us on Facebook, or tweet us (use #spawnedshow). And find all our holiday picks in our holiday gift guide, and on our podcast page. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who likes paying retail over the holiday? Not us! Presumably, not you. So...join us for a fun, fast-paced episode with our very best money-saving holiday shopping tips culled from YEARS of giving this same advice in national magazines, newspapers, and shows like TODAY. You can use these tips, apps, and other helpful services on Black Friday or any day of the year, and don't worry about writing it all down -- you'll find all the links on our our podcast page at bit.ly/spawnedCMP. | Thanks for listening! And if you've got any questions, comments or show ideas...hit us up!  spawned@coolmompicks.com or find us on social at @coolmompicks using hashtag #SpawnedShow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wondering how to tell the men to do the dishes for a change? Struggling to feed 12 people with 14 different food allergies? Freaking over a 10-hour road trip with perpetually bored tweens? And how do we handle those political conversations everyone is dreading? You gave us questions...we've got answers! Join us for a fun, honest, carb-free Thanksgiving romp. And thanks so much for listening and supporting Spawned with Kristen and Liz! Questions? Hit us up: spawned@coolmompicks.com or @coolmompicks on social media with hashtag #SpawnedShow.   *NOTE: Got kids around: This is a clean show with one lone f-bomb. What can we say; it's a favorite word. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristen just got back from an Imagine Dragons show with all four of her kids, because she's not like a regular mom...she's a COOL MOM. (Also, whoa.) Join us for a lively discussion about kids and concerts, tips and concerns. And earplugs. Definitely earplugs. Plus, we confess our own first concerts in which Liz gains a little indie cred and Kristen makes a confession you may never have guessed.  || Thanks for listening! Questions? Comments? Episode ideas? Hit us up: spawned@coolmompicks.com or @coolmompicks on social with #SpawnedShow. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the "eating holidays" around the corner, we're looking at ways to keep our jeans from killing us with tightness. On this episode of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we're having a conversation about 5 of the most popular current diet trends, and we decide which ones might work for us (and maybe you too). Intermittent fasting? Ketogenics? If you've ever wondered about the buzz words you might have heard or seen on social media, now's your chance to get the scoop! (And of course, a reminder that we are not doctors -- duh -- so do not take our recommendations as medical advice). If you've got show suggestions, comments, or questions, drop us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com. You can also tweet us with #SpawnedShow or visit us on Facebook or Instagram. And be sure to head over to Cool Mom Picks to see all our show notes and links we mentioned.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ready to laugh? Join us for our own version of Wait Wait WAIT Don't Tell Me (don't sue us, NPR!) As we try to discern the craziest beauty trends from a few fake ones. Which are also crazy. (Seriously, nose hair extensions? MAKE IT STOP!) | How many did you get right? Share with us at spawned@coolmompicks.com, or find us on social media @coolmompicks with hashtag #spawnedshow | And we're sorry we snorted into our mics more than a few times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to our kids' education, we all want them develop good habits, self-direction, and autonomy, So what can we do as parents to best support them at home? (Spoiler: Nagging is not a good idea.) This week we've got BRILLIANT tips from Katherine Firestone of the Fireborn Institute -- which has nothing to do with Game of Thrones, we asked. Her ideas are so innovative and smart, many of them even brand new to us. We hope they help you too, whatever kind of learner you have at home. | Questions? Comments? spawned@coolmompicks.com or find us on social @coolmompicks #SpawnedShow and thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're having a hard time with the ongoing story about Harvey Weinstein, sexual harassment and predatory behavior, abuse of power, and a complicit culture, well...so are we. A really hard time. So we put together this raw, honest, unscripted conversation (no ads, no interruptions) with the hope that we can help more women to process your feelings, find the right words for your kids, and get the help you need if you're struggling with memories and experiences of your own. You're not alone.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not every parent has the time (or patience or uh, interest) to play racecars for hours on end. GUILTY! So we're chatting with Meredith Sinclair, TODAY Show play expert and author of Well Played to get some much-needed tips. We discuss how to make play more fun (for parents too), why we all need more play right now, the great tech toy debate, and score lots of toy and game recos that parents should add to our arsenals. | Questions? Comments? Compliments? Find Kristen + Liz  @coolmompicks #SpawnedShow on social media, or hit us up at spawned@coolmompicks.com. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are we comfortable saying vagina? YES! Having frank conversations with our daughters -- and sons -- about menstruation? YES! Telling our most embarrassing period stories? Well...at least Liz did. (And there's more than one, oh no!) Join us for a funny, frank talk about "the talk" you know you'll be having with your daughters one day if you haven't already. Plus, get lots of helpful advice from Naama Bloom, founder of Hello Flo and author of the upcoming Period Book. | By the way we shouldn't have to mark a podcast as EXPLICIT for the word "vagina" but we did because anatomy freaks some people out. | Comments? Questions? Got your own embarrassing story to share? Email spawned@coolmompicks.com, or follow us @coolmompicks #SpawnedShow on social. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Parents, if you listen to any episode it should be this one. Because we've got civilization=saving strategies here from James Breakwell (aka @xplodingunicorn), comedy writer and author of the new book, Only Dead on the Inside: A Parent's Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse.  