The Whinypaluza Podcast

What happens when a 12-year-old flips the script and interviews her dad about fatherhood? In this heartwarming Father’s Day special, Lillie Greene turns the tables on her father Seth, diving deep into the lessons, challenges, and beautiful moments that define being a dad.

In this touching Father’s Day episode of Whinypaluza, Seth Greene takes over as guest host while his daughter Lillie conducts an intimate interview about fatherhood. From discussing the biggest parenting lessons to sharing favorite memories, this conversation reveals the authentic, unfiltered reality of father-daughter relationships. Seth opens up about learning patience, dealing with sleep deprivation, and the incredible journey of watching his children grow. The episode captures both the challenges and profound joys of parenting through the lens of a father who’s learned that sometimes the best thing you can do is simply listen.

5 Key Takeaways

➤ Patience and kindness are foundational parenting skills – Seth emphasizes that learning to be patient and kind, rather than jumping in to solve every problem, has been one of his biggest growth areas as a father.

➤ Children’s emotional states aren’t always about you – One of the most important lessons for new dads is understanding that when children are upset, cranky, or difficult, it’s often not about something the parent did wrong – they might just be tired, hungry, or stressed.

➤ Work-family balance requires intentional presence – Despite running multiple businesses, Seth has made it a priority to be home for dinner and attend virtually every important event in his children’s lives over 18 years of parenting.

➤ Each child is unique and will surprise you – Even with previous parenting experience, Seth learned that each child is different and brings their own personality, energy, and challenges that require adapted approaches.

➤ The most rewarding moments are watching your children succeed and be happy – Seth’s favorite part of being a dad is watching his children “crush it” at things they love, seeing them proud of themselves, and witnessing their growth as individuals.

Notable Quotes from Seth Greene

“I think the more I grow as a father that helps me as a leader, that helps me as a business owner, that helps me as a husband. I think that every lesson I learned at home is equally applicable to work and my relationships with other people.”

“Your kids are going to love you no matter what, and you will never be the same, and it’s the most beautiful, magical thing you’ll ever do.”

A Father’s Day Message

To all the dads listening – whether you’re a new father just beginning this incredible journey, or a seasoned parent watching your children grow into amazing humans – remember that showing up is everything. Your presence, your patience, and your unconditional love create the foundation for your children’s entire world. As Seth and Lillie remind us in this episode, it’s not about being perfect; it’s about being there, growing alongside your children, and never giving up on them or yourself.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who are doing their best, learning as they go, and loving fiercely every step of the way.

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What inspires someone to step up, show up, and serve—over and over again?

In this heartfelt episode, Rebecca Greene shares her emotional journey of receiving the Service to Youth Award. What started as simple classroom volunteering for her children grew into full-blown community leadership. From fundraising for playgrounds to shaping school culture through events and advocacy, Rebecca’s story is a powerful reminder that volunteering changes lives—including your own.
Joined by her husband and co-host, Seth Greene, the two reflect on the night of the award, the community that made it possible, and the deep personal fulfillment that comes from giving back.

Key Takeaways
➤ Volunteering often begins as something you do for your kids—but can turn into a purpose-driven mission.
➤ Building strong homeschool connections truly helps students thrive.
➤ Big moments like “Kids Day” and “Billy’s Bash” are cornerstones of school spirit and community.
➤ Giving back fills your own cup—bringing joy, friendships, and personal growth.
➤ When you lead with service, you become the role model your children truly learn from.

Want more insight and inspiration from Rebecca?
Be sure to read the full blog at: https://www.whinypaluza.com/blog-posts/

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Are you a working mom who feels like you’re constantly choosing between career success and being present for your children—all while battling guilt, resentment, and chronic exhaustion that a good night’s sleep can’t fix?

Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Coach for Moms Christi Gmyr joins Rebecca to tackle the reality of working mom burnout. Having experienced firsthand the challenges of balancing a demanding career with motherhood—especially when her second child was born during the COVID shutdown—Christi shares practical strategies for overcoming burnout, managing guilt, and reconnecting with family without resentment. This conversation dives deep into the difference between stress and burnout, why boundaries matter, and how to reframe the false choice between being a successful career woman and a present mother.

5 Key Takeaways

➤ Burnout vs. Stress: Stress is situational and temporary, but burnout is chronic exhaustion that doesn’t go away with rest—it requires addressing environmental and systemic issues, not just self-care.

➤ Guilt Stems from Mindset: Working mom guilt typically comes from thoughts like “I’m doing something wrong” or “I’m letting someone down”—challenging these deep-rooted societal expectations is key to moving forward.

➤ Career and Motherhood Complement Each Other: You don’t have to choose between being a successful career woman and a present mom—when you feel fulfilled at work, it rolls over into your ability to be more present as a parent.

➤ Boundaries Prevent Resentment: Resentment builds gradually from unresolved frustrations, and without clear boundaries, partners can’t respect limits they don’t know exist—leading to disconnection and relationship strain.

➤ Let Go of Perfection: Success doesn’t mean being 100% in all roles at any given time—it’s about adjusting, adapting, and remembering that as long as you’re intentional, you’re doing a great job.

Quotes from Christi

“We need to let go of this idea of perfection. You know, because perfection does not exist. There are lots and lots of ways to be a great mom.”

“We’re all just doing the best we can.”

How to Reach Christi Gmyr

Website: www.christigmyrcoaching.com

Facebook Group: Thrive as a Career Driven Mom (free tips, strategies, and support for working moms)

Host: Rebecca Greene | Podcast: Whinypaluza

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Do you ever feel like life is one big race—and you’re not sure who signed you up for it?

 On this lively episode, Rebecca and Seth Greene pull back the curtain on why so many of us are always rushing around (spoiler: it’s not just you, and it’s not just moms!). They share real-life stories, relatable struggles, and hard-earned wisdom for anyone desperate to slow down, set better boundaries, and actually enjoy the ride—even if the weeds in your backyard are winning.

5 Key Takeaways:

➔ Notice your triggers: Identify what sets off your rushing—morning chaos, deadlines, or your own high expectations.

➔ Set boundaries and say no: You can’t do it all. Get comfortable with setting limits, even if your calendar protests.

➔ Anchor yourself with mindful breaks: Use simple pauses like breathing at red lights, enjoying lunch, or clarity breaks to slow your pace.

➔ Focus on one thing at a time: Multitasking may feel productive, but single-tasking leads to less stress and better results.

➔ Shift your time mindset: Remind yourself you have enough time for what matters. The kitchen doesn’t need to be spotless every night, and the world won’t end if your to-do list rolls over to tomorrow.

Favorite Quote:

“If I look at time differently, I’m not going to feel so rushed through my day.” — Rebecca Greene

Listen & Connect:

Catch all episodes and resources at whinypaluza.com. Like, share, rate, review, and subscribe to help the podcast reach more people (and help more moms breathe easier)!

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What if the secret to saving your relationship isn’t about fixing what’s “wrong” with you, but about learning to deeply receive pleasure instead of constantly giving?

Rebecca Greene sits down with somatic sex therapist Susan Morgan Taylor to tackle desire discrepancy – one of the most common relationship challenges. Susan shares her revolutionary Pleasure Keys Process and reveals why traditional approaches to “mismatched libido” fail, offering a transformative framework that helps women reclaim their sexuality and couples rekindle passion.

Key Takeaways:

➤ Reframe “Low Libido” as Education Gap: Most desire discrepancy stems from lack of sexual education – women need about 21 minutes of warm-up time while men typically need only 2-7 minutes.

➤ Master the Three N’s – Notice, Name, Negotiate: Learn to notice sensations in your body, name what you want and need, and negotiate those desires with your partner.

➤ Women Must Learn to Receive: Instead of defaulting to constant giving, women need to practice being receivers in the bedroom until giving becomes a natural overflow.

➤ Shame Starts Early and Shows Up Everywhere: Sexual shame often begins in childhood and manifests as disconnection from pleasure, faking orgasms, or complete avoidance of intimacy.

➤ Expand Your Definition of Sex: Moving beyond penetration to “pleasure, connection and enjoyment” opens up more opportunities for intimacy between partners.

Powerful Quotes from Susan:

“You are not broken, and it’s not all your fault. Most women who are labeled ‘low libido’ are actually dealing with a lack of education about how their bodies work differently than men’s bodies.”

“If we want to bring the fire back online, we need to learn how to be receivers. Your husband would probably be super thrilled if you knew what you wanted and he could do something to your body that would make you moan with pleasure – that’s the hottest thing in the world to just about any man on the planet.”

Connect with Susan Morgan Taylor:

Website: Pathway to Pleasure Free Resource: Get the Pleasure Keys ebook at PleasureKeys.com Podcast: Sex Talk Café (available on all podcast platforms and YouTube) Instagram:
@susamorgantaylor

Learn More About Pleasure Keys Retreats:

Susan hosts transformative couples retreats several times a year in the mountains of western North Carolina. Visit her website under “Work with Me” → “Couples Retreat” for dates and details.

Ready to transform your relationship? Start with Susan’s free Pleasure Keys guide and discover how to deepen connection and increase your orgasmic potential. Remember, as Rebecca always says: spend every day laughing, learning, and loving!

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Are your kids drowning in stress from AP classes, endless homework, and sky-high expectations – and is their anxiety actually a mirror of your own perfectionist tendencies?

Rebecca and Seth tackle the mounting pressure kids face in school, sparked by their own children’s experiences with multiple AP classes and unrealistic expectations. This episode offers practical strategies for parents to help their children manage academic stress while examining how our own behaviors model stress management. From breathing techniques and realistic scheduling to celebrating small wins, they provide a roadmap for creating healthier relationships with achievement and learning. The conversation reveals how school stress often reflects deeper family patterns around perfectionism and provides tools that work for both students and stressed-out adults.

5 Key Takeaways

➤ Transform Self-Talk: Replace “This sucks, I can’t do this” with “I can do hard things, I’m resourceful, I can ask for help” – the internal dialogue shapes the entire experience

➤ Build in Breaks and Fun: Mandatory study breaks with a “de-stress toolbox” (bedazzling, Legos, exercise, music) actually improve study effectiveness and prevent burnout

➤ Set Realistic Expectations: Six hours of homework after a full school day isn’t healthy – space out studying and focus on effort over perfect grades

➤ Examine Your Own Mirror: Kids watch more than they listen – if your children have unrealistic expectations, check what standards you’re modeling for yourself

➤ Prioritize Sleep and Celebration: Early bedtimes cure stress and anxiety, while celebrating small wins (finishing homework, completing a test) creates positive associations with challenging tasks

Quotes

Rebecca Greene: “If you’re having an issue with your child, go look in the mirror. How are you? I’m not blaming you, I’m just trying to help you. We can’t control everything our children do. We can try. We can control everything that we do.”

Seth Greene: “I started to get overwhelmed, and I stopped myself and said, just do one at a time, just see how it goes and made it through… I didn’t have to know the whole thing, I’m just gonna practice one song.”

Join the free, supportive Whinypaluza Mom Group on Facebook and visit https://whinypaluza.com/ for Rebecca’s link tree with amazing free resources. 

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What happens when you combine Navy SEAL training techniques, the experience of being kidnapped (on purpose), and overcoming hearing loss? You get the remarkable resilience story of Gina Cassaza!

In this inspiring episode of Whinypaluza, host Rebecca Greene welcomes Gina Cassaza, a multifaceted individual whose life journey embodies extraordinary resilience and determination. Gina shares her transformative experiences training with a Navy SEAL and participating in a civilian SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) course where she was actually paid to be kidnapped! She opens up about her journey of suddenly going deaf in one ear at age 21 and the incredible story of regaining her hearing a decade later. 

As a children’s author, Gina discusses her book “You Really Truly Do Belong” and her nonprofit Empower Lit, both aimed at fostering literacy and self-acceptance in children. Her background as a stand-up comic infuses the conversation with humor and relatability as she delivers powerful insights on mental toughness, self-acceptance, and the importance of perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

➤ Navy SEAL training taught Gina invaluable lessons about mental toughness that transcend physical capabilities, demonstrating how we can push beyond our perceived limitations in everyday life.

➤ Gina’s experience with sudden hearing loss at age 21 and subsequent recovery a decade later illustrates the power of perseverance and the importance of questioning medical “certainties.”

➤ Through her children’s book “You Really Truly Do Belong,” Gina addresses the universal human need for acceptance and belonging, particularly crucial for developing healthy self-esteem in children.

➤ The civilian SERE course (where Gina was “kidnapped”) provided unique insights into human resilience and the capacity to remain composed under extreme stress—skills applicable to everyday challenges.

➤ Gina’s nonprofit Empower Lit demonstrates how personal challenges can be transformed into meaningful initiatives that create positive change for others, particularly in underserved communities.

QUOTES:

“The most valuable lesson I learned from training with a Navy SEAL wasn’t physical at all—it was discovering the boundless reserves of mental strength we all possess but rarely tap into.”

“When doctors told me I’d never hear from my left ear again, I accepted it as fact for years. My hearing recovery taught me that even medical certainties should sometimes be questioned, and that the body has remarkable healing capabilities when given the right support.”

CONNECT WITH GINA:

• Website: Empower Lit – Literacy & Beyond

• Instagram: @ginacassaza

• Book: “You Really Truly Do Belong” – Available at major book retailers

WHINYPALUZA PODCAST:

• Host: Rebecca Greene

• Producer: Adrienne Barker, MAS

• Website: Whinypaluza Podcast

• Instagram: @whinypaluza

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How Can We Help Our Children Achieve Their Dreams?

In this insightful episode of Whinypaluza, Rebecca speaks with Margot Machol Bisnow, author of “Raising an Entrepreneur: How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams” and former FTC Commissioner with 20 years in government. After her son started an organization that connected young entrepreneurs, Margot became fascinated with what makes entrepreneurs tick—and discovered that the way they were raised had striking similarities.

What if the key to your child’s success isn’t pushing them toward straight A’s, but instead supporting their passions—even when those passions take time away from homework?

After years in government service, Margot Machol Bisnow pivoted to researching what makes entrepreneurs successful, inspired by her son’s journey from college dropout to founder of Summit. Interviewing 70 entrepreneurs and their parents, she discovered that despite diverse backgrounds, successful entrepreneurs shared key experiences: they had someone who believed in them, pursued passions outside school with parental support, and were encouraged to learn from failures rather than being punished. 

Margot advocates “leading by following”—supporting children’s natural interests even when unconventional, while maintaining clear household expectations. This approach helps children develop grit, resilience, and confidence needed in today’s rapidly changing world.

Key Takeaways

→ Successful entrepreneurs had someone who believed in them unconditionally, typically a parent.

→ All had passions outside of school that their parents supported, teaching them grit, resilience, and adaptability.

→ Parents should notice what brings their children joy and encourage these interests, even if unconventional.

→ Instead of punishment for failure, parents asked “What did you learn?” and “What would you do differently?”

→ The traditional path to success has changed—parents need to be open to alternative routes for their children.

Quotes from Margot
“Everyone needs someone to believe in them, and sometimes that’s even your kids.”

