BLAST FROM THE PAST: FIRST AIRED NOVEMBER 14, 2023

In this episode, Tara welcomes Alyssa Blask Campbell, CEO of Sew and Seed. Alyssa is a trusted expert in emotional development and the host of the popular podcast "Voices of Your Village." The conversation centers around Alyssa's new book, "Tiny Humans, Big Emotions: How to Navigate Tantrums, Meltdowns, and Defiance to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Children."

Alyssa shares that the book is based on Collaborative Emotion Processing (CEP), a method for being with and moving through hard things. She and her colleague, Lauren Stauble developed this method after realizing that traditional behavior-focused approaches were not effective in real-life parenting situations. They wanted to create a comprehensive approach that focuses on the adult's self-awareness and self-care, as well as the interaction between adults and children.

Tara and Alyssa discuss the importance of emotional intelligence and its impact on daily life. Alyssa shares how her perspective on emotional intelligence shifted when she started envisioning a world where these tools were accessible to everyone, including her own child and future generations. She emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence in adults, especially those in positions of power, so they can support others and model healthy ways of navigating difficult situations.

Alyssa explains that emotional intelligence consists of five components: self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skills, and motivation. She highlights the significance of self-awareness, as it is the foundation for regulating emotions and accessing the other components. Alyssa uses personal examples, such as a social media backlash, to illustrate the importance of recognizing dysregulation cues and taking a step back before responding.

They also touch on empathy and how it is best taught through modeling. Instead of claiming to understand exactly how someone feels in a given situation, she suggests connecting with the emotions someone is experiencing, rather than focusing on why they are feeling that way.

If you’re interested in teaching your children empathy, you should listen to this episode!

Links:

https://www.seedandsew.org/

https://www.instagram.com/seed.and.sew/

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In this episode, Tara Clark sits down with developmental psychologists Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Dr. Roberta Golinkoff to talk about what kids actually need to thrive and why so many well-meaning parents are more stressed than they need to be. Drawing from their book Einstein Never Used Flash Cards: How Our Children Really Learn and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less, the conversation tackles the pressure cooker of modern parenting and gently reminds us that kids aren’t falling behind because they’re not memorizing enough… they’re learning through connection, curiosity, and play.

Together, they debunk some of the biggest parenting myths out there, including the idea that learning has to be forced, formal, or screen-based to count. Kathy and Roberta explain why play and imagination are foundational to child development, how everyday moments can be surprisingly powerful learning opportunities, and why children learn best when they’re ready. They also highlight how games and playful interactions help build crucial skills like self-regulation, social connection, and emotional understanding.

The conversation also takes a thoughtful look at technology and its role in family life, encouraging parents to use it as a tool, not a replacement for real human interaction.

This episode is a permission slip to relax, tune into your child’s feelings, and enjoy the parenting journey a little more. With practical insights and deeply reassuring wisdom, Kathy and Roberta remind us that caring for ourselves and savoring the small moments may be one of the most impactful things we can do as parents.

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/drkathyanddrro/

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/594245/einstein-never-used-flash-cards-revised-edition-by-kathy-hirsh-pasek-phd-and-roberta-michnick-golinkoff-phd-with-diane-eyer-phd/9780593980767/

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In this episode, Tara sits down with popular content creator of @ThatDarnChat, Fair Play Facilitator, and author of the new book No More Mediocre, Laura Danger for an honest, validating, and occasionally uncomfortably relatable conversation about domestic labor, mental load, and why so many partnerships quietly slide into mediocrity. They unpack how the pandemic cracked things wide open exposing just how uneven household responsibilities really are and why so many couples are still struggling to rebalance things years later. Spoiler: it’s not because anyone’s “bad at helping,” it’s because the entire concept of help is part of the problem.

Laura and Tara dig into the cultural conditioning that shapes our expectations at home, from who notices what needs to be done to who feels responsible for making sure it gets done. They explore the difference between expectations and standards (yes, they are not the same thing), and how unmet expectations can quietly turn into resentment, disconnection, and even feelings of betrayal. The conversation also touches on why mediocre relationships are so often tolerated (and normalized) especially for women and mothers who were taught to lower the bar and keep the peace.

Drawing from her book No More Mediocre, Laura makes a powerful case for intentionality in domestic roles and communication, emphasizing that equity doesn’t happen accidentally. Tara and Laura also reflect on how online conversations have helped name the mental load and bring language to something so many parents feel but couldn’t quite articulate. If you’ve ever felt exhausted by carrying the invisible work at home, or wondered why “just tell me what to do” isn’t the solution, this episode will make you feel seen, validated, and maybe a little fired up (in a good way).

Links:

https://www.lauradanger.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thatdarnchat/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.