We all just want our kids to be happy and healthy, right? How do we protect them and prepare them for the world? How do we make sure that they don’t face troubled teen years that may follow them into adulthood? Aaron Huey, founder of Fire Mountain Residential Treatment Center and host of parenting podcast "Beyond Risk and Back,” shares with us the reasons why kids make “bad choices” and gives us strategies for raising our kids to thrive in the world.

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

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Have you ever thought, "I love my family… but is this all there is?"

If so, you're not alone.

So many mothers quietly carry feelings of restlessness, longing, and even fantasies of escape—then feel guilty for having them. But according to therapist and author Kristen Mosier, these feelings don't make you ungrateful or a bad parent. They may actually be trying to tell you something important.

In this conversation, Hunter talks with licensed marriage and family therapist and author of Restless: How to Stop Living an If-Only Life, Kristen Mosier, about why so many parents feel disconnected from themselves during the parenting years and how we can honor our longings without blowing up our lives.

You'll learn:

• Why feeling restless doesn't mean you're unhappy or ungrateful

• What "escape ideation" really means (and why it's more common than you think)

• How intensive parenting and social comparison fuel discontent

• Why grieving your pre-parent identity matters

• The difference between restlessness, burnout, and depression

• Simple ways to bring more novelty, aliveness, and meaning into everyday life

• How to hold both gratitude for your life and longing for something more

This episode is a compassionate reminder that you can deeply love your children and still yearn for more connection, creativity, freedom, or adventure.

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

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What does it really mean to be "on the same page" as parents? According to therapist and author Martina Nova, it has much less to do with agreeing on every parenting decision—and much more to do with feeling heard, understood, and connected.

In this conversation, Hunter Clarke-Fields and Martina explore how our childhood experiences shape the way we parent, why becoming a parent often activates old attachment wounds, and how couples can strengthen their relationship even during the most demanding seasons of family life.

They also dive into postpartum mental health, people-pleasing, emotional regulation, and the everyday conversations that create lasting connection. Whether you're parenting alongside a partner, co-parenting after separation, or simply hoping to build a healthier family dynamic, this episode offers practical tools and compassionate insights you can start using today.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why parenting often brings unresolved childhood experiences to the surface

• What being "on the same page" actually means—and why agreement isn't the goal

• How children learn emotional security by watching conflict and repair

• Why postpartum mental health affects both parents

• The subtle ways couples drift apart after becoming parents

• How people-pleasing creates resentment in parenting and relationships

• Practical ways to reconnect through intentional conversations

• Why emotional regulation matters more than perfect parenting

• How to model healthy communication for your children

• Small changes that can strengthen your relationship this week

If you've ever wondered how to parent as a team while staying connected as partners, this conversation is full of reassuring wisdom and actionable ideas.

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a child succeed…or wander into an unfulfilled adulthood? New research indicates that the seeds for adult success are often planted in the toddler years, ages 2-5. Dr. Tovah Klein cracks the preschooler code, revealing what you can do to help your toddler grow into a fulfilled child and adult—including how to handle bedtime and sibling fighting. 

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most parents don't think of themselves as negotiators—but according to negotiation expert Attia Qureshi, we're negotiating dozens of times every day.

Whether you're discussing bedtime, dividing household responsibilities, navigating the mental load, or deciding whose career takes priority, negotiation is happening in the small moments that shape family life.

In this conversation, Hunter Clarke-Fields talks with Attia Qureshi, negotiation and influence expert, former MIT lecturer, adjunct professor at the University of Michigan, and co-author of Never Settle. Together, they explore how parents can approach difficult conversations with more mindfulness, clarity, and collaboration.

Attia explains why many relationship conflicts aren't really about the surface issue, how people-pleasing and avoidance undermine healthy communication, and why one of the most important negotiations you'll ever have is the one happening inside your own mind.

