Chitty Chats with Stacy

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy , Stacy shares the story behind her new book, What Really Happens in Therapy: Behind Closed Doors, A Guided Journey to Healing , releasing June 15, 2026. After more than 20 years as a clinician, 25 years in the mental health field, years of teaching trauma-informed practices, and a recent deployment working with Soldiers and Veterans, Stacy began asking a...

In this heartfelt episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy , Stacy speaks directly about Pride Month, allyship, trauma-informed care, and suicide prevention. She shares what it means to sit with people who believe the world would be better without them simply because of who they are, who they love, or how they live. This conversation is a call to choose love over judgment, safety over shame, and humanit...

Finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming, especially when you’ve already worked hard just to make the appointment. In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy , Stacy talks honestly about what clients should look for when searching for a therapist—and what therapists need to do better when creating safety, trust, and connection from the very first interaction. Stacy shares practical questi...

In this heartfelt Chitty Chat, Stacy sits down with Jim Sporleder, longtime educator, administrator, trauma-responsive pioneer, and one of the familiar faces from Paper Tigers . Together, they reflect on more than four decades of work with students, schools, and communities — and the powerful truth that one caring adult can change the direction of a child’s life. Jim shares how his unexpected star...

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy , Stacy sits down with clinical social worker, trauma therapist, EMDRIA-approved consultant, educator, and Safe and Sound Protocol provider Laurie Belanger for a rich conversation about trauma, neurodiversity, EMDR, dissociation, and nervous system healing. Laurie shares her belief that people are “tangled, not broken,” and offers a deeply compassionate w...

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy , Stacy sits down with Andy Grant—author, coach, energy worker, and host of the long-running Real Men Feel podcast—for a deep and honest conversation about men, masculinity, emotional numbness, suicidal thoughts, and the gap between outward success and internal emptiness. Together, Stacy and Andy explore why so many men feel alone in their pain, how cultu...

In this Listener Questions episode, Stacy responds to a powerful and tender question from Alexandra about navigating life as someone who is childless not by choice while working in an environment centered around children. This conversation explores the reality of living grief, the unexpected triggers that can surface in classrooms and child-focused spaces, and the importance of regulating your bod...

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy , Stacy sits down with her longtime friend Bryce—someone she met during her time in the military—for an unfiltered, honest conversation about mental health, military culture, parenting, and what it really looks like to grow after hard experiences. Bryce shares his personal journey into mental health support, sparked not by himself—but by his children. Tog...

What do you do when students don’t care… and nothing seems to work? In this Listener Questions episode, Stacy responds to two powerful questions from educators facing what feels like an epidemic—rising anxiety, depression, and student apathy in today’s classrooms. Instead of quick fixes, this conversation goes deeper. Stacy unpacks:  Why traditional consequences and reward systems aren’t working a...

What actually shifts a school? In this episode, Stacy sits down with lifelong educator and superintendent Jon Konen to talk about what it really takes to change school culture—from the inside out. This conversation goes far beyond strategies and into the heart of education: relationships, regulation, accountability, and the courage to lead through resistance. Together, they unpack what happens whe...

In this first-ever listener question episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy , we’re diving into something so many of us quietly carry: 👉 How do you start taking care of yourself when everyone else is used to you taking care of them? Heather asks a powerful question about navigating self-care as a midlife mom, partner, and eldest daughter—and what it means to shift long-standing patterns of overgiving...

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy , I’m taking you inside one of the most powerful professional experiences I’ve had in years—the Psychotherapy Networker Symposium. After four days immersed in learning from leaders like Dr. Bruce Perry, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, and Dr. Dan Siegel, I walked away with insights that don’t just apply to clinicians—they apply to all of us. We’re talking about:...

What does it really mean to teach in rural America? In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy , Stacy shares reflections from her recent travels to small communities in Montana and Colorado and dives into the unique realities of rural education. In many rural schools, educators wear multiple hats—teacher, coach, counselor, mentor, and sometimes the only consistent support system a child has. With...

