Podcast · Kids & Family

Reflective Parenting Podcast by Curious Neuron

by Cindy Hovington, Ph.D. · English · Kids & Family

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 29 min
Latest: 6 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026 · 56 minNew

How understanding our nervous systems changes the way we parent | Laura Petix

Send us Fan Mail I'm joined by occupational therapist and author Laura Petix to celebrate the launch of her new book, The Sensory Code. Laura shares the moment she took her own daughter to the ER because of daily meltdowns, and how that experience shaped her work with parents. In this episode, we talk about: The difference between a tantrum and a meltdown, and why length and recovery time matterWhy gentle parenting still matters even when it doesn't stop the meltdownThe eight sensory systems,...

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S9 · E18 · 29 Sep 2026 · 32 min

How do we teach kids to think critically in a world full of misinformation?

Send us Fan Mail As parents, many of us want our children to do well in school, but what if one of the most important skills they need is not memorizing information, but learning how to question it? In this episode, you and I reflect on what it means to raise critical thinkers in a world filled with headlines, social media experts, AI-generated information, and endless opinions. Together, we explore how curiosity, thoughtful questions, and open conversations at home can help our children lear...
S9 · E17 · 22 Sep 2026 · 32 min

Am I Disciplining or Threatening My Child? What Science Says About Verbal Abuse

Send us Fan Mail I'm back with part two of the conversation sparked by my episode with Georgiana but this time digging into one of the most misunderstood words in parenting: discipline. Pulling from Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson's No-Drama Discipline, I challenge how most of us were taught to think about the word — punishment, stopping a behavior that's annoying us — versus what actually works: discipline as teaching. I share a moment from my son's soccer practice that stopped me in my tra...
S9 · E16 · 15 Sep 2026 · 54 min

The Difference Between Discipline and Punishment | Georgianna Karamitos

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Georgianna Karamitos — a lawyer, educator, trauma-informed conflict resolution practitioner, and children's book author — to unpack the real difference between discipline and punishment. We dig into why repeating yourself doesn't work until a child feels heard, how power struggles hijack parent-child relationships, why "relational safety" is the missing piece in most conflict, and what the neuroscience actually says about spanking and harsh di...
S9 · E15 · 8 Sep 2026 · 22 min

What if conflict were actually an invitation for intimacy?

Send us Fan Mail Hi Reflective Parents, Ever feel stuck arguing about the same thing over and over with your partner? In this episode, I break down a key concept from the Gottmans' book Fight Right: that perpetual conflict often hides a deeper "dream" underneath it, and naming that dream can turn conflict into a chance for real intimacy. I also reflect on what this means for parenting from bedtime battles to unrealistic expectations and how getting curious with your child, the same way ...
S9 · E14 · 1 Sep 2026 · 30 min

Reflecting About the New School Year: Expectations, Slowing Down & Sparking Curiosity

Send us Fan Mail Hi Reflective Parents! As we jump into a new school year, I wanted to take some time to pause with you and reflect on how we can make this year feel a little less stressful and a lot more connected. This episode was inspired by a question from a mom that emailed me and I'm bringing in some unexpected inspiration — including a quote from a romance novel (Yours Truly) that changed the way I think about how we relate to our kids. I'm sharing three things I believe can make...
S9 · E13 · 25 Aug 2026 · 25 min

Reflecting on how mental heath care is failing us all

Send us Fan Mail Hi Reflective Parents, In today's episode, I share my honest thoughts about mental health care and honestly, they are not that positive. It's been feeling a little heavy these days with the Lindsay Clancy trial, a father that reached out who is struggle with depression and my own mental health from not having been in our home since January. I share my thought and as always, I share what I am doing to work through this hard season. Come reflect with me ...
S9 · E12 · 18 Aug 2026 · 17 min

Reflections on what we need to teach our kids about conflict (which also applies to adults)

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I reflect on what it really means to teach children how to handle conflict. Drawing from my own experience coaching my seven- and nine-year-old sons through months of sibling conflict, I share practical ways to help children slow down, communicate their needs, listen to one another, and take responsibility for their part. Here are the 3 reflections you can discuss with your kids after they had conflict: What could I have said or done differently to de-escalat...
S9 · E11 · 11 Aug 2026 · 30 min

Reflections on Conflict: What If Conflict Is Actually Healthy?

