The Play Base

In this deeply heartfelt and gentle episode of The Play Base, Frances is joined by her youngest daughter, Jojo (Jordyn), a seven-year-old old soul with a powerful heart and an extraordinary capacity for kindness. What unfolds is a slow, meaningful conversation about love, bravery, emotions, mistakes, friendship, and trust. Jojo shares what makes her feel calm, what her perfect day would look like,...

In this incredibly special birthday episode of The Play Base, Frances is joined by her firstborn daughter, Chloe Fishman, for a heartfelt, funny, and deeply insightful conversation that only a child could lead. Chloe shares her many passions, from baking, comedy, music, dance, theater, and art, to making friends and (lovingly) annoying her siblings. She talks about finding her voice on stage, over...

Frances Fishman sits down with Laura Waldorf Reiss, founder of Kindness Matters, to explore how kindness, emotional awareness, and nervous system regulation can reshape the way we parent, lead, and live. Laura shares how Kindness Matters began, how the programming evolved, and why the work must be consistent and repeated to create lasting impact. This episode is an invitation to see emotions as si...

In Part 2 of Frances’ conversation with Jayme Teplin—former Clinical Director at The Play Base Toronto—this episode goes deeper into Jayme’s clinical journey and what shaped her into the kind of practitioner families and teams feel safe with: compassionate, flexible, and fiercely human-first. While ABA is still widely associated with “autism treatment” and table-based programs, Jayme shares how he...

In this heartfelt Part 1 conversation, Frances sits down with Jayme Teplin, Clinical Director of The Play Base Toronto, for a powerful episode that blends lived experience with professional insight. Jayme shares her personal story of growing up neurodivergent in Toronto navigating early diagnoses, struggling in an under-resourced public school system, and eventually thriving thanks to a life-chang...

In this powerful Play Base episode, Frances sits down with the one-and-only Alley Dezenhouse, founder of Magnificent Minds (MagMinds) —for a conversation that feels equal parts validating, visionary, and deeply human. Frances shares how Alley’s voice helped her step out of imposter syndrome and into her own truth as a clinician and leader. From there, Alley takes us through her journey: starting i...

In this deeply heartfelt episode of The Play Base Podcast , Frances sits down with Rebecca Guez, someone who entered her life at exactly the right moment and quickly became a grounding guide and trusted support. Rebecca shares how she began as a conscious parenting coach after realizing she didn’t want to yell, punish, or parent on autopilot but also discovered that tools alone aren’t enough when...

In this episode of The Play Base , host Frances Fishman is joined in person by Nicole Pekerman , founder of Health Collective and known by many as the “peptide princess.” Together, they dive into what it really takes to create lasting change, from the stories we repeat in our minds to the systems we build in our daily lives. They discuss: Why willpower isn’t the problem and how habit design and sy...

In this episode of The Play Base , host Frances Fishman sits down with Dr. Tay (Dr. Taylor Day) , a licensed psychologist, educator, and leading voice in neurodiversity-affirming care. Together, they explore how autism support must extend beyond the child to include the entire family system. Dr. Tay shares her personal story as a sibling of an autistic individual, her journey from academia to clin...

In this episode of The Play Base with Frances , host Frances Fishman sits down with Anastasiya Boikova , a pediatric occupational therapist and MNRI Core Specialist (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration). Frances shares how meeting Anastasyia in Florida introduced her to an entirely new approach, one that connected nervous system regulation, primitive reflexes, and developmental foundati...

In this episode of The Play Base , host Frances Fishman is joined by Dr. Sharon Arbel , a clinical psychologist specializing in child development. Dr. Arbel shares insight into her practice, offers practical guidance for supporting children and families, and discusses her highly specialized programs designed to create meaningful, lasting change. Frances and Dr. Arbel also give a sneak peek into an...

In this episode of Playdate with Frances , Frances welcomes Susana Castro -  office manager of The Play Base, yoga teacher, coach, and passionate advocate for neurodiversity. Susanna shares her journey from Venezuela to the U.S., her experience raising a neurodivergent child, and how understanding her own ADHD transformed both her personal and professional life. Together, Frances and Susanna...

In this short, powerful segment of The Play date with Frances , we explore the importance of parent alignment , parent training , and stepping into the unknown with intention and courage. Frances and her husband reflect on why choosing support that truly aligns with your values matters, how impactful parent coaching can be, and why taking bold steps, especially the scary ones,leads to a life witho...

A sneak peek at what's ahead...