Empowered to Connect Podcast

If you’re a parent, or you work with kids in some capacity, chances are that you've noticed how kids can seemingly change from day to day! They can go from being able to clean their room 18 times, to a complete meltdown from simply being asked.. If you have had the thought of, “Ugh! Why can’t my kid just______.”, you are not alone!

On today’s episode, Tona, Jesse, and Becca talk about a helpful framework for looking at kids through a nuanced perspective. It all goes back to a phrase we say often: “Parent the child in front of you.” Kids' ability to handle challenges changes from moment to moment, so don’t be surprised if they can’t do what they did yesterday. Today’s stressors might be different—whether it's school, social pressures, or just life itself.

This week, we're diving into how to tune into your child's current state and gauge what they can handle right now. Because sometimes, it's not about what they should do, but what they can do in that moment.

To find out more about us, check out our website here. 

Are you a parent who wants to learn more? Our Cultivate Connection class begins January 7! 

If you want to see a visual of the stress capcity that was discussed in this episode, click here for this free resource. 

On today’s episode we had the biggest honor of sitting down with clinical counselor and developmental scientist, Dr. Deborah MacNamara! Trust us when we tell you that you do NOT want to miss this episode! Why?? Jesse and Dr. Deborah dive into some deep and pressing issues such as how attachment and food are related, what happens when behavior becomes bigger than connection, recipes for relationships, and even de-constructing the idea of “picky eaters”. You’ll learn, you’ll find encouragement, and you might even shed a few tears in this really informative and life-giving episode of the Empowered to Connect podcast. LISTEN TO THE EPISDE AND DROP THE SECRET WORD IN THE COMMENTS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF DR. MACNAMARA’S “NOURISHED.”

Find Dr. Deborah MacNamara on...

Facebook: Dr. Deborah MacNamara

X: @debmacnamara

Instagram: @drdeborahmacnamara

Subscribe to Dr. Deborah MacNamara’s Kid's Best Bet NewsletterWebsite is here!

Buy her newest book Nourished

On today’s episode Jesse, Tona, and Becca open a big can of worms… When I set a boundary, I get “Crying and foot stomps and glares, OH MY!” Why is this happening?? What do I do about it?? Listen in as we unpack BIG reactions that we encounter with the kids that we love.

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Listen to today’s episode of the Empowered to Connect Podcast: Help! We’re not on the same parenting page! One of the number one parent questions we get is “HOW can I get my spouse on the same page with parenting???” It makes sense - we each bring SO much of our own history into the equation, so it takes work to get on the same page! Listen in as Jesse, Becca, and Tona share lessons they’ve learned along the way at different points in the parenting (and pre-parenting!) journey.

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YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS TODAY’S ETC PODCAST EPISODE! Jamie Finn shares some incredible truths including: what should a foster/adoptive parent do when they are lonely? Where do YOU find your hope? Why should we be thoughtful about the language we use? Hear this and more with a delightful guest and huge voice for supporting adoptive and foster communities. PS: TODAY her new book Filled is being released! 

Foster the Family blog

Filled Conference

Filled Book

Filled Book Tour

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, so you don’t miss any of our bi-weekly episodes!

This is us: unlock the power of rituals. What's a ritual? Nothing fancy... this includes pizza nights, class cheers, inside jokes, the “first day of school pics,” traditions around holidays. Jump into today’s episode to hear how you can create meaningful moments of connection in your everyday routines and throughout the seasons of life!

Pro tip: look for opportunities to create a ritual to build connection with the kids in your care.

Rhythm and Blues: unlock the power of routines. In our Fall Launch episode, friends Becca, Jesse, and Tona talk about how ROUTINES can change everything for your family! Whether you are “type A organized” or “go-with-the -low” - you’ll hear us dig into the many different ways routines can look and feel.

Hear how routines can solve pain points, create felt safety, and allow some calm to enter your home.

You may believe that this approach is for little kids, or you may know someone else who thinks that way! Today we are joined by the Davaults, who share their extensive experiencing of walking alongside teens for years in different contexts! They are here to debunk the myth that this approach is only for the littles! Listen for wisdom and practical insights on how we can use Connected Parenting principles to lovingly walk alongside our teens as they grow in independence and autonomy.

A quick note from us at ETC! We will be taking a Summer Pause from the ETC Podcast! We're excited about what's coming up next in the Fall, and hope you'll go back and re-listen to your favorite episodes! Stay tuned!

There are a TON of myths about what Connected Parenting is and isn’t. Today Cultivate Connection Facilitators Julie and Jess talk about the idea that you have to give up ALL STRUCTURE to parent from a Connection based approach. Spoiler alert: that’s a myth! Listen in to hear tips and mindsets about how to increase both your structure and your nurture to care for the child in front of you!

In our Memphis-based clinic we serve families and their first point of contact is our Family Care Team. Today members of that team talk to us about HOW and WHY taking care of the WHOLE family is so very important! If you’re a parent who has wondered why you can’t just drop your child off at counseling to make them “all better” - listen in! If you’re a professional who feels like you’re missing a puzzle piece or ten - listen in!

You can learn more about Empowered to Connect here! 

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