“If you’re afraid to fail, you’re afraid to take risks, and if you’re afraid to take risks, you’re never going to be an entrepreneur, and probably at almost anything you do, you’re not going to be successful.”

How to Reach Margot

• Book: “Raising an Entrepreneur: How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams” (available on Amazon)
• Website: raisinganentrepreneur.com

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How can we nurture our friendships while juggling the demands of motherhood?

In this heartfelt episode of Whinypaluza Wednesday, Rebecca discusses the importance of friendships in a mom’s life and provides practical advice on being a good friend while balancing the many demands of parenthood.

Rebecca shares personal experiences about the challenge of making time for friendships amid her busy schedule of “kid stuff, work stuff, house stuff, husband stuff, errand stuff, taxi stuff” and how she discovered that stopping to connect with friends makes her feel “like 100 bucks” and recharged. She discusses her recent Mother’s Day weekend experiences where she enjoyed both morning and evening outings with different friend groups, highlighting the importance of self-care and social connection.

Key Takeaways:

→ Show grace, not guilt. Understand that everyone has busy seasons, and don’t make friends feel bad when they can’t always connect immediately.

→ Make connecting easy – Get creative about friendship time; it doesn’t have to be a formal dinner. Coffee dates, car rides, or walks can be just as meaningful.

→ Be honest and genuine – You don’t need to pretend your life is perfect. True friendship allows for vulnerability and authenticity.

→ Celebrate each other—There’s room for all of us to win and succeed. Lift each other up and be genuinely happy for others’ successes.

→ Don’t compete, connect – Friendship isn’t a competition about whose kids are doing better or who has the better house. Focus on connection instead.

Quotes from Rebecca:

“When I stop my wheel and I have friend time, I feel like 100 bucks, you get recharged.”

“This is not a competition. Friendship is not a competition. It’s not whose kids are doing better. It’s not whose house is better, whose car is better, whose job is better. Just connect. Just be happy for each other.”

Visit https://www.whinypaluza.com/, where you can find links to all of Rebecca’s content, including her two-to-three-times-a-week email newsletter.

Don’t miss Rebecca’s special Mother’s Day episode with her daughter Lillie this Friday!

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What makes a good mom? Discovering that you can handle more than you think.

In this special Mother’s Day episode of Whinypaluza, host Rebecca Greene is interviewed by her 12-year-old daughter Lillie for a heartwarming and insightful conversation about motherhood, self-compassion, and family dynamics.

Rebecca shares her journey as a mother of three and offers powerful advice for parents struggling with perfectionism and burnout. Through candid questions from Lillie, Rebecca reveals what she’s learned over 18 years of parenting and what she wishes she’d known from the start.

Key Takeaways:

→ Self-care isn’t selfish: Rebecca explains how she initially thought being a good mom meant it had to be “all about the kids,” but learned that taking time for herself actually makes her a better mother.

→ Compassion and grace are essential: Rebecca advises mothers to give themselves more compassion and stop expecting perfection from themselves, their homes, or their children.

→ Children’s behavior is rarely personal: When kids act out, it’s usually because they’re having a hard time, not giving their parents a hard time. Rebecca emphasizes the importance of staying regulated to help children through difficult moments.

→ Focus on effort, not outcome: Rebecca discusses how she encourages her children to put in their best effort rather than focusing solely on grades or results.

 → Showing up consistently matters most: A good mom isn’t perfect but shows up for herself and her kids, even when it’s difficult, and keeps trying her best each day.

Memorable Quotes:

“I learned how strong I am. I learned how much I can handle.” – Rebecca Greene on what motherhood taught her.

“A good mom shows up for herself and her kids. You don’t have to do a good job, you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to keep going and give it your best.” – Rebecca Greene

Connect with Rebecca: https://linktr.ee/whinypaluzamom

Tune in to Whinypaluza with Rebecca Greene to spend every day “laughing, learning, and loving” while gaining honest insights about parenting and life.

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