Send us Fan Mail What if conflict isn't something we need to avoid—but something we need to learn how to do? In this episode, I reflect on Brené Brown's idea of “rumbling” from Dare to Lead and what it can teach us about conflict at home. Instead of trying to win an argument, what if the goal was to unravel—to get curious, understand each other's perspectives, own our part, and work through the messy middle together? I share personal reflections on how my own experiences shaped the way I used...
S9 · E10 · 4 Aug 2026 · 25 min

Reflections on Daring to Lead as a Parent

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I reflect on Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead and what it means to bring the principles of daring leadership into parenting. I explore how courage, vulnerability, self-awareness, and connection show up in our homes and in the way we lead our children. In this episode we reflect on: What it means to be a leader for our children and how parenting and leadership work overlap.The heart of daring leadership: courage, vulnerability, and “rumbling” with difficult conversa...
S9 · E9 · 28 Jul 2026 · 23 min

Reflections on resilience, freedom & identity from the book In Order to Live

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I reflect on In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park and the deep questions it raised for me about freedom, identity, resilience, and what it means to think for ourselves. The book prompted powerful reflections on how we understand our own stories, how we support our children’s sense of self, and how freedom can feel both expansive and exhausting. I also connect the book’s themes to parenting, especially around giving children room to explore who they are, make mista...
S9 · E8 · 21 Jul 2026 · 19 min

Reflections on loving more deeply and being present

Send us Fan Mail This week, I'm sharing six simple mantras from the book How to Love that made me stop, reflect, and think differently about the way I show up as a parent, partner, and person. Together, we'll explore what it really means to be present, to recognize when someone we love is struggling, to ask for help when we're suffering, to notice the happy moments that are easy to overlook, and to remember that in conflict, two people can both be partly right. These aren't parenting tips or ...
S9 · E7 · 14 Jul 2026 · 32 min

Reflections on the Hidden Risks Inside Kids' Group Chats

Send us Fan Mail What does Toy Story 5 have to do with raising emotionally healthy kids? Trigger warning: masturbation is mentioned in this episode. Much more than I expected. After watching the movie with my children, I found myself reflecting on something far bigger than screen time: the conversations we're not having about friendship, group chats, and cyberbullying. In this episode, I share the true story of a Grade 6 classroom that left me speechless, explore what resear...
S9 · E6 · 7 Jul 2026 · 24 min

3 reflections about how we take care of ourselves as parents

Send us Fan Mail Why do so many parents feel like they don't have time to take care of themselves? The answer isn't as simple as being busy. This week, we're reflecting on a passage from the book How to Love by Thich Nhat Hanh and exploring why our own needs slowly disappear after becoming parents. I'll also share a simple reflection exercise that helped me reconnect with the things that brought me joy before having children—and why gratitude may be more powerful than we think. In this episod...
S9 · E5 · 30 Jun 2026 · 39 min

Reflections on Radicalization: Could It Happen to My Child?

Send us Fan Mail When we hear the word radicalization, we often think, "That could never happen to my family." But what if radicalization begins with something much more human—a need to belong, to feel understood, or to make sense of emotional pain? In this episode, I sit down with men's coach and former counterterrorism professional James Stamatelos to explore why some young people become vulnerable to extremist ideas, how social media can amplify that vulnerability, and what parents can do ...
S9 · E4 · 23 Jun 2026 · 24 min

3 reflections on how you experience unpleasant emotions

Send us Fan Mail How do you allow yourself to feel, experience and move past unpleasant emotions? In this episode, I share how unpleasant emotions like worry, sadness, or even boredom can lead to some behaviours we might want to be more aware of. If you notice that you often get stuck in unpleasant emotions or that your anger or frustration leads to harder moments with loved ones, then this episode is for you. Here are today's 3 reflections: Can I let myself feel an ...
S9 · E3 · 16 Jun 2026 · 26 min

