BOOK : The Whole- Brain Child 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., & Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D. (Chapters 1-3)

Presented by Megan Riesgo, LCPC, SEP, PMH-C & Joy Walsh, LCSW, SEP, PMH-C

SUMMARY

Hosts Joy Walsh and Megan Riesgo delve into 'The Whole Brain Child' by Dr. Daniel Siegel and Dr. Tina Bryson, exploring how brain development impacts parenting strategies. They cover brain integration, emotional regulation, and practical ways to nurture a developing mind. The hosts emphasize connecting emotionally before reasoning, parental self-regulation, naming emotions to process experiences, and repairing relationships after conflicts.

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional or medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and does not constitute medical or professional advice. This information is presented to be informative and does not replace therapy or other medical support.

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CHAPTERS and NOTATIONS

Intro & Ch. 1: Parenting with the Whole Brain in Mind

01:40 "Survive to Thrive" intro concepts

03:20 What is brain integration?

07:05 "Wire and Rewire"

07:35 The River of Life: Navigating chaos, rigidity, and harmony

Ch. 2: Two Brains Are Better Than One (Left vs. Right)

09:30 Logic (Left) vs. Feelings (Right)

10:55 Helping kids use both sides of the brain

12:15 Strategy #1 (Connect & Redirect): Connect with the right brain before redirecting with the left

14:50 Strategy #2 (Name It to Tame It): Storytelling to calm big emotions

16:25 Using comics to teach kids about their brain

Ch. 3: Building the Staircase of the Mind (Upstairs vs. Downstairs)

18:54 Integrating the upstairs and downstairs brain

20:00 Practical examples and applications

22:55 Strategy #3 (Engage, Don’t Enrage): Appealing to the upstairs brain

23:30 Strategy #4 (Use It or Lose It): Letting kids help find solutions

24:00 Strategy #5 (Move It or Lose It): Moving the body to reset the mind

24:50 Whole-Brain Kids: Modeling regulation and teaching kids these tools

References Discussed

www.wholebrainchild.com

Somatic Experiencing International traumahealing.org

Books by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. Mindsight, & The Developing Mind, How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are, 2nd ed.

Children's Book

27:20 Someone Builds The Dream, by Lisa Wheeler & Loren Long

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Website ⁠⁠www.overdueforparents.com⁠⁠

Instagram ⁠⁠@overdueforparents⁠⁠

Megan Riesgo ⁠⁠www.riesgosupport.com⁠⁠

Joy Walsh ⁠⁠www.wellnessconstellation.com

Book Featured: Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE

Episode Focus: Part 1 of 4 (Chapters 1 & 2)

Release Date: July 13, 2024

Hosts: Megan Riesgo, LCPC, PMH-C & Joy Walsh, LCSW, PMH-C

In Episode 101, hosts Megan Riesgo and Joy Walsh kick off a 4-part series on Hunter Clarke-Fields’ Raising Good Humans. This episode explores the critical foundational steps of mindful parenting: learning how to keep your cool and disarm your emotional triggers. We discuss how mindfulness can break the cycle of reactive parenting, why our children have an uncanny ability to surface our own unresolved past experiences, and how anger physically impacts a child's brain.

Packed with practical exercises—from mindful eating to physical stress-release skills—this episode provides immediate, actionable tools to help you ground your nervous system and parent from a place of calm presence.

00:00 – Show introduction

06:30 – The daily check-in: How using a mood tracker provides a quick mindfulness reset

07:30 – Defining mindfulness with insights from scientist and author Jon Kabat-Zinn

08:40 – Introducing author Hunter Clarke-Fields, her Mindful Mama podcast, and companion resources (mindfulmamamentor.com)

09:30 – The Raisin Exercise: A practical, sensory tool for experiencing mindful eating

10:20 – Finding the humor: A fun parenting reference to the show Parks and Recreation

11:15 – Unpacking the book's core support framework for sitting mindfulness meditation

11:40 – Digital tools for stillness: Exploring the Insight Timer meditation app

16:10 – Ch. 2: Disarming Your Triggers (The deep value of bringing awareness to past wounds)

17:54 – Facing the mirror: "Children have an uncanny ability to reveal our unresolved issues"

18:30 – Breaking the cycle: Self-compassion exercises to unpack how your own upbringing shapes you

19:10 – Essential reading additions: Discussing Lindsay C. Gibson’s books on healing from emotionally immature parents

20:20 – The neurology of reactivity: How caregiver anger and yelling activate the fear center of a child's brain

22:56 – Proactive baseline care: Lowering overall stress through sleep, movement, and community connection

24:00 – Real-time regulation: The value of intentional parenting breaks, deep breathing, and "shaking out" physical emotional energy

24:50 – Grounding your inner dialogue: Mindful mantras, including "I am a Ninja Mom"

28:15 – A powerful reminder for consistency: "Remember, what you practice grows stronger"

30:10 – Children's Book Exploration: A review of emotional literacy and somatic awareness in My Body Is a Rainbow: The Color of My Feelings by Mallika Chopra

• Author's Companion Site: mindfulmamamentor.com
• Parenting Support: Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net
• www.overdueforparents.com

DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not replace therapy.

