Season 1, Episode 1: “Discussing Empathy, Stories & Yes”

Summary: Vivek talks about how empathy facilitates connection in relationships. Marji talks about how our unexplored stories can cloud our vision and create friction in our lives. Sujai discusses about embracing the power of Yes! Yes!!!

Preview for S1, E1

Season 1, Episode 2: “Discussing Decision-making, Anger and Preventing Blow-ups & Play!”

Summary: Sujai, Vivek, and Marji answer a question that Sabrina asked about something she heard in Episode 1. Then, Sujai digs in on understanding our bodies’ queues so that we can prevent blow-ups; Vivek talks about empowering the development of children’s decision-making prowess; and Marji waxes on about playing and why playing is serious business!

Preview for Series 1 Episode 2

Season 1, Episode 3: “Collaborative Limit Setting, Unschooling, and Financial Awareness!”

Summary: In this third podcast of our Coffee Time Conversations series, Vivek opens the conversation with his discussion of the gifts of collaborative limit setting (at 1:50). Then, Marji presents about the principles and vast benefits of home-education through unschooling (at about 18:52). Then, Sujai brings us the topic of empowering children’s financial awareness (at about 52:00). It’s interesting how the topics interweave and echo back on each other! There’s laughter and learning!! (Note: the bumper music is written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us)

Season 1, Episode 4: “Using Triggers to Go Deeper, Leveling-up Communications, and Having Hard Conversations”

Summary: It’s the fourth podcast of our Coffee Time Conversations series! This week, Sujai starts us off (at about 2:40) by exploring triggers and how we can use them to learn more about ourselves and love ourselves even deeper. Then, Marji dishes about how we can “level up” our communications skills with our kids in very practical ways (at about 14:10). Then, Vivek shares his powerful insights on having “hard” or difficult conversations and helps us find ways of doing it that build trust and connection (at about 35:45). As always, our topics reverberate on and support each other as we build the tapestry of our conversation. And, as always, there’s abundant joy, laughter, and learning!! (Note: the theme music is called “Joyful” and was written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us. The podcast is produced and edited by Marji as well.)

Season 1, Episode 5: “Emotional Healing, Holding Boundaries, and Apologies”

Summary: In our fifth podcast in our Coffee Time Conversations series, Marji opens at about 2:20 with a discussion of emotional healing and understanding how we can facilitate that for ourselves and our young people. Next, at about 28:10, Sujai explores the gift of identifying and holding boundaries, especially with other adults, and how it is a loving thing to do for ourselves, other people, and the relationships we share. (Listen for some giggles at about 39:32!) Then, at about 47:50, Vivek shares his deep wisdom on apologies and ways to see the process as crucial to our healthy relationships with our kids and our friends and families. Once again, each of our topics inform each other and shine a light on the nuances of healthy relationships! Visit with us and enjoy the warmth and wisdom of these three friends! (Note: the theme music is called “Joyful” and was written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us. The podcast is produced and edited by Marji as well.)

Season 1, Episode 6-a: “Who are these people?”

Summary: It’s about time we told you who we are! How did three kids grow up to become passionate advocates for gentle, respectful, compassionate, and effective parenting? And, how did they come together? By popular request, here, then, is the sixth installment of our popular Coffee Time Conversations series, which we are making available to the public!

Sujai appropriately gets us started (yet another thing she is great at!) at about 3:00, sharing the story of her amazing journey. Then, at about 12:53 or so, Sujai gives us the origin story of Gentle Parents Unite, which is really fascinating!

Then, at about 37:34, Vivek tells us all about his journey to the present. It’s a beautiful story, which is not at all surprising, given who the story is about!

And, then, at about 56:09, Marji shares her story of her journey through her childhood and early adulthood and how she became a parent and how her childhood informed her adulthood and her parent-child advocacy.

Throughout the conversation, there’s a lot of intersectionality, a lot of laughter, a lot of camaraderie, and some very interesting tidbits none of us knew about each other!

Visit with us and enjoy the warmth and wisdom of these three friends! (Note: the theme music is called “Joyful” and was written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us. The podcast is produced and edited by Marji as well.)

Season 1, Episode 6-b: “Some Questions and Some Answers”

Summary: You have questions? We have answers! In this addendum to our sixth Coffee Time Conversations Podcast, we answer three questions that have come in. Three questions from one inquisitive question-asker. We LOVE your questions!!

