Nearly a year after sending my daughter Faith off to college, we're finally sitting down to talk about what that transition really looked like — the messy, uncomfortable, growth-filled truth of it.

In this episode, Faith and I dig into what we're calling the "weeds of the week": growing pains. From both sides — me as a mom and a parenting professional, and Faith as the one who actually lived through it.

We cover:

- Why I drove six hours alone on Labor Day weekend — and why I'd do it again

- The isolation Faith felt as an out-of-state acting major navigating COVID anxiety on a relaxed-policy campus

- How that one visit helped her claim the campus as *her* place, not just a place she was surviving

- The sophomore housing decision I disagreed with (and never said "I told you so" about — until she figured it out herself)

- Why setting honest, low expectations for freshman year might be the best thing I did

- The car breakdown that proved Faith could handle real life without us

- Why parents who tailgate are actually doing their kids a favor (you're welcome)

- My one parenting tip: **ask questions instead of giving answers** — it's how you help them see without telling them what to see

Wonders this week:

- Family group chats — from Bruce Springsteen to March Madness, our core five is just *good*

- The Artemis 2 mission — I cannot talk about it without tearing up

Read/Watch/Listen:

- 📚 *Husbands and Lovers* by Beatrice Williams — a dual-timeline novel that doesn't feel fluffy

- 🎧 *Good Hang* with Amy Poehler — women my age being delightful

- 📚 *Sea of Tranquility* by Emily St. John Mandel — time travel you don't see coming (Faith)

- 🎧 Olivia Rodrigo's back catalog — Faith's deep dive ahead of the new album

**Moving to Substack!** Come find us there for community, full episodes, and everything in between. If you're on YouTube, subscribe. If you're on a podcast app, we'd love a review — it helps us reach more ears.

Until next time — take care of yourself, and keep looking for the wonder.

Are tech companies paying therapists to train their automated replacements?

In this episode of Wonder and the Weeds, I expose the troubling reality of artificial intelligence infiltrating the mental health space.

From electronic health records pushing AI note-taking to the alarming rise of social media self-diagnosis, I examine why human connection cannot be automated. Discover the critical difference between true therapeutic pattern recognition and the echo chamber of chatbot advice. I also discuss how normal trauma responses are frequently mislabeled as major personality disorders online.

In this episode, I cover:

• The AI Replacement Threat: Why tech companies are recruiting therapists to train language models.
• Privacy Concerns in Therapy: The risks of using AI software for patient notes and sensitive data.
• The TikTok Diagnosis Epidemic: Why you should stop letting the internet convince you that you have ADD, bipolar disorder, or narcissistic traits.
• Trauma vs. Red Flags: How to tell the difference between a trauma response and an actual toxic situation.
• My Weekly Recommendations: I share my current favorites, including a review of Abby Jimenez's book The Night We Met, the movie Is This Thing On, and live music highlights from Bruce Springsteen.

Connect with the Community: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe on YouTube or your favorite podcast app.

Join the Women of Wonder community and get full episodes delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing to my new Substack!

In this episode of Wonder in the Weeds, I sit down with my daughter, Faith, to talk about the realities of being a woman in the world today. As a therapist and a mother, I started noticing the deep societal conditioning that taught me to constantly read a room and accommodate others to keep the peace. I brought Faith on the show to get her take on this as a 23-year-old navigating the dating world.

We discuss the pressure to fit a specific mold and what happens when you decide to show up as an unapologetic, confident woman. We also explore the struggle to set boundaries without feeling like you are failing, and we take time to rethink what feminism actually means across different generations.

In this episode, we discuss:

* My realization about accommodating men to keep the peace.

* Why taking up space and dominating a conversation can make people uncomfortable.

* Setting boundaries and refusing to engage in toxic arguments.

* Faith's experience with dating and the societal pressure to find a steady partner.

* Our weekly media recommendations, including the books, shows, and music we are loving right now.

Connect with Us:

* Follow Kristy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcritzking/

* Follow Faith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queenofkings912/

* Join our community on Substack: Wonder in the Weeds

If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment below!