Podcast
Reflective Parenting Podcast
Hosted by Cindy Hovington, Ph.D. · EN
What if one book could help you see yourself more clearly as a parent?
As parents, we're constantly learning. We listen to podcasts, read books, and consume endless advice online, but real growth happens when we pause long enough to reflect on what we're learning and what it means for our own lives.
Welcome to The Reflective Parenting Podcast, a parenting book club led by neuroscientist, international speaker, mom of three, and founder of Curious Neuron, Dr. Cindy Hovington.
Each month, we'll explore a new book together and reflect on the ideas that can help us better understand ourselves, our emotions, our relationships, and our parenting. Every week, I'll share reflections, insights from neuroscience, and practical takeaways to help you become more self-aware, manage stress more effectively, navigate conflict with greater confidence, and show up as the parent you want to be.
This isn't a book summary podcast. It's an invitation to slow down as parents, think more deeply, and grow alongside your children.
Because becoming a better parent isn't about consuming more information; it's about reflecting on it with me by your side.
Find out which book I will be covering next month:
https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/
Join the private group on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcast/
Start training your emotional awareness for FREE:
https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2
Purchase my course The Emotionally Aware Parent.
https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/
Follow us on Instagram @drcindyhovington or Facebook @curiousneuronparenting
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Reflections on Radicalization: Could It Happen to My Child?
1w ago00:38:32Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhen 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 to build stronger protective relationships with their children.In this episode, we discuss:What radicalization really is.Why belonging and emotional pain matter.How social media can influence young people.Why curiosity is often more powerful than confrontation.How connection can help protect our children.Reflection Question:If my child encountered harmful ideas online, would they feel safe enough to talk to me about them?Book James mentioned: How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion (Amazon Canada)Resources:Violence Prevention NetworkDiverting HateLife After HateConnect with James or learn more from him:James J. Stamatelos is a professional coach and Certified Level 3 Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner who specializes in helping men overcome what he calls “anxious insecurity”—the persistent feeling of being chronically “not enough” despite external success.Before transitioning into coaching, James worked in high-pressure environments as an intelligence analyst for the Region 13 Counter-Terrorism Task Force Fusion Center and as a specialist for the City of Pittsburgh Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security. His background gives him a unique perspective on stress, identity, and psychological resilience.The Radicalization of Men (The Psychology of Feeling ‘Not Enough’) on the EZ Conversations PodcastBook a coaching with JamesSupport the showStart your journey to becoming emotionally aware:Step 1: Join our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcastor visit our website to know which books I will be covering during the next months:https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/Step 2: Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sStep 3: Join our course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent or join the next 8 week group cohort (starting in September 2026)https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Or email me info@curiousneuron.com to book emotional training sessions for your organization.
Transcribe →3 reflections on how you experience unpleasant emotions
2w ago00:23:37Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailHow 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 uncomfortable emotion without trying to fix it right away?What happens in my thoughts, feelings, and behavior when I’m feeling something unpleasant?Can I notice the good moments that may be happening alongside difficult emotions?Hope you are liking this new version of the podcast! You can email me info@curiousneuron.com to let me know. In August, I will start focusing on a book of the month. Follow along on our private Facebook page or visit our website below!Support the showStart your journey to becoming emotionally aware:Step 1: Join our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcastor visit our website to know which books I will be covering during the next months:https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/Step 2: Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sStep 3: Join our course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent or join the next 8 week group cohort (starting in September 2026)https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Or email me info@curiousneuron.com to book emotional training sessions for your organization.
Transcribe →3 reflections on what my grandma taught me about parenting
3w ago00:26:22Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThis 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 actions. This was a reminder for me as well! (no one is perfect!)Support the showStart your journey to becoming emotionally aware:Step 1: Join our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcastor visit our website to know which books I will be covering during the next months:https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/Step 2: Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sStep 3: Join our course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent or join the next 8 week group cohort (starting in September 2026)https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Or email me info@curiousneuron.com to book emotional training sessions for your organization.
Transcribe →3 reflections on self-love (and how this will nourish your happiness)
Jun 900:22:43Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThis 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 so you can show up with more calm and connection in your daily lives.Book: How to love by Thich Nhat Hanh (Amazon.com)My conversation with Dr.Kristen Neff:https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/reflective-parenting-by-curious-neuron/id1440533170?i=1000652462526Support the showStart your journey to becoming emotionally aware:Step 1: Join our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcastor visit our website to know which books I will be covering during the next months:https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/Step 2: Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sStep 3: Join our course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent or join the next 8 week group cohort (starting in September 2026)https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Or email me info@curiousneuron.com to book emotional training sessions for your organization.
Transcribe →Why self-care isn't working for you
Jun 200:25:28Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailI'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 happening around us and within us.We often tell ourselves that we don't have time for self-care.But what if the real question isn't about self-care at all?What if it's about learning to notice and respond to our needs?In this episode, we explore:Why "I don't have time for self-care" may be the wrong questionWhat Capacity Mountain taught me about stress and emotional well-beingThe three categories of needs that most parents overlook: Body, Mind, and ConnectionHow small intentional pauses can help you show up differently for your childWhy many of us have forgotten what our needs even areA simple way to start noticing what is draining—and replenishing—your capacityThis episode marks a new chapter for the podcast and for Curious Neuron.Whether you've been here since the beginning or you're joining for the first time, I'm grateful you're here.Let's reconnect, reflect, and continue this journey together.Support the showStart your journey to becoming emotionally aware:Step 1: Join our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcastor visit our website to know which books I will be covering during the next months:https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/Step 2: Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sStep 3: Join our course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent or join the next 8 week group cohort (starting in September 2026)https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Or email me info@curiousneuron.com to book emotional training sessions for your organization.
Transcribe →You, Your Husband, and His Mother: Untangling a Tricky Family Dynamic with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish
Dec 1600:50:33Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailFamily 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 the mother-in-law / daughter-in-law dynamic is so emotionally charged and how it quietly strains couples.We talk about boundaries, guilt, generational differences, cultural expectations, and what couples can do to stop feeling divided and start acting as a solid team.In this episode, we cover:Why this family dynamic is uniquely triggeringHow boundaries get misunderstood and what actually worksWhat to do when your partner shuts down or minimizes the issueHow to recover after a difficult family gatheringWhy connection comes before problem-solvingJoin me for a free Webinar on December 17th at 8pm (and get the replay!):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/ce962dd904You can purchase Tracy's book, You, Your Husband and Your Mother in Law, in the US or in Canada. You can also get her first book (which I also highly recommend called "I didn't Sign up for This" in the US or Canada. Listen to my previous conversation with Tracy below:https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/reflective-parenting-by-curious-neuron/id1440533170?i=1000627417247Support the showStart your journey to becoming emotionally aware:Step 1: Join our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcastor visit our website to know which books I will be covering during the next months:https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/Step 2: Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sStep 3: Join our course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent or join the next 8 week group cohort (starting in September 2026)https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Or email me info@curiousneuron.com to book emotional training sessions for your organization.
Transcribe →Your Triggers Aren’t a Parenting Failure — They’re a Signal
Dec 800:27:16Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIf 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 your brainThe science behind emotional flooding (in both you and your child)How stress, exhaustion, and self-expectations reduce your window of toleranceWhat “repair” looks like — and why it matters more than getting it perfectYou’ll walk away with practical reflection questions and simple shifts that help you move from snapping to connecting — even on the hard days.Join next week's FREE webinar (or get the replay):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/ce962dd904Read the full article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24392687/Share your thoughts and questions with me:https://form.typeform.com/to/Dadaa8nsRead a blog post about this:https://curiousneuron.com/2025/12/03/why-you-still-snap-even-when-youve-done-the-work/Support the showStart your journey to becoming emotionally aware:Step 1: Join our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcastor visit our website to know which books I will be covering during the next months:https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/Step 2: Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sStep 3: Join our course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent or join the next 8 week group cohort (starting in September 2026)https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Or email me info@curiousneuron.com to book emotional training sessions for your organization.
Transcribe →The reason you snap at your kids (and what you can try instead)
Dec 100:22:34Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailHi 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 say BEFORE you snap....that isn't always realistic). I would love to find a way to communicate better with all of you. Share your story that is related to this episode in the link below OR ask a question to help me create a future podcast episode. https://form.typeform.com/to/Dadaa8nsSupport the showStart your journey to becoming emotionally aware:Step 1: Join our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcastor visit our website to know which books I will be covering during the next months:https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/Step 2: Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sStep 3: Join our course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent or join the next 8 week group cohort (starting in September 2026)https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Or email me info@curiousneuron.com to book emotional training sessions for your organization.
Transcribe →Why parenting advice won't help you stop snapping at your kids
Nov 2500:24:30Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIf 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 happening in your body during those moments you “flip”Why you’re not a bad parent — you’re simply depletedHow viewing your child through a leadership lens instantly changes your reactionsThe real first step to building a calmer, more connected homeYou don’t need more advice.You need emotional bandwidth — and today, we talk about how to build it.New! Becoming a Reflective Parent course is now available!!!Learn the 10 skills that help you rewire patterns, regulate emotions, and understand your nervous system. Get it today!https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Support the showStart your journey to becoming emotionally aware:Step 1: Join our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcastor visit our website to know which books I will be covering during the next months:https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/Step 2: Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sStep 3: Join our course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent or join the next 8 week group cohort (starting in September 2026)https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Or email me info@curiousneuron.com to book emotional training sessions for your organization.
Transcribe →What all dads need to hear about emotions and their son's future mental health
Nov 1700:49:29Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailToday 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 down. And the reasons they hold back are often more complex and tender than we realize.This is a grounded, thoughtful conversation, especially meaningful for dads who want to connect more with their sons but aren’t always sure where to start.In this episode, we cover:The two stages when boys start hiding emotionsWhy boys say “I’m fine” even when they’re strugglingHow to become an emotional safe space for your sonWhat makes it hard for dads to be vulnerableGentle ways to start emotional conversations with boysThe RULER model for building emotional intelligenceHow to support boys who feel anxious or withdrawnWhy parents’ own emotional work mattersPractical scripts and small daily moments that build trustRead our blog post about this topic:https://curiousneuron.com/2025/11/15/boys-emotional-needs-study/Learn more from Brendan below:@re.masculinehttps://remasculine.comhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36176325/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9513388/Support the showStart your journey to becoming emotionally aware:Step 1: Join our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/reflectiveparentingpodcastor visit our website to know which books I will be covering during the next months:https://curiousneuron.com/podcast/Step 2: Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12sStep 3: Join our course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent or join the next 8 week group cohort (starting in September 2026)https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Or email me info@curiousneuron.com to book emotional training sessions for your organization.
Transcribe →