The Leading for Children Podcast

Listen in for a conversation with Allison Klingmann , mom, educator, artist, and community advocate. Together, we’ll explore how we authentically move through complex emotions and find the resilience to show up for ourselves, our families, and our communities during uncertain times. Join us for a National Conversation on April 16, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET! You can learn more about this event and registe...

Listen in for two thoughtful conversations about belonging—one with Natasha Kile, mother and Past President of the Arkansas Early Childhood Association, and another with Adriana Loson-Ceballos, mother, philanthropy consultant, researcher, and evaluator. Together, we explore how belonging is shaped in everyday relationships, begins with our own self-awareness and agency, and lays the groundwork for...

Listen in for a rich conversation with mother and clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer Rocks, as she offers an accessible guide to emotional regulation . Explore the power of this skill in nurturing healthy relationships, hear strategies for practicing it yourself, and learn ways to support children in co-regulating—creating spaces where everyone can thrive.

In this episode, LFC’s Executive Director, Nichole Parks, and Executive Assistant, Amy White, reflect on the role intention has played in shaping their work together—and the ripples that have followed. They show that practicing intention isn’t a lofty ideal or an extra task on a to-do list, but a simple, powerful tool we can draw on in moments throughout the day—one that helps us thrive, and to cr...

In this episode of the Leading for Children Podcast, Nichole Parks and Julia Connolly have an inspiring conversation with Kaylee Phillips, a dedicated Arkansas teacher of adolescents who leads with her values—modeling integrity and empowering her students to find their voices. From guiding young people to reflect on their choices to creating spaces where they feel fully seen, Kaylee is the kind of...

In honor of the Month of the Military Child in April, we spotlighted two powerful voices from our Humanity First community: KiOwana Phillips, a U.S. Army Sergeant Major and mother, and Shannon Newman, a mother, military spouse, and LFC team member. Through their stories, they offer meaningful insight into what it looks like to show up for military children —fostering a sense of safety, support, an...

In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, we hear from father and son duo, Jonathan and Noah Fribley, as they share the tender, yet powerful story of their relationship—its beautiful and challenging evolution over its multi-decade course. Storytelling can be life-changing. As we express our truths and listen to those of others, we have a profound opportunity to be known, to know others...

In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, we hear from a courageous lineup of mother-daughter duos who are deeply committed to embodying mutuality in their relationships with one another. Each duo brings authentic moments of connection, their beautiful and messy humanity, and unique and uplifting insights into how they perceive their relationship as a partnership based on equity, kindne...

In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Kyson Bunthuwong, Vivian Matalon, and show producer Julia Connolly for a timely conversation about how kindness, empathy, and respect are among our greatest human strengths—and what a world grounded in these values might look and feel like. To learn more about the Humanity First Model, devel...

Episode Notes: In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Shannon Bracamonte, Program Operations Director at the Early Childhood Services Center at the University of New Mexico. Shannon shares about her experience bringing the Humanity First Model into her community, emphasizing how awareness of who we are and intention in how we sho...

In the premiere episode of The Leading for Children Podcast’s second season, show producer Julia Connolly revisits highlights from a compelling conversation in Season 1, Episode 3. Hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Leigh Sargent, Preschool Development Grant Supervisor at the Mississippi Department of Education K-12 (at the time of this recording, Leigh was the Executive Director of...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Tsundzukani Whatsi, Wildlife Tracker at Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa. Together, they engage in a dynamic conversation about what it can look and feel like to have and cultivate actionable learning experiences, as well as how they support inspired, capable, and thriving communities for children. Tsundzukani shares how...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by mother, wife, and LFC’s Former Chief of Staff, Gretchen Henderson, for a conversation about what it can look and feel like to have and cultivate exploratory learning experiences, and how this helps to create thriving communities for children. Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Jill Gunderman, mother, wife, community member, and Associate Director for Strategic Alliance, and Julia Connolly, daughter, sister, friend, and LFC’s Development and Communications Associate, for a conversation about what it can look and feel like to have and cultivate meaningful learning experiences, and how this helps to cr...

In this episode, hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks welcome partners and co-parents, Beth Brett, an architect and project manager, and Meghan Kelley, a psychologist, for a conversation about what it can look and feel like to cultivate respectful emotional and physical environments, and how this helps create thriving communities for children. Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thrivi...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by fellow LFC Team Members Shannon Newman, also a mother, grandmother, and wife, and Serene Stevens, also a mother and wife, for a conversation about what it can look and feel like to cultivate organized emotional and physical environments, and how this helps create thriving communities for children.   Show notes: LFC's book...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Joelle Wheatley, member of LFC’s community and mother of four and six-year old children, and Maria Rosado, Montessori Teacher and LFC Facilitator, for a conversation about what it means to cultivate and be in calm emotional and physical environments, and how this helps create thriving communities for children. Show notes: LFC'...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks sit down for a conversation about what it means to cultivate and be in safe emotional and physical environments, and how this helps create thriving communities for children. Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available for purchase here . Nichole shared a quote that she holds onto from one...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Beverly Erdmann, Former Administrator at Department of Defense Education Activity, for a conversation about what it means to be in two-way relationships and interactions and how this helps create thriving communities for children. Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available f...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Casey Sims, Former Learning Network Member and Teacher at Jubilee Co-operative Preschool in Bluffton, South Carolina for a conversation about what it means to be trusting in our relationships and interactions and how this helps create thriving communities for children. Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Leading for Children Senior Program Leader Jonathan Fribley and Marneshia Cathey, LFC Board Member and Director and Founder of the West Point Christian Preschool in Hattiesburg, Mississippi for a conversation about what it means to be open in our relationships and interactions and how this helps create thriving communities for...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Carol Barton and Tanya Taylor, Project Director and Project Coordinator for the Early Childhood Program at the Marin County Office of Education, for a conversation about what it means to be honest in our relationships and interactions. Show notes Honest is the first of LFC’s 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for C...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Leigh Sargent, Executive Director for the Tallahatchie Early Learning Alliance in the Mississippi Delta, for a conversation about the Humanity First Model, developed by Judy Jablon. Show notes The words we use to talk about people and describe their circumstances can center or diminish their humanity. In this episode we mentio...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Leading for Children's Senior Program Manager Jonathan Fribley for a conversation about commitment – what it means to us and why it matters that we model it for children. Show Notes Judy mentions LFC's Link and Weave technique. This practice allows us to deepen individual and group learning by integrating ideas that have been...

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Leading for Children Program Leaders Serene Stevens and Jonathan Fribley to discuss the impact of modeling behavior for children and the way children can thrive in relationships with the important adults in their lives.