THE PARENTING IQ PODCAST
Understand your child & parent with confidence
Parenting advice is everywhere. Knowing what fits your child and your family can feel really hard.
The Parenting IQ Podcast helps you make everyday parenting decisions with greater understanding and confidence. Join Dr. Kelly Cagle and her guests for practical conversations that connect research with real family life so you can understand your child, weigh your options, and confidently choose your next step.
Hosted by Dr. Kelly Cagle, a PhD in K-16 education, ADHD researcher, and homeschooling mom of three boys, each episode helps you better understand your child’s needs, so you feel confident teaching life skills, character, and emotional intelligence that go far beyond the textbook and last a lifetime.
Some of the topics we cover include:
ADHD-friendly parenting strategies
How to motivate your kids without nagging
Building confident, connected families
Teaching life skills that stick
Rethinking academics for real-world success
Managing sibling dynamics and home rhythms
Biblical wisdom + brain science and so much more
The show is proudly part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network.
Our mission is to help you understand your child so you can parent with confidence.
Navigating Hormonal Health for Moms w/ Michelle White
Feeling tired, foggy, or overwhelmed? You’re not alone—and it might be your hormones. In this episode of the parenting IQ podcast, wellness coach Michelle White explains how moms can spot the signs of hormonal imbalance and reclaim their energy through food, rest, and simple habits that support whole-body health
How to Overcome Complex Shame for a Healthier Family w/ Dr. Zoe Shaw
Shame is more than just a feeling—it’s a story we start to believe about ourselves. In this powerful episode, Dr. Zoe Shaw shares her journey through complex shame and how it shaped her passion for helping families break free. She explains the difference between guilt and shame, why shame keeps us hiding, and how parents can avoid passing it on to their kids. Full of grace and practical steps, this conversation offers hope and healing for every parent who wants to raise children rooted in truth and freedom.
Building A Home Your Kids Want to Come Back to w/ Jessica Smartt
What makes a home so warm, welcoming, and rooted in love that your kids want to keep coming back—even as adults? Author and homeschool mom Jessica Smartt joins Dr. Kelly Cagle to share practical ways to build a grace-filled family culture through traditions, digital boundaries, and intentional connection. Whether you homeschool or not, this episode will encourage you to slow down, tune in, and invest in what matters most: your family.
Stretch Marks, Identity and Purpose in Motherhood w/ Abbie Halberstadt
Can motherhood stretch you and strengthen you? In this inspiring episode, bestselling author Abbie Halberstadt joins Dr. Kelly Cagle to talk about identity, purpose, and the soul-level “stretch marks” we carry as moms. From overcoming the fear of losing yourself to embracing God’s vision for motherhood, Abbie shares wisdom and grace for every season.
How to Dream During Motherhood w/ Melissa Ferguson
Is it possible to chase your dreams and raise kids? Author and content creator Melissa Ferguson joins Dr. Kelly Cagle to talk about writing books, homeschooling on a farm, facing rejection, and staying grounded in faith. This episode will inspire every mom who’s ever wondered if her dreams still matter.
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Speaking Topics
ADHD Conversations:
Parenting Beyond the ADHD Label— Understanding a child’s strengths, challenges, and needs without letting a diagnosis “define” them.
Why Won’t You Just Do It?— Exploring why getting started, following directions, and finishing tasks can be difficult, and how parents can help through systems, not more nagging and yelling.
Homework, ADHD, and the Parent-Child Relationship— Creating a more supportive homework experience through realistic expectations and school partnerships.
ADHD and Big Feelings— Navigating frustration and emotional overwhelm with compassion, clear boundaries, and opportunities to reconnect.
Building Independence When Your Child Has ADHD— Helping children practice responsibility with support that grows and changes alongside them.
Home Rhythms Conversations:
Creating a Home That Works for Your Family— Establishing predictable patterns that bring structure while making room for joy, hiccups, and real life.
Less Rushing, More Connection— Using simple moments as anchors, making busy life feel more manageable and less chaotic.
The After-School Reset— Creating space for kids’ needs while juggling homework, activities, and family time.
Running a Home Like a Business— Using systems to create a healthier flow, accomplish more, bring clarity and unity, and build skills
When the World Becomes Your School— Recognizing there are many lessons no school will teach and how we can weave them into our day-to-day.
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