Regulated & Relational

In this episode of Regulated & Relational Tracy, Ginger, and Julie come together to mark a significant transition for the Attachment & Trauma Network: the retirement of longtime Executive Director, Julie Beem. Using this moment of change as a springboard, our hosts explore important elements of transition, both positive and negative, and the impact transition has on our bodies, our minds,...

In this episode of Regulated & Relational, Tracy and Ginger welcome Dr. Lisa A. Riegel—nationally recognized educator, researcher, founder of the Educational Partnerships Institute, and author of the book NeuroWell. Together, they explore why skills like emotional regulation, connection, and self-awareness are not “soft” at all, but essential to learning, wellbeing, and long-term success. Dr....

This week on Regulated & Relational, Ginger Healy and Julie Beem welcome a very special guest: educator, speaker, and viral content creator, Jere Chang. Known to millions online as “Ms. Chang,” Jere brings humor, honesty, creativity, and deep compassion to conversations about education, inclusion, belonging, and what she calls radical kindness. With more than 20 years in education and a global...

In this episode of Regulated & Relational, hosts Tracy Leonard and Ginger Healy sit down with Sage Hancock, Executive Director of GenerationAll, for a powerful and thought-provoking conversation on breaking cycles of trauma and creating systemic change. Sage shares her expertise at the intersection of advocacy, healing, and prevention—exploring what it truly means to be trauma-informed and att...

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Julie and Ginger sit down with Andy Neal—content creator, speaker, and foster/adoptive parent—to explore the realities of parenting children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Drawing from both lived experience and professional insight, this episode dives into the complexities of attachment, trauma, and the emotional toll—and growth—that comes...

Sometimes healing doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from getting grounded in what’s already around us. In this inspiring episode, Julie and Ginger explore the powerful connection between nature and nervous system regulation , diving into the fascinating science behind why time outdoors calms, heals, and restores us. From the forest floor to the garden bed, you’ll learn how nature interacts wit...

What if growth could sound like laughter? In this conversation, Billy Kaplan, a licensed clinical social worker at Treehouse Health, joins Ginger and Julie to explore how healing with youth can emerge through humor, play, and connection. Billy shares stories from his therapeutic work, showing how joy and pain often live side by side, and how a simple “yes, and” can open space for change. Together,...

What if healing didn’t require a therapy license—only presence, connection, and courage? Andi Fetzner joins Ginger and Julie and shares how her Origins Training work in Arizona supports adults in understanding trauma, building resilience, and reconnecting to themselves and others. The discussion explores the powerful truth that you don’t have to be a therapist to be therapeutic. Together, they unp...

What are children learning that no one is explicitly teaching? Ingrid Cockhren joins Julie and Ginger to explore how historical trauma shapes social learning, schooling, storytelling, and bias across generations. From the lasting impacts of colonization and slavery to concepts like white flight and white-washed education, the conversation highlights how coping patterns, beliefs, and behaviors are...

In this episode, Julie Beem and Ginger Healy explore Julie’s research on mattering—what it is, why it matters, and how it shows up in adult-child relationships. This episode is created for parents, teachers, and caregivers who want to better understand externalized relationship-seeking behaviors, such as acting out, defiance, attention-seeking, or emotional outbursts. The conversation focuses on h...

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Ginger and Julie sit down with Josh Novick—licensed therapist, educator, national speaker, and founder of Trust & Grow Consulting—to explore what it truly takes to create safer, more connected school communities in the wake of violence. Josh brings both professional expertise and lived experience in recovery, grounding this conversation in courag...

What does it really mean to help students learn how to learn —especially in systems that were never designed with all learners in mind? In this powerful conversation, Ginger and Julie are joined by Zaretta Hammond , nationally recognized consultant, educator, and author, to explore how culturally responsive teaching, neuroscience, and instructional equity intersect. Together, they unpack why rigor...

