Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron
Parenting shouldn’t be defined by stress, guilt, and self-doubt. Yet for 94% of parents, that’s what our days feel like. As a neuroscientist and mom of three, I know firsthand how easy it is to end the day overwhelmed, wishing you’d been calmer, more present, or more patient with your child. That’s why I created The Reflective Parenting Podcast—a place where we pause, reflect, and discover a new way forward.
Join me every Monday as we explore science-backed skills that replace guilt with confidence and stress with calm so that you, and your child, can thrive. Some weeks, I’ll share my own reflections as a parent who’s still learning, just like you. Other weeks, I’ll bring in experts from psychology, neuroscience, and beyond to dive into the research and uncover practical ways we can make parenting feel lighter, less overwhelming, and more connected.
Parents don’t need more advice or another education-heavy podcast. What they truly need is a space to pause, reflect, and grow. Reflective parenting isn’t about being perfect—it’s about noticing what drives our reactions and choosing to show up with intention. This podcast is about building resilience, trust, and connection, and joining a movement to reimagine what parenting can feel like—for us, and for our kids.
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Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron
What all dads need to hear about emotions and their son's future mental health
Today 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 emotions
- Why boys say “I’m fine” even when they’re struggling
- How to become an emotional safe space for your son
- What makes it hard for dads to be vulnerable
- Gentle ways to start emotional conversations with boys
- The RULER model for building emotional intelligence
- How to support boys who feel anxious or withdrawn
- Why parents’ own emotional work matters
- Practical scripts and small daily moments that build trust
Read our blog post about this topic:
https://curiousneuron.com/2025/11/15/boys-emotional-needs-study/
Learn more from Brendan below:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36176325/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9513388/
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Record your question, or share a parenting insight in a 1 min audio we will share on the podcast https://www.speakpipe.com/ReflectiveParentingPodcast
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