Adventure Nannies On Air

Big conversations about safety do not have to feel scary, and they do not have to wait until a child is old enough to "understand." In this live Summit Session, host Deej Jalal sits down with trauma-informed advocacy leader and board-certified mental health coach Ashley-Lauren Elrod to talk about what prevention-first child safety actually looks like in a working household.

Ashley-Lauren walks through Maya's Magic Word, her story-based safety program for children ages two to six, and how it teaches body autonomy, consent, and the difference between safe and unsafe secrets through storytelling, simple affirmations, and everyday routines. She makes the case that professional nannies are household leaders and protectors who often co-create these systems alongside the families they work with, and she shares how clear, ongoing parent-caregiver communication keeps safety practices consistent across every adult in the home.

The conversation also covers practical early warning signs of possible abuse in very young children, with attention to shifts in a child's emotional state around specific people or places, plus the case for a daily body scan that catches unexplained bruises or injuries. Ashley-Lauren points listeners toward resources from the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center and the National Children's Alliance, and shares what is next for Maya's Magic Word, including an interactive curriculum and more accessible versions of the book, starting with Spanish.

Timestamps

• 00:00 Summit Session with Ashley-Lauren Elrod
• 00:22 Introduction
• 02:01 Interview with Ashley-Lauren Elrod
• 19:49 Live Audience Q&A
• 27:07 Closing Remarks

About Our Guest

Ashley-Lauren Elrod is a trauma-informed advocacy leader, board-certified mental health coach, speaker, author, and survivor of child sexual abuse and domestic violence. She is the creator of Maya's Magic Word, a prevention-first safety education platform for ages two to six built in partnership with the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center and Imagine Theater Chicago, combining an illustrated children's book, interactive theater, a trauma-informed early learning curriculum, and caregiver training.

Ashley-Lauren partnered with Dove on an Emmy-nominated, Cannes Golden Lion-winning campaign, speaks nationally on abuse and trafficking prevention, and founded Visionary Woman Productions, a social impact storytelling company. Her mission is simple and bold: teach children that their voice is powerful, their body is their own, and that saying "no" is a form of magic.

Connect with Ashley-Lauren:

• Website: ashleylaurenelrod.com
• Maya's Magic Word: ashleylaurenelrod.com/mayasmagicword
• Get the book: ashleylaurenelrod.com/product-page/maya-s-magic-word
• Support the program: ashleylaurenelrod.com/mayasmagicaldonations
• Instagram: @ashleylaurenofficial
• TikTok: @missrevolutionary

About Your Host

Deej Jalal is the Onboarding Coordinator at Adventure Nannies and a regular host of Adventure Nannies On Air Summit Sessions, where he guides conversations with the educators, clinicians, and advocates shaping the childcare industry.

About Summit Sessions

Summit Sessions are live virtual learning events hosted by Adventure Nannies for nannies, newborn care specialists, private educators, and the families who work with them. Each session brings in a guest expert, includes a live audience Q&A, and gets recorded and released as an episode of Adventure Nannies On Air.

Register for an upcoming session or catch up on past ones at adventurenannies.com/summit-sessions.

About Adventure Nannies

Adventure Nannies is a nationwide placement agency connecting active, traveling, and adventure-loving families with career nannies, newborn care specialists, and private educators. Founded in 2012, we build personalized matches based on skills, personality, and lifestyle fit, and we support a growing community of caregivers through ongoing education, Summit Sessions, and Nanny Camp.

Learn more at adventurenannies.com.

Listen and Subscribe

Adventure Nannies On Air is available wherever you listen to podcasts. Subscribe so you never miss a Summit Session, and share this episode with a caregiver or family who needs it.

• Have any questions? Reach out to us on Facebook, and Instagram, and check out the resources on our blog!
• If you’d like to join our newsletter to be the first to know about our new positions, click here.
• Are you looking for an exceptional nanny, newborn care specialist, or private educator? Get in touch!
• Do you have what it takes to be an Adventure Nanny? Apply Now!

We talk with Sean Hines about disability advocacy that is rooted in real relationships, real planning, and the belief that people deserve a full life. Sean shares how “assume capability” changes the way we nanny, teach, and move through the world, plus concrete ways to build inclusion without turning it into a performance. 
• Sean’s path from caregiving to special education teaching to professional nannying 
• The prom story that reveals how exclusion hides in plain sight 
• Why The Limitless Project exists and what “adaptive adventure” looks like 
• The limiting belief Sean fights most: visible disability equals inability 
• How we help kids build empathy through exposure, curiosity and everyday choices 
• Practical tools for nannies: inclusive books, think-aloud conversations and saying hello 
• What advocacy actually requires: opposition, consistency and a clear personal focus 
• Balancing stepping in with stepping back to support independence 
• Ways to volunteer, partner or spread the word across communities and states 
If you like what you hear, you can catch the full episode on our YouTube channel, or register for our next summit session at adventure nannies.com/summit-sessions. 

• Have any questions? Reach out to us on Facebook, and Instagram, and check out the resources on our blog!
• If you’d like to join our newsletter to be the first to know about our new positions, click here.
• Are you looking for an exceptional nanny, newborn care specialist, or private educator? Get in touch!
• Do you have what it takes to be an Adventure Nanny? Apply Now!

In this episode of Adventure Nannies on Air, our marketing director, Reagan, sits down for a heart-to-heart with children's book author Jenny Robinson Clark and her husband, Travis Clark, the lead singer of We The Kings.

They dive deep into the kind of conversations we often want to protect kids from, but that are so vital for their growth and healing. Reagan shares a vulnerable "learning edge" of her own: just three days after recording this interview, her grandmother passed away, making this conversation a timely anchor during her own season of grief. We’re dedicating this episode to Jenny’s mom, Gigi, and Reagan’s grandmother, Bridget Katherine Tierney.

What We’re Chatting About:

• Shifting the Narrative: How Jenny moved from a lifelong fear of death to a "celebration of life" mindset after losing her mother in 2018.
• The Song That Started It All: Hear how Travis turned Jenny’s experience into a beautiful message of hope. (Listen to the song here.) Prompting Jenny to write a children’s book. 
• Signs From Beyond: A look at how ladybugs, butterflies, and bluebirds help us stay connected to those we’ve lost.
• Planting Seeds: Why transparency is key. We talk about how to plant gentle "seeds" of conversation with kids rather than forcing heavy, scary talks.
• The Power of Creativity: How a message from Jenny’s mom inspired a healing children's book illustrated by Elizabeth Fanon.

Grief comes in waves, but you don't have to navigate them alone. Whether you're a nanny supporting a family through a loss or a parent looking for the right words, this episode offers a supportive bridge toward hope.

Listen in to hear how we can model creativity, resilience, and hope for the little ones in our care—and ourselves. 

Resources & Links:

• Jenny Robinson Clark: jennyrobinsonclark.com
• Follow Jenny on Instagram: @jennyrobinsonclark
• We The Kings: Official Website

Jenny’s new book releases March 17, 2026!

Episode Timestamps:

• 00:00 Welcome + Why we’re talking about the heavy stuff
• 01:06 Reagan’s serendipitous (and heartbreaking) story
• 03:42 Meet Jenny and Travis
• 08:50 Real talk: Grief comes in waves
• 10:01 Turning a song into a children's book
• 13:55 Adopting a "Celebration of Life" mindset
• 18:11 Looking for signs: How we stay connected
• 24:40 Parenting through grief: Guidance for the tricky moments
• 42:19 Release date and how to pre-order

• Have any questions? Reach out to us on Facebook, and Instagram, and check out the resources on our blog!
• If you’d like to join our newsletter to be the first to know about our new positions, click here.
• Are you looking for an exceptional nanny, newborn care specialist, or private educator? Get in touch!
• Do you have what it takes to be an Adventure Nanny? Apply Now!

