Podcast
Hey Other Parents
Hosted by Michael Heit · EN
Hey Other Parents is a weekly parenting podcast about the real-life chaos of raising kids, balancing family life, and trying to survive modern parenting without losing your mind.
Each week, Michael Heit, Sara D, and Mike Levine have honest, funny, unfiltered conversations about parenting struggles, school stress, screen time, relationships, technology, family traditions, milestones, marriage, and the everyday moments nobody warns parents about.
Some episodes are emotional. Some are ridiculous. Most are a mix of both.
This isn’t a parenting advice podcast pretending to have all the answers. It’s three parents talking honestly about what parenting actually feels like — the guilt, the pressure, the laughter, the arguments, and the moments that somehow make it all worth it.
If you’ve ever thought, “Wait… is it just me?” — you’re definitely not alone.
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S5E7 - S05E007: Candles and Mayhem (The Birthday Episode)
2d ago00:56:37Tap to summarize🎙️ Hey Other Parents — S05E007: Candles and Mayhem (The Birthday Episode) This week, we’re talking about birthdays—and how something that’s supposed to be fun somehow turns into a full-on production. Somewhere between cakes, gifts, decorations, Pinterest parties, and trying to create the “perfect” day, birthdays became stressful, expensive, emotional, and just a little chaotic. We get into the pressure parents put on themselves, the moments that completely fall apart, and why the memories kids actually keep probably aren’t the ones we spend weeks stressing over. Because sometimes the best birthday moments happen after the plan goes completely sideways.  ❓ Question of the Week: What is your absolute most ridiculous birthday moment? 📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437) 📩 Email: heyotherparents@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyotherparents 🔌 Parenting Unplugged: * Michael Heit: Beard Meets Food (YouTube) * Sara D: Making time to get her steps in * Mike Levine: MAY THE FOURTH WEEK WOOT WOOT!!! ❤️ Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Leaving a quick review helps more parents find us—and helps grow the community. 🎧 About the Show: Hey Other Parents is an honest, messy, imperfect conversation about raising kids. Episode #75 overall. Edited and mixed by Michael Heit. Intro voiceover by Koltrane. Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co
Transcribe →S5E6 - S05E006: Working Moms in America (The Balance Myth)
1w ago00:59:13Tap to summarize🎙️ Hey Other Parents — S05E006: Working Moms in America (The Balance Myth) This week, we’re talking about working moms—and the pressure to somehow do it all. Show up at work like you don’t have kids, show up at home like you don’t have a job, and somewhere in between try to create perfect moments, make every event, and keep it all together. We get real about the myth of balance, the guilt, the double standards, and why it can feel like no matter what you do, you’re falling short somewhere. This isn’t a “how-to” episode—it’s an honest look at what it actually feels like to live in that space, and why maybe balance isn’t the goal at all.  ❓ Question of the Week: What do you want your partner to understand about work-life balance? 📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437) 📩 Email: heyotherparents@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyotherparents 🔌 Parenting Unplugged: * Sara D: Big Mistakes on Netflix (Dan Levy) * Mike Levine: Baseball game + Star Wars bobblehead night * Michael Heit: How-2-Escape (Switch / phone / PC / Mac) ❤️ Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Leaving a quick review helps more parents find us and helps grow the community on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Hey Other Parents Episode #74 overall. Edited and mixed by Michael Heit. Intro voiceover by Koltrane. Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co
Transcribe →S5E5 - S05E005: Talk Less. Connect More.
2w ago01:04:02Tap to summarizeS05E005: Talk Less. Connect More. This week, we’re getting real about something we all do—talking at our kids instead of actually connecting with them. Because somewhere between asking questions, giving advice, and trying to “help,” our conversations start to feel like lectures… and kids shut down fast. We break down why that happens, what better conversations actually look like, and how small shifts—like timing, tone, and just letting silence sit—can completely change the way our kids open up. From car ride confessions to one-word answers, this episode is all about creating space where kids actually want to talk. 🎧 Parenting Unplugged: Heit: Secrets of a Passionate Marriage — Secrets of a Passionate Marriage Sara: The Housemaid — a thriller that’s perfect for folding laundry Levine: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters on Apple TV 📞 Join the Conversation: What do you want to see your kids doing independently without being asked? 📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437) 📩 Email: heyotherparents@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyotherparents 🎙️ This is Episode 75 of Hey Other Parents — an honest discussion about raising kids. Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co
Transcribe →S5E4 - S05E004: Kids & Taking Initiative (Wilson… I’m Sorry!)
