Spawned with Kristen and Liz of CoolMomPicks

With World Autism Day approaching (April 2, 2018), we chatted with Dr. Laura Klinger, Executive Director of the TEACCH Autism at UNC, and part of the team who helped develop the character Julia for Sesame Street who debuted last year. We asked her everything from how to correctly refer to kids with autism, to what research she and her colleagues are currently conducting about causation and treatment. And we discussed how families whose kids are not on the Spectrum can show support and empathy for those who are. Got questions, comments, or show topic suggestions? Drop us an email: spawned@coolmompicks.com, hit us up on Twitter (use #spawnedshow), or say "hi" on Facebook. We love hearing from you! 

This week, we're browsing the hot fashion trends of spring for a candid discussion about what we can wear, what we can't, and what the heck women ever did to designers to deserve some of this. Will we say yes to designer fanny packs? Fringed go-go dancer tops? Giant floral prints? Misspelled designer logos? Take a listen for a fun, light, totally opinionated episode that's well worth your 34 minutes! || Questions? Comments? Hit us up at spawned@coolmompicks.com or find us @coolmompicks on social. And don't forget to leave us a (really nice) review if you like Spawned! We'd like that even more than sparkly metallic ankle boots. 

Today, in the wake of the tragic Parkland school shooting, we're talking about the positive: The courageous, amazing kids-turned-activists of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High -- and how their actions are influencing so many kids around the nation. (Including ours. And maybe yours?) It's a really great discussion about how we as parents can encourage our own kids to get involved in issues they care about -- education, animals, the environment, you name it -- and what kinds of things we can all do to help feel less helpless and more empowered in the face of tragedy beyond our control. Questions? Comments? Hit us up via spawned@coolmompicks.com, follow us on twitter and facebook @coolmompicks using the hashtag #spawnedshow. Thank you for listening!

We all get into cycles of negative thinking (raising our hands here), and fortunately there are some simple tips to help you get out sooner. Because more positivity means happier you, happier kids, more success, more love. Really! Take a listen to these tips about the power of positive thinking from the energetic Sandy Joy Weston, fitness instructor, trainer (she was the first female trainer for the Philadelphia Flyers!), mom, and author of the new book, Train Your Head and Your Body Will Follow. | Questions? Comments? Knock-knock jokes? Hit us up at spawned@coolmompicks.com or find us on social @coolmompicks using #SpawnedShow. Thanks for listening!

Did you hear the one about the pregnant woman who wasn't allowed to drink a glass of water on the job? If only this were an isolated story. That's why, for all of us working moms, working dads, and working moms-to-be, Liz is so happy to sit down with working families advocate and A Better Balance founder Dina Bakst. This episode, they're talking about our legal rights as working parents, which protections are guaranteed to us, which states are leading the way, and where we really need to do better for moms and dads. If you have questions or comments, find us at spawned@coolmompicks.com or on social @coolmompicks. Thanks for listening!

Happy 2018! We're back with our extra special, super awesome 100th episode where we look back and share our most favorite Spawned with Kristen and Liz episodes. We share the funniest, the most helpful, and yes, the most controversial, plus some never before heard back stories. We'd love to hear from you about what you'd like to hear in 2018! Drop us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com, tweet us with the hashtag #SpawnedShow, or head over to Facebook. Yes, we're there too. Thanks for listening, subscribing, and telling all your friends about us. 

Whether you're planning a spring break trip, a summer vacation, or a quick weekend getaway, you're going to want to hear these fantastic money-saving family travel tips from expert Shellie Bailey-Shah from KidTripster.com. Did you know there's a best day to book your travel? Wondering how to cut costs on your plane fare or rental car? You'll get a ton of helpful info to help you save money on your next family trip. We love hearing from you! Drop us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com, tweet us #SpawnedShow, and make sure to follow us on Facebook. 

Raise your hand if you struggle to put down the phone sometimes. Yep, us too. So...we're joined by "The Art of Screentime" author and expert Anya Kamenetz for an honest conversation about how to realistically balance all that online time with real life. For both you and your kids. She's got some seriously amazing tips that were new to us, and we're excited to put them to use . Hope they help you too! || Thanks so much for listening and all your kind 5-star reviews! Best listeners ever! If you want to reach out with comments or questions: spawned@coolmompicks.com or @coolmompicks on your favorite social channel. (When you're not in the midst of your offline time, of course.)

We have SO many questions for video game expert Dr. Rachel Kowert: Are video games hurting our kids? Are violent games making kids more violent? Are they playing too much overall? How do we manage all that gaming time? And geez... are there ANY positive effects for kids who game? We think you'll be surprised at the answers and her common sense advice. This is a great episode whether your kids are just old enough for screens, or already masters of Minecraft. || Questions? Comments? Hit us up! spawned@coolmompicks.com or @coolmompicks on your favorite social channel. Thanks for listening! 

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.

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

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.

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!

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. 

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.