The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

Latest Episodes:

The Follow-Up: Potty Training Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Potty training can feel smooth one day and completely off track the next. In this Follow Up episode of the PedsDocTalk podcast, Dr. Mona revisits a favorite potty training conversation while actively potty training her own youngest child and dealing with very real regressions.

Dr. Mona is joined by Allison Jandu, founder of The Potty Training Consultant, to break down readiness, timing, and how to choose a method that fits your child and your family. They talk through the average age for potty training, common signs of readiness, and why age alone should not drive the decision.

This episode compares gradual approaches and shorter weekend-style methods, explores why some kids resist even when they seem ready, and explains how pressure, timers, and rewards can sometimes backfire. You will also hear practical guidance on floor potties versus toilet seats, using daily routines to support learning, and helping kids feel more in control through play and choice.

If potty training feels confusing, frustrating, or messier than expected, this episode offers reassurance, perspective, and realistic support.

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Shop Dr. Mona's favorite products: ⁠https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk⁠ (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

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 the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Raising Kids Beyond Grades: How Achievement Culture Is Harming Our Children Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

What happens when achievement stops motivating and starts measuring worth?

In this episode, I sit down with Jennifer Wallace to talk about how achievement culture quietly shapes our kids and us based on her New York Times Best Selling Book Never Enough:When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-and What We Can Do About It. We unpack why so many high-performing kids struggle with anxiety, burnout, and a constant never-enough feeling, even when they look successful on the outside. We also preview her newest book, Mattering, which explores a simple but powerful idea: kids do better when they feel valued for who they are and when they see how they add value to others. That sense of mattering acts as a buffer against pressure, comparison, and setbacks. We also talk about the bigger picture, how economic pressure, school culture, and social media fuel comparison, and why parents are not failing for feeling stuck in this system.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why high-achieving kids are at higher risk for anxiety and burnout

• How achievement culture shapes long-term self-worth

• Clean fuel vs fear-based motivation

• Why mattering supports resilience and mental health

• How comparison takes hold and how social media adds pressure

• How parents can support healthy striving without pressure

• Why kids should not worry alone and the role of adult support

To connect with Jennifer Wallace follow her on Instagram @Jenniferbrehenywallace, check out all her resources at Jenniferbwallace.com and buy her books “Mattering” https://go.shopmy.us/p-65453159 and “Never Enough” https://go.shopmy.us/p-65453275 (paid link)

00:00 Why praise alone does not build self worth 00:40 Why this conversation matters for parents today 02:16 The hidden cost of achievement culture 03:37 How achievement came to define childhood 05:05 From teen pressure to adult never enough 07:14 What achievement culture looks like later in life 07:50 Dirty fuel vs clean fuel for motivation 11:13 When self worth becomes tied to success 12:08 What the research shows about high achieving kids 16:33 Why pressure feels worse now 18:18 What resilient kids have in common 39:07 Redefining achievement as mattering

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Shop Dr. Mona's favorite products: ⁠https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk⁠ (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

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 the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Staying Fired Up in Parenthood, Work, and Life with Shannon Watts Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, I sit down with Shannon Watts to talk about something so many parents and caregivers quietly wrestle with, how to stay fired up in the middle of responsibility, burnout, and the weight of shoulds.

Shannon is the founder of Moms Demand Action and the author of Fired Up, and our conversation goes far beyond advocacy. We talk about identity, purpose, and what happens when women are taught to put obligation ahead of desire for most of their lives. This episode is about what it looks like to reconnect with yourself, not by blowing up your life, but by getting honest about what matters.

Topics we cover include:

Why so many women are taught to fulfill obligations before desires
How guilt, fear, and perfectionism drain motivation
The difference between purpose and being purposeful
Imposter syndrome and fear of public failure
Parenting, fulfillment, and modeling self trust for kids
Community as a key part of sustainable change
Why wanting more does not mean you are ungrateful

To connect with Shannon Watts follow her on Instagram @shannonrwatts, check out all her resources at https://shannonwatts.org/home/ and buy her book “Fired Up” https://go.shopmy.us/p-65453307. (paid link)

00:00 – Choosing Hope Over Cynicism 00:38 – Why This Conversation Matters Right Now 01:31 – Meet Shannon Watts 02:55 – Staying Fired Up Without Burning Out 03:36 – Leaving California and Finding Community 05:55 – Talking Across Differences 07:17 – Why Women Feel Stuck in Obligation 08:35 – The Moment Everything Changed 10:22 – Desire vs Obligation 12:45 – It Is Never Too Late 15:13 – Rethinking Legacy and Guilt 18:06 – What Kids Really Learn From Us 20:12 – Losing Forward and Redefining Failure 23:21 – Handling Blowback and Shame 25:27 – Imposter Syndrome and Being the First 27:59 – Values, Abilities, and Desires 32:18 – Finding Your People 37:22 – Parenting, Purpose, and Modeling Fire 40:48 – The First Step to Living on Fire 42:51 – Final Reflections

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Shop Dr. Mona's favorite products: ⁠https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk⁠ (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

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 the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Follow-Up: Parenting Without Perfection Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

Parenting already asks a lot of us. So why does it feel like our generation is carrying so much more pressure, doubt, and noise?

