Relational Savoring: The Neuroscience of Calm and Connection

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder why some moments with your child feel effortless and deeply connected — while others leave you drained, reactive, or misunderstood? In this episode, we break down the science behind why. Dr. Jessie Stern and psychologist Rachel Samson join Cindy to explore relational savoring — a simple yet powerful way to strengthen your bond by intentionally remembering moments of warmth, safety, and love. You’ll learn how this practice calms your nervous system, reduces stress, and builds emotional security — for both you and your child. They also unpack the role of temperament and sensitivity in relationships. Why do some people (and kids) feel everything more deeply? What does that mean for how we connect, comfort, and communicate? If you’ve ever said, “I wish I could stay calm when things get hard,” this conversation will give you the science and the self-awareness to start doing exactly that. Because connection isn’t about perfection — it’s about noticing, savoring, and showing up with compassion. Read their new book: Beyond Difficult: An attachment-based guide to dealing with challenging people Follow Rachel Samson Follow Dr. Jessie Stern Read the science article: Savoring interventions for mothers of young children: Mechanisms linking relational savoring and personal savoring to reflective functioning Listen to more podcast episodes: Read our blog post: Support the show Do you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child. Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video): Or purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:

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Relational Savoring: The Neuroscience of Calm and Connection is an episode from Curious Neuron by Cindy Hovington, Ph.D..

This episode is 28:37 long.

This episode was published on Oct 27, 2025.

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