Wonder of Parenting - A Brain-Science Approach to Parenting
Michael Gurian and Tim Wright guide parents through the owner's manual for their child: the brain. With over 30 years of experience each, they use brain science research and best practices to help parents understand and implement insights into their children. The podcast aims to make the science of parenting accessible and practical, drawing on the hosts' own experiences as dads.
Episodes
#410 The Brain that Loves to Laugh with Guest Dr. Jacqueline Harding
Dr Jacqueline Harding joins the show from Oxford, England to offer brain-based insights into the power of laughter for our kids and for us.
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Best Of: Combating Negative Peer Pressure
From February, 2022: A parent writes in concerned about the negative influence of older boys on his son.
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#409 The Brain-Based Reality Behind School Phone Bans with Guest Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge
Dr Roseann Capanna-Hodge, author of The Dysregulated Kid, joins Michael and Tim to talk about how to help our kids navigate the increasing movement in US schools to ban phones.
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Best Of: A Child's First Phone with Guest Catherine Pearlman
From November, 2022: Dr. Catherine Pearlman joins Michael and Tim to talk about her new book on how to help kids navigate the world of screens.
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#408 A Former Navy SEAL Talks to Dads with Guest Brandon Webb
Former Navy SEAL Brandon Webb joins the podcast to offer dads insights from his newest book, Puddle Jumpers.
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Best of: The Glass-Half-Empty Child
From November, 2022: A mom writes in asking if parents can influence the attitude of their child.
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Best of: The Nature of Resilience
From May, 2022: Michael and Tim talk about the importance of building resilience in our kids by looking at resilience busters.
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#407 When a Grandparent Dies
Michael and Tim look at the challenges parents face when their grief is sandwiched between the grief of their kids and a surviving parent along with practical insights for managing that grief with grace.
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Best of: Food on the Brain
From July, 2021: Food on the Brain. A mom wants to know how food impacts the brain and which foods to avoid.
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#406 Grief and the Male/Female Brain
Michael and Tim talk about how the brain processes grief and how male and female brains may process grief differently.
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Best of: Listener Question-Gender Dysphoria
From December, 2020: The writer has a young family member wrestling with his sexual identity.
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#405 Gurian Speaks to 2026 Graduates
Michael and Tim offer advice to parents and their students for how to transition into this next important phase of life.
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#404: Listener Question: Are Male/Female Brain Differences Unchangeable?
The listener asks if the differences in male and female brains have always been there and if they might change due to circumstances or even evolution.
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Best of: Mother's Day with Guest Sara Olsher
From May 2023: Mother's Day with Guest Sara Olsher. Single mom, entrepreneur, and cancer survivor Sara Olsher shares insights into walking kids through hard stuff.
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#403: Raising Boys Peacefully with guest Tosha Shore
Author Tosha Shore joins the podcast to advocate for boys and for raising them peacefully. Tim has dryer issues.
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Best of: My Child is Having Nightmares
From May, 2021: An 8 year old has been having nightmares and mom is concerned that something deeper may be going on.
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#402 The Indoor Epidemic with Guest Dr. John La Puma
Dr. John La Puma shares insights into why we need to get our kids outdoors along with practical strategies for doing so. Hint--being outdoors is good for the brain!
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Best of: The Boys Who Takes Pictures of Butts
Listener Question: The Boys Who Takes Pictures of Butts. This mom is concerned about her son’s fascination with butts.
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#401 Educating Your Child for the Future with Guest Deborah Kenny
Author and Educator Deborah Kenny talks about her new book, The Well Educated Child, offering practical insights for parents and educators for raising well educated kids.
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Best of: Listener Question—Free Range Childhood
From February 2021: A mom wants to know what brain science says about letting children roam vs. scheduling their time.
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#400 Our 400th Episode Jubilee: Does Gurian Have Anything Left to Say?
As we dive into our 400th episode we look back at where we've been and where we are in terms of boys, girls, brain-science, and parenting.
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Best of: Listener Question—The Sleepwalking Daughter
From August, 202: A 7-year-old girl has issues falling to sleep.
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#399 How to Talk With Your Kids about Alcohol with Guest Cecily Mak
Author Cecily Mak (Undimmed) talks about her own experience with alcohol and how we can help our kids navigate habits and substances in healthy ways.
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Best of: Listener Question: How Do I Get My Son's Attention
From July 2020: A mom writes in about her overly rambunctious boy and his overly rambunctious friendship with another overly rambunctious boy.
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#398 Parenting Googled
Tim found a site listing the top parenting question googled in each state. He saves the state of Washington, Michael's home state, for last.
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Best of: Should I be Bathing with My Kids?