In this Follow-Up episode, I’m revisiting one of our most listened-to conversations, a real, late-night talk with my husband Gaurav that hit a nerve for so many parents. We talk honestly about how comparison culture, constant advice, and fear of getting it wrong have made parenting feel heavier than it needs to be.

We Talk About

Why our generation feels intense pressure to parent “the right way”
How social media and constant access to other people’s lives fuels comparison
Why more information does not always lead to more confidence
How external voices can drown out parental intuition
The problem with chasing a narrow definition of success for our kids
Why perfection is not only impossible, but unnecessary
How reconnecting with yourself can quiet parenting anxiety
What it really means to be “doing your best” as a parent

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Shop Dr. Mona's favorite products: ⁠https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk⁠ (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

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 the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Finding Joy: Resigning From My Clinical Job and What’s Next for Me Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

In this solo episode, I am opening up about a big life change. I recently resigned from my clinical job. On paper it may sound simple, but the story under it holds a lot of layers, emotion, and growth.

I talk about what led to my decision, what it brought up from my childhood, and how this shift is changing the way I raise my kids. If you grew up chasing safety, grades, or approval, parts of this will feel familiar.

I get into:

Why leaving a “stable” job can feel scary even when it is the right move
Growing up with fear of failure and how that shaped my choices
How the healthcare system wore me down over time
The grief that comes with leaving patients, residents, and a place that shaped me
Panic, burnout, and the signs your body gives you before your mind catches up
How I want my kids to think about failure, risk, and self trust
Why security matters and why quitting is not always simple or possible
What it means to choose alignment even when fear is in the room

Check out more on Poppins as I step into a new role there

00:00 – What Bravery Really Means 01:06 – Welcome and Finding Joy Returns 02:35 – Growing Up With Fear of Failure 03:48 – Why Medicine Felt Safe 04:25 – Burnout and Losing Alignment 04:46 – Building PedsDocTalk 05:31 – Signs It Was Time to Leave 06:45 – Choosing Risk and Entrepreneurship 07:46 – Grief, Loyalty, and Letting Go 09:09 – When the System Moves On Without You 09:53 – Breaking Generational Patterns 10:15 – What I Want My Kids to Learn 11:44 – Choosing Yourself Despite Uncertainty 12:45 – Questions to Find Your Own Alignment 13:30 – Closing and What’s Next

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

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 the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Follow-Up: What Reinforces Behavior Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

In this Follow-Up episode, Dr. Mona revisits one of the most downloaded PedsDocTalk conversations, her discussion with Dr. Loretta Breuning on how rewards and threats shape a child’s brain.

They break down why yelling, pleading, and bribing often backfire, and how attention itself can accidentally reinforce behaviors parents want to stop. You will hear why giving in after resistance makes behaviors stronger over time, and how inconsistency trains kids to escalate.

This episode focuses on building healthier reward pathways with clarity and consistency, without fear, shame, or constant power struggles. If certain parenting moments feel stuck on repeat, this conversation helps explain why and what to do differently.

Want more? Listen to the original, full episode.

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Shop Dr. Mona's favorite products: ⁠https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk⁠ (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

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 the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What ER Doctors Wish Parents Knew, Advocating for your health (and Why We Love The Pitt) with Dr. Beachgem Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

You are never wrong for being worried about your child. You are allowed to ask questions, ask for help, and ask for another set of eyes. Advocacy is not confrontation, it is care. And the doctors caring for your family are human too, carrying both expertise and emotion into every room they enter.

In this episode, I sit down with pediatric ER physician and creator Dr. Beachgem for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about what families often misunderstand about emergency care, how to advocate for yourself and your child in the hospital, and what it really looks like to practice medicine on both sides of the stretcher.

And yes, we also talk about The Pitt, why it resonates so deeply with healthcare workers, and why humanizing medicine matters more than ever.

We discuss:

• What pediatric ER doctors really want parents to know before walking into the ER • Why waiting in the ER does not mean no one cares • How and when to advocate for a second opinion in the hospital • What “Condition H” or rapid response means for patients and families • How social media has changed how doctors listen to patients • Why ER doctors often see risk differently than outpatient pediatricians • Common injuries ER doctors wish families understood better • The emotional toll of emergency medicine and how clinicians cope • Why humanizing doctors matters for the future of healthcare • What gives hope in a system that feels broken

To connect with Dr. Beachgem follow her on Instagram @dr.beachgem10 and check out all her resources at linktr.ee/beachgem10

00:00 – The emotional weight ER doctors carry
01:00 – Why this episode, and why The Pitt hits so hard
02:40 – What medical dramas get right (and wrong) about the ER
03:45 – Meet Dr. Beachgem, training, career, and why she creates content
07:30 – Burnout, misinformation, and why showing up online matters
09:20 – Advocacy as a patient, when speaking up saves lives
12:50 – Condition H and how to ask for a second opinion in the hospital
14:05 – What parents often misunderstand about ER wait times
16:15 – Triage explained, why waiting doesn’t mean no one cares
18:15 – Risk colored glasses, injuries ER doctors never forget
22:00 – Trampolines, e-bikes, helmets, and real-world safety patterns
26:10 – Why The Pitt humanizes medicine better than most shows
31:00 – COVID flashbacks, grief, and emotional survival in the ER
36:35 – Coping with loss, compartmentalization, and burnout
43:30 – What gives ER doctors hope, and a message for parents

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Shop Dr. Mona's favorite products: ⁠https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk⁠ (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

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 the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Follow-Up: Three Things Every Child Needs Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, I break down the three core needs every child has to feel secure, confident, and connected with their parents: safety, respect, and connection.

These are not soft ideas or permissive parenting. They are the foundation of authoritative parenting and the reason kids are more likely to listen, trust, and stay connected to us as they grow.

In this episode, I discuss:

Why safety, respect, and connection are the foundation of effective parenting
The difference between authoritative and authoritarian parenting
How emotional safety and predictability build trust
Why routines matter more than many parents realize
How to set boundaries while still respecting your child
Consent, choices, and body autonomy across ages
Respectful approaches to meals and picky eating
Why public shaming damages confidence and trust
The importance of apologizing and repairing
Simple ways to build connection without needing more time
How these principles reduce power struggles and anxiety

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Shop Dr. Mona's favorite products: ⁠https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk⁠ (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

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 the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Mona on the Elevated Thoughts Podcast: On Vaccine Safety and Politicization of Public Health Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

As the year wraps up, I’ve been looking back at some of my favorite chats from the shows I visited this season. New episodes return January 7.

On this episode of the Elevated Thoughts podcast, I sat down with two thoughtful first-time dads to talk about the topics parents are wrestling with right now. We got into the messy middle of vaccine hesitancy, why so many families feel caught between loud opinions, and how I work through those conversations in my practice with honesty and calm. We also talked about what it’s really like to raise kids in an online world where everyone feels permission to comment on your choices.

I shared my own experience as a pediatrician and mom. Why I struggled with decisions around my son’s early medical care, how I think about benefit and risk, and why empathy has to stay at the center of these discussions. We moved into milestones, feeding, toddler chaos, and the everyday pressure parents feel to get everything “right.”

We discuss:

My own experience with hesitancy after my son’s traumatic birth
The rise of online misinformation and why parents feel so unsure
What the vitamin K refusal trend is actually putting babies at risk for
Government involvement in vaccines and where things get complicated
The truth about financial incentives for pediatricians
Milestones, late walking, and why parents shouldn’t blame themselves
How humor and connection help parents through the daily grind
Why dads’ voices matter in parenting spaces and how they shape the culture

Elevated Thoughts is restoring positive discourse between right & left. Politics, history & culture. New episodes every Wednesday at 4PM EST

For more visit www.elevatedthoughtspod.com

Check out the original episode on Elevated Thoughts’ YouTube page: https://youtu.be/rvTp1cAsyLg

00:00 – Coming Up

00:55 – Why I re-aired this conversation

02:49 – Meet the hosts of Elevated Thoughts

03:34 – Why dads need parenting conversations too

04:32 – Why I started PedsDocTalk

06:28 – What parents are actually looking for

07:53 – Being both a pediatrician and a parent

08:49 – My own vaccine hesitation as a mom

11:27 – Why vaccine conversations became so charged

13:04 – How I talk about benefit vs risk

16:05 – Making informed choices without shaming

18:05 – Talking to vaccine hesitant families

21:10 – Why flexibility keeps families engaged in care

24:55 – Government, mandates, and public health

28:41 – Why the vitamin K shot matters

33:53 – How vaccine studies actually work

41:59 – Milestone anxiety and late walking

45:49 – Letting go of parental guilt

49:15 – What parenting is really about

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Shop Dr. Mona's favorite products: ⁠https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk⁠ (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

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 the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Follow-Up: Do I Need to Sleep Train? Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we talk about one of the most loaded parenting topics out there, baby sleep.

Do babies need to be taught to sleep, or is sleep something you should just let happen? And if a family wants support, when does it actually make sense to work on sleep skills?

I sit down with a pediatric sleep expert to unpack what sleep teaching really means, why there is no single right approach, and how families can make choices that fit their needs without guilt or pressure. We break down the idea that sleep is a learned habit, not a moral issue, and why both feeding to sleep and teaching independent sleep can be loving choices depending on the family.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why sleep does not have to be all or nothing
The difference between newborn sleep shaping and independent sleep skills
When families often decide sleep support feels helpful
How feeding, timing, and consistency affect sleep
What research shows about sleep teaching, stress, and attachment
Why sleep regressions are about growth, not failure
How better sleep can support parental mental health and reduce burnout
How sleep habits connect to toddler behavior and boundaries later on

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Shop Dr. Mona's favorite products: ⁠https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk⁠ (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

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 the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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