Parenting Shrink Wrapped
Parenting Shrink Wrapped
Podcast Description
Parenting Shrink Wrapped is your all-access pass to the wild and wonderful journey of raising kids! Hosted by Dr. Melissa Wellner, a double board-certified psychiatrist and child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Samantha Straub, a licensed therapist, educator, and parenting coach, this dynamic duo brings a perfect mix of professional expertise and mom humor. With five kids between them—and thousands more they’ve supported in their professional roles—they’re here to share practical strategies and real-life stories that will help you navigate everything from tantrums to teen drama. Whether you're handling sleepless nights or the chaos of carpool, you'll find relatable advice and a good laugh along the way. Strap in, because parenting is a ride, and we're here to make it a little smoother!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on various parenting topics including mental health, discipline strategies, technology use, and self-care for parents. Specific episodes cover teen relationships, managing anxiety in children, and effective discipline techniques, all aimed at providing actionable advice and expert tips.
Parenting Shrink Wrapped is your all-access pass to the wild and wonderful journey of raising kids! Hosted by Dr. Melissa Wellner, a double board-certified psychiatrist and child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Samantha Straub, a licensed therapist, educator, and parenting coach, this dynamic duo brings a perfect mix of professional expertise and mom humor. With five kids between them—and thousands more they’ve supported in their professional roles—they’re here to share practical strategies and real-life stories that will help you navigate everything from tantrums to teen drama. Whether you’re handling sleepless nights or the chaos of carpool, you’ll find relatable advice and a good laugh along the way. Strap in, because parenting is a ride, and we’re here to make it a little smoother!
Parenting comes with an invisible mental load that many caregivers carry without even realizing it. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa are joined by therapist and mindfulness facilitator Kristin Whiting-Davis to explore the emotional weight of caregiving, unconscious “shoulds,” and the tendency for parents to over-function. They discuss why parenting can feel so exhausting, how constant vigilance impacts stress and well-being, and how small moments of mindfulness can help parents slow down, respond instead of react, and reset with compassion. This conversation offers reassurance and practical perspective for parents raising teens who want to care deeply without losing themselves in the process.
About Kristin
Kristin Whiting-Davis, LCSW-C, LICSW, LCSW, is a therapist, mindfulness facilitator, and founder of KWD Wellness, a virtual therapy and training practice serving caregivers and helping professionals across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. With more than twenty years of experience, she supports people who give deeply—parents, therapists, healthcare providers, and others who often feel the weight of being everything to everyone. Before moving full time into her current roles, Kristin worked across child welfare, community mental health, schools, a children’s hospital, and behavioral health management. She’s also a parent of two sons and a pet mom to three beloved animals. Her work blends trauma-informed care, mindfulness, and somatic awareness to help others find steadiness and sustainable wellbeing.
Get expert support, fresh strategies, and a judgment-free parent community—so you can stop feeling stuck and start parenting your teen with more clarity, confidence, and connection.
You know when your kid screws up in some way, and you’re sure of the lesson you want them to learn from it….but you’re not sure how to say it in a way they’ll actually hear?
Download Sam’s free video guide that walks you through a simple, step-by-step process for handling these tough conversations called the L.O.V.E.D. framework.
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Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry
Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.
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This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.
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