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Why does your middle schooler seem happy, anxious, excited, embarrassed, frustrated, and overwhelmedâall before dinner?
In Week 3 of our whole family Socioemotional Learning (SEL) Summer Camp series, Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSW, is joined by Jessica Ragnio, MSW, LICSW, Clinical Director at Mightier, to explore the fascinating world of adolescent emotions. Always a good hang with Jessica!
Together, the duo discuss why emotions become more intense during the middle school years, how identity development, independence, social awareness, and puberty shape emotional experiences, and what neuroscience can teach us about the adolescent brain.
In this episode, youâll discover:
đ Why middle school emotions can feel like an emotional hurricaneđ§ How the adolescent brain develops differently than the adult brain
đ Why kids often experience multiple emotions at the same time
⥠How emotional energy and emotional valence help us better understand feelings
đĄď¸ Why emotions show up in the body before children always have words for them
đŁ How families can build emotional awareness through conversation and play
Youâll also learn why social rejection can genuinely hurt, what cortisol has to do with emotional regulation, and how helping kids recognize body signals can strengthen lifelong emotional intelligence.
đŁ FREE FAMILY ACTIVITY: FISHING FOR FEELINGS
Download this weekâs activity here:
https://www.mightier.com/resources/emotional-awareness-activities/
Fishing for Feelings helps families build emotional vocabulary, identify body signals, and create meaningful conversations about emotions in a fun and engaging way.
SPECIAL OFFER: Our friends at Mightier help children build emotional regulation skills through gameplay and biofeedback.
Use coupon code: MARYPOPPINS for 15% off.
Guest:
Jessica Ragnio, MSW, LICSW
Clinical Director, MightierRemember:
We donât stop the waves. We learn how to ride them.
Stop. Regulate. Listen.
Stay clever, little foxes. đđŚ
A very special thanks to StellaMix productions and Janine Stella for her incredible production work. Please go to stellamix.com for all of your podcasting needs.
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đâď¸ Are Screens Evil or Not? Chocolate Cake, Dopamine & the Middle School Brain | SEL Summer Camp Week 2
Why do kids seem glued to their phones? Why do texts, group chats, likes, and social media feel so important during middle school? And are screens really harming kidsâor is the answer more complicated than that?
In Week 2 of our SEL Summer Camp collaboration with Mightier, Suzanne Swain, EdS, LMSW sits down with developmental scientist Jason Kahn, PhD, co-founder of Mightier, to explore what brain science actually tells us about technology, screen time, dopamine, emotional regulation, social media, friendships, and adolescent development.
Together, we discuss:
đ§ The middle school brain and dopamine
đą Why social media feels so powerful
đ° The âChocolate Cake Theoryâ of technology
đŹ Why kids see phones differently than adults
â¤ď¸ The importance of belonging during adolescence
đŽ Healthy technology habits and screen balance
đą Boredom, creativity, and imagination
đď¸ Family conversations that reduce conflict and build connectionThis episode helps parents, educators, counselors, and caregivers better understand how technology interacts with the developing adolescent brainâand how to guide middle schoolers toward healthier digital habits without shame, fear, or constant power struggles.
Special SEL Summer Camp Partner: Mightier
Mightier uses biofeedback-powered video games to help kids build emotional regulation skills in real time. Middle School Mary Poppins listeners receive 15% off with code MARYPOPPINS at Mightier.com.đĽ Download this weekâs Summer Camp activity guide:
msmarypoppins.comđ§ Questions or stories?
[email protected]#Parenting #MiddleSchool #ScreenTime #SocialMedia #Dopamine #AdolescentBrain #EmotionalRegulation #SEL #SocialEmotionalLearning #ExecutiveFunctioning #Neurodiversity #TweenParenting #TeenParenting #ChildDevelopment #DigitalWellness #Mightier #MiddleSchoolMaryPoppins #BrainScience #ParentingPodcast #FamilyConnection
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âď¸ SEL Summer Camp is Here!
