Why do kids run to video games like it’s home? Because for many of them—it feels safer, fairer, and more rewarding than real life. In this episode, Instructor Mike breaks down the hidden psychology behind video game addiction and reveals the developmental science that explains why consoles are often doing a better job of emotional coaching than many adults.

You’ll learn:

• Why games offer safe failure while homes often offer shame

• What kids are actually getting from their screens

• How video games trigger reward pathways that help kids grow

• What adults can do to reconnect without lectures or emotional power plays

If you’ve ever asked, “Why won’t my child put that controller down?”—this episode answers you, challenges you, and equips you. Because if the game is winning, it means something else is losing. And it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this episode of Family Matters with Instructor Mike, we tear down the myth of normality and expose how institutions, schools, and even well-meaning adults use “normal” as a tool of control, not compassion. From developmental psychology to the science of constructed emotion, Instructor Mike breaks down how culture programs you to perform instead of be yourself — and how to reclaim your power by refusing to fit into a mold that was never meant for your blueprint.

You’ll learn:

• Why “normal” is a social construct — and who benefits from it

• The difference between impairment and disability, and why society creates dysfunction by refusing to adapt

• Five subtle ways people pressure you into becoming who they can handle

• Three tools to step out of compliance and into authentic identity

This is the episode for anyone who’s ever been labeled “too much,” “too sensitive,” “too different,” or “not enough.”

Stop shrinking. Start standing.

Because fitting in was never the goal — functioning as you are is.

What do chicken nuggets and cloth napkins have in common?

They both require manners—but not the same kind.

In this episode of Family Matters with Instructor Mike, we dig into the differences between fast food and sit-down restaurant expectations—and why your child needs to learn how to switch their service manners based on the environment.

You’ll learn:

• Why quick service spaces require speed, clarity, and low drama

• How sit-down restaurants call for patience, social calm, and table interaction

• What developmental science says about behavior training in public spaces

• Practical scripts and role-play strategies you can use at home today

This episode breaks down the myth that “polite is enough,” and replaces it with something better: environmental fluency—the ability to read a space and show up right.

Whether your child is ordering a burger or asking for the check, you’ll walk away with tools to help them move confidently, communicate clearly, and leave a positive impression wherever they go.

Because it’s not just about teaching them to eat—it’s about teaching them how to move.