3w ago00:59:48Tap to summarize🎙️ S05E004: Kids & Taking Initiative (Wilson… I’m Sorry) This week, we’re talking about why kids struggle to take initiative—and whether we might be part of the reason why. From stepping in too quickly to structuring every moment, we explore how good intentions can accidentally take away the very opportunities kids need to figure things out on their own. Inspired by everything from Bluey to Cast Away, this episode is all about learning when to step back, let them struggle, and trust that they’ll get there—even if it’s uncomfortable to watch. 💬 Question of the Week What do you want to see your kids doing independently without being asked? 🔌 Parenting Unplugged Heit: Severance Season 1SaraD: Imperfect Women (Apple TV+)Levine: Anaconda 📢 Connect With Us 📞 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437)📧 heyotherparents@gmail.com📷 https://www.instagram.com/heyotherparents 🎧 Episode Info This is S05E004 of Hey Other Parents Episode 72 — an honest discussion about raising kids. New episodes drop Fridays. Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co
Transcribe →S5E3 - S05E003: I’m Bored. What Is This Feeling!?!
Apr 1700:51:59Tap to summarizeHey Other Parents S05E003: I’m Bored. What Is This Feeling!?! “I’m bored.” It hits differently now. We grew up with “Do you know where your children are?”, after-school specials like Punky Brewster, faces on milk cartons, and a completely irrational fear of quicksand… and did that impact us with our own kids? This week, we’re talking about what boredom used to look like, what changed, and whether kids today have lost the ability to just be bored. Are we overscheduling them… or are we just uncomfortable letting them sit with themselves? Because learning how to be bored might actually be one of the most important skills we can give our kids. 🎧 Parenting Unplugged SaraD: The ‘Burbs (remake series with Keke Palmer)—a fun watch Levine: Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord (Disney+) Heit: Super Mario Galaxy 📞 Join the Conversation Are your kids comfortable being bored… or do they need constant stimulation? 📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437) 📩 Email: heyotherparents@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyotherparents 🎙️ This is Episode 72 of Hey Other Parents — an honest discussion about raising kids. Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co
Transcribe →S5E2 - S05E002: So You Gave Your Kid a Phone… Now What? (The PH Word)
Apr 1001:12:09Tap to summarizeHey Other Parents S05E002: So You Gave Your Kid a Phone… Now What? (The PH Word) Giving your kid a phone feels like a big step—and maybe a risky one. This week, we’re talking about when it actually feels right to hand one over, what we’re really worried about (social pressure, exposure, bullying, and losing control), and how we try to balance safety with independence. We get into setting boundaries, checking in without hovering, and what happens when things go wrong—both with your own kid and others. Because let’s be honest… once the phone enters the picture, everything changes. 🎧 Parenting Unplugged SaraD: The story of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette—so good Levine: March Madness… and appetizers Heit: Stranger Things: The First Shadow—what it might reveal about Season 5, plus thoughts on Henry and how it all connects 📞 Join the Conversation What is your biggest concern as parents about handing off the phone to your kid? 📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437) 📩 Email: heyotherparents@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyotherparents 🎙️ This is Episode 71 of Hey Other Parents — an honest discussion about raising kids. Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co
Transcribe →S5E1 - S05E001: The Little Things We Do as Parents (That No One Notices)
Apr 300:51:57Tap to summarizeS05E001: The Little Things We Do as Parents (That No One Notices) This week, we’re kicking off Season 5 by focusing on the small, everyday ways we show love as parents—the things that don’t make it to Instagram but matter the most. From cutting fruit and charging devices to quiet emotional support and late-night check-ins, we’re talking about the invisible work that defines parenting. Because sometimes, it’s the little things that mean everything. 🔌 Parenting Unplugged: Heit: Pokémon Pokopia Sara: Dinosaurs (Netflix Documentary) Levine: Turok Collection (Switch) ❓ Question of the Week: What are the small things you do to show love as a parent? 📞 Join the Conversation 📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437) 📩 Email: heyotherparents@gmail.com 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyotherparents Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co
Transcribe →S4E10 - S04E010: We Don’t Know Everything… Shocking Right? (S4 Finale)
