Voices of Your Village

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today’s episode is part of our summer series, Honoring the Individual. Over the next few months, we’ll be revisiting some of our favorite conversations—episodes that remind us of a core truth: there is no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting children. Every child experiences the world differently, and the need beneath a behavior is as individual as the child themselves.

Today I’m joined by parenting coach and author Mary Van Geffen, whose book Parenting a Spicy One is part memoir, part survival guide, and completely validating for the parents who feel like they’re doing everything “right” and still getting steamrolled by meltdowns, back talk, and constant negotiating. Mary brings humor, honesty, and so many practical tools to this conversation—and I think it’s one that so many of us need right now.Alright folks, let’s dive in.

Connect with Mary:

Instagram: @maryvangeffen

Website: https://www.maryvangeffen.com/

Order the book: Parenting a Spicy One

Or, Preorder here to access Mary’s Affirmations Masterclass and the Meltdown Meditations for Moms: https://www.maryvangeffen.com/parentingaspicyonebook

Are you a spicy one quiz: Here

Connect with us:

Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew

Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz

Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now!

Website: seedandsew.org

Credits:

Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell

Co-host: Rachel Lounder

Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh

Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig

Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today’s episode is part of our Summer Series, Honoring the Individual. Over the next few months, we’ll be revisiting some of our favorite conversations—episodes that remind us of a core truth: there is no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting children. Every child experiences the world differently, and the need beneath a behavior is as individual as the child themselves.Today we are revisiting the episode that, honestly, if you're gonna listen to one episode of this podcast ever, I hope it's this one. This is so key to understanding self-care, to understanding self-regulation, to understanding how your child regulates and what's regulating versus dysregulating for them. All right, folks, let's dive in.

Connect with us:

Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew

Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz

Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now!

Website: seedandsew.org

Credits:

Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell

Co-host: Rachel Lounder

Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh

Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig

Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about what’s actually behind behavior.In this episode, I’m joined by Diane Goyette, and we’re digging into the shift from trying to manage behavior to truly understanding it. We talk about what kids are communicating through their actions, how nervous system needs show up in everyday moments, and why so many of the strategies we were taught just don’t work for every child.We also get into what this looks like in real life, from sensory needs and neurodivergence to those chaotic, get-out-the-door mornings where it’s hard to slow down and see what’s actually going on.If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the “right” things and it’s still not working, this conversation will help you zoom out and look at behavior through a different lens.Alright folks, let’s dive in.

Connect with us:

Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew 

Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz

Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! 

Website: seedandsew.org

Credits:

Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell

Co-host: Rachel Lounder

Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh

Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig

Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about a small, doable habit that can have a meaningful impact on kids’ mental health.In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sarah Tannenbaum from The Baker Center for Children and Families, and we’re breaking down a simple 5-minute practice that supports connection, builds emotional resilience, and helps kids feel seen and safe in their everyday lives. We talk about why these small moments matter so much, especially in the middle of busy days, and how to make this feel realistic, not like one more thing on your list.If you’ve been wondering how to support your child’s mental health without overhauling everything, this conversation is a really approachable place to start.Alright folks, let’s dive in.

Connect with Dr. Sarah Tannenbaum:

Website: https://www.bakercenter.org/

Instagram: @bakercntr

CET program

Fearless Friends Summer Program 

Connect with us:

Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew 

Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz

Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! 

Website: seedandsew.org

Credits:

Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell

Co-host: Rachel Lounder

Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh

Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig

Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention when we think about becoming parents.We spend so much time preparing for the baby—reading the books, building the registry, thinking about birth—but not nearly as much time preparing for what it actually feels like to become a parent.In this episode, I’m joined by Nina Spears, and we’re digging into what it really looks like to prepare for pregnancy, birth, and those early postpartum days in a way that goes beyond information and into real-life support.We talk about why so many of us go into parenthood expecting to be in control—and what happens when we realize we’re not, how pregnancy can actually be a time to build the skills we’ll rely on later, and why things like nervous system awareness, communication, and flexibility matter more than any perfect plan.We also get into the pressure parents carry to “get it right,” how to shift out of that, and what it looks like to advocate for yourself so you can show up for your family in a way that feels grounded and sustainable.If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll figure it out when the baby gets here,” or you’re in the thick of early parenthood wondering why it feels harder than expected, this one’s for you.Alright folks, let’s dive in.

Connect with Nina:

Instagram: @thebabychick

Website: baby-chick.com

Order the book:The Baby Chick Guide to Positive Pregnancy

Podcast: Chick Chat

Connect with us:

Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew 

Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz

Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! 

Website: seedandsew.org

Credits:

Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell

Co-host: Rachel Lounder

Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh

Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig

Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices