Family Troubles with Dr. Joshua Coleman

Breaking the Cycle: What History Teaches Us About Today's Family Crisis with Professor Steven Mintz

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Historian and University of Texas Professor, Steven Mintz to explore the challenges of modern parenting, family dynamics, and building resilience in children and adults alike. Steven shares his expertise on how family relationships evolve, the pressures parents face today, and strategies to create healthier, more connected households. We dive into the impact of generational patterns, the role of emotional awareness, and practical communication tools that help families navigate conflict without losing connection. Steven provides insights on fostering empathy, setting boundaries, and guiding children toward independence while maintaining strong family bonds. Listen for more on:  • Steven’s perspective on navigating modern parenting challenges  • How generational patterns affect family dynamics • The importance of emotional awareness in parent-child relationships • Practical communication strategies to reduce conflict and build trust  • Balancing boundaries and connection for healthier relationships • Tools for building resilience and supporting children’s emotional growth Tune into this episode of Family Troubles to hear an empowering conversation about family, parenting, and the strategies that help create stronger, more resilient relationships. Guest Links: Substack: https://stevenmintz.substack.com/ [https://stevenmintz.substack.com/] Books: https://www.amazon.ca/stores/author/B001IXU2N8 [https://www.amazon.ca/stores/author/B001IXU2N8] Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com [http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman [https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman]Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd [https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ [https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard]Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman [https://x.com/drjcoleman] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg]

What Does It Take to Reconcile? Why Cutoff Culture Is Growing and What Families Can Do Instead with Tania Khazaal

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Tania Khazaal for a thoughtful and candid conversation about family estrangement, emotional healing, and what it really means to move forward without losing ourselves or the people we love. Tania shares her personal story of cutting off contact with her mother, what brought her back, and how changing the way she understood her mother’s story changed the way she understood herself. We talk about the rise of what Tania calls “cutoff culture,” the growing tendency to frame distance as healing, and why both parents and adult children may need to build more resilience, compassion, and stronger communication skills to repair relationships. We also explore the role of social media, emotional language, accountability, and what reconciliation can actually look like in practice. Listen for more on:  • Tania’s journey from estrangement to reconciliation with her mother  • Why understanding a parent’s story can shift how we see our own  • The difference between healing, boundaries, and emotional avoidance  • How social media and “cutoff culture” shape family relationships  • Communication habits that help repair trust and reduce defensiveness  • Tania’s three-stage framework for healing and rebuilding connection Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for an honest conversation about family, forgiveness, resilience, and the possibility of creating stronger relationships without losing yourself in the process. Guest Links: Website: https://taniakhazaal.com/ [https://taniakhazaal.com/] Instagram: @taniakhazaal [https://www.instagram.com/taniakhazaal/] LinkedIn:Tania Khazaal [https://www.linkedin.com/in/taniakhazaal/] TikTok: @taniakhazaal [https://www.tiktok.com/@taniakhazaal] YouTube: Tania Khazaal  [https://youtube.com/@taniakhazaal?si=Yyt4vjKKm-jgxEBn] Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com [http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman [https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman]Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd [https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ [https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard]Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman [https://x.com/drjcoleman] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg]

How Mothers Cope with Difficult Adult Children and Chronic Sorrow with Judith R. Smith

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Professor Judith R. Smith to discuss her book, Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children Through Conflict and Change. Drawing from years of research and interviews, Judith explores what it means to parent an adult child struggling with mental illness, addiction, unemployment, estrangement, and ongoing instability. We talk about the emotional reality many mothers quietly carry, the chronic fear, guilt, exhaustion, ambivalence, and grief that can come with loving a child you cannot “fix.” Judith also challenges common ideas like “tough love” and highlights the larger social systems that leave families carrying impossible burdens alone. Listen for more on: * How mothers often tie their sense of self to their children’s wellbeing * Why “tough love” can fail families facing mental illness or addiction * The concept of chronic sorrow and ongoing grief in parenting * How guilt and self blame shape difficult parent-child relationships * Why small boundaries and self care matter for overwhelmed parents * The importance of community, support groups, and reducing shame Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for a thoughtful conversation about difficult parenting, resilience, and finding support in the middle of uncertainty. Guest Links: Website: https://www.difficultmothering.com/ [https://www.difficultmothering.com/] Book: Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children Through Conflict and Change [https://www.amazon.com/Difficult-Mothering-Challenging-Children-Commitment/dp/1538138883] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/difficultmothering/ [https://www.facebook.com/difficultmothering/] Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com [http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman [https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman]Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd [https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ [https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard]Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman [https://x.com/drjcoleman] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg]

How Divorce Increases Estrangement Risk with Michelle Weiner-Davis

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Michelle Weiner-Davis to unpack something I see far too often, how divorce can quietly evolve into long-term family estrangement. We explore how these fractures don’t just impact couples, but ripple through entire families, sometimes for decades. We also get into the role of therapy, communication, and personal narratives in shaping these outcomes. I share insights from my own work (and life), and we talk about what actually helps families stay connected or find their way back to each other. Listen for more on: * How divorce can lead to lasting parent-child estrangement * Why kids taking sides creates long-term family fractures * The impact of therapy culture on family relationships * How communication mistakes can block reconciliation * Why empathy and curiosity matter more than being right * The simple skills that can rebuild connection If this episode gave you a new perspective, share it with someone who needs a more hopeful path forward in their family relationships.  Guest Links: Website: https://www.divorcebusting.com/ [https://www.divorcebusting.com/] Email: michelle@divorcebusting.com Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com [http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman [https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman]Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd [https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ [https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard]Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman [https://x.com/drjcoleman] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg]

What Are Recovered Memories? How Memory Distortion Leads to Family Estrangement with Mark Pendergrast

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with journalist and author Mark Pendergrast to unpack one of the most complex and sensitive issues I see in my work: memory. We explore how memories are formed, how they can shift over time, and how certain therapeutic approaches have contributed to deeply painful family estrangements. Mark shares both his research and his personal story of losing contact with his daughters, offering a perspective that is both informed and deeply human. We talk about the rise of recovered memory claims, why they became so widespread, and what science actually says about how memory works. I also share what I’m seeing in my practice today, from the influence of therapy culture and social media to the many different pathways that can lead to estrangement. This is a nuanced conversation about truth, perception, and the real-world consequences when those lines get blurred. Listen for more on: * Why memory is reconstructive and not a perfect recording of the past * How suggestive therapy techniques can shape or distort memories * The difference between forgetting something and never having experienced it * Why some estrangements are rooted in belief, not verifiable events * The role of modern therapy culture in shaping family narratives * How to approach these situations with care, curiosity, and openness * Why preserving the possibility of dialogue matters more than certainty If this conversation gave you something to think about, tune into the full episode and share it with someone who could benefit from a deeper understanding of family relationships. Guest Links: Website: https://www.markpendergrast.com [https://www.markpendergrast.com/] Book: Victim of Memory: Incest Accusations and Shattered Lives [https://www.amazon.ca/Victims-Memory-Incest-Accusations-Shattered/dp/0942679164] Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com [http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman [https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman]Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd [https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ [https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard]Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman [https://x.com/drjcoleman] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg]