Raising Good Humans

The Science of Effective Parenting

June 12, 2026·40 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

What does it actually mean to be a good parent and why does knowing the research make it harder, not easier? This week I'm sharing an interview I did with Adam Grant on his show, ReThinking,  where we got into the framework I come back to constantly: all feelings are welcome, but all behaviors are not. We talked about gentle parenting, why asking your child to do something nine times is no better than asking twice, orchid vs. dandelion kids, and what I think the job of a parent actually is. What you'll hear: Why "all feelings are welcome, but all behaviors are not" is the organizing principle behind almost every parenting question What orchid/dandelion research reveals about why some kids are more harmed by permissiveness than others Why asking more than twice doesn't increase compliance and what to do instead The one-sentence definition of the parenting job I keep coming back to This episode is brought to you by: Merit Beauty: It's time for your makeup and skincare to meet the reality of your daily routine with Merit Beauty.com OneSkin: Unlock your healthiest skin now and as you age. For a limited time, try OneSkin with 15% off using code RGH at oneskin.co/RGH Great Wolf Lodge: Bring your pack together at a Lodge near you. Learn more at GreatWolf.com

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