Podcast · 154 episodes
Calm Parenting Podcast
by Kirk Martin · English
Have a strong-willed child who doesn't respond to consequences, argues like an attorney, and refuses to do things your way? Good! You're in the right place. Celebrate Calm Founder Kirk Martin has given over 1,000,000 parents and teachers around the world practical, life-changing strategies to stop power struggles, yelling, and defiance NOW. Based on work with 1,500 challenging kids (many with AD/HD, OCD, ODD, ASD, etc.) in his home, and years spent in classrooms, Kirk's approach is refreshingly practical, honest, and laugh-out-loud funny! Questions? Visit us at www.CelebrateCalm.com or email us directly at Casey@CelebrateCalm.com
Latest episodes
A Back-Talking Kid, A Dad Who Feels Disrespected & A Mom Caught In The Crossfire. BIG NEW IDEA! #639How to stop strong-willed kids’ meltdowns and reduce parent conflict by (1) aligning dad/mom approaches, (2) addressing parental anger/reactivity instead of “fixing” the child, (3) practicing calm,…30 Sep 2026 · 21 min
Messy Bedrooms, Messy Behavior: Get Kids to Be Responsible For Their Rooms & Relationships #638How to get kids to take responsibility for messy bedrooms and, more broadly, for “messy behavior” in relationships and emotions—using realistic expectations, reduced parental anxiety, and practical…27 Sep 2026 · 24 min
Why Does Putting On Shoes Take 45 Minutes?! 10 Ways to Get Dawdlers Moving Faster! #637Getting “dawdlers” moving faster in the morning (and out the door) using five strategies: control your own anxiety, use tools instead of consequences, apply tough discipline calmly when needed, give…23 Sep 2026 · 22 min
All episodes
A Back-Talking Kid, A Dad Who Feels Disrespected & A Mom Caught In The Crossfire. BIG NEW IDEA! #639How to stop strong-willed kids’ meltdowns and reduce parent conflict by (1) aligning dad/mom approaches, (2) addressing parental anger/reactivity instead of “fixing” the child, (3) practicing calm,…30 Sep 2026 · 21 min · 10 chapters
Messy Bedrooms, Messy Behavior: Get Kids to Be Responsible For Their Rooms & Relationships #638How to get kids to take responsibility for messy bedrooms and, more broadly, for “messy behavior” in relationships and emotions—using realistic expectations, reduced parental anxiety, and practical…27 Sep 2026 · 24 min · 9 chapters
Why Does Putting On Shoes Take 45 Minutes?! 10 Ways to Get Dawdlers Moving Faster! #637Getting “dawdlers” moving faster in the morning (and out the door) using five strategies: control your own anxiety, use tools instead of consequences, apply tough discipline calmly when needed, give…23 Sep 2026 · 22 min · 10 chapters
Why You Do NOT Want Kids to Be Immediately Obedient: Raising Fearless Leaders, Not Fearful Robots. #636The myth and harm of expecting “immediate obedience” from strong-willed kids; instead, raise fearless leaders who show responsibility, critical thinking, and compassion.20 Sep 2026 · 23 min · 13 chapters
Why “Name It To Tame It” & Punching Pillows Don’t Work For Intense Kids #635Why “name it to tame it” (Dan Siegel) and calming tools like breathing, punching pillows, and counting down often backfire with “intense/strong-willed” kids; what to do instead—normalize feelings,…16 Sep 2026 · 22 min · 13 chapters
There Is Hope For Your ADHD Neurodivergent Child Who Can’t Focus (& 10 Ways to Stop Homework Battles) #634How to help neurodivergent/ADHD kids who resist focusing and turn homework into battles, using brain-based strategies (energy, rhythm, movement, time limits, environment changes) to create small wins…13 Sep 2026 · 22 min · 12 chapters
Q&A With Casey: How Do You Repair Feeling Like “The Bad Kid”? #633This Q&A episode with Casey (guest: Casey, a strong-willed child who later became an ice-hockey player and official) focuses on repairing the “bad kid” identity and improving parent-child conflict.11 Sep 2026 · 29 min · 14 chapters
Why Kids Choose the Harder Path & Procrastinate: 10 Secrets to Stop Power Struggles #632Why kids choose the “harder path” and procrastinate; how parents’ control/perfectionism create power struggles, and 10 ways to step back and regain calm.9 Sep 2026 · 23 min · 11 chapters
Disciplining & Loving Kids When They REALLY Mess Up : A Guide to Tough Talks & Tough Love #631How to handle “tough love” and tough talks with kids who break rules or engage in risky behavior (sneaking food/screens, stealing credit cards, vaping/drinking/using drugs, and porn).6 Sep 2026 · 24 min · 10 chapters
