The Heartfelt Way

Rhonda Meyers

The Heartfelt Way opens the door to what quality early childhood education really looks like: messy play, big feelings, family-style meals, and all. Hosted by educator and leader Rhonda Meyers, each episode pulls back the curtain on the everyday moments that shape confident, curious kids and compassionate communities. You’ll hear stories from teachers, reflections from parents, and real-life insights from the classrooms of Heartfelt Impressions Learning Centers. It’s a place for parents, caregivers, and educators to laugh, learn, and see the magic in the small stuff—because raising and teaching children is joyful, unpredictable, and deeply meaningful work. Whether you’re dropping off your baby for the first time or leading a classroom full of preschoolers, this podcast is a gentle reminder that you’re not alone. Together, we’ll nurture, inspire, and support one another—because that’s what it means to live the Heartfelt Way.

  1. 2d ago

    Is My Child's Communication On Track?

    In this episode, Rhonda Meyers talks with speech-language pathologist Jodie Saba about how children develop communication, when a delay is worth watching and what parents can do to support communication development. The worry that your child isn’t developing “normally” is so real. And few areas of development can cause anxiety like speech and language. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers talks with speech-language pathologist Jodie Saba about how children develop communication skills, when a delay is worth watching and what parents can do to support communication development. Jodie breaks down the difference between speech, language and communication, three terms parents and teachers often use interchangeably. She also points out how working memory plays a big role in a child’s communication and executive functioning skills. Parents know their child best, and Jodie encourages them to seek out answers if they think something isn’t quite right. [00:23:20] "I am not a fan of the “wait and see” [strategy], and one of my biggest reasons why is because I believe that parents should trust in their gut instinct." Jodie explains that normal development happens across a range rather than a single milestone, and she shares the LEARN acronym for noticing real causes for concern. [00:33:35] "Observe your child. You know your child so well, but when we stop and we're present with those observations, we can really learn a lot because we're focused in on it." Jodie and Rhonda also talk through how teachers can raise a concern to parents with love and care, and why asking questions about your child is never the same as assuming something is wrong.

  2. Sep 30

    How to Help Children Choose Resilience

    Rhonda Meyers shares tools that help children, parents and teachers build resilience when things don’t go to plan. Sometimes things just don’t go our way. When that happens, we have a choice: Wallow in self-pity or get up and try again. In this solo episode, Rhonda shares how children (and adults) build resilience through everyday struggles. She shares three steps for helping kids through frustration: name it, stay near and let them try. [00:14:50] "One of the most powerful but really difficult things that we can do as adults is resist rescuing [children from struggle] too quickly." For teachers, resilience means asking for help and trying a different approach tomorrow. Rhonda adds that resilience should never be used to excuse unhealthy systems. She names four things that help adults bounce back from challenges: relationships, taking the first step, self-regulation and positive language. [00:33:52] "Very few people become stronger because someone told them to toughen up. We really become stronger when someone else communicates to us, ‘I see you. I see you struggling. I'm going to stay with you and I believe you can do this.’" You don’t have to parent perfectly to raise a resilient child. Pause, breathe and stay with your child in the struggle.

    How to Help Children Choose Resilience

  3. Sep 23

    Regulating All the Big Feelings (for Children and Adults)

    Pre-K GSRP teacher Phil Zott shares how parents and teachers can stay calm and help children work through big feelings. When a child is melting down, our first instinct is often to make it stop. But behavior is communication. There’s something underneath the behavior that needs our attention. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers talks with Heartfelt pre-K GSRP teacher Phil Zott about helping children through big feelings. Young children don’t always have the words for worry or frustration. Sometimes those feelings come out as crying or hitting while other children simply withdraw. Before trying to fix the problem, Phil connects with them first. He gets down on the child’s level and lets them know he’s there for them: [00:10:15] “I'm not here to just tell you how you're feeling. I'm here to help you understand how you're feeling.” That also means noticing your own emotions. If you need a moment to regulate before helping a child, take it. Then come back ready to connect. [00:33:54] “They are trying their best to regulate, . . . and it is our job to show and model how to regulate. . . . They will understand that love and we will get past it.” Rhonda adds that if adults connect before correcting, children begin to believe they have agency. They feel confident in solving their own problems. Ultimately, children want to feel safe. Helping them learn to navigate their emotions helps them know that they are.

    Regulating All the Big Feelings (for Children and Adults)

  4. Sep 16

    Lessons from a First Year Teacher

    GSRP teacher Katie Pannecouk reflects on her first year in the classroom and what helped her grow on the hard days. Nothing quite prepares you for the first year of teaching.  You’re learning who your students are, what they need and how to establish a good classroom flow all at the same time. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers talks with Katie Pannecouk after her first year teaching the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) at Heartfelt. Katie shares lessons learned, how she grew in confidence and what surprised her most. [00:10:36] “I didn't realize it was gonna be this hard. . . . Everybody just has different needs that you don't really realize until you have them all presented out in front of you, and you just go with it.” Katie found that leaning on experienced teachers and building relationships with families were indispensable. [00:20:35] “I think it really helped that I have that prior relationship with these parents, that I know not every time that I'm gonna talk to them, it's gonna be something negative, . . . so when the hard conversations did come, it helped that I knew them personally.” New teachers, a word to you: You do not need to have it all figured out. Give yourself time to grow and just keep showing up.

    Lessons from a First Year Teacher

  5. Sep 9

    Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten?

    Kindergarten readiness goes beyond academics. Learn what to look for and how to help your child be in the classroom that’s right for them. Deciding if your child is ready for kindergarten can feel so stressful.  Is my child ready? Is kindergarten what’s best for my child right now? How do I know? Rhonda Meyers talks with Young 5s teacher Teresa Thompson and kindergarten teacher Abby St. Aubin about those questions. They share decades of experience in what children need how parents can decide which classroom is the best fit. Teresa and Abby share that choosing between Young 5s and kindergarten largely depends on the child’s confidence in a classroom setting. If a child can be without their parents, express what they need and work through frustrations with peers, they’re showing signs they may be ready for kindergarten. [00:12:50] Abby: “You can have wonderful academic skills, but if you're not able to manage frustration or start to realize that not everyone thinks the same way as you . . . it's gonna be challenging in a classroom.” Parents can help their child prepare for the classroom in the weeks before school by visiting new places, having lots of conversation, and reading together. If possible, visit the school and playground beforehand. [00:27:58] Teresa: “Think about is your kid going to feel comfortable there? Make sure that you're doing what's best for them and not what looks good.” Kindergarten-readiness ultimately is doing what’s best for your child. If you’re worried about making the right choice, ask the principal and teachers for insight. They want to partner with you to help your child succeed.

    Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten?

  6. Sep 2

    Building Strong Teaching Teams

    Intentionality fuels strong teaching teams. Learn how trust, communication and shared responsibility create classrooms where everyone can thrive. A strong teaching team sets the tone for the entire classroom. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers welcomes longtime early childhood educator, coach and former Heartfelt team member Wendy Malkiewicz to talk about how to build strong teaching teams. Start by making the classroom shared. Divide responsibilities around each teacher’s strengths, plan together and make sure every adult is engaged in the life of the classroom. Wendy also recommends protecting 10 or 15 minutes every day for teachers to connect. Discuss what went well, what could be better and where children were most engaged that day. Collaboration creates opportunities to grow together. [00:11:31] “There is something to be said about a sense of belonging, not just for the children, not just for the families, but you have to grow that together as adults.” Strong teams also need room for honesty. Wendy remembers a time when her co-teacher recognized that something was wrong and created a safe space for a difficult conversation. Feeling heard changed the relationship. [00:33:20] “When it comes to kiddos, we talk about behavior being communication. It is no different with adults.” If a teammate’s behavior changes, Wendy urges teachers to pause, ask what is wrong and be willing to listen without filling in the story yourself. Teaching teams grow stronger when people have time to communicate, permission to be vulnerable and confidence that the person beside them will have their back.

    Building Strong Teaching Teams

  7. Aug 26

    What Happens When We Let Children Lead

    Heartfelt summer campers share what they learned about creativity, starting a business and problem-solving. Sometimes adults need to give children the space to see what they’re capable of.  In this episode, Rhonda Meyers hands the microphone to Heartfelt’s fourth- and fifth-grade summer campers. What started as a few friends making bracelets grew into a student-run business complete with marketing, a written proposal and plans to donate proceeds to a local charity. The campers shared how they learned to work with people who have different ideas. They disagreed over decisions and learned to compromise rather than abandon the project. One of the campers donated over 50 origami ninja stars to the business that he and his friend made the previous summer. His takeaway: [00:23:16] Gabe: “You can’t do much alone.” When bracelets sold faster than they could make them, the children learned how to pivot. They practiced speaking up, listening to one another and recovering when things did not go as planned — lessons that go beyond their summer business. [00: 27:19] Charlotte: “I'm most proud that everyone was working really hard and that they didn't force people to buy stuff.” Give children room to create and lead, and they will show you they are capable of more than we imagined.

    What Happens When We Let Children Lead

  8. Aug 19

    5 Ways AI Can Give Back Your Time

    AI can take some of the mental load off parents. Listen for ways to save time on meals, schedules and everyday decisions. So many little things have to happen to keep a family moving.  Meals need to be planned, appointments remembered and calendars coordinated.  AI expert, author and entrepreneur Ethan King joins Rhonda Meyers to share ways that AI can lighten parents’ mental load.  [00:09:54] “We lose so much time and we burn so many mental calories due to decision fatigue. AI can just help tremendously with lifting that load.” His first step is to teach AI about yourself. Share your preferences, give it feedback and use voice mode. The more context it has, the more helpful it will be. Ethan also shares three ways parents can use AI to reduce stress and decision fatigue: Plan meals. Tell AI your family's preferences, allergies and schedule. Ask for meals and a grocery list, then connect it to Instacart for delivery. Plan vacations. Share your budget, travel preferences and what your family loves to do. AI can build an itinerary and packing list. Organize health information. Create a dedicated project in AI for health records to help you prepare for medical conversations. Ethan emphasized that AI does not replace your doctor. [00:33:00] “Ask AI, ‘How else can you help me in my life? How can you help me achieve my goals? How can you help me have less stress? You tell me how to use you better.’” Parenting is about making the best use of the support you have. Let AI take on some little things so you have more of yourself to give your family. Resources Ethan King’s website “Done: Let A.I. Do Your Work So You Can Live Your Life” by Ethan King

    5 Ways AI Can Give Back Your Time
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About

The Heartfelt Way opens the door to what quality early childhood education really looks like: messy play, big feelings, family-style meals, and all. Hosted by educator and leader Rhonda Meyers, each episode pulls back the curtain on the everyday moments that shape confident, curious kids and compassionate communities. You’ll hear stories from teachers, reflections from parents, and real-life insights from the classrooms of Heartfelt Impressions Learning Centers. It’s a place for parents, caregivers, and educators to laugh, learn, and see the magic in the small stuff—because raising and teaching children is joyful, unpredictable, and deeply meaningful work. Whether you’re dropping off your baby for the first time or leading a classroom full of preschoolers, this podcast is a gentle reminder that you’re not alone. Together, we’ll nurture, inspire, and support one another—because that’s what it means to live the Heartfelt Way.

Information

  • Creator
    Rhonda Meyers
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Heartfelt Way