The Child Psych Podcast

Are we protecting our children—or unintentionally making them more anxious and less confident? In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we sit down with Lenore Skenazy, founder of the Free-Range Kids movement and co-founder of Let Grow , to explore how overprotective parenting may be contributing to childhood anxiety, declining independence, and a lack of resilience in today's children. Len...

In this episode, we sit down with Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author of How to Raise an Adult, to explore how well-intentioned parenting can sometimes get in the way of the very skills children need to become capable, confident adults. Julie unpacks the rise of the “checklisted childhood,” where success can become defined by grades, activities, achievements, and getting into t...

Are we raising our children, or are Big Tech, big business, and algorithms quietly doing it for us? In this thought-provoking episode of The Child Psych Podcast, psychologist Tania Johnson sits down with Dr. Susan Linn, psychologist, author, and one of the world's leading voices on creative play and the commercialization of childhood. Drawing from her groundbreaking book Who's Raising the...

"Most parents know that play is important. But what if it's not the game that matters most—it's how you show up while you're playing? In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, child psychologists Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson pull back the curtain on what therapists know about play that every parent can use at home. Drawing from the principles of child-centred play therapy, t...

Love Over Algorithms: Raising Kids Who Choose Connection Over Screens with Nikki Martyn Screens aren't just competing for our children's attention—they're competing for their relationships. And while many parents focus on limiting screen time, what if the real solution isn't found in stronger rules, but in stronger connections? In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, psychologist Tania Johnson...

Feeding children can bring up so much pressure. Are they eating enough? Are they getting the right nutrients? Should we limit sugar? What do we do when they refuse everything on their plate? In this episode, Tania is joined by Jennifer Anderson, registered dietitian, founder of Kids Eat in Color, and author of the new book,  Feed Them Well: A Guide to Raising Healthy, Confident Eaters for Lif...

If every request turns into a battle, mornings feel like a marathon, and you're constantly walking the line between staying calm and completely losing your patience, you're not alone. In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, psychologist Tania Johnson sits down with parenting educator Kirk Martin, founder of CelebrateCalm , to explore why some children seem to push every button—and what parents...

When the world shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dan Shapiro was simply looking for something meaningful to do with his son. What began as an after-school chess club quickly turned into an unexpected journey that challenged everything he thought he knew about intelligence, learning, and what it really means to help a child thrive. In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, psychologist Tani...

Your teenager barely leaves their room. They're gaming for hours, avoiding school, pushing every button, and every conversation ends in an argument. You've tried consequences. You've tried backing off. You've tried talking, therapy, and taking devices away. Yet nothing seems to change. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, psychologist Tania Johnson...

For years, parents have been told to talk to their children about their feelings. But what if talking isn't always what children need most? In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, child psychologists Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson challenge one of today's most common parenting messages. While emotional literacy is incredibly important, there are moments when constantly asking children how th...

In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, Tammy sits down with Dr. Daniel Amen, physician, double board-certified psychiatrist, founder of Amen Clinics, and author of *Raising Mentally Strong Kids", for a powerful conversation about children’s brain health. Dr. Amen explains why we need to shift the way we talk about “mental health” and begin thinking more deeply about brain health. He shares ho...

Why are so many autistic women missed in childhood? And what happens when a parent's journey to understand their child leads to a life-changing discovery about themselves? In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we welcome Julie M. Green, author of Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood, and Radical Acceptance. Julie shares her powerful story of parenting an autistic child, na...

Are well-meaning parenting phrases doing more harm than good? In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, child psychologists Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson unpack five common phrases many parents use every day—phrases like "Good job!" and "Be careful!"—and explore how they may unintentionally shape children's confidence, resilience, independence, and self-belief. While these phrases often come...

Boys are struggling — academically, emotionally, socially, and developmentally. But what do boys actually need to grow into healthy, grounded, responsible young men? In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, Tammy sits down with Dr. Alan Hahn doctoral-level educator, founder of Iron Academy, and author of The Iron Academy, to explore the modern crisis facing boys and young men. Together, they di...

Why does your child fall apart over “nothing”—the wrong socks, a transition, a loud sound, or being asked to leave the house? In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, Tammy sits down with pediatric occupational therapist Kathryn Hamlin-Pacheco to unpack what may really be happening beneath those big reactions. Kathryn explains how children’s nervous systems are constantly scanning for cues of s...

Content Note: This episode includes discussion of infant loss, grief, and NICU trauma. Some stories change us forever. In this deeply moving episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we sit down with Emily Souder, LCSW-C, PMH-C, and Mahaley Patel, LMFT, PMH-C, therapists, mothers, and co-authors of Your NICU Story: Reflecting on Your Family's Experience. What begins as a conversation about the NICU quic...

Is gentle parenting creating calmer, more connected families—or are some parents accidentally raising children who struggle with frustration, responsibility, and resilience? In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, child psychologists Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson take an honest look at one of the most talked-about parenting approaches today: gentle parenting. While the principles of connect...

How do you prepare an autistic daughter for puberty, body changes, periods, privacy, and personal safety? In this episode of  The Child Psych Podcast , psychologist Dr. Natasha Poulopoulos shares practical guidance for navigating some of the most important conversations parents will have with their autistic daughters. We discuss why these conversations should begin earlier than many parents r...

In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Kim Van Dusen, psychologist, parenting expert, and author of  Parenting Through Play: Creative Strategies for Building Better Behavior, Deeper Connection, and Positive Communication . Together, we explore the powerful role of play in child development and why play is one of the most effective tools parents can use to strengthen...

Screens aren't just hard for kids to put down because they enjoy them. As Michaeleen Doucleff explains in  Dopamine Kids , screens can become powerful "dopamine magnets," pulling children back again and again, often without leaving them feeling calmer, happier, or more fulfilled afterward. In Part 2 of this important conversation on  The Child Psych Podcast , Tammy Schamuhn and Michaelee...

In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, Tammy Schamuhn sits down with Michaeleen Doucleff, author of Dopamine Kids, to explore what is really happening in children’s brains when they beg for more screen time, melt down when devices are taken away, or seem unable to pull themselves away from video games, social media, YouTube, or ultra-processed foods. Many parents have been ta...

Why Anxiety, Meltdowns, Sleep Problems, and Emotional Dysregulation May Have More to Do With Modern Childhood Than We Think Children today are more anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, and emotionally exhausted than ever before. But what if one of the biggest threats to their mental health isn’t something happening online… It’s what’s missing offline? In this incredibly powerful and emotional episo...

In this insightful and practical conversation, we sit down with Katie Kimball, founder of Kids Cook Real Food and author of Kids Cook Real Food: Healthy Kids, Happy Moms, to explore the real story behind picky eating. If mealtimes in your home feel like a constant battle, this episode offers a refreshing and evidence-informed perspective. Katie challenges the common belief that picky eating is sim...

In this deeply honest and powerful conversation, we sit down with Harry Psaros, author of From Struggle to Strength: A Father’s Journey with Autism, to explore a perspective that is often missing in conversations around autism, the father’s experience. Harry shares his personal journey from denial to acceptance after his son’s autism diagnosis, opening up about the confusion, resistance, and emoti...

When your child is melting down, shutting down, or completely overwhelmed… it can feel like nothing works. In this powerful, brain-based conversation, best-selling author Jon Fogel reveals what’s  really  happening beneath your child’s big emotions—and why those intense feelings so quickly turn into explosive behaviors. But more importantly, he shows you what to do  in the...