Podcast
The Parent Chat with Dylan Dreyer
Hosted by TODAY · EN
“The Parent Chat with Dylan Dreyer” is your new go-to space for real talk about the wild, wonderful, and sometimes messy world of parenting. It’s a judgment-free zone where moms, dads, parents, and caregivers can learn, laugh, vent, and grow together—because none of us have it all figured out, but we’re better when we share the journey.
As a busy working mom of three boys, Dylan brings her signature warmth, humor, and honesty to every episode. She connects with parents from all walks of life in conversations that are as informative as they are entertaining. Expect real stories, practical advice, and plenty of “I’ve been there too” moments. Each 35-45-minute episode features a mix of celebrity parents opening up about raising kids in the spotlight, alongside trusted experts in child development, mental health, and education offering fresh insights and actionable tips. Recorded in both remote and in-person formats, these episodes feel like a heart-to-heart with a good friend—one who gets it.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Advice for Anxious Parents: What to Say Instead of "Are You Okay?"
2d ago00:28:21Summary readyIn this week’s The Parent Chat, clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Wendy Mogel joins Dylan Dreyer to make the case that our instinct to protect, schedule, and smooth everything over for our kids is actually making them more fragile — and what to do instead. They get into the real stuff: why "teacup" kids break under the lightest pressure, how to tell if your child's fighting with siblings is normal or a problem, and why the working parent guilt about overscheduling is largely misplaced. Plus the two words Dr. Mogel says every parent should know — "wow" and "uffda" — and why Dylan's been using one of them her whole life without knowing what it meant. And Dr. Mogel's parenting confession: she sent her sick daughter to ski school in Italy with a broken thermometer. The daughter ended up hallucinating that her fingers were chicken bones. She's never forgiven herself — even though her daughters call her a really good mom. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Summary
Making Space with Hoda Kotb! New Season, New Guests & Life-Changing Conversations
4d ago00:00:52Summary readyReady to take a deep breath and find some inspiration? A brand-new season of Making Space with Hoda Kotb is officially here. Every Wednesday, Hoda sits down for open, soul stirring conversations with people who have walked through fire and come out stronger. This season, she’s diving into what it really means to pivot, heal, and find your purpose. Expect raw, real-life wisdom on navigating big transitions and the unexpected moments of grace that connect us all. Featuring incredible guests like Mariska Hargitay, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Mark Nepo, Esther Perel, Laverne Cox, and many more. To follow now, just search ‘Making Space with Hoda Kotb’ wherever you’re listening. New episodes drop every Wednesday. swap.fm/l/mswhkfd Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Summary
Dylan Dreyer and The Office's Brian Baumgartner on Finding Your People as a Parent
1w ago00:28:18Summary readyOn this week’s The Parent Chat, Dylan Dreyer sits down with her real-life friend — The Office star Brian Baumgartner — for a conversation about how hard it is to make friends as an adult, let alone find another family your whole family actually likes. They tell the full story of how they met, why their kids clicked instantly despite boys-vs-girls dinner table teasing, and what it actually takes to make family vacations work — including the ski trip where Brian's booming voice reduced Dylan’s son Ollie to tears. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Summary
The Celebrity Nanny on What Every New Parent Actually Needs to Hear
2w ago00:23:23Summary readyIn this episode of The Parent Chat, Dylan Dreyer sits down with Nanny Connie — baby nurse to over 257 families including Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Jessica Biel — for a refreshingly honest conversation about how raising a child takes a village and why trying to do it all alone is the biggest mistake new parents make. Plus Nanny Connie's mantra that cuts through every parenting trend: the baby is the book. And her reminder that stars — they really are just like us. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Summary
Open Book with Jenna Returns! New Season, New Authors & Must-Read Summer Books
2w ago00:01:00Summary readyA brand-new season of Open Book with Jenna is here! Join Jenna Bush Hager every Thursday as she sits down with some of today's most beloved authors and storytellers for conversations about the books everyone is talking about. This season, we'll explore the hottest reads of the summer, the creative process behind unforgettable stories, the genres readers can't get enough of, and the movie and TV adaptations bringing favorite characters to life. Featuring guests like Emily Henry, Kennedy Ryan, Carley Fortune, Shelby Van Pelt, Virginia Evans, Hannah Berner and many more. swap.fm/l/obwjdfd Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Summary
Stay-at-Home vs. Working Mom: Why the Whole Debate Is Outdated
3w ago00:28:00Summary readyIn this episode of The Parent Chat, Dylan Dreyer sits down with Neha Ruch, author of The Power Pause, for an honest conversation about what it really means to step back from your career for your kids, and how to do it without losing your sense of self. They dig into the questions parents actually wrestle with: How do you know if pausing is right for you? What do you do with yourself when the external metrics of success disappear? And if you can't pause — what then? Plus: why your career has zero impact on your kids (but presence does), the comparison trap that hits hardest at the playground, and Neha's parenting win — nailing the sex talk so thoroughly her son was horrified she'd done it twice. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Summary
Surviving the Teenage Years with 'Modern Family' stars Julie Bowen & Ty Burrell
May 2800:34:38Summary readyOn this episode of The Parent Chat, Dylan Dreyer sits down with Modern Family's Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell — real-life parents of five teenagers — for an honest conversation about what happens when your kids stop needing you quite so much. They get into the questions parents of older kids are really asking: How do you keep the conversation going when your teenager shuts down? What do you do when you're 95% invisible and just waiting for that 5% moment? And how do you co-parent well after divorce when you're still figuring it all out? Plus Ty's trick for talking to teenagers without accidentally delivering a lecture, Julie's tip for getting boys to actually open up in the car, and why a boundary-free kid coming over for a sleepover might be the best parenting lesson your child ever gets. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Summary
How to Handle Your Kid's Meltdowns Without Losing Your Own Mind
May 2100:29:11Summary readyDylan sits down with Kristin and Deena of Big Little Feelings to break down what's actually happening in your kid's brain during a meltdown, why reasoning with them in the moment never works, and what to actually do instead — whether your kid is a hitter, a scratcher, or a full public meltdown machine. Plus: what to do when you're the one about to lose it at 8pm and nobody is brushing their teeth, why forced sharing might be setting your kids up to fail, and the parenting confession neither of them is proud of. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Summary
Breaking Toxic Parenting Cycles You May Not Know You're Repeating
May 1400:32:07Summary readyClinical psychologist and The Conscious Parent author Dr. Shefali joins Dylan to unpack the childhood patterns most parents are silently passing down to their kids without realizing it. Are you the fixer who does everything so no one suffers? The fighter who learned to blow up from watching your own parents? Or the freezer who shuts down when the overwhelm gets to be too much? Dr. Shefali gets honest about her own cycles too — including the moment her daughter called her out mid-conversation for shaming her instead of just saying no. Plus: why over-apologizing might be doing more harm than good, what pushing music lessons really says about your own unfinished business, and the one question she says every parent should ask their kid today. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Summary
Picky Eaters, Bed Sharing, and Screen Time Limits: Emily Oster Answers the Questions You're Googling
May 700:29:22Summary readyEver Googled your child's symptoms at 2 a.m. and ended up more anxious than when you started? You're not alone — and Brown University economist and author Emily Oster has made it her mission to replace parenting panic with actual data. In this episode of The Parent Chat, Dylan Dreyer sits down with Oster to tackle the questions that keep parents up at night: How much screen time is really too much? What do you do about a picky eater? Does it actually matter if your child sleeps in your own bed? And what does the evidence really say about breastfeeding, drinking during pregnancy, and skipping that Sunday morning birthday party? Emily also gets candid about her own parenting fails — including the fact that she knows exactly what consistency does for children’s behavior, and still can't always pull it off. Follow us at @TodayParents and @DylanDreyerNBC for more TODAY parenting content. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Summary