Voices of Your Village

375- Parenting a Spicy One: Raising Big Personalities with Compassion and Boundaries, with Mary Van Geffen

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about those spicy ones. The kids who are big in personality, big in emotion, and big in challenging parents. Maybe you're raising one—or maybe you were one. I’m joined by parenting coach and author Mary Van Geffen, whose book Parenting a Spicy One is part memoir, part survival guide, and completely validating for the parents who feel like they’re doing everything “right” and still getting steamrolled by meltdowns, back talk, and constant negotiating. We talk about what it actually looks like to parent a strong-willed child, why traditional discipline often backfires, and how to stay connected even when your kid is pushing all your buttons. Mary brings humor, honesty, and so many practical tools to this conversation—and I think it’s one that so many of us need right now. Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Mary: Instagram: @maryvangeffen Website: https://www.maryvangeffen.com/ Order the book: Parenting a Spicy One Or, Preorder here to access Mary’s Affirmations Masterclass and the Meltdown Meditations for Moms: https://www.maryvangeffen.com/parentingaspicyonebook Are you a spicy one quiz: Here Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew  Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now!  Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

374- The Lifelong Impact of Having Been a “Good Kid”, with Maggie Nick, LCSW

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today’s episode is for the good kids—and the adults they became. I got to sit down with Maggie Nick, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, therapist and founder of Camp Lovable, whose new book, Good Kids: Why You Suffered in Silence and How to Break the Cycle, dives into what it really means to be a “good kid”—and how that label can come with a cost. We explored the nervous system responses behind compliance, how shame shows up for people-pleasers, and what happens when kids feel like they can’t have needs. Maggie brings such warmth and clarity to topics like fawning, neuroception, boundaries, and the grief that can come with realizing how early we learned to silence ourselves. We also talk about raising our own kids in this awareness—how to stand beside them, not against them when they struggle—and what it looks like to break the cycle while still parenting with boundaries. If you’ve ever been the “easy one,” or you’re raising a kid who gets praised for never rocking the boat… this one’s for you. Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Maggie: Instagram: @maggiewithperspectacles Website: maggienick.com  Order the book: Good Kids: Why You Suffered in Silence, and How to Break the Cycle Podcast: Coming Summer 2026! Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew  Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now!  Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

373- “But I’m Bored!”: Rethinking Independent Play with Lizzie Assa, M.Ed.

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re diving into something that might just change your day-to-day parenting rhythm: independent play. If you’ve ever heard, “But I’m boooored…” and felt that mix of annoyance, guilt and overwhelm rise in your chest, this episode is for you. I got to sit down with Lizzie Assa, founder of The Workspace for Children and author of the new book But I’m Bored!: Discover the Power of Independent Play to Raise Confident, Resilient Kids. This is not a “just send them to the playroom” kind of conversation. Lizzie shares what independent play actually looks like at different ages, why it’s a key ingredient in raising confident, creative humans, and how to build it into your life—even if you feel like there’s no time and your kid never plays alone. We talk about quiet time, toy rotation, those tiny treasures your kid insists on keeping, and how to shift the energy around play in your home—without needing to overhaul your life. Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Lizzie: Instagram: @TheWorkspaceForChildren Website:  WorkspaceForChildren.com Order the book: But I'm Bored!: Discover the Power of Independent Play to Raise Confident, Resilient Kids  Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew  Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now!  Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

372- Parenting Kids Through Mental Health Struggles, with Kristina Kuzmic

Before we dive in: This episode includes a discussion of childhood mental health struggles and discusses suicidal ideation and self harm. Please take care while listening. You’re listening to Voices of Your Village and today we’re talking about one of the hardest realities of parenting—what it’s like when your child is struggling with their mental health and you can’t fix it. I’m joined by Kristina Kuzmič, author, speaker, and mom, for a powerful conversation about parenting through childhood depression, suicidal ideation, and the quiet moments that often get missed when kids look “fine” on the outside. We talk about the difference between sadness and depression, why so many kids struggle silently, and how our instinct to control—while deeply human—can sometimes push connection further away. Kristina shares what it looked like to shift from trying to fix her son’s pain to becoming a steady, safe presence instead. This episode is about letting go of perfection, building trust through curiosity, and creating a home where kids know they can say, “Something is wrong,” just as easily as they’d say they have a stomachache. If you’ve ever felt scared, helpless, or unsure how to show up when your child is hurting, this conversation is for you. Connect with Kristina: Instagram: @kristinakuzmic Website: https://kristinakuzmic.com/ Order the book: I Can Fix This: And Other Lies I Told Myself While Parenting My Struggling Child Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew  Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now!  Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

371- Helping Kids Build Real Body Confidence Dr. Whitney Casares, MD

Welcome back to Voices of Your Village, and I'm so grateful to be sharing this conversation with you. If you’re raising bigger kids, those school-age humans navigating a world full of messages about what they should look like, eat, wear, or do with their bodies—this episode is for you.Today, I’m joined by Dr. Whitney Casares, pediatrician, author, and mom of two, to talk about real body confidence—not the “just love yourself!” kind, but the kind rooted in science, self-awareness, and actual conversations we can have with our kids.We dive into the difference between body literacy and body positivity, how to talk to kids about food without shame, and why it matters to meet every body with understanding.This is a conversation about equipping kids with tools and support,  and helping them feel at home in the bodies they live in—  whether they’re dealing with unexpected body changes, hurtful schoolyard comments, or the rising pressure to fit a mold, that, let's be honest, isn't realistic for most of us.Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Dr. Whitney: Instagram: @modernmommydoc, @raising.body.confident.kids Website:  www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com Order the book: My One-of-a-Kind Body: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Me Podcast: The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew  Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now!  Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices