Send us a text In today’s episode we chat with two experts about burnout. Dr. Jaclyn Margolis, PhD explains how to manage and prevent burnout in the workplace. Meanwhile Shelley Kemmerer, PA-C, sheds light on parental burnout and how to maintain wellbeing at home when demand is higher than your resources. We learn about the main symptoms of this syndrome and how to recognize when your stress has turned into burnout. Shelley helps us understand how family planning is burnout prevention while Jacl...
Jun 06, 2022•55 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Send us a text I think that being a parent is similar to being a CEO of a company. You need to be a great leader, you need to understand the members of your team and communicate goals and strategies you want them to execute. Listen to today's episode to get 3 tips that will change how you feel and think as a parent. Take out your Curious Neuron notebooks! Thank you to our supporter the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro. The Neuro is the first health sciences institution in the w...
May 30, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Send us a text Trigger warning: early life stress, child abuse, spousal abuse. In today’s episode, we speak to Dr. Erin Dunn, social and psychiatric epidemiologist at Harvard University. We discuss the difference between stress, early life adversity, and childhood trauma. We learn about the long-term effects of adversity and what parents can do to mediate or buffer them. Dr. Dunn answers questions from the audience using scientific research as evidence. My favorite part of the episode is talking...
May 23, 2022•50 min•Season 3Ep. 26
Send us a text In today’s episode, we are joined by Julie Bogart, author of Raising Critical Thinkers and The Brave Learner. We all know the story of the three little pigs, but have you heard it from the wolf’s perspective? Every story has two sides, Julie explains how we can use simple storytelling and poems to introduce the concept of critical thinking to our young children. She urges parents to stop with the “parental propaganda” and allow children to collect their own data and draw conclusio...
May 16, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 25
Send us a text In today’s episode, we are joined by Megan Champion M. Ed. Teacher, and mother of 3. She shares with us her journey being a mother to a neurodivergent child and we learn the difference between tantrums and meltdowns and define what sensory sensitivities are. Megan sheds light on how she would like mothers of neurodivergent and neurotypical children to support each other and explains what she looks for in parenting advice platforms online. She gives us an insight into how to beat “...
May 09, 2022•57 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Send us a text In today's solo episode with Cindy, she helps you view your child's behavior in a way that will help you be more compassionate. It is easy to see whining, tantrums, hitting, yelling, and talking back as disruptive or bad behaviors, but when you add the word "because" after you describe their behavior....it sheds light on something very important. Listen to this episode to find out more. Thank you to our supporter the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neur...
May 02, 2022•20 min
Send us a text In today’s episode, we chat with Alyson Schafer, one of Canada’s leading parenting experts. Have you ever heard of Adlerian or democratic parenting? If not, this episode will teach you all about Alfred Adler’s parenting strategies founded on mutual respect. Alyson discusses how important it is to regulate your own emotions and learn to be uncomfortable so you can better parent your child. We touch on the importance of “me time” whether it be alone or with your children, and how th...
Apr 25, 2022•53 min•Season 3Ep. 22
Send us a text What does "eat well" during pregnancy really mean? What is the difference between micro and macronutrients, and how to make sure my body is getting everything it needs to make sure my baby is developing well? What are the best foods, and what to avoid, according to recent research? Can I trust the conventional prenatal guidelines when it comes to nutrition? I am getting enough protein in my prenatal diet? What is choline, and why is important for fetus development? What ...
Apr 18, 2022•1 hr 27 min•Season 3Ep. 21
Send us a text In today’s episode, I am solo and I discuss an article I found that explains how to teach children about gratitude. Reminding our children to say thank you when they receive a gift isn’t as impactful as we might think! We also need to keep in mind a child's development, we can’t expect a 3-year-old to say thank you every time! Take out your note pads because at the end of this episode I give you tips you can apply today! I also share a story from my home. If you have a child ...
Apr 11, 2022•19 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Send us a text In today’s episode, we speak with Anna Skates, a child and family advocate, parent coach, and founder of Otterly. In a world where our kids are rarely considered, we need to take a step back and see them as human beings experiencing life. Why is my kid reacting this way? How is my kid experiencing this moment? Anna gives us some important mantras that can be repeated daily to improve how we react and understand heated moments. She explains why we need to be curious about how our c...
