Parenting, Social Media, Bullies | Answer the Call | EP 568

From Jordan B Peterson

In this episode of Answer the Call, Dr. Jordan Peterson and his daughter Michaela tackle listener questions on bullying, technology, and family struggles. A father from Arizona describes his 21-year-old son's isolation, weight-related bullying from childhood, and withdrawal into video games, and the conversation explores how parents can rebuild connection through shared vision and thoughtful, non-manipulative dialogue. The episode also addresses how parents can help their children value depth...

Key Takeaways

  • Vision beats manipulation: a joint plan for the future gives struggling young adults a direction that control never can.
  • Questions outperform statements; ask genuine, non-manipulative questions to open up a conversation a lecture would shut down.
  • Ignoring a deteriorating situation isn't neutral; loving a struggling child means refusing to watch them go to hell in a handbasket.
  • Chronic health struggles and isolation often fuel defensive withdrawal, so start by understanding how your child sees their own circumstances.
  • Parents need a plan too: healing the relationship means working through the exhaustion and feeling lost on both sides.

Who is mentioned in this episode?

7 people come up, including Jordan Peterson, Carl Jung, St. Francis of Assisi.

Sponsors of this episode

Mentioned in this episode