In Season 2, episode 5 of Building Pathways to Healthy Minds, host Priscilla talks with Mary Jane Williams, Executive Director of Family to Family Network, about empowering families of children with disabilities. Together, they explore how inclusion, advocacy, and community support can transform fear into hope. Mary Jane shares her personal journey as a parent, her vision for creating truly belonging-centered schools and communities, and practical ways families can navigate the “system fog” with confidence.
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In this episode of Building Pathways to Healthy Minds, host Priscilla Bagley sits down with Dr. Natalie Fikac — an educator, counselor, and wellness consultant with more than 30 years of experience in teaching and school mental health. Dr. Fikac shares her inspiring journey from the classroom to her current work with the University of Texas and the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health.
Together, Priscilla and Dr. Fikac dive into the heart of emotional intelligence—exploring how parents, educators, and caregivers can nurture empathy, self-awareness, and compassion in children. Listeners will learn:
* How to help kids name and manage their emotions in healthy, constructive ways
* Why modeling mindfulness and self-compassion matters
* Simple, creative tools like vision boards and calm-down spaces that promote emotional wellness
* How embracing our own imperfections helps children build resilience and connection
Dr. Fikac reminds us that “we’re all doing the best we can”—and that true emotional growth begins with compassion for ourselves.
Learn more about her work here: https://wellnessfirstconsulting.org/about
In Season 2, episode 3 of Building Pathways to Healthy Minds, host Priscilla Bagley speaks with Missie Hills—engineer, mom of two, ChildBuilders Board Member, and leader with RedM, a global, volunteer-led movement fighting human trafficking.
Missie shares how her professional skills and personal experiences fuel her advocacy for children and families. Together, she and Priscilla explore how parents can protect kids from trafficking by teaching assertiveness, reinforcing body autonomy, and fostering open communication at home. They also discuss grooming tactics traffickers use, the warning signs to look for, and the importance of building trust so children feel safe speaking up.
This eye-opening and hopeful conversation reminds us that every parent, caregiver, and community member has the power to help children grow up safe, confident, and resilient.
In this episode of Building Pathways to Healthy Minds, host Priscilla Bagley welcomes mindfulness expert Dr. Ann Friedman to explore the theme of being with uncertainty. Together, they discuss how our brains are wired to protect us by overthinking and worrying, but this often fuels anxiety.
Dr. Friedman shares strategies to calm the mind and body, including mindfulness meditation, breathing techniques, exercise, and self-compassion practices. She explains how learning to sit with uncertainty—rather than fight it—can reduce anxiety, build resilience, and open us to more peace and connection in daily life.
Listeners will gain practical tools for managing both everyday worries and life’s bigger unknowns, while learning how to reframe safety as the foundation for love, connection, and well-being.
Listen to our prerecorded webinars with Dr. Friedman here: https://childbuilders.org/mindfulness-workshop/
Visit her website to learn more about her practice: https://www.mindfulbeinghouston.com/
In this episode, Priscilla sits down with Dr. Jay Woodward, professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University, to explore what really makes families strong. Together, they discuss family systems theory, the stages families move through, and the real-life challenges that shape family life.
From communication and commitment to crisis management and traditions, Dr. Woodward shares how theory and practice intersect—and why no single approach works for every child. He reminds us that while research can guide us, parenting is often “messy and beautiful,” requiring intuition, empathy, and flexibility.
Whether you are raising toddlers, teens, or navigating the “empty nest,” this conversation will encourage you to trust your instincts, strengthen family bonds, and see the beauty in life’s challenges.
Have you ever felt like you or your child learns differently, sees the world differently or reacts to situations differently? In this episode I sit down with Natalie Henderson, a longtime friend who found herself asking herself these questions eight years ago, and that started a beautiful journey of discovering more about herself, her son and parenting. Our conversation is on the topic of neurodiversity and twice exceptionality and how in parenting we are constantly assessing, reassessing, learning and changing. No matter where we are in that journey, we need support and community to help us through and sit with us on the hard days. Natalie gave us all kinds of amazing resources and strategies she has found useful.
Natalie Henderson, MPH is a public health educator, behavioral health strategist, and parentadvocate with over a decade of experience working at the intersection of mental health, education, and equity. She began her career at ChildBuilders, where she collaborated with the team on curriculum design and program delivery.As a parent of a neurodivergent child, Natalie brings both personal insight and professional expertise to her work. She has served in leadership roles across public health and education, most recently as Vice President of Partner Success at Cell-Ed, a mobile-first learning platform that supports underserved learners around the world. Her work focuses on helping organizations design inclusive, evidence-based strategies that meet people where they are.Natalie is also the founder of Radiant Catalyst, a consulting practice that supports small to medium-sized organizations align around shared goals, clarify roles and responsibilities,strengthen interpersonal relationships and build effective protocols and procedures. Her approach is grounded in empathy, systems thinking, and a deep commitment to equity.
In this episode, we sit down with expectant mother, Tamra Wilkerson, for an open-hearted conversation about the journey into motherhood. As she prepares for the arrival of her baby, she reflects on the emotional, mental, and relational shifts that come with pregnancy. Our discussion touches on the importance of community, small moments of connection, and the value of feeling supported through uncertain times. We will delve into hopes and dreams for our children and practical ways we can make those dreams a reality.
This episode we talk to Licensed Professional Counselor Rachael Frasier, as she reflects on her work with both children and adults and shares wisdom from her time supporting students in schools and beyond. She encourages parents and educators to slow down, be present, and practice listening to what kids are saying and noticing what makes them tick. From grounding exercises to planning ahead with our kids, she gives practical strategies for walking through anxiety and learning differences. Rachael reminds us that as our children grow and change, so do we—and staying curious and connected is one of the most meaningful things we can do.
In this heartwarming and eye-opening episode, we dive into the magic of childhood wonder with the author of Raising Awe Seekers: How the Science of Wonder Helps Our Kids Thrive. From slowing down time (yes, it is possible!) to embracing curiosity like it’s your kid’s job, we explore the four powerful tenets that reframe how we parent and educate.
With tangible tools, real-world examples, and a whole lot of soul, this conversation reminds us that raising thriving kids doesn’t require grand gestures—it’s about pausing to look at the stars, embracing the awe in everyday moments, and turning card games into core memories.
Let's live fully and embrace the beauty all around us!
In this episode, we chat with Liz — entrepreneur, mom, and ChildBuilders board member — about the powerful parenting skills she brings from the workplace to her home. From leading with empathy to building resilience through real-life challenges, Liz shares how treating kids like part of the team can make all the difference. Tune in for relatable stories, smart strategies, and a few laughs along the way!
ChildBuilders newest podcast "Being Mindful in a Fast-Paced World" explores the power of mindfulness and self-acceptance in a world that constantly pushes us to compare, perform, and conform. Join us as we dive into the importance of living in the present moment, engaging the five senses, and recognizing the beauty in our everyday surroundings. We learn mindfulness practices like cultivating compassion, gratitude, and being present as we shift our inner dialogue to embrace who we are, not who we’re told to be. Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone on a personal growth journey, this episode is a gentle reminder that it's okay to be perfectly imperfect.
Anxiety is one of the biggest "enemies of empathy". We have all been there- something happens with our kids, and instead of responding with empathy, we respond out of our own anxiety. How can we recognize and overcome that? This episode gives stories and strategies for doing just that and ways to stop the cycle from affecting our children and their futures. We also talk about how prevention and talking to our children about their anxiety from a young age is key, how we can't always fix anxiety but we can reframe it by talking through fears and giving them tools to feel calm such as singing, yoga, and breathing, and how we walk alongside them to teach them problem-solving skills to create healthier pathways in their minds to help them overcome anxiety.
We referenced 2 books to read with children to help on this journey:
The Whatifs, By Emily Kilgore
Wilma Jean the Worry Machine, By Julia Cook
In this episode, Gretchen and Priscilla explore key aspects of building resilience in children, particularly focusing on self-regulation, coping, stress management, and the development of agency. The conversation also delves into how children’s choices and actions have a meaningful impact on the world around them, and how instilling this understanding in kids can help them navigate challenges and persistence, which can lead to new opportunities and growth. Another strategy for building resilience is teaching our children problem-solving skills. Instead of immediately providing answers, we can reflect questions back to our children to help them think critically and problem-solve independently. This approach not only strengthens cognitive skills but also builds confidence. And there are so many ways to do this by simply playing with our kids!
This episode provides practical tools for parents and educators to help children build resilience by encouraging curiosity, independent thinking, and a positive approach to overcoming challenges as they craft their life stories. Priscilla referenced a book-
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
By: Mo Willems
As parents and educators, we hear the word "resilient" a lot and how important it is to raise resilient kids. But what IS resilience? How do we cultivate it? In this episode, we interview Gretchen Lash, educator and creative mind behind a lot of ChildBuilders' curricula. We share stories and practical strategies for instilling and talking about resilience in our everyday lives. In Part 1 of this two-part episode, we dive into what resilience is and how managing stress and cultivating agency are all important pieces of building resilience in our children. Grab a cup of coffee and join us as we discover the true heart of resilience.
As parents and caregivers, we all want our children to feel safe, confident, and empowered—but how do we teach them the skills to protect themselves? In this episode of Building Pathways to Healthy Minds, host Priscilla sits down with Becky Zech-Stephenson, a passionate educator and counselor with over 38 years of experience, to dive into real-world strategies for keeping kids safe—physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Together, they explore the Stand Strong • Stay Safe curriculum, which helps children recognize unsafe situations, set boundaries, and speak up for themselves. They discuss how teaching assertiveness can be life-changing, why it is critical to identify trusted adults, and how parents can create a home environment where children feel heard and supported.
This conversation is packed with practical tips, powerful insights, and personal stories that will leave you feeling equipped to guide your child through life’s challenges. Do not miss this essential discussion on building confidence, resilience, and safety skills in the next generation!
Next episode: Raising Resilient Kids—What Is Resilience and How Can We Build It in Children?
Ever wondered how to cultivate a nurturing home? What does that even look like? What are the enemies of empathy and why do we parents sometimes struggle to react how we want to? And in the midst of it all, how do we care for ourselves while caring for our families? Our panel of experts and just genuinely nice people will answer those questions. In this 2 part series, we talk about parenting with empathy, connection and keeping communication open throughout childhood into adulthood. If you want to find a little grace, warm conversation and stories of failures and successes in parenting, join us!
Part 2 of this series focuses on "Yes Spaces," repairing your relationship with your children, and getting "messy" in parenting.
Learn more about ChildBuilders at our website:https://childbuilders.org/
Ever wondered how to cultivate a nurturing home? What does that even look like? What are the enemies of empathy and why do we parents sometimes struggle to react how we want to? And in the midst of it all, how do we care for ourselves while caring for our families? Our panel of experts and just genuinely nice people will answer those questions. In this 2 part series, we talk about parenting with empathy, connection and keeping communication open throughout childhood into adulthood. If you want to find a little grace, warm conversation and stories of failures and successes in parenting, join us!
Learn more about ChildBuilders at our website: https://childbuilders.org/
