Archive for the ‘Podcasts’ Category

[Podcast #286] A Deep Dive with Sharon McMahon

Brave Writer Podcast

How do we prepare our children to think critically in an age of overwhelming information, bias, and quick judgments?

In today’s Brave Writer podcast episode with special guest Sharon McMahon, we explore how true critical thinking requires a tolerance for discomfort and a commitment to understanding perspectives beyond our own.

Sharon McMahon
Sharon McMahon

We reflect on lessons from history, including unsung heroes like Harriet Tubman and Anna Thomas Jeanes, and emphasize the importance of presenting children with varied viewpoints rather than indoctrinating them with a single narrative. We also discuss strategies for fostering resilience, optimism, and humility as we engage thoughtfully with the world around us.

Join us for a conversation full of hope, encouragement, and practical ideas for raising critical thinkers in a complicated world. Listen to the full episode for a deeper dive!

Show Notes

We often hear the phrase “critical thinking,” but practicing it means more than simply disagreeing with ideas we don’t like. True critical thinking requires a tolerance for discomfort. It asks us to sit with viewpoints we may instinctively resist, to probe them for internal logic, and to understand what values they express. When we rush to judgment, we short-circuit the very skills we hope to foster. Instead, we must model and encourage curiosity, patience, and the willingness to question even our most deeply held beliefs.

Exposing Children to Varied Perspectives

One way we can cultivate these skills is by exposing our children to a variety of perspectives—not only those that confirm our worldview. It is tempting, especially as homeschooling parents, to pass along only what we personally hold dear. But if our goal is to raise independent thinkers, we must be willing to provide them with information they can evaluate for themselves. Critical thinking grows through practice, not indoctrination.

Learning from History’s Heroes

History offers powerful lessons here. We reflected on the work of individuals like Harriet Tubman and Anna Thomas Jeanes—figures who, despite immense obstacles, chose to act with courage and conviction. Their lives remind us that external circumstances, no matter how daunting, do not define our capacity for impact. Rather than waiting for a perfect moment, they did what they could, where they were, with the resources available to them. This model of action serves not only as inspiration but also as a blueprint for how we can engage with our own uncertain times.

Finding Optimism in Uncertain Times

It is easy to feel overwhelmed when facing the complexities of today’s world. Trust in institutions has eroded. Algorithms funnel us into narrow echo chambers. Disagreements within families and communities can feel impossibly wide. Yet optimism is still available to us. We can reclaim it by shifting our focus away from “winning” debates and toward nurturing relationships, sustaining open dialogue, and upholding shared values like the rule of law.

Fostering Understanding Through Curiosity

Even when disagreements arise, we are called to ask ourselves: What beautiful outcome does the other person’s vision seek? This question helps us move beyond caricatures and into genuine understanding, even when agreement remains elusive. Our children benefit when they see us practicing this kind of humility and resilience.

Preparing Children to Engage Thoughtfully

The work of raising critical thinkers is not about creating perfect citizens or perfect circumstances. It is about inviting our children to engage thoughtfully with the world as it is, to question, to listen, and to act with integrity. In doing so, we prepare them not only to navigate a complicated world but to contribute to its healing and betterment.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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[Podcast #285] Poetry All Year Long

Brave Writer Podcast

Do you ever wonder why poetry feels like a balm for the soul—especially when life gets hard?

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we read aloud a collection of favorite poems, reflecting on how poetry helps us process emotions, connect with our children, and find beauty in everyday life.

We talk about:

  • why we keep reading poems even after National Poetry Month ends,
  • how Poetry Teatime can foster emotional resilience,
  • and why letting poetry “just be” can deepen our appreciation of it.

We also share personal stories, original poems, and ways to make poetry a natural part of your family rhythm.

Tune in to hear the poems that moved us—and maybe find one for your pocket too.

Show Notes

Poetry Month may come to a close, but our love affair with poetry doesn’t end on April 30th. In fact, some of the most moving encounters with poetry happen outside of celebration windows—in the quiet moments of parenting, in grief, in joy, and in the ordinary rituals that make up a family’s life. That’s why we keep poetry alive in our homes year-round, and why we believe in the transformative power of Poetry Teatime.

