Right Moves: A LiiNK Center for Healthy Play Podcast

Food is more than just fuel - it’s culture, a social event, comfort or even discomfort. Food is a daily essential to our existence, so why does it often feel so hard to navigate what we “should” and “shouldn’t” eat? Dr. Rhea brings on Dr. Jaclyn Albin, Inaugural Director of UT Southwestern’s Culinary Medicine Program, to discuss the nuance in nutrition that makes it impossible to have one perfect...

All parents need a break sometimes. Parents of autistic children may feel like they can’t turn to others for help because they know their child’s needs and triggers best. Dr. Theresa Lyons is back with Dr. Rhea to discuss how highly beneficial it is to educate and empower your inner circle to be able to help you with your child. She reminds parents of autistic children that understanding the whole...

Though autism effects approximately 1 in 31 U.S. children today, there is still much to learn about the lifelong condition. Research can be difficult to navigate due to the high variability of the autism spectrum. There is no “one size fits all” approach to supporting those with autism, which can leave parents of autistic children feeling helpless. Where do you turn for resources when your child n...

GLP1s have taken the world by storm as a weight loss drug. Now that we are learning more of what GLP1s can do for inflammation and a number of non-weight related issues in the body, we must remember that medication alone is not enough. Movement is the True Miracle Drug. We are meant to move often and daily if we want to produce lifelong healthy habits. Dr. Rhea brings back Dr. Tim Church to contin...

While GLP1s have been around as a diabetes treatment for decades, they have taken center stage as a weight loss drug for the general population. Research didn’t stop there. Researchers have since learned that GLP1s target inflammation which means it has the potential to treat a number of issues including heart disease, kidney disease, arthritis, and maybe even addiction. Dr. Rhea brings back previ...

We're excited to announce a special 2026 Summer Medical Series! Kicking off next week, we will be hosting a variety of medical professionals who are utilizing innovative whole health prevention and evidence-based treatment approaches to healthcare. If you are looking for ways to live a healthier life and better advocate for you and your loved ones, this is the series for you! Listen for a snea...

The 115+ acres of the Irma Lewis Outdoor Learning Center (ILOLC) in Seguin, Texas have provided educational and recreational opportunities to Seguin ISD students and local families for decades. Once the ILOLC was acquired by the school district in 2023, it was a game changer for what the district could do moving forward capitalizing on the amazing resources provided for their students. In this sea...

The American Academy of Pediatrics has officially released an updated recess policy statement. So what does this mean for parents, educators, and pediatricians? Dr. Rhea brings back co-authors of the statement, Drs. Robert Murray and Cathy Ramstetter, to share what is new in this statement compared to the 2013 statement, why these changes were made, and the vast library of evidence-based research...

When life gives you lemons… you did notice the lemons, right? Opportunities for connection are right under our noses every day with each stranger we pass in the store or sit next to on a flight. The only way for those opportunities to flourish is for us to be open-minded and seek them out. In this second part of a 2-part series on purpose and productivity, Dr. Rhea explores the concept of synchron...

Work, dinner, sleep, repeat… Is it Friday yet? It’s easy to get stuck in a negative mindset when you simply go through the motions of your day, especially if you find yourself in a role that doesn’t highlight your strengths or bring you joy. In this first part of a two-part series on purpose and productivity, Dr. Rhea walks us through a self-reflection exercise to see just how much our thoughts ca...

In healthcare, there are three levels of prevention in treatment – primary, secondary and tertiary – and the focus primarily leans towards tertiary prevention which involves managing diseases that are already present. While the need for tertiary prevention is certainly high, shouldn’t we also be addressing how these diseases came to be and preventing them at the primary level by addressing how to...

It’s no secret that mental and physical health diseases are on the rise in the U.S., and most healthcare visits seem to focus on diagnoses and quick fixes usually through prescription drugs. Should we be shifting our focus? Dr. Rhea sits down with two practitioners who work primarily with residency programs, Dr. Hope Shepherd and Theresa Murphy, LCSW, to discuss how shifting the focus to primary p...

From trying a new diet to getting a gym membership, every new year brings New Year’s resolutions. You may start them with high hopes and the best of intentions, but are you really putting the right things in place to reach a goal and then stick with it? In this episode, Dr. Rhea flies solo as she discusses why behavior change is often so difficult to maintain, and the simple steps you can take to...

VLK Architects is a north Texas based architecture firm that specializes in education settings and prioritizes the client’s needs and priorities. When Dr. Jim Chadwell, then superintendent of Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, partnered with VLK to design the new district administration building, he knew exactly what he wanted the building to be – a flexible, open-concept space that utilizes natural elem...

In this concrete-jungle world, we’ve become an increasingly indoor society and it can be easy to forget the importance of immersing ourselves in nature, especially in school settings. The outdoor landscapes can be designed for natural engagement of play or hanging out or being active. Many different ways to think about a landscape to be more nature driven and inviting are available, i.e., use of l...

Dr. Rhea brings back long-time friend and colleague, Cheryl Potemkin, to discuss her expertise and experience with professional development focused on outdoor learning. Cheryl dives into working with the audience’s strengths and needs, changing perspective on the outdoor space and one’s “nature identity”, and how centering the professional development message around the audience is key for a succe...

A Storybook Walk is a fun and creative way to engage children of all ages with reading while moving along a pathway, preferably outdoors. Dr. Rhea brings on long-time friend and colleague, Cheryl Potemkin, to share her expertise on Storybook Walks and how they can be effective even on a budget. Listen in as they break down different ways and places that Storybook Walks can be implemented without h...

The American Academy of Pediatrics first published a policy statement on recess in 2013 , stating that recess plays a crucial role in a child’s development, and is equally as important as academic pursuits. Sadly, standardized testing and academic scores have continued to be prioritized in schools while recess is often removed for tutoring or punishment. After the Covid 19 pandemic, this trend onl...

The LiiNK Project began as a research intervention to bridge the gap between academics and the whole child. Dr. Rhea has partnered with many school districts over the past 12 years to implement four 15-minute unstructured play breaks (recess) daily and a 15-minute character lesson daily.  The research has shown many positive mental, physical, social, and emotional health results for the children a...

Dr. Rhea brings back outdoor learning leaders, Pete Silvius and Amanda McMickle, to dive deeper into their nature based, public-private partnership between Seguin ISD’s Irma Lewis Outdoor Learning Center and the Will Smith Zoo School of San Antonio. While public-private, prekindergarten partnerships are common, Pete and Amanda are paving the way for outdoor learning programs to pursue such partner...

Partnerships between public and private early childhood interventions are common and often encouraged to foster benefits and funding opportunities for both parties. What might this look like for nature-based education programs? In this exciting Season 7 opener, Dr. Rhea sits down with long time colleagues, Pete Silvius and Amanda McMickle, who are paving the way for nature-based, public-private sc...

Only about 13 of the 50 U.S states have recess requirements for elementary school students. While a state-required recess policy is a huge first step, is it really enough? Some states only require 20 minutes, other 30 minutes. With the success of California’s “Recess for All” in 2023, former senator, Josh Newman, understands there is still much more work to be done to improve his state’s education...

California passed their “Recess for All” bill in 2023, effectively defining recess as a right that cannot be taken away as punishment, and requiring a minimum of 30 minutes of recess daily for kindergarten through sixth grade. Former senator, Josh Newman, helped sponsor the bill which was an imperative step to help improve the whole health and academic success of students as they navigated school...

What should safety look like when children and adolescents play? Parents, educators, and other adults working with outdoor play/recess may have a difficult time sitting back and watching their kids or students climb a tree and tussle with their friends because they fear seeing their child or student get hurt. The safety/risky play topic has come up time and time again, especially after COVID. Dr....

Dr. Rhea brings back Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Bethany Children’s Health Center, Albert Gray, to share more on the history of the health center, how its focus and mission have been transformed over the years, and the exciting new expansion project into outpatient services they’re calling “Landmark of Hope”. You can read more about Carol and Albert Gray’s powerful testimony th...