Ever wonder how top-tier nannies lock in real benefits, predictable pay, and sane schedules—especially on demanding rota teams? We dig into the playbook that turns “hope” into clauses: health insurance reimbursements done tax-free, inflation-proof COLA raises, and clear travel policies that pay you from door to door. We share the exact levers to pull, when to bring them up, and how to frame every ask so it supports the family’s priorities while protecting your time, energy, and earnings.

We break down QSEHRA vs ICHRA in plain language, why W-2 status matters, and how to present options families can run through payroll and their advisors. Then we map rota realities: guaranteed weekly hours, state-driven overtime rules, paid flight time, miles and points to the traveler, TSA PreCheck and Clear, and what to spell out for arrivals, delays, and changeovers. Live-in setups get their own checklist—room standards, guest policies, cleaning coverage, and shared suite etiquette—so there’s no confusion between rotations.

Team dynamics can be a strength instead of a stressor. We talk transparency without competition, aligning care standards for kids while embracing different styles, and escalating safety or security concerns fast. You’ll hear high-impact perks to negotiate—annual bonuses, clothing stipends for events, gym memberships, car cleanings, and professional development or educational assistance—along with scripts to position them as retention tools, not demands. Finally, we share the habit that makes it all stick: print the contract, track PTO and holidays, and use “Let me check the contract and circle back” as your boundary-saving pause.

If you’re ready to elevate your career with contracts that match your value, this conversation gives you the numbers, language, and confidence to do it. Subscribe, share with a fellow nanny, and leave a review telling us the one clause you’re adding to your contract next.

• Have any questions? Reach out to us on Facebook, and Instagram, and check out the resources on our blog!
• If you’d like to join our newsletter to be the first to know about our new positions, click here.
• Are you looking for an exceptional nanny, newborn care specialist, or private educator? Get in touch!
• Do you have what it takes to be an Adventure Nanny? Apply Now!

Join Adventure Nannies for an insightful summit session with Dr. Virginia Schwager, also known as Ginny, who shares her journey and expertise in the childcare industry. With over 15 years of experience, Ginny discusses the evolution of childcare, the importance of establishing systems and protocols, and the emerging role of the childcare manager. The session covers everything from communication protocols to handling high net worth families, making it invaluable for both nannies and parents. Tune in for practical advice on navigating the complexities of modern nannying.

https://formatorinstitute.com/ 

• Have any questions? Reach out to us on Facebook, and Instagram, and check out the resources on our blog!
• If you’d like to join our newsletter to be the first to know about our new positions, click here.
• Are you looking for an exceptional nanny, newborn care specialist, or private educator? Get in touch!
• Do you have what it takes to be an Adventure Nanny? Apply Now!

Planning the perfect nursery is fun. Waking up at 2:17 a.m. unsure how to soothe, feed, and recover at the same time is real. We sit down with Kristin Revere (She/Her/Hers) , CEO and Founder of Gold Coast Doulas, LLC , and co-author of Supported: Your Guide to Birth & Baby , to map out a smarter way to prepare for the fourth trimester—before the baby arrives.

Kristin shares the pivotal moments that pulled her from political fundraising into birth work: a late preeclampsia diagnosis, an induction that almost became a cesarean, NICU days that rewrote early breastfeeding plans, and a second birth supported by evidence-based care. Those experiences shaped her agency’s mission: judgment-free support that centers safe sleep, mental health, lactation, and real-world logistics.

We get crystal clear on the differences between a postpartum doula and a newborn care specialist (NCS)—who does what, when to hire each, and how to build a hybrid plan for twins, NICU grads, or parents heading back to work. Kristin explains how training and scope vary across organizations, why some pros focus on days and household flow while others specialize in overnights and infant-led routines, and what questions help first-time parents choose the right fit. For nannies curious about postpartum work, she lays out practical entry points, certifications, liability must-haves, and the mindset shift from long-term childcare to short-term stabilization.

Access is changing fast. Employer benefits like Carrot and Progyny are bringing six to twelve weeks of funded support to more families, while some states expand doula coverage through Medicaid. We talk affordability, safe sleep, lactation referrals, pelvic floor PT, and the power of a local resource network. Kristin’s book, Supported: Your Guide to Birth & Baby, distills this ecosystem into a nonjudgmental, method-neutral roadmap that helps new parents prepare, pivot, and rest.

If this conversation helps you think differently about the first six weeks, share it with a friend, subscribe for more practical interviews, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. Your support helps more families get the care they deserve.

🔗 Connect with Kristin Revere & Gold Coast Doulas

• Gold Coast Doulas Website: www.goldcoastdoulas.com 
• Book Website: www.supportedbook.com 
• Email: [email protected] 
• Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok: @goldcoastdoulas 

• Have any questions? Reach out to us on Facebook, and Instagram, and check out the resources on our blog!
• If you’d like to join our newsletter to be the first to know about our new positions, click here.
• Are you looking for an exceptional nanny, newborn care specialist, or private educator? Get in touch!
• Do you have what it takes to be an Adventure Nanny? Apply Now!

It's the New Year—the ultimate fresh start day—and many of us are setting big professional goals! We sat down with Josie (She/Her), the incredibly direct and successful founder of That Six-Figure Nanny, to get the unvarnished truth about what it takes to land and maintain ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) and high-profile positions.

Josie's journey started not in an agency, but on a playground as a former infant-toddler teacher, eventually receiving a phone call from a basketball team's director of security that led to her first high-profile sports nanny role. Since then, she's worked for a plethora of professional athletes, makeup CEOs, and tech tycoons.

In this essential reality check for nannies and families, Josie discusses:

• The 60/30/10 Rule: She breaks down the true dynamics of UHNW positions: 60% is roses (the glamorous travel and magnificent vacations), 30% is lemons (the long, demanding days, sometimes 16-17 hour shifts), and the final 10% is that moment of reevaluation.
• Life on Hold: The reality that these roles often require you to put your personal life, relationships, and sometimes even plans for having your own babies on hold.
• Confidentiality is Key: Why you absolutely cannot be a fan and how non-judgmental behavior and confidentiality are golden rules for success and word-of-mouth positions.
• Teamwork in Staffed Homes: Advice for nannies navigating a fully staffed home for the first time—you must be a team player and pick up the slack, whether it's laundry or dishes, to maintain staff harmony.
• The Biggest Mistakes: Why over-asking for money that doesn't align with your skillset and being a "rambler" in interviews hinders earning potential.

This conversation offers insight on if a candidate is ready and willing to take on this demanding, high-reward role

• Have any questions? Reach out to us on Facebook, and Instagram, and check out the resources on our blog!
• If you’d like to join our newsletter to be the first to know about our new positions, click here.
• Are you looking for an exceptional nanny, newborn care specialist, or private educator? Get in touch!
• Do you have what it takes to be an Adventure Nanny? Apply Now!

We are officially in the thick of the holiday season! This time of year is all about community and connection, which is the perfect lead-in to our conversation with a very special guest: Dara Yates, the founder of Seaside Staffing Company.

Dara, who began her career as a nanny and teacher, shares her inspiring journey from working out of a "little shack in Pacific Beach" to running a national, multi-service domestic staffing brand. In this episode, we discuss:

• The crucial power of collaboration over competition in the domestic staffing industry.
• The real-deal challenges of going from being a nanny to an entrepreneur.
• How vulnerability and building relationships with colleagues makes the entire industry stronger.
• Why leaning into your community—like those built at industry events or through masterminds—can make all the difference in achieving massive business growth.
• Dara's latest creative endeavor, the Pages and Play Podcast, which connects children's literature with hands-on learning experiences.

This conversation is a must-listen for any nanny or agency owner looking to grow their career, break through their own self-imposed limits, and foster meaningful connections in a small, passionate field.

Guest Bio & Resources

Dara Yates is the Founder of Seaside Staffing Company and Seaside Nannies. Originally from upstate New York, Dara has been building her business for over 21 years, growing it from a hyperlocal market in Southern California into a nationwide brand. She is a dedicated advocate for the industry and serves on the board of the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies (APNA).

Connect with Dara Yates & Seaside Staffing:

• Seaside Staffing Company (National): https://seasidestaffingcompany.com
• Seaside Nannies (CA Focus): https://seasidenannies.com
• Instagram (Seaside): [@seasidestaffingcompany]

Pages and Play Podcast:

• Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pages-and-play-podcast/id1844216908
• iHeart Podcasts: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-pages-and-play-podcast-298658591/
• Instagram (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/pagesandplaypodcast/

• Have any questions? Reach out to us on Facebook, and Instagram, and check out the resources on our blog!
• If you’d like to join our newsletter to be the first to know about our new positions, click here.
• Are you looking for an exceptional nanny, newborn care specialist, or private educator? Get in touch!
• Do you have what it takes to be an Adventure Nanny? Apply Now!

Today, we talk with the incredibly inspiring Margaret Sullivan, author of Following the Sun: Tales (and Fails) From a Year Around the World with Our Kids.

Margaret and her husband made the radical decision to quit their jobs, give up their New York City apartment, pull their two young children (ages four and six) out of school, and spend a year traveling 29 countries spanning six continents with nothing but carry-on bags. In this conversation, Margaret shares:

• Where the idea for this life-altering trip came from and how they ultimately decided to do it.
• Their biggest misconceptions about the experience before leaving.
• The biggest challenges they faced on the road and the transformative lessons they returned with.
• How life is different for the Sullivan family today.
• The real, lived experience of a parent who has lived nomadically with small kids out in the world.

🔗 Guest Bio & Resources

• Margaret Sullivan is a world traveling parent and the author of Following the Sun: Tales (and Fails) From a Year Around the World With Our Kids. She chronicled the year she and her husband quit their jobs, gave up their New York City apartment, and traveled for a year to twenty-nine countries spanning six continents with their two children (ages four and six) and nothing more than carry-on bags. You can follow her adventures on Instagram at @sullivanfamilyadventure.
• Book: Following the Sun: Tales (and Fails) From a Year Around the World With Our Kids
• Instagram (Travel): @sullivanfamilyadventure

• Have any questions? Reach out to us on Facebook, and Instagram, and check out the resources on our blog!
• If you’d like to join our newsletter to be the first to know about our new positions, click here.
• Are you looking for an exceptional nanny, newborn care specialist, or private educator? Get in touch!
• Do you have what it takes to be an Adventure Nanny? Apply Now!

Navigating Contracts and Professionalism in Nanny Careers

Adventure Nannies On Air presents a special Summit Session episode focused on elevating nanny and childcare provider careers through contracts and professional standards. Marketing Director Reagan hosts an in-depth discussion with Tori Blanchard and Kaitlyn Mariner, two seasoned nannies with nearly three decades of combined experience in high-profile environments. They delve into crucial topics such as setting professional boundaries, advocating for fair contracts, and building sustainable relationships. Key takeaways include practical advice on negotiating benefits, maintaining professionalism, and securing career growth while preventing burnout. This episode serves as a valuable resource for nannies seeking to enhance their career paths, ensuring clarity and empowerment in their roles.

00:00 Nanny Q & A: Setting Standards in Contracts & Professional Negotiations
00:22 Introduction and Welcome
00:22 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks
00:22 Q&A and Discussion
00:22 Practical Tips and Best Practices
00:22 Networking and Professional Relationships
00:22 Building Your Portfolio and Brand
00:22 Adapting to Change in the Industry
00:22 Personal Journey and Career Evolution
00:22 Understanding Industry Standards

• Have any questions? Reach out to us on Facebook, and Instagram, and check out the resources on our blog!
• If you’d like to join our newsletter to be the first to know about our new positions, click here.
• Are you looking for an exceptional nanny, newborn care specialist, or private educator? Get in touch!
• Do you have what it takes to be an Adventure Nanny? Apply Now!