In It For Youth

Jamie Gale is joined by Jessi Ricci, young founder of New Life Greens, a microgreens business she started at age 17. Jessi shares how she made decisions about next steps after high school, how she started her successful company, and the importance of community support for young entrepreneurs. Contact Jamie Gale: ⁠www. InItForYouth.com⁠ | IG: ⁠@initforyouth⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Website⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠IG: @jamiegal...

Jamie Gale welcomes Christine Benedict, Executive Director of Girls on the Run of South Central Wisconsin. Christine shares insights into the organization's afterschool empowerment programs, her career journey from higher education to youth non-profits, and the significance of girl-centered programming. They also discuss the operational challenges and successes of scaling programs across multi...

Jamie Gale is joined by Tracy Anderson of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County. Tracy shares about the way she and her team create one-to-one mentoring relationships for local children and the impact of those connections. She explains what other youth-serving professionals should know about the organization and how to help support the organizations mission through volunteering and through advoc...

Jackie Cook joins Jamie Gale to share the impact of supporting new and expecting parents through better workplace policies and postpartum resources. She discusses the importance of employer involvement, parental mental health, and practical services that can make a significant difference for families and their children. Contact Jamie Gale: ⁠www. InItForYouth.com⁠ | IG: ⁠@initforyouth⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠...

Jamie Gale is joined by Dr. Melanie McNally, a licensed clinical psychologist and author, to discuss supporting teenagers and their families. Dr. McNally shares insights on helping teens discover passions and set goals, explains therapy versus coaching approaches, and addresses motivation issues. Dr. McNally offers guidance on handling teen behaviors like substance use through open communication....

Jamie Gale is joined by fellow kids’ yoga business owner and training collaborator Erin Bracco to discuss their shared core ‘stacking stone’ beliefs about working with groups of kids in educational and enrichment settings. Contact Jamie Gale: ⁠www. InItForYouth.com⁠ | IG: ⁠@initforyouth⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Website⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠IG: @jamiegalellc⁠ Contact Erin Bracco: Website IG: @braintobellykidsyoga In It For...

Jamie Gale is joined by Mark Talaga, expert in counseling the gifted and host of the Hopelessly Gifted population, to discuss how to best support gifted kids and their families. Mark describes the nuances of giftedness, the importance of assessing asynchronous development, and the emotional struggles faced by gifted individuals. Mark shares about his podcast and the hope he is bringing to the gift...

Host Jamie Gale is joined by Tara Charlotte, owner and director of kids culinary education company, Yummy Sprout. Tara explains her journey of starting Yummy Sprout to teach kids about healthy cooking in an inclusive way that teaches cooking skills while giving kids ways to explore foods without pressure. Tara shares tips for getting kids involved in cooking at different ages and offers listeners...

Announcement: Season One is wrapping up and interviews are underway for Season Two! The In It For Youth Podcast is taking a summer break and episodes will resume in Fall. Much more inspiration and connection to come! If you have a guest suggestion, be in touch! jamie@jamiegalellc.com Contact Jamie Gale: ⁠www. InItForYouth.com⁠ | IG: ⁠@initforyouth⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Website⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠IG: @jamiegalellc⁠ In...

In this episode, Jamie Gale welcomes Mia Hicks, experienced educator and PhD student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying bilingual education, to discuss the importance of playful movement in learning. Mia and Jamie explore how movement and play are integral to children's emotional and academic development and ways educators can incorporate playful movement into classrooms. Mia expl...

In this episode, Jamie is joined by Dr. Nathan Rosenberg, a pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, to discuss his role in improving the well-being of children living with conditions that impact their function. Nathan shares his perspective on the changing field of medicine, the need for personalized, compassionate medical care for children, and he offers listeners advice on focu...

On this episode, Jamie Gale and guest Rachel Yakar discuss how families and camp programs can prepare for a successful and enriching summer break for kids of all ages. Rachel, a pediatric occupational therapist, shares insights into creating structured yet flexible summer schedules that cater to the unique needs of children. Rachel and Jamie discuss strategies for different age groups, including t...

In this episode, Jamie Gale talks with Betty Hill, Director of Youth Development and Strategic Partnerships for Mentor Greater Milwaukee, powered by the Milwaukee Bucks. Betty discusses the organization’s role in connecting youth with mentorship programs and explains what makes a great mentor for youth. Betty also shares about Power Gurlz, the mentorship organization she founded which is aimed at...

In this episode, host Jamie Gale talks with literacy educator Erin of Littles Love Learning. Erin discusses how her work focuses on supporting parents in teaching their children to read effectively. She explains the shift in education from a balanced literacy approach to the science of reading, which focuses on phonics and decoding skills. Erin emphasizes the importance of parents being informed a...

In this podcast episode, host Jamie Gale talks with Zach Meyer, a licensed professional therapist with many years of experience working with teens and young adults. Jamie and Zach discuss the complexities of teen mental health, the benefits and challenges of social media, and the importance of parental involvement and self-work in supporting youth. The discussion cover how to effectively communica...

In this episode, host Jamie Gale talks with Jennie Zuk, Youth Services Librarian at Middleton Public Library. Jennie shares her career story that led her to a role that she loves. Jennie explains the work she does, the way she and her colleagues make decisions on collections and programming, and shares about the impacts she sees on community members when they visit the library to learn and connect...

In this episode, host Jamie Gale talks with Ally Garin, who serves as the program director for Camp Discovery, a summer camp for kids living with chronic skin conditions operated by the American Academy of Dermatology. Ally explains how the the camp offers a safe, nurturing environment for children affected by various skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, and alopecia, and provides...

In this episode, host Jamie Gale talks with Jennifer Anderson, registered dietician and founder of Kids Eat in Color, about how to nurture healthy eating and positive food conversations within the family. Jamie and Jennifer discuss how to empower kids to make choices for their bodies while also empowering parents to guide their children along the way. They also discuss addressing food labels and s...

In this episode, host Jamie Gale is joined by Erik Grimm, a certified personal trainer who runs ETS Madison, a quickly growing sports performance facility. Erik shares about the work he and his team are doing with youth athletes to teach them skills they need in the weight room, in their sports and also in life. Jamie and Erik discuss common questions about why kids should incorporate this type of...

In this episode, host Jamie Gale is joined by, Calli Studebaker, OTR, to talk about the ways she helps children with their development in the practice she owns as an in-home mobile occupational therapist. Calli explains how her new offerings support parents in helping their children prepare for kindergarten, and why this can make a child’s start to school a successful beginning. Calli offers liste...

On this episode, host Jamie Gale is joined by occupational therapist, clinic owner and parent coach, Jen Bluske to discuss how parents can best support their unique children. Jen shares what she wishes adults knew about kids with additional challenges and explains the many ways she uses her expertise of 25 years in the OT field along with her decades of parenting experience to support parents in u...

On this episode, host Jamie Gale talks with Abbie Pabon and Emily Enstad, co-founders of Present Not Perfect, an e-commerce children's brand that creates art and sensory play kits that teach emotional literacy skills. As a certified elementary school special education teacher and an art therapist, respectively, Abbie and Emily share how their company supports kids in their emotional developmen...

In this episode, host Jamie Gale is joined by fellow educator, Weslie Cymerman, owner of Outdoors We Learn (OWL), an outdoor nature-based education program for kids. Weslie discusses the importance of outdoor learning and the impact it has on children and families. Weslie explains the challenges and benefits of navigating different types of weather with children and emphasizes the need for more ou...

The In It For Youth Podcast elevates the messages of those committed to improving the lives of the youth in our communities. Episodes include discussions with professionals who work with and serve youth, those that champion issues affecting children, community advocates and stakeholders, and insightful young minds. The In It For Youth Podcast is a tapestry of voices united by a dedication to youth...