3 reflections on what my grandma taught me about parenting

Send us Fan Mail This was a hard episode for me to record but I needed to honour my grandmother who passed away yesterday. Today's reflections are: Does my child feel loved and respected by me?Does my child feel like they belong?Do I help my child build their confidence by letting them fail or giving them opportunities to prove to themselves that they can do it I hope you enjoy this episode and that it helps you reflect on how you are showing up for your child in every day ac...
S9 · E2 · 9 Jun 2026 · 23 min

3 reflections on self-love (and how this will nourish your happiness)

Send us Fan Mail This week, we are reflecting on our self-love. This week's reflections are: How do I nourish my happiness?Do I see my body and mind as my home?How do you feed your mind and body?As parents I think we need to remember to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what truly nourishes us. This reminds us that we matter and that we do love ourselves. These reflections are inspired by the book How to Love. I hope this week's episode can help you be more intentional with what you consume ...
S9 · E1 · 2 Jun 2026 · 25 min

Why self-care isn't working for you

Send us Fan Mail I'm Back! After five months away from the microphone, I'm finally back. If you've been wondering where I've been, thank you for checking in. Your emails, messages, and support meant more to me than you know. I explain what happened in this episode and share how this time away also gave me space to reflect. In also share what I've been learning about capacity the idea that our ability to cope, connect, parent, and respond changes throughout the day based on what's happe...
S8 · E40 · 16 Dec 2025 · 51 min

You, Your Husband, and His Mother: Untangling a Tricky Family Dynamic with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

Send us Fan Mail Family dynamics can feel especially intense around the holidays and one of the most challenging patterns many parents face is the triangle between you, your partner, and your mother-in-law. In today’s episode, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish returns to the podcast to help us make sense of this dynamic with compassion, clarity, and evidence-based tools. In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, psychologist and author of You, Your Husband & His Mother, to unpack why t...
S8 · E39 · 8 Dec 2025 · 27 min

Your Triggers Aren’t a Parenting Failure — They’re a Signal

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever ended a night thinking, “Why did I snap again?” — this episode is for you. Today, we’re diving into what’s really happening in your brain and body when your child pushes your buttons. Because those intense reactions? They aren’t proof that you’re a bad parent. They’re signals from a nervous system in overdrive — and once you can recognize those signals, you can change the way you respond. We’ll talk about: Why your child’s emotions can feel like a threat to you...
S8 · E38 · 1 Dec 2025 · 23 min

The reason you snap at your kids (and what you can try instead)

Send us Fan Mail Hi Reflective Parents! This week, we are talking about something I keep hearing from parents which is snapping at our kids even when we are working on ourselves by learning about parenting or even going to therapy. You are not failing your child. You are still learning many skills that lead to you becoming more aware of your own state before you snap. In this episode, I walk you through 3 steps that might help you catch yourself the next time you snap (notice I didn't s...
S8 · E37 · 25 Nov 2025 · 25 min

Why parenting advice won't help you stop snapping at your kids

Send us Fan Mail If you keep snapping, shutting down, or feeling guilty, even though you “know” what to do... this episode will finally make it make sense. After speaking with more than 200 parents, I’ve noticed the same pattern: We are drowning in parenting advice, but no one is teaching parents the one skill that actually changes everything, how your nervous system works. In this episode, I talk about: Why you still lose patience even after therapy, courses, and all the scriptsWhat’s really...
S8 · E36 · 17 Nov 2025 · 49 min

What all dads need to hear about emotions and their son's future mental health

Send us Fan Mail Today on the Reflective Parenting Podcast, I’m sitting down with Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski-Hartman to talk about something many parents quietly wonder about: Why do boys sometimes pull away emotionally and how can we support them without pushing too hard? Brendan is a researcher who has spent years studying boys, masculinity, and emotional expression. What he learned in his PhD work is both reassuring and eye-opening: boys do feel deeply, even when it looks like they’ve shut do...
S8 · E35 · 10 Nov 2025 · 25 min

Are you having unhealthy conflict? Here's what science says.

