What if burnout isn’t just about exhaustion—but something much deeper? In this powerful episode, Julie and Ginger speak with Sheri Kreher, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Trauma, Illness, and Grief (TIG) Coordinator for 24 school districts in New York. Sheri brings two decades of mental health experience and a deep understanding of the emotional toll today’s educators are carrying.
Together, we explore the growing wave of vicarious trauma, moral injury, and systemic despair among school staff—and why the solution lies beyond individual self-care. Sheri introduces the idea of Active Hope—a framework that acknowledges the pain, honors the grief, and offers a path forward rooted in connection, validation, and systems change.
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “What’s wrong with me that I can’t do this job anymore?”—this episode will help you reframe that question and begin to heal.
________________________________________
In This Episode, We Explore:
• Why burnout in education is often a symptom of deeper, systemic wounds
• The role of moral injury and betrayal in driving educator hopelessness
• How vicarious trauma shows up—and why it’s not a sign of weakness
• What it means to practice Active Hope in school systems that feel broken
• How administrators can be a protective factor for staff
• Why naming, witnessing, and validating pain is essential to healing
• What it takes to build school climates of cohesion, care, and courage
"What looks like burnout is often unprocessed grief and betrayal. Educators don’t just need more resilience—they need to be seen, heard, and believed." — Sheri Kreher
________________________________________
Resources:
• Active Hope (by Joanna Macy & Chris Johnstone)
• Active Hope Book Link: https://a.co/d/6dZ6xbi
In this episode, we talk with Rick and Doris Bowman about their brand-new book, Your FBA is a Fantasy!: A Guidebook to Creating Truly Trauma-Informed, Neuro-Affirming Functional Behavior Assessments & Behavior Support Plans. Together, we unpack why traditional FBAs and behavior plans often fall short—and can even harm students—and what it takes to truly shift toward regulation- and connection-based supports that foster resilience and belonging.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
Why traditional reward-and-punishment systems miss the mark for kids with trauma or neurodivergence.
How to reframe “behavior” as an adaptive response—not defiance.
Practical brain-body truths from neuroscience, Polyvagal Theory, and HeartMath that educators can use daily.
Why adult nervous system regulation is the foundation for supporting students.
A message of hope and encouragement for teachers feeling exhausted.
This conversation is full of wisdom, compassion, and practical tools that can change the way we see—and support—our most vulnerable students.
Resources & Links:
Your FBA is a Fantasy! by Rick and Doris Bowman https://a.co/d/hYj5zoJ
Learn more about Team Bowman and Bowman Consulting Group https://bowmanconsultgroup.com/
“Parents Have Feelings, Too: Emotional Intelligence, The Change Triangle, and Healing Generational Patterns with Hilary Jacobs Hendel & Juli Fraga”
Parenting can bring deep joy—but also guilt, shame, rage, grief, and more. So what do we do with all those big feelings? In this powerful episode, Julie and Ginger sit down with Hilary Jacobs Hendel, author of It’s Not Always Depression, and Dr. Juli Fraga, psychologist and parenting educator, to discuss their brand-new book, Parents Have Feelings, Too: Using the Change Triangle to Listen to the Body, Discover Core Emotions, and Connect to Your Authentic Self (out September 23, 2025).
This book is a practical, research-backed, and compassion-filled guide to help parents recognize, work through, and grow from their emotions. Together, we explore how understanding your own emotionallandscape—through tools like the Change Triangle and the 4 Cs of Open-Heartedness—can break intergenerational patterns and build emotional intelligence in both you and your children.
From the hidden power of disappointment to how to befriend your defenses, this episode is full of insight, practical strategies, and affirming reminders that your feelings matter too.
In This Episode, We Explore:
A gentle, clear introduction to the Change Triangle and how it helps people process emotions
The 4 Cs of Open-Heartedness—and how they lead to greater emotional freedom
What’s underneath "parent burnout" and how to move through it with clarity
Why naming and noticing your defenses can unlock self-compassion
How understanding disappointment can transform your parenting
Ways parents can model healthy emotional processing for their kids
The role of unprocessed trauma in generational parenting patterns—and how to break the cycle
Tools for parenting through anxiety, guilt, grief, and more—with authenticity and skill
Parents Have Feelings, Too is an emotional wellness playbook for parents. Drawing from the Change Triangle framework and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Hilary and Juli provide tools to help parents identify, understand, and process emotions in real time—so they can respond with calm, confidence, and connection. Through exercises, client stories, and reflection activities, this book guides readers to become more emotionally attuned parents and more authentic versions of themselves.
