Empowered to Connect Podcast

Empowered to Connect
  • 4.9 (119)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

The Empowered to Connect Podcast a place where we come together to discuss an attachment rich, healing centered approach to engagement and well being for ourselves, our families and our communities.

  1. [E240] Your Summer Survival Guide

    Jun 16

    [E240] Your Summer Survival Guide

    Summer is here, and Jesse and Tona are keeping it real: they love summer, and it also asks a lot of them. In this episode, they sit down (virtually, because summer pivots happen to hosts too) to talk honestly about what it actually feels like to parent through the loss of structure — and what it can look like to find your footing in the middle of the season. They cover everything from the emotional load working parents carry when school lets out, to practical ideas for younger kids and teenagers alike. Whether your summer is high-energy or gloriously low-key, this conversation is a permission slip to stop trying to curate someone else's summer and start trusting your own. In this episode: Why summer can feel like something you have to survive even when you love it The difference between structure and rigidity — and why predictable rhythms matter for kids Practical, low-cost ideas for younger kids The "summer of ___" concept for kids & teenagers Boredom tolerance as a regulation skill — and what to do when your child genuinely can't self-entertain Resources & Mentions: ETC Summer Survival Kit Use Scaffolding - Free downloadable, Podcast Episode 90 & Episode 147, and we just wrote about this in our newest ETC Newsletter! The Lazy Genius Collective / Kendra Adachi Inside Out 2 (the character Ennui) Chapters (00:00:00) - How to Survive the Summer(00:02:40) - How Do You Feel About Summer?(00:06:55) - How to Plan for the Summer(00:12:15) - Summertime Work and Life Balance(00:14:35) - How To Survive Summer(00:17:07) - How to Plan Your Summer Survival Guide(00:20:55) - What's Your Summer Plan?(00:25:12) - What Makes Summer Feel Like Summer?(00:30:26) - Summer Plans for Your Kids(00:38:04) - When You Can't Help But Remember Your Hooligans(00:39:13) - Summer Is For Me(00:45:59) - How to Survive A Summer With Kids(00:49:36) - I Wish Bored Kids Could Be Tolerated(00:54:58) - Bored Kids: How Do They Regulate Their Mind?(00:58:55) - How to Deal With Bored Kids This Summer(01:03:12) - A message for the summer(01:04:33) - summer Survival Kit

    1h 6m
  2. [E239] Replay Let's Talk About Lying with Robyn Gobbel

    Jun 2

    [E239] Replay Let's Talk About Lying with Robyn Gobbel

    Why do kids lie, even when the truth would have been easier? This week, we’re replaying an oldie but a goodie: Let's Talk About Lying with Robyn Gobbel. Lying is usually about fear and felt safety, not character. This one will change how you respond. Chapters (00:00:04) - Summer Survival Kit(00:01:29) - Robin Goble on Lying(00:04:08) - We Only Lie Because It's Okay to Tell the Truth(00:10:29) - How to regulate the stress brain(00:14:49) - Don't Ask Your Child If He Did or Didn't Take Out(00:20:57) - Talking About Lies With Kids(00:26:30) - When Your Child Lies, It's Not Your Fault(00:32:18) - How to Talk to Your Child About Sexual Abuse(00:35:17) - How to Train a Child to Tell the Truth(00:39:24) - Real Talk About Lies(00:43:02) - A Parent's Advice On Love and Connection(00:46:40) - How to Parenting After Trauma (

    49 min
  3. [E238] Replay Understanding the Brain, Body, Behavior Connection with Mona Delahooke

    May 19

    [E238] Replay Understanding the Brain, Body, Behavior Connection with Mona Delahooke

    Catch the replay! Mona is a Pediatric Psychologist and the author of Beyond Behaviors, among several other books. If you've ever read Beyond Behaviors, you know how brilliant she is! In this episode, we talk about the Brain - Body - Behavior connection and why it is absolutely essential for parents and caregivers to understand. Struggling with perplexing behavior in your home? This may be the episode you've been waiting for. We also talk about Mona's book that was published in 2022. Wanna learn more from Mona? Buy her book Beyond Behaviors here, sign up for the Beyond Behaviors course Mona teaches here or head on over to her website to learn more about her there!

    41 min
  4. [E237] When You’re New to Supporting a Foster or Adoptive Family

    May 5

    [E237] When You’re New to Supporting a Foster or Adoptive Family

    Episode 237 is live! ️ If someone you love is in the middle of a new placement (whether that's a newborn, a toddler, or a teenager), this one is for the people standing beside them. Tona, Becca, and Jesse get practical about what it actually looks like to show up well for foster and adoptive families. Not just in the first week, but in the long haul. What's the most meaningful thing someone did for you (or that you did for someone else) during a new placement?

    48 min
  5. [E236] When You're New to Walking Together as Adoptive/Foster Parents

    Apr 21

    [E236] When You're New to Walking Together as Adoptive/Foster Parents

    Community can feel different when your parenting journey looks different. Sometimes your circle shifts. Sometimes it shrinks. And sometimes it stretches you in ways you didn’t expect. But here’s what’s true: you are not the only one figuring it out as you go. Ask for help. Say the honest thing. Find people who truly get it, and hold onto the ones who love you even when they don’t fully understand. Your community might not look how you imagined, but it can still show up for you, support you, and grow with you. To learn more about Empowered to Connect, check out our website, follow us on social media and YouTube!

    57 min
  6. [E235] When You’re New to Parenting through Adoption & Foster Care

    Apr 7

    [E235] When You’re New to Parenting through Adoption & Foster Care

    In this episode Becca, Jesse, and Tona walk us through what it looked like for them at the beginning of their parenting journey. Starting foster care, adoption, or any new parenting role can feel disorienting and overwhelming. It won’t always feel natural or easy, and you may not feel an instant connection. That’s normal! There will be stress, uncertainty, and moments where you question yourself, but that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. What matters most is showing up consistently, being willing to learn, and creating a sense of felt safety over time. You don’t have to be perfect to make a real difference. Your steadiness and presence is what builds trust. To learn more about Empowered to Connect, check out our website, follow us on social media and YouTube!

    59 min
  7. [E234] When Protection Becomes a Prison: Breaking Down the Wall Between Us with Sherry Varughese

    Mar 24

    [E234] When Protection Becomes a Prison: Breaking Down the Wall Between Us with Sherry Varughese

    Let’s talk about the “Wall Between Us”, the invisible, protective bricks we build from past hurt that quietly block connection with the people we love most. Our snapping, withdrawing, overreacting, and people-pleasing once protected us. But what if they’re now keeping us stuck? Healing doesn’t start with fixing our kids. It starts with noticing our own “shark music;” noticing what is keeping us from connection. This conversation is about compassion over shame. Curiosity over judgment. And small, daily shifts that break generational cycles. Every brick you take down builds something better for the next generation. To learn more about Empowered to Connect, check out our website, follow us on social media and YouTube!

    41 min
  8. [E233] Why the Best Teachers Lead with Connection with Marti Smith & Amie Huggins

    Mar 10

    [E233] Why the Best Teachers Lead with Connection with Marti Smith & Amie Huggins

    What if connection is one of the most powerful tools in the classroom? In this episode, Marti Smith and Amie Huggins join us to share about their new book The Connected Classroom and what they’ve learned working with educators inside real school systems. They talk about why building trust with students matters so much—and how connection creates the safety kids need to engage, learn, and grow. If you’re a teacher, caregiver, or anyone who cares about helping kids thrive at school, this conversation offers practical encouragement and hope for creating classrooms where students feel safe, seen, and ready to learn. To learn more about Empowered to Connect, check out our website, follow us on social media and YouTube! Suppoort Amie and Marti by ordering their book.  https://a.co/d/098ZnA1F To reach Amie, check out the information below. Website:  www.amiehugginsconsulting.com Email: Amie.arhllc@gmail.com Instagram: teacher_amie49 To reach out to Marti, check out the information below. Website: www.creativetherapies.com

    57 min
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4.9
out of 5
119 Ratings

About

The Empowered to Connect Podcast a place where we come together to discuss an attachment rich, healing centered approach to engagement and well being for ourselves, our families and our communities.

Information

  • Creator
    Empowered to Connect
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    257
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2020 Empowered to Connect
  • Show Website
    Empowered to Connect Podcast

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