The Heartfelt Way

Vacation can be exhausting with kids. Rhonda shares three ways to spark curiosity for kids and make vacation memories that reenergize the whole family. Packing for vacation can leave parents feeling exhausted before they even leave the driveway.  In this solo episode, Rhonda Meyers shares three ways to help children stay engaged on vacation without breaking the bank. Create a discovery challe...

Growth can begin with one honest conversation. Listen to Alissa’s story about confidence, resilience and choosing to believe in yourself. If life does anything, it throws curveballs. This episode is about the growth that comes from recognizing and honoring your needs, especially when life gets messy. Heartfelt director Alissa Russell joins Rhonda to speak about her hard-won success story.  In her...

As Heartfelt celebrates 15 years, Rhonda reflects on gratitude, resilience and the people who made the journey possible. As Heartfelt Impressions celebrates 15 years in business, Rhonda Meyers takes a moment to reflect on the people, relationships and lessons that have shaped its journey. Rhonda challenges the idea that successful organizations are built by a single person. Instead, she honors the...

Careers in childhood go far beyond the classroom. Listen to learn about early childhood career paths, mentorship, and shaping a meaningful life. When most people think about a career in early childhood, they picture a classroom.  That’s only the tip of the iceberg. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers sits down with longtime friend and educator Betsy Spiker to explore the many directions a career in ear...

Learn how to maintain balance and work toward kindergarten-readiness this summer with Mary Jo Cloutier. Everything seems to happen during the last month of school. After all of the field days, performances and graduations, this time of year can feel more like drowning than thriving. Mary Jo Cloutier joins Rhonda for another episode to share three ways to bring more sanity to summer and help your c...

Children are shaped by every relationship. Learn how each adult has the power to help children feel valued, noticed and safe with Ryan Tedesco. When we think about the adults who shape children, we often picture family members and teachers.  But children are paying attention to everyone.  They notice who smiles at them. Who remembers their name. Who waves goodbye. And who makes them feel safe. In...

Miss Charlene shares what 20 years in infant care has taught her about responsiveness, trust and knowing every baby deeply. Infant care is relationship work. Every bottle, every diaper change, every moment on the floor is a chance to build trust. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers sits down with Miss Charlene, an infant teacher with 20 years of experience in the first year of life. Together they walk...

Early childhood leaders carry invisible pressure every day. Learn how to avoid burnout through rhythms and sustainable leadership with Chanie Wilschanski. Behind every staffing call, difficult conversation and licensing visit, early childhood leaders carry an immense emotional weight that’s often invisible. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers sits down with leadership coach, speaker and author Chanie W...

Rhonda reflects on the beauty of motherhood, its emotional labor and the longing to feel seen. Mothers notice things. They’re always scanning the room’s emotions, ready if someone’s in need. In this solo episode, Rhonda reflects on the tension many mothers experience between trying to care for everyone around them and desiring to feel seen.  Drawing from her own experiences as a mother and grandmo...

Learn tools for responding to children’s grief and loss with Heidi Friedel. It takes a quiet kind of courage to accompany a child who’s grieving. We adults just want to make their pain go away. But we can’t.  So, the work of just being with them starts. It’s hard, important work. In this conversation, Heidi Friedel joins Rhonda Meyers to talk about how grief and loss show up in young children and...

Co-teacher alignment changes outcomes for kids. Rhonda and her guests speak about what a strong teaching team looks like and how to cultivate it. When a strong teaching team is in action, you can feel it.  It’s in the care with which the kids put away toys, how things are labeled and in the teachers’ attunement to the other’s needs. Rhonda sits down with Brittany Reaume and Geanene Chalut in this...

Joy is possible even in the hardest moments. Carissa Orr shares how educators can cultivate it through curiosity and care. This work is heavy sometimes. In the middle of behaviors, breakdowns and things happening in our personal lives, joy can feel impossible some days. In this episode, Carissa Orr joins me to talk about what it really looks like to find joy when things are hard. She shares storie...

Rhonda shares what to look for—and what to feel for—when choosing infant care that’s right for your family. Choosing care for your infant is one of the most personal decisions you’ll make as a parent. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers draws on 35 years in early childhood education—and her own experience as a new mom and now a grandmother—to walk through what families should look for when touring an i...

Learn how children build confidence through independence, risk and real experiences with Morgan Chartier. It’s natural to want to shield our children from risk.  But that’s where growth happens. In this episode, I sit down with Morgan Chartier to talk about the tension so many parents and educators feel between keeping children safe and allowing them to grow. We explore how independence, risk and...

What happens when we truly see people? This episode explores belonging, inclusion, and the power of being known with Jessica Loxley-Smith. Amazing things happen when we truly see people — when we believe in them first instead focusing on their limitations. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers sits down with Jessica Loxley-Smith, a cook assistant and classroom aide at Heartfelt Impressions, whose story i...

How educators can recognize triggers, respond with intention, and stay grounded during challenging behavior. Challenging behavior doesn’t just test strategies. It tests us.  Rhonda Meyers and Beth Pierson-Ringer, a HighScope curriculum expert and ECE Subhub co-owner, explore the deeply human side of teaching—what happens when a child’s behavior pushes you to your limit. Even experienced educators...

Simple, playful activities that build fine motor skills—and confidence—in young children. Sometimes the most powerful learning starts with the simplest moments. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers reflects on the everyday realities of parenting and teaching and how small, creative moments can make a lasting difference in a child’s development. From a simple shaving cream “mom hack” to hands-on classroo...

Rhonda reflects on impact, resilience and the lasting influence of her friend, Dr. Crystal Sanford-Brown. Sometimes the moments that shape us most are the ones we don’t fully recognize until years later. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers reflects on the ripple effect of influence in early childhood education. Fresh from the energy of the Michigan AEYC conference, she shares how simple moments—a hallw...

Outdoor play helps children build confidence, empathy, and resilience. Learn about outdoor exploration and risk with Arianne Condrick-Bettazzi. When we give children space to dig, build, test, and imagine outdoors, we're not just letting them play.  We're building thinkers, risk-takers and confident learners. In this episode, Arianne Condrick-Bettazzi shares how creating thoughtful outdoor spaces...

Learn how to create a classroom culture of kindness and empathy with Brooke Lewandowski. Kindness and empathy are built through repetition, patience and connection.  Brooke Lewandowski, Lead Teacher and Team Lead at Heartfelt Impressions, joins Rhonda Meyers to talk about the tools and humanity needed to nurture empathy in the classroom. Brooke shares that one of the most rewarding aspects of her...

Learn practical steps to help children navigate conflict resolution with Beth Pierson-Ringer. Conflict is common in early education classrooms.  For many children, the classroom is their first experience of being part of a community and learning to share — and sometimes, emotions run high.  In this episode, Beth Pierson-Ringer, a HighScope curriculum expert and ECE Subhub co-owner, joins Rhonda Me...

Explore how simple family traditions create belonging, safety and connection with Mary Jo Cloutier. Often, the simple moments matter most. In this episode, Mary Jo Cloutier, longtime lead Great Start Readiness Program teacher at Heartfelt Impressions, joins host Rhonda Meyers to reflect on how family traditions shape children’s sense of belonging. Mary Jo shares memories of growing up in a busy ho...

Hear hard-won lessons on post-pandemic leadership, accountability and how courage and values shape healthy teams with Beth Cannon. Leadership is messy. Courage, compassion and accountability collide. In this episode, Beth Cannon, Stretch-n-Grow in Greater Dallas-Fort Worth’s CEO and owner, joins host Rhonda Meyers to discuss leading through change. They reflect on how the pandemic reshaped leaders...

Rhonda Meyers reflects on professional development, humility in leadership and why learning together builds stronger educators. Intentional professional development is the foundation for growth and connection. In this episode of The Heartfelt Way, host Rhonda Meyers turns the reflection inward, sharing lessons learned on her professional journey.  She reflects on her early days as a director, when...

Learn what kindergarten readiness looks like and how social-emotional skills prepare children to thrive with Denise Palmer. What does it really mean to be ready for kindergarten? In this episode of The Heartfelt Way, Denise Palmer, an experienced pre-K teacher in Heartfelt Impressions’ Great Start Readiness Program, joins host Rhonda Meyers to reframe one of the most common worries families face:...