Poetry, after all, invites us to pause. It teaches us to notice. In a world of fast-paced curriculum and productivity checklists, poetry says: Slow down. Listen. There’s beauty here.

When we host Poetry Teatime, we aren’t simply teaching literary devices or memorizing verses. We are offering a gentle rhythm of connection—a space where kids and parents alike can gather around language that moves the heart. Some poems make us laugh with their linguistic acrobatics; others hold our sorrow with tender hands. That range is what makes poetry so vital. It meets us exactly where we are.

Let the poem do the talking

There’s no “right” way to read a poem. In fact, we try not to explain them too quickly. We let them linger. We let them land how they land. Children, especially, need room to respond from their own internal worlds. Whether it’s a limerick or a profound meditation on loss, a poem has the power to express something our kids may not yet have the words for. And often, it’s through modeling—reading aloud without agenda—that children find the courage to write their own.

Poetry as a path to expression

We’ve seen firsthand how a child who has never written much can be sparked by a single poem. Sometimes they imitate a favorite structure. Other times, they write straight from the heart. One parent told us her son wrote a poem about a traumatic car accident only after weeks of quiet Poetry Teatimes. He hadn’t wanted to talk about it—but the poem gave him a way to process. No worksheet or essay assignment could have reached him in that same way.

Language for what we feel

Poetry helps us live with our feelings, not fix them. It gives us metaphors when direct speech is too much. And it reminds us that there is a lineage of humans—across centuries—who have felt what we’re feeling. When we read aloud, especially in the shared ritual of teatime, we’re connecting to something larger than ourselves.

Make poetry a year-round tradition

That’s why we return to poetry not only when we’re teaching but when we’re grieving, celebrating, or just needing a reset. A good poem doesn’t age. It expands with us.

So whether you missed Poetry Month entirely or celebrated every day, it’s never too late—or too early—to open a book of verse, pour some tea, and read a poem together. That quiet presence poetry brings? It’s something we need all year long.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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[Podcast #284] Eating in Color with Jennifer Anderson

Brave Writer Podcast

Feeding kids has become a high-stakes game, but it doesn’t have to be.

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we explore responsive feeding, joyful food marketing, and how to ditch fear-based nutrition rules in favor of:

  • connection,
  • variety,
  • and common sense.
Jennifer Anderson
Jennifer Anderson

Jennifer Anderson of Kids Eat in Color helps us rethink what it means to nourish our children without the stress.

Listen in to discover how food can be an invitation to connection, not control—and why it’s okay to let your child skip the broccoli sometimes.

Show Notes

Feeding children has become a loaded topic. From debates about seed oils to pressure around baby-led weaning, parents are inundated with conflicting messages about the “right” way to nourish their kids. But at Brave Writer, we’re all about approaching parenting—and education—from a place of trust, curiosity, and compassion. And that includes the way we feed our children.

There’s No One “Right” Way

One of the most liberating ideas we’ve encountered is the notion that there is no one right way to feed your child. What matters more than rigid food rules is responsive feeding—paying attention to your child’s hunger cues, offering variety, and trusting their body’s signals. This might look like letting go of the one-bite rule or choosing not to stress when your child passes on a particular dish. And it definitely includes resisting the impulse to turn mealtimes into battlegrounds.

Food as Function, Not Morality

Instead of labeling foods as “good” or “bad,” we can invite kids into a conversation about what food does in their bodies. Red foods support the heart. Orange foods help you see in the dark. Green foods boost immunity. These bite-sized messages help children make their own connections and develop a positive relationship with food—free from shame or pressure.

Yes, You’re the Marketing Department

Food marketing uses characters and fun names to entice kids, and guess what? We can use those same tools to our advantage at home. Rename feta as “rock cheese” and suddenly it becomes cool. Make a “yogurt sundae” station and watch your child enjoy a food they might’ve otherwise rejected. Framing matters, and so does play.

Picky Eating Isn’t Permanent

Another powerful insight: kids’ eating habits change over time. A picky eater at four might be the one experimenting with complex flavors at 14. Our job isn’t to control every bite they take but to create a safe, consistent environment where exploration is encouraged, not forced. We can focus on making one family meal with at least one safe food for each child and let go of the short-order cook pressure.

Nutrition Trends vs. Evidence-Based Eating

And when it comes to nutrition trends that spark fear—like the current obsession with seed oils—it helps to remember that these debates are often more about identity than evidence. Fads can create a sense of belonging, but they can also induce anxiety and misinformation. Instead of spiraling into fear over the latest headline, we can return to what we know: a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, fiber, and shared meals around the table has lasting, measurable benefits.

Trust Yourself and Your Child

Ultimately, feeding our kids well means meeting them where they are. It’s about building trust, offering choices, and modeling curiosity rather than control. We can give ourselves permission to step back from the noise and trust the quiet, ongoing work of raising confident, capable, and nourished kids.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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Help! My Kid Hates Writing: Julie ON-AIR

Help! My Kid Hates Writing

My new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing, is out in the world, and I’m talking about it via podcast and news article! Check out these interviews.

Tune In

A huge THANK YOU to each podcaster and every listener!

Help! My Kid Hates Writing

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[Podcast # 283] Exploring the Relationship between Kids and Tech with Ash Brandin

Brave Writer Podcast

Do you feel overwhelmed navigating screens, gaming, and tech in your home? You’re not alone.

In this Braver Writer podcast episode, we explore how to shift from blame to curiosity when it comes to your child’s digital life. Ash Brandin, a middle school teacher and the voice behind The Gamer Educator, joins us to talk about the real reasons kids love screens—and how we can use those insights to build stronger connections and more balanced relationships with technology.

Ash Brandin
Ash Brandin

We discuss:

  • the root causes behind tech reliance,
  • how to help kids develop digital literacy,
  • and why empathy and structure matter more than screen limits alone.

Tune in for a refreshing, realistic take on managing tech in a way that benefits the whole family.

Show Notes

There’s no denying it—technology is embedded in our lives and in our homes. From smartphones to video games, the digital world is not just something our kids use; it’s something they live in. Yet many parents still carry anxiety about how screen time affects childhood, learning, and relationships.

We believe it’s time to shift the conversation.

Rather than defaulting to fear, what if we asked more curious questions about the role of tech in our families? We’re not talking about blindly embracing every app and device, but rather acknowledging that screens are often used to meet real needs—by both kids and adults.

A child watching TV while a parent cooks dinner is not a failure of parenting; it’s a reflection of the lack of community support many families experience today. In past generations, neighbors helped one another, kids played outside in groups, and caregiving was more shared. Today, screens often serve as the stopgap where community used to be. Recognizing that can reduce guilt and open up more thoughtful decision-making around screen use.

It’s also helpful to consider what kids are actually getting out of their digital experiences. Games like Minecraft or Fortnite can offer more than entertainment—they can foster:

  • creativity,
  • problem-solving,
  • social interaction,
  • and perseverance.

These games represent risk, autonomy, and challenge—the very qualities we often admire in real-life activities like sports, crafts, or science experiments.

Instead of asking only, “How do I get my child off the screen?” we might start asking, “What is it about this experience that’s engaging them so deeply? And how can I offer something similarly fulfilling in the real world?” When we understand that screens can represent freedom, control, and accomplishment, we’re better equipped to offer off-screen experiences that provide those same feelings.

We also benefit when we stop seeing ourselves in opposition to technology and start seeing ourselves as guides. If we treat a child’s love of tech as something shameful or shallow, they will stop sharing those interests with us. But if we take the time to ask about the game they’re playing, or the video they’re watching, we get a window into their thinking—and a chance to connect.

That connection is vital when big feelings surface. A child melting down after losing a game isn’t just being “dramatic”—they’re processing disappointment and frustration. These are moments to help kids name their emotions, step back, and develop strategies for self-regulation—skills they’ll use far beyond the screen.

Technology is not going away. Our role is to prepare our kids to meet it with wisdom, resilience, and a sense of agency. We do that by building trust, staying curious, and treating their digital world with the same care we treat every other part of their development.

Screens are not the enemy. Disconnection is.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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