Archive for the ‘Podcasts’ Category

[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

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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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