Archive for the ‘Podcasts’ Category

[Podcast #228] Self-Compassion with Dr. Diana Hill

Brave Writer Podcast

We often practice compassion for others, but hesitate when it comes to compassion for ourselves.

Friend of the podcast Dr. Diana Hill joins us today to talk about her newest book, The Self-Compassion Daily Journal, and give us some practical tips for practicing self-compassion.

Dr. Diana Hill
Dr. Diana Hill

We talk about:

  • the science of stress in the body,
  • being a connected part of nature,
  • wearing jeans that fit, and much more!

This conversation is packed with nuggets of wisdom and insight.

Show Notes

What Is Self-Compassion

According to Dr. Hill, there are three components of self-compassion: Mindfulness, kindness, and common humanity. When we apply these components to how we talk to ourselves, we become more grounded and focused on what matters to us. Without self-compassion, when we face challenges we tend to either shut down or flood ourselves with stress hormones.

Self-Compassion Practices

Self-compassion is a practice. It requires ongoing attention and development. Dr. Hill gives specific practices that can help you build self-compassion. The practices involve touch, posture, breathing, mantras, drawing, and grounding techniques. No one technique works for everybody, so it’s important to be aware of what works for your specific body and mind.

Self-Compassion for the Body

The physical body is integral to self-compassion. As women, we are socialized to be very self-critical about our bodies. As busy adults, we ignore basic physical signals telling us what our body needs. So we end up in tight jeans, holding our pee for way too long. Dr. Hill explains that respecting the rhythms of your body, understanding that you are part of the natural world, is fundamental to practicing self-compassion.

In the words of Dr. Hill, “Compassion isn’t just soft and squishy kindness. It’s also courageous. It’s standing up for yourself. It’s self-respect. It’s being strong. It’s encouraging. So you can hold your spine and your back a strong and stable source for yourself.” May we all practice that.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

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[Podcast #227] The Learning Game with Ana Lorena Fábrega 

Brave Writer Podcast

There’s a big difference between “the game of school” and “the learning game.” Ana Lorena Fábrega picked this up as a kid when she went to 10 different schools by the time she was 15. She learned it again as an educator herself.

Today Ana joins us on the Brave Writer podcast to discuss her book, The Learning Game: Teaching Kids to Think for Themselves, Embrace Challenge, and Love Learning.

Ana Lorena Fábrega 
Ana Lorena Fábrega 

In this episode, we talk about:

  • memorization vs. applied learning,
  • “pointsification” vs gamification,
  • testing culture vs. curiosity,
  • and the importance of embracing confusion. 

Show Notes

Applied Learning vs. Memorization

When Ana taught at a traditional school, every year she would have to re-study the material in order to teach her students, even though it was the same material that she had taught the year before. She realized that if she wasn’t retaining the information, her students weren’t either. That’s when Ana started to focus more of her lesson time on helping students apply concepts, rather than over-explaining the concepts and then expecting memorization. 

“Pointsification” vs. Gamification

A lot of teachers use some kind of point system–if the class does a certain number of behaviors or achieves a certain academic milestone, they get a pizza party, or something like that. There’s nothing wrong with a good pizza party, but this kind of “pointsification” creates external motivation, which is powerful in the short term, but does nothing for long-term learning and understanding. On the flip side, using games to challenge students to grapple with concepts creates internal motivation and helps students really absorb what they have learned.

Testing Culture vs Curiosity

In today’s education system, standardized test scores reign supreme. Teachers, parents, and students stress year-round about test scores. That stress actually lowers the students’ ability to perform on tests. Even worse, the test-centered education design lowers students’ ability to learn. In her final year of teaching, Ana ignored test prep and instead cultivated her students’ innate curiosity. Ironically, that year her students excelled on their standardized tests, outperforming their peers.

Embracing Confusion

Confusion is part of problem-solving. A lot of times, intentionally or unintentionally, parents and teachers hide their confusion from their students. They want to seem like experts on every topic or in every situation. The problem is that this can lead to students thinking that when they experience confusion, they are doing something wrong. By modeling acceptance of confusion and patiently working through it, parents and teachers can reduce pressure on students and encourage them to take on challenges.

The bottom line of our discussion with Ana: Think like a videogame designer. Kids (and adults) don’t love video games because they are easy—they love them because they are challenging, hard to win, and packed with intrinsic motivation. Don’t be afraid to make your kids’ education the same way.

Resources

  • Read Ana’s book: The Learning Game 
  • Follow Ana on Instagram: @MsFab_LearningLab
  • Check out Ana’s website: AFabrega.com
  • Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
  • Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
  • Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention!
  • Good news: There are enough weeks left to do a writing project with your kids that will leave you feeling confident and accomplished this school year. Sign up for a Brave Writer online writing class. Our classes start every Monday, and each one only lasts three to six weeks. Sign up today!

Connect with Julie

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Brave Writer Podcast

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[Podcast #226] The Internet and Parenthood with Jill Smokler of She’s Got Issues

Brave Writer Podcast

The internet has been a great tool for creating community. It has given us ways to connect, commiserate, and even start entrepreneurial adventures. In the 90s, we were just figuring out blogs and message boards. Now, there is TikTok, Instagram, and going viral.

Jill Smokler
Jill Smokler

Founder of Scary Mommy and She’s Got Issues, Jill Smokler joins us to talk about how being a parent on the internet has changed, and stayed the same, over the years. We talk about our experiences with figuring out what stories to share about our kids, and which to keep private.

We also talk about:

  • being an entrepreneur,
  • growing older,
  • and parenting adult kids.

Tune in to the Brave Writer podcast and enjoy the conversation.

Show Notes

Choosing What to Share on the Internet

In the 90s, it was much easier to be anonymous on the internet. In fact, anonymous confessions catapulted Jill Smokler’s Scary Mommy website to fame. Now, true internet anonymity is much harder to achieve, making privacy more precious than ever. As parents, especially parents who write public works, we need to think carefully about what we share about our kids’ lives, and seek their affirmative consent.

Being an Entrepreneur 

Although Jill knew pretty early on that Scary Mommy could be profitable, it took years for it to bring in significant money. Julie experienced the same with Brave Writer. Our advice? When starting an entrepreneurial endeavor, be realistic about how much time it may take to start making more than a supplemental income. Also, build a team of support– this will help prevent burnout so you can stick around to see the full fruits of your labor.

Parenting Adult Children

As parents of adult children, we know that “it gets easier” does not necessarily apply to parenting. Although we now end up with more time to ourselves, we still worry about our grown children. Plus, our worries get multiplied by spouses and grandchildren. If you find yourself struggling with this stage of parenting, don’t worry, you definitely are not alone.

The internet may change, but the fundamentals of community stays the same: Share your authentic self, support others and ask for support, and be mindful about sharing stories that are not solely your own.

More About Jill

Jill Smokler is a New York Times bestselling author and entrepreneur who became an authentic voice for millions of imperfect moms through her Webby award winning blog, Scary Mommy. Launched in 2008, Scary Mommy began as a chronicle of Jill’s stay-at-home days with her children and quickly transformed into a vibrant community of women brought together by a common theme — parenting doesn’t have to be perfect.

Over the next eight years, without advertising dollars and on a shoestring budget, Jill and her team provided the destination for high quality, humorous, sharable parenting content. In 2015 with millions of followers, three books and the top parenting site in the country, Jill became the first “mommy blogger” to sell her brand to a media company. After three years acting as Chief Content Officer, Jill departed in 2018. Following a much needed break, Jill returns with She’s Got Issues – a brand for Gen X women focusing on the myriad issues uniting them.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

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[Podcast #225] Homeschooling with Babies & Toddlers in Tow

Brave Writer Podcast

Today’s Brave Writer podcast episode is about how to homeschool while you have a baby or toddler in tow.

First, Julie and Melissa talk about daily routines, like finding pockets of time to teach your older kids while your toddler is napping or when you are all taking a family walk. Then they give specific activities that can keep toddlers occupied.

They wrap up by covering a few strategies to involve friends and family, including:

  • co-ops,
  • babysitting swaps,
  • and grandparent-led science experiments.

Show Notes

Find Natural Pockets in the Day

Homeschooling is all about the 5-15 minute pockets of learning throughout the day, evening, and even weekends. Get a feel for the natural flow of the day for your toddlers and your older kids. Is there a time of day when your toddler naps, or tends to be slightly more calm (relatively speaking)? Just as importantly, are there times during the day when you know, realistically, you can’t force any structured learning to happen?

Find what works for you and your kids, and be okay with seizing teaching moments whenever they arise. Most learning happens through conversation, and those conversations can happen any time, even while taking a walk with a toddler in the stroller.

Time-Tested, Toddler-Approved Activities

The cold hard truth is that most of the time you do need to distract the beast baby. Julie and Melissa’s now-grown kids contributed to their list of tried-and-true distraction activities like:

  • dot paints,
  • magnets on a cookie sheet,
  • bubbles,
  • water play stations,
  • a sheet of contact paper with the sticky side up,
  • a soup pot (yes, just a soup pot…toddlers love putting things in things),
  • indoor play equipment,
  • post-it notes and stickers.  

Another tip is to pick certain beloved toys that are only pulled out in situations when you really need to bribe the toddler.

Tap Into Community

Remember, just because you are in charge of your children’s education doesn’t mean you have to do it all by yourself. Team up with other homeschool families in co-ops or just informal, temporary meet-ups. If grandparents are in the picture, get them involved, either with the babies or with the older children. Consider putting your toddler in a forest school, YMCA program, etc. for a day or two a week. It takes a village, as they say.

At the end of the day, just remember this is temporary. Babies grow fast. Just because one year of homeschooling isn’t super shiny and perfect, doesn’t mean that your kids aren’t learning or that next year won’t be better. Before you know it, they will be teenagers wondering whatever happened to their dot paints.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

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[Podcast #224] A School Principal Chooses Homeschooling: An Interview with Mandy Davis

Brave Writer Podcast

In the realm of homeschooling, the journey from traditional educational frameworks to embracing a homeschooling lifestyle is both inspiring and transformative. This transition, often sparked by a desire for a more personalized and engaging learning experience, is richly illustrated by the story of Mandy Davis, a former traditional education professional who embarked on a homeschooling journey with her family.

Mandy Davis
Mandy Davis

Through Mandy’s experience, we uncover:

  • the profound benefits of child-led learning,
  • the integration of real-world experiences,
  • and the importance of community support.

Show Notes

The Beauty of Child-Led Learning

At the heart of homeschooling lies the principle of child-led learning, a philosophy that respects the child’s natural curiosity and interests. This approach allows children to explore subjects that fascinate them, leading to deeper understanding and retention of knowledge. Mandy Davis’s transition from a structured education system to homeschooling highlights the flexibility and freedom homeschooling offers, enabling her to tailor the educational experience to her children’s unique interests and needs.

Integrating Real-World Experiences

One of the most compelling aspects of homeschooling is the opportunity to integrate real-world experiences into the learning process. Whether it’s through hands-on projects, exploring nature, or engaging in community activities, these experiences provide valuable life lessons that go beyond academic learning. Mandy’s move to a 10-acre land, for example, offered her family an invaluable platform for experiential learning, from homesteading activities to exploring the natural environment.

Overcoming Challenges through Community Support

Transitioning to homeschooling is not without its challenges. However, the support of like-minded communities plays a crucial role in navigating these obstacles. Mandy shares how finding support in communities like Wild and Free helped her family adjust to the homeschooling lifestyle, offering both resources and a sense of belonging. This underscores the importance of seeking out and engaging with homeschooling networks, both locally and online, for guidance, inspiration, and companionship.

Embracing Flexibility and Trust

A key takeaway from Mandy’s story is the importance of embracing flexibility in the homeschooling journey. Letting go of rigid schedules and curricula to allow for child-led exploration requires trust in the process and in our children’s innate ability to learn. This flexibility not only fosters a love for learning but also accommodates the unique pace and style of each child, ensuring a more personalized and effective educational experience.

Resources for the Homeschooling Family

Mandy Davis’s commitment to supporting other homeschooling families is evident in her offering of free resources and her book, A Matter of Principle. These resources provide practical advice, inspiration, and support for those embarking on or currently navigating the homeschooling journey.

Homeschooling offers a unique opportunity to create a learning environment that is tailored to the child’s interests, needs, and pace. Through the experiences of families like Mandy Davis’s, we see the transformative power of a homeschooling approach grounded in child-led learning, real-world experiences, and community support. As we navigate the challenges and celebrate the successes of homeschooling, we are reminded of the profound impact this personalized approach to education can have on our children’s development and lifelong love of learning.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

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