Fear Less, Wonder More with Rachel Richards

In this episode of Name What Works, Ashley Radzat talks with Rachel Richards, former BBC correspondent, parenting coach, mother of four, and host of Teenagers Untangled, about parenting teens with more curiosity, connection, and confidence.

Rachel explains that teens are not problems to fix. They are developing adults who need parents to approach them with wonder instead of fear. Her guiding idea, “fear less, wonder more,” encourages parents to pause, ask better questions, and stay open instead of reacting with panic or judgment.

Ashley and Rachel discuss why teens need status, respect, responsibility, and real conversations. They also explore difficult topics like social media, pornography, drugs, risk-taking, apologies, and honesty. The focus is not on having perfect answers, but on creating a home where teens feel safe enough to talk.

Rachel also shares why she feels hopeful about today’s teenagers. Many are emotionally aware, empathetic, and eager for meaningful conversations when adults make space for them.

In this episode:

● Why teenagers do not need fixing

● What “fear less, wonder more” means

● Why curiosity works better than judgment

● How to talk about hard topics without panic

● Why parents should model imperfection and apologies

● Why today’s teens give parents reason for hope

This episode is a reminder that parenting teens is not about control. It is about curiosity, safety, respect, and staying connected as they become their own people.

In this episode of Name What Works, Ashley Radzat talks with longtime teacher Matt Langley about teaching, public speaking, writing, and why helping children find their voice can change the way they see themselves.

Matt shares that after 30 years in the classroom, innovation is what has kept him coming back. He explains how his early work with creative writing showed him that children naturally want to tell stories, share ideas, and be seen through their own words.

A major focus of the conversation is Matt’s “speech of the week” program. Each week, students prepare and deliver a short speech, learning how to organize their thoughts, speak clearly, stay on topic, and build confidence. Ashley connects this to how children introduce themselves to the world through language, posture, and the way they communicate.

Matt explains that public speaking does more than improve performance. It strengthens writing, listening, self-worth, and classroom community. Students learn how to speak, but they also learn how to listen with respect when their classmates are speaking. Ashley and Matt also talk about grace in the classroom. Whether students are drawing, writing, or speaking, Matt believes children need space to try, revise, forgive themselves, and show who they really are without feeling judged.

In this episode:

• Why kids need chances to speak before they fear public speaking
• How writing and speaking build confidence together
• Why listening is part of communication
• How teachers can create reverence in the classroom
• Why children’s behavior is not the definition of who they will become
• How grace helps students take creative risks
• Why one small weekly practice can shape a child for life

This episode is a reminder that children need more than curriculum. They need adults who listen, encourage, guide lightly, and create spaces where they can discover their own voice.

In this episode of Name What Works, Ashley Radzat talks with Dr. Cameron Caswell about parenting teenagers with more understanding, less fear, and a stronger focus on connection.

Dr. Cam explains that teenagers often get labeled as disrespectful, lazy, unmotivated, or difficult when parents are only seeing the behavior and not understanding what is happening underneath it. She encourages parents to stop treating their teen like a problem to fix and instead get curious about what their child is trying to communicate.

A major theme of the conversation is learning to let go. Ashley and Dr. Cam discuss how parents often feel pressure to protect their teens from mistakes, but stepping in too much can prevent teenagers from building responsibility, confidence, and independence.

They also talk about creating a relationship where teens feel safe being honest. Dr. Cam shares her “I see you, I get you, I got you” approach, which helps parents communicate understanding, validation, and unconditional support.

The conversation also explores boundaries, respect, emotional regulation, and the shift from managing a child to guiding a growing adult. The goal is not to control every decision, but to build a relationship your teen wants to return to. In this episode:

• Why teens are often misunderstood
• Why parents should stop trying to “fix” their child
• How letting go helps teens step up
• Why connection matters more than control
• The “I see you, I get you, I got you” approach
• How to separate behavior from character
• Why respect has to go both ways
• How parents can become a trusted first call
• Why mistakes are part of becoming independent

This episode is a reminder that raising teens is less about controlling behavior and more about building trust, understanding, and a relationship strong enough to grow with them.