In this deeply heartfelt episode of The Play Base Podcast, Frances sits down with Rebecca Guez, someone who entered her life at exactly the right moment and quickly became a grounding guide and trusted support.

Rebecca shares how she began as a conscious parenting coach after realizing she didn’t want to yell, punish, or parent on autopilot but also discovered that tools alone aren’t enough when we’re triggered and can’t access them. From there, her work evolved into a powerful, intuitive blend of conscious parenting, emotional healing, nervous system awareness, meditation, energetic protection, and deeper “why am I wired this way?” exploration.

Together, Frances and Rebecca talk about:

• Why triggers are invitations to heal what’s happening within us
  
  
  
• How sensitive and empathic children often “feel” what adults try to hide
  
  
  
• The difference between being sensitive vs. being empathic (and how to tell)
  
  
  
• Why language matters (“I feel anxious” vs. “I am anxious”)
  
  
  
• Parenting as the ultimate mirror: the messy, magical work of repair, growth, and self-trust
  
  
  

They close with a powerful reminder: life isn’t happening to you—you have more power than you think, and staying committed to your inner work is one of the bravest things you can do.

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

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

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

Connect with Rebecca Guez

🌐 Website: https://rebeccaguez.com/

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

🎙️ Rebecca’s Podcast: https://rebeccaguez.com/podcast/

In this episode of The Play Base, host Frances Fishman is joined in person by Nicole Pekerman, founder of Health Collective and known by many as the “peptide princess.” Together, they dive into what it really takes to create lasting change, from the stories we repeat in our minds to the systems we build in our daily lives.

They discuss:

• Why willpower isn’t the problem and how habit design and systems create sustainable change
  
  
  
• The power of rewriting your internal narrative (and how repetition shapes identity)
  
  
  
• Using gratitude and self-talk to shift mindset, confidence, and behavior over time
  
  
  
• How stress, cortisol, and nervous system dysregulation impact health, sleep, and weight
  
  
  
• Why medications/peptides can be a tool in the toolkit, not a standalone solution
  
  
  
• Practical strategies like tracking, creating friction, and breaking behavior chains
  
  
  

A motivating, heart-centered conversation about health, parenting, nervous system support, and building a blueprint for the life you want starting from the inside out.

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

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

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

Connect with Nicole Pekerman

🌐 Website: https://healthcollective.us/

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

https://www.instagram.com/nicolepekerman/

Listen to her on The Healthy Pod

In this episode of The Play Base, host Frances Fishman sits down with Dr. Tay (Dr. Taylor Day), a licensed psychologist, educator, and leading voice in neurodiversity-affirming care. Together, they explore how autism support must extend beyond the child to include the entire family system.

Dr. Tay shares her personal story as a sibling of an autistic individual, her journey from academia to clinical practice, and her passion for reshaping how we approach ABA, assessments, nervous systems, and autonomy. This conversation dives into sibling experiences, trauma within traditional models, PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), low-demand approaches, and why listening, truly listening, is the foundation of ethical, compassionate care.

A powerful episode for parents, clinicians, and educators who are ready to move beyond compliance and toward connection, understanding, and humanity.

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

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

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

Connect with Dr. Taylor Day

🌐 Website: https://drtaylorday.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.dr.tay/

In this episode of The Play Base with Frances, host Frances Fishman sits down with Anastasiya Boikova, a pediatric occupational therapist and MNRI Core Specialist (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration). Frances shares how meeting Anastasyia in Florida introduced her to an entirely new approach, one that connected nervous system regulation, primitive reflexes, and developmental foundations in a way that immediately clicked.

Together, they discuss:

• What primitive reflexes are and why some children may have unintegrated reflexes beyond early childhood
  
  
  
• How reflex patterns can impact learning, regulation, sensory processing, anxiety, and motor coordination
  
  
  
• MNRI techniques, including gentle tactile input, deep pressure, and repetition to support nervous system organization
  
  
  
• The role of bonding/attachment as a reflex pattern and how parents can support it at home
  
  
  
• Why Anastasia is shifting her work toward parent empowerment and consistent home practice
  
  
  
• A bigger message: doing inner work, believing in potential, and supporting children through whole-body, whole-family care
  
  
  

An inspiring, eye-opening conversation for parents, educators, and clinicians looking to expand what’s possible in supporting regulation, development, and connection.

.

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

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

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

Connect with Anastasia Boiko

🌐 Website: https://wholesometherapycenter.com/

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

In this episode of The Play Base, host Frances Fishman is joined by Dr. Sharon Arbel, a clinical psychologist specializing in child development. Dr. Arbel shares insight into her practice, offers practical guidance for supporting children and families, and discusses her highly specialized programs designed to create meaningful, lasting change.

Frances and Dr. Arbel also give a sneak peek into an upcoming collaborative project, rooted in connection, growth, and empowering both children and the adults who support them.

This episode is ideal for parents, educators, and professionals looking to better understand child development, strengthen relationships, and create positive ripple effects through intentional support.

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

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

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

Connect with Dr. Sharon Arbel

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

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

Connect with Empowering Educators Workshops

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

📧 Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Playdate with Frances, Frances welcomes Susana Castro -  office manager of The Play Base, yoga teacher, coach, and passionate advocate for neurodiversity. Susanna shares her journey from Venezuela to the U.S., her experience raising a neurodivergent child, and how understanding her own ADHD transformed both her personal and professional life.

Together, Frances and Susanna discuss:

• Susanna’s role at The Play Base and why holding space for parents is essential
  
  
  
• Her “divorce” from traditional ABA and why she returned through a trauma-informed lens
  
  
  
• The importance of nervous system awareness in supporting children and families
  
  
  
• What it truly means to embrace neurodiversity without trying to “fix” anyone
  
  
  
• Empowering parents through coaching rather than “training”
  
  
  

This episode is a heartfelt and insightful conversation for parents, educators, and anyone seeking a more compassionate, nervous-system-informed approach to supporting neurodivergent children.

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

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

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

In this short, powerful segment of The Play date with Frances, we explore the importance of parent alignment, parent training, and stepping into the unknown with intention and courage. Frances and her husband reflect on why choosing support that truly aligns with your values matters, how impactful parent coaching can be, and why taking bold steps, especially the scary ones,leads to a life without regrets.

A reminder woven through this conversation:

✨ Do the thing that scares you… because regret is far scarier.

Listen to Ronen Fishman’s podcast “Can’t Shovel Hurricanes”  here for more from him.

https://open.spotify.com/show/5Mk3gWCIZnBFCOGL96omgV

Connect with The Play Base

🌐 Website: www.us.theplaybase.com

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

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

A sneak peek at what's ahead...