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
200 episodes
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...
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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 ...
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Rethinking Organization for Disorganized Kids | Dr. Rochelle Matthews Somerville
Does your home runs on constant reminders, never-ending rescuing, and last-minute scrambling for missing shoes, backpacks, and sporting equipment? Then this episode is for you! Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with Dr. Rochelle Matthews-Somerville, a...
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Critical Thinking and Worldview Formation | Dr. Renton Rathbun
Have you thought about how your children will learn critical thinking skills? Right now, your child is learning what to love, what to mock, and what to call “true” long before they can explain it. That’s the quiet battle behind screen time, pee...
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Classical Education: Why Logic, Latin, and Literature Matter | Martin Cothran
What if the real goal of school isn’t chasing trends but forming minds and hearts that can handle anything? On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with Martin Cothran—co-founder of Highlands Latin School and Memo...
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Habits, Grace, and Parenting | Justin Whitmel Earley
What if your body is the missing link between what you believe and how you actually live? On this episode of The Brainy Moms podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with lawyer and author Justin Whitmel Earley to unpack how embodied habits—breathin...
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Why Meltdowns Happen Over Homework
On this episode of The Brainy Moms podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy unpack reasons why schoolwork so often triggers meltdowns and then give you a practical roadmap to fix them—by finding whether you’re facing a content gap, a cognitive skills gap, or...
Your Kid’s Bookshelf Needs a Makeover: On Diversity, Belonging, & Empathy | Amber O'Neal Johnston
A single comment from a curious child—“We only study white people”—sent Amber O’Neal Johnston on a mission to rebuild her family’s learning around story, dignity, and depth. On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down...
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Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Student Support at Home | Erin Vanek
Gifted doesn’t mean easy, and it certainly doesn’t mean perfect. With gifted educator and 2e advocate Erin Vanek, we dig into what giftedness actually looks like day to day: lightning-fast connections, rich vocabulary, and inventive solutions a...
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Alone in the Arctic: How it Reframed Fatherhood, Faith, & Fear for Timber Cleghorn
Ever wonder how being alone in the wilderness impacts your faith, your views on fatherhood, and how you define fear? On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy upack all of that with Timber Cleghorn--humanitarian aid worker, ...
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What If Autism Isn’t Always Lifelong? A Scientist-Mom Shares Evidence and Hope | Dr. Theresa Lyons
What if the story you’ve heard about autism is incomplete—and changing? On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy dive into the science with Dr. Teresa Lyons, an Ivy League-trained researcher and autism parent who translates...
Unlocking Handwriting: Why Teaching Cursive, Core Stability, & Purposeful Practice Transforms Kids’ Writing | Sarah Collins
Handwriting isn’t just pencil meets paper; it’s purpose, posture, vision, and motor planning working in sync. On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with occupational therapist and homeschool consultant Sarah Col...
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Transforming Reluctant Writers | Andrew Pudewa
What if better writing doesn’t start with a prompt, but with what’s already living in a child’s mind? On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with Andrew Pudewa, founder of the Institute for Excellence in Writing,...
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Is Homeschooling the Rescue Plan Your Child Needs? | Christy Faith
Ever wondered why your child’s spark fades the longer they stay in a school environment that never quite fits? On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with master educator and homeschool expert Christy Faith to re...
Season 6 Launch: A Year of Tools For Homeschooling (and Classroom) Parents
Ready for a season that actually makes parenting, homeschooling, and supporting your child easier? We’re kicking off season six with a clear promise: weekly, expert-driven conversations that turn overwhelm into action for families of struggling...
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Homeschooling Tips For Military & Special-Needs Families | Natalie Mack & Ashley Barta
Are you a military or special needs family feeling torn between stability, services, and what your child actually needs to thrive? We sit down with Natalie Mack and Ashley Barta, two military homeschool leaders who have navigated frequent moves...
Self-Harm In Teens: Advice for Parents Navigating Non-Suicidal Self Injury | Stacy Schaffer
Teen pain often wants proof, and too many families discover self-harm the hardest way—by finding the evidence. Dr. Amy sits down with returning guest Stacy Schaffer, a licensed professional counselor, to unpack non-suicidal self-injury with cla...
Gaslighting, Narcissism, and Other Teen Buzzwords: A Therapist's Guide for Parents | Stacy Schaffer
Teens today live at the intersection of real mental health risks and viral misused language like gaslighting, narcissism, and DID. On this episode of The Brainy Moms podcast, Dr. Amy sat down with children’s therapist Stacy Schaffer to unpack h...
Raising Career-Ready Kids | Dr. Tega Edwin
What if helping your kid find “the right career” starts with removing the pressure to choose one? On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with counselor and career coach Dr. Tega Edwin to rethink how families appr...
From Cancel Culture to Kitchen Tables: A Parenting, Family Values, and Weight Loss Discussion with Matty Lansdown
The temperature of public disagreement feels scorching—and that heat is seeping into our homes. We dig into what it means to hold strong convictions while still honoring people, then connect that idea to everyday parenting: how we talk with our...
Your Child Deserves a Learning Path as Unique as They Are | Matt Bowman
Homeschooling or thinking about it? Wondering if 'open education' is right for your homeschooled child? What if everything we thought we knew about education was designed for a world that no longer exists? Matt Bowman, founder of OpenEd and int...
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Present, Not Perfect: How to Support Your Teen's Mental Health Journey | Jenn Robb
When your child is drowning in mental health struggles, the weight of helplessness can feel crushing. Where do you turn? How do you fight a battle you can't even see? Nurse practitioner and author Jen Robb knows this battlefield intimately. On ...
