Rephonic
Artwork for Birth of a Parent
Parenthood
Pregnancy
Neuroscience
Metamorphosis
Testosterone
Fatherhood
Synchrony
Ritual
Child Development
Maternal Brain
Prolactin
Oxytocin
Eye Contact
Grandmotherhood
Philippines Study
Play
Brain-To-Brain Synchrony
Parenting
Predictive Brain

When a baby is born, a parent is born too. But what if that's more than a metaphor? Birth of a Parent explores the emerging science of how parenthood transforms the human mind. Host Michael Feigelson speaks with leading scientists, writers, and thinkers to investigate whether becoming a parent is one of life's most profound – and least understood – developmental stages.

By following the podcast, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes9Founded2 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ParentingEducationKids & Family

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Artwork for Birth of a Parent

Latest Episodes

Before children, a city is something you move through. After children, it's something you start to see. Ecological engineer Nadina Galle explores how parenthood reshapes our relationship with nature—and why even a blade of grass can begin to matter. more

Every parent eventually becomes the CEO of a small, chaotic organization. Economist and data expert Emily Oster explains what parenting can teach us about decision-making, leadership, and why good management matters more than perfect answers.

Showno... more

The human brain loves a good explanation. Parenthood has other plans. Science journalist and Radiolab host Lulu Miller explores why we are so determined to make sense of the world, and what happens when life refuses to fit the story.

Shownotes: 

*... more

Why does a bedtime routine feel so important? Anthropologist Dimitris Xygalatas studies rituals, from firewalking ceremonies to family traditions. His work reveals why humans return to rituals whenever life becomes uncertain, and why parenthood may b... more

Sometimes a child is looking right at you and seems completely elsewhere, and sometimes they're completely with you. Developmental neuroscientist Vicky Leong studies those moments of connection, uncovering how parents and children synchronize their m... more

Why would evolution redesign a man's body after he has children? Anthropologist Lee Gettler helped uncover a surprising answer. His research on hormone changes including testosterone suggests that fatherhood doesn't just change how men think and feel... more

For centuries, scientists studied what pregnancy does to the body. Almost nobody studied what it does to the brain. Neuroscientist Susana Carmona helped change that, uncovering evidence that motherhood reshapes the human brain in ways scientists are ... more

Three quarters of animal species undergo metamorphosis. Why are we so sure humans don't? Historian of science Oren Harman takes us from butterflies to starfish in search of an answer, and toward a surprising way of thinking about what happens when a ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Lulu Miller
Science journalist, co-host of Radiolab, author of Why Fish Don't Exist
Radiolab; Author of Why Fish Don't Exist
Episode: Ep. 6 - The Illusion of Knowing (with Lulu Miller)
Dimitris Xygalatas
Anthropologist, field researcher, writer, and leading expert on ritual
Episode: Ep. 5 - The Rituals That Hold Us Together (with Dimitris Xygalatas)
Vicky Leong
Developmental neuroscientist who studies neural synchrony between parents and babies
Singapore University or affiliated lab (as discussed in episode)
Episode: Ep. 4 - The Connected Mind (with Vicky Leong)
Lee Gettler
Anthropologist at the University of Notre Dame, leading researcher on the biology of fatherhood
University of Notre Dame
Episode: Ep. 3 - The Dad Bod Theory (with Lee Gettler)
Susana Carmona
Neuroscientist; director of the NeuroMaternal Lab, Madrid; author of A Mother's Brain, The New Science of the NeuroMaternal Revolution
NeuroMaternal Lab, Madrid
Episode: Ep. 2 - The Mom Brain Revolution (with Susana Carmona)
Oren Harman
Historian of science, writer, father
Independent
Episode: Ep. 1 - A Human Metamorphosis (with Oren Harman)

Host

Michael Feigelson
Host of Birth of a Parent

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 50 ratings
  • Great podcast

    The episode with Lulu Miller is amazing 👏

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Makiii568
    Netherlands18 days ago
  • Fascinating listen

    A well-done, entertaining podcast that profiles cutting-edge research in the emerging parental brain field

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DarbyS.
    United Statesa month ago
  • I love this

    Really enjoyed this show because it makes the experience of parenthood interesting to everyone, not just to parents. The guests are all so interesting and so different. But, my favorite part is definitely when the hosts mom makes a cameo in every episode. She should have a talk show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Oma#86
    United Statesa month ago
  • Amazing!

