The Brainy Moms
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. The weekly show features conversations about parenting, psychology, child development, education, homeschooling, neuroscience, and faith with practical tips to help parents navigate the ups and downs of parenthood. We're helping moms (and dads) get smarter...one episode at a time! Find us at www.TheBrainyMoms.com and on social media @TheBrainyMoms
Episodes
216 episodes
Parenting ADHD Kids: Dr. Amy Shares Myths, Tips, and Advice About Online Advice
Are you parenting ADHD kids and wondering how to filter through all the ADHD advice out there? Absorbing information online during ADHD Awareness Month can feel like drinking from a firehose. Everyone has a tip, a reel, and a strong opinion lea...
%20FINAL.jpg)
Made to Create: A Biblical Perspective on Homeschool Art & Artistry | Ryan Lauterio
Most families think of “art” as an elective, but our kids are being shaped by aesthetics all day long. Clothing, movies, book covers, music, room design, even the way a table is set can train what we value without us noticing. That’s why this c...
.jpg)
How College Shapes (or Misshapes) Teen Faith | Dr. Renton Rathbun
Ever wonder how the college your teen is considering will continue to shape their faith? Or if questioning their faith is a natural part of going to college? Deconstruction is not just “asking questions.” Sometimes it's what happens when we jud...
.jpg)
Go Play! Part 2: Playful Homeschooling, Sensory Play, and Screens | Kate Allen Fox
Enjoying our conversations about play? Let's talk about playful homeschooling, sensory play, and screens. Last week, early childhood educator Gennie Gorback helped us understand why child-led, open-ended play is so important for children’s lear...
.jpg)
Go Play! Part 1: Making Space for the Wonder of Childhood | Gennie Gorback, MS Ed
What if “play” is actually some of your child’s most important experiences? In Part 1 of our two-part conversation with the co-authors of Go Play: How Parents Can Empower Kids to Build Their Own Worlds, educator Gennie Gorback he...
%20(5).jpg)
Calm and Confident Mindset for Homeschool Moms | Lori Beth Auldridge
What if all your homeschooling chaos needs is a new calm and confident mindset? Being a homeschooling mom can feel like a daily referendum on your parenting, especially when you are teaching multiple kids, supporting neurodivergent needs, and t...
.jpg)
Homeschool Freedom, Flexibility, and Fit | Cheryl Daley
Wondering about homeschool freedom and flexibility? And how homeschooling might be a fit for your family? On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy talk with Cheryl Daley, author, speaker, and host of the popular Homesch...
.jpg)
Preparing Kids to Thrive in an AI World | Wylde Scott
In an AI world, a robot can anticipate your needs, clean your house, and do your job. It sounds like science fiction until you realize how fast AI is already reshaping the world as we know it. That speed of change forces a tough question for pa...
There Are Moms Worse Than You | Glenn Boozan
The truth is, there are moms way worse than you! And the fastest way to feel like a better parent might be a laugh you did not expect. On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast. Dr. Amy and Sandy talk with Glenn Boozan, an Emmy-nominated, WGA ...
.jpg)
Personalized Learning for Your Homeschooled Child | Jessica Parnell
Your child isn’t a “grade level” they’re a whole person, and the fastest way to lose motivation is to teach them like they’re interchangeable. On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with Jessica Parnell, CEO of E...
Homeschooling Teens: Why “Do Nothing” Deschooling Backfires and How Eclectic Unschoolers Use Guardrails Instead | Janae Daniels
Many parents are told to “just deschool and do nothing” after pulling their kids out of traditional school—but with middle school and high schoolers, that advice often backfires.In this conversation with former middle school teacher turn...
Nurturing Leadership & Grit Through Hard Things | Dr. Josh McConkey
If you’ve ever stepped in to “help” your child and realized you might be making things worse, this conversation will hit home. On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy sits down with Dr. Josh McConkey, an emergency physician, former ...
Avoid Homeschool Mom Burnout (and Find Joy Again) | Jenna Lynn Myers
Homeschool mom burnout is real—and it doesn’t mean you’re failing or that God is calling you to quit. In this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy talk with former classroom teacher, veteran homeschool mom, and educational cons...
Dopamine Magnets: How to Replace Screens, Social Media, and Junk Food with High Value Habits | Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff
Dopamine gets blamed for everything from doomscrolling to snack attacks, but the real problem is that most of us were taught the wrong story. On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy chat with biochemist and best-selling au...
Sensory Smart Homeschooling: Encore Conversations with the Homeschool OT Sarah Collins
Your child can be bright, curious, and capable and still melt down over an itchy tag, loud kitchen noise, or a schedule that won’t budge. That’s not “bad behavior.” It’s often sensory processing colliding with executive functioning, and once yo...
Best of Christy Faith Homeschool Conversations
Educator and homeschool mentor Christy Faith is brutally clear on what’s driving so many families to rethink education. On this mash-up of the best moments from previous conversations with Christy Faith on The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and S...
Tidy Dad Tips on Flexibility, Time, and Scruffy Hospitality | Tyler Moore
Do you love the tips from Tidy Dad on Instagram? Then you'll love this hour with us! On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with Tyler Moore, better known as Tidy Dad, to talk about small space living, declutteri...
Your Child’s Health Starts in the Gut | Dr. Elisa Song
Your child’s health starts in the gut. The immune system and brain are taking cues from the same place every day. On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with integrative pediatrician Dr. Elisa Song, a leading voi...
Firm Parenting Re-Imagined | Nicholeen Peck
Firm parenting isn't the same as 'mean' parenting. And your child isn’t “pushing your buttons” because they’re broken. Sometimes the real problem is that we’ve never been taught a clear, repeatable way to stay calm, set firm boundaries, and tea...
.jpg)
Stop Teaching Zen to 5 Year Olds (& Other Parenting Advice) | Dr. Will Dobud
A lot of parenting advice sounds like a to-do list. Dr. Will Dobud joins us to make the case for something both simpler and harder: stop chasing the perfect technique and start rebuilding the conditions where kids can actually thrive. We talk a...
.jpg)
Parenting Through Playfulness | Dr. Kim Van Dusen
Have you tried parenting through playfulness? "Play" isn't usually what we think of as our kid melts down when it’s time to leave the park, ignores us at clean-up time, or suddenly “can’t remember” the three things we just asked them to do. But...
Diagnosis 101: Does a Label Help or Hurt Your Child? | Dr. Rebecca Fontanetta
A child's diagnosis can feel like a lifeline and a weight at the same time. When your child struggles with attention, learning, anxiety, behavior, or social connection, the question isn’t only “What is it?” It’s also “What will a diagnosis chan...
Burnout Proof: Soul Care, Rest, & Boundaries for Busy Moms | Debra Fileta
Burnout rarely announces itself with a flashing warning sign. It sneaks in through good intentions, old “shoulds,” and the quiet belief that being needed equals being faithful. We sit down with licensed professional counselor and best-selling a...
.jpg)
The Dumb Dads Finally Meet The Brainy Moms
For our 200th episode, we had to celebrate in a BIG way. In this sort of funny and highly engaging conversation, The Brainy Moms interview The Dumb Dads! Dr. Amy and Sandy bring on comedians Evan Berger and Kevin Laferriere to talk about what m...
ADHD-Friendly Organization Tips | Dr. Kelly Cagle
Chaos isn’t a character flaw, and “just get organized” isn’t a plan for ADHD kids and adults. On this episode of The Brainy Moms podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy chat with Dr. Kelly Cagle to talk about what actually makes home life simpler when ADHD ...
.jpg)