We’re Doing Great | A Podcast for Imperfect Parents by Pok Pok

As parents, how can you tell if screen time is *actually* harmful for your child’s brain? And how can you even parent properly without a neuroscience degree?! Some days it feels impossible.

You’re not the only one wondering how much screen time is too much for your kids, or feeling shame for handing them a tablet while you make dinner—it’s something we’re all thinking about. In this episode, neuroscientist and mom Dr. Cindy Hovington joins Melissa and Esther to unpack what science actually says about screens and young brains.

Part brain scientist, part mom-in-the-trenches, Dr. Cindy Hovington translates neuroscience into everyday parenting wins. Through her science-based parenting platform, Curious Neuron, she gives families practical, evidence-based ways to nurture calm, confident kids.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

(00:32) What neuroscience says about how much screen time impacts kids’ behavior and attention.
(03:35) Why parents feel guilt or fear about “messing up” their kids—and how to let go of that shame.
(06:10) How early parent-child interactions build communication and emotional regulation long before words.
(08:57) When screen time for kids becomes a substitute for soothing, and how that affects emotional development.
(12:53) How to recognize when you’re using your phone to cope.
(15:32) What research actually says about toddlers, attention, and screen time.
(19:46) How to introduce screens with intention: what to watch for, what to avoid, and how to co-view.
(32:30) The surprising ways screen time can strengthen family connection when shared together.

Thank you to Dr. Cindy Hovington for being on our show!

Learn more about Dr. Hovington on her Curious Neuron website: https://curiousneuron.com/
Follow Dr. Hovington on Instagram to learn about parenting through the lens of neuroscience: https://www.instagram.com/curious_neuron/
Connect with Dr. Hovington on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyhovington/

Subscribe and follow the "We’re Doing Great" podcast by Melissa Cash, Esther Huybreghts, and the Pok Pok team:

* Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1855989506
* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ItWi8W0bYFS6yplP3tQii
* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WereDoingGreatPodcast?sub_confirmation=1
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weredoinggreatpod/
* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@weredoinggreatpod

We’re Doing Great is the parenting podcast that helps you navigate the hard stuff, savor the good stuff, and remember you’re not alone. Hosts and moms, Melissa Cash and Esther Huybreghts, team up with experts to share practical guidance on how to stay anchored when the waters get rough. Join us on the frontlines of modern parenting as we explore what it really means to be good at the hardest job on earth.

Pok Pok is on a mission to help raise the next generation of creative thinkers through non-addictive, digital tools that help them think outside the box and learn through play.

Learn more about Pok Pok: https://playpokpok.com.

Follow Pok Pok on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@studiopokpok?sub_confirmation=1

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

Is the "barometer" you use to measure a successful night of sleep actually just a social construct that is making you more stressed?

Sleep can feel overwhelming and deeply personal, especially when everyone seems to have an opinion about what you should be doing. In this episode, Melissa and Esther talk with Rachael Shepard-Ohta about why night wakings are normal, why crying isn’t automatically a problem to fix, how cultural expectations have shaped modern sleep pressure, and more.

Rachael Shepard-Ohta is the founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, a certified sleep consultant, podcast host, and mom of three who helps families navigate sleep with compassion, evidence, and realism.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

(02:28) How “sleeping through the night” became a misleading cultural benchmark.
(07:23) Why responding to night-time cries can matter just as much as daytime ones.
(13:21) How sleep associations help kids feel safe, calm, and ready for rest.
(19:03) What to check when bedtime takes too long or feels unsustainable.
(27:22) Why sleep is such a polarizing topic for modern parents.
(37:04) How mindset shifts and patience can make difficult sleep phases easier to endure.

Thank you to Rachael Shepard-Ohta for being on our show!
Learn more about Rachael and Hey, Sleepy Baby: https://heysleepybaby.com/

Subscribe and follow the "We’re Doing Great" podcast by Melissa Cash, Esther Huybreghts, and the Pok Pok team:

* Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1855989506
* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ItWi8W0bYFS6yplP3tQii
* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WereDoingGreatPodcast?sub_confirmation=1
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weredoinggreatpod/
* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@weredoinggreatpod

We’re Doing Great is the parenting podcast that helps you navigate the hard stuff, savor the good stuff, and remember you’re not alone. Hosts and moms, Melissa Cash and Esther Huybreghts, team up with experts to share practical guidance on how to stay anchored when the waters get rough. Join us on the frontlines of modern parenting as we explore what it really means to be good at the hardest job on earth.

Pok Pok is on a mission to help raise the next generation of creative thinkers through non-addictive, digital tools that help them think outside the box and learn through play.

Learn more about Pok Pok: https://playpokpok.com.

Follow Pok Pok on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@studiopokpok?sub_confirmation=1

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

When deciding upon how to feed your baby, how can you trust your instincts when advice feels overwhelming?

Feeding a baby often becomes one of the most emotionally charged parts of early parenthood, especially when expectations collide with reality. In this episode with guest Mallory Whitmore, you’ll hear an honest, validating conversation about why formula feeding isn’t a failure, but one of many legitimate ways to nourish your child and yourself.

As a parent, educator, and founder of The Formula Mom, Mallory Whitmore is helping redefine infant feeding conversations with compassion and evidence-based guidance. Her book, "Bottle Service: Education and Encouragement for Guilt-Free and Successful Formula Feeding," is out in February.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

(02:41) Why feeding plans often fall apart after birth and why that’s normal.
(04:00) How shame around feeding can affect your mental health and bonding with your baby.
(08:32) The subtle ways feeding stress can impact both parents and babies.
(10:09) Where formula stigma comes from and how culture reinforced it.
(14:20) How social media makes trusting your parenting instincts harder.
(19:08) Why validation matters more than advice when making feeding decisions.
(24:03) How many feeding options exist beyond formula or breast milk.
(25:28) Why infant feeding choices often don’t matter years down the line.

Thank you to Mallory Whitmore for being on our show!

Learn more about Mallory and The Formula Mom: https://www.instagram.com/theformulamom and https://www.tiktok.com/@theformulamom

Want more formula education, tips, and support? Visit www.bottleservicebook.com to purchase Mallory's new guidebook, BOTTLE SERVICE: Education and Encouragement for Guilt Free and Successful Formula Feeding.

Subscribe and follow the "We’re Doing Great" podcast by Melissa Cash, Esther Huybreghts, and the Pok Pok team:

* Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1855989506
* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ItWi8W0bYFS6yplP3tQii
* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WereDoingGreatPodcast?sub_confirmation=1
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weredoinggreatpod/
* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@weredoinggreatpod

We’re Doing Great is the parenting podcast that helps you navigate the hard stuff, savor the good stuff, and remember you’re not alone. Hosts and moms, Melissa Cash and Esther Huybreghts, team up with experts to share practical guidance on how to stay anchored when the waters get rough. Join us on the frontlines of modern parenting as we explore what it really means to be good at the hardest job on earth.

Pok Pok is on a mission to help raise the next generation of creative thinkers through non-addictive, digital tools that help them think outside the box and learn through play.

Learn more about Pok Pok: https://playpokpok.com.

Follow Pok Pok on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@studiopokpok?sub_confirmation=1

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

When parenting doesn’t go as expected, how do you move forward?

Parenting rarely goes according to plan, and this episode will remind you that unexpected turns don’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Beth Leipholtz shares how raising her son Coop reshaped her understanding of inclusion, communication, and letting go of control. You’ll walk away with reassurance, perspective, and practical insight for parenting with curiosity, compassion, and confidence.

Beth Leipholtz is a mom and storyteller who shares honest, joyful reflections on parenting, disability, and inclusion through her platform Beth & Coop. A passionate advocate for raising curious, empathetic kids while navigating life with humor and heart, she is also the author of The ABCs of Inclusion: A Disability Inclusion Book For Kids.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

(01:38) How Beth processed her son’s early diagnosis and found clarity through action.
(04:37) Why letting go of rigid parenting expectations can create more peace.
(06:30) How language development and communication evolved as Beth’s son, Coop, grew.
(08:52) What listening fatigue is and how it affects kids with hearing devices.
(12:04) How parenting can unlock patience you didn’t know you had.
(14:14) Why finding community can be a lifeline during uncertain seasons.
(21:58) How encouraging kids to ask questions builds inclusion and empathy.
(23:45) What inspired Beth’s book, The ABCs of Inclusion, and why representation matters.

Thank you to Beth Leipholtz for being on our show!

Learn more about Beth Leipholtz, her platform Beth & Coop, and her book, The ABCs of Inclusion: A Disability Inclusion Book For Kids: https://bethandcoop.com/

Subscribe and follow the "We’re Doing Great" podcast by Melissa Cash, Esther Huybreghts, and the Pok Pok team:

* Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1855989506
* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ItWi8W0bYFS6yplP3tQii
* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WereDoingGreatPodcast?sub_confirmation=1
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weredoinggreatpod/
* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@weredoinggreatpod

We’re Doing Great is the parenting podcast that helps you navigate the hard stuff, savor the good stuff, and remember you’re not alone. Hosts and moms Melissa Cash and Esther Huybreghts team up with experts to share practical guidance on how to stay anchored when the waters get rough. Join us on the frontlines of modern parenting as we explore what it really means to be good at the hardest job on earth.

Pok Pok is on a mission to help raise the next generation of creative thinkers through non-addictive, digital tools that help them think outside the box and learn through play.

Learn more about Pok Pok: https://playpokpok.com.

Follow Pok Pok on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@studiopokpok?sub_confirmation=1

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

What is actually happening in your child’s brain during a meltdown? And, what can you do during a meltdown when nothing seems to help?

When your child is melting down, it can feel personal, urgent, and overwhelming. In this episode, Laura Petix helps you reframe behavior as a nervous system response and shows how sensory strategies can support emotional regulation.
Laura Petix is a pediatric occupational therapist and neurodiversity expert. As the creator of The OT Butterfly, she helps parents decode behavior through a sensory lens.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

(03:07) What’s happening in a child’s brain and nervous system during a meltdown.
(07:32) How sensory input builds up throughout the day and leads to emotional overload.
(09:49) Why after-school transitions are especially hard for many kids.
(14:45) The hidden sensory challenges in everyday routines like mornings and bedtime.
(19:51) How to tell when a behavior is a sensory issue versus a passing phase.
(23:43) What actually helps children during meltdowns, and what often makes things worse.
(29:26) How to teach regulation tools proactively when kids are calm.
(35:30) Why “timeouts” work differently depending on how they’re used and framed.

Thank you to Laura Petix for being on our show!

Learn more about Laura and The OT Butterfly: https://theotbutterfly.com/
Follow Laura on Instagram: https://instagram.com/theotbutterfly
Check out Laura’s podcast, Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Podcast for Parents: https://theotbutterfly.com/the-sensory-w-i-s-e-solutions-podcast-for-parents/
Get Laura’s book, A Kid’s Book About Neurodiversity: https://amzn.to/4qfE97g

Subscribe and follow the "We’re Doing Great" podcast by Melissa Cash, Esther Huybreghts, and the Pok Pok team:

* Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1855989506
* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ItWi8W0bYFS6yplP3tQii
* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WereDoingGreatPodcast?sub_confirmation=1
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weredoinggreatpod/
* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@weredoinggreatpod

We’re Doing Great is the parenting podcast that helps you navigate the hard stuff, savor the good stuff, and remember you’re not alone. Hosts and moms, Melissa Cash and Esther Huybreghts, team up with experts to share practical guidance on how to stay anchored when the waters get rough. Join us on the frontlines of modern parenting as we explore what it really means to be good at the hardest job on earth.

Pok Pok is on a mission to help raise the next generation of creative thinkers through non-addictive, digital tools that help them think outside the box and learn through play.

Learn more about Pok Pok: https://playpokpok.com.

Follow Pok Pok on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@studiopokpok?sub_confirmation=1

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/