If you've ever struggled with resentment, unequal household labor, or asking for what you need without triggering conflict, this episode offers practical tools you can use immediately.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why negotiation isn't about winning—it's about understanding interests and values• The hidden negotiations couples are having every day• How internal negotiation shapes your relationships• Why avoiding difficult conversations often creates bigger problems later• Practical language for discussing mental load and household responsibilities• How mindfulness helps you stay calm during conflict• Ways to advocate for your needs without becoming adversarial• Communication tools that strengthen connection and cooperation

This episode will help you move from frustration and stalemate toward collaboration, understanding, and stronger family relationships.

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's kids are growing up in one of the safest—and most anxiety-filled—times in history. So how do we help them become confident, resilient, and prepared for real life?

In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter Clarke-Fields sits down with child therapists Sissy Goff and David Thomas, authors of Capable, to explore why capability—not happiness—is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children.

Drawing on more than 30 years of counseling thousands of kids and families, Sissy and David explain why anxiety is rising, how overprotection can unintentionally undermine confidence, and what parents can do instead to help children develop courage, resilience, and emotional strength.

They share practical, age-appropriate ways to encourage independence, help kids face fears, and model the emotional skills children need to thrive. You'll also learn why parents need to examine their own anxiety, how simple family mantras can shape a child's inner voice for life, and why allowing children to struggle in healthy ways builds lasting confidence.

If you've ever wondered whether you're helping too much—or not enough—this conversation offers compassionate, research-informed guidance for raising kids who trust themselves and can handle life's inevitable challenges.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why capability is more important than constantly pursuing happiness

• What's driving rising anxiety in children and teens

• How parental anxiety and "safetyism" can unintentionally limit kids' growth

• Why children need opportunities to experience manageable challenges

• Practical capability-building exercises for toddlers, school-age kids, and teens

• How to help children face fear without pushing too hard

• Why the phrases we repeat become our children's inner voice

• The power of family mantras like "We can do hard things"

• How to model resilience, emotional regulation, and courage in everyday life

• Simple ways to build confidence without adding more pressure to parenting

Rather than protecting children from every challenge, Sissy and David remind us that confidence grows through experience. When kids discover they can handle difficult situations—with loving support—they begin to trust themselves in ways that last a lifetime.

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hunter Clarke-Fields and Jonathan Caspi explore the intricate dynamics of sibling relationships, discussing how siblings influence each other's identities, the impact of birth order, and the importance of fostering positive interactions. They delve into the surprising findings about sibling differences and practical strategies for parents to nurture healthy sibling bonds while avoiding common pitfalls.

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we raise emotionally healthy children in a world of social media, AI, constant comparison, and endless digital stimulation?

This week I'm joined by Dr. Shefali, clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and founder of the Conscious Parenting movement, to explore what today's boys and girls truly need from us. Together we discuss why so many boys are emotionally misunderstood, why girls face unprecedented pressure to perform and seek approval, and how parents can move beyond punishment and control toward deeper connection.

We talk about why boys often shut down emotionally, how to respond to anger without shame, the rising perfectionism affecting girls, and why allowing our children to experience boredom may be one of the greatest gifts we can give them.

If you've ever wondered how to parent with more presence—and prepare your children for a rapidly changing world—this conversation is full of practical wisdom and hope.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why boys often express emotions differently than girls

How to respond to anger without punishment or shame

What boys need to stay emotionally connected with their parents

Why perfectionism and anxiety are increasing for girls

How technology is reshaping childhood—and what parents can do

Why boredom, struggle, and "friction" are essential for resilience

How conscious boundaries differ from punishment

The mindset shift that can transform your relationship with your child

We discuss:

Conscious parenting

Emotional intelligence

Raising boys

Raising girls

Emotional regulation

Healthy masculinity

Perfectionism

Parenting in the digital age

Screen time

Connection before correction

Resilience

Boundaries

Mindfulness

Parent-child relationships

About Dr. Shefali

Dr. Shefali is a clinical psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and founder of the Conscious Parenting movement. She has spent decades helping parents move beyond fear, control, and old conditioning to raise children with greater presence, authenticity, and emotional connection.

Resources Mentioned

Dr. Shefali's books Raising Conscious Sons and Raising Conscious Daughters

Dr. Shefali's website

Connect with Hunter

If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe to the Mindful Mama Podcast and leave a rating and review—it helps more parents discover these conversations.

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do Japanese children confidently run errands alone, navigate public transportation, and show remarkable consideration for others from such a young age?

In this episode, Hunter talks with Lisa Katayama, author of The Japanese Way of Parenting, about the cultural values that help children develop independence, emotional regulation, and respect for others. Born and raised in Tokyo and now raising her own family in California, Lisa shares the biggest differences she's noticed between Japanese and American parenting—and how parents everywhere can borrow the best of both worlds.

Together they explore how children learn responsibility not through pressure or perfection, but through trust, consistent expectations, and opportunities to contribute.

You'll Learn:

• Why Japanese parenting emphasizes interdependence before independence

• The powerful concept of meiwaku and how it teaches children to consider others

• Why Japanese playgrounds look so different from American ones

• Simple ways to build your child's confidence through everyday responsibility

• How routines and community expectations foster cooperation and emotional regulation

• What American parents can adopt from Japanese parenting—without losing warmth or individuality

Whether you're raising a toddler or a teenager, this conversation offers refreshing ideas for cultivating capable, compassionate kids while creating a calmer family life.

In this episode we discuss:

• Interdependence vs. individuality

• Emotional regulation

• Independence and responsibility

• Japanese parenting philosophy

• Meiwaku

• Mindfulness in everyday life

• Raising confident kids

• Cooperation instead of control

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter Clarke-Fields talks with child and adolescent mental health clinician, educator, and award-winning author Anna Housley Juster, PhD, LICSW, about helping children build emotional resilience through connection, validation, and gentle cognitive reframing.

Anna shares practical tools parents can use during everyday moments—from meltdowns to worries to difficult transitions—to help children recognize emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. Together they explore how parents can validate feelings while also teaching children that thoughts aren't always facts.

You'll also hear why repairing after mistakes is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children—and why it's never too late to reconnect.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why validating emotions doesn't mean validating every thought

• How mirroring helps children feel seen, safe, and understood

• When to shift from emotional validation into gentle problem-solving

• The difference between feelings and the stories we tell ourselves

• Practical ways to help children reframe anxious thinking

• How your own nervous system shapes your child's emotional regulation

• Why repair is always possible—even years later

• Everyday ways to build emotional resilience in young children

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When your child gets sick, it’s easy to spiral—Googling symptoms at 2am, worrying about fevers, and wondering if you’re missing something serious.

In this reassuring and eye-opening episode, Dr. Diane Arnaout—board-certified pediatrician, mom of two, and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics—breaks down what’s actually going on in your child’s body, and what parents truly need to know.

From fevers and antibiotics to vaccines and “weird but normal” baby symptoms, this conversation will help you replace fear with understanding—and respond with more calm and confidence when your child is sick.

Dr. Diane shares what pediatricians wish parents would stop worrying about, the subtle signs that really do matter, and how to avoid the late-night Google spiral that only fuels anxiety.

If you’ve ever wondered “Is this normal?”—this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn

• Why fevers are not dangerous—and how they actually help your child heal

• The difference between “normal kid stuff” and signs that need medical attention

• When antibiotics help—and when they can do more harm than good

• What pediatricians wish parents would stop worrying about

• Subtle symptoms you should never ignore (like breathing changes or limping)

• How to stay calm when your child is sick

• The truth about vaccines—and what they protect against

• What’s actually in vaccines and why those ingredients are there

• Why spreading out vaccines may not be safer

• How to make informed health decisions without fear 

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices