Middle School Mary Poppins copertina

Middle School Mary Poppins

Middle School Mary Poppins

Di: Suzanne M. Swain EDS LMSW
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A proposito di questo titolo

New here? Start with “Ridiculous Joy: It’s a Beautiful Life.”

It captures the heart of the show — helping middle schoolers (and the adults who love them) navigate emotions, pressure, and growing up with warmth, humor, & honesty.

——————————

A podcast for the kids who don’t fit the mold—and the adults who care about them. Maybe even ARE them still.


What if middle school wasn’t something to survive… but something to unlock?

Welcome to Middle School Mary Poppins—a smart, playful, research-informed podcast reimagining the most misunderstood years of human development. Think Mary Poppins 2.0 meets Mr. Rogers, with a splash of 80s–90s nostalgia, a dash of divergent thinking, and a whole lot of heart for kids navigating adolescence in 2026.


Hi! I’m Suzanne M. Swain, EDS LMSW—veteran middle school teacher, child therapist, educational sociologist, and proud advocate for kids who think differently. I live and work near rural, rapidly growing Tennessee, where I’ve spent over two decades inside classrooms, counseling offices, and school systems watching one truth play out again and again:

Everything important starts in the middle.

Middle school is where identity forms, emotions intensify, creativity explodes—and where far too many kids are misunderstood, mislabeled, or managed instead of taught. This podcast exists to change that.

Each episode blends real classroom stories, clinical insight, and pop-culture joy to explore how creativity, emotional regulation, neurodiversity, and mental health intersect during the tween and teen years. We talk autism, ADHD, anxiety, executive functioning, and emotional overload—not as deficits, but as signals of untapped potential.

My work is deeply influenced by thinkers like Howard Gardner, Carol Dweck, Jean Piaget, and Erik Erikson—but this is not an ivory-tower podcast. This is theory translated into real-life tools for families, educators, and kids who are tired of being told they’re “too much” or “not enough.”

🎮 Expect:

  • Gamified thinking, imaginative worlds, and creative metaphors kids actually remember
  • Practical strategies for parents and educators supporting divergent learners
  • Honest conversations about post-pandemic brains, emotional overload, and school culture
  • Humor, warmth, and a retro remix that makes learning feel human a gain

At its core, Middle School Mary Poppins is about flipping the script.

What if the traits we’re trying to suppress are actually superpowers in disguise?

What if arts-based education and emotional literacy were foundational, not optional?

What if preventing school violence, burnout, and disconnection really does begin here?

We’re here to prove it does.

So grab your metaphorical quarters, hop in the arcade, and join us on a multiverse ride through the messy, magical middle years.

We can do this. We’re the Goonies, after all.

🎧 It’s time for a retro remix of middle school. Ready, player one.

🎉💕🐶🤩🩷🥳⭐️👍☕️


If this episode helped your family or classroom, you can support the show at msmarypoppins.com → Support the Show.




© 2026 Suzanne M.Swain, EDS LMSW - ChalkSpace Educational Productions - This podcast is the sole property of Suzanne M. Swain, EdS MSSW
Genitorialità e famiglie Relazioni
  • S2 Ep 18- ND Perseverance: I Need a Hero
    Feb 12 2026
    Heroes aren’t always loud—and they don’t 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 yourself—even when it’s 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 educators—especially those supporting neurodivergent learners.This episode is a love letter to:
    • quiet bravery
    • kids who feel different
    • teams that thrive on joy and belonging
    • and the truth that you fall down nine times, but you get up ten
    You’ll 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 you’re a parent, teacher, therapist, or a kid who’s still figuring it out—this one’s for you. Free, accessible, and made with care—always. Stay clever, little foxes.


    Contact Suzanne Swain:
    Email:
    suzanneswain@gmail.com

    Website: msmarypoppins.com

    Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions


    Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:

    Support the show

    If this episode helped your family or your classroom, you can support the work behind Middle School Mary Poppins by visiting msmarypoppins.com and clicking Support the Show.

    Your support helps keep the podcast free, research-based, and focused on emotional health for kids—especially neurodivergent tweens and teens.

    Thank you for being part of this community. 💛


    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    15 min
  • S2 Ep 17 - Outsmarting Bullies: Tainted Love
    Jan 27 2026

    Bullying in middle school isn’t always loud or obvious—and that’s 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 kids’ confidence and sense of safety.

    You’ll 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:
    suzanneswain@gmail.com

    Website: msmarypoppins.com

    Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions

    Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:

    Support the show

    If this episode helped your family or your classroom, you can support the work behind Middle School Mary Poppins by visiting msmarypoppins.com and clicking Support the Show.

    Your support helps keep the podcast free, research-based, and focused on emotional health for kids—especially neurodivergent tweens and teens.

    Thank you for being part of this community. 💛


    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    19 min
  • S2 EP 16 - Emotional Safety: Time After Time
    Jan 20 2026

    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 what’s really going on in neurodivergent brains—and why it’s not defiance, manipulation, or “bad behavior.” It’s 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 senses—especially smell and taste—play a powerful role in comfort and memory. With relatable stories, brain science you don’t need a degree to understand, and plenty of “ohhh… that makes sense” moments, this episode helps parents reframe meltdowns, reduce stress, and build more calm, predictable days at home.

    If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child—or suspect you might be neurodivergent yourself—this one’s for you.

    Contact Suzanne Swain:
    Email:
    suzanneswain@gmail.com

    Website: msmarypoppins.com

    Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions

    Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:

    Support the show

    If this episode helped your family or your classroom, you can support the work behind Middle School Mary Poppins by visiting msmarypoppins.com and clicking Support the Show.

    Your support helps keep the podcast free, research-based, and focused on emotional health for kids—especially neurodivergent tweens and teens.

    Thank you for being part of this community. 💛


    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    18 min
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