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

Latest Episodes:

[Parenting Challenging Kids Series] Parenting Your "Spicy" Kid - Mary Van Geffen Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, I talk with Mary Van Geffen, parenting coach and mom, about what it means to parent a “Spicy One” — children who are strong-willed, deeply feeling, and emotionally intense. Mary shares practical strategies for staying calm, kind, and firm, setting limits without breaking a child’s spirit, and protecting parents and siblings from burnout. She also explores how parenting a Spicy One transforms the parent, why traditional approaches often backfire, and ways to focus on delighting in your child while cultivating connection and self-regulation.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to recognize if your child is a Spicy One
Why traditional parenting techniques often backfire
Practical tools for managing meltdowns and aggression
How to discipline without turning into the “mean mom”
Ways to protect siblings and prevent parental burnout
The importance of self-regulation and delighting in your child

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

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Understanding Burnout and Human Giver Syndrome - Amelia Nagoski Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

Many parents carry the weight of giving too much—often without realizing it. In this episode, Amelia Nagoski dives into Human Giver Syndrome and its impact on mental health, stress, and burnout. We talk about the importance of sleep, connection, and joy in completing the stress response cycle, as well as practical strategies for managing stress and caring for yourself in the midst of parenting and life’s demands.

In this episode, we explore:

What Human Giver Syndrome is and how it drives burnout
How chronic stress affects mental and physical health
The crucial role of sleep and active rest in recovery
Using connection and affection to complete the stress response cycle
Practical strategies for self-care and community support

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/⁠⁠

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From Nagging to Independence: Chores That Work - Katie Kimball Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, I talk with Katie Kimball about how chores can quietly build children’s competence, confidence, and independence. Katie shares practical strategies for engaging kids of all ages, creating chore systems that actually work, and introducing responsibility in ways that feel collaborative rather than controlling. Whether you’re parenting elementary-aged kids or teens, this conversation is full of actionable tips for helping kids take ownership, develop life skills, and thrive.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why chores matter more than convenience and can foster mindfulness
How to make chores collaborative, not a power struggle
Age-appropriate strategies for kids and teens
Ways to shift from nagging to systems that support independence

One small, compassionate step parents can take this week

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/⁠⁠

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From “Touched Out” to Turned On: Mindful Intimacy - Dr. Rebecca Eudy Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

Parenting can leave intimacy feeling impossible—but it doesn’t have to. In this episode, Hunter Clarke-Fields talks with Dr. Rebecca Eudy, sex therapist and author of Parents in Love, about navigating desire, connection, and pleasure in long-term relationships.

You’ll discover:

• Why desire differences are normal—and not a sign something is wrong

• How parenting affects intimacy and touch

• Practical ways to nurture responsive desire without pressure

• How attachment patterns influence emotional and physical closeness

• The power of micro moments to keep connection alive

If you’ve ever felt “touched out” or disconnected from your partner, this episode gives research-backed, realistic strategies to rediscover desire, cultivate connection, and bring intimacy back into your relationship.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/⁠⁠⁠

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The Overstretched Caregiver: Everyone Needs You at Once Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

Caring for kids, aging parents, and work—often all at once—can leave caregivers exhausted, overwhelmed, and silently burning out. In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter Clarke-Fields and clinical psychologist Dr. Christopher Willard explore the unique emotional and nervous-system challenges of the sandwich generation.

You’ll learn why caregiver burnout isn’t a personal failure, how chronic stress impacts patience and joy, and what actually helps when life feels nonstop.

Why the sandwich generation experiences chronic emotional overload
The biology behind caregiver burnout and constant stress
Why “work–life balance” doesn’t work—and what does
Simple mindfulness tools you can use in real life
How to set boundaries without guilt
Why repair matters more than perfection in caregiving relationships

This compassionate conversation offers relief, validation, and practical support for parents and caregivers stretched in every direction.

Plus: Learn about The Mindful Middle, a short-term live group coaching experience designed to support caregivers in the thick of it.