The first question, at about 4:08, concerns the practicalities of how one pivots from their own intense feelings (and subsequent reactions) when a child is pushing buttons to the recommended curiosity about what need the child might be attempting to communicate through their button-pushing behavior. (Listen at around 20:17 for some sublime toddler humor!)

Then, at about 34:50, we address the second question, concerning the practicalities of using a collaborative approach with little people. (Our question-asker, a very practical person, used teethbrushing as a “straw man” for her great question. If you have a child with teeth, this question is for you!)

And, finally, at about 52:32, we answer a great question about educational choices.

(Note: the theme music is called “Joyful” and was written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us. The podcast is produced and edited by Marji as well.)

Season 1, Episode 7: “A New Paradigm for Relationships; More About Sujai’s Journey to Gentle Parenting; and YELLING (uh…we mean Yelling) and How to Shift That”

Summary: Vivek starts off Episode #7 of our Coffee Time Conversations Podcast at about the 4-minute mark with a beautiful new paradigm for parent-child relationships that is transformative and healing.

Then, at about 49:14, Sujai gives us a deeper perspective on her journey to gentle parenting and what she learned about herself and what you might be able to learn from your journey, too!

Finally, at about the 1-hour, 28-minute mark, Marji closes the conversation with some practical tips for exactly how a person who yells can shift to a new approach that is connecting and empowering for both the parent and the child.

You’ll find this conversation to be filled with a lot of practical and usable information that you can put into practice right away! And, of course, we love your questions!! Keep ‘em coming!

(Note: the theme music is called “Joyful” and was written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us. The podcast is produced and edited by Marji as well.)

Season 1, Episode 8: “Perspectives on Perfectionism; Change Does Not Require Shame; and Out of Control!”

Summary: When we show up to record our coffee-time conversations, we often have no idea what the other two folks are bringing to the talk. It is all the more astonishing how our three topics—yet again—flow so beautifully into each other! Sujai opens up this week’s coffee-time conversation at about 3:19 with a deep look at perfectionism, with an eye toward helping parents shift away from a perfectionist mindset.

Next, at about the 14:15 mark, Vivek gives some beautiful perspective and practical information on a revelation he had recently had: Change Does Not Require Shame.

Finally, at about the 43:45 mark, Marji talk about being out of control and takes a look at what the desire to control things might be able to teach us about ourselves and how we can use that information for our betterment.

There’s a lot of conversation, some running water in the background and the sound of lunch being made (apologies for that!), lots of laughter, a little therapy, and some pearls of wisdom here and there! As always, we love your questions!! Keep ‘em coming!

(Note: the theme music is called “Joyful” and was written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us. The podcast is produced and edited by Marji as well.)

Season 1, Episode 11: “Adjust Your Sails: Micro-Meditations, Back to School, and Connection”

Summary: In this very interesting coffee time conversation we offer three topics that, oddly enough, weave together in a most interesting and lovely way.

Vivek gets us started at about 3:24 with his revelatory and life-enhancing discussion of a technique he developed that he calls Micro-meditations. And, if you’re a person who feels that meditation would be nice but you just don’t have the time or the ability to clear your mind enough to do it, this is a MUST-LISTEN for you.

Then, Sujai digs in at about 24:52 on her topic: Back to School. She offers us a beautiful perspective on supporting kids through any challenges that they may face through parental listening and advocacy. The information she shares here is something you’re not likely to hear elsewhere, and it’s powerful and chock-full of love!

Finally, at about the 57:31 mark, Marji talks about Connection. We often hear that connection is the right thing for whatever is troubling a child, we often hear that a child who is craving attention is really seeking connection, but what is connection? And, how can parents ensure that their connection with their child stays strong and solid, especially when behavior becomes challenging?

This episode is deep and practical and will give parents some tools they can use to feel more effective and gratified on their Becoming Gentle parenting journey! Let us know what you think!!

(Note: the theme music is called “Joyful” and was written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us. The podcast is produced and edited by Marji as well.)

