In this episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins offers an insightful exploration of how childhood experiences shape emotional development and personal growth, using the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird as a central lens. Speaking from both clinical expertise and personal reflection, Dr. Hudgins revisits the story of young Scout Finch growing up in racially segregated 1930s Alabama, highlighting the novel’s powerful themes of innocence, injustice, and empathy.
Listeners are guided through the ways children interpret and internalize the events around them—particularly the confusing or painful ones—and how silence, avoidance, or a lack of honest explanation can deepen fears or misunderstandings. Drawing from both the novel and real-life cases, Dr. Hudgins underscores the importance of being present, listening carefully, and helping children make sense of their emotions and experiences.
Listeners are guided through the ways children interpret and internalize the events around them—particularly the confusing or painful ones—and how silence, avoidance, or a lack of honest explanation can deepen fears or misunderstandings. Drawing from both the novel and real-life cases, Dr. Hudgins underscores the importance of being present, listening carefully, and helping children make sense of their emotions and experiences.
This episode encourages adults to become safe narrators and guides for the next generation, emphasizing that fostering resilience and healing often begins with empathy, honest communication, and a willingness to see the world through a child’s eyes. Through the journey of Scout Finch, Dr. Hudgins invites the audience to reflect on their own formative experiences and discover ways to support and nurture the emotional well-being of children—and, in the process, themselves.
Key Moments:
01:20 Moon Observations and Scout Insights
04:56 Childhood and Racism in “Mockingbird”
09:20 Shift from Innocence to Insight
11:34 Understanding Children’s Fears
14:58 “Manage Life, Don’t Control Fear”
17:12 Guiding Children Through Life’s Confusion