You are not failing—you are carrying a lot. Support isn’t a luxury.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/⁠⁠⁠

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Starting Where You Are: Lovingkindness for These Uncertain Times - Sharon Salzberg Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter Clarke-Fields talks with Sharon Salzberg, meditation pioneer, bestselling author, and co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society, about practicing mindfulness and lovingkindness in today’s fast-paced, hyperconnected world. Sharon shares why so many of us feel disconnected and overwhelmed — even when we’re not alone — and how lovingkindness can gently restore a sense of connection, resilience, and belonging. They also explore Sharon’s new children’s book, Kind Karl, and how parents can model compassion and emotional acceptance for their kids without adding more to their already-full plates.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why distraction leaves us feeling fragmented and disconnected
How lovingkindness supports emotional resilience and mental health
The difference between everyday stress and deeper overwhelm
How to practice compassion when you feel depleted or shut down
Ways parents can model kindness without “doing more”
How Kind Karl helps kids talk about big feelings without fixing them
A simple lovingkindness practice families can try together

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/⁠⁠⁠

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From Fear to Freedom: Understanding Reproductive Anxiety - Alexia Leachman Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

Pregnancy can be full of excitement—but also deep anxiety, fear, and trauma. In this episode, Hunter Clarke-Fields talks with Alexia Leachman, founder of Fearless Birthing and creator of the Head Trash Clearance method, about reproductive anxiety, tocophobia, and maternal mental health.

You’ll learn:

• What reproductive anxiety is and how it differs from general anxiety or tokophobia

• How past trauma and emotional patterns affect pregnancy and motherhood

• Practical steps for healing birth trauma and anxiety

• The role of self-compassion and emotional clearance in long-term mental health

• How community and support can empower women on their journey

If pregnancy fears or maternal anxiety feel overwhelming, this episode provides research-backed insights, tools, and hope to move from fear to freedom.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Kids Don't Listen & How To Shift The Dynamic - Hunter Clarke-Fields Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

Why don’t kids listen—and how can we get more cooperation without yelling, threats, or bribes?

In this solo episode, Hunter Clarke-Fields breaks down the real reasons kids tune us out and what you can do to transform the dynamic with connection, boundaries, and play.

You’ll learn:

• Why yelling shuts down your child’s “learning brain”

• The communication habits that accidentally create resistance • How to set calm, confident boundaries without harshness

• Why consistency builds trust—and better listening

• The surprising power of play to ease power struggles

• Simple, research-backed tools you can use this week

Hunter shares real-life examples, neuroscience insights, and practical scripts you can use right away to create more cooperation and ease in your home.

If you're tired of repeating yourself, feeling ignored, or slipping into yelling, this episode will give you the clarity—and compassion—you need to shift the dynamic.

Listen now to bring more calm, connection, and confidence to your parenting.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everything You Need To Know About Attachment - Eli Harwood Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

Eli Harwood, licensed therapist, creator of Attachment Nerd, and author of Securely Attached and Raising Securely Attached Kids, joins Hunter Clarke-Fields to explore the crucial role of attachment in parenting.

In this conversation, they discuss how early relational patterns shape children’s development, the four main attachment styles, and practical strategies for fostering secure connections with kids. Eli also highlights the importance of self-compassion, repairing disconnection, and leveraging community support to nurture emotionally resilient families.

Parents will leave with actionable insights to strengthen connection, support emotional well-being, and cultivate secure attachment in everyday life.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Best of Mindful Mama 2025 Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

We’re closing out 2025 with the most-loved, most transformative episodes of The Mindful Mama Podcast! In this special “Best Of” compilation, host Hunter Clarke-Fields revisits five unforgettable conversations that inspired parents everywhere to bring more calm, compassion, and connection into family life.

From helping anxious kids to navigating sibling rivalry and supporting our own nervous systems—these highlights capture the wisdom, humor, and heart of the year’s best moments. Whether you’re a longtime listener or new to mindful parenting, this episode will leave you grounded, hopeful, and ready for the year ahead.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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