the best parenting podcast episodes
A hand-picked, playable selection of the best podcast episodes for this topic — each with the reason it earned its spot. Press play on any pick, or build your own playlist free.
Why these picks
10 episodes curated for "the best parenting podcast episodes"
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The curated episodes
10 episodes — each chosen for a reason you can read below.
Why this pick: Part of Emily Oster's 'Raising Parents' series questioning if we're over-parenting, this explores the decline in free play, hypervigilance effects on kids' independence and mental health. It draws on experts like Jonathan Haidt and Lenore Skenazy to discuss consequences and how to foster self-sufficiency. Provides evidence-based perspective on shifting from 1980s unsupervised play to modern supervised norms for better child outcomes.
Why this pick: Directly confronts how smartphones impact child development, mental health, and social lives, with stats on phone ownership by age. Emily Oster and Jonathan Haidt discuss if phones are stealing childhood like past tech panics or causing real harm. Offers practical advice on regulations, delay strategies, and parental initiative to reclaim unstructured play and attention.
Why this pick: This episode tackles evolving discipline approaches from spanking to gentle parenting, questioning if we've become too permissive. Emily Oster examines consequences of both harsh and soft methods, featuring insights from Abigail Shrier, Dr. Becky Kennedy, and 1-2-3 Magic. Essential for parents seeking balanced strategies to guide behavior without extremes, with historical context on American parenting shifts.
Why this pick: This episode directly addresses emotional dysregulation in children, a core parenting challenge involving brain development, executive functions, and strategies for handling outbursts. It offers practical insights from Dr. Katie Gorham on 'flipping the lid,' the window of tolerance, and triggers, helping parents respond effectively rather than reactively. Uniquely blends neuroscience with actionable weekly challenges for real-world application in daily parenting.
Why this pick: Examines the surge in ADHD, anxiety, and depression diagnoses leading to overmedication of kids. Questions pathologizing normal behaviors, with expert views from Abigail Shrier's Bad Therapy and Erica Komisar. Helps parents understand long-term effects of medicating boys on stimulants or girls on SSRIs, promoting critical thinking on whether we're over-diagnosing typical childhood experiences.
Why this pick: Dr. Katie provides mindful tools for handling change-induced anxieties in kids, like verbal expectations, visual countdowns, and breathing exercises. References books like 'Ruby Finds a Worry' and stresses parents managing their own anxiety. Highly actionable for everyday transitions, promoting brain understanding and family connection to reduce stress in routine disruptions.
Why this pick: From Mindful Motherhood, this focuses on taming childhood anxiety through 'worry monsters' and understanding physiological responses. Dr. Katie shares personal and professional tools to help kids articulate fears, turning anxiety into growth opportunities. Practical for parents of sensitive or worried children, emphasizing mindfulness to build emotional coping skills without dismissing feelings.
Why this pick: Addresses childhood obesity epidemic, AAP guidelines on weight-loss drugs, and parental confusion around food and health. Emily Oster analyzes rising rates, reduced stigma vs health risks, and societal changes in feeding kids. Valuable for parents navigating nutrition decisions, with resources from Pamela Druckerman and Robert Lustig to rethink American eating habits for long-term child wellness.
Why this pick: Neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson explains how parents' own flourishing directly boosts child brain development via neuroplasticity and contagion effect. Covers four pillars of flourishing with just 5 minutes daily practice, addressing worries about screens and emotions. Shifts focus from fixing kids to self-work, ideal for overwhelmed parents seeking science-backed ways to foster resilience indirectly.
Why this pick: Explores AI's potential effects on kids' development, from companion bots to creativity and frustration tolerance. Dr. Becky and Joanna Stern discuss how removing friction via AI might hinder patience and real connections. Forward-thinking for modern parents concerned with tech's role in child-rearing, balancing innovation with essential human skills like resilience and independent thinking.