Pack your curiosity, grab your emotional toolkit, and join us for a one-of-a-kind summer adventure!
Middle School Mary Poppins is teaming up with Mightier for a special six-week SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Summer Camp designed specifically for middle school families.
Together, weâll explore the fascinating world of emotions, friendships, technology, anxiety, anger, communication, and the developing adolescent brain through engaging conversations, family activities, brain science, and practical tools you can use right away.
Joining Suzanne throughout the series is Jason Kahn, PhD, Chief Science Officer at Mightier, who brings years of expertise in developmental psychology, emotional regulation, and helping kids build resilience through play.
Each week weâll tackle a new topic:
đ§ Week 1: S2 EP 28 - SEL Summer Camp Week 1 - Adolescent Brains: A Powerful Engine, Sensitive Alarm, & Driver Still in Training
Understanding the middle school brain and why adolescents think, feel, and react differently than adults.đCamp Week 1 Download:
https://www.mightier.com/resources/5-steps-to-unstick-your-thinking-for-parents/
đThis article contains a list of strategies for parents & families that prompt them to stop and reflect in the moment of disagreement or miscommunication with their child. The strategies help families separate out their own emotions and perspective in order to better see their child's perspective.Future Camp Sessions & Topics:
đą Week 2: Are Screens Evil or Not?
Technology, dopamine, gaming, and finding healthy family balance.đ Week 3: Oceans of Emotion
Exploring feelings, emotional awareness, and the surprising ways emotions work together.đą Week 4: Garden of Weedy Thoughts
Understanding anxiety, self-esteem, and those pesky cognitive distortions that can take over our thinking.đ Week 5: Volcano of Anger
Learning what lives underneath anger and how to regulate big emotions before they erupt.đ¤ Week 6: Social Skills Lab
Building friendships, communication skills, empathy, and confidence through connection.Throughout the summer, families will receive conversation starters, activities, reflection questions, and practical strategies that make Social Emotional Learning fun, meaningful, and accessible.
Why MSMP is Partnering with Mightier
At Middle School Mary Poppins, we believe emotional regulation isnât something kids magically know how to do.
Itâs a skill.
And skills require practice.
Thatâs why weâre excited to partner with Mightier, a program that helps children build emotional regulation skills through biofeedback-powered games that teach kids how to recognize whatâs happening inside their bodies and practice calming strategies in real time.
đ Special Offer for Middle School Mary Poppins Families
Receive 15% OFF Mightier with code: MARYPOPPINS
Whether youâre a parent, grandparent, teacher, counselor, therapist, or simply someone who loves a middle schooler, this series is for you.
So grab your camp gear, bring your curiosity, and join us as we spend six weeks exploring the most important classroom your child will ever have:
Their brain.
See you at camp!
âď¸ Suzanne Swain, EdS, LMSW
Middle School Mary PoppinsđŚ Stay clever, little foxes
đShoutout to StellaMix Studios for making this possible! đ¤đĽđ
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Middle school can feel like a daily showdown⌠until you realize the kid isnât always the problem. Sometimes the kid is the signal.
In this episode of The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast, Suzanne Swain, EDS LMSW explores the moments that make adults throw their hands in the air and ask, âSeriously?!â â and why that reaction is understandable, but often aimed at the wrong target. When behavior goes sideways, we tend to place the full weight of the situation on a 12- or 13-year-old navigating hormones, identity development, social pressure, emotional overwhelm, and a brain that is still developing impulse control and executive functioning. That isnât an excuse for harmful behavior⌠itâs a roadmap for understanding it.
Drawing from years of real middle school classroom management experience, Suzanne walks listeners through a systems-based approach to behavior that focuses on emotional safety, clear expectations, simple procedures, and consistent boundaries. Youâll hear why consistency matters more than intensity, why fewer rules often work better than dozens of threats, and how becoming âannoyingly predictableâ can actually help kids feel safer and more regulated. The episode also explores metacognition â the adult skill of noticing whatâs happening internally before reacting externally â and how our own regulation often shapes the emotional climate around children.
But structure alone is never enough. Kids also need connection. This episode unpacks the idea of âconnection before correctionâ and why trust, co-regulation, and emotional repair are critical parts of accountability. Suzanne also discusses some of the hidden stressors affecting todayâs tweens and teens, including chronic sleep deprivation, overstimulation, emotional exhaustion, and constant screen saturation.
Blending neuroscience, humor, emotional critical thinking, and real classroom insight, this conversation offers a more compassionate lens for understanding middle schoolers without removing accountability or structure.
đ ND Friendly Listening Note: MSMP is designed with neurodivergent listeners in mind. Ads and interruptions are intentionally kept to a minimum and placed thoughtfully for continuity and emotional regulation support.
âď¸ ENTER THE NEW CONTEST: head to the website and join the mailing list for a chance to win a 45 minute family session with Suzanne!
đâď¸Visit msmarypoppins.com for resources, updates, and ways to support the show.
Produced by StellaMix Podcast Productions. Reach out to my high school buddy Janine for all of your podcast needs as she is the wizard you need!
đ stellamix.comđŚStay clever, little foxes. You got this!
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Internet Culture & Emotional Health: The Safety Dance
feat. Adam Brooks, Program Coordinator from BARK Technologies [email protected]
Special MSMP listener offer:
Use code POPPINS25 for $25 off any Bark phone model or watch (limit 2). Learn more at: www.bark.usPart 3 of our âReimagining Screen Timeâ technology series focuses on one of the biggest modern parenting challenges of all: keeping kids safe online while still building trust, communication, and healthy independence.
Balancing screens with quality family time, creating intentional technology plans, and opening ongoing family discussions about devices and boundaries has become just as essential as having a family fire safety plan.
As an educational technologist and former middle school educator, Suzanne recently took a deep dive into researching modern family technology tools and discovered BARK Technologies.
BARK has: more than 7 million users, strong professional reviews, extensive educational resources, and a kid & family-forward philosophy towatd devices and screen time.
BARK stood out as an innovative and highly acclained option for helping families navigate the digital world more safely together.What especially impressed Suzanne was Barkâs willingness to provide schools and educators with professional development and technology safety resourcesâeven when schools are not purchasing products or services. That commitment to education, accessibility, and family discussion deserved a closer look.
So Suzanne invited Adam Brooks, Barkâs Program Coordinator and a former teacher himself, onto the podcast to discuss current research, internet culture, emotional health, and practical ways families can create healthier digital habits together.
Letâs face facts: middle schoolers are growing up in a digital environment that moves faster than most adults can realistically keep up with. Between social media pressure, group chats, cyberbullying, AI-generated content, online predators, and nonstop notifications, families are navigating challenges that simply did not exist a generation ago.
In this episode, Suzanne and Adam discuss:
Why middle school brains are especially vulnerable onlineThe emotional impact of social media and comparison cultureCyberbullying, online predators, and digital safetyHealthy monitoring vs. invasive parentingHow to build trust instead of constant power strugglesPractical tools families can begin using immediatelyCreating collaborative family technology plans that encourage communication and emotional safetyBark Technologies offers monitoring tools, parental controls, screen time management, content filtering, and affordable kid-safe phones and watches designed to help families navigate technology in a healthier and more balanced way.
As always, Suzanne takes ethics very seriously. BARK Technologies did not pay for this review, testimonial, or discussion. This episode reflects Suzanneâs independent professional opinion after personally researching family technology options that are affordable, highly regarded, innovative, and capable of encouraging stronger communication and healthier family relationships around technology use.
đ Special MSMP listener offer:
Use code POPPINS25 for $25 off any Bark phone model or watch (limit 2).
Learn more at: www.bark.us
Questions about Barkâs services or educational partnerships can also be directed to Adam Brooks at [email protected]. He is excited to hear from you! Come back anytime!Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
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Plain Talk: Dogs, Cats, & the Neurodivergent Brain (Unscripted & Unedited) đśđđąđĽš
This episode is a different one, yâall!
