Episode
Ep 65 They’re Not Leaving You - They’re Just Doing a Lap with Michelle Mitchell
- Podcast
- Conversations with Kristi
- Published
- May 27, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2973
- Processing state
not_requested
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/conversations-with-kristi-6478253/episodes/ep-65-they-re-not-leaving-you-they-re-just-doing-a-lap-with-michelle-mitchell/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/conversations-with-kristi-6478253/ep-65-they-re-not-leaving-you-they-re-just-doing-a-lap-with-michelle-mitchell.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi is joined by Michelle Mitchell , parenting expert, author, and educator, for a practical, encouraging conversation about connection, boundaries, and raising resilient teenagers. With decades of experience equipping families to stay connected through the messy emotional years, Michelle brings grounded insights that help parents move beyond fear and frustration and into thoughtful, values-based parenting. This is not a perfection-based conversation. It’s a connection-based one. Kristi and Michelle explore why control isn’t the goal, why “parenting is just hard” is a myth, and how building trust with teenagers requires intentional, age-appropriate guidance. They discuss: Why connection matters more than control Teaching principles instead of just rules Using friendships as the practice ground for adult relationships How to stay consistent and present, even when your child pushes away Why saying “no” is sometimes the most loving thing you can do Navigating independence while maintaining safety The roundabout metaphor for the normal ups and downs of growing up Michelle shares practical frameworks for guiding teens through decision-making, resilience-building, and critical thinking, while Kristi connects these principles to child safety, advocacy, and helping children grow into capable adults. Together, they reinforce a simple truth: Kids don’t need perfect parents-they need present ones. This episode is about showing up, even when it’s messy, and giving your children the space to grow safely while knowing they are supported. Key Themes Covered Connection vs. control in parenting Teaching principles rather than just rules Age-appropriate trust and boundaries How to handle teenage pushback without conflict Encouraging crit…