From May, 2021: Should I be Bathing with My Kids? A mom wonders at what age it is no longer appropriate to bathe with her kids.
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#397 The Child with the Sensory Processing Disorder-Listener Question
A mom writes in concerned about some signs her 6 year old is showing that suggest a sensory processing disorder.
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Best of: The Daughter Who Invaded Our Privacy
From August, 2021: A mom writes about a daughter who used the internet to discover a surprise her parents were hiding for a special day.
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#396: Building Strong Readers with Guest Dr. Elizabeth DeWitt
Dr. DeWitt, of Learning Without Tears, joins the show to talk about the benefits of reading, offering practical, daily ways to help kids become strong readers.
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Best of: Listener Question—To Win or Not to Win
From February, 2021: A mom writes about her son’s obsession with winning and how he acts out when he loses
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How to Help Your Children Find Their Moral Compass
Michael and Tim take a dive into morality, what it is, and how to help instill it into our kids.
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Best of: Listener Question—Should I Intervene When My Teenage Boys Get Into It?
From November, 2020: A mom and dad want to know how to handle their teenage boys when their roughhousing escalates.
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Running the Family as a Business with Guest Melissa Smith
Guest Melissa Smith takes insights from branding companies and practically applies them to the family--to help parents intentionally take back the identity of their family.
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Best of: How to be a Dad to a Teenage Daughter
From June, 2022: Michael and Tim talk to dads about what their teen age daughters need from them as they move through the teen years.
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Protecting the Biology of Your Child
Michael and Tim look at the health and well-being of your child from a biological perspective and how nurturing the biology of a child can help your child thrive.
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Best of: Sports and Aggression.
From December, 2021: A mom writes in for an opinion on aggression in sports.
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Best of: The Trouble with Chores
From November, 2021: A dad writes in asking for help in motivating his kids to do their chores.
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How You Can Be a Difference-Making Dad with Guest Josh Davis
Author Josh Davis (The Difference that Makes the Difference) offers insights and strategies that can empower dads to be difference makers in the lives of their kids.
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What do Social Constructs Have to do with Parenting?
Is masculine different from male? Feminine different from female? Does it matter? Dr. Gurian offers valuable insights into how we can move beyond that debate to nurturing the nature of our sons and daughters.
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Best of: The Daughter Who Went Behind Her Parents Back
From September, 2021: The Daughter Who Went Behind Her Parents Back. A dad is concerned about something his daughter did behind their backs.
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Listener Question: The Fear-Filled 10-Year-Old
A mom is concerned about her sons fears of being alone and being alone in the dark. Michael responds with several practical strategies.
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Best of: Does Violent Play Lead to Violent Children?
From August 2021: Does Violent Play Lead to Violent Children? A mom is concerned about the “violent play and storytelling” of her son.
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Listener Question: When a Son Wants to Distance from a Mom
A listener writes in asking how to help moms successfully help their sons individuate while not losing their hearts.
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Best of: How to Blend a Blended Family
From May, 2021: How to Blend a Blended Family. A mom is about to move in with her boyfriend. She brings a son into the relationship as does he. Her concern is for her boyfriend’s son and how he will transition.
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Hope for Overwhelmed Moms with Guest Rebecca Olson
Mom coach Rebecca Olson joins the podcast to share insights and strategies into how moms can find balance in their lives.
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Best of: Listener Question—Should I Expect My Kids to Sit Through Family Meals?
From March, 2021: A mom writes about the challenge she’s facing getting her husband to agree to family meals, claiming boys have a hard time doing so.
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Mom to Mom: How to Raise Boys
Maggie Dent, author of the best-selling book, Mothering Our Boys, and mother of four grown sons, joins the podcast from Australia to offer helpful and often humorous insights into mothering boys.
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Best of: Listener Question: Calming Strategies for Students
From December, 2020: A teacher writes concerned about one of her students and wonders how she can help all of her students learn calming techniques.
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My Son Gets Overly Fixated
A mom writes in on Facebook concerned about how fixed her son becomes on little things to the detriment of other things like his studies. Michael helps clarify between OCD, ADHD and ADD.
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Best Of : Listener Question—Screens, Naps, and Bedtime
From January, 2021: A mom writes in trying to juggle naps and screens, learning to issues around bedtime.
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Best Of: The Wonder of Parenting Holiday Extravaganza
From December, 2023: The Wonder of Parenting Holiday Extravaganza. Michael and Tim share a brief holiday podcast to wish you happy holidays.
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"Best Of" The Holiday Episode: The Power of Traditions
From December 2018: Michael and Tim talk about the values and memories shaping power of traditions not only during the holidays but throughout the year.
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Navigating Grief through the Holidays
Michael shares from his personal experience of losing his wife Gail insights into handling grief during the holidays, with a special focus on how to help our kids when they grieve.
