In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy welcomes Charles Williams, a Chicago-based school administrator with extensive experience in speaking, workshop facilitation, and podcast hosting. 

Charles shares his unexpected journey into education, originating from a need to ensure financial security for his children as a single father. He speaks about his progression from being an assistant principal to focusing on nationwide educational speaking engagements, emphasizing equity in education, and balancing family life. 

Charles elaborates on his efforts to create equitable educational spaces and the broader implications of equity beyond racial lines, touching on socioeconomic disparities and ableism. 

He also discusses the importance of authentic relationships between educators and students, recounting personal anecdotes to highlight how genuine connections can foster a supportive learning environment. 

Lastly, Charles mentions his work as an author and the purpose behind his speaking engagements, aiming to invoke meaningful conversations and changes within educational systems.

00:21 Charles Williams: The Journey from Judgy McJudgerton to EduCrew
03:23 The Unplanned Path into Education: Charles's Story
05:31 From Classroom to Administration: Shaping a New Educational Paradigm
08:39 Understanding Equity in Education: Beyond Race and Gender
15:26 Expanding Horizons: The Embark Program and Its Impact
16:25 Expanding Horizons Beyond Race and Socioeconomics
17:48 The Importance of Authentic Relationships in Education
18:26 Building Connections Through Authenticity and Patience
22:49 Engaging with Educators and Students on Leadership and Equity
28:44 The Journey of an Author: Sharing Leadership Insights
29:14 Connecting and Sharing Resources Beyond the Classroom

In this reflection, Stacy, who is both in the military and a military spouse, shares her personal experiences and challenges of being part of a military family. 

Reflecting on a week of unpredictable events and the need for flexibility, She highlights the unique struggles and resilience of military spouses. 

From dealing with deployments and maintaining communication through video calls to handling unexpected situations and the complexities of purchasing a home online, this reflection  underscores the importance of flexibility and support within military families. 

00:14 Reflecting on Military Life and Its Challenges
01:17 A Personal Journey Through Military Spousal Life
02:23 The Unpredictable Adventure of Being a Military Spouse
03:43 Embracing Flexibility in the Face of Uncertainty
05:04 The Unsung Heroes: A Tribute to Military Spouses
06:21 The Power of Support and Understanding
07:29 A Heartfelt Shoutout and Encouragement

In this episode, Stacy chats with her longtime friend and fellow clinician, Chelle Taylor. They recall their mutual training in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics under Dr. Bruce Perry, which greatly influenced their approach as clinicians. 

Chelle shares experience in early intervention work with families and children up to 5 years old, and she stresses the importance of the role of relationships and authenticity in therapy, pointing out that love can be the strategy while maintaining proper boundaries. 

Chelle discusses the healthcare system in Australia, including its struggles, and compares it with the American system. She mentions her journey in dealing with personal struggles, including how it impacted her work as a clinician by pushing her towards authenticity in connection with her clients.

00:54 How We Met and Our Journey Together
02:07 Who Am I? A Glimpse into Chelle's Life and Career
03:43 The Impact of the Neurosequential Model in Practice
03:59 Introduction to the Neurosequential Model
07:53 The Power of Relationships in Therapy
11:34 Mental Health Practice in Australia
16:12 The Importance of Early Intervention
24:53 The Role of Love in Therapy
27:55 The Importance of Doing Your Own Work as a Therapist

In this reflection, Stacy reflects on  a sewage pipe break in her home, using it as a springboard to dive into the broader theme of perspective.

She highlights how life's experiences, both minor and significant, shape our ability to view situations in relative terms. Emphasizing the development of the cortex, which greatly influences our critical thinking, problem-solving, and perspective-taking abilities, she points out that perspective is a gift that comes with age and experience. 

Stacy also discusses the importance of not minimizing others' experiences due to differing perspectives, particularly in the context of children and teenagers, who are still developing their worldview. Through her storytelling, she underscores the value of experiencing life's challenges, small and large, and the importance of empathy and understanding in navigating these situations with others.

00:23 Exploring the Concept of Perspective
02:08 A Shitty Situation Turns into a Life Lesson
03:49 Finding Gratitude in the Midst of Chaos
04:19 The Gift of Perspective and Its Impact

In this episode, Marcel Hernandez opens up about his personal and professional journeys in working with justice-involved youth in Nashville, Tennessee.

 As the founder of BeAboutChange, Marcel shares how he weaves his experiences from his recovery journey into his work, focusing on the power of relationships in promoting brain development, mental health and overcoming trauma. He also talks about his role as development director for Tucker's House, a non-profit that provides home modifications for families with children with disabilities. 

He delves into the critical role parenting plays in setting up strong foundational values in children by establishing links between their actions and consequences, and the significance of reinforcing qualities such as emotional intelligence, patience and resilience. 

Throughout the discussion, Marcel emphasizes the importance of relationships as the key to imparting change and better outcomes for individuals and communities.

00:23 Meeting Marcel Hernandez: A Journey Through Trauma Informed Education
01:18 The Importance of Brain Development, Mental Health, and Trauma in Education
01:37 Marcel's Personal and Professional Background
02:52 The Impact of BeAboutChange: A Juvenile Justice Initiative
07:47 The Power of Relationships in Youth Development
18:06 The Role of Tucker's House in Supporting Families with Children with Disabilities
32:03 The Intersection of Professional Lessons and Personal Parenting
39:29 Conclusion: The Power of Relationships and the Importance of Apologies

In this episode, Stacy shares insights on understanding triggers, particularly in the context of interactions with children, whether they are one's own children, students, or clients. With nearly two decades of experience as a clinician and a long history of working with children and families, she introduces the concept of triggers—what activates our stress responses in relation to children. 

The core of this reflection revolves around five critical questions to ask oneself when triggered by a child's behavior. These questions aim to explore one's basic needs, sensory system activations, past experiences and reminders, prior feelings similar to the current reaction, and what one was experiencing at the age of the child causing the trigger. 

The objective is to shift the blame from the child and encourage adults—teachers, parents, and clinicians—to introspect and identify the roots of their triggers for better emotional regulation and relationship management. Stacy emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and reflection in handling triggers, highlighting that the responsibility for managing one's reactions rests with the adult, not the child.

00:37 Exploring the Concept of Triggers
01:24 Understanding Our Reactions to Triggers
02:21 Five Key Questions to Ask When Triggered
03:21 Deep Dive into Each Question
04:57 Reflecting on Personal Experiences and Growth

In this interview, Stacy talks with Brian Post, a mental health professional focused on the importance of love and self-reflection in helping adoptive families and individuals struggling with trauma. Over their conversation, Stacy and Brian discuss the foundational principles of his work including his stress model — the idea that all behavior is a reaction to stress, compounded by either fear or love. Brian emphasizes the importance of clinicians doing personal reflective work to best support their patients and shares his experiences. They discuss the lasting impact of love and relationships in the field of mental health, touching on generational trauma, parental influence, and the future of mental health. Brian also gives insights into his personal methods of self-care and maintaining his emotional and physical health.

00:54 Getting to Know Brian Post
02:50 Brian's Journey and Impact
04:19 The Importance of Hope and Vision
05:36 The Power of Showing Up
08:04 The Challenges of Teaching and Training
10:18 The Stress Model and Its Application
12:47 The Role of Love in Healing
15:25 The Importance of Self-Work
23:39 The Impact of Generational Trauma
31:15 Self-Care and Personal Relationships

In this episode, the Stacy reflects on the past week and the recurring theme of judgment, or rather, the importance of abstaining from it, across various situations. 

She urges listeners to show grace to themselves and others, emphasizing that most people are doing the best they can based on their unique circumstances and internal compass.

Stacy advocates for letting go of perfection and self-judgment, encouraging listeners to approach the week ahead with less judgment towards themselves and others, and to remember that everyone has their own story, which is often more complex than it appears.

00:00 Introduction and Reflections on Judgment
00:39 The Impact of Judgment in Different Life Areas
02:24 The Importance of Self-Grace and Letting Go of Perfection
03:29 Personal Experiences and the Complexity of Human Nature
04:46 Encouragement for a Less Judgmental Approach
05:04 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of Chitty Chats, host Stacy converses with U.S. Army Major, behavioral health officer, and founder of Focusing on Self, Qwanquita Wright. She discusses her journey in the U.S. Army and her passion for making a positive difference in people's lives. She emphasizes the importance of looking after one's own mental well-being, sharing insights from her personal experiences of dealing with grief and trauma. They also delve into the stigma surrounding mental health in the military and the broader society and stress the need for empathy, open conversations, and therapeutic intervention. Wright encourages other professionals and personally puts a high value on deliberate rest, spiritual growth, and regular self-evaluation to remain resilient amidst life's challenges.

01:57 Journey into Social Work in the Military
03:13 The Military Masters of Social Work Program
04:27 The Unpredictability of Military Life
06:27 Addressing Mental Health Stigma in the Military
08:20 The Birth of 'Focusing on Self'
20:43 The Importance of Self-Care and Rest

In this week's reflections, Stacy shares her thoughts derived from recent professional experiences, particularly around the importance of relationships and co-regulation. 

She talks about how these concepts apply across various settings, from education to military to parenting. 

Stacy speaks about how co-regulation is key to self regulation. 

Finally, she encourages listeners to consider their own relationships and how they contribute to or derive co-regulation from them.