No outline.
No âcheat sheet.â
No editing out the pauses or the âyou knows.â đ¤đ¤ŤJust a real âplainâ conversation. I thought it would be fun to see what happens without my safe bullet points.
đ Give me about two minutes on this oneâit settles in and gets really good. Besides, itâs all about FURRY FAMILY! 𤊠Animals are everything. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be a great experience.
Middle school is a time when life feels unpredictableâfriendships shift, social rules change by the hour, and for neurodivergent kids, sensory overload can turn an ordinary day into a storm.
So why do animals help so much?
In this off-the-cuff episode, we talk about dogs and cats not as âpets,â but as teammatesâpartners that help regulate a childâs nervous system in real, measurable ways.
We break down the neuroscience in plain language:
Petting an animal can lower cortisol, raise oxytocin, and help the brain feel safer. The limbic system begins to settle. The world feels different.Then we get into what almost sounds unbelievable about dogsâtheir ability to detect emotional states through scent, track routines by âsmelling time,â respond to subtle pressure changes, and hear what the rest of us miss.
If youâve ever felt like your dog knew you were having a bad day before you did⌠youâre not imagining it.
And yesâwe give cats their due.
Cats arenât âless social.â Theyâre selectively socialâwired for predictable, low-pressure connection. From the slow blink to their carefully chosen moments of closeness, we explore why cats can be exactly what an anxious brain needs.
Youâll also hear stories about Neville, a little âstreet councilâ energy, and the very real truth about loving animalsâeven knowing loss is part of the deal.
đŹ Tell me: which animal has helped you (or your child) feel safe?
â
New here? Start with âRidiculous Joyâ to get a feel for the heart of the show.
Want to reach out?
Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSW
đ§ [email protected]
đ msmarypoppins.comProduced by StellaMix Podcast Productions: https://stellamix.com/
Support the show:
If this episode helped your family or classroom, visit msmarypoppins.com and click Support the Show.Your support keeps this podcast free, research-based, and centered on emotional health for kidsâespecially neurodivergent tweens and teens.
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Screen time is not going anywhere, so instead of arguing about whether it is âgoodâ or âbad,â letâs get specific about what it doing positively for our kids. My EDS is in Education Technology, bring it!
This is episode two in our exploring screen time series, where we discuss how digital tools can be used in more intentional, supportive ways for kids and families. I found Mightier! I think Mightier is doing something truly innovative, affordable, & educationally way ahead of the pack. So, I vetted it. Again and again. Nights of secretly evaluating on ridiculously high-level criteria. Had kids try it.
And the Result? LegitđđŤśđźI sought THEM out. No paid testimonial. Just a shrewd educator seeking a diamond. Really thrilled to bring this solution to listeners. There are kids out there that would be so benefited by what they do with biometrics. Brilliant.
WEBSITE: www.mightier.com
COUPON CODE: MARYPOPPINS (15% OFF)In this episode, I share a surprising tool I vetted myself: a set of video games that use heart-rate biofeedback to help kids practice emotional regulation while they play. If your child melts down quickly, struggles with anxiety, or gets stuck in frustration, this conversation offers a concrete way to think about intentional screen time and digital wellness at home. Please note: I am not being paid in any capacity for this interview. I simply am absolutely mesmerized by this software. Share the knowledge!
A VISIT FROM JESSICA RAGNIO FROM MIGHTIER:
Suzanne is joined by her first-ever guest, Jessica Ragnio, a clinical social worker, therapist, and mom of three who serves as Clinical Director at Mightier. She breaks down how the program grew out of research at Boston Childrenâs Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and why real-time practice matters more than simply talking about coping skills when a child is already flooded.
We dig into how the games respond to rising heart rate, what âred zoneâ and âblue zoneâ cues look like, and how kids are rewarded for bringing their bodies back down to calm.
We also cover what families tend to notice over time, including stronger emotional awareness, better frustration tolerance, and calmer recovery in school and friendships. For parents who want visibility, we talk through the companion app and the progress data it tracks, including cooldowns.