“With 1 in 5 moms experiencing anxiety or depression, and over 60% of parents facing burnout, this book isn’t just helpful—it’s necessary.”
RESOURCES
Parents Have Feelings, Too: A Guide to Navigating Your Emotions So You And Your Family Can Thrive:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/788442/parents-have-feelings-too-by-hilary-jacobs-hendel/
Emotions Education 101 Class on Zoom for Parents:https://www.hilaryjacobshendel.com/education-cirriculum-content/emotion-education-101
Teens, Tweens and Caregivers Curriculum to provide anEmotions Education 2-hour Introduction:https://www.hilaryjacobshendel.com/workshops/teen-emotions-education-101%E2%84%A2
Print a PDF of the Change Triangle:https://www.hilaryjacobshendel.com/print-the-change-triangle
Change Triangle YouTube channel with tools:https://www.youtube.com/@TheChangeTriangle/videos
Follow Hilary: hilaryjacobshendel.com
Follow Juli: julifraga.com
In this episode of Regulated & Relational, hosts Julie Beem and Ginger Healy sit down with two fathers on a mission to transform the way families and schools understand neurodiversity—Carl Young and Joel Sheagren.
Carl and Joel are the co-creators of Embracing Hope: A Caregiver’s Guide to Neurodiversity, a groundbreaking book that bridges lived experience, creative storytelling, and research-based strategies to empower families raising children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and trauma.
👉 Get the book on Amazon: Embracing Hope 👉 Learn more about the project: embracinghopebook.com
This book challenges deficit-focused narratives, instead celebrating the strengths, creativity, and resilience that neurodivergent individuals bring to their families and communities.
Through a blend of:
Personal stories from caregivers and neurodivergent individuals
Fictional vignettes that illustrate everyday challenges
Evidence-based interventions that can be adapted to each family’s needs
…readers are invited to move beyond labels and see the unique gifts of every child.
In our conversation, Carl and Joel share:
Why they recognized a critical gap in resources for parents raising neurodiverse teens
How storytelling and character-driven vignettes help families engage with complex content
The surprising and transformative insights from Embracing Hope that resonate most with overwhelmed caregivers
How community, creativity, and advocacy can shift families from survival to thriving
This book is more than a manual—it’s a companion for families, educators, and allies who are seeking practical tools, renewed confidence, and the reassurance that they are not alone.
Join us for this inspiring conversation about resilience, advocacy, and the future of supporting neurodiverse children and families.
In this unforgettable episode, Ginger and Julie sit down with the one and only Barb Clark—a powerhouse trainer, parent, and advocate known for saying the things most people are too afraid (or too tired) to say out loud. With her signature honesty, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, Barb opens up about raising kids with complex needs, navigating Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and what it really takes to help families thrive—not just survive.
Barb shares her own parenting journey—including the very recent revelation of her own FASD diagnosis at age 56—and how it’s reshaped her perspective on everything from behavior to burnout. Together, we explore why traditional parenting strategies often backfire with neurodivergent kids, and how brain-based, compassion-rooted approaches can shift the entire family dynamic.
This episode is a must-listen for educators, caregivers, and anyone supporting children impacted by trauma, prenatal exposure, or hidden disabilities. It’s filled with relatable stories, regulation strategies you can use today, and more than a few laugh-out-loud moments.
Because as Barb says, “There is always hope—even if it’s buried under a pile of unfolded laundry.”
What FASD really is—and why it’s more common than most people think
How emotional regulation and brain-based strategies change the game for kids and caregivers
Why traditional behavior charts and consequences often fail neurodivergent kids
Barb’s personal journey—from raising a child with FASD to discovering her own diagnosis
Tips for educators and leaders working with students impacted by trauma or prenatal substance exposure
Practical, real-world advice you can use immediately
Why humor, honesty, and connection are essential parenting tools
Barb’s book, Raising Kids and Teens with FASD: Advice and Strategies to Help Your Family Thrive, will be released October 21, 2025.
In This Episode, We Explore:Preorder Barb’s Book: https://a.co/d/eDc38tv
In this foundational episode of Regulated & Relational, Ginger and Julie dive deep into attachment disorders—what they are, how they’re diagnosed, and the realities families face when raising children with these challenges.
From the history of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED) to the proposed Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD), Ginger and Julie unpack decades of evolving research, personal experience, and practical tools for caregivers and professionals. They also address the hallmark behaviors—like manipulation, triangulation, lack of empathy—and explore why these behaviors occur, and how to respond in ways that promote healing and connection.
This conversation is both honest and hopeful—acknowledging the challenges while sharing effective therapeutic parenting strategies, the importance of pacing and dosing nurture, and the long-term potential for growth and change.
The history and evolution of attachment disorder diagnoses in the DSM
How RAD and DSED differ—and why splitting the diagnosis has caused confusion
Prevalence rates and why research has been limited
How attachment disorders can be mistaken for, or co-exist with, autism
The why behind hallmark behaviors:
Manipulation and control
Triangulation between adults
Lack of cause-and-effect thinking
Low empathy
Therapeutic parenting strategies, including:
Offering limited, safe choices
Making implicit care explicit
Pacing and dosing nurture to build trust
Reducing chaos and avoiding power struggles
Why Developmental Trauma Disorder matters—and how it may fill gaps in our understanding of trauma’s impact on children
Hopeful outcomes and the critical importance of early intervention and ongoing support
Attachment & Trauma Network: www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org
National Institute of Health prevalence statistics (2023)
Reactive Attachment Disorder - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537155/ (Published: May 1, 2023)
Introduction to children's attachment - NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK356196/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537155/#:~:text=Epidemiology,Adolescent%20Well%2DBeing%2C%20No.
Research on RAD subtypes: Dr. Charles Zeanah (2004)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4342270/
ACEs Study: CDC ACEs Resources
In this enlightening episode, Ginger Healy and Julie Beem sit down with Diane Gould, LCSW, and leading voice in the PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) movement in North America. As co-author of Navigating PDA in America and Founder of PDA North America, Diane shares her deep expertise and personal journey—including her recent autism diagnosis—to help unpack the complexities of this misunderstood profile of autism.
Together, we explore what PDA is, how it differs from traditional views of autism and oppositional behavior, and why recognizing it matters so much. From practical strategies to systemic change, this episode is a must-listen for parents, educators, and professionals working with neurodivergent children.
What Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is—and what it isn’t
Why PDA is often misunderstood as oppositional defiance
The power of the distinction: “I can’t” vs. “I won’t”
The origin and mission of PDA North America
What effective support looks like for PDA individuals
Common misconceptions in schools and clinical settings
The importance of collaborative, flexible approaches
One small but powerful change you can make today
Navigating PDA in America By Diane Gould, LCSW is a groundbreaking guide for parents, educators, and clinicians seeking to understand and support individuals with PDA in a U.S. context. https://a.co/d/4HS7wy1
🌐 Connect with Diane Gould & PDA North America:📥
Website: https://pdanorthamerica.org/
info@pdanorthamerica.org
www.pdanorthamerica.org
learn.pdanorthamerica.org
facebook.com/pdanorthamerica
PDA North America Resources:
Don’t Miss Future Episodes!
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Let’s keep growing a trauma-informed, attachment-focused community. 💙
In this heartfelt and reflective episode, Julie Beem and Ginger Healy return to a profound conversation from Season 1 with the late Cissy White—trauma survivor, fierce advocate, and the originator of the term Joy Stalking.
As the world faces rising despair and isolation, Julie and Ginger explore what it means to stalk, savor, and sustain joy—especially in the face of pain, trauma, and fear. Drawing from Cissy’s wisdom, Brene Brown’s research, theological insights, and their own personal journeys, they unpack how joy can be a radical act of healing and resistance.
You’ll discover why joy is not the same as happiness, how trauma can block joy, and why cultivating even the tiniest moments of joy might just be one of the most important things we can do—for ourselves, our children, and our communities.
“Joy stalking is always healing and useful. It’s about savoring life through sensing, using my body, absorbing, feeling all the good stuff.” — Cissy White
“Joy isn’t the opposite of sadness. It’s the opposite of fear.” — Anne Robertson via Brené Brown
“Joy doesn’t betray but sustains activism… joy is a fine initial act of insurrection.” — Rebecca Solnit
“We can’t experience joy when we’re scanning for danger. Trauma blocks joy—but healing invites it back in.” — Julie & Ginger
In this thought-provoking episode of Regulated & Relational, Ginger Healy and Julie Beem invite you to explore the transformative power of empathy—not just as a personal virtue but as a vital, actionable skill that the world needs now more than ever.
Listen actively – Focus on understanding, not fixing.
