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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Why Children Lie: And What To Do About It
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47:59In this episode, Jess and Scott explore the reasons why children lie and how to help them stop lying. Drawing on personal anecdotes and developmental insights, they explain how different forms of lying emerge as natural parts of childhood while also sharing practical strategies to build a trusting, curiosity-driven relationship with your child. Get…
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This episode of Robot Unicorn is packed with practical ideas that will help you become a more playful parent. On a deeper note, you’ll also learn how to reflect on your own childhood experiences, make sense of the burnout you are feeling, and learn how to bring play back into your life. This is one of Jess and Scott’s favourite episodes to date! Tu…
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Talking To Kids About Puberty, Porn, And Social Media (Part 2)
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37:28In part 2 of our puberty series, Jess and Scott discuss the critical intersection of social media, body image, and puberty. They explore how parents can navigate challenging conversations around online content, unrealistic body expectations, and protecting children during this vulnerable developmental stage. They provide practical strategies for pa…
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Talking To Kids About Puberty, Periods, and Sex (Part 1)
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46:58In part 1 of our puberty series, Jess and Scott talk about how to have difficult conversations with kids about sex, puberty, periods, and changing bodies. You’ll learn how to talk to your kids about puberty without taking away their innocence or making them feel shame. Get our brand new puberty toolkit for 10% off using the code ROBOTUNICORN. We’d …
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In this episode, Jess and Scott discuss common friendship struggles, bullying, and how to help kids solve problems in their friendships. They also discuss their own experiences with friends growing up. Listeners will get practical takeaways to help them cultivate healthy friendships with their kids. Want more? Check out this episode on kids’ friend…
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How Do You Stop Yourself From Yelling At Your Kids?
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33:37In this episode, Jess and Scott dive deep into the complexities of parental anger and yelling sparked by a controversial social media post. They explore cycle-breaking, emotional regulation, and practical strategies for staying calm with kids. They share their personal experiences - Scott as someone who broke generational trauma patterns and Jess a…
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In this episode, Jess and Scott discuss how to support anxious or worried kids. Jess, a psychotherapist, shares the "Mind Table" concept - a powerful tool for helping children manage anxiety and difficult emotions. She shares the story of her own daughter's fears and explains how visualizing different emotions as characters sitting around a table c…
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Jess and Scott break down the nuanced reality of giving your kids screen time through personal experiences and research-backed insights about gaming, social media, and device use, offering practical guidance for parents. Key takeaways include the importance of being present during screen time, understanding age-appropriate limits, and protecting ch…
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How To Set Realistic Parenting Goals For 2025
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48:20Scott and Jess have a candid discussion about New Year's resolutions and goal-setting, particularly through the lens of parenting and personal growth. They share their plans to prioritize family dinners, create more one-on-one time with each of their three children, and discuss how to teach their kids about resilience and nuanced thinking in an inc…
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Grieving Over The Holidays With Libby Ward
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1:07:28CW: Death, suicide, miscarriage Grieving over the holidays can feel all-consuming and complex. Today, Jess and Scott are joined by returning guest Libby for a raw and honest conversation about navigating grief during the holiday season. They discuss various forms of grief, from the loss of loved ones to mourning relationships with living family mem…
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In this episode, Scott and Jess discuss raising resilient children who are not entitled, a common concern they hear from people who are skeptical about the style of parenting Jess teaches. They explore how allowing children to experience natural disappointments and frustrations - while providing emotional support - actually helps develop crucial co…
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In this episode, Jess and Scott tackle the polarizing topic of Santa Claus and holiday traditions as they answer the question: "Should we tell kids Santa is real?” They explore different approaches to discussing Santa with children - from treating him as a real person to presenting him as an imaginative character - all while emphasizing the importa…
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In this episode, Scott and Jess explore the importance of creativity and play - both for children and adults. From strategies for protecting children’s creative spirits to understanding how play helps kids process their experiences to how they are beginning to rekindle their own sense of playfulness as busy parents, this episode is full of practica…
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How To Talk To Kids About Food And Body Image
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38:19In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode, hosts Scott and Jess explore the complex relationship between food, parenting, and childhood development. Inspired by a viral social media post about body image and food messaging, they explore how parents can foster healthy relationships with food by focusing on family rituals, mindful eating, and m…
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Is Teaching Your Partner About Parenting Exhausting You?
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41:35In this episode, Jess and Scott answer a listener's question about sharing the mental load of parenting. Jess talks about times when she felt like she carried most of the mental load and how Scott and her now split the work of parenting. They discuss the challenges of balancing roles, especially when one parent feels like the default decision-maker…
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In this laughter-filled episode, Scott and Jess dive into the delicate balance of teasing and playfulness with kids. They discuss how to be playful without going too far, share hilarious stories about their family's creative characters like "Sean" the hand puppet, and provide practical tips for connecting with children through humour. Some importan…
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Do Parents Really Love All Their Kids The Same?
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24:22In this episode, Jess and Scott dive into the challenges of parenting multiple children and giving each child the love and attention they need. Inspired by a viral social media post, they explore topics like balancing attention between babies and older kids, feelings of guilt and defensiveness as parents, and how children crave connection at all ag…
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How Can I Protect My Kids From Sexual Abuse?
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44:57CW: Sexual abuse, grooming, sex-related topics After hearing news about a case of sexual abuse in their community, Jess and Scott are sitting down and answering listener questions about how to talk to kids about body safety and consent in a way that won’t scare kids and will protect them. They provide practical advice for parents on how to have age…
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The #1 Reason Men Are Silently Struggling With Mental Health with Samir Mourani
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1:03:28In this powerful episode, Scott and Jess are joined by Samir Mourani to have an open and vulnerable conversation about men's mental health. They discuss their personal experiences with anxiety, depression, and emotional breakdowns, sharing how they've worked to overcome societal pressures that discourage men from expressing emotions. A few importan…
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Q&A: Jess And Scott Get Real About Anxiety, Disagreements, And Personal Struggles
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39:41In this fun and casual Q&A episode, Jess and Scott answer listener questions and give you a peek behind the curtain of their lives and relationship. Discover Scott's favourite quality about Jess, hear about their most rewarding parenting moments and learn how they handle disagreements. They share vulnerable insights about managing social anxiety as…
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How Much Do Friendships Matter For Our Kids?
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34:40Jess and Scott discuss the delicate balance between nurturing children's friendships and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. They discuss the concept of peer orientation, share personal experiences, and offer practical advice for parents navigating their children's social worlds. Key insights include: 1. The importance of modelling healthy relat…
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In this solo episode, Jess shares her reflections on a recent conversation she had. The conversation was about whether or not children should hear the word “no” and how parents who follow “this new wave of gentle parenting” are no longer the leaders in their homes. In the episode, Jess shares her thoughts on this view and tackles a common misconcep…
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In this solo episode, Jess answers a listener's question. She explores how to become curious about and respond to children’s challenging behaviours like hitting. She breaks down four key reasons why children may hit and provides practical strategies for addressing each root cause. In the episode, Jess covers: How to get curious about why your child…
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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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55:31In 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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The #1 Reason Kids (And Adults) Cling, Whine and Act Out
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34:17In 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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