If you want to explore it yourself, head to www.mightier.com and use the code MARYPOPPINS for 15% off.
If this episode helps you rethink screen time, subscribe, share it with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find practical mental health tools.
Contact Suzanne M. Swain EdS LMSW:
Website: msmarypoppins.com
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Special thanks to our producer, StellaMix podcast productions, another Palm Beach County School of the Arts collaboration. Need a podcast? Connect with Janine Stella ASAP: http://www.Stellamix.com
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Screens: the ultimate villain⌠or your kidâs emotional support sidekick? In this playful (and eye-opening) episode, Suzanne dives into the nightly showdown every parent knows too wellâthe âput the phone downâ battleâand flips the script in a way you probably didnât see coming.
What looks like defiance might actually be overwhelm. What feels like obsession might be regulation. From dopamine hits and digital comparison to cyberbullying and late-night scrolling, we unpack whatâs really going on behind the screenâand why simply taking the phone away might be missing the bigger picture.
With relatable stories, a dash of humor (shoutout to Lieutenant Steve đž), and practical strategies you can actually use, this episode helps parents, educators, and caregivers move from power struggles to real connection. Because the goal isnât to win the screen time warâitâs to understand the kid on the other side of it.
Tune in for a fresh perspective, a few âahaâ moments, and maybe even a little peace at bedtime.
ââââ-
PRO BONO: Currently, MSMP does not profitize nor monetize as an effort to avoid bias & to help build trust with new listeners. (Too many commercials ruin messaging.)
Trust is everything & worth earning first. MSMP will only support rigorously vetted advertisers that commit to bettering the lives & mental health of kids and their families - no fluff. Your time is valuable. ââââââââââ-
4/21/26: đ Issue: Currently working with Apple to fix the incorrect rating & reviews. There is a glitch in the system currently but please feel free to continue to add your ratings & written review if possible! They hope to have it back soon. Thx -Suz đ¤Śââď¸
For current & accurate ratings, please see MSMPâs page on Spotify. 2600 đđđđđ Wow yâall! đĽł
Contact Suzanne M. Swain EdS LMSW:
Website: msmarypoppins.com
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Special thanks to our producer, StellaMix podcast productions, another Palm Beach County School of the Arts collaboration. Need a podcast? Connect with Janine Stella ASAP: http://www.Stellamix.com
Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
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You can be smart, creative, and deeply caring and still walk through life feeling like youâre getting âthrown to the curb.â That ache hits a lot of neurodivergent adults, especially when old childhood labels keep playing on loop: too sensitive, too emotional, too intense, too distracted, so much potential if you could just⌠Iâm busting those cognitive distortions and telling a truer story about neurodiversity, ADHD, autism, giftedness, and what itâs like when your brain takes in more than the room expects.
We start with a memory from childhood thatâs equal parts funny and revealing: walking up to neighborsâ houses and asking if they had kids who wanted to be friends. Through that lens, we talk about why connection can become a core driver for neurodivergent people and why shame is often just misunderstood wiring. Then we get into brain science that matters, especially for parents and educators: the middle school brain renovation where the limbic system runs hot and the prefrontal cortex is still under construction. Add sensory sensitivity and emotional intensity, and the world can feel loud, fast, and harsh, even when youâre doing your best.
From there we connect the dots to adulthood: executive functioning challenges, workplace expectations, the âinconsistent but brilliantâ stereotype, and why âfailure to launchâ is often about planning, time management, stress regulation, and systems that werenât built for neurodivergent minds. We also talk hyper empathy, reading body language, and the loneliness of being highly attuned. Most importantly, we practice reframes that are fair, specific, and actually usable and we translate that into how we can support neurodivergent kids without trying to fix them, by getting curious about their thinking steps and honoring their process.