Challenge your assumptions – Seek to understand those who are different from you.
Model empathy for children – Help them recognize their own feelings first.
Be compassionate with yourself – Self-awareness is the foundation for empathy.
“Empathy isn’t about imagining yourself in someone else’s shoes—it’s about listening deeply to their story and believing them.” – Ginger Healy
In this special birthday-themed episode of Regulated & Relational, we’re doing something a little different—and a lot more personal. Julie Beem is celebrating her birthday by inviting the entire ATN podcast team into the studio for a heartfelt and reflective conversation about birthdays, aging, and the complexities surrounding these milestones—especially for children impacted by early childhood trauma.
You’ll hear from Julie, Ginger, Lorraine, and Stephanie as they open up about their own birthday reflections, share meaningful life lessons, and discuss how birthdays can be both joyful and emotionally complicated—especially for children who have experienced trauma, loss, or displacement. Whether you’re a parent, educator, therapist, or someone who just loves a good reflection, this episode is both thought-provoking and full of warmth.
In this insightful episode of Regulated & Relational, hosts Ginger Healy and Julie Beem are joined by Ce Eshelman, LMFT—an expert in attachment, trauma, and therapeutic parenting.
With decades of experience as a therapist and adoptive parent, Ce brings both professional depth and personal understanding to this rich conversation.
Together, we explore the foundations of therapeutic caregiving, how trauma impacts a child's behaviors and relationships, and what caregivers, educators, and clinicians can do to better support healing. Whether you're a parent, therapist, or simply someone passionate about trauma-informed care, this episode is filled with wisdom, encouragement, and practical tools for supporting children from hard places.
What therapeutic parenting really means—and why it works
Common misconceptions about children with trauma histories
How traditional parenting approaches can fall short for these children
Practical ways professionals and extended family can support adoptive and foster families
Words of wisdom for overwhelmed caregivers—and why there is always hope
Ce Eshelman, LMFT is the founder of The Attach Place Center for Strengthening Relationships in Sacramento, CA. A passionate advocate for children from difficult beginnings, Ce is the creator of the Love Matters Parenting Program and author of two powerful books (links below). With over 35 years of clinical experience and lived expertise as an adoptive mom, Ce has helped countless families build connection, resilience, and healing.
Love Matters Parenting Program – Learn More
Drowning with My Hair on Fire: Insanity Relief for Adoptive Parents
20 Things Children from Difficult Beginnings Wish Friends and Family Knew
Today, we’re honored to sit down with a friend of ATN, Martin Ali Simms—a Neurosequential Sports Specialist, Mental Health Consultant, and Founder of The DOPE Coach Academy. Martin has dedicated his life to helping athletes and coaches tap into the healing potential of brain-based approaches, somatic practices, and trauma-informed care.
In this episode, we dive into:
🧠 What it means to be a Neurosequential Sports Specialist and how brain development intersects with trauma recovery in sports
💪 How somatic practices support healing in athletes (and non-athletes)
⚽ Why sports and movement are such powerful tools for emotional and mental wellness
🏆 The mission and philosophy behind The DOPE Coach Academy
💬 How coaches can foster environments of emotional safety and growth
🔍 The evolving conversation around mental health in the sports world—and what’s still missing
✨ Simple, practical ways anyone can use movement to begin their own healing journey
Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent, or simply curious about the intersection of mental health and physical movement, this episode offers inspiration and actionable insights.
Instagram: @thedopestcoach
Website: www.thedopestcoach.com
💬 “Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind—it lives in the body. And the body remembers.” — Martin Simms
If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share with someone who needs to hear it. And tag us when you’re listening—we love seeing how this community is growing through these conversations.
In this vital episode, Julie and Ginger dive into the intersection of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with trauma-informed practices. As DEI comes under political and cultural scrutiny, the hosts make the case that there is no trauma-informed approach without embracing DEI.
DEI is not optional for trauma-informed practice—it is essential.
Diversity includes more than race: gender, neurodiversity, age, ability, and lived experience.
Equity means adjusting systems and supports so everyone can thrive.
Privilege isn’t shameful—it’s an opportunity to advocate and build awareness.
Systems can either heal or harm—it's up to us to make them more inclusive.
Diverse environments enhance safety, fairness, innovation, and connection.
📚 Referenced Research & Resources:
Merriam-Webster Definitions
Diversity: “The condition of having or being composed of differing elements.”
Equity: “Fairness or justice in the way people are treated.”
SAMHSA’s Three E’s of Trauma
Event, Experience, and Effect
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Trauma and Violence
Greater Good Science Center – UC Berkeley
Article: Why Diversity Matters
Summary: Diversity enhances well-being, social connection, and community resilience.
Website: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu
uvonen et al. (2018) – UCLA Study on School Diversity
Title: Diversity and Peer Relations in Schools
Finding: Diverse classrooms foster safety, reduce loneliness, and encourage cross-race friendships.
Citation: Juvonen, J., Kogachi, K., & Graham, S. (2018). Psychological Science, 29(2), 230-241.
Kenneth Braswell -https://www.kennethbraswell.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/AttachmentTraumaNetwork
Email: info@attachmenttraumanetwork.org
In today’s episode of Regulated & Relational, Ginger Healy and Julie Beem are joined by a special guest, Cally Flox, a teaching artist, educator, and the lead author of A Teacher’s Guide to Resilience Through the Arts. Cally is the founding director of the BYU ARTS Partnership, where she works to enhance student learning and school culture by providing professional development for educators. With a wealth of experience teaching creative dance, integrated arts, and more, Cally brings a unique perspective to the conversation about supporting children impacted by early childhood trauma through arts education. Tune in to hear her insights on resilience, brain-compatible learning strategies, and the power of the arts in fostering healing and growth.
Harvard’s Thinking Routines
https://pz.harvard.edu/thinking-routines
Cally’s summer art conference
https://education.byu.edu/arts/arts_express
Brain Gym
https://breakthroughsinternational.org/programs/the-brain-gym-program/
Cally’s Book-Teachers' Guide to Resiliency Through The Arts
Resources Cally would like to share:
In this insightful episode, we sit down with educator, writer, and advocate Meghan Ashburn to explore how we can better support autistic students—both in and out of the classroom. Meghan shares her journey from teacher to autism advocate and how listening to autistic voices reshaped her entire approach.
We dive into:
Why general education teachers are crucial allies for autistic students
How schools can become more neuro-affirming and inclusive spaces
The importance of centering autistic perspectives in both parenting and education
Shifting away from behavior-focused strategies to more compassionate, neurodiversity-affirming support
📚 Resources Mentioned:
Beyond Behaviors by Dr. Mona Delahooke
Uniquely Human by Barry M. Prizant
The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
Meghan’s website: Not an Autism Mom
The Au-some Book Club – a community for learning alongside autistic voices
📝 Read Meghan's Articles:
"Gen Ed Teachers Hold the Key" – a powerful call to action for inclusive education
"Make the School Library More Accessible to Autistic & Disabled Kids"
In this episode of Regulated & Relational, Julie Beem and Ginger Healy discuss the concept of self-compassion, drawing insights from Dr. Kristin Neff's work. Dr. Neff, a researcher in the field, defines self-compassion as treating yourself with the same kindness you'd offer a close friend. She breaks it into three elements: mindfulness (being aware of struggles), connection (understanding we're not alone in challenges), and kindness to self (responding with warmth instead of self-criticism).
Julie shares her own struggles with self-compassion and how it can be difficult to confront pain, often either ignoring it or fighting it. Self-compassion, according to Dr. Neff, allows people to pause, acknowledge the difficulty, and respond with care.
Dr. Neff emphasizes that self-compassion isn’t just a feel-good idea; it literally rewires the brain by activating the parasympathetic nervous system and increasing emotional regulation. It improves mental and physical health, supports decision-making, reduces stress, and enhances resilience.
Julie and Ginger also provide five practical ways to incorporate more self-compassion into daily life, including mindfulness, self-care, journaling, connection with loved ones, and positive self-talk.
Supporting Resources
Dr. Kristin Neff
Dr. Neff’s books
Join Ginger and Julie as they wrap up the season by talking about brain lessons.
A little basic brain knowledge can go a long way in understanding behaviors and supporting children in your home or the classroom. Understanding brain development enables us to respond compassionately and helps children—and adults—thrive.
Brains grow from the bottom up and the inside out. Although babies are born with brain structures in place, the development and activation of areas of the brain happen sequentially - from the bottom up and inside out.
Brain development occurs sequentially, from the bottom up and inside out. Neural growth depends on environmental experiences, relationships, and developmental readiness—stages cannot be skipped. Chronic stress and trauma can disrupt this process, wiring the brain to expect stress and react to it intensely. However, due to neuroplasticity, the brain can adapt, heal, and reorganize itself, offering hope for those affected by trauma.
