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PODCAST

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron

Cindy Hovington, Ph.D.

Parenting shouldn’t be defined by stress, guilt, and self-doubt. Yet for 94% of parents, that’s what our days feel like. As a neuroscientist and mom of three, I know firsthand how easy it is to end the day overwhelmed, wishing you’d been calmer, more present, or more patient with your child. That’s why I created The Reflective Parenting Podcast—a place where we pause, reflect, and discover a new way forward.Join me every Monday as we explore science-backed skills that replace guilt with confidence

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

61:19

The New Parent Journey: Essential Tools for Achieving...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/06/02

Send us a text with Erica Diamond Those early days of parenthood can feel like survival mode—your routines are gone, your identity feels blurry, and the overwhelm is constant. Between sleepless nights, mental overload, and trying to “do it all,” it’s easy to lose yourself. In this episode, Dr. Cindy Hovington is joined by Erica Diamond—certified life & career coach and creator of the List Your Goals Journal—to explore how small, but meaningful shifts in your day-to-day life can help you f...

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53:31

Parenting in the digital world: the conversations...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/05/26

Send us a text We often focus on limiting and banning our kids’ screen time—but what if the most effective digital parenting conversations require a completely different approach, one that starts with curiousity, not control? In this episode, Dr. Cindy Hovington is joined by bestselling author Jessica Joelle Alexander to explore how we can reframe and shift from control to curiosity & learning in the digital world—together with our children. Jessica, author of the global best-seller The...

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5:12

5 min moment of pause to help parents regulate

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/05/21

Send us a text The next time you experience a chaotic moment and need to pause, listen to this 5 min audio to help you regulate. Let me know if you want more of these and please share it with a friend who needs this! Search for a past podcast episode or guest: https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/ Want to join The Reflective Parent Club? If you are ready to learn healthy emotional coping skills and to get support on. how to teach your child these skills, join below or book a call with...

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32:46

Struggling with work-life balance? Try the design...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/05/19

Send us a text Hi friends! I have been hearing so many parents tell me that they feel overwhelmed trying to figure out how to balance work and family life. I know this can be stressful so I thought of a different way for us to approach this problem. What if we asked ourselves "How do I want to design my life?". What do I need more of in my life? What do I need less of? Let's try taking this more proactive approach to our lives rather than we keep saying we are aiming for "work-life" (wh...

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22:10

Mother's Day Reflection: Am I addressing my needs?

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/05/11

Send us a text Happy Mother's Day! I wanted to post today on Mother's Day because of the conversations I have been having with moms all week. It helped me realize that so many of us are powering through motherhood not addressing our needs or communicating them to those around us. Take 20 min out of your day today to listen to this quick solo episode and remind yourself how important your needs are! Search for a past podcast episode or guest: https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/ W...

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61:35

Should I hug my child or ignore them during a tantrum?

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/05/05

Send us a text In this episode of the Reflective Parenting Podcast, I chat with Albiona Rakipi who is a parent coach. I love her work and it is well-aligned with the research I read around co-regulation and teaching kids how to regulate emotions. If you are a parent that often questions what to do DURING a tantrum, then this episode is for you. You will learn her simple method that makes it easy to know what to do and what to say to your toddler. You will also learn about the imp...

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33:20

Am I a helicopter parent? The science of overparenting.

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/04/28

Send us a text In today’s episode, we dive into the science of overparenting and explore what research says about its impact on children’s mental health. I break down a recent meta-analysis that shows how overparenting is linked to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and emotional struggles in kids and young adults. We also explore Self-Determination Theory—the idea that kids need autonomy, competence, and connection to thrive—and how overparenting can unintentionally block these critical n...

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56:13

Why boredom is important for your child's development...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/04/21

Send us a text Boredom is not a problem to solve but an essential skill children must develop for emotional regulation and creative thinking. When parents constantly entertain their children or rescue them from boredom, they unintentionally prevent crucial developmental growth. In today's replay episode (this is the second most downloaded episode of our podcast!) I chat with Susie Allison, founder of Busy Toddler with over 2 MILLION followers. • Boredom is where creativity, problem-solving,...

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53:47

Why meaningful friendships are important for parental...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/04/14

Send us a text Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, clinical psychologist and friendship expert, joins Cindy to discuss the profound impact of friendships on our psychological well-being and how we can cultivate meaningful connections despite the challenges of parenthood. Here is what we discussed: • Social connections are one of the most powerful predictors of health, happiness, and longevity • The "over-under" phenomenon: we overestimate the effort relationships take and underestimate their benefits • Lo...