Apr 04, 2022•59 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Send us a text In today's episode Dr. Michele Kambolis, mind-body specialist and author of When Women Rise, joins us to discuss how parents need to support themselves in order to take care of their children. Dr. Kambolis speaks about how self-care can be as simple as adding small daily doses of intentional pauses and breathing, no guilt necessary. Join us to learn about how 4-4-6-2 breathing, mindfulness and meditation can impact your life, body and mind positively. We discuss how women are...
Mar 28, 2022•54 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Send us a text I know this is a topic that might cause some controversy, but I think this is an important one to have. When it comes to parenting, I always suggest we follow our gut and trust ourselves, however, given the strong evidence that suggests we should avoid using physical punishment with our children, not spanking our children is something that I stand firmly behind. In today's solo episode with Cindy (which also happens to be our 50th episode!), we discuss why physical punishment...
Mar 21, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Send us a text In today's episode, I discuss a conversation I had with my mother. She said that "our generation is too sensitive" when it comes to parenting. Let's just say that it was an interesting conversation! I think there is a misunderstanding about what positive parenting is. In this episode, I discuss the various types of parenting styles and the impact they each have on our children. Below is a link from an Instagram (@curious_neuron) post about this. It also contain...
Mar 14, 2022•20 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Send us a text Please Note: Today's podcast covers childhood trauma that may be difficult for some listeners. For today's episode, we are joined by Claudia Belliveau, a Ph.D. candidate, and researcher at McGill University in Montreal. She is conducting research on the physical changes to the brain after it has undergone trauma. We will discuss the observations that Ms. Belliveau has discovered as well as the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) on parents and children, and how...
Mar 07, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Send us a text Happy Monday friends! In today's episode, I am offering you my best advice to help you manage your child's difficult behaviours. Whether it is hitting, biting, screaming, tantrums etc, my "Zoom out before zooming in" method will help you out!" Tune in to learn how you can apply this method to all behaviours and offer your child the right tools. To get a visual of this method, visit us on Instagram below: https://www.instagram.com/p/CaUs0yyOgzg/?utm_source=...
Feb 28, 2022•18 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Send us a text In today's episode, Dr. Mark Sabbagh joins us to discuss the Theory of Mind. He breaks down the Theory of Mind for parents and how we can see it develop within younger children. Dr. Sabbagh explains false beliefs and how our children's minds develop an understanding of others' beliefs and feelings. We also discuss dopamine levels, executive functioning, and neurodiversity. Dr. Sabbagh reviews some practical games including pretend play to understand and develop your...
Feb 21, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Send us a text Happy Monday! Let's try something new today. Cindy unedited. I am not adding an intro song, not editing anything I say, and just chatting with you. In today's episode, I wanted to share my mental health journey after I stopped breastfeeding. I shared it on Instagram a year ago (@curious_neuron) but I wanted to share it with all of you. If you are about to stop nursing or if you experiences a period of not feeling yourself after you stopped, please have a listen to my jou...
Feb 14, 2022•16 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Send us a text In today's episode, Dr. Nicole Beurkens joins us to chat about our children's nutrition and how it can influence their behavior. She reminds us about the importance of balance. We might worry about what our children will eat when they are at their grandparent's house but she reminds us that we need to take a broad perspective. She offers advice to help us assess our kitchen and the food we offer our children. Stepping back and not micromanaging everything they eat w...
Feb 10, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Send us a text Does your child have meltdowns or struggles with getting dressed? Are they picky eaters or does their behavior change when they had too much screen time? In today's episode, we are talking with Laura Petix, an occupational therapist that specializes in sensory sensitivity. She describes what some of these sensitivities look like, how to seek help and how to support your child. Also, my 6-year-old joins me in today's podcast! Want to join Curious Neuron's Reflective ...
Jan 27, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Send us a text In today's episode, we speak with neuroscientist Dr. Jodi Pawluski and chat about parental changes in the brain. Society uses the term "mom brain" to signify negative aspects of brain functioning, however, you will be surprised at which changes happen to a mom's brain and why they happen. Do these changes also happen in dads, same-sex couples, or couples that adopt a child? You will need to tune in to find out! Marion and Cindy also cover perinatal mental healt...
