One hundred episodes. I keep saying it, and it still feels a little surprising.
When Melissa and I recorded our first episode, we were sitting at the corner of her desk, sharing a microphone because we didn’t know how to set up two. We had things we wanted to say about parenting, very little understanding of podcast technology, and apparently enough optimism to think we might record a few episodes in one afternoon. Instead, about four hours later, we had one 17-minute episode.
That was our beginning. Now we’re celebrating the 100th episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, and I’m feeling grateful for everything that happened between that first recording and this conversation.
For this milestone, Melissa and I decided to do something a little different. We’re sharing what it has actually been like to make the show: the funny moments, the technical frustrations, the conversations we still think about, and the connection we’ve felt with you along the way.
An idea in my kitchen became something real
I had wanted to start a podcast before Melissa and I ever made plans to record one. When I left teaching, I could picture creating a community for parents and having conversations that helped people feel more supported. I knew I wanted those things. I just didn’t know how to make them happen.
Then Melissa mentioned that her husband thought we should have a YouTube channel. I immediately suggested a podcast, and suddenly this idea I had been carrying around had somewhere to go. Here was a friend and colleague I respected, someone who cared about families in ways that felt deeply aligned with my own.
We didn’t have a detailed picture of what episode 100 would look like. Honestly, I still don’t know exactly where this whole thing is going, and I’m comfortable with that. I love the process of having these conversations, learning from our guests, and connecting with parents.
There has been a lot of learning behind the scenes
A podcast episode can sound like two people having a conversation, but a lot happens before anyone presses play. There’s planning, research, scheduling, guest communication, recording, and editing. And then there’s technology, which has occasionally had its own ideas about how our day should go.
We’ve needed professional help understanding microphones and sound. We’ve lost an entire recording to an audio problem. We’ve also recorded a conversation where the visual featured a great deal of wall and very little of our faces. The conversation was there. Our framing skills were still developing.
Those experiences have been frustrating in the moment and funny in hindsight. They’re also part of the story. We’ve kept learning, asking for help, and showing up for the next recording.
Yes, the tangents are real
If you’ve listened for a while, you know I sometimes take the scenic route through a conversation. Our 100th episode begins with a story about scrapple, which is probably not what anyone expected from a parenting podcast celebration. I also revisit the time I launched into a Caillou impersonation while Melissa and our guest had no idea what I was talking about.
These are the moments when I listen back and think, “Well, that happened.” But I’m also comfortable letting you hear that side of me. I care deeply about the work, and I can still get carried away telling a completely unnecessary story.
Melissa and I want the show to feel like a real conversation with real people. We bring our training, our experience, our curiosity, and our personalities. Sometimes that includes a useful parenting framework. Sometimes it includes a tangent neither of us saw coming.
Our greatest disagreement lives in a shared inbox
People sometimes wonder whether Melissa and I disagree behind the scenes. We share many of the same fundamental beliefs about parenting, and that alignment is real. Our biggest ongoing difference has been much more practical: how to manage our shared email account.
I mark messages unread when they still need attention. Melissa stars them. You can probably imagine how that went when we first started working in the same inbox.
We also operate on very different schedules. I’m a morning person. Melissa’s ideas may arrive after I’ve already gone to bed. Over time, we’ve learned what to expect from each other and how to work around those differences.
I love that we can laugh about these things. Building this partnership has included figuring out the ordinary details of working together, alongside having conversations about subjects we both care about.
Some conversations stay with us
Part of the fun of this celebration is hearing which episodes have meant something to each of us. Melissa reflects on our conversations about parents’ behavior on sports sidelines and gray-area drinking, along with other episodes that have connected with her own life.
One that meant a great deal to me was the conversation where Melissa interviewed me about parent coaching. She stepped into that role with generosity and encouragement, and it left me feeling even more appreciative of our partnership.
We’ve been able to speak with guests from different places and backgrounds, and I consider that an honor. Their perspectives have helped us keep learning. So have your questions, messages, and responses to the show.
What I hope you’ve heard across these 100 episodes
As we look back, there are a few ideas I hope have come through clearly. One is that being knowledgeable and being imperfect can exist in the same person. Melissa and I have training and experience, and we still have very human parenting moments.
I hope you’ve heard that when there’s a rift in your relationship with your teen, repair matters. Taking responsibility and showing them how to reconnect is meaningful work. You don’t have to get every interaction right to keep building a relationship.
I also hope you’ve heard that warmth and boundaries can work together. You can have expectations and be a place your teen turns for support. You can get curious about what’s underneath a behavior while still addressing what needs to change.
And if your teen is struggling, I hope you know that their struggle doesn’t automatically mean you’re failing. Sometimes your work is to support them through a difficult part of their own journey. That can be painful, and you deserve support while you’re doing it, too.
Thank you for making this a community
The most meaningful part of reaching 100 episodes is knowing there are people on the other side of the microphone. You listen during your day, bring these ideas into your household, ask questions, and share conversations with other parents.
That has given me a sense of connection with people I may never meet. When we record, I picture a room full of parents. I think about the care you have for your teens and the effort you’re putting into figuring things out.
If you’ve been here since episode one, thank you for your consistency and your faith in us. If you’ve just found the show, welcome. You can explore the earlier episodes in whatever order makes sense for your family. There’s no homework assignment to catch up before you belong here.
We’re excited about what comes next
Melissa and I want to keep having these conversations and reaching more parents. We also talk in this episode about our hope to bring more live conversations to schools and communities, whether virtually or in person.
For today, though, I want to pause and appreciate this milestone. One microphone, a lot of learning, a few memorable tangents, and 100 episodes later, we’re still here—and we’re still glad to be doing this together.
Listen to our 100th episode celebration and explore the show here. If a conversation has helped you, please share it with another parent. And if you have a favorite episode or a moment that stayed with you, I’d love to hear about it.
Thank you for listening, for learning alongside us, and for raising the next generation of world changers.