Supporting Students Over the Holidays: Tips for Parents Around Mental Health, Drinking and Drugs and Growing Relationships | Ep 43
The holidays are supposed to be a time to exhale — to reconnect, rest, and breathe again. But for many young people, from middle school through college and well into their twenties, this season can quietly become the most dangerous stretch of the year. Structure fades. Old pressures reappear. Sleep goes sideways. Substance misuse and emotional distress often surge. I see it every day in my work with students and families — and I’ve lived it inside my own home.
In this episode, I break down what’s actually happening beneath the surface and how parents can show up with steadiness and purpose. We’ll talk about the mental-health traps this season creates, why substance misuse spikes, and how to build healthier connections that genuinely protect young people. My hope is simple: to help you make this holiday stretch safer, calmer, and more connected for the young people you love.
David Magee's Newsletter
https://davidmagee.substack.com/
Follow on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/
Watch on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
24:28
--------
24:28
The Thanksgiving I Spent Alone and Got Back to My Family
I’ve always loved Thanksgiving for its simplicity—no gifts, no pressure, just a table and gratitude. But the one year I sat alone at mine, I learned more about grace than any other holiday I’ve lived through.
This is the story of how a box at my door reminded me I wasn’t as alone as I thought… and it helped lead my family and me back to each other.
David Magee's Newsletter
https://davidmagee.substack.com/
Follow on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/
Watch on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
14:18
--------
14:18
Turning 60 is the New 40: Just Getting Started | Ep 41
When I was younger, I thought 60 meant slowing down, maybe coasting into the sunset. But I’ve learned the opposite — this season of life is sharper, clearer, and freer to try and make a difference in the world.
Today, my wife Kent interviews me and ask what turning 60 means and about second chances, regret, aging with peace, and the strange beauty of realizing you have nothing left to prove. It’s not a story about growing old — it’s about finally growing into yourself.
David Magee's Newsletter
https://davidmagee.substack.com/
Follow on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/
Watch on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
1:00:50
--------
1:00:50
Father, Daughter and Conversation with Mary Halley Carlson | Ep 40
There was a time when my daughter Mary Halley and I couldn’t talk. Not really. Now we sit across from each other, laughing, asking questions, and sharing the hard-won peace that came from years of healing and growing.
In this conversation, we talk about what it means to rebuild trust, the lessons that come with being parents and grandparents, and why keeping the conversation going is the victory in family.
David Magee's Newsletter
https://davidmagee.substack.com/
Follow on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/
Watch on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
44:13
--------
44:13
A Tree That Marks Time (Essay) | Ep 39
How do you mark change? There’s a maple tree in my community that’s been keeping time for me all my life. Every fall, it’s the first to turn. Always early. Always beautiful. Always right on schedule. I’ve come to mark my years by its color, by the rhythm of its change. This story is about what that tree, and its brilliance, has taught me.
David Magee's Newsletter
https://davidmagee.substack.com/
Follow on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/
Watch on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are you seeking deeper connection at home—and real-life wisdom for the hard parts?
I’m David Magee, bestselling author and speaker. Each week I host raw, hopeful conversations with family, friends, and remarkable guests about the things we all face: parenting and marriage, addiction and recovery, mental health, grief, and growth. You’re not the only messy family on the block. Together we’ll explore life’s big questions and small joys—and share practical steps that help you feel less alone and move toward progress.
Years ago, I lost everything. Rebuilding taught me how to find meaning again—and I’m passionate about helping others do the same. Though I became a husband and father young, I didn’t truly begin to flourish until my mid-40s. At 59, I’m still learning—and I invite you to grow with me.
If you’re ready for honest conversation, vulnerability, and resilient hope, this show is for you. Let’s walk it together—one episode at a time.
USA