Jan 13, 2022•2 hr 30 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Send us a text Marion and Cindy are back and chatting about toys and play again! What does play look like in their homes? What do they bring with them during long car rides and at the doctor's office to keep their 3 kids busy? Which toys and apps do they recommend (you might be surprised at their answers). Lastly, are singing and flashing toys really educational, and do they support sensory development in babies? Drs. Hovington and Van Horn will answer all of these questions and more. Want ...
Dec 23, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Send us a text In today’s episode, we are giving you TONS of tips to help you teach your child how to manage their emotions. Get ready to take some notes and to listen to this episode more than once! Dr. Tina Montreuil, psychologist and McGill University professor discusses her research around emotion regulation skills in children. We discuss the importance of regulating yourself first (as well as the reality that it is hard to always do this as a parent). This episode will leave you feeling con...
Dec 09, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Send us a text In today’s episode, I chat with Emmanuel, the founder of the Bronch Club and a dad of 2. He shares with us the trauma from his past and how this was having an impact on his life as a husband and a father. He discusses the importance of therapy and of creating a safe space where men can be vulnerable and open up about their experiences. “By creating a safe space for men to be vulnerable, we are creating a safe space for women to be free”. Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a...
Nov 25, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Send us a text Social skills take time to develop and children need our guidance. In today’s episode, Dr. Cara Goodwin explains how a child develops social skills as well as what to look for in children who might have social anxiety. Dr. Goodwin also explains shyness and offers us tips to help our children if they are shy. We discuss the opposite case when a child isn’t shy at all and is very outgoing with strangers. I asked her about Selective Mutism and how a parent can differentiate this vs s...
Nov 11, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Send us a text In today’s episode, we chat with Ashleigh, a new mom that struggled with connecting with her baby. She walks us through her difficult pregnancy and sheds light on how we can support our partners and our friends after they had a baby. Please note that this episode may have some triggers for parents that experienced a difficult pregnancy or who struggled with bonding with their baby. Share your experience with us in the comments below or thank our guests for helping all of us feel l...
Oct 28, 2021•59 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Send us a text In today’s episode, we discuss how to see, guide and trust our child with Mr. Chazz , an educator, and parent coach. We begin our conversation by discussing spanking and how we could be more mindful of these generational cycles. We then get into a beautiful conversation about behavior and discipline. What does it mean to discipline? How should we discipline a child that is hitting? Our conversation moves to the parent and how we may have been taught to suppress our emotions, which...
Oct 14, 2021•2 hr 35 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Send us a text In today's episode, we chat with 2 moms who experienced trauma during pregnancy and during delivery. This is a new series we are launching called "Am I the only one?". Please note that this episode might be a trigger. Katherine opens up about her emergency c-section when her epidural was no longer effective and Christine talks about her serious health issues during pregnancy that put her life at risk. If you enjoyed this episode and our podcast, please leave a ratin...
Sep 30, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Send us a text In today’s episode, we chat with actor, director, producer, father, and author of Man Enough to discuss masculinity and fatherhood. We need to make it ok for our boys to express emotions and to be vulnerable. This starts with us, in our home. We need to do the work so that dads can express themselves and feel that they are man enough. Join the conversation and comment on our website (link below) about how these topics have impacted you or your family. https://www.curiousneuron.com...
Sep 16, 2021•50 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Send us a text Your child doesn't need all the best "educational toys" for their development and wellbeing. In fact, in this episode, we argue that you, the parent, are the best educational toy. Being present with our babies and responding to them when they coo or babble. Going for walks with our newborns and stimulating their senses. Teaching them about the world they live in. How do things move, sound, bounce, feel, taste is the type of play that should guide us. Want to learn m...
Jul 12, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Send us a text What questions should I ask myself to raise a more conscious human being? What if a family member is teaching my child values that I don't agree with? My child is older, is it too late to start having such conversations? What if the conversation is uncomfortable to me? What are the gender stereotypes in my home? Where is the line between pushing an agenda and raising an open-hearted boy? Should I speak to girls and boys differently about gender? The COVID pandemic has affecte...
Jul 03, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 16