Send us Fan Mail This episode will change how you see conflict. We’re talking about the proven communication patterns that destroy connection and how to replace them with healthier ones. You’ll learn: the Four Horsemen (with real examples)how the demand–withdraw cycle keeps couples stuckthe shocking research: negative conflict literally slows wound healinghow your nervous system shapes your reactions (before your thoughts do)3 simple questions from Jefferson Fisher that can change the next co...
S8 · E34 · 3 Nov 2025 · 36 min

Understanding your nervous system in conflict with the authors of Beyond Difficult

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever wondered why you become a different version of yourself during conflict… this episode is going to change the way you see those moments forever. I’m sitting down with psychologists and authors Rachel Samson and Dr. Jessie Stern to unpack the science beneath conflict: your attachment history, your temperament, your nervous system sensitivity, and how all of this shapes the way you argue, withdraw, pursue, or shut down. This episode is not about “how to argue bett...
S8 · E33 · 27 Oct 2025 · 29 min

Relational Savoring: The Neuroscience of Calm and Connection

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder why some moments with your child feel effortless and deeply connected — while others leave you drained, reactive, or misunderstood? In this episode, we break down the science behind why. Dr. Jessie Stern and psychologist Rachel Samson join Cindy to explore relational savoring — a simple yet powerful way to strengthen your bond by intentionally remembering moments of warmth, safety, and love. You’ll learn how this practice calms your nervous system, reduces stress,...
S8 · E32 · 20 Oct 2025 · 51 min

What Many Parents Get Wrong About Toddler Behavior

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, Devon Kuntzman and I dive deep into what’s really happening inside your toddler’s brain when they lose it — and how you can respond without spiralling yourself. We unpack why your child’s meltdowns aren’t your fault, what they’re trying to tell you through their behavior, and the simple mindset shift that will change how you see tantrums forever. If you’ve ever thought, “Why is my child doing this to me?” or “I said no… why can’t they just listen?” t...
S8 · E31 · 13 Oct 2025 · 39 min

The missing skill that helps parents and kids stay calm: Interoception

Send us Fan Mail Last week, we uncovered how your child’s behaviour is really their nervous system communicating. Today, we’re going deeper, inside the body, to explore the science of interoception, the hidden sense that helps us feel and understand our emotions. My guest, Laura Petix, is back to break down how learning to tune into your body’s internal signals can transform the way you regulate emotions, set boundaries, and parent with calm. We’ll explore what the research says including new...
S8 · E30 · 6 Oct 2025 · 32 min

Why understanding your nervous system helps you with your emotions

Send us Fan Mail You’ve heard the advice: “Teach your child to name their emotions.” But what if the real secret to helping your child (and yourself) regulate emotions starts deeper inside the body? In this episode, I sit down with pediatric occupational therapist Laura Petix (The OT Butterfly) to uncover what’s really going on when kids have meltdowns, get overstimulated, or shut down. Spoiler alert: it’s not about being “bad” or “defiant.” Laura explains how your child’s behavior is actuall...

About Reflective Parenting Podcast by Curious Neuron

You don’t snap at your kids because you’re a bad parent. You snap because your stress builds faster than your awareness, and no one ever taught you how to handle that. I’m Dr. Cindy Hovington, a mom of three with a doctorate in neuroscience and founder of Curious Neuron. I created The Reflective Parenting Podcast for parents who care deeply, know a lot, and still find themselves overwhelmed in the real moments. This is not a podcast where I tell you how to be a perfect parent. I’m in it with you. Each week, I invite you into my own reflections: what I’m learning from scientific articles and books, what I’m noticing in my nervous system and emotions, and what real parents and experts teach me in conversation. Together, we get curious about why we snap, shut down, or over-function in conflict, and what’s actually happening in our brain and body when we do. We talk about stress, shame, repair, boundaries, playfulness, and the quiet moments no one sees—so you can start to recognize your patterns and gently shift them. By listening, you’ll learn to: notice your stress and body signals earlier, understand the lenses and stories that intensify hard moments, regulate your nervous system when parenting feels like “too much”, and handle conflict with more calm, clarity, and repair. But more than that, you’ll have a companion in the work. I’ll share where I struggle, what I’m practicing, and how I’m trying to grow, so you don’t feel like the only parent who finds this hard. If you’re…

Reflective Parenting Podcast by Curious Neuron is a English kids & family podcast from Cindy Hovington, Ph.D.. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Cindy Hovington, Ph.D.
Language: English
Category: Kids & Family
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 29 min
Latest episode: 6 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1440533170

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