Feb 2000:57:48Tap to summarizeHEY OTHER PARENTS – S04E010: We Don’t Know Everything… Shocking Right? (S4 Finale) 🎙️ In This Episode: It’s the Season Four finale — and we’re ending it with a little humility. Sara D kicks things off by putting Heit and Levine to the test in a Dad vs. Dad parenting quiz. From developmental milestones to everyday parenting scenarios (plus a little pop culture to bring it home), confidence quickly meets reality. After the quiz, we shift into a real conversation about the things we’ve had to learn on the fly — what made us uncomfortable at first, what’s gotten easier over time, what’s gotten harder as the kids grow, and the things we’ve accepted we may never fully figure out. Parenting has a funny way of reminding us that we’re all still learning. This wraps up Season Four! We’ll be back in March to kick off Season Five — and we’d love your input. What topics, questions, or conversations do you want to hear next? 🔌 Parenting Unplugged: Heit: Shrinking (Season 3) Sara D: Industry Levine: The Olympics ❓ Question of the Week What would you like to hear in Season Five of Hey Other Parents? 📞 Join the Conversation 📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437) 📩 Email: heyotherparents@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyotherparents This is S04E010 — Episode 69 of Hey Other Parents, an honest discussion about raising kids. Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co
Transcribe →S4E9 - S04E009: Big Milestones, Bigger Pressure — Party or Trip?
Feb 1300:55:02Tap to summarize🎙️ Hey Other Parents — S04E009: Big Milestones, Bigger Pressure? This week we’re talking about big milestone celebrations — Bar Mitzvahs, Sweet 16s, and Quinceañeras — and the quiet pressure that comes with them. Are we throwing the party our kids actually want… or the one we feel expected to throw? We look back at the milestone events we attended as kids — the fancy ones, the overwhelming ones, the ones where we felt left out — and then shift to what it feels like being the parent who now has to plan (and pay). From social media comparison to invisible competition, we ask the uncomfortable question: are we creating a memory for our child… or proving something to other adults? We explore big parties vs. big trips, what “big” really means, and how to ask better questions so your child feels seen instead of pressured. Because a milestone doesn’t need an audience to count. If your kid looks back and remembers feeling loved, relaxed, and understood… you did it right. 🔌 Parenting Unplugged Heit: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman (Book 2 & 3) Sara: The Servants of Twilight (Dean Koontz audiobook) Levine: Trying something new — Top Golf ❓ Question of the Week Do you prefer a big party or a big trip? 📞 Join the Conversation 📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437) 📩 Email: heyotherparents@gmail.com 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyotherparents This is S04E009: Hey Other Parents Episode 065 — an honest discussion about raising kids. Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co
Transcribe →S4E8 - S04E008: AI and Parenting: What Kids Need From Us Now (feat. Liam)
Feb 601:12:01Tap to summarize🎙️ Hey Other Parents — S04E008: AI and Parenting: What Kids Need From Us Now (feat. Liam) This week, we’re talking about AI — what it is, what it isn’t, and how parents can help their kids use it without panic or blind trust. What starts as a funny attempt to let AI solve a simple parenting problem quickly turns into a bigger conversation about cheating vs. learning, critical thinking, and why “AI knows everything” is a dangerous assumption. We’re joined by special guest Liam, who brings a student perspective to how AI is actually being used in school (not just how adults think it’s being used). We break down the good, the bad, and the lazy uses of AI, why better prompts matter, and why this technology isn’t going anywhere — making guidance far more useful than avoidance. This episode is about curiosity over fear, helping kids think for themselves, and learning how to navigate AI as a tool instead of treating it like magic. 🔌 Parenting Unplugged Heit: Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Stole Time (co-op with Liam) Sara: The Rip (Matt Damon & Ben Affleck) Levine: 100Hz Insignia monitor ❓ Question of the Week How do you feel about AI right now — excited, nervous, or totally unsure? How are you handling it with your kids? Join the Conversation 📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437) 📩 Email: heyotherparents@gmail.com This is S04E008: Hey Other Parents Episode 064 — an honest discussion about raising kids. Support Hey Other Parents by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/heyotherparents Find out more at https://heyotherparents.pinecast.co
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