Pop Culture Parenting
Kids & Family
About
This podcast is about finding the sweetspot between the textbooks and real life when it comes to parenting. Dr Billy (a developmental pediatrician) and Nick (a developing parent) are a couple of dads having honest discussions about parenting day to day We'll be using iconic TV and cinema scenes from the 80's & 90's to give context to Billy's parenting advice. Please subscribe and tell us what parenting topics and movie scenes we should talk about next
Episodes
- Episode 130: Rewards, punishments & Star Wars
This episode discusses the developmental psychology behind rewards and punishments in parenting. It explores how to guide children toward healthier behaviors and choices, and how to avoid potential pitfalls.
- PCP Guides: supporting neurodivergent kids - nurturing neurodiversity
This episode explores how to nurture neurodivergent children, discussing safety, masking, communication, and evidence-based care. It also addresses incorrect beliefs about neurodivergence.
- Episode 129: Chaos & control reflection
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting explores the balance between chaos and control in family life, particularly when dealing with anxiety, neurodivergence, and survival mode. It discusses why control feels safe, how to loosen it, and how…
- PCP Guides: supporting neurodivergent kids - survival
Pop Culture Parenting presents an episode about supporting neurodivergent kids, focusing on the theme of survival. The discussion incorporates messages from the PCP community. A Patreon live Q&A is planned.
- Episode 128: Chaos, control & Point Break
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting discusses the balance between chaos and control, and its relevance to mental health and emotional regulation in children. The discussion uses the movie Point Break as a thematic element.
- Episode 127: When to worry reflection
This Pop Culture Parenting episode reflects on parental and professional concerns regarding children, discussing early development, neurodiversity, teenagers, schools, and support strategies. The episode incorporates messages from numerous…
- Episode 126: When to worry & Titanic
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting explores the challenge of discerning typical developmental difficulties from more concerning signs in children. It aims to provide guidance for parents and professionals on identifying developmental or…
- PCP Guides: supporting neurodivergent kids - kids that won't sleep
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting offers practical tips for supporting neurodivergent children who experience sleep difficulties. It highlights that poor sleep impacts a significant percentage of children, with a higher prevalence amon…
- Ep 125: Enabling motivation reflection
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting discusses motivating children. It includes advice from a pediatric occupational therapist on how to bring motivation and strength into working with children and their families.
- PCP Guides: supporting neurodivergent kids - kids who are different
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting, originally released two and a half years ago, discusses supporting neurodivergent kids. It emphasizes kindness, seeing the best in people, and unconditional love.
- PCP Guides: supporting neurodivergent kids - kids who can't focus
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting revisits an older guide on supporting neurodivergent children with focus issues. It discusses strategies for parents and educators to help these kids in various environments.
- PCP Guides: supporting neurodivergent kids part 1
Pop Culture Parenting introduces "PCP Guides," reflecting on past episodes covering requested topics. The first guide focuses on neurodiversity, looking back at episode 58, "Blade Runner & neurodiversity," to offer guidance.
- Episode 124: Cast Away & enabling motivation
This episode discusses goal setting and motivation for children and teens, examining common issues and practical applications of scientific principles. It covers helping children build motivation early and assisting teens experiencing amot…
- Episode 123: Actual impact reflection
In this episode, Pop Culture Parenting addresses how to make an impact during difficult global challenges. The hosts also share reflections from their community members. This is the final episode for 2025.
- Episode 122: Love Actually & actual impact
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting discusses the impact on children's development and mental health, drawing on scientific insights. Dr. Nick also shares his main lessons from the year.
- Episode 121: Hope reflection
In this episode, Nick and Billy of Pop Culture Parenting discuss fostering hope in children across various developmental stages. They differentiate hope from optimism and resilience, and explore its application in the face of setbacks, fai…
- Episode 120: Arrival and hope
This episode discusses the importance of hope as a skill that can be learned and developed in children. It explores how hope changes throughout life and practical applications of research to foster it.
- Episode 119: How to play reflection
Hosts Nick and Billy discuss the challenges and strategies of playing with children, the role of educators, and how play evolves as kids become teenagers. The episode features insights, questions, and tips shared by the Pop Culture Parenti…
- Episode 118: The Sound of Music & how to play
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting discusses the importance of play in child development and mental health. It explores how to use play with children and teens to build skills in communication, empathy, and emotional regulation.
- Episode 117: Dr Tina Payne Bryson & the science in action
In this episode, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson discusses how to translate scientific research into practical strategies for managing emotional difficulties, attachment, neurodiversity, and trauma.
- Episode 116: Understanding adolescence reflection
This reflection episode of Pop Culture Parenting explores strategies for parents to support teenagers, covering topics such as identifying warning signs, dealing with bullying, identity formation, and phone usage. The discussion incorporat…
- Episode 115:The Hunger Games & understanding adolescence
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting explores the developmental period of adolescence, focusing on identity exploration and supporting teens. The discussion covers how evidence-based approaches can help parents guide children through the…
- Episode 114: Survival reflection
In this reflection episode of Pop Culture Parenting, listeners share their personal stories of survival. The discussion includes reflections, questions, and advice intended to foster self-compassion.
- Episode 113: Gladiator & survival
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting explores the emotional burden of striving to be a better parent and the importance of allowing oneself to simply survive. The hosts discuss ways to manage these feelings without the constant pressure o…
- Episode 112: Nurturing neurodiversity reflection (part 2)
This episode explores neurodiversity by discussing the science behind it, approaches for supporting neurodivergent students, and research on pathological demand avoidance. It also addresses the intersection of neurodiversity with mental he…
- Episode 111: Nurturing neurodiversity reflection (part 1)
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting features a reflection on nurturing neurodiversity, covering topics such as masking, rejection sensitive dysphoria, emotional sensitivity, and medication based on community questions.
- Episode 110: The Green Mile & nurturing neurodiversity
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting explores strategies for supporting neurodivergent children and teenagers. The discussion focuses on addressing harmful deficit-based approaches and using science-backed methods to help these children f…
- Episode 109: Conflict resolution reflection
This reflection episode of Pop Culture Parenting explores conflict resolution strategies for various developmental stages, from toddlers to teens. The discussion includes insights from the community on supporting conflict resolution at hom…
- Episode 108: The Notebook & conflict resolution
Nick and Billy discuss the importance of healthy conflict resolution for children and how parents can guide them through difficult situations. The episode explores why learning to manage conflict during childhood is essential for personal…
- Episode 107: The future reflection
In this episode, the hosts discuss moving from anxiety to action, frustration tolerance, neurodiversity, and resilience. The conversation is driven by community questions and reflections on the future of the children they care for.
- Episode 106: The Fifth Element & the future
In this episode of Pop Culture Parenting, the hosts discuss how to support children who worry about the future. They examine the impact of media and adult behaviors on children's anxiety and share a therapeutic approach for addressing thes…
- Episode 105: Beautiful boys reflection part 2
In this episode, the hosts share stories and insights from the Pop Culture Parenting community regarding their 'Beautiful Boys' series. The discussion includes practical advice, answers to key questions, and a concluding story about an ins…
- Episode 104: Beautiful boys reflection part 1
In this episode of Pop Culture Parenting, hosts Nick and Billy discuss strategies for raising boys, focusing on navigating masculinity and encouraging emotional expression. They share reflections and tips from their community on countering…
- Episode 103: Fight Club & beautiful boys
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting explores how gender-based socialization contributes to mental health issues, trauma, and violence. The hosts discuss ways to better support boys and look forward to listener feedback for future discuss…
- Episode 102: Connection reflection
In this reflection episode of Pop Culture Parenting, the hosts address listener questions regarding how to foster connection with oneself, partners, newborns, dysregulated children, and reluctant teenagers.
- Episode 101: Edward Scissorhands & connection
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting explores the importance of connection as a first step in effectively guiding children. The hosts discuss why connection is often misunderstood and offer strategies for building these bonds to support k…
- Episode 100: Live show
The hosts celebrate the 100th episode of Pop Culture Parenting with a live show event. The episode includes results from audience polls regarding favourite show segments, film casting, and parenting resources.
- Episode 099: Love reflection
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting explores the topic of love, featuring reflections and listener feedback submitted over the last three years. The hosts discuss various messages shared by the community in a heartfelt reflection.
- Episode 098: Interstellar & love
In the final episode of the year, Nick and Billy explore the science of love as presented in the film Interstellar and how those concepts relate to supporting children. They also invite listeners to share their own questions and reflection…
- Episode 097: Resilience reflection
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting explores the topic of resilience through shared stories, personal challenges, and discussions on how to support children in the community. The hosts also answer questions submitted by listeners.
- Episode 096: The Shawshank Redemption & resilience
This episode discusses the concept of resilience as explored in the film The Shawshank Redemption, examining evidence-based approaches to developing resilience in real-life contexts.
- Episode 095: Parenting Style reflection
This reflection episode explores the application of parenting style research across different life stages, from infancy through the teenage years. It features reflections, questions, and advice submitted by listeners of the Pop Culture Par…
- Episode 094: Mean Girls & parenting style
Nick and Billy analyze the film Mean Girls and discuss how research on parenting styles relates to the character Regina George. The hosts also reflect on their own parenting styles and role-play various approaches.
- Episode 093: Big feelings reflection (part 2)
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting features community contributions on managing big feelings in children. It covers strategies for handling tough behaviors and hurtful words while maintaining emotional well-being for both parents and ki…
- Episode 092: Big feelings reflection (part 1)
In this episode, the hosts reflect on listener questions, feedback, and tips regarding big feelings. They also celebrate a community milestone and plan to continue the discussion on managing big emotions in the next episode.
- Episode 091: The Matrix & big feelings
Nick and Billy discuss the nature of big feelings like anger, fear, and guilt, their impact on daily life, and strategies for emotional self-regulation in both adults and children.
- Episode 090: Moral development reflection
The hosts discuss moral development, empathy, and theory of mind from early childhood through the teenage years. This episode features insights, questions, and advice shared by the community.
- Episode 089: Jerry Maguire & moral development
This episode of Pop Culture Parenting explores the stages of moral development in children and how parents can guide them through these phases, using the film Jerry Maguire as a thematic starting point. The hosts also invite listeners to s…
- Episode 088: Attachment reflection (part 2)
In this episode, the hosts address listener feedback, questions, and reflections regarding attachment. The discussion covers navigating attachment challenges in early childhood, older children, and teens, as well as strategies for managing…
- Episode 087: Attachment reflection (part 1)
In this episode, the hosts respond to community questions about attachment, covering topics such as sleep, clingy behavior, breaking insecure patterns, and temperament. The discussion also addresses self-care and at-risk teens.