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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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! Get your FREE 40-page workbook called Becoming...
Jan 27, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Does anybody have an inner voice? What to do when your inner voice becomes a source of anxiety, rumination, and negativity? What strategies can we use to calm the negative inner chatter when we are in distress? How does a child's inner voice develop, and how can parents help them to develop a positive inner voice? Join us as we chat about inner voice, chatter, and self-regulation with Dr. Ethan Kross, a psychologist, social-affective neuroscience researcher, and the author of...
Jun 25, 2021•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text What are executive functions skills, and how can parents support their child's executive skills development? How to identify a problem in your child's executive skills development? How can you help them overcome challenging skills if they are struggling? How can parent's own challenges with executive functions affect their child? Does becoming a parent affect your executive function skills? Is "baby brain" a real thing? Join us as we chat about executive f...
Jun 11, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text How do we teach body safety and consent to young children? How soon should we start? How to find the balance between teaching socially expected physical interactions while respecting the child's right to consent? How do we talk about private parts? What are the best terms to use? How to decide who is part of the safety network in which a child can trust to tell if abuse happens? What do you do if a child discloses sexual abuse to you? As a parent, do you have to ask for their...
Jun 04, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Have you asked yourself how you are doing today? Have your doctor asked about your mental health during your baby check-ups? How do you know if your mood is being affected by the pregnancy/postpartum hormone changes, or if what you're feeling are symptoms of depression or anxiety? Can dads have postpartum depression? How does self-care look like as a new parent? Join us as we chat about mental health and self-care during pregnancy and as a new parent, how to identify the sign...
May 28, 2021•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
May 21, 2021•2 hr 36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text In this episode, Marion shares what it’s like to be a neuroscientist studying developmental neuroplasticity. She obtained her Ph.D. in Neurophysiology from McGill University and is currently a postdoc researcher at the Montreal Neurological Institute, where she studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying developmental neuroplasticity. She studies how external factors can influence how neurons explore and is trying to better understand the nitty-gritty signaling pathwa...
May 14, 2021•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text We are re-launching the Curious Neuron Podcast! New episodes every Friday! We will keep them short and sweet because we know you are short on time. We will return our focus to summarizing research focused on parenting and child development. I have never taken the time to chat about myself and how Curious Neuron was created. Today, my new co-host, Marion Van Horn, interviews me! We chat about Curious Neuron’s humble beginnings and my research during my doctorate degree. If you enjo...
May 07, 2021•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Which type of parenting do you follow? Positive parenting, conscious parenting, attachment parenting, authoritative parenting, authoritarian parenting...is your head spinning yet? There are many types of parenting described on social media but what do they mean? Are they backed by science? Which one should we be following? Join us as we chat with the psychologists behind Helping Families Thrive, Drs. Jenna Elgin and Shanna Alvarez to learn more about parenting styles and how to fo...
Apr 30, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text This past week, we hit the 1-year mark for the pandemic. It has been a long and difficult year for many parents. Many are exhausted and overwhelmed with having to balance so much every single day without getting a break. This level of stress for prolonged periods of time can lead to burnout. This is a relatively new topic in the field of parenting. In today’s episode, I chat with Kryten, a psychologist, about burnout to help you identify if you might be experiencing this and what ...
Mar 25, 2021•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Our automatic response to our child acting out or having a tantrum might be to yell. Then, we fall into a cycle of guilt and tell ourselves that we won’t do it again. Hello spilled milk and cue yelling! Sound familiar? There are ways to work on ourselves to help regulate our own emotions and according to research, regulating ourselves is one of the best ways to help our children learn to regulate their own emotions. Today, I am speaking with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart about emotion r...
Feb 28, 2021•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
