Voices of Your Village

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re getting into something that doesn’t get talked about enough in parenting: What happens when our stuff shows up in how we raise our kids. In this episode, I’m joined by Eli Harwood, and honestly, this one felt like part conversation, part therapy session. We’re talking about what it looks like when your child is wired differently than you…...

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about the kids who often get missed. The ones who look fine on the outside, hold it together at school, and then unravel at home. The kids whose feeding struggles, big reactions, sensory needs, or shutdowns can get mistaken for defiance when what’s really happening is so much more nuanced. In this episode, I’m joined by Polina Shk...

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about one of the hardest family transitions to navigate with kids: divorce. In this episode, I’m joined by Michelle Dempsey-Multack, and we’re digging into what it really looks like to take a child-first approach when parents separate. We talk about how to tell kids about divorce in a way that is honest, clear, and age-appropriate...

Before we dive in: this episode includes discussion of childhood mental health struggles and discusses suicidal ideation and self harm. Please take care while listening. You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about something that so many autism parents know in their bones but don’t always hear said out loud: sometimes what looks like defiance, aggression, or “too much”...

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about screens, because my feed has been feeling so black-and-white lately. Screens are bad. Screens disconnect us. Avoid them at all costs. And I just don’t think that’s true, and I also don’t think it’s helpful. So we’re having a real conversation about what it looks like to raise kids in the world we’re actually living in, not t...

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about something most of us were never actually taught how to do: healthy conflict. In this episode, I’m joined by Aly Bullock, a licensed marriage and family therapist, communication coach, and mom of three, and we’re getting honest about what happens when one partner leans into conflict and the other shuts down. We unpack why sil...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and I cannot wait for you to hear this episode. You’re about to get a preview of what’s coming in hot at our 2026 Seed Teacher Summit, happening March 10th through 12th. Each year, this summit is custom built with one goal in mind: to Transform Early Childhood and Elementary Education by supporting the adults who support kids. This year’s conversations f...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we're going behind the scenes with two powerhouse early childhood educators who are working to shift school culture from the inside out. Kiley Linnell is the assistant director at one of Little Sprouts’ newest schools, and Alexandra Loos oversees systems-wide implementation across 41 programs. Together, we talk about what it really looks like t...

Before we dive in: the breakdown of this episode includes a discussion of sexual assault, and briefly mentions the Epstein Files. Please take care while listening. You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today’s episode is one that hits close to home for so many of us—whether you’re parenting a kid who’s struggling in school, teaching in a classroom where big behaviors are on the rise, or...

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about those spicy ones. The kids who are big in personality, big in emotion, and big in challenging parents. Maybe you're raising one—or maybe you were one. I’m joined by parenting coach and author Mary Van Geffen, whose book Parenting a Spicy One is part memoir, part survival guide, and completely validating for the parents who f...

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today’s episode is for the good kids—and the adults they became. I got to sit down with Maggie Nick, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, therapist and founder of Camp Lovable, whose new book, Good Kids: Why You Suffered in Silence and How to Break the Cycle, dives into what it really means to be a “good kid”—and how that label can come with a cost. We e...

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re diving into something that might just change your day-to-day parenting rhythm: independent play. If you’ve ever heard, “But I’m boooored…” and felt that mix of annoyance, guilt and overwhelm rise in your chest, this episode is for you. I got to sit down with Lizzie Assa, founder of The Workspace for Children and author of the new book But...

Before we dive in: This episode includes a discussion of childhood mental health struggles and discusses suicidal ideation and self harm. Please take care while listening. You’re listening to Voices of Your Village and today we’re talking about one of the hardest realities of parenting—what it’s like when your child is struggling with their mental health and you can’t fix it. I’m joined by Kristin...

Welcome back to Voices of Your Village, and I'm so grateful to be sharing this conversation with you. If you’re raising bigger kids, those school-age humans navigating a world full of messages about what they should look like, eat, wear, or do with their bodies—this episode is for you. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Whitney Casares, pediatrician, author, and mom of two, to talk about real body confidenc...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today’s episode is one so many of you have asked for: how to navigate the rocky transition back to school after the holidays. And not just for our kids, but for ourselves, too. I’m joined by my friend Laura Petix, also known as The OT Butterfly. She’s a pediatric occupational therapist, a neurodivergent mom raising a neurodivergent kid, and the autho...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village. And honestly, if you're gonna listen to one episode of this podcast ever, I hope it's this one. This is so key to understanding self-care, to understanding self-regulation, to understanding how your child regulates and what's regulating versus dysregulating for them, for you. You get to hear the beginning of one of my workshops and it's really gonna brea...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we are rebroadcasting one of my all time favorite episodes. I got to sit down with someone I deeply admire—Dr. Stuart Shanker. His book Self-Reg was a game changer for me when I was teaching infants and toddlers, and honestly, it shaped so much of how I approach emotional development today. In this episode, we talk about what self-regulation re...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re diving into one of the most requested topics: what to do when rage takes over. I’m joined by parent coach Shelly Robinson to talk about what’s really happening when we lose it on our kids, why it feels so hard to stay calm during everyday routines like getting out the door, and how we can show up with more intention—even when our capacity...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today I got to chat with Leslie Forde about the unrealistic expectations of modern parenthood.  Leslie’s work is such a gift for those of us trying to do it all—and slowly realizing that “it all” was never sustainable in the first place. We talk about how burnout shows up, why moms in particular are feeling crushed under the weight of impossible sche...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re diving into a question that has so many layers: When does parenting actually begin? In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Littlefield—a therapist, mom of twins, and all-around incredible human, to explore how parenting starts long before birth. We talk about how our own histories, our inner child work, and our nervous systems all shape the...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we're bringing you a special rebroadcast of one of our most popular episodes. The village keeps coming back to this one, and for good reason. In this episode, Rachel and I dive into those moments when kids say things that feel rude, hurtful, or even shocking. We unpack why these behaviors often come from a place of dysregulation, what might be...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re diving into a conversation that so many parents are craving—but often don’t know how to start. I got to sit down with Dr. Hina Talib to talk about body image and development in the pre-teen years—those ages nine to twelve when so much is changing, inside and out. We explored how to navigate this stage with empathy, how to foster open comm...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re getting into something that hits deep for so many of us, especially around the holidays. You plan something special—a magical outing, a thoughtful gift—and you’re met with “Is that it?” or “What are we doing next?” It can feel like a gut punch. In this episode, we’re unpacking what’s really going on when kids seem to crave more—more stuff...

Before we dive in: this episode includes discussion of masturbation, sex and other adult topics. You're listening to Voices of Your Village and today's episode is such a treat. I got to sit down with Rachelle Bergstein to talk about her work on the incredible Judy Blume, and the impact her stories have had across generations. We talk about censorship, the importance of letting kids ask big questio...

You're listening to voices of your village. And today I'm joined by my incredible friend Dr. Tracy. She is a clinical psychologist, couples therapist, and author of the new book, You, Your Husband and His Mother. This was such a fun conversation. We got honest and had just compassionate conversation about what it looks like to show up as both a partner and a parent, while also navigating those tri...