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

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://www.firedupbook.com/.  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. 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! 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

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. 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! 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

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. 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! 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

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. 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! 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

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 carry01:00 – Why this episode, and why The Pitt hits so hard02:40 – What medical dramas get right (and wrong) about the ER03:45 – Meet Dr. Beachgem, training, career, and why she creates content07:30 – Burnout, misinformation, and why showing up online matters09:20 – Advocacy as a patient, when speaking up saves lives12:50 – Condition H and how to ask for a second opinion in the hospital14:05 – What parents often misunderstand about ER wait times16:15 – Triage explained, why waiting doesn’t mean no one cares18:15 – Risk colored glasses, injuries ER doctors never forget22:00 – Trampolines, e-bikes, helmets, and real-world safety patterns26:10 – Why The Pitt humanizes medicine better than most shows31:00 – COVID flashbacks, grief, and emotional survival in the ER36:35 – Coping with loss, compartmentalization, and burnout43:30 – 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. 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! 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

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. 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! 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

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. 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! 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

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. 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! 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

As we close out 2025 and step into a fresh year, I’ve been thinking back on some of the conversations I loved most from guest spots on other shows. New episodes pick back up on January 7. On this episode of The Dude Therapist, I joined Eli Weinstein for a conversation that moved through so many parts of real-life parenting — the worries, the humor, the triggers, and the growth that comes with raising kids. We talked about why parents get so locked into metrics, how to zoom out and see the whole child, and what it looks like to pause, observe, and guide instead of jumping in. I shared how becoming a mom shifted my own approach, from sleep to feeding to managing my triggers, and why self insight matters just as much as the strategies we offer our kids. It was an honest, grounded chat about raising kids while raising ourselves too.  We discuss: Why parents get stuck on numbers like weight percentiles and milestones. How giving kids space to try and struggle helps them grow. How boredom supports play and problem solving. How a parent’s own childhood shapes reactions and triggers. What healthy boundaries look like without shame or fear. How to handle online misinformation with calm and clarity. The importance of steady check-ins and flexible routines at home. Eli Weinstein, LCSW is a therapist, speaker, and creator of The Dude Therapist podcast. His work focuses on making mental health and relationship topics accessible, relatable, and grounded in real life. His upcoming book, From I Do to We Do (Wiley, March 2026), is a compassionate, practical guide for couples navigating the challenges of parenting while trying to stay connected as partners. Learn more about Eli and his work here: https://www.eliweinsteinlcsw.com Pre-Order Eli’s Book:Connect With Eli: From I Do to We Do: Navigating Marriage Through Parenting Years Pre-order + freebies: https://www.eliweinsteinlcsw.com/book Instagram: @eliweinstein_lcsw Podcast: The Dude Therapist 00:00 – Coming Up 01:24 – Re-air intro: why this episode is for overwhelmed parents 01:46 – Meet Eli Weinstein and why this conversation hits differently 04:01 – Dr. Mona’s parenting philosophy and lighthouse parenting 05:50 – Why sleep is foundational for kids and parents 07:03 – Teaching kids skills by stepping back 09:56 – Overparenting vs building independence 11:27 – What parents worry about too much 14:11 – Big picture growth vs number based parenting 15:41 – Milestones, timelines, and unnecessary panic 17:01 – Giving kids space to develop and problem solve 21:19 – Parenting as a professional vs parenting your own kids 23:32 – Breaking generational patterns in parenting 40:41 – Core takeaways for confident parenting 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! 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

Ever clean up the toys, turn around, and somehow the mess is worse? Or feel like you are the only one picking things up? In this Follow Up episode, Dr. Mona is joined by Tyler Moore, also known as Tidy Dad, to talk about how to involve kids in household routines in ways that actually work for real life. Not rewards. Not sticker charts. Just teamwork. They break down how chores build belonging, how to set developmentally appropriate expectations, and simple system changes that help kids help more, from tidying toys to getting out the door with less stress. If you are trying to declutter, simplify routines, or stop feeling like the household manager of everything, this episode is for you. We discuss: Why involving kids in routines builds belonging, not just responsibility How to think about chores as teamwork instead of punishment What kids can realistically help with at different ages Why breaking tasks into small steps reduces frustration for everyone How to set up your home so kids can help independently Simple system changes that make mornings and clean up easier Why resistance often means a skill is missing, not defiance 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! 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