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Join me, Jess VanderWier, a registered psychotherapist, mom of three, and founder of Nurtured First, along with my husband Scott, as we dive deep into the stories of our friends, favourite celebrities, and influential figures. In each episode, we skip the small talk and dive into vulnerable and honest conversations about topics like cycle breaking, trauma, race, mental health, parenting, sex, religion, postpartum, healing, and loss. We are glad you are here. PS: The name Robot Unicorn comes ...
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"As A Skeptic Husband, I Couldn't See The Value In Gentle Parenting." A Conversation With Our Friend
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In this episode, Jess and Scott sit down with their good friend Josh to discuss the changes he’s made in his parenting style over the last six years. Josh candidly shares his experience raising his highly sensitive son. He talks about how a more traditional approach to discipline wasn’t working and his original skepticism around gentle parenting. T…
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In this important episode, Jess and Scott dive deep into the root cause of challenging behaviours in both children and adults: separation. Jess explains how our core need for closeness drives many of our reactions, from clingy children to angry adults. Jess shares some eye-opening insights on: Why behaviours like clinging, whining, and crying happe…
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In this insightful episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Tanya Cotler joins Jess and Scott to explore the complexities of intergenerational trauma and cycle-breaking in parenting. Dr. Cotler shares her expertise on how childhood experiences shape our parenting, the importance of curiosity and compassion in understanding our triggers, and practical way…
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In this revealing episode, Jess and Scott dive deep into why a messy house is a major trigger for Jess. They explore how their different upbringings shaped their attitudes towards cleanliness, with Jess craving order while Scott is more relaxed about clutter. Jess opens up about feeling overwhelmed by visual chaos and struggling to be present with …
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In this controversial episode, Jess and Scott dive into the heated debate around sending kids to daycare. They explore the "mommy wars" between stay-at-home and working parents - unpacking the guilt, judgement, and insecurities on both sides. Jess offers a nuanced perspective, explaining how quality childcare providers can be an important part of a…
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In this eye-opening episode, Jess delves deep into the concept of "strong-willed children" and challenges common assumptions about defiant behaviour. Listeners will gain fresh insights on: Why the "strong-willed" label can be problematic and miss underlying needs. How sensitivity, power dynamics, and leadership struggles contribute to defiance. Pra…
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In this episode, Jess and Scott dive deep into the challenges of infant and toddler sleep and parenting through sleep deprivation. Jess opens up about her struggles as a new mom trying to follow rigid sleep training rules and how she eventually found a more attuned, connection-based approach. In the episode, Jess and Scott discuss: The pitfalls of …
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One of the most common questions Scott and Jess get about Robot Unicorn is: “Was your communication always this good? How did you learn to be less defensive and stop fighting in your relationship?” In this episode, Scott and Jess dive into their journey from high school sweethearts to happily married parents. They share valuable insights on: - How …
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How To Set Boundaries With Your Parents with Libby Ward
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This episode was so incredible that it was hard to choose a title. Other possible titles for this episode included: “How To Heal Your Trauma While Parenting” “Mothering When You Have A Difficult Relationship With Your Mother.” “Breaking Cycles Of People Pleasing And Finding Your Authentic Self.” In this episode of Robot Unicorn, Jess and Scott welc…
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In this episode, Jess and Scott discuss a recent incident in which their child told them that she doesn’t feel like they spend enough time with her. Jess unpacks her feelings of guilt around being a working mom, and Scott helps her understand the deeper reasons behind this guilt. They explore the struggles of dividing time and attention between sic…
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Scott recently had a situation where he lost his cool with his toddler. In this episode, Jess and Scott unpack what happened and how he could do things differently next time by setting himself up for success as a highly sensitive person. They discuss what it means to be highly sensitive, from noticing subtle textures and needing things a certain wa…
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Feeling Like A Shell Of Yourself with Sarah Landry
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CW: Self-Harm, Mental Health Jess sits down with Sarah Landry from The Birds Papaya to discuss the challenges of authentically sharing your mental health struggles online. Sarah opens up about her experience with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) and the courage it takes to be vulnerable about the messy, uncomfortable parts of life. They explo…
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CW: Sexual abuse, grooming, sex-related topics In this powerful episode, Jess and Scott discuss the importance of teaching body safety to kids of all ages. Jess has been educating parents about these topics for over a decade, and in this episode, she answers Scott’s questions about why it’s so important for parents and kids to understand body safet…
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Struggling With Mental Health After A Baby, And Finding Your Joy Again With Emily And Satya
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Today, we dive deep into the trenches of motherhood with special guests Emily Baldoni and Satya Twena, the dynamic duo behind the brand We Are Amma [www.weareamma.com]. These powerhouse women get real about the challenges of parenting in a society that often leaves mothers feeling unseen, undervalued, and utterly exhausted. From the isolating postp…
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Is there ever a time when it’s ok to punish your kids?! Scott gets curious with Jess in this important episode on punishment. Scott and Jess unpack different forms of punishment, such as spanking, timeouts, and taking things away, and discuss the research on how these impact a child's behaviour and emotional development. Jess explains the research …
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Sex After Baby, Unlearning Shame, and Finding Your Sexual Self with Shan Boodram
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In this fascinating discussion, Jess sits down with world-renowned sexologist Shan Boodram for a discussion about all things sex, shame, and self-discovery. Shan shares her personal journey from curious kid to professional sex educator, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs she's faced along the way. Together, Jess and Shan dive deep into t…
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Jess shares her personal journey, starting with being a high school student with a passion for helping people, her education in child development, and how she eventually became an online parenting educator. After being on social media for over six years, Jess has noticed some troubling themes in the online parent education space. Jess and Scott dis…
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What No One Talks About: Baby Sleep, Self-Worth, And Periods With Ashley Greene
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Who else loves the Twilight movies? Jess and Scott watched the movies together when they were dating, and today, they talk with one of their favourite actresses from this series, Ashley Greene! In this raw and revealing episode, Ashley opens up about her journey to motherhood and the importance of reparenting yourself first. She openly talks about …
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In this raw, unfiltered episode, Jess and Scott dive into the complex topic of pushing kids to do hard things. They explore the fine line between encouraging children to reach their potential vs. pushing them past their limits. Jess vulnerably shares how her own painful childhood experiences make it challenging for her to watch her daughter being p…
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Feeling Misunderstood as a Sensitive Child: How Christina Perri Found Her Voice
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CW: Miscarriage, Pregnancy Loss, Stillbirth, Alcoholism In this heartfelt episode, you’ll hear singer-songwriter Christina Perri open up in a profound way. Christina talks to us about her journey from being a sensitive, deeply feeling child to an unexpected superstar. She shares how her deep emotions and sensory processing difficulties made her fee…
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In this episode, we dive deep into our personal histories with food, body image, and the societal pressures that have shaped our relationships with eating. Scott shares his surprising journey to a healthy, intuitive approach to food despite growing up without positive role models, while Jess opens up about her struggles with diet culture, food rule…
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Snickers For Breakfast: How To Let Go Of Perfectionism And Be Less Triggered
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In this raw and insightful episode, we sit down with our close friend Tryphena for a deep dive into the realities of parenting, friendship, and personal growth. Tryphena is Jess’s dear friend, a former educator, a mom of 2, as well as an Indian woman married to a French Canadian man. She opens up about the challenges of raising her neurodivergent s…
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Welcome to Robot Unicorn! In this trailer, you’ll meet my incredible co-host. We will explain the meaning behind the name and share what you can expect from this show. Robot Unicorn will officially premiere on April 22, 2024, at 5:00 am EST! We can’t wait for you to see all the magic we have in store for you!…
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