The Play Base

In this episode, Frances sits down with Dr. Ally Durrieu, owner of Nature Nurture Chiropractic, for an eye-opening conversation about chiropractic care through a neurological and nervous-system-based lens.

Dr. Ally specializes in supporting children and adults with neurodiverse needs, sensory challenges, nervous system dysregulation, and stress-related concerns. Through her work with the PX Docs (Pediatric Experience) network, she helps families understand what may be happening beneath the surface when a child struggles with emotional regulation, sensory sensitivities, digestion, sleep, focus, or behavior.

What You'll Learn

Dr. Ally explains that stress isn't just emotional — it falls into three categories: chemical (nutrition, toxins, food sensitivities), physical (injury, posture, movement), and emotional (relationships, parenting, work). Rather than eliminating stress, her goal is helping the nervous system adapt to it more effectively.

She also walks through the three scans she uses to assess nervous system function:

Frances shares her own experience undergoing this assessment and reflects on how the results aligned with lifestyle changes she'd recently made.

Behavior Is Communication

A standout moment in the conversation centers on neurodiverse children. Dr. Ally explains how understanding a child's internal nervous system state — whether they're overactivated or running on empty — allows caregivers and professionals to respond with greater empathy and effectiveness. When we understand the physiology, the behavior makes more sense.

The episode also touches on how nervous system function can influence digestion, immune health, allergies, sleep, and respiratory function — and why treating symptoms in isolation often misses the bigger picture.

Trust Your Gut

Dr. Ally closes with a powerful reminder for parents: trust your instincts. If something feels off with your child, that inner knowing is worth listening to. And for caregivers of all kinds — you cannot pour from an empty cup. Your well-being is the foundation for everything else.

Connect with Dr. Ally Durrieu
🌐 naturenurturechiropractic.com
📸 @nature.nurture.chiropractic
🔍 Find a PX Docs provider: pxdocs.com

Connect with The Play Base
🌐 us.theplaybase.com
📸 @theplaybase
🎥 YouTube: @theplaybase

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Playbase Podcast | Episode with Liat Horovitz, Results Coach & Retreat Facilitator

Frances sits down with Liat Horovitz, a results coach, retreat facilitator, and creator of transformational spaces for women, entrepreneurs, and leaders standing on the edge of change.

Frances and Liat reflect on their first meeting, the impact of coaching, and the kind of deep connection that helps someone see themselves more clearly. Together, they explore what it means to feel stuck, how to listen to the quiet whispers within, and why the next step is often not about forcing an answer — but about leaning in.

This conversation touches on motherhood, business, burnout, vulnerability, self-awareness, control, and the courage it takes to make big life decisions before all the answers are clear.

In this episode, Frances and Liat discuss:

About Liat Horovitz
Liat Horovitz is a results coach who helps people move through uncertainty, reconnect to themselves, and take aligned action in their personal and professional lives. Through coaching, retreats, and transformational events like Revival, she supports women, entrepreneurs, and leaders in clarifying what they want, identifying what's holding them back, and stepping into the next version of themselves.

Reflection from Liat
You are one connection away from something big. Open yourself to new conversations, new relationships, and new spaces — there can be magic on the other side of allowing it in.

Connect with Liat Horovitz
🌐 liathorovitz.com
📸 @liathorovitz

Connect with The Play Base
🌐 us.theplaybase.com
📸 @theplaybase
🎥 YouTube: @theplaybase

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this inspiring episode, Frances sits down with Jasmine Eingen, founder of Mentorio, a mentorship and personal development brand supporting children's confidence, emotional growth, and mental fitness.

Jasmine joins from London to share how Mentorio began in Toronto and has grown into a global vision. Through after-school programs, school partnerships, one-to-one mentorship, peer mentorship, and an upcoming virtual membership platform, Mentorio helps children identify their strengths, build confidence, regulate their emotions, and feel deeply seen.

Together, Frances and Jasmine explore the power of mentorship, the beauty of peer connection, and why children often receive guidance differently from mentors than from parents or teachers. This conversation is a reminder that every child deserves someone who sees their light, names their strengths, and helps them believe in themselves.

In this episode, they discuss:

About Mentorio

Mentorio is a mentorship and personal development brand designed to support children's confidence, emotional growth, mental fitness, and sense of self. Founded by Jasmine Eingen, Mentorio helps children discover their strengths, build confidence, develop emotional tools, and connect with inspiring mentors who act as guides, cheerleaders, and role models. The program is now expanding globally through a virtual membership platform where children can connect with mentors from around the world in small group settings.

Reflection Question from Jasmine Think about the confidence you have today. What has that confidence helped you achieve? What feeds your confidence, and how can you share those gifts with the world?

Connect with Jasmine & Mentorio 🌐 https://www.mentorio.org/ 📸 https://www.instagram.com/mentorio.learning/ 📸 https://www.instagram.com/j.etingen/

Connect with The Play Base 🌐 www.us.theplaybase.com 📸 https://www.instagram.com/theplaybase/ 🎥 https://www.youtube.com/@theplaybase

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this deeply honest and empowering conversation, Frances sits down with occupational therapist Dr. Fay Gersh to explore motherhood, burnout, intimacy, self-love, boundaries, nervous system regulation, and what it truly means to live in alignment.

From immigrating between countries and building careers while raising children to navigating burnout in helping professions, Frances and Dr. Fay unpack the realities many women silently carry while caring for everyone around them.

Dr. Fay shares her journey from business and real estate into occupational therapy and her evolution from pediatric OT into women's wellness, pelvic floor health, mental health support, and intimacy coaching. Together, they discuss why self-care is not a luxury, why boundaries are essential, and how reconnecting with ourselves allows us to show up more fully in every relationship we have.

As co-founder of Her Next Pivot, Dr. Fay helps women rediscover alignment, purpose, confidence, and fulfillment through life's personal and professional transitions. This work has become one of her greatest passions, empowering women to reconnect with themselves and create lives that feel authentic and sustainable.

This episode is a powerful reminder that intimacy begins with the relationship we cultivate with ourselves.

Show Notes

In this episode, Frances and Dr. Fay discuss:

• Dr. Fay's journey from business and real estate into occupational therapy

• Immigration, motherhood, and building a life between Toronto and South Florida

• Burnout in caregiving and helping professions

• The emotional weight many mothers silently carry

• Transitioning from pediatric occupational therapy to supporting women more holistically

• Her work as co-founder of Her Next Pivot and helping women navigate life transitions

• Pelvic floor dysfunction, postpartum wellness, and normalizing women's health conversations

• The role of movement, Pilates, and mindfulness in healing and regulation

• The meaning behind "Intima OT" and why intimacy starts with self-connection

• Self-love, self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healthy boundaries

• Cultural and generational conditioning that makes it difficult for women to prioritize themselves

• Burnout, nervous system overload, and learning to listen to your body's signals

• The healing power of nature, movement, sensory grounding, and mindfulness

• Parenting with boundaries while still allowing children to develop their own voice

• Helping children build resilience, self-awareness, and internal discernment

• The difference between abundance and entitlement

• Why experiences and connection matter more than perfection

• Letting go of hustle culture, multitasking, and unrealistic expectations of balance

• The importance of delegation, prioritization, authenticity, and alignment

Key Takeaway

You cannot pour endlessly into others while abandoning yourself. The relationship you have with yourself shapes every relationship in your life.

Reflection from Dr. Fay

"Intimacy begins with yourself. When you cultivate closeness, awareness, boundaries, and love within yourself, you create the foundation for deeper relationships with others."

Connect with Dr. Fay Gersh and Her Next Pivot

Website: https://hernextpivot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hernextpivot/

Connect with The Play Base

Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplaybase/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theplaybase

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Playbase Podcast, Frances sits down with Paulette Cormier to explore the powerful connection between the body, the brain, reflex integration, movement, hearing, regulation, and learning.

Paulette shares her journey from teacher and mother to practitioner, beginning with her search for support for her own son’s learning challenges. That path led her to Relationship Development Intervention, MNRI, developmental movement, and auditory integration training.

Together, Frances and Paulette discuss why development is not just about academics, why primitive reflexes matter, how tummy time supports future learning, and why some children may struggle when foundational body-based systems are not fully integrated.