In this heartfelt and reflective episode, Julie Beem and Ginger Healy return to a profound conversation from Season 1 with the late Cissy White—trauma survivor, fierce advocate, and the originator of the term Joy Stalking. As the world faces rising despair and isolation, Julie and Ginger explore what it means to stalk, savor, and sustain joy—especially in the face of pain, trauma, and fear. Drawin...

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Stan Sonu, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and Medical Director for Child Advocacy at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Sonu shares his insights on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), relational health, and trauma-informed care, focusing on how clinicians and schools can support resilience and w...

Play isn’t just fun—it’s essential. In this episode, Ginger and Julie unpack the science, healing power, and everyday possibilities of play. From brain development to emotional regulation, play shapes resilience, fosters connection, and repairs the impact of trauma. You’ll hear how movement amplifies the benefits, how barriers like technology and busy schedules can be addressed, and why play matte...

What would it look like if we built a society that prevents child abuse and neglect—before it ever begins? In this episode, Ginger and Julie sit down with Dr. Melissa T. Merrick, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, to explore the evolving landscape of child well-being and what it takes to move from awareness to true prevention. Dr. Merrick shares powerful insights from her 20+ years...

This is a follow-up to Episode 101, where we discussed the two recognized attachment disorder diagnoses and their impact on families. In this episode, we focus on how RAD shows up at school—and what teachers, counselors, and administrators need to know to respond with understanding and effectiveness. Educator Takeaways • Stay curious, not reactive. RAD behaviors are about survival, not defiance. •...

What if burnout isn’t just about exhaustion—but something much deeper? In this powerful episode, Julie and Ginger speak with Sheri Kreher, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Trauma, Illness, and Grief (TIG) Coordinator for 24 school districts in New York. Sheri brings two decades of mental health experience and a deep understanding of the emotional toll today’s educators are carrying. Toget...

In this episode, we talk with Rick and Doris Bowman about their brand-new book, Your FBA is a Fantasy!: A Guidebook to Creating Truly Trauma-Informed, Neuro-Affirming Functional Behavior Assessments & Behavior Support Plans . Together, we unpack why traditional FBAs and behavior plans often fall short—and can even harm students—and what it takes to truly shift toward regulation- and connection...

“Parents Have Feelings, Too: Emotional Intelligence, The Change Triangle, and Healing Generational Patterns with Hilary Jacobs Hendel & Juli Fraga” Parenting can bring deep joy—but also guilt, shame, rage, grief, and more. So what do we do with all those big feelings? In this powerful episode, Julie and Ginger sit down with Hilary Jacobs Hendel, author of It’s Not Always Depression, and Dr. Ju...

In this episode of Regulated & Relational , hosts Julie Beem and Ginger Healy sit down with two fathers on a mission to transform the way families and schools understand neurodiversity— Carl Young and Joel Sheagren . Carl and Joel are the co-creators of Embracing Hope: A Caregiver’s Guide to Neurodiversity , a groundbreaking book that bridges lived experience, creative storytelling, and resear...

In this unforgettable episode, Ginger and Julie sit down with the one and only Barb Clark —a powerhouse trainer, parent, and advocate known for saying the things most people are too afraid (or too tired) to say out loud. With her signature honesty, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, Barb opens up about raising kids with complex needs, navigating Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and what it real...

In this foundational episode of Regulated & Relational , Ginger and Julie dive deep into attachment disorders —what they are, how they’re diagnosed, and the realities families face when raising children with these challenges. From the history of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED) to the proposed Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD) , Ginger and...

In this enlightening episode, Ginger Healy and Julie Beem sit down with Diane Gould, LCSW, and leading voice in the PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) movement in North America. As co-author of Navigating PDA in America and Founder of PDA North America, Diane shares her deep expertise and personal journey—including her recent autism diagnosis—to help unpack the complexities of this misunderstood...

In this heartfelt and reflective episode, Julie Beem and Ginger Healy return to a profound conversation from Season 1 with the late Cissy White—trauma survivor, fierce advocate, and the originator of the term Joy Stalking . As the world faces rising despair and isolation, Julie and Ginger explore what it means to stalk, savor, and sustain joy—especially in the face of pain, trauma, and fear. Drawi...