Got a Parenting Question? We Want to Hear From You! - Talkaboutable with Dr. Susan Swick

Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary

Podcast: Talkaboutable with Dr. Susan Swick
Host: Dr. Susan Swick (Lemonada Media)
Episode: Got a Parenting Question? We Want to Hear From You!
Release Date: March 25, 2026

Episode Overview

This brief episode serves as a call to action for parents to participate in Season 2 of Talkaboutable. Dr. Susan Swick welcomes listeners, shares the show’s mission, highlights the types of parenting issues discussed in the podcast, and invites parents to submit their challenges to the show. Dr. Swick emphasizes that no problem is too big or too small to talk about and that open communication with kids can turn difficult moments into manageable—and even rewarding—experiences.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Reality of Parenting Challenges
- Dr. Swick opens by acknowledging the universal struggles parents face, from “bedtime battles, friend drama, [to] social media anxieties.” [00:00]
- She reassures listeners, “they are the kind of daily challenges that we face as parents and they leave us wondering, is this normal? Am I doing this right?”
Dr. Swick’s Expertise and Perspective
- Introduces herself as both “a board certified child psychiatrist and founding director of the Ohana center... and also a mother of four.” [00:25]
- Emphasizes empathy: “Trust me, I get it. I know just how lonely, exhausting, and uncertain it can be.”
Mission of the Podcast
- The purpose of Talkaboutable is supporting parents through guidance and connection:
  - “To give people guidance, support, and connection that we all need to navigate the challenges of parenting. The big ones and the small ones.” [00:35]
Invitation for Parent Participation
- This season, the podcast seeks parents of kids and young adults ages 6 to 21:
  - “You share what’s on your mind and I’ll listen to your challenge and offer in the moment advice.” [00:46]
- Past topics (from Season 1) included depression, eating disorders, and coping with the loss of a parent.
Examples of Season 2 Topics
- Broad, inclusive scope:
  - “Heavy stuff like mental health struggles, family secrets, and gender identity, but also day-to-day stuff that is just as real.” [01:05]
  - Including: “Sibling chaos, perfectionism, college applications, all of those pebble-in-the-shoe things that you worry about every day but never seem to have the time to work on.”
Importance of Speaking Up
- Dr. Swick urges parents not to minimize their concerns:
  - “Before you talk yourself out of it and think, ugh, my thing probably isn’t a big enough deal. It absolutely is.” [01:26]
- “In my experience, the hard things that go unspoken have a way of getting bigger.” [01:31]
Empowering Communication
- She highlights the benefit of open dialogue:
  - “The best thing we can do for our kids is to show them that the difficult things, small and large, are always worth talking about.” [01:37]
Call to Action
- Encourages parents to participate by filling out a form (link in the show notes) or reaching out via email: “If chosen, you can stay totally anonymous if you’d like. We’d love to hear from you.” [01:47]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Parenting Challenges:

“I know just how lonely, exhausting, and uncertain it can be.”
— Dr. Susan Swick [00:27]
On the Range of Topics:

“Heavy stuff like mental health struggles, family secrets, and gender identity, but also day-to-day stuff that is just as real—sibling chaos, perfectionism, college applications…”
— Dr. Susan Swick [01:05]
On Finding Value in Every Concern:

“Before you talk yourself out of it and think, ugh, my thing probably isn’t a big enough deal. It absolutely is.”
— Dr. Susan Swick [01:26]
On the Power of Conversation:

“The best thing we can do for our kids is to show them that the difficult things, small and large, are always worth talking about.”
— Dr. Susan Swick [01:37]

Timestamps for Key Segments

[00:00] — Acknowledging parenting struggles and Dr. Swick’s introduction
[00:35] — Explaining the purpose of the podcast
[00:46] — Inviting listeners to participate in Season 2
[01:05] — Listing examples of issues and topics that will be covered
[01:26] — Encouragement to share (no issue is too small)
[01:37] — Emphasis on open communication with kids
[01:47] — How to participate and the option for anonymity

Summary Takeaway

This episode of Talkaboutable welcomes parents and caregivers to become part of the conversation in Season 2. Dr. Susan Swick compassionately underscores that all parenting concerns—big or small—matter, and encourages listeners to reach out for support and advice, reinforcing the podcast’s central philosophy: if you can talk about it, you can tackle it.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:01]
A
Hello parents. I know you've been there. The bedtime battles, friend drama, social media anxieties. They are the kind of daily challenges that we face as parents and they leave us wondering, is this normal? Am I doing this right? I'm Dr. Susan Swick, a board certified child psychiatrist and founding director of the Ohana center for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health. And I'm also a mother of four. So trust me, I get it. I know just how lonely, exhausting and uncertain it can be. That's exactly what Talk About Able is here for. To give people guidance, support and connection that we all need to navigate the challenges of parenting. The big ones and the small ones. Talk about Able is back for season two and we want to hear from you. We're looking for the parents of kids and young adults from the ages of 6 to 21 years old. You share what's on your mind and I'll listen to your challenge and offer in the moment advice. In season one, we tackled depression, eating disorders, even losing a parent. And this season we're here for all of it. Heavy stuff like mental health struggles, family secrets and gender identity, but also day to day stuff that is just as real. Sibling chaos, perfectionism, college applications, all of those pebble in the shoe things that you worry about every day but never seem to have the time to work on. So before you talk yourself out of it and think, ugh, my thing probably isn't a big enough deal. It absolutely is. In my experience, the hard things that go unspoken have a way of getting bigger. The best thing we can do for our kids is show them that the difficult things, small and large, are always worth talking about. So if you're interested in being a guest, fill out the short form linked in the show notes or reach out to us@talkaboutablemanadamedia.com if chosen, you can stay totally anonymous if you'd like. We'd love to hear from you.