The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast

🏕️ In the final episode of our SEL Summer Camp series, we bring together everything we’ve explored about the middle school years: the developing adolescent brain, screens and environment, emotions, anxiety, anger, resilience, identity, and belonging.
This episode is about understanding the whole middle schooler.
😳 Behavior does not happen in isolation. It happens inside a developing brain, a body, a family, a peer group, a school, a culture, and a community. When we stop asking only, “How do I stop this behavior?” and start asking, “What is happening with this kid?” we begin to see children differently.

Along the way, I take you back to Camp Sycamore Hills and some of the people and stories that shaped the way I think about kids and community: the mysterious one-eared rabbit, Rich and his Great Pyrenees, the Art Barn, Tractor Girl, the legendary kitchen manager who called me “Astor,” and the Shero Award that still reminds me to look out for the underdog.
We also talk about the power of music and memory, including why hearing Des’ree’s “You Gotta Be” still takes me straight back to that campfire and reminds me of the kind of person I want to be.
If you are raising, teaching, counseling, coaching, or simply trying to understand a tween or young teen, this episode is a reminder that middle schoolers are not finished products. They are growing people who need room to practice, make mistakes, recover, and know they still belong.
Because healthy communities do more than manage behavior.
They help build people.
🍪A huge thank-you to Jessica Ragnio & founder Dr. Jason Kahn for spending so much of SEL Summer Camp with us!

💰Use code MARYPOPPINS for 15% off Mightier. Learn emotional regulation through video games. Suzanne does not make any profit from Mightier. Just collabbing! 😁
And remember:
🏕️There is always room for the underdog around our fire.
We’ve been saving you a seat.
Next episode: We’re exploring the surprising strengths and “secret superpowers” that can sometimes develop from growing up in a difficult or emotionally complex childhood—and how those survival adaptations can become powerful tools with insight and healing. After that, “Spotlight People” & Ego! 🍿
#MiddleSchoolMaryPoppins #MiddleSchoolParenting #ParentingTweens #SocialEmotionalLearning #EmotionalRegulation #MiddleSchool #AdolescentBrain #TweenParenting #Resilience #Belonging #ChildDevelopment #BehaviorIsCommunication #ConnectionBeforeCorrection #MentalHealth #ParentEducation

This is the website at www.msmarypoppins.com or email Suzanne:
Suzanne swain@gmail.com for inquiries, listener questions, and just to say hello!

🍎Apple Listeners: The show’s ratings were hacked & dropped to  3.1 rating from 4.9. It is under investigation currently. If you could help out & provide a positive star rating, it would mean everything! So grateful! Best, Suz & Steve🐶
—————————————————-In this special Deep Dive episode, Suzanne is joined once again by therapist Jessica Ragnio, MSW, LICSW, for one of the most important conversations of the Summer Camp series. Together, they explore what is really happening beneath explosive behavior—and why anger is so often protecting something much more vulnerable. 💜
Using Hawaiian volcanoes 🌋, ocean currents 🌊, and stories from Suzanne’s years in the middle school classroom, this episode unpacks the science and psychology behind emotional regulation in a way that is practical, compassionate, and surprisingly hopeful.
🧠 In this episode, you’ll discover:
• Why anger is often a secondary emotion
 • What happens inside the brain during emotional reactivity
 • How the amygdala can hijack logical thinking
 • The power of co-regulation—and why connection comes before correction
 • How to recognize the body’s warning signs before an emotional eruption
 • Why regulation is not about suppressing feelings
 • How to help tweens build awareness instead of shame
 • Practical strategies parents, educators, and caregivers can use today

FREE ACTIVITY FROM MIGHTIER:
⛑️Anger Volcanoes: Strategies to help   Effectively Deal with Teen/Tween Anger: 
https://www.mightier.com/resources/7-effective-anger-management-activities-for-kids/
Along the way, Suzanne shares personal stories, educational insights, and a few adventures with Lieutenant Steve and the Coconut Kingdom 🐾🥥—because learning does not have to be boring.
Whether you are raising a tween, teaching one, counseling one, or trying to better understand your own emotional responses, this episode offers science, encouragement, practical tools, and plenty of hope. 🌈
Because, as always…
💜 People grow best when they know they belong.
🏕️ Special thanks to our Summer Camp sponsor, Mightier!
 Visit Mightier.com and use code MARYPOPPINS to save 15%. Suzanne does not receive payment for Mightier, as she loves the system!
🎙️ Hosted by Suzanne M. Swain, EdS LMSW
 🌂 The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast
 ✨ Stop. Regulate. Listen.
🎧 A heartfelt thank-you to my incredible producer, Janine Stella of StellaMix. Your creativity, talent, and countless hours behind the scenes help transform these conversations into something truly special each week. Thank you for believing in this mission and helping bring The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast to families around the world. 💜

SEO Topics
Middle school anxiety • Cognitive distortions • Parenting tweens • Tween mental health • Emotional regulation • School anxiety • Adolescent brain • Friendship drama • Self-esteem • Parenting middle schoolers • Social Emotional Learning (SEL) • Executive functioning • Neurodivergent children • Autism • ADHD • Anxiety in girls • Anxiety in boys • Parenting podcast • Teacher resources • Family mental health • Brain-based parenting • Cognitive behavioral strategies • Middle school behavior

Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
Support the show

🍎Apple Listeners: The show’s ratings were hacked & dropped to  3.1 rating from 4.9. It is under investigation currently. If you could help out & provide a positive star rating, it would mean everything! So grateful! Best, Suz & Steve🐶
———————————-
🌱 Garden of Weedy Thoughts: Helping Middle Schoolers Bust Cognitive Distortions & Calm Anxiety
Why does your middle schooler suddenly believe everyone is judging them? Why can one awkward interaction at school turn into “Nobody likes me!”? And why do worries seem to grow so quickly during adolescence?
Welcome to the strange garden of the middle school brain.
In this week’s episode of Middle School Mary Poppins, Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSW, is joined by Jessica Ragnio, MSW, LICSW, Clinical Director at Mightier, to explore one of the most important mental health concepts parents can teach their children: cognitive distortions—the thinking traps that make anxiety feel real, even when our thoughts aren’t telling us the whole story.
Using a whimsical garden metaphor, Suzanne explains why middle school isn’t just a grade level—it’s a culture. Together, Suzanne and Jessica discuss how anxiety quietly plants “sticky weeds” in our minds, why belonging becomes so important during adolescence, and how parents can help children recognize these unhelpful thought patterns before they take over the entire garden.
🌸 In This Episode You’ll Learn
🌷 What cognitive distortions are—and why they feel so believable.
🌼 Why anxiety often shows up as stomach aches, headaches, perfectionism, school avoidance, or irritability.
🌺 How girls and boys may experience anxiety differently during adolescence.
🌻 Why friendships, cliques, and social belonging feel so overwhelming in middle school.
🪻 How thoughts, emotions, and behaviors work together to shape our experiences.
🌹 Practical ways to help children challenge anxious thinking with curiosity instead of fear.
🌿 Why Stop. Regulate. Listen. is a brain-based strategy that helps kids regulate emotions before solving problems.
🌱 Free Family Activity
Continue today’s conversation with the Garden of Weedy Thoughts family activity from Mightier:
https://www.mightier.com/resources/weeds-badge-activities/
💜 Special Offer from Mightier
NOTE: Suzanne is NOT being paid by them. She simply loves what they do for  for and the research behind it. An evidence- based way to help your child build emotional regulation skills? They created a video game tablet where the game uses heart rate information to include that in the gameplay where regulation is taught by the video game itself! Self-sufficiency is good! My neighbor kiddo used it and his mother is thrilled! Affordable too! The best part about the company are the people!
Middle School Mary Poppins listeners receive 15% OFF Mightier with promo code:MARYPOPPINS
🎥 Watch on YouTube
Watch full podcast episodes, parenting shorts, bonus clips, and exclusive content on our YouTube channel:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE_8pZC17nLY&si=kiKjRO_sx9Uu-3l8
If you enjoy the show, I’d love for you to subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode, short, or parenting tip. Every subscription helps us reach more families looking for practical, brain-based strategies for navigating the middle school years.
⭐ Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible community for your encouragement, thoughtful messages, and recent reviews. Because of your support, Middle School Mary Poppins is now approaching 675,000 downloads worldwide and has earned more than 6,100 five-star reviews on Spotify!
Every download, review, subscription, and recommendation helps another parent, educator, counselor, or caregiver discover tools that can truly make a difference in a child’s life.
If today’s episode encouraged you, one of the greatest ways you can support the podcast is by:
💜 Following the show on your favorite podcast platform.
⭐ Leaving a rating or written review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
🎥 Subscribing to our YouTube channel and sharing your favorite episodes.
📣 Sharing this episode with another parent, teacher, or caregiver who could use a little extra support.
Your kindness helps this community continue to grow, and I truly appreciate every single one of you.
Stay clever, little foxes. 🦊💜

SEO Topics
Middle school anxiety • Cognitive distortions • Parenting tweens • Tween mental health • Emotional regulation • School anxiety • Adolescent brain • Friendship drama • Self-esteem • Parenting middle schoolers • Social Emotional Learning (SEL) • Executive functioning • Neurodivergent children • Autism • ADHD • Anxiety in girls • Anxiety in boys • Parenting podcast • Teacher resources • Family mental health • Brain-based parenting • Cognitive behavioral strategies • Middle school behavior

Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
Support the show

Why does your middle schooler seem happy, anxious, excited, embarrassed, frustrated, and overwhelmed—all before dinner?
In Week 3 of our whole family Socioemotional Learning (SEL) Summer Camp series, Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSW, is joined by Jessica Ragnio, MSW, LICSW, Clinical Director at Mightier, to explore the fascinating world of adolescent emotions. Always a good hang with Jessica! 
Together, the duo discuss why emotions become more intense during the middle school years, how identity development, independence, social awareness, and puberty shape emotional experiences, and what neuroscience can teach us about the adolescent brain.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
🌊 Why middle school emotions can feel like an emotional hurricane
🧠 How the adolescent brain develops differently than the adult brain
💜 Why kids often experience multiple emotions at the same time
⚡ How emotional energy and emotional valence help us better understand feelings
🌡️ Why emotions show up in the body before children always have words for them
🎣 How families can build emotional awareness through conversation and play
You’ll also learn why social rejection can genuinely hurt, what cortisol has to do with emotional regulation, and how helping kids recognize body signals can strengthen lifelong emotional intelligence.
🎣 FREE FAMILY ACTIVITY: FISHING FOR FEELINGS
Download this week’s activity here:
https://www.mightier.com/resources/emotional-awareness-activities/
Fishing for Feelings helps families build emotional vocabulary, identify body signals, and create meaningful conversations about emotions in a fun and engaging way.
SPECIAL OFFER: Our friends at Mightier help children build emotional regulation skills through gameplay and biofeedback.
Use coupon code: MARYPOPPINS for 15% off.
Guest:
Jessica Ragnio, MSW, LICSW
Clinical Director, Mightier
Remember:
We don’t stop the waves. We learn how to ride them.
Stop. Regulate. Listen.
Stay clever, little foxes. 💜🦊
A very special thanks to StellaMix productions and Janine Stella for her incredible production work. Please go to stellamix.com for all of your podcasting needs.

SEO Topics
Middle school anxiety • Cognitive distortions • Parenting tweens • Tween mental health • Emotional regulation • School anxiety • Adolescent brain • Friendship drama • Self-esteem • Parenting middle schoolers • Social Emotional Learning (SEL) • Executive functioning • Neurodivergent children • Autism • ADHD • Anxiety in girls • Anxiety in boys • Parenting podcast • Teacher resources • Family mental health • Brain-based parenting • Cognitive behavioral strategies • Middle school behavior

Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
Support the show

💜☂️ Are Screens Evil or Not? Chocolate Cake, Dopamine & the Middle School Brain | SEL Summer Camp Week 2
Why do kids seem glued to their phones? Why do texts, group chats, likes, and social media feel so important during middle school? And are screens really harming kids—or is the answer more complicated than that?
In Week 2 of our SEL Summer Camp collaboration with Mightier, Suzanne Swain, EdS, LMSW sits down with developmental scientist Jason Kahn, PhD, co-founder of Mightier, to explore what brain science actually tells us about technology, screen time, dopamine, emotional regulation, social media, friendships, and adolescent development.
Together, we discuss:
 🧠 The middle school brain and dopamine
 📱 Why social media feels so powerful
 🍰 The “Chocolate Cake Theory” of technology
 💬 Why kids see phones differently than adults
 ❤️ The importance of belonging during adolescence
 🎮 Healthy technology habits and screen balance
 🌱 Boredom, creativity, and imagination
 🏕️ Family conversations that reduce conflict and build connection
This episode helps parents, educators, counselors, and caregivers better understand how technology interacts with the developing adolescent brain—and how to guide middle schoolers toward healthier digital habits without shame, fear, or constant power struggles.
Special SEL Summer Camp Partner: Mightier
Mightier uses biofeedback-powered video games to help kids build emotional regulation skills in real time. Middle School Mary Poppins listeners receive 15% off with code MARYPOPPINS at Mightier.com.
📥 Download this week’s Summer Camp activity guide:
 msmarypoppins.com
📧 Questions or stories?
 SuzanneSwain@gmail.com
SEO Topics
Middle school anxiety • Cognitive distortions • Parenting tweens • Tween mental health • Emotional regulation • School anxiety • Adolescent brain • Friendship drama • Self-esteem • Parenting middle schoolers • Social Emotional Learning (SEL) • Executive functioning • Neurodivergent children • Autism • ADHD • Anxiety in girls • Anxiety in boys • Parenting podcast • Teacher resources • Family mental health • Brain-based parenting • Cognitive behavioral strategies • Middle school behavior

Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
Support the show