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28:26

When you discipline your child are you also doing...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/04/07

Send us a text The one mistake many parents make when disciplining their children is forgetting to teach the underlying skills needed for emotional regulation. Focusing only on consequences without addressing skill development leaves children unable to manage emotions like disappointment and frustration. • The purpose of discipline should be education, not just punishment • Children need to learn how to regulate emotions like disappointment before they can behave appropriately • Co-regulatio...

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63:42

Exploring Perimenopause with Dr. Kristina Calder

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/03/31

Send us a text Dr's Cindy Hovington and Kristina Calder explore perimenopause, the hormonal transition that begins in women's 40s and significantly impacts mental health, energy, and body composition. • Perimenopause often starts in your 40s but can begin as early as late 30s • Symptoms include irregular periods, insomnia, anxiety, joint pain, mood swings, and diminished stress resilience • Declining estrogen affects the GABA-ergic system in the brain, explaining increased anxiety and mood c...

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30:56

How to have emotionally intelligent arguments with...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/03/24

Send us a text Ever caught yourself rattling off an endless list of reminders to your partner before they take the kids somewhere? "Don't forget snacks, water bottles, jackets..." Sound familiar? In this illuminating episode, I share a personal revelation that transformed my understanding of parenting partnerships. The awakening came when my mother called with a simple request—take my grandmother to her hair appointment—but followed with an exhaustive list of instructions. As frustration mou...

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57:02

What the Dying Can Teach Us About Living More Fully...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/03/17

Send us a text What can the dying teach us about living? In this transformative conversation, Dr. Kathy Zhang, a palliative care physician, shares profound insights from her work with patients at the end of life that can revolutionize our approach to parenting and emotional wellbeing. Dr. Zhang reveals how witnessing death daily has paradoxically enhanced her appreciation for life's simple joys. Rather than creating fear, regular exposure to mortality has normalized it, allowing her to find ...

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32:46

Stop search for parenting advice and try this instead

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/03/10

Send us a text Have you ever felt crushed by the pressure to follow a specific parenting style perfectly? The weight of trying to fit into boxes labeled "positive parenting" or "conscious parenting" leaves many of us feeling inadequate and constantly seeking more information. What if there's a more sustainable approach? The newly renamed Reflective Parenting Podcast launches with a powerful message: building emotional intelligence skills matters more than following perfect parenting scripts....

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46:59

How the connection recession is impacting parents...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/03/03

Send us a text Discover the importance of forging meaningful connections and the healing power of friendships, especially after periods of isolation. In today's episode, I chatted with author of The Connection Recession, Rich Woo. We discuss the following key points: • Emphasizing connection as essential for mental well-being • Personal anecdotes highlighting the necessity of nurturing relationships • Strategies to combat loneliness, especially for new parents • ...

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72:25

How to build resilience in children by allowing them...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/02/24

Send us a text We discuss the essential balance of parenting, focusing on how allowing children to fail fosters resilience and independence. Jessica Leahy shares insights from her book, The Gift of Failure, highlighting the dangers of over-parenting and the need to embrace failure as a part of learning. • The significance of letting children experience failure • Over-parenting and its effects on children's autonomy • Emphasizing the process of learning rather than the end result&...

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32:37

Am I escalating this situation with my child?

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/02/17

Send us a text Understanding how to navigate emotional responses with our children is vital for fostering healthy relationships within families. This episode explores the importance of self-awareness, recognizing triggers, and methods to de-escalate conflicts with children for more effective communication and connection. • Emphasizing the challenge of escalating vs. de-escalating situations • Identifying and managing parental triggers • Sharing a personal story about a challengin...

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69:44

Supporting emotional development through play with...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/02/10

Send us a text The episode delves into the critical role of play in both parental and child emotional development. Tina Payne Bryson shares insights from her book, *The Way of Play*, emphasizing how engaging in playful interactions can foster emotional intelligence and resilience in children while helping parents regulate their own stress. • Exploring the connection between play and emotional development • Importance of parental emotional well-being • Practical strategies for incorporating p...

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55:34

The power of connection in addiction treatment with...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/02/03

Send us a text In this episode of the Curious Neuron podcast, I chat with therapist Travis Goodman about the rising concerns around addiction. We explore the importance of compassionate curiosity when approaching conversations about addiction, the role of the nervous system in addiction, and the necessity of managing personal emotions when dealing with loved ones struggling with addiction. The conversation emphasizes the need for connection and vulnerability as antidotes to shame and is...

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43:42

How to parent yourself first and break unhealthy...

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron ·

2025/01/27

Send us a textThis episode explores the profound impact of childhood experiences on parenting styles, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection and emotional healing. Brianna shares insights on building connections with children through understanding and compassion while setting healthy boundaries. • Understanding how childhood wounds manifest in parenting • Importance of self-reflection for emotional health • The role of connection in nurturing healthy relationships • Practical strategie...

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245 results

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