Wait, are you laughing? This is DEADLY SERIOUS STUFF, PARENTS. Discover tips for how to break the news to your kids in age-appropriate ways, how to turning toys and umbrella strollers into deadly weapons, and why parents have some surprising. advantages for post-apocalyptic survival over "smug, outdoorsy millennials" with no kids.  | Thanks for listening, subscribing and leaving us a sweet rating! | Questions? Find Kristen + Liz  on social @coolmompicks with the hashtag #spawnedshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When can your kids start watching more "adult" movies and shows? Do you care more about f-bombs or violence and gore? What about sex? What about themes like suicide or sexuality or war? And how come the ratings system seems so totally ridiculous sometimes?  A fun, candid, and (ahem) somewhat NSFW discussion to help you decide when to let which kids watch what. | Questions, comments, show ideas or copious praise: email us any time at spawned@coolmompicks.com or find Liz and Kristen on social at @coolmompicks with hashtag #spawned show. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it okay to ignore your kids when they're being pains in the you-know-what? Family coach and LCSW, Catherine Pearlman, the author of the new book "Ignore It" says yup!  But...with a few caveats. If your kids have ever acted up (mayyyybe once, right?) tune in and learn about her smart technique, and how ignoring is not the same as neglecting. We think you'll get some great tips out of it! We sure did. | Questions or comments? Hit us up at spawned@coolmompicks.com or find us on social @coolmompicks using hashtag #spawnedshow. Thanks for listening!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professional organizer and mom Laurie Palau of Simply B Organized saves us all with down-to-earth tips, tricks, and common sense advice to get us on track for the school year, manage the kids (mostly), and keep us organized and productive. So smart! We've also got some truly amazing cool picks of the week. Questions? Comments? Knock-knock jokes? Email Kristen and Liz at spawned@coolmompicks.com, or find us on Twitter or FB at @coolmompicks using #spawnedshow. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Morra Aarons-Mele discusses her new book, Hiding in the Bathroom and shares incredibly helpful tactics and tips for overcoming introversion, battling social anxiety and FOMO, and living your best life when you feel like more like "leaning out" most days. (Also, turns out Liz and Kristen may be more introverted than we had realized!) || Questions? Comments? Follow us at twitter.com/coolmompicks or @coolmompicks on Facebook with hashtag #spawnedshow or email any time: spawned@coolmompicks.com. || Thanks for subscribing to our podcast and for those generous five-star ratings! We give YOU five stars right back! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode we're joined by the hilarious Laurie Gelman, author of Class Mom: A Novel and we get allllll the dirt on the mind of a class mom: The pettiness and the perks, the nightmare parents, the differences between class moms and class dads, and just what kind of masochistic martyr takes on this job anyway. Plus, we're sharing 3 cool picks of the week. || Thanks for listening to Spawned! If you love the show, please subscribe to our feed, leave us a review on iTunes (five-stars is cool but hey, no pressure), and don't forget to download the episode so you can listen any time. || Find us on social media @coolmompicks using the hashtag #SpawnedShow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we keep our kids curious and interested in all kinds of topics? What do we do when we don't know how to answer their questions? What are some cool educational websites for them? Why is it so important to let kids know that we (sadly) don't know every single thing in the world? And WHY WHY WHY are kids all so obsessed with farts? We have answers! Join a fun chat with Kristen, Liz, and Molly Bloom, the host of the super popular Brains On podcast from MN Public Radio. And be sure to stick around for our cool picks of the week...and a fun little surprise at the end!  || Questions? Comments? Topic suggestions? hit us up at spawned@coolmompicks.com or on social media @coolmomicks with hashtag #spawnedshow. We love hearing from you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liz is joined by Cool Mom Eats editor Stacie Billis -- and a special, surprise child guest -- to take on all your questions about that big parenting milestone (cue scary music)... sending your kids off to sleepaway camp! How do you know when they're ready? How do pick the right camp? What are the secret BTDT camp tricks for packing? How do you get your kids to actually write you letters? What about picky eaters or kids with food allergies? All will be answered! Plus, we've got some fantastic cool picks of the week. Questions, comments, episode ideas or lovely words of support: spawned@coolmompicks.com or find us on social media @coolmompicks with the hashtag #spawnedshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian, actor (Inside Amy Schumer, 30 Rock), author of Man V Child, and dad Doug Moe joins us to answer parents' most common questions about babies and toddlers. Do babies belong in bars? What do you do when you hate your kids' friends? Find out the answers - and laugh a lot - on this week's episode of Spawned with Kristen + Liz.  Questions? spawned@coolmompicks.com, @coolmompicks on Twitter and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're like us, you've got emails piled up in your inbox, photos eating up memory on your phone, and don't even get us started with all the documents cluttering up your computer. But that's all about to change thanks to professional organization expert and Director of Global Community and Training at Evernote, Joshua Zerkel. He's got pretty amazing tips and tricks that can really help you get a handle on all your digital clutter and help you actually find the stuff you're looking for when you need it. Plus, we've got a few pretty fun Cool Picks of the Week, too. You can find all the links mentioned on our show over on our Cool Mom Picks podcast page. Plus, let us know what you thought of the show on Twitter #SpawnedShow, Facebook, and email: spawned@coolmompicks.com. We love hearing from you.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices