The Leading for Children Podcast | Podcast on RSS.com

The Leading for Children Podcast

The Leading for Children Podcast

by Nichole Parks & Julia Connolly

Education for Kids Parenting

Season 2

Cultivating Resilience in Challenging Times

Listen in for a conversation with Allison Klingmann, mom, educator, artist, and community advocate. Together, we’ll explore how we authentically move through complex emotions and find the resilience to show up for ourselves, our families, and our communities during uncertain times. Join us for a National Conversation on April 16, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET! You can learn more about this event and register here.

Nurturing Community Through Belonging

Listen in for two thoughtful conversations about belonging—one with Natasha Kile, mother and Past President of the Arkansas Early Childhood Association, and another with Adriana Loson-Ceballos, mother, philanthropy consultant, researcher, and evaluator. Together, we explore how belonging is shaped in everyday relationships, begins with our own self-awareness and agency, and lays the groundwork for the cultural shifts that make systemic change possible. Hosted by LFC Team Members Nichole Parks, Executive Director, and Julia Connolly, Communications and Program Leader.

Emotional Regulation: Leading from Inner Harmony

Listen in for a rich conversation with mother and clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer Rocks, as she offers an accessible guide to emotional regulation. Explore the power of this skill in nurturing healthy relationships, hear strategies for practicing it yourself, and learn ways to support children in co-regulating—creating spaces where everyone can thrive.

Turning Our Attention to Intention

In this episode, LFC’s Executive Director, Nichole Parks, and Executive Assistant, Amy White, reflect on the role intention has played in shaping their work together—and the ripples that have followed. They show that practicing intention isn’t a lofty ideal or an extra task on a to-do list, but a simple, powerful tool we can draw on in moments throughout the day—one that helps us thrive, and to create spaces where children can thrive. Set Intention is the first step in the Mutual Learning Method’s Four-Part Facilitation Arc strategy. Used in sequence, this approach promotes equity by providing a familiar, predictable structure for conversation. Each part plays a distinct role in the larger goal of creating safe, equitable spaces where adults can share wisdom, build trust, and foster agency. ----- LFC practices the groundbreaking Humanity First Model, developed by Judy Jablon, to improve early learning. The Mutual Learning Method honors the wisdom and dignity of everyone who cares for and educates our children. Stronger Adults = Stronger Children = Stronger Communities Learn more at leadingforchildren.org.

Living Our Values

In this episode of the Leading for Children Podcast, Nichole Parks and Julia Connolly have an inspiring conversation with Kaylee Phillips, a dedicated Arkansas teacher of adolescents who leads with her values—modeling integrity and empowering her students to find their voices. From guiding young people to reflect on their choices to creating spaces where they feel fully seen, Kaylee is the kind of educator who makes a lasting impact. A quote to take away: Julia shared, "We share so many values. The way we talk about them might look different, but if you break them down to their very center, they're usually about love and care and relationships."

Thriving Communities: Honoring the Month of the Military Child

In honor of the Month of the Military Child in April, we spotlighted two powerful voices from our Humanity First community: KiOwana Phillips, a U.S. Army Sergeant Major and mother, and Shannon Newman, a mother, military spouse, and LFC team member. Through their stories, they offer meaningful insight into what it looks like to show up for military children—fostering a sense of safety, support, and belonging in the face of their unique challenges. A quote to take away: Shannon shared, " Resilience isn't built in isolation. It's really nurtured in relationship. And when military children are being relocated and moved, it's important that we are building that relationship and sustaining it with them." Thanks for listening! To learn more about Leading for Children, visit our website at leadingforchildren.org.

Stories Unite Us: Parents & Children

In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, we hear from father and son duo, Jonathan and Noah Fribley, as they share the tender, yet powerful story of their relationship—its beautiful and challenging evolution over its multi-decade course. Storytelling can be life-changing. As we express our truths and listen to those of others, we have a profound opportunity to be known, to know others more deeply, to expand our capacity for empathy, and to strengthen the foundation of wisdom that unites and activates us as a greater community. A Quote to Take Away: Noah Fribley shared, “ You can have grand theories about how society and family should structure themselves, but at the end of the day, it's small things that make that difference. It's neighbors helping each other or family members making meals when somebody has a baby. And I think that's something that you, in particular, really modeled. You don't have to have a lot to have a big impact, and that's stuck with me.” Thanks for listening! To learn more about Leading for Children, visit our website at leadingforchildren.org.

Mutual Learning in Family Relationships: Mothers & Daughters

In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, we hear from a courageous lineup of mother-daughter duos who are deeply committed to embodying mutuality in their relationships with one another. Each duo brings authentic moments of connection, their beautiful and messy humanity, and unique and uplifting insights into how they perceive their relationship as a partnership based on equity, kindness, empathy, respect, and a Humanity First approach. A Quote to Take Away: Serene Stevens shared, “Having a daughter introduced a different dynamic of my reflective practice as it relates to being a mom. I get a chance to practice empowerment, and Shiloh actually helps me and encourages me to be braver.” Thanks for listening! To learn more about Leading for Children, or Judy Jablon’s Humanity First Model and Mutual Learning Method, visit our website at leadingforchildren.org.

Humanity First: Finding Strength in Kindness, Empathy, & Respect

In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Kyson Bunthuwong, Vivian Matalon, and show producer Julia Connolly for a timely conversation about how kindness, empathy, and respect are among our greatest human strengths—and what a world grounded in these values might look and feel like. To learn more about the Humanity First Model, developed by Judy Jablon, visit our website here. A Quote to Take Away: Nichole shared, “I think it's very important that we don't lose ourselves and the core of who we are, and our kindness, and our humanity, when we stand up for ourselves. I want to be clear, I think now is the time we definitely should stand up. However, I think that we can always stand up with kindness.” Thanks for listening!

Nurturing Equitable Communities Grounded in Humanity

Episode Notes: In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Shannon Bracamonte, Program Operations Director at the Early Childhood Services Center at the University of New Mexico. Shannon shares about her experience bringing the Humanity First Model into her community, emphasizing how awareness of who we are and intention in how we show up in the world help us feel stronger, more connected, and more effective. Together, they explore the central role of community in the Humanity First Model and discuss how the Mutual Learning Method supports putting these principles into practice. To learn more about the Humanity First Model, developed by Judy Jablon, visit our website here. A Quote to Take Away: Shannon Bracamonte shared, “How do you want to be in this world and how do you want to inspire or impact others through your modeling and how you interact with them? You can interact with kindness, you can interact with respect, and we can have perspective-taking––agree to disagree and still have a connection based on this conversation—and I think that's so important.” Thanks for listening!

1 of 3