Building resilience involves managing stress through deep breathing, meditation, proper sleep, hydration, nutrition, and healthy relationships. Caregivers play a vital role by offering responsive, nurturing care that supports neural tuning (strengthening) and pruning (removing unused connections). These processes help children learn trust, self-regulation, and efficient learning. Storytelling also fosters brain development by soothing stress responses and enhancing connection.
Supporting Resources
Dr. Wendy Suzuki
Good Anxiety
Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett
https://lisafeldmanbarrett.com/
7 ½ lessons on the brain book
Dr. Bessel Van der kolk -Trauma Research Institute
https://traumaresearchfoundation.org/programs/faculty/bessel-van-der-kolk/
Jessica Sinarski- Light up the Learning Brain
Join Julie and Ginger as they speak with Dr. Lori Desautels
Dr. Lori Desautels has been an Assistant Professor at Butler University since 2016, teaching undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Education. The Applied Educational Neuroscience Certification, created by Lori in 2016, is specifically designed to meet the needs of educators, counselors, clinicians, and administrators who work with children and adolescents who have experienced adversity and trauma.
https://revelationsineducation.com/
Lori has written 6 books
https://revelationsineducation.com/the-book/
Register for her symposium here
https://www.butler.edu/education/education-neuroscience-symposium/
Register for her summer cohort certification in educational neuroscience here
https://www.butler.edu/education/graduate-programs/applied-educational-neuroscience/
Dr. Lori will be doing a 3-hour deep dive during our Academy Day/Pre-Con at our Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Conference in Feb in Atlanta! Register now!
Here are a couple of favorite takeaways from our episode that Lori beautifully teaches.
“Touchpoints are moments of connection that, when any of us feel heard and seen, just changes our biology. When someone sees, feels, or hears us…wow, that’s a lift. A dopamine hit or a serotonin hit. It feels so nourishing to us. “
“We have this beautiful nervous system, which is the brain and body, in constant communication; there’s this bi-directional highway. Our nervous system’s priority is survival. Anytime we sense or feel something in our environment, relationship, or experience that feels threatening or unsafe, our nervous system goes into a state of protection.”
Join Julie and Ginger as they speak with Anashay Wright, a national award-winning educator, speaker, consultant, and founder of Authentic Disruption and Disruptive Partners, a community-based leadership development program.
https://www.anashaywright.com/
Anashay describes her journey by telling a story of inclusive school leaders who surrounded her family with community resources when they were in need. She says that school and district leaders prioritized people over policy, which led to Anashay falling in love with helping children, and she is now paying it forward.
Here are some great takeaways from Anashay:
The curriculum can’t save you.
Brainwash them into greatness.
Use the community as a connector.
Use tech and AI to educate.
Kids don’t need Saviorism; they need servant leaders.
Kids can read! They read what they want. You can drive solutions with what kids CAN do. If they argue, teach them to argue like an attorney.
Beware of the cycle of impoverished thinking.
Give them the power to express themselves, and then listen to them.
Beware of deficit thinking that shames people.
What are the gifts and talents that you bring into the space?
Let them dream. Lead with what’s possible. It starts with the adult dreaming.
Make their vision your mission.
Lead with radical, disruptive love.
The question isn’t how we protect kids from trauma; it’s how we help them respond to it when they encounter it.
Our favorite quote from Anashay:
When we start to lead with what’s possible and the promise, shift our thinking, and actually believe in ourselves and then in our children, we will disrupt the system. Disruptive Innovation means building something better and ignoring what we currently have. In a classroom, that means if all the other teachers are writing kids up, I’m not going to write kids up. I’m simply gonna ask kids, “What’s wrong, what’s the solution, and how are you feeling?” The big and small moves you make every day when nobody is looking disrupt the system.
Join Julie and Ginger in speaking to Occupational Therapist, Kelly Mahler about Interoception and the body-mind disconnect.
Kelly teaches that as caregivers and educators, we should be curious without expectation of a response from the children we work with.
She also explains that we all have different internal experiences; our first step is to believe others and their experiences.
Kelly tells us that before we start working on helping and healing the body-mind connection, we really need to work towards a place of regulation and help that person feel safe in their body and environment.
Check out her website here:
And her Big Book of Interoception Games (and other resources) here:
https://www.amazon.com/Books-Kelly-Mahler/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AKelly+Mahler
