Mr. Chazz is an educational specialist who has worked with thousands of young children. I invited Mr. Chazz to talk about his views on discipline, and the cultural narratives that inform how we view and interact with our kids. We discuss: 🌱 Why children deserve to be seen and treated as equals in our society 🌱 Why we need to learn to regulate our emotions if we want our children to do the same thing 🌱 Why the true meaning of discipline isn’t punishment and the problems with corporal punishment and forced isolation/timeouts 🌱 Why forced apologies don’t teach empathy and what to do instead 🌱 Why obedience shouldn't be our ultimate goal as parents or teachers. You can find Mr. Chazz’s parenting and teaching resources at: www.patreon.com/Mrchazz www.getvokl.com/mrchazz www.tiktok.co/@mrchazzmrchazz www.facebook.com/MrChazz-MrChazz-1715416325189162 You can also find Mr. Chazz’s Leadership, Parenting and Teaching Podcast on podcast platforms.

I spoke with world-renowned breastfeeding expert, Dr. Newman about common breastfeeding and chestfeeding myths that can interrupt the breastfeeding relationship including: 🗓 You shouldn’t breastfeed after a certain period whether that is 6 month or a year 🍷🌿 Parents who breastfeed shouldn't eat certain foods, drink alcohol, or take prescription medication. Dr. Newman also offered his advice on whether it is okay to use cannabis while breastfeeding. 🍼 Expressing and bottlefeeding is a good way to determine milk supply. 🦷 Nursing at night causes cavities 🤱🏽 You should only nurse on one side at a time to ensure your baby is getting enough hindmilk. We also talked about how we would like to see the culture around breastfeeding change with good support, early intervention for problems, and acceptance of public breastfeeding. If you are looking for reliable breastfeeding information check out www.ibconline.ca for general information or to submit a question. You can also follow Dr. Newman on Facebook at Facebook.com/DrJackNewman

I spoke with Megan Kelly of Adventure Report about becoming a mother, and how her love of the outdoors supported this transition. We discuss: 🥾 Her blog and hiking challenge 🏕 How the Adventure Report gear lending library is helping make camping more accessible 🌱 the benefits of spending time outdoors for herself and her family 🤳 The polarizing images of motherhood portrayed online 💕 How her perception of motherhood changed when she became a parent 💞 How relying on her support system benefits both her and her daughter You can find Adventure Report at www.adventurereport.ca.

Dr. Jodi Pawluski is a neuroscientist who studies the neuroscience of motherhood, maternal mental illness and antidepressant medications. She is also a therapist and the podcaster behind @mommybrain.revisted a podcast about scientific research in the neuroscience of parenting. I spoke to Jodi about her research and the findings of others in her field. We cover: 🧠 the scientific methods of studying the brain and how her work in animal models translates to humans 🧠 the "fine tuning" process our brains go through to help us care for our children 🧠 Jodi's research on the affects of antidepressant medications on mothers and their children 🧠 the mental health implications of a culture that values the newborn baby above the mother 🧠 research on paternal brain changes This episode gives a glimpse into the neuroscience of parenting, and shows us how much is still left to learn to help us understand the transition to parenthood. To learn more about Jodi's work visit her website www.jodipawluski.com.

Nikki Satira is passionate about helping people to create meaningful relationships with the natural world. She has more than a decade of experience in outdoor education and is also studying to be a clinical herbalist. She spoke to me about the numerous benefits of children playing with nature. Our discussion includes: 🌱 Her approach of combining both structured and unstructured play-based learning. 🌱 How child-led outdoor play without toys expands imagination and creativity. 🌱 Why risky play helps kids to learn their own limits and develop confidence. 🌱 Steps Earth Path is taking to make nature experiences more accessible for children of different abilities, economic backgrounds, and races. 🌱 How you can incorporate more experiences with nature in your life even if you live in an urban or suburban area. And much more! I came away from our conversation with an even deeper appreciation for the magic that happens when children (and adults) play outdoors! You can find Earth Path online at www.earthpath.ca.

Adonijah Alleyne is a storyteller, accomplished musician, activist for Rastafarian rights and cannabis legalization in Barbados, a father and a grandfather. Because of the passing of his father when Adonijah was just a baby, he charted his own path as a father - a process which he describes as an "awakening". Our conversation includes: 💚 checking your ego as a parent in order to recognize when you're wrong 💚 why the outdated "children should be seen and not heard" mentality is harmful to children AND parents 💚 what he's learned from his grandson who has Down syndrome 💚 the evolving narrative of the West Indian parent 💚 his fight against racist school rules for himself and his children 💚 his work as an activist for Rastafarian rights and legalizing cannabis 💚 why he has no tolerance for the deadbeat dad narrative. This episode is an example of the importance of storytelling as a tool for intergenerational learning. Let me know what your favourite takeaway from this episode was.

I asked my husband Rob to share his experience of becoming a dad and we compare the expectations society puts on mothers and fathers. We cover: 💚 Some of the joys and challenges of fatherhood 💕 What it's like to bond with your new baby when you work outside the home 🧐 The expectations society puts on mothers compared to fathers. When's the last time you heard a mother being praised for being "involved" or changing a diaper? 🧱 the concept of maternal gatekeeping 📺 How what we see portrayed in the media and online can become our default if we aren't intentional in our parenting choices. I hope this episode can play a role in expanding and elevating the narratives of fatherhood and look forward to chatting to more dads on the show!

I spoke with Janelle Headley, the founder and director of a unique performing arts program for kids and teens in Barbados called Operation Triple Threat (OTT) about the creative community and safe space she has created for young people. Janelle shares about how OTT helps kids to thrive with holistic programming which includes everything from nutritious meals to counseling services. Janelle shares the importance of holding space for kids to express their feelings and creating a safe space for them to 'fail forward'. We talk about Janelle's role as a 'mama to many' and how Operation Triple Threat is meeting the needs of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can learn more about OTT by visiting www.operationtriplethreat.com and contribute to their important work at paypal.me/ottbarbados; you can also follow on Instagram at @operationtriplethreat; and facebook.com/operationtriplethreat

I asked my friend Kathy Bell, mother to three adult children, to reflect on her journey as a mother. We discuss our roles as parents, questioning the narrative of teaching through telling and we share the qualities that we both try to model for our children. Kathy shares some of the struggles and triumphs of raising her son Kevin who has special needs due to a rare syndrome called Mowat-Wilson. We talk about some of the challenges families with kids with special needs are facing during covid-19. We also share some of the positive ways the pandemic has changed our perspective on parenting. Throughout our conversation, Kathy reflects on moments when she saw her children shine as authentic individuals.

With mother's day having just passed you may have heard the popular: "Thank your mom, you're the reason she pees a bit when she sneezes" joke. Pelvic floor physiotherapists are working hard to flip the script on this popular narrative by giving women the tools they need to heal their pelvic floors after birth. I spoke to pelvic floor physiotherapist Monate Praamsma about why and how pregnancy and childbirth affect our pelvic floors. Monate explains why we don't have to accept conditions such as incontinence, pelvic pain and pelvic organ prolapse, as par for the course of motherhood. We talk kegels and scar massage, and Monate explains how she works with women to help them to safely return to the exercise they love. Resources: Monate Praamsma (monatepraamsmapt.com); Core Connections Physiotherapy (core-connections.ca). Disclaimer: the information presented in this podcast is for general information purposes only and should not replace medical advice and/or treatment from your health care provider(s).