Launching in July 2024

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Connect with us:

www.overdueforparents.com

instagram: @overdueforparents

Book Featured: Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE

Episode Focus: Part 2 of 4 (Chapters 3 & 4)

Release Date: July 22, 2024

Hosts: Megan Riesgo, LCPC, PMH-C & Joy Walsh, LCSW, PMH-C

In Episode 102, hosts Megan Riesgo and Joy Walsh dive into Chapters 3 and 4 of Hunter Clarke-Fields’ Raising Good Humans. This episode explores why mindful parenting must start from within. We discuss how practicing self-compassion impacts our ability to model healthy behavior, and how we can navigate heavy emotions without reacting in anger.

Featuring insights from experts like Brené Brown, Kristin Neff, and Tara Brach, we share practical mindfulness tools—including the RAIN framework—to help you break reactive cycles and parent with genuine patience.

• 00:00 – Show introduction
• 01:00 – Intro to Chapter 3: Practicing Compassion—It Begins With You
• 02:25 – Shame vs. guilt: A look at Brené Brown’s research
• 03:40 – Why self-compassion is key (kids model our behavior)
• 04:05 – Brené Brown’s Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto (brenebrown.com)
• 04:50 – Defining self-compassion with Kristin Neff, Ph.D.
• 07:26 – Loving-kindness exercises (audio: raising-goodhumansbook.com)
• 10:55 – Modeling kindness and empathy in daily moments
• 11:10 – Why empathy is a parent's ultimate superpower
• 13:00 – Why self-care is vital to offering empathy to others
• 13:30 – Quieting the critical, judgmental inner mind
• 14:50 – "When we practice patience, we are less reactive"
• 16:25 – Grounding mantras for practicing patience
• 19:00 – Finding peace in "good enough parenting"
• 20:30 – Ch. 4: Sitting with temporary emotions & habitual reactions
• 22:00 – Staying playful and keeping developmental stages in perspective
• 24:30 – Mindfulness skills with meditation teacher Tara Brach
• 25:30 – Unpacking critical voices from our roots and upbringing
• 26:00 – Generational parenting & Bluey (S3E25 "Fairytale")
• 27:00 – The RAIN Method (audio available at raising-goodhumansbook.com)
• 27:40 – Normalizing and expecting children's strong emotions
• 28:30 – Navigating tantrums & the power of silent presence
• 30:40 – Somatic awareness: Tuning into physical stress signs
• 31:50 – Moving slowly to allow for nervous system recovery
• 34:05 – The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak

• Book Companion Site: raising-goodhumansbook.com
• Parenting Support: Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net

DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not replace therapy.

BOOK: Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts, A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers

By, Karen Kleiman (author), Molly McIntyre (Illustrator)

Posted date: 10/27/2025

Presented by Megan Riesgo, LCPC, PMH-C & Joy Walsh, LCSW, PMH-C

OVERVIEW Episode 105 explores the book by Karen Kleiman, Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts, A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers. Page numbers and links in show notes for listeners to find additional information on topics explored from the source.

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional or medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and does not constitute medical or professional advice. This information is presented to be informative and does not replace therapy or other medical support.

If you or someone you know is struggling during this phase of parenting a resource to connect with is Postpartum Support International ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠www.postpartum.net⁠⁠⁠⁠

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CHAPTERS and NOTATIONS

Book Exploration

Trigger warnings: Discussion related to anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, postpartum recovery, psychosis.

3:05 Karen Kleiman, MSW - reference #speakthesecret campaign from Postpartum Stress Center

3:30 (pg. 6) Intrusive thoughts discussion

5:29 (pg. 9) 1 in 7 woman will suffer from symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety.

6:15 (pg.28 & 30) Reference from book about mom having a bad day.

7:10 (pg. 43) “Don’t touch me!” and antidote/script to use to talk with loved ones.

9:25 (pg. 70 & 71) “Too many options” and decision fatigue.

13:15 (pg. 93) What if thinking and catastrophic thinking patterns

15:10 (pg. 130- 131) “Health Professionals” discussion on how to ask for support. Provides script for advocacy.

17:39 (pg. 147) “Accept uncertainty” Discussion of motherhood and chaos.

18:16 (pg. 123) Psychological diagnoses references and supports. “Psychosis”- discussion about the importance of medical intervention

20:35 (pg. 150) “Be your own best advocate” I got this self care affirmation/ mantra support quote.

21:20 (pg. 152/3) “Guidelines for healing”

Further resources available at end of book.

Additional book by author, Karen Kleiman, MSW- What About Us? A New Parents Guide to safeguard your over-anxious, over-extended, sleep-deprived relationship.

Children's Book We Love

24:16 If You Give A Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff

Illustrated by Felicia Bond

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Stay Connected

Website ⁠⁠www.overdueforparents.com⁠⁠

Instagram ⁠⁠@overdueforparents⁠⁠

Megan Riesgo ⁠⁠www.riesgosupport.com⁠⁠

Joy Walsh ⁠⁠www.wellnessconstellation.com⁠⁠

Book Featured: Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE

Episode Focus: Part 3 of 4 (Chapters 5 & 6)

Hosts: Megan Riesgo, LCPC, PMH-C & Joy Walsh, LCSW, PMH-C

In Episode 103, hosts Megan and Joy dive into Chapters 5 and 6 of Hunter Clarke-Fields’ Raising Good Humans. This episode focuses on communication, exploring how reflective listening builds deep connection and heals family dynamics. We unpack the vital question—"Whose problem is it?"—and learn why parents don't need to fix everything.

Featuring insights from Somatic Experiencing and Thomas Gordon's "I-Messages," we share practical shifts for caregiver boundaries, everyday language, and the core mantra: Connect Then Correct.

00:30 – Chapter 5: Listening to Help and Heal (Choice of words matters)

01:45 – Unpacking "A Mindful Approach to Problems"

02:00 – Reframing behavior: Children are just trying to get needs met

02:40 – The boundary question: "Whose Problem Is It?"

03:00 – Why we don’t need to solve all of our children's problems

03:30 – Age-appropriate communication and "we problems"

05:25 – Slowing down to explore a child’s perspective

06:45 – Regulating the stress response via somatic exercises

07:30 – "How Listening Heals" (Adults grounding their own nervous systems first)

08:10 – Flexibility, self-compassion, and non-judgmental listening to cultivate connection

09:50 – "What Not To Say": Real-world examples and scenarios

12:10 – Barriers to Communication: The impact of dismissing feelings

12:40 – Acknowledging growth friction: "Change Isn’t Easy"

13:35 – "Reflective Listening In Action"

14:35 – Learning to "Pay Attention Mindfully"

16:00 – Using reflective listening to bridge to deep empathy

17:00 – Ch. 6: Saying the Right Things

17:45 – Looking at caregiver needs through Maslow’s Hierarchy

18:50 – Modeling healthy boundaries by honoring your own

19:00 – Recognizing the deep value of caregivers for little humans

20:15 – Keeping perspective: "Children are immature by definition"

21:20 – Shifting intentions by shifting language

21:35 – The conflict trap: The problem with aggressive "You-Messages"

22:30 – Shifting the dynamic: Exploring "I-Messages"

23:00 – Thomas Gordon's 1970 Parent Effectiveness Training framework

26:20 – Expecting resistance: Why "I-Messages" require repetition

27:40 – The core mantra: "Connect Then Correct"

28:00 – Grounding speech: "Using the Friend Filter"

29:15 – Kids' Book Review: The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

30:30 – Wrap-up: Hunter Clarke-Fields’ Mindful Parenting course & Mindful Mama podcast

• Somatic Experiencing Resources: traumahealing.org
• Parenting Support: Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net

DISCLAIMER: This podcast does not substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace therapy.

BOOK 1: Raising Good Humans, A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids by Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE

PART 4 of 4: Chapter 7 Solving Problems Mindfully & Chapter 8 Supporting Your Peaceful Home

Presented by Megan Riesgo, LCPC, PMH-C & Joy Walsh, LCSW, PMH-C

OVERVIEW Episode 4 explores chapter 7 & 8 of Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE book, Raising Good Humans, A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids. Page numbers and links in show notes for listeners to find additional information on topics explored from the source.

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional or medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and does not constitute medical or professional advice. This information is presented to be informative and does not replace therapy or other medical support.

If you or someone you know is struggling during this phase of parenting a resource to connect with is Postpartum Support International ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠www.postpartum.net⁠⁠⁠⁠

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CHAPTERS and NOTATIONS

Book Exploration - Chapter 7 Solving Problems Mindfully

00:45 (pg. 126) Normalizing conflict; mindfulness as the foundation for conflict-resolution.

01:20 (pg. 126) Conflicting needs example.

01:55 (pg. 126-129) Authoritarian vs. permissive parenting.

03:30 (pg. 130) Finding the middle path; meeting everyone's needs.

04:45 (pg. 130) Latin root of discipline (disciplina).

06:10 (pg. 132) 5 Win-Win steps: Identify, Brainstorm, Evaluate, Decide, Check In.

07:50 Five Why’s technique.

10:50 (pg. 136) Talking out problems vs. power struggles.

11:10 (pg. 136-137) Sibling conflict: self-regulation, role modeling, and coaching.

13:25 (pg. 138-139) Sibling conflict cheat sheet & tending to both kids.

15:20 (pg. 142) Identifying child's vs. parent's needs.

Ch. 8: Supporting Your Peaceful Home

19:00 (pg. 144-145) Connection and positive feedback loops.

21:30 (pg. 150-151) Daily rhythm concepts.

22:20 Resource: Big Little Feelings

22:45 (pg. 152) Test Drive Routine & Kim Payne's Simplicity Parenting rhythms.

24:45 (pg. 155-160) Kim Payne’s Simplification Steps.

25:30 (pg. 153) Maria Montessori’s methods for independence. Tools: Melissa & Doug & For Small Hands.

26:50 (pg. 158-161) Simplifying toys and clutter.

27:00 (pg. 161-162) Progress over perfection via the Mindful Mama Podcast. Unconditional love begins with self-acceptance and diligent mindfulness practice.