Voices of Your Village

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention when we think about becoming parents.We spend so much time preparing for the baby—reading the books, building the registry, thinking about birth—but not nearly as much time preparing for what it actually feels like to become a parent.In this episode, I’m joined by Nina Spears, and we’re digging into what it really looks like to prepare for pregnancy, birth, and those early postpartum days in a way that goes beyond information and into real-life support.We talk about why so many of us go into parenthood expecting to be in control—and what happens when we realize we’re not, how pregnancy can actually be a time to build the skills we’ll rely on later, and why things like nervous system awareness, communication, and flexibility matter more than any perfect plan.We also get into the pressure parents carry to “get it right,” how to shift out of that, and what it looks like to advocate for yourself so you can show up for your family in a way that feels grounded and sustainable.If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll figure it out when the baby gets here,” or you’re in the thick of early parenthood wondering why it feels harder than expected, this one’s for you.Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Nina: Instagram: @thebabychick Website: baby-chick.com Order the book:The Baby Chick Guide to Positive Pregnancy Podcast: Chick Chat Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about something I see in almost every classroom I walk into: calm corners.They’re everywhere. And on paper, they make a lot of sense. But in practice? A lot of teachers are telling me the same thing: it’s not working.In this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Habib, and we’re breaking down why. We talk about the biggest mistakes we make when setting up calm corners, why tools alone don’t change behavior, and what kids actually need in order to use those spaces in a meaningful way.We get into pre-teaching, modeling, and why this work has to go beyond the classroom and include families too. And we talk about what it looks like to build regulation skills in a way that actually sticks.If you’ve ever set something up with the best intentions and then wondered why it’s not landing, this one’s going to give you a really clear path forward.Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Sarah: Instagram: @thecalmcaterpillar Website: thecalmcaterpillar.com Podcast: Kid Development Network Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before we dive in: the breakdown of this episode includes a discussion of sexual assault. Please take care while listening. You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today I’m joined by Rebecca Geshuri to talk about something that shows up in motherhood whether we realize it or not: all of our different parts. We get into Internal Family Systems, or IFS, and how the different parts of us—like the anxious part, the perfectionist part, or the “I’m not good enough” part—can take over in parenting. We talk about why motherhood brings these parts to the surface so quickly, how social and internal pressures amplify them, and what it actually looks like to meet those parts with curiosity instead of trying to push them away. This conversation is about understanding yourself in a deeper way so you can show up with more calm, more compassion, and more connection, both for your kids and for yourself. Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Rebecca: Instagram: @rebeccageshurilmft Website: rebeccageshurilmft.com, secondstreetcollective.org Order the book: When Good Moms Feel Bad: An Empowering Guide For Transforming Guilt, Anxiety, and Anger into Compassion, Confidence, and Connectedness Postpartum Support International (PSI): https://postpartum.net Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today I’m joined by Jon Gustin, aka The Tired Dad. In this conversation, we get into what it really looks like to grow into parenthood, not just step into it. We talk about emotional regulation, breaking generational patterns, navigating partnership, and what it takes to show up for your kids in ways many of us didn’t experience growing up. Jon shares openly about his journey, including finding sobriety, and redefining what it means to be an engaged, present parent. This one is honest, grounding, and a reminder that we’re all learning as we go. Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Jon: Instagram: @thetireddad Website: https://tireddad.com/ Order the book: The Tired Dad: 100 Reflections on Showing Up for What Matters Most Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today I’m joined by Libby Ward—creator, author, and the voice behind Honest Motherhood—and this conversation is the kind that makes you feel a little less alone in your own brain.We’re talking about the mental load of motherhood, the pressure to be productive, and how hard it can be to rest even when your body is asking for it. Libby shares openly about self-doubt, overwhelm, and what it’s looked like to move from doing what she should do to actually listening to what she needs.We get into nervous system support, repair over perfection, and what it means to raise kids differently than we were raised—while still being human in the process.Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Libby: Instagram: @libbyward Website: www.libbyward.com Order the book: Honest Motherhood: On Losing My Mind and Finding Myself Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about the kids who often get missed. The ones who look fine on the outside, hold it together at school, and then unravel at home. The kids whose feeding struggles, big reactions, sensory needs, or shutdowns can get mistaken for defiance when what’s really happening is so much more nuanced. In this episode, I’m joined by Polina Shkadron, and we’re digging into what it looks like to truly support neurodivergent kids through the lens of relationship, regulation, and trust. We talk about feeding challenges, masking, sensory differences, executive functioning, and why believing the child’s experience changes everything. This conversation hit home for me as a parent, because so much of this is about shifting out of “How do I make this behavior stop?” and into “What is this child telling me about their experience?” And that shift matters at home, in classrooms, and in every relationship we have with kids. Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Polina: Instagram: @playtolearnconsulting Website: playtolearnconsulting.com Newsletter: https://playtolearnconsulting.com/resources/ PESI webinars mentioned: The “Not So Picky” Picky Eater Executive Functioning in Children and Adolescents Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before we dive in: this episode includes discussion of childhood mental health struggles and discusses suicidal ideation and self harm. Please take care while listening. You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about something that so many autism parents know in their bones but don’t always hear said out loud: sometimes what looks like defiance, aggression, or “too much” is actually overwhelm, burnout, anxiety, and a nervous system that cannot keep carrying what the world is asking of it. In this episode, I’m joined by Lisa Candera of The Autism Mom Coach, and we talk honestly about parenting an autistic child through anxiety, OCD, burnout, and big behaviors. We get into the difference between can’t and won’t, what it looks like when the strategies that used to work stop working, how our own nervous systems shape what happens next, and why support for the parent matters just as much as support for the child. This conversation felt especially powerful to me as the mom of an autistic child, because there is so much nuance here. There is grief, love, exhaustion, advocacy, and so much invisible labor. Lisa brings both lived experience and deep compassion to this conversation, and I think so many parents are going to feel less alone in it. Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Lisa: Instagram: @theautismmomcoach Website: https://theautismmomcoach.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-candera-949b3175/ Podcast: The Autism Mom Coach Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about something most of us were never actually taught how to do: healthy conflict. In this episode, I’m joined by Aly Bullock, a licensed marriage and family therapist, communication coach, and mom of three, and we’re getting honest about what happens when one partner leans into conflict and the other shuts down. We unpack why silence can feel just as loud as yelling, how to name tension in front of kids without making them responsible for it, and what real repair actually sounds like beyond a quick “sorry about yesterday.” We also dig into “accountability” and why what we’re really asking for, from kids and from partners, is the ability to understand impact. That shift changes everything-- at home, and out in the world. Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Aly: Instagram: @relationshipswithaly, @pairedapp Website: paired.com, relationshipswithaly.com Free trial & 25% off paired app: paired.com/alypodcast Aly's TALK Blueprint Course: https://www.relationshipswithaly.com/talk-blueprint Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we're going behind the scenes with two powerhouse early childhood educators who are working to shift school culture from the inside out. Kiley Linnell is the assistant director at one of Little Sprouts’ newest schools, and Alexandra Loos oversees systems-wide implementation across 41 programs. Together, we talk about what it really looks like to support teachers in real time—not just with one-off trainings, but with ongoing coaching and real tools that meet them in the moment. We explore how to help educators regulate their own nervous systems so they can show up for kids with patience and connection, and what happens when programs actually have a village behind them. If you're in early childhood or school leadership, this one is packed with takeaways to build a stronger, more sustainable culture. If this conversation sparks something for you, make sure to tell your kids' teachers about the Seed Teacher Summit, going live March 10th to 12th. It’s a free virtual event created to give educators the kind of ongoing support we talk about in this episode—tools to help them regulate, connect with kids, and feel less alone in the work. We’ll be featuring 18 incredible speakers who share our commitment to building schools where everyone—kids and adults—can thrive. You can learn more at seedandsew.org/summit. Alright folks, Lets dive in. Connect with Alex and Kiley: Website: https://littlesprouts.com/ Connect with us: Seed Teacher Summit- March 10-12! https://www.seedandsew.org/summit Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about those spicy ones. The kids who are big in personality, big in emotion, and big in challenging parents. Maybe you're raising one—or maybe you were one. I’m joined by parenting coach and author Mary Van Geffen, whose book Parenting a Spicy One is part memoir, part survival guide, and completely validating for the parents who feel like they’re doing everything “right” and still getting steamrolled by meltdowns, back talk, and constant negotiating. We talk about what it actually looks like to parent a strong-willed child, why traditional discipline often backfires, and how to stay connected even when your kid is pushing all your buttons. Mary brings humor, honesty, and so many practical tools to this conversation—and I think it’s one that so many of us need right now. Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Mary: Instagram: @maryvangeffen Website: https://www.maryvangeffen.com/ Order the book: Parenting a Spicy One Or, Preorder here to access Mary’s Affirmations Masterclass and the Meltdown Meditations for Moms: https://www.maryvangeffen.com/parentingaspicyonebook Are you a spicy one quiz: Here Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re diving into something that might just change your day-to-day parenting rhythm: independent play. If you’ve ever heard, “But I’m boooored…” and felt that mix of annoyance, guilt and overwhelm rise in your chest, this episode is for you. I got to sit down with Lizzie Assa, founder of The Workspace for Children and author of the new book But I’m Bored!: Discover the Power of Independent Play to Raise Confident, Resilient Kids. This is not a “just send them to the playroom” kind of conversation. Lizzie shares what independent play actually looks like at different ages, why it’s a key ingredient in raising confident, creative humans, and how to build it into your life—even if you feel like there’s no time and your kid never plays alone. We talk about quiet time, toy rotation, those tiny treasures your kid insists on keeping, and how to shift the energy around play in your home—without needing to overhaul your life. Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Lizzie: Instagram: @TheWorkspaceForChildren Website: WorkspaceForChildren.com Order the book: But I'm Bored!: Discover the Power of Independent Play to Raise Confident, Resilient Kids Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 confidence—not the “just love yourself!” kind, but the kind rooted in science, self-awareness, and actual conversations we can have with our kids.We dive into the difference between body literacy and body positivity, how to talk to kids about food without shame, and why it matters to meet every body with understanding.This is a conversation about equipping kids with tools and support, and helping them feel at home in the bodies they live in— whether they’re dealing with unexpected body changes, hurtful schoolyard comments, or the rising pressure to fit a mold, that, let's be honest, isn't realistic for most of us.Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Dr. Whitney: Instagram: @modernmommydoc, @raising.body.confident.kids Website: www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com Order the book: My One-of-a-Kind Body: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Me Podcast: The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 break down the nervous system and how you can understand yours and the humans around you. And then Rach and I have a discussion at the end in the breakdown all about this jazz. Please share this episode with a friend, share it with your child's teacher in school. Let's help everyone understand how the unique nervous system works because it is a game changer for moving through the world with more intention and less reaction, more response, and overall more regulation or access to it. All right, folks, let's dive in. Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices