EP:170 In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I sit down with my client and friend Dr. Michael Braunstein to pull back the curtain on what it really looks like for a high-achieving husband, dad, and provider to work on his emotional regulation, marriage, and parenting.

Michael and I talk about the invisible pressure so many men carry—being the provider, holding it all together, never showing they’re at capacity—and how that almost broke him, his marriage to Lindsay, and their blended family.

We walk through:

• How their relationship slipped into loving but exhausting codependency—both over-giving, both resentful, and neither getting their needs met.
• The “fire hose” fights that built up over weeks of unspoken frustration and ended in late-night blowups.
• The way real-time support and regulation tools (like voice messaging instead of waiting for once-a-week counseling) helped them calm their nervous systems in the moment, not weeks later.
• How shifting from “fixing” to supporting with phrases like “I hear you,” “Thank you for sharing,” and “What do you need?” completely changed their communication

We also go deep into:

• Their different parenting styles: Michael as the more boundaried, stern parent and Lindsay as the more emotional, nurturing parent—and why both are essential for healthy kids.
• Allowing kids to struggle, fail, and problem-solve, instead of lawnmower parenting everything away
• Navigating Lindsay’s Graves’ disease diagnosis, her near-bedridden season, Michael’s knee surgery, and how their new tools held their family together through it
• One of my favorite parts of this conversation is hearing Michael describe, in his own words, how regulation has given him more enjoyment—not just “better performance”: more enjoyment in his marriage, more enjoyment with his kids, and more peace inside his own brain.

If you’ve ever wished your partner “got it,” or you’re a dad who’s exhausted from holding it all together but doesn’t want “traditional therapy,” this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and save this episode to come back to the tools Michael shares. 💌 Share this with a dad, partner, or husband who needs to hear another man talk honestly about mental health, marriage, and regulation. 🔁 Tag this episode in your stories and tell me your biggest takeaway—I do read them.

⬇️ Ready to work on your own regulation and family dynamic? Learn more about Thrive Like a Parent and my coaching offers in the show notes.

#ThrivelikeaParent #EmotionalRegulation #MensMentalHealth #DadLife #MarriageSupport #ParentingTools #CodependencyRecovery #BlendedFamily #ADHDParenting #NeuroscienceBasedParenting #CalmNervousSystem #BurnoutRecovery #GentleParenting #ConsciousParenting #AnxietySupport #GravesDiseaseJourney #HighAchievingDads #RelationshipTools #BrookeWeinstein

EP:170 In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I sit down with longtime client Michael Braunstein, a former collegiate athlete, business owner, and dad of four in a blended family. From the outside his life looked great, but internally he was maxed out—snapping at his kids, drowning in pressure, and wondering how some dads get to the point of walking away. That moment led him to my work and the idea of regulation.

We dive into where Michael started—stuck in “fix it” mode, overwhelmed, and on a roller coaster in his marriage—and how understanding his gas pedal brain, learning to support instead of fix, and recognizing his own needs and limits transformed not only his inner world but his entire family dynamic.

Michael shares the hardest seasons they’ve navigated: busy work cycles, blended family challenges, a celiac diagnosis, and his wife Lindsay’s battle with Graves’ disease—and how regulation tools helped them show up differently in real time. He’s still a driven, high-energy dad, but with the skills to be present, connected, and actually enjoy his marriage and kids again.

If you’ve ever thought, “I love my family, but I can’t keep living like this,” this episode will give you language, hope, and a real look at what change can actually look like for a dad.

👉 Ready to understand your brain, regulate your nervous system, and create a calmer home? Join Thrive or apply to work with me 1:1.

#ThrivelikeaParent #DadMentalHealth #GasPedalBrain #ParentingTools #MarriageAfterKids #NervousSystemRegulation

EP:168 Hey Thrive fam, it’s Brooke! In this episode, I invite my amazing friend Dr. Sahar Martinez to dive deep with me into what it truly means to “thrive like a parent.” We get real (and share a lot of laughs) as we open up about our friendship, why vulnerability matters so much in both parenting and marriage, and how being authentic—even when it’s messy—can change the way we connect with our loved ones.

We talk about the ups and downs of long-term relationships, the honest (and sometimes hilarious) moments of parenting, and how embracing our true selves liberates us and our kids. From healthy communication and setting boundaries to giving yourself grace for imperfect moments, Sahar and I share the hard-earned lessons that fuel stronger families and deeper self-acceptance.

If you’re ready for unfiltered conversations, heartfelt advice, and a reminder that you’re not alone on this journey, you won’t want to miss this episode. Let’s keep the conversation going—subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow parents and friends!

#ThriveLikeAParent #ParentingPodcast #AuthenticParenting #Vulnerability #RealTalk #MentalHealthMatters #RelationshipGoals #ParentingJourney #MomLife #FamilyConversations #CandidParenting

Tune in now for practical tips, a few laughs, and lots of heart. Together, we’re learning, growing, and thriving—one imperfect day at a time!

Links & Resources:

📘 Check out more episodes of Thrive Like a Parent - https://drbrookeweinstein.com/thrive-podcast/ 📸 Follow Dr. B on Instagram - https://bit.ly/48VZI5e 🌐 Visit our website for more resources on self-care and well-being - https://drbrookeweinstein.com