Have you thought about how your children will learn critical thinking skills? Right now, your child is learning what to love, what to mock, and what to call “true” long before they can explain it. That’s the quiet battle behind screen time, peer pressure, music lyrics, and the endless scroll, and it’s why we sat down with Dr. Renton Rathbun, longtime professor and parent advocate, to talk about raising kids who can actually think. This is an amazing conversation. Full of laughter but also full of wisdom and insight.

We get practical about worldview formation and critical thinking for kids, including why simply banning content can backfire, and how supervised exposure plus real conversation teaches discernment. Renton explains why humans are wired as “story brains,” not fact machines, and why every family needs a clear template for meaning, truth, and standards. If you’ve ever wondered how to help your child evaluate ideas instead of just reacting to them, you’ll leave with language you can use tonight.

We also go straight at fatherhood and mentorship. Renton makes a strong case that dads drift into escapism when they feel tired or unsure, and that real change often requires an older, wise man to challenge and guide them. We talk about discipline versus mentoring, winning a battle but losing a child’s heart, and the power of doing something simple but hard: being present, naming the good moments, and saying “I love you” out loud.

You’ll also hear the tetherball model that turns fuzzy “opinions” into clear questions: What do you believe? How do you know it’s true? Can you justify it? If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a parent or dad who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find it.

ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media!

CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms

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What if the real goal of school isn’t chasing trends but forming minds and hearts that can handle anything? On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with Martin Cothran—co-founder of Highlands Latin School and Memoria Press—to demystify classical education and show why it still outperforms quick fixes. Martin traces the movement’s roots, clarifies what the trivium really is (and isn’t), and explains how the liberal arts and great books build durable skills that translate to every field, from software engineering to public service.

We dig into the core: grammar, logic, and rhetoric as the original “language tech stack.” Latin emerges as a powerful training ground for precise thinking, richer vocabulary, and the ability to read complex texts with confidence. Martin shares how logic helps students disagree without anger, while rhetoric aligns ethos, logos, and pathos to persuade whole people. We also explore the surprising connection between Latin’s structure and advanced programming, making a strong case for fundamentals over fad-driven curricula.

Beyond academics, the conversation turns to virtue and imagination. Stories teach empathy and judgment better than lectures ever could. By steeping students in narrative history and great books, we give them living examples of courage, fidelity, and responsibility they can imitate. Instead of a crowded schedule of scattered electives, Martin argues for fewer subjects pursued deeply—language arts, math, and sustained reading—because generalists thrive in a world where tools change but first principles endure.

If you’re a parent weighing homeschooling, charter options, or a curriculum reset, you’ll find practical starting points and a renewed vision: educate for civilization, not just certification. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s on the fence, and leave a review to tell us which great book shaped your own thinking.

ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media!

CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms

Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter

Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

What if your body is the missing link between what you believe and how you actually live? On this episode of The Brainy Moms podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with lawyer and author Justin Whitmel Earley to unpack how embodied habits—breathing, sleep, exercise, and gentle routines—can heal anxiety, transform parenting, and make faith feel lived-in instead of theoretical. Justin’s story moves from panic attacks and late-night legal grind to a practical rule of life where the nervous system and the soul finally align.

We dig into why our hearts follow our habits when our heads and bodies pull apart, and how small, physical rhythms can reset an entire household. Justin shares the moment exercise became spiritual training, the way a coach’s “one more rep” translated into patience with a toddler, and how neuroplasticity offers real hope for anyone who feels stuck. We explore breathwork without the baggage: Genesis as the origin of breath, the science of long exhales calming fight-or-flight, and simple breath prayers that pair Scripture with regulation. If box breathing triggers you, we cover compassionate alternatives and why adapting the practice matters.

Together, we challenge two common traps—ignoring the body or idolizing it—and offer a third way: garden your body. That lens reframes sleep as both sacrifice and stewardship, technology as a temptation to disembodiment, and classic worship practices as powerfully physical. Justin outlines the core themes from his new book, from breathing and eating to sex, technology, worship, and even death, showing how every chapter is really about learning to love with your whole self.

If you’re tired of white-knuckling change with willpower alone, this conversation offers gentle, doable steps to rewire your days: a two-minute breath prayer in the car, a calmer bedtime liturgy, a short walk to reset before you enter the house. Listen, take one habit, and try it this week. If it helps, share the episode with a friend, subscribe for more brain-savvy parenting, and leave a review to tell us which practice you’re starting today.

ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media!

CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms

Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter

Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com