Last week, Stacy hit a wall. In this deeply honest episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy , Stacy shares what happens when even someone who spends a career helping others through trauma reaches their own breaking point. Between global conflict, disturbing news cycles, and the emotional weight many people are carrying right now, Stacy found herself overwhelmed with anger, grief, and exhaustion. As a tr...

In this heartfelt episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy , licensed clinical social worker and Behavioral Health Officer Stacy Nation sits down with her husband Billy — a combat veteran with over 24 years of military service — for a candid and emotional conversation about men’s mental health, the military stigma around therapy, and the journey toward healing . Together, Stacy and Billy pull back the c...

A year ago today, I was in the Middle East. After nearly two years serving on full-time orders with the Wyoming Army National Guard — preparing soldiers for deployment, deploying alongside them, and supporting them through combat and operational stress — I’m finally ready to unpack what that experience did to me. Because here’s the truth: No one goes on deployment and comes home the same. In this...

Today, Stacy express heartfelt gratitude towards educators. She encourages listeners to take a moment to appreciate their favorite teachers by reaching out with a message of thanks instead of spending their time on the podcast.  Highlighting the significant shifts and challenges in education, Stacy acknowledges the dedication and hard work of educators, including their own 'army bestie' and their...

In this episode, Stacy reflects on the importance and value of friendship, sparked by a recent visit from a long-time friend.  She recount the joy of reconnecting with friends from different phases of her life, including high school friends and a best friend of over two decades.  Stacy speaker highlights the practices that have helped maintain these friendships, such as sharing daily gratitudes, a...

In this episode of Chitty Chats, Stacy shares a training she has held titled "How Does Your Past Impact Your Teaching?".  Stacy introduces the concept of how one's physiological and emotional blueprint, developed during early childhood, affects their responses and interactions in educational settings.  The session covers the development of the brain, stress response systems, sensory systems, and t...

Today, Stacy reflects on motherhood, inspired by a recent encounter with a group of mothers during a weekend at a hot springs.  She emphasizes the unique challenges and joys of raising toddlers, stressing the significance of emotional development and the importance of supporting each other without judgment.  Stacy also acknowledges the hard work of parenting, particularly during the toddler years,...

In this episode, Stacy is joined by Bri Miller, a behavior interventionist from Wichita, Kansas, to discuss the impact of whole brain teaching and behavior intervention strategies in the classroom.  Bri shares her journey from teaching fourth and second grades to becoming a behavior interventionist, emphasizing the effectiveness of whole brain teaching in boosting student engagement and reducing c...

This reflection focuses on the significance of repair in maintaining healthy relationships.  Stacy shares personal thoughts on her recent stress-related behavior that has negatively impacted her closest relationships.  Acknowledging her own responsibility, she emphasizes the importance of not just apologizing, but also changing one's behavior to truly repair the bond.  The episode highlights the n...

In this episode, Stacy chats with Jethro Jones. A multitasking educator, podcaster, and advocate for the transformative power of technology in learning, Jethro shares his journey from resisting the teaching profession to embracing various methods of education and podcasting.  With experiences ranging from being a K-12 teacher and school principal to creating podcasts like Resilient Schools and Cyb...

In this reflection, Stacy discusses the significance of basic needs such as food, water, sleep, social connection, exposure to sunlight, and movement for maintaining emotional regulation and mental well-being.  Through a personal anecdote involving a miscommunication with their spouse being resolved post-meal, Stacy underscores how basic needs directly affect our interactions and emotional state. ...

This episode features an in-depth conversation with James Moffett, the principal of Ferris Elementary School in Hutchinson, Kansas. Moffett shares his journey from being unaware of trauma-informed education to fully embracing it and implementing its practices both professionally and personally.  He emphasizes the importance of meeting basic needs, like sleep, for students to aid their learning pro...