Season 2, Episode 1: “A Conversation About Failure, Stories, and Phobias”

Summary: Welcome to the first of episode of Season 2! In this episode, Sujai, Vivek, and Marji will follow a slightly different format. They’ll discuss three topics (those familiar and ubiquitous feelings of failure, how to deal with our own stories that often defeat us and wreck the day, and supporting kids through their phobias journey), and instead of three distinct presentations, they will weave the topics into a conversation between three friends and colleagues. Let us know what you think and if you have any questions at all!

(Note: the theme music is called “Joyful” and was written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us. The podcast is produced and edited by Marji as well.)

Season 2, Episode 2: “A Conversation with Eric D. Greene, a/k/a 1Awesome Dad”

Summary: Welcome to the second episode of Season 2 and the first of our guest interview conversations! In this episode, Sujai, Vivek, and Marji speak first about some wonderful work that Vivek has been doing (starting about 3:07). Our conversation with Eric starts at about 15:51. (Note: Between about 21:00 and 23:23, Eric discusses the loss of a child. If you are sensitive to that subject, consider fast-forwarding when you get to the 21-minute mark.) Also, know that there is one unbeeped expletive. We had quite a lively conversation!!

To learn more about Vivek’s work, visit his website Meaningful Ideas. (www.meaningfulideas.com) You can also find him on YouTube (www.youtube.com/channel/UCcBBIOHuEjP6fei2xHXgA_w), Facebook (www.facebook.com/meaningfulideas), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/meaningfulideas/).

To learn more about Sujai’s community and the work she and others do, visit (and join) the Gentle Parents Unite Becoming Gentle Patreon group!

To learn more about the work that Marji does, you can visit her website, Peaceful Parent Whisperer, and you can follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

And, to learn more about our guest, Eric D. Greene, visit 1 Awesome Dad (he truly is awesome, as you will hear). You can also find Eric on Facebook and Instagram.

(Note: the theme music is called “Joyful” and was written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us. The podcast is produced and edited by Marji as well.)

Season 2, Episode 3: “A Conversation about Hurtful Words and Behaviors, Micro-Compassion, and Unconditioning Our Conditioning”

Summary: In this week’s episode, Marji starts us off at 3:13 with some theoretical and practical ways of looking at and responding to children’s hurtful words and behaviors.

Vivek next (at about 48:18) discusses something he’s been developing, namely micro-self-compassion. And, at about 1:01:49 (61:49), he takes us through a lovely exercise!

Sujai then takes a lovely look starting at about 1:21:47 (81:47) at undoing some of the conditioning that runs our lives and our thoughts and our reactions and the way we see and interact with the world and our kids and each other.

It’s cool the way our three apparently disparate topics actually connect in deep and powerful ways! Enjoy the conversation!!!

(Note: the theme music is called “Joyful” and was written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us. The podcast is produced and edited by Marji as well.)

Season 2, Episode 4: “A Conversational Conversation about Stealing/Lying and Unhurried Children”

Summary: In this week’s episode, Sujai, Vivek, and Marji enjoy a loose conversation about things they noticed over the course of the past week. These three friends have much wisdom to share about lying and allowing kids the time and space they need to make sense of themselves and their world. As always, these friends learn from and enjoy each other!

(Note: the theme music is called “Joyful” and was written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us. The podcast is produced and edited by Marji as well.)

Season 2, Episode 5: “A Conversation with Shivani Patel”

Summary: In our Becoming Gentle Conversations series, Sujai, Vivek, and Marji are delighted to have an in-depth discussion with special guest and mom-to-the-pod Shivani Patel, who is not only one of the kindest people and not only one of the most powerfully effective people having an impact in the world, but is also Vivek’s mother. We were excited to talk with Shivani, who is also on the admin team at GPU, about the work she does in the prison system. Her six-week workshop is the most requested workshop by the inmates and also by the staff of the prison because of its effectiveness in helping and transforming the lives of the people who participate.

We chat about the work she does in the prison as well as parenting, dealing with that feeling that we’re not good enough, reading, dogs, and even yogurt!

We think you’ll really love this sweet conversation with this wise, truly delightful, and deeply inspiring person (a/k/a “Mom” to some)!

If you’re not yet in the Gentle Parents Unite Becoming Gentle group, visit www.patreon.com/GentleParentsUniteHealingCircle to learn more and find out how you can join this community and hear these podcasts every week.

(Note: the theme music is called “Joyful” and was written and performed by Marji, whose music site is www.marjizintz.us. The podcast is produced and edited by Marji as well.)