This conversation is an eye-opening reminder that when a child is struggling socially, behaviorally, academically, or physically, we have to look beneath the surface. Before we build higher-level skills, we need to understand the foundation.

Show Notes

In this episode, Frances and Paulette discuss:

Key Takeaway

When a child is struggling, we have to ask where the gap began. Sometimes the most meaningful support does not start with academics, behavior plans, or skill drills. Sometimes it starts with the body.

Reflection from Paulette

If your child is struggling, think about building a house. If there is a crack in the foundation, you would not start by putting new shingles on the roof. You would go back and repair the foundation first.

Closing Thought

Before we ask children to build higher-level skills, we need to make sure their foundation is strong enough to support them.

Connect with Paulette Cormier

🌐 Website: https://paulette-cormier.squarespace.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rainbowconnectionstherapies/

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplaybase/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theplaybase

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this heart-centered episode of The Playbase Podcast, Frances sits down with Thabatta Mizrahi, educator, consultant, university lecturer, and strategic educational partnership builder.

Thabatta shares how growing up as the oldest sibling in an immigrant family, with two siblings with different special needs, shaped the way she sees the world. Rather than seeing people through labels or limitations, she was raised to see a spectrum of abilities, strengths, and gifts.

Frances and Thabatta explore what it means to educate all learners, why relationship is the foundation of learning, and how inclusion has evolved over time. They speak deeply about strength-based education, the responsibility teachers carry, and the beauty of seeing every child as a whole human being, not a problem to be fixed.

This episode is a powerful reminder that education does not only happen inside a classroom. Every relationship is an opportunity to teach, learn, connect, and see one another more fully.

Show Notes

In this episode, Frances and Thabatta discuss:

Reflection Question from Thabatta

If all the world is a classroom, how are you navigating your responsibility as an educator in your relationships, your family, your work, and your community?

Closing Thought

You do not have to be a teacher to be an educator. Every interaction is an opportunity to model, teach, connect, and help someone feel seen.

Connect with Thabatta Mizrahi

🌐 Website: https://www.thabattasm.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thabattasm/

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplaybase/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theplaybase

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this powerful episode of The Playbase Podcast, Frances sits down with Chris D’Angelo, a student leader, athlete, musician, and deeply inspiring young man whose story is a reminder that purpose can be found even in life’s hardest moments.

Chris shares the story of tearing his ACL and meniscus during football season, an injury that took him off the lacrosse field and away from a major part of his identity. Instead of stepping back from his team, Chris found a new way to lead. Inspired by Notre Dame’s lacrosse bagpipe tradition, he committed to learning the bagpipes in just three and a half months so he could walk his St. Andrews lacrosse team onto the field.

What began as a devastating injury became a story of grit, leadership, identity, and purpose.

Frances and Chris also talk about what it means to be a true leader, the lessons team sports teach beyond the game, and how Chris’s older brother, Nick, who is autistic, has shaped the way Chris sees the world, understands compassion, and leads with heart.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that leadership is not always about being the loudest, strongest, or most visible person on the field. Sometimes leadership is showing up in a new way when life changes the plan.

Show Notes

In this episode, Frances and Chris explore:

Reflection Question from Chris

Is it really that bad?

Chris invites listeners to pause, gain perspective, count their blessings, and remember that even when something feels heavy, there may still be light, purpose, and possibility ahead.

Closing Thought

There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes you just have to find it, hold onto your purpose, and keep going.

Connect with Chris D’Angelo

📸 Instagram: 

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplaybase/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theplaybase

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this heartfelt and practical episode, Frances sits down with educator, creator, and content powerhouse Melissa Markus, known online as The Kindergarten Mom. A former dance friend turned inspiring voice for parents and teachers, Melissa shares how her platform began, what continues to drive her, and why the kindergarten years are some of the most important in a child’s development.

Together, they explore the beauty and complexity of early childhood education, the power of movement and routine, the importance of advocating for children, and what it means to truly meet kids where they are. This conversation is filled with wisdom for parents, educators, and anyone who wants to better understand how young children learn, grow, and thrive.

Show notes

In this episode of The Playbase, Frances reconnects with old friend Melissa Markus, educator, creator, and the voice behind The Kindergarten Mom.

Melissa shares how her online platform was born out of a season of change, motherhood, and a deep desire to continue contributing meaningfully to families and children outside the classroom. What started as a way to share ideas and support others grew into a trusted space where parents and teachers can find practical resources, honest insight, and encouragement.

Frances and Melissa dive into the early years of childhood development, why kindergarten matters so much, how movement supports learning, and what teachers are really balancing behind the scenes. They also talk about advocacy, communication between parents and educators, and how to support children without forcing them into a box.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that children do not all learn the same way, and that when we slow down, observe, and respond with intention, we create space for them to thrive.

In this episode, we talk about:

Key takeaways

Memorable themes from the episode

Meeting kids where they are

Not every child learns, sits, processes, or participates in the same way, and that is okay.

Regulate before you react

Children need adults who can pause, zoom out, and respond with intention.

Support over shame

The goal is never to force children into a mold, but to understand them and give them the tools they need to thrive.

Connect with Melissa Markus

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekindergartenmom/

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplaybase/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theplaybase

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Play Base Podcast, Frances sits down with Dr. Ryan Seidman- licensed clinical psychologist, clinical director of The Children’s Center, and a true champion for collaborative care.

Together, they unpack one of the biggest problems in child treatment today: support happening in isolated “bubbles.” Therapy in one place, school in another, behavior supports somewhere else, while parents are left trying to stitch it all together.

Dr. Seidman shares why her clinic was built on a whole-family, team-based approach (therapy, psychiatry, behavioral services, and education services under one roof) and then drops the big news: a brand-new school model launching in the fall designed specifically for children who learn differently and need more support before transitioning into a traditional classroom setting.

What you’ll hear in this episode

The big announcement

Dr. Seidman shares that The Children’s Center is opening three small classrooms (starting in the fall) for children who need more developmental and educational support in a setting that integrates:

The model is intentionally small- max ~6 students per classroom, with the goal of supporting kids developmentally and emotionally so they can transition successfully into a traditional kindergarten or school setting when ready.

Memorable moments and reframes

The Children’s Center

Address: 4600 Linton Blvd (east of Linton & Military)

Services available:

Closing reflection for listeners (Dr. Seidman’s question)

“How can we best understand our child’s strengths and weaknesses, so we can set them up to be successful not just in school, but in friendships, activities, and home life?”

A reminder that the goal isn’t forcing a child into a mold—it’s getting creative, meeting them where they are, and building the path that helps them thrive.

Connect with Dr. Ryan Seidman

🌐 Website: https://www.centerforanxietydisorders.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonstudioinc/?hl=en

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplaybase/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theplaybase

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this deeply moving episode, Frances sits down with hockey coach Nikita Krivokrasov for a conversation that goes far beyond the ice. Together, they explore identity, resilience, failure, purpose, and what it truly means to impact others.

Nikita shares his personal journey through the highs and lows of pursuing hockey at a high level, the emotional weight of unmet expectations, and the powerful shift that came from letting go of control and embracing the present moment. Through coaching, he has found not just a new path, but a deeper purpose—helping others believe in themselves, push through adversity, and grow into who they are meant to be.

This episode is about more than sports. It is about being human, doing the inner work, and choosing to turn pain into purpose.

Show notes

What happens when the identity you’ve built your entire life around suddenly shifts?

In this episode, Frances is joined by Nikita Krivokrasov, a hockey coach whose impact reaches far beyond the rink. What begins as a conversation about coaching quickly unfolds into a powerful discussion about identity, failure, healing, and purpose.

Nikita opens up about his journey through competitive hockey, the internal battles he faced, and how working with young athletes helped him rediscover joy, presence, and meaning. Frances and Nikita explore what it means to lead with both strength and compassion, how to connect deeply with others, and why living in the present moment is one of the most powerful tools we have.

This conversation is a reminder that sometimes the path we didn’t plan is the one that leads us exactly where we’re meant to be.

In this episode, we talk about:

Key takeaways:

Memorable quotes:

“I can’t believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself.”

“It’s okay not to know—but it’s not okay not to try to figure it out.”

“You only have this moment. Be present, learn, and keep going.”

Connect with Nikita Krivokrasov

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krivo__25/
📞 561-332-9465
📧 [email protected]

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplaybase/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theplaybase
📞561-463-8441

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.