Voices of Your Village

Welcome back to Voices of Your Village, and I'm so grateful to be sharing this conversation with you. If you’re raising bigger kids, those school-age humans navigating a world full of messages about what they should look like, eat, wear, or do with their bodies—this episode is for you. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Whitney Casares, pediatrician, author, and mom of two, to talk about real body confidenc...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today’s episode is one so many of you have asked for: how to navigate the rocky transition back to school after the holidays. And not just for our kids, but for ourselves, too. I’m joined by my friend Laura Petix, also known as The OT Butterfly. She’s a pediatric occupational therapist, a neurodivergent mom raising a neurodivergent kid, and the autho...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village. And honestly, if you're gonna listen to one episode of this podcast ever, I hope it's this one. This is so key to understanding self-care, to understanding self-regulation, to understanding how your child regulates and what's regulating versus dysregulating for them, for you. You get to hear the beginning of one of my workshops and it's really gonna brea...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we are rebroadcasting one of my all time favorite episodes. I got to sit down with someone I deeply admire—Dr. Stuart Shanker. His book Self-Reg was a game changer for me when I was teaching infants and toddlers, and honestly, it shaped so much of how I approach emotional development today. In this episode, we talk about what self-regulation re...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re diving into one of the most requested topics: what to do when rage takes over. I’m joined by parent coach Shelly Robinson to talk about what’s really happening when we lose it on our kids, why it feels so hard to stay calm during everyday routines like getting out the door, and how we can show up with more intention—even when our capacity...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today I got to chat with Leslie Forde about the unrealistic expectations of modern parenthood.  Leslie’s work is such a gift for those of us trying to do it all—and slowly realizing that “it all” was never sustainable in the first place. We talk about how burnout shows up, why moms in particular are feeling crushed under the weight of impossible sche...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re diving into a question that has so many layers: When does parenting actually begin? In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Littlefield—a therapist, mom of twins, and all-around incredible human, to explore how parenting starts long before birth. We talk about how our own histories, our inner child work, and our nervous systems all shape the...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we're bringing you a special rebroadcast of one of our most popular episodes. The village keeps coming back to this one, and for good reason. In this episode, Rachel and I dive into those moments when kids say things that feel rude, hurtful, or even shocking. We unpack why these behaviors often come from a place of dysregulation, what might be...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re diving into a conversation that so many parents are craving—but often don’t know how to start. I got to sit down with Dr. Hina Talib to talk about body image and development in the pre-teen years—those ages nine to twelve when so much is changing, inside and out. We explored how to navigate this stage with empathy, how to foster open comm...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re getting into something that hits deep for so many of us, especially around the holidays. You plan something special—a magical outing, a thoughtful gift—and you’re met with “Is that it?” or “What are we doing next?” It can feel like a gut punch. In this episode, we’re unpacking what’s really going on when kids seem to crave more—more stuff...

Before we dive in: this episode includes discussion of masturbation, sex and other adult topics. You're listening to Voices of Your Village and today's episode is such a treat. I got to sit down with Rachelle Bergstein to talk about her work on the incredible Judy Blume, and the impact her stories have had across generations. We talk about censorship, the importance of letting kids ask big questio...

You're listening to voices of your village. And today I'm joined by my incredible friend Dr. Tracy. She is a clinical psychologist, couples therapist, and author of the new book, You, Your Husband and His Mother. This was such a fun conversation. We got honest and had just compassionate conversation about what it looks like to show up as both a partner and a parent, while also navigating those tri...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today I’m joined by Devon Kuntzman, toddler expert and author of Transforming Toddlerhood. Devon and I dig into the beautiful chaos of the toddler years—what’s developmentally normal, what we often mislabel as “bad behavior,” and how we can meet kids where they are, not where we wish they were. We talk about boundaries, temperament, and why embracing...

You're listening to Voices Of Your Village, and today I'm joined by someone I deeply respect. Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, clinical psychologist and author of the brand new book Love the Teen You Have. In this episode, we dive into the often messy world of parenting tweens and teens. Dr. Lockhart and I explore how connection, not control, is the foundation for healthy, respectful relationships with ou...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today I get to sit down with my friend Jennie Monness, founder of the We Didn't Turn Out OK Podcast and fellow parent navigating the messy, meaningful work of raising tiny humans. In this conversation, Jennie and I talk about the dissonance so many of us feel between the parent we thought we'd be and the one we actually are. We explore what it means...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and I am so jazzed to share this episode with you because if you've ever worried about your child falling behind, wondered whether a diagnosis would help or hurt or felt overwhelmed by navigating learning differences, this one's for you. I got to sit down with Dr. Kelly Fradin, pediatrician and author of Advanced Parenting to unpack how we can support ou...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today I got to hang out with science journalist and author Melinda Wenner Moyer to talk about something that so many of us wrestle with-- how to talk to our kids about the hard stuff. From climate change to inequality, to violence in the news, it can feel overwhelming to know what to say, when to say it, or even if we should say anything at all. Meli...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today I'm joined by someone who brings humor, heart, and a whole lot of real talk to the parenting space. Caitlin Murray of Big Time Adulting is hanging out with us today. Caitlin's known for her brutally honest and hilarious take on motherhood. And in this episode, we get into what it actually looks like to treat our kids like the whole humans they...

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today's conversation is one I've been looking forward to for a long time. If you are raising boys or teaching boys, or frankly just care about the humans they're becoming, this episode is for you. I'm joined by Joanna Schroeder and Christopher Pepper, authors of the new book Talk to your Boys. We dig into how boys are being shaped by the culture arou...

You are listening to Voices of Your Village, and today's episode is such a grounding one. I got to sit down with my dear friend, Eli Harwood, who you may know as @attachmentnerd over on Instagram, to dive into a topic that comes up so often, school refusal. If you've ever had a kid clinging to the doorframe or break down in tears before drop off, or you've wondered when to push and when to pause,...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today's episode is such a treat. I get to sit down with my friend, Ash Brandin, educator, researcher, author of the new book, Power On, to talk all things screen time, video games, and what it really means to raise emotionally regulated kids in a digital world. Ash brings so much nuance and compassion to this conversation. We go beyond the usual scre...

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today I get to share a truly special conversation with someone I admire deeply—Lake Bell. You might know her as an actor, director, and creator, but in this episode, we connect as two parents navigating the beautiful, messy work of raising humans—especially kids who don’t always fit the mold. Lake and I dive into what it looks like to parent neurodiv...

Before we dive in: This episode includes detailed discussions of sex, porn and a brief mention of sexual assault. Please take care while listening. You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re tackling a topic that honestly makes me uncomfortable to even think about discussing with my kids. I’m joined by Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett to talk about how and when to talk...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today I get to hang out with Deborah Farmer Kris, who is a child development expert and the author of Raising Awe-Seekers: How the Science of Wonder Helps Our Kids Thrive, the I See You board book series, and the All The Time picture book series. Her bylines include CNN, PBS Kids, NPR's Mind Shift, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe magazine, and...

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and this episode was such a blast. We posted in stories on Instagram @seed.and.sew asking for your questions for Rach and I, pulled some questions directly from you to answer, and it was a blast, so we're for sure gonna do that again. Make sure you're following along @seed.and.sew. Also, if you're not following on your podcast app, make sure you hit foll...