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Best Of : Listener Question: How Can I Get My Husband to help with the Kids?
From September, 2020: With many parents now working at home and helping their kids navigate online school, this mom wonders how to help her husband help out more.
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Best Of : Holidays, Consumerism, and Your Kids
From December, 2023: Michael and Tim offer insights into navigating the consumerism of the holidays.
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Best Of: Listener Question—The Pessimistic Child
From August 2020: A mom writes in wondering how to help her son who wrestles with pessimism.
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How To Help Kids Move From Trauma to Resilience. Guest Dr. Fletch.
Dr Fletch is back to talk about her experience with trauma as a child and how we can help our kids move from their own trauma to resilience.
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Best Of: Listener Question: My Brain Made Me Do It!
From February 2020: A 3 year old is wrestling with impulse control and blames his brain. Michael and Tim dig into the brain science to talk about how to help our kids manage their impulses as they grow into adults.
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Celebrating Birthdays Without Breaking the Bank! Guest Nikki McPhetridge
Nikki McPhetridge, author of Maya's Birthday Wish, joins the show to help parents find simpler, more joy-filled ways to celebrate birthdays without breaking the bank.
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Best Of: Listener Question: The Child Who Talks Too Much
From July 2019: Michael and Tim answer a question from a mom concerned about her overly talkative child who seems to be disrupting the class.
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My Child is Autistic. Now What? With Dr. Theresa Lyons
Dr. Lyons joins the podcast to talk about her experience raising an autistic daughter and practical, science-based insights into navigating autism. Visit www.awetism..net
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Best Of: Listener Questions: Stapled fingers and rough with animals
From September, 2019: Listeners Questions: Michael and Tim answer two questions; the first from a mom whose son staples his finger and the second about a son who is rough with his cat.
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How Can I Help My Son Discover His Purpose in Life?
Michael and Tim discuss why purpose is so important for boys and how to help them discover it for themselves.
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Best Of: Listener Question—The Exhausted Mom
From February, 2021: A homeschooling mom is at her wits end being a mom and a teacher.
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How Can I Help My Daughter Discover a Vision for Her Life?
Michael and Tim look at the ways girls discover fulfillment, vision, and self worth in life.
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Best Of: Listener Question—My Sisters Parenting Style is Nuts!
From January, 2021: This Aunt is having a hard time managing her sister’s kids because their parenting styles are so different.
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Suiting Our Boys Up for Manhood
Michael and Tim are joined by Mark Ryan and Barry Shreiar from the Army and Navy Academy to talk about how to build emotionally, physically, and spiritually strong boys for manhood.
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Best Of: Listener Question—Genitalia Fascination
From January, 2021: A dad is concerned about his young daughter’s fascination with her genitalia.
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Should Kids Watch the News? with Guest Lynn Smith
Former news anchor and producer Lynn Smith joins the podcast to look at how the news impacts our kids.
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Best Of: Listener Question—Body Image and the 10 Year Old
From November, 2020: A mom writes in with a moving question about her 10 year old daughter and body image issues.
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My Five Year Old Son Wants to be a Girl
Michael and Tim respond to a parent who's young boy wants to be a girl.
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Best Of: Is Today’s Classroom a Therapy Session?
From October 2020: Tim asks Michael about an editorial suggesting that too much of education today is about making kids safe and building self-esteem vs. challenging them with learning.
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Brain Bullies and Your Kids with Guest Lynn Smith
Author, former news anchor, and consultant to CEOs, Lynn Smith joins the podcast to talk about how to build resiliency in our kids.
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Best of: Listener Question—To Preschool or Not to Preschool
From August 2020: A mom asks about when to start a child in preschool, what to look for in a preschool, and specifically asks about language immersion preschools.
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Is Our Obsession with Feelings Good for Our Kids
Michael makes the argument that while it's good to help kids identify their feelings, what's more important is how they act on them/
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Best of: Listener’s Questions—Boys and Hitting
From August, 2020: Two moms write in about challenges around their young boys and hitting.
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Helping Our Kids Handle Disappointment
Tim tells a personal story about fracturing his foot while training to walk a half marathon with his grandson, leading to the topic: How to help our kids handle disappointment.
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Best Of: Teenagers!
From August, 2021: Teenagers! A mom requests an episode on the unique challenges teens face as they grow up in this new world.
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The Power of Grandparents with Guest Ted Page
Grandpa and author of "Good Grandpa," Ted Page, joins the podcast to talk about the unique role grandparents can play in raising kids.
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Best Of: Sports Parents
From December, 2021: Sports Parents. Michael and Tim offer practical advice for being sports parents while nurturing the nature of your child
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