Is the modern parenting playbook failing us?

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of UNLOCKED, Krista Franks sits down with psychoanalyst and author Erica Komisar, a bold voice challenging how society is raising its children—and what it’s doing to our mental health.

Erica unpacks the myths we've been sold about motherhood, resilience, and career ambition—and reveals the neurological consequences of early childhood stress, emotional neglect, and fractured family dynamics.

Whether you're a parent, future parent, leader, or simply someone trying to live with more intention, this conversation will shift your perspective—and maybe even change how you live.

Episode Summary

02:45 - Why parents today are exhausted and overwhelmed
03:13 - The myth of “having it all” and the cost of two full-time jobs
07:50 - Lifestyle inflation and how children become the collateral
10:20 - Why you *can* have it all—but not all at once
14:30 - Erica’s career decisions and choosing work that fits family
18:45 - Babies are NOT resilient: the science of early brain development
21:40 - How parenting literally wires the brain—for life
25:45 - What if I missed the first 3 years? Can you repair it?
28:20 - What are we *really* aiming for as parents?
30:25 - The truth behind the “quality time” myth
34:00 - Defining what it *actually* means to give your kids a good life
36:15 - Divorce, narcissism, and raising kids in two homes
40:45 - Erica’s final thoughts on intentional parenting
42:20 - Where to find Erica and her upcoming work

About Erica Komisar

Erica Komisar, LCSW is a clinical social worker, psychoanalyst, and parent guidance expert with over 30 years of private practice experience in New York City. A graduate of Georgetown University, Columbia University, and the New York Freudian Society, Erica brings her expertise to parenting workshops across clinics, schools, corporations, and childcare settings.

She is a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Daily News, and serves as a Contributing Editor at the Institute for Family Studies. Erica also appears regularly on Fox & Friends and Fox 5 News.

She is the author of two books:
📘 Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters
📘 Chicken Little, The Sky Isn’t Falling: Raising Resilient Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety

Connect with Erica

Website: https://www.ericakomisar.com/
Erica's Non Profit Organization: https://www.attachmentcircles.org/

Connect with Owl & Key

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In this special live conversation, Krista and Phil reflect on a recent moment that tested their philosophy in real time: What if this isn’t happening to you… but for you? They walk through the major transitions happening inside Owl & Key and their family life—from big client changes to launching new brands—and share how they’ve used intention, presence, and partnership to navigate uncertainty and step into what’s next. If you’re in a season of change, this is the reframe you didn’t know you needed.

CONNECT OWL & KEY

Grab a copy of the Strategic Planning for Life book
A perfect gift for yourself or for your growth-oriented friend or family member.

https://a.co/d/g8NBjQb

UNLOCKED Membership for just $1
Join the community and membership for just $1! Tap into the ultimate at-your-fingertips, when-you-need-it-most life design resources.

https://www.owlandkey.co/membership-trial

Level up with a 1:1 Expert Guided Experience
Transform your life faster and with greater levels of success.

https://www.owlandkey.co/coaching

Help your team thrive with our @Work Platform
Unlock growth, performance and wellbeing.

https://www.owlandkey.co/at-work

Are you really tapping into intuition, or are your emotions fooling you?

In this episode, Professor Joel Pearson, leading neuroscientist and researcher, breaks down the real science behind intuition—debunking common myths and revealing how to train your brain for better decision-making.

We dive into:
✅ What intuition actually is (hint: it’s not just a feeling)
✅ When to trust vs. ignore your gut instinct
✅ How emotions like stress, anxiety, and excitement distort intuition
✅ The 5-step "SMILE" framework to sharpen your decision-making
✅ How AI will soon enhance human intuition

Joel has spent a decade studying intuition in the lab, discovering how our unconscious mind influences choices—sometimes for the better, sometimes leading us astray. If you're interested in neuroscience, psychology, or making smarter life choices, this episode is a must-listen.

Listen now & start making better decisions today.

ABOUT PROFESSOR JOEL PEARSON

Professor Joel Pearson is a world-leading neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and expert in human intuition, decision-making, and the science of consciousness. He is the Director of the Future Minds Lab at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, where he leads cutting-edge research on intuition, perception, and mental imagery—helping people and businesses unlock better decision-making strategies.

With a background in neuroscience and psychology, Joel has spent over a decade studying how the brain processes unconscious information, how intuition works, and when we should (and shouldn’t) trust our gut instincts. His work has been featured in Forbes, The Guardian, BBC, and Nature Neuroscience, and he regularly speaks on how scientific intuition can enhance performance in business, leadership, and everyday life.

Joel is also the author of The Intuition Toolkit, where he introduces the SMILE framework, a five-step model to train and refine intuition using neuroscience-backed principles. His expertise has made him a sought-after speaker for Fortune 500 companies, elite athletes, and top executives looking to sharpen their cognitive edge.

Currently, Joel is pioneering new research at the intersection of AI and human intuition, exploring how technology can enhance decision-making and help people navigate an increasingly complex world.

CONNECT WITH JOEL

Website:
https://www.profjoelpearson.com/

The Intuition Toolkit Book:
https://a.co/d/4rs9MEf

CONNECT OWL & KEY

Grab a copy of the Strategic Planning for Life book
A perfect gift for yourself or for your growth-oriented friend or family member.

https://a.co/d/g8NBjQb

UNLOCKED Membership
Join the community and membership to tap into the ultimate at-your-fingertips, when-you-need-it-most life design resources.

https://www.owlandkey.co/membership

Level up with a 1:1 Expert Guided Experience
Transform your life faster and with greater levels of success.

https://www.owlandkey.co/coaching

Help your team thrive with our @Work Platform
Unlock growth, performance and wellbeing.

https://www.owlandkey.co/at-work