    The idea that the birth of a parent is the beginning of a new developmental stage resonates so much with my experience as a mother, but also as an artist. What I love about this show is that it speaks to both. And, unlike so many other shows in this category, it also lands in a similar way with my husband so it’s something we can enjoy and talk about together. In fact, he’s the one who put it in my radar in the first place! Excited to hear the rest of the season.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pupstar🐶
    United Statesa month ago
  • A podcast you definitely want to talk about

    My partner shared this podcast with me. We are exploring our own plans for parenthood. So far we have really enjoyed listening to episodes with each other. The science is cool and covers both the motherhood/fatherhood stories. Very insightful!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jo-di90
    Netherlandsa month ago
  • Sigh… it’s hosted by a man, first episode guest is a man

    I was excited to see this new podcast advertised in one of the trades, but quickly became disheartened. I can get past the host being a man, but the first episode centers a man, and his first anecdote includes a comment after his wife’s 40(!) hour labor that his child is definitely his because of details on their toes. As a new parent myself, after a difficult labor, I can’t imagine what I would’ve thought my husband had made such a stupid remark. I know parenthood changes both men and women but... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    podcastfansince2014
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes blend research with personal narrative to discuss parenting as a developmental milestone.
The show features researchers and scientists who translate complex findings for general audiences.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#10
United States/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#28
United States/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#12
Canada/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#27
United Kingdom/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#57
Canada/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#87
United Kingdom/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#61
Australia/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#66
Germany/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#87
France/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#162
Italy/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#236
Australia/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#1
India/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#4
Singapore/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#7
South Korea/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#12
Belgium/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#13
Brazil/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#15
Norway/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#22
Spain/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#25
Denmark/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#29
Israel/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#30
Japan/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#33
Netherlands/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#34
Chile/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#35
Singapore/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#42
Switzerland/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#44
Indonesia/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#48
Norway/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#49
New Zealand/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#50
Belgium/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#56
India/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#56
Philippines/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#64
Austria/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#65
Brazil/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#72
Mexico/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#95
Spain/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#105
Ireland/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#108
Israel/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#112
Denmark/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#120
South Africa/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#124
Netherlands/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#153
South Korea/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#156
Switzerland/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#158
Chile/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#173
Japan/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#187
Colombia/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#197
Mexico/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#201
Sweden/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts
#202
New Zealand/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#216
Ireland/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#219
Austria/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#247
Indonesia/Kids & Family

Top Parenting Podcasts

Always Here
Always HereAbby Howard and Abby Howard | Daylight Media
The Dr. Laura Podcast
The Dr. Laura PodcastDr. Laura Schlessinger & SiriusXM
The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast
The Middle School Mary Poppins PodcastSuzanne M. Swain, EDS LMSW
Raising Boys & Girls
Raising Boys & GirlsThat Sounds Fun Network
Birth of a Parent
Birth of a ParentEarly Childhood Matters with Michael Feigelson

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 4 - The Connected Mind (with Vicky Leong)
Q: What does the research suggest about the role of play in synchrony and learning?
Play is not just a break from learning; it is a fundamental mode of engagement that creates the conditions for powerful synchrony, improves attention, and can translate to increased creativity and well-being in adults as well as children.
Ep. 4 - The Connected Mind (with Vicky Leong)
Q: Can you take me into that first experiment with a baby, two EEG caps, and a parent?
The setup required improvisation and flexibility because babies are unpredictable; the team created a relaxed, living-room-like lab environment, used distraction and playful cues to get usable data, and recorded the initial evidence of brain-to-brain synchrony.
Ep. 4 - The Connected Mind (with Vicky Leong)
Q: How do you explain what you study to parents when they come into the lab?
The work is about understanding how parents and their children connect in the moment and share a sense of being present, with synchrony arising from rhythms, eye contact, and shared attention that help kids learn.
Ep. 5 - The Rituals That Hold Us Together (with Dimitris Xygalatas)
Q: How does ritual affect a parent's own motivation and sense of control?
Ritualization acts like a personal sanctuary, strengthening motivation and signaling to children that certain activities are important, thereby making daily tasks feel purposeful rather than purely functional.
Ep. 5 - The Rituals That Hold Us Together (with Dimitris Xygalatas)
Q: Why do humans keep doing things that seem inefficient or unnecessary in the ritual context?
Because rituals provide meaning and structure that help people cope with uncertainty, making ordinary actions feel significant and more manageable within a shared framework.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Birth of a Parent

What is Birth of a Parent about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful exploration of how parenthood reshapes the mind, behavior, and social life through conversations with leading researchers and thinkers. Episodes repeatedly center on ritual, brain plasticity, and the biology of parenting, from how routines become meaningful tools for anxiety reduction and cohesion to how parent-child interactions synchronize learning and development. Noteworthy angles include the deep dive into hormonal and neural shifts in mothers and fathers, the metamorphosis of identity that accompanies parenthood, and provocative cross-cultural perspectives on rituals, care, and meaning in family life. The show frequently blends empirical research with accessible storytelling, personal anecdotes, and practical implications... more

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How many episodes of Birth of a Parent are there?

Birth of a Parent launched 2 months ago and published 9 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Birth of a Parent?

Recent guests on Birth of a Parent include:

1. Lulu Miller
2. Dimitris Xygalatas
3. Vicky Leong
4. Lee Gettler
5. Susana Carmona
6. Oren Harman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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