If this resonates, subscribe, share with someone raising or living as neurodivergent, and leave a review so more people can find language that replaces shame with clarity. Whatâs one label youâre ready to rewrite?Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: [email protected] Website: msmarypoppins.comProduced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Special thanks to our producer, StellaMix podcast productions, another Palm Beach County School of the Arts collaboration. Need a podcast? Connect with Janine Stella ASAP: http://www.Stellamix.com
Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
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What I thought was a routine appointment turned into an 11-hour stretch in the ERâand then the words no one is ever ready to hear: stage four metastatic cervical cancer. Iâm sharing this with a shaky voice but a steady purpose, because my best friend Tanya is fighting for her life, and right now, Iâm one of her primary caregivers.
This has made me really think about what chosen family actually means when the crisis isnât abstract. Tanya is my personâthe friend who crossed countries, built a life from nothing, cared deeply for others, loved animals like family, and showed up for me through surgeries, pain, and all the messy parts of being human. Now sheâs facing cancer that has spread to her bones, lungs, liver, and lymph nodes, and Iâm trying to navigate pain management, treatment decisions, and the emotional whiplash that comes when someone you love canât even sit up in a chair.
And I have to say the part people donât always want to talk about: the cost. The reality of U.S. healthcare. Insurance questions, growing medical bills, and the impossible math of losing income while caregiving becomes a full-time job. If youâve ever carried caregiver stress, unresolved grief, or that deep wound of losing someone too early, youâll understandâthis is raw, unfiltered, and straight from the heart.
If you can, please listen. Share this with someone who believes in showing up for others. Help Tanya in her fight by donating or spreading the word. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell meâwhat does showing up for your person look like in your life?
Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: [email protected] Website: msmarypoppins.comProduced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Special thanks to our producer, StellaMix podcast productions, another Palm Beach County School of the Arts collaboration. Need a podcast? Connect with Janine Stella ASAP: http://www.Stellamix.com
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What if the behaviors we rush to fix are actually signals from a beautifully organized, differently wired brain? In this episode, we explore new neuroscience showing why attention differences, sensory intensity, and big emotions often appear togetherâand why that combination makes biological sense. Recent research suggests that thousands of small genetic variations shape overlapping pathways linked to ADHD, autism, and mood regulation, pointing to a more connected âsystems viewâ of the brain.
We also look at how brain networksâlike the default mode network and executive control systemâaffect imagination, focus, and the ability to shift between tasks. Thatâs why things like the ârabbit hole effect,â zoning out, or struggling to transition between activities happen so often for neurodivergent kids.
Instead of blame, we focus on understanding and practical strategiesâvisual timers, movement breaks, previews of whatâs next, and sensory tools that help kids transition from inner focus to outward tasks. The takeaway: neurodivergent brains arenât brokenâtheyâre wired with unique strengths and challenges. When we reduce the friction, those strengths have room to shine.
Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: [email protected] Website: msmarypoppins.comProduced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Special thanks to our producer, StellaMix podcast productions, another Palm Beach County School of the Arts collaboration. Need a podcast? Connect with Janine Stella ASAP: http://www.Stellamix.com
Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
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Anger feels fast. Powerful. Loud. But whatâs really underneath it?
In this special, kid-requested episode, Suzanne M. Swain, EDS, LMSW â child therapist, educational specialist, and veteran middle school teacher â talks directly to tweens and teens about anger in a world that feels a little⌠charged.
Why does anger rise so quickly? Whatâs actually happening in your brain when you react? And how can choosing calm make you stronger â not weaker?
Suzanne breaks down:
Why anger is often a âcover emotionâ hiding fear, embarrassment, hurt, or feeling out of controlWhy you are not responsible for adult stressHow to stop reactivity before it takes overWhat it means to regulate instead of reactSimple, science-backed tools to reset your nervous system (hello, Lemonheads and the 90-second rule)This episode is especially supportive for neurodivergent kids and sensitive hearts who feel overwhelmed by loud energy. Suzanne reminds listeners that peace isnât flashy â itâs steady. And steady is powerful.
You donât have to match someone elseâs storm.
You can be the anchor.Perfect for middle schoolers, teens, and the grown-ups who love them.
Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: [email protected] Website: msmarypoppins.comProduced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Special thanks to our producer, StellaMix podcast productions, another Palm Beach County School of the Art collaboration. Need a podcast? Stellamix.com
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Heroes arenât always loudâand they donât always wear capes.In this episode of Middle School Mary Poppins, Suzanne M. Swain explores what heroism really looks like in the real world: persistence, joy, empathy, and showing up as yourselfâeven when itâs hard.Inspired by the Winter Olympics, beloved pop-culture heroes, a surprising animal rescue, and the power of team culture, Suzanne reframes heroism for kids, parents, and educatorsâespecially those supporting neurodivergent learners.This episode is a love letter to:quiet braverykids who feel differentteams that thrive on joy and belongingand the truth that you fall down nine times, but you get up tenYouâll hear why joy is your greatest advantage to performance, why nothing is harder to stop than a team having a blast, and how everyday acts of courage can change classrooms, families, and lives.Whether youâre a parent, teacher, therapist, or a kid whoâs still figuring it outâthis oneâs for you. Free, accessible, and made with careâalways. Stay clever, little foxes. đŚđ¤đĽ°
Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: [email protected] Website: msmarypoppins.comProduced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Special thanks to our producer, StellaMix podcast productions, another Palm Beach County School of the Art collaboration. Need a podcast? Stellamix.com
Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
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Bullying in middle school isnât always loud or obviousâand thatâs what makes it so confusing and harmful. In this episode of Middle School Mary Poppins, child therapist and educational specialist Suzanne M. Swain, EDS, LMSW explores the subtle, strategic, and emotionally manipulative forms of bullying that often get overlooked by adults but deeply affect kidsâ confidence and sense of safety.
Youâll learn how power, group dynamics, humor, and digital spaces fuel bullying, why neurodivergent kids are often targeted, and how calm, smart responses can disrupt the cycle without escalating conflict. This episode offers practical, compassionate tools for kids, families, and educators who want to recognize bullying, support kids effectively, and help them feel safe and understood.
Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: [email protected]Website: msmarypoppins.com
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
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Ever wonder why your child completely melts down the second they walk through the door after school? In this episode, veteran middle school teacher and child therapist Suzanne M. Swain, EdS LMSW breaks down whatâs really going on in neurodivergent brainsâand why itâs not defiance, manipulation, or âbad behavior.â Itâs exhaustion.
Suzanne connects the dots between ADHD, autism, sensory overload, food struggles, anxiety, and emotional regulation, all while explaining why routines feel calming (not rigid), why the safest parent often gets the biggest emotional release, and how the sensesâespecially smell and tasteâplay a powerful role in comfort and memory. With relatable stories, brain science you donât need a degree to understand, and plenty of âohhh⌠that makes senseâ moments, this episode helps parents reframe meltdowns, reduce stress, and build more calm, predictable days at home.
If youâre parenting a neurodivergent childâor suspect you might be neurodivergent yourselfâthis oneâs for you.
Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: [email protected]Website: msmarypoppins.com
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
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In Part II of the Food for Mood series, Suzanne explores how the Inside Out socially-based emotions like anxiety, embarrassment, envy, boredom, & ultimately motivation quietly influence behavior, mood, and emotional regulation. Kids, teens, and neurodivergent individuals all can benefit from knowing triggers in the body and ways to re-regulate through nutrition.
Building on the foundation from Part One, this episode blends accessible brain science, school-based therapy experience, and practical, real-life strategies to explain how food, flavor, texture, and even scent can support emotional balance. Suzanne breaks down why anxiety and excitement share the same brain chemistry, how comfort foods and crunchy textures can calm or energize the nervous system, why boredom is often a signal for creativity rather than laziness, and how proper nourishmentânot caffeineâfuels motivation. This educational episode focuses on nourishment over restriction, offering compassionate insight for parents, educators, and caregivers looking to better understand the connection between emotions, food, and behavior. For additional family and educational resources, visit msmaryoppins.com.
Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: [email protected]Website: msmarypoppins.com
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
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Itâs a new year, so letâs talk about food and feelingsâbecause theyâre way more connected than we realize. In this episode, we break down how what you eat can either calm you down or completely throw you off, without diet rules or restriction.
This episode dives into the four core emotionsâjoy, sadness, anger, and fearâand how each one shows up in your body. From why joy just wants to be savored, to why sadness loves soup, why anger needs cooling foods, and why fear sometimes just needs you to eat something, we keep it real and practical.
This is an honest, compassionate conversation about emotional eating, stress, and learning how to support your nervous system instead of fighting it.
If youâve ever eaten your feelings, felt overwhelmed, or wondered why certain foods make you feel better (or worse), this episode is for you. Grab a snack, get comfy, and letâs start the year a little more regulatedâtogether.
Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: [email protected]Website: msmarypoppins.com
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
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Happy holidays from Middle School Mary Poppins! In this heart-centered episode, Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSWâyour friendly neighborhood kid therapistâdives into a powerful holiday homophone: presents vs. presence. One is wrapped. The other is felt.
Suzanne explores why time, attention, and shared experiences often mean more to kids than expensive giftsâand how families can use the holiday season to build gratitude, empathy, and real connection. From low-cost, high-impact traditions (like handmade gifts, wishing stars, love-heart ornaments, and family service projects) to practical ways kids can give back, learn life skills, and feel genuinely valued, this episode is packed with meaningful ideas you can actually use.
Youâll also hear personal updates, including a shout-out from Lieutenant Steve and Suzanneâs very real (and very cool) journey into cyborg territory with a robot-assisted, 3D-printed knee replacementâhappening the day this episode drops.
If youâre feeling overwhelmed by holiday pressure, this episode is your reminder that kids want presence over presentsâand that the simplest moments often become the most lasting memories.
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Email: [email protected]
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Sharing a little bit of holiday cheer with you by creating a poem about life in middle school during the holiday season. Hope you enjoy it and happy holidays andMerry Christmas to you all.
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Middle school can feel weird, overwhelming, awkward, emotional, and completely ridiculous sometimes⌠so maybe the answer is learning how to hold onto a little âRidiculous Joyâ to help us cope with the difficulty.
In this episode of The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast, Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSW introduces the heart behind the show and the mission driving these conversations: helping kids, families, and educators better understand each other through neuroscience, emotional critical thinking, humor, and honest dialogue about what it actually feels like to grow up in todayâs world.
âRidiculous Joyâ is Suzanneâs favorite phrase, and will be the title of her upcoming parenting book. It is through finding silliness and ridiculous joy in life that we are able to build up these experiences to remind us that life is full of wonder and excitement if weâre just strong enough to get through the darker days.
Drawing from years of experience as a middle school teacher, school librarian, administrator, professor of Education, and licensed master social worker working directly with students and families, Suzanne explores the complicated emotional world middle schoolers live in every day. Kids today are constantly moving between different environments â school, home, social media, peer groups, extracurricular pressure, and adult expectations â often without the emotional tools to fully process all of it yet.
This episode explores why communication between kids and adults can break down so easily, how cognitive distortions shape the way we interpret situations, and why emotional regulation has become one of the most important life skills we can teach. Suzanne also introduces the idea that joy itself can become an act of resilience â especially for neurodivergent kids, anxious kids, overwhelmed kids, and the adults trying to support them.
Blending humor, brain science, real classroom stories, and heartfelt honesty, Ridiculous Joy: Itâs a Beautiful Life sets the tone for the entire MSMP podcast experience: compassionate, practical, slightly chaotic, and deeply hopeful.
đ ND Friendly Listening Note: MSMP is designed with neurodivergent listeners in mind. Ads and interruptions are intentionally kept to a minimum and placed thoughtfully for continuity and emotional regulation support.
âď¸ Visit msmarypoppins.com for resources, updates, and ways to support the show.
Produced by StellaMix Podcast Productions
đ stellamix.comStay clever, little foxes!đŚ
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