Mindful Mama: Raising Kind, Confident Kids Without Losing Your Cool | Parenting Strategies For Big Emotions & More

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 C...

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-Fie...

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 o...

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 pitf...

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 fac...

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...

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 t...

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...

These are anxious times with schools closing and communities taking action to slow down the spread of the coronavirus. Is the anxiety getting to you? In this special episode, Hunter talks to two meditation teachers, Oren Sofer and Emily Horn about how to deal with our fear and become a stable center of peace for our families. Takeaways: The choices we make affect one another. Our choice to take ca...

Everyone tells new parents to expect sleepless nights—but far fewer prepare them for the emotional upheaval that can come with pregnancy and postpartum. In this compassionate conversation, Hunter Clarke-Fields sits down with perinatal psychologist Dr. Katayune Kaeni (Dr. Kat) to explore the often-overlooked mental health challenges of becoming a parent. They unpack why so many mothers struggle in...

What if helping your child calm down could be as simple as a song, a breath, or a playful one-minute practice? In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter talks with children's mindfulness expert, author, and award-winning musician Kira Willey about how music, movement, and mindfulness can help children develop emotional regulation, confidence, and connection. Kira shares practical ways pa...

In this episode, parenting coach, psychologist, and neuropsychologist Dr. Gila joins us for an honest conversation about the unique challenges—and unexpected strengths—of single parenting. Together, we explore what it means to parent with connection instead of perfection, why community and support matter, how to manage overwhelm through emotional regulation, and what "real" self-care looks like wh...

Are We Raising Picky Eaters? Most parents today assume picky eating is just part of childhood. But what if it’s not? In this fascinating conversation, Helen Zoe Veit joins Hunter Clarke-Fields to explore the surprising history of children’s eating habits—and how modern parenting norms may be creating more picky eaters, not fewer. You’ll discover why kids in the 19th century ate a wide variety of f...

Hunter talks to Gretchen Rubin about How To Be Happier. Some big takeaways from this episode include: 1. Make easy changes first — go for the low hanging fruit 2. How do you respond to expectations (inner and outer)? Answer this question BEFORE you try to change a new habit. 3. How to draw boundaries and when to simply stop doing something Gretchen Rubin is one of today’s most influential and thou...

What if the way you speak to your child is shaping not just their language—but their identity? In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter Clarke-Fields talks with Cara Tyrrell, linguist and early childhood educator, about how intentional language can transform your relationship with your child—from birth and beyond. They explore the powerful difference between communication and language,...

This is from Hopestream: Parenting Kids Through Addiction & Mental Health with Brenda Zane. Hunter Clarke-Fields was a painter. She had a graduate degree in art education, a high school teaching job, and what looked from the outside like a creative life. What nobody could see was that she was white-knuckling her way through it, cycling between intense highs and pits of despair she could not explai...

Most parents underestimate the power of changing their approach—it's not about strict rules or punishments, but about reconnecting through compassionate discipline. Wendy Snyder and Hunter Clarke-Fields dive into how shifting from control to connection transforms your relationship with your children and creates a peaceful, respectful home. Discover the hidden influence of your nervous system patte...

Summer brings more than sunshine and vacations—it brings change. Whether your child is heading to camp, navigating more freedom with friends, learning new responsibilities, or preparing for college, summer often reminds us of a truth that's easy to avoid during the busy school year: our children are growing up. In this special summer conversation, Hunter Clarke-Fields and Chris Willard explore how...

When a tween or teen experiments with drugs or alcohol, many parents spiral into fear, shame, and self-blame — wondering Where did we go wrong? and What do we do now? In this deeply honest episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter Clarke-Fields speaks with Brenda Zane, TEDx speaker, podcast host, and co-founder of Hopestream Community, about parenting through teen substance use — without shame,...

Mom Needs a Moment: Moving From Parenting Reactivity to Self-Trust with Dr. Cassidy Freitas Why do the parents who care the most often feel the most shame when they lose their temper? In this episode, Hunter talks with licensed marriage and family therapist and author Dr. Cassidy Freitas about the deeply human moments of parenting—when we react in ways we wish we hadn’t, and the shame that can fol...

What happens when we stop hovering and start trusting our kids a little more? In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter talks with Lenore Skenazy — president of Let Grow and author of Free-Range Kids — about why childhood independence is becoming one of the most important parenting conversations of our time. After a media firestorm erupted when she allowed her 9-year-old son to ride the...

What’s really happening in your child’s brain when screens, sugar, or shows feel impossible to take away? In this powerful and grounding conversation, Hunter Clarke-Fields talks with Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD—author of Dopamine Kids and Hunt, Gather, Parent—about how modern parenting has become deeply entangled with dopamine, and what families can do to restore balance without shame, punishment, or...

What if the hardest parts of your parenting journey could become the very thing that helps other families heal? In this heartfelt mini-episode, Hunter Clarke-Fields shares the vision behind the Mindful Parenting Teacher Certification — a transformative training designed for parents, therapists, coaches, educators, and helpers who feel called to support families in a deeper way. Hunter explains why...

Small humans can have some BIG emotions! How do we navigate tantrums, meltdowns, and defiance and actually raise emotionally intelligent kids? Alyssa Blask Campbell returns to the Mindful Mama Podcast to discuss her new book, Tiny Humans, Big Emotions. If you enjoyed this episode, and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you li...

So many parents feel like they’re failing — not because something is truly wrong, but because life feels messy, rushed, and uncertain. In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter Clarke-Fields speaks with Suzan Song, psychiatrist, global mental health expert, and author of Why We Suffer and How We Heal, about what children actually need to feel safe, connected, and resilient — even when li...