What does it take to leave a two-decade career in social services and step into a university classroom with your compassion intact? We sit down with Monica King, a former case manager turned instructor in human development and family studies, to explore how real-world practice can transform how we teach, learn, and serve. Monica shares how she builds courses that prioritize student autonomy and executive function, why she invites current events and policy debates into class, and how she balances flexibility with clear boundaries when the midnight texts come in.

This conversation travels from the nuts and bolts of equitable practice to the personal ground that makes it urgent. Monica talks candidly about parenting a neurodivergent teen, measuring success by well-being rather than benchmarks, and resisting the bureaucratic impulse to say no when a humane yes keeps a family afloat. We unpack equality versus equity, the limits of “treat others as you want to be treated,” and the power of translating research into action without getting lost in academic machinery.

We also get practical about digital life: teaching discernment in a world of misinformation, valuing online friendships as real relationships, and bridging generational gaps in tech fluency. Monica’s advocacy with a local Pride group in a conservative county highlights what it looks like to hold space for difference, even when it draws heat. Through it all, her core message stays steady: care clearly, set honest boundaries, and meet people where they are so they can grow.

If you care about social services, higher education, DEI, parenting, or simply staying human in systems that make it hard, this episode offers grounded tools and a hopeful lens. Listen, share it with a friend who’s navigating a pivot, and leave us a review so more curious people can find the show.

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff