Jen Cohen: How to Raise Mentally Strong Kids (and Adults) in a Fragile World

Are we raising strong kids—or emotionally fragile adults? In this powerful and candid episode of Super Life, Darin Olien sits down with Jennifer Cohen, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, performance coach, and host of the Habits & Hustle podcast. Jen brings her bold, no-BS mindset to a conversation about parenting, resilience, and what it really takes to build mental strength in kids and ourselves. From her viral TED Talk to personal stories of parenting struggles and triumphs, Jen unpacks why today’s “coddle culture” is setting kids up for failure—and what we can do to reverse it. This episode goes way beyond parenting. It’s a raw, honest exploration of confidence, self-efficacy, discipline, and the truth about social media, AI relationships, and the epidemic of loneliness.     What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (00:00:00) Introduction – Why this episode is critical for anyone raising kids—or trying to raise themselves (00:04:39) Jen’s Spit-and-Catch Story – How boredom sparks creativity and why we’ve eliminated it (00:08:27) Coddle Culture & Lost Coping Skills – How “gentle parenting” may be creating emotional weakness (00:12:27) Emotions Aren’t Facts – Why letting feelings drive actions is dangerous (00:16:02) Jen & Darin’s Childhood Stories – How adversity shaped their confidence and grit (00:19:08) Competence Breeds Confidence – Why doing things for your kids hurts their growth (00:22:13) Parent Ego vs. Real Growth – How we’re sabotaging our kids in the name of love (00:24:18) Tech Boundaries & Screen Addiction – Why you must stop negotiating with your child about devices (00:27:20) Lead by Example – The powerful influence of what kids see you do (00:28:03) Why These Habits Must Start Early – Self-discipline isn’t taught at 25 (00:29:29) Chores, Challenges & Resilience – Research proves struggle leads to success (00:32:00) Real Life vs. Virtual Life – The terrifying impact of AI dating & filtered relationships (00:38:01) The Loneliness Epidemic – Why social media is not social and what to do about it (00:42:00) Practice Makes Presence – Why we’re losing the basic skill of human connection (00:46:00) Schedule Boredom – One of Jen’s most powerful parenting tips (00:48:06) Team Sports & Fitness – The underrated confidence builder for kids (00:52:12) Fitness as the Ultimate Antidepressant – Why physical strength creates emotional resilience (00:56:18) Common Sense Isn’t So Common – Why lived experience matters more than credentials (00:58:34) There’s No Magic Pill – But small daily practices can change everything (01:00:09) Final Thoughts – This advice isn’t just for kids—it’s for all of us     Don't Miss This... 💥 Watch Jen’s TEDx Talk: “The Secret to Raising Mentally Strong Kids in a Fragile World” on YouTube 📚 Check out her bestselling book: Bigger, Better, Bolder 🎧 Listen to Jen’s podcast: Habits & Hustle     Don’t Forget... I just launched my brand new program Superlife Supermind. Visit my website https://superlife.com/ to learn more about how you can get rid of stress, improve sleep and overall health today.     Thank You to Our Sponsor: Our Place: Toxic-free, durable cookware that supports healthy cooking. Use code DARIN for 10% off at fromourplace.com.     Follow Jennifer Cohen: Instagram: @therealjencohen Website: jennifercohen.com Podcast: Habits and Hustle     Follow Darin Olien: Instagram: @darinolien Website: darinolien.com Book: Fatal Conveniences     Key Takeaway: "You don’t build confidence by making life easier—you build it by showing people they’re strong enough to handle it."