Raising Resilient Kids: For Parents, Teachers and All Who Work with Kids

Are your kids glued to their screens, and you're not sure how to set limits without starting a battle? Wellness coach Nicole Briggs breaks down her screen time guidelines by age and explains why boredom isn't something to fix, but something to protect. Nicole also reveals the two techniques that resonate most with the kids she coaches — minis and positive self-talk — and how she gets even...

What if the most powerful resilience lessons your teen will ever receive aren't coming from you — they're coming from the athletes they already admire? In this episode, Tom and Jeannie sit down with Dan Gold, award-winning author of the Game Changers series — books that use true stories of famous athletes and coaches to teach teens resilience, mental toughness, leadership, and character. D...

If your child is melting down over small things and nothing you say seems to help, this episode will completely change how you see the problem — and give you a clear, research-backed plan to fix it. Episode Summary In this episode of the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast, Tom and Jeannie sit down with Resilience Expert and educator Talia Kovacs, founder of Calm Connected. Talia brings a rare perspect...

What if the secret to a thriving first-grade classroom wasn't rushing into academics, but investing three weeks in emotional safety? Jackie Smrekar, an 11-year veteran first grade teacher and Great Teacher Award winner, reveals exactly how she creates a "classroom heart family" where six-year-olds learn to identify their emotions, self-advocate, and resolve conflicts independently. In this episode...

Looking for a New Year's resolution that creates lasting impact for you, your entire family, or your classroom? Join hosts Tom and Jeannie in the 2026 Mental Fitness Challenge—a simple, research-backed approach to building resilience through 36 weekly techniques that take just minutes per day. Specific Strategies You'll Learn: • How to access 36 free mental fitness techniques releasing wee...

Over 1 million students worldwide are learning to recognize depression, find trusted adults, and ask for help - and every resource is completely free. In this episode, we sit down with Katie Conklin from Erika's Lighthouse to explore how their evidence-based mentalhealth education programs are reaching students across the globe - from California classrooms to schools in Madagascar - with tools...

You have everything you need to be your child's primary healer—you just need the right tools. In this episode, mental health expert and tenured professor Karen Green shares how overwhelmed parents can build deep emotional connection with their kids in just 5 minutes a day—no therapy degree required. Karen reveals the research-backedstrategies behind her newly launched Conscious Care Cards, a s...

Discover why the highest-performing schools invest equally in academics AND social emotional learning. In this episode, Dr. Pete Sullivan—a nearly 40-year education veteran who's served as teacher, principal, and superintendent across multiple Illinois districts—reveals the research-backed strategies that make SEL programs successful. You'll learn how 500+ studies prove SEL actually enhanc...

Discover why 1st & 2nd graders at one elementary school are teaching adults new breathing techniques and explaining brain science better than most grown-ups. In this eye-opening episode, 18-year school social workerveteran Meg Palka reveals the surprising truth about when children can start learning resilience skills (spoiler: it's much earlier than most parents think). You'll learn Meg's revo...

In this episode, we tackle a common challenge from teachers: how to incorporate social-emotional learning into an already packed curriculum. Marie Goulet, LCSW, shares her "Yes, and" approach - acknowledging that while dedicated SEL sessions are valuable, teachers are already implementing these skills throughout their day.  Marie offers practical, no-cost strategies that take just 1-2 mi...

In this enlightening episode, we're joined by award-winning educator Cassie Brooks, who shares practical strategies for teaching mental health skills to children. With 25 years of middle school health education experience, Cassie offers invaluable insights on how parents, teachers, and coaches can model and teach mental wellness techniques. Cassie discusses the importance of normalizing mental hea...

Join us as mental performance coach Allison Fink reveals powerful strategies to transform young athletes' confidence and performance on the court, field or course. From the "BRAVR" technique to visualization exercises used by elite players, Allison shares the exact methods she uses to help teenage athletes overcome mental blocks, bounce back from mistakes, and perform at their peak....

Sleep is critical to strengthening the resilience of our kids as well as for their overall physical and mental health.  This month we share 10 sleep tips for kids, teens and adults. Thank you for listening to the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast!  We are a brother-sister team who are passionate about providing parents, teachers and coaches with ideas and strategies to help kids and teens build their...

One of the lessons our guests have shared in just about every episode is the importance of modeling the behaviors as the best way to build resilience in kids and teens. So, with that in mind, this month we thought we would provide you with an exercise you and your child, students, or athletes can experience together. It is a great way to kick off 2025. We hope it sparks a conversation about all of...

Our guest on this month's podcast, Registered Dietitian Jessica Rusch, suggests we view our kids, and ourselves, as premium cars that need premium gasoline when it comes to thinking about nutrition. She shares some great tips to help us do this even with those picky eaters or kiddos with nervous stomachs. ' Jessica Rusch's love for food and nutrition developed at the ripe age of 14. At this time,...

Movement is critical in building resilience and strengthening mental health in youth.  This month we learn some easy ways for parents and teachers to incorporate more movement into the lives of our kids and teens from the creator of the YouTube Channel BodyFit by Amy.  Amy Schemper is a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor with 15+ years of experience in the industry. She has a Master...

Want some tips on how to foster a resilient household AND raise two teenage siblings who ACTUALLY like spending time together? Then we have just the family you will want to hear from in our very first multi-guest podcast episode! Thank you for listening to the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast!  We are a brother-sister team who are passionate about providing parents, teachers and coaches with ideas a...

How can you get kids who think this resilience stuff is silly or they are too tough for it to take it seriously? To answer that question we kickoff Season 2 of the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast with Master Resilience Trainer and Performance Expert Brian Korinek who teaches this stuff to the toughest people around - our soldiers in the US Military! Thank you for listening to the Raising Resilient...

We cover so many important topics that are top of mind for parents and educators these days including… At what age is it ok for my child to have a smartphone? How about access to social media? Is the structure we have placed in our kids’ lives impacting their creativity in a negative way? How far should I go in monitoring my kids' phones? How to help a shy child develop friendships. Dr. Valeri...

If you are searching for creative ways to introduce resilience strategies to your students, athletes, musicians and own kids and teens, you will find a multitude of practical advice in this month’s podcast from a former IL Secondary PE Teacher of the Year and creator of the Yoga for PE YouTube Channel, Victoria Otto. Victoria Otto was selected as both an IL Secondary PE Teacher of the Year as well...

If you are a teacher looking for tips on how to incorporate resiliency strategies in your classroom. Or a parent with a child that rolls their eyes when you encourage them to practice techniques to strengthen their mental health - our guest today, 25-year teaching veteran Dawn Glassburn, has some great ideas for you! Thank you for listening to the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast where we provide pa...

If you have a child that battles with test anxiety or are searching for ideas on how to increase the independence and autonomy of the kids in your life, we have some great tips for you in this month’s podcast as we interview Paul France. Paul is a National Board Certified Teacher, Literacy Specialist, adjunct professor, keynote speaker, and the author over 40 publications, including Make Teaching...

If you are a music teacher, or have a child that plays an instrument, or participates in musicals or plays, you are not going to want to miss this episode as we interview Dr. Juna Bobby who teaches the Science of Resilience at Julliard and answer Riordan’s question about how to not let her nerves negatively impact her auditions. Connect with Juna: MindBodySpace Podcast: https://mindbodyspace.com/p...

We are THRILLED to welcome Dr. Henin to the podcast this month!  You are not going to want to miss this one as she provides so many great ideas on how to build resilience in the kids in your life. Dr. Henin is co-founder and Co-Director of the Child Cognitive Behavior Program and Clinical Director of the Child Resiliency Program in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. Sh...

You definitely need a lot of resilience to be a psychiatric nurse and deal with mental health patients 12 hours a day!  In this episode we interview psychiatric nurse, and daughter of Tom, Elizabeth to find out what strategies she has found most useful in a high stress occupation like this. Thank you for listening to the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast where we provide parents, teachers and coaches...