Child Goes From 0-60 Emotionally? Lies When Confronted? 10 Quick Phrases to Calm Any Situation. #630How to de-escalate “0-60” emotional meltdowns, lying when confronted, arguing, shutdowns, and PDA-like demand avoidance using 10 quick calming phrases; then problem-solve from the root cause.2 Sep 2026 · 22 min · 9 chapters
Why More Rigid Child Can’t Lose Games, Can Boss Siblings, Must Prove Their Point? #629The episode explains that “rigid” behaviors in children (bossing siblings, sore-loser meltdowns, obsessing over fairness, upset over small changes/transitions, arguing/correcting, executive-function…30 Aug 2026 · 25 min · 7 chapters
Scripts to Set Effective Boundaries With Critical Parents & In-Laws #628How to set effective, respectful boundaries with critical or manipulative parents/in-laws (including grandparents) so they stop criticizing parenting, correcting kids, and undermining your marriage;…28 Aug 2026 · 24 min · 12 chapters
“Your Boots Are Dumb & My Friend’s Mom is Better!” Turning Ugly Moments into Bonding Memories #627Turning strong-willed kids’ “ugly moments” (defiance, frustration, sensory meltdowns) into bonding by addressing underlying frustration/anxiety and changing parent responses instead of relying on…26 Aug 2026 · 23 min · 10 chapters
Why Natural Consequences Backfire With Strong-Willed Children (And What Works) #626The episode critiques “FAFO” (fool around and find out) parenting—using natural consequences—and argues it often backfires with strong-willed, neurodivergent, adopted, or attachment-disordered…23 Aug 2026 · 23 min · 9 chapters
Expect Big Battles From Morning to Midnight: Here’s Your 5-Step Game Plan #625Back-to-school “5-step game plan” for handling strong-willed children’s big emotions and meltdowns without escalating, including planning, using a code word, validating feelings intensely, giving…19 Aug 2026 · 27 min · 13 chapters
Why Do I Have to Do This?" How to Motivate the Child Who Questions Everything #624How to respond to strong-willed, “why?”-asking children without power struggles—by reframing the behavior as critical thinking, identifying parental triggers, and releasing children from rigid…16 Aug 2026 · 26 min · 8 chapters
Q&A With Casey #1: Mistaking Intensity for Unhappiness, Feeling Like A Bad Kid & More #623Q&A with Casey (host’s son) on parenting strong-willed kids—autonomy, handling negative self-talk, motivation, managing intense emotions, and building secure relationships as kids grow.12 Aug 2026 · 29 min · 15 chapters
Let's Make Discipline Easy Without Being Authoritarian or Permissive #622Kirk Martin argues that “discipline” should teach self-discipline through calm, consistent guidance—not punishment, yelling, timeouts, or removing privileges.9 Aug 2026 · 23 min · 14 chapters
Adoption #2: Kids Who Never Seem Full or Happy, Unhealthy Attachments, Separation & Sleep Issues #621Practical strategies for adopted kids who seem chronically hungry/unhappy, show unhealthy attachment behaviors, struggle with separation, and have sleep issues.7 Aug 2026 · 24 min · 14 chapters
Dreading Calls from School? The Ultimate Back-to-School Behavior Guide #620Back-to-school behavior strategy for kids who struggle with impulse control, anxiety, transitions, sensory needs, and social skills—focused on proactive tools rather than punishment.5 Aug 2026 · 22 min · 8 chapters
"I'm Not Going!" 5 Ways to Overcome School Refusal & Separation Anxiety #619The episode (Calm Parenting Podcast #619, “I’m Not Going!”) addresses school refusal and separation anxiety in kids, framed as anxiety driven by unknowns and sensory/social overload.2 Aug 2026 · 22 min · 9 chapters
Do Adopted Kids Struggle More? Part #1 #618Part 1 of a two-episode series on adoption, arguing that adopted kids often have more intense behavioral and sensory needs than other kids, and that “love heals” or “adopted from birth” doesn’t…31 Jul 2026 · 34 min · 13 chapters
The Meltdown That Changed Me Forever (And 2 Phrases You Must Use To Teach Instead of Punish). #617Kirk Martin recounts a turning-point family incident where his son yelled at his wife, triggering Kirk’s reactive escalation.29 Jul 2026 · 27 min · 12 chapters
Stop the Stand-Offs: Real-Life Fixes for Your 5, 10, or 15-Year-Old #616How parents can stop “stand-offs” with strong-willed kids by regulating their own reactions, using “missions” instead of power struggles, and reframing success as changing the parent’s internal…26 Jul 2026 · 20 min · 9 chapters