Lauren interviews her money coach, Elizabeth Ralph. Through their work together, Lauren has changed her deep core beliefs about money and has made big changes in her life. Elizabeth describes how her strong connection to animals (especially horses) caused her to redefine and create her own version of freedom. She explains how others can do the same: find your “why”, set goals to reach it, focus on the steps, and everything will slowly fall into place. Lauren explains how and why this happens. Your brain naturally starts moving your actions toward that goal, the more you think about, focus on and work toward it. Elizabeth discusses how most are taught and shown that when money comes in, we are supposed to spend it. It’s become normalized to not take a portion to grow it for your own benefit. While this is great for our economy, it does not help individuals build wealth. When working at regulating emotions, be sure to apply that same skill to your money. Focus on staying neutral when it comes to money decisions, instead of making choices out of fear.Elizabeth’s RecommendationsFind a resource that resonates with you, where you feel a connection. Then, be open to learning and thinking differently about money. Dial-in on your cost of living and prioritize needs vs. wants. Quotes from this episode:Wealth is built on micro-decisions. The best money decisions are made from a place of neutrality, not fear. Try-at-home tip:  Forget saving…teach kids how to grow money.Guest Bio:Elizabeth Ralph is a money manager, high-level business coach, and Founder of Financial Story LLC. She also developed The Spiritual Investor Program, the place where entrepreneurs transform from unsure investor to bad ass money manager. Formerly a financial executive and energy trader, Elizabeth shifted her focus entirely in 2012 while feeding Cheetos to a kangaroo on a beach in Australia. She realized that in order to fulfill her purpose of saving unwanted horses she needed to break free from the confines of corporate world. So right then and there, she decided to go “all-in” and set up a strategy to achieve financial freedom within 10 years. The result? The Financial Story framework was born and so was the amazing horse property that she and her wife call GiveGrass Ranch.How to contact Elizabeth:Instagram @elizabethralph The Spiritual Investor Program waitlist (usually opens twice per year) Website   Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode! Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children The Behavior Hub websiteThe Behavior Hub blogAre you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help! Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

In this three-part series, Lauren talks about parts of the brain that most relate to emotions and behavior: Prefrontal Cortex – Thinking Brain or “Wise Owl”Limbic System – Emotional Brain or “Barking Dog”Brainstem – Reptilian Brain or “Fight or Flight”This episode is about the Brainstem, often referred to as the Reptilian Brain, the Primal Brain, or the Fight or Flight area. The Brainstem is located at the back of the skull, near the bottom of your brain. This area is wired for your survival and is responsible for all vital respiratory and cardiac functions. This part of the brain is responsible for our survival, so it’s reactionary and impulsive. We do things without thinking. We just react. Lauren refers to it as the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn brain. How is this part of the brain involved in processing emotions and affecting behavior?Emotions are highly dependent on the body’s networks that regulate alertness, involuntary body functions, motor, and sensory controls….all located in the brainstem. The brainstem parts play a critical role in emotional regulation.If the brainstem is under-developed, how can you learn to better self-regulate?Train the brainstem to be calm by embedding things like touch, movement, physical exercise, and breathing techniques. We talk all about it in our course: From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings – How to Self-Regulate. Or check out our linked blog posts below. Lauren answers this week’s listener question: What are good strategies I can use in my classroom (or at home) for a proactive approach to SEL?Try-at-home tip:  10 minutes of direct attention a day with a child.Mentioned in this episode:Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art - book by James NestorWim Hof Method – book by Wim HofAaron Alexander resources – books, podcastRelated resources from The Behavior Hub: Blog Post: Thinking Brain: The Wise Owl Emotional Brain: The Barking DogReptilian Brain: Better known as the BrainstemHow Exercise Impacts Emotional Regulation5 Breathing Exercises for Your KiddoOur Online Courses: From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings – How to Self-Regulate (5 Needs Areas)Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode! Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children The Behavior Hub websiteThe Behavior Hub blogStruggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? I can help! Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

Lauren has an in-depth conversation with Matthew Davidoff, High School ESL Teacher, University of Pennsylvania Adjunct Faculty, and Freelance Education Consultant. Their discussion includes why he entered teaching, the effect of sudden (and continued) remote learning, his experiences as a school board member, his research with the Red & Blue Exchange, along with thoughts on Cognitive Empathy. Matthew’s passion is driven by his extreme curiosity about a world where educational equity exists. That world is possible in a well-funded, private school but not in many public schools. His goal is to be a teacher that inspires every student to be a learner.Matthew discusses the unique struggles for both parents and teachers with remote learning caused by the pandemic. He explains and recommends:For Parents: Be an advocate for both yourself and your child.For Teachers:  Get to know your students and what’s going on at home. Lastly, Lauren and Matthew have an enlightening discussion about Cognitive Empathy and his effort to understand others' emotions as well as why people think the way they do. Don’t miss this lively discussion! Listen or watch on YouTube.Notable Quote from this episode:  "Nobody shows up anywhere wanting to be bad at it.”Try-at-home tip:  Be a Feelings Detective, not a Judge. Guest Bio:Matthew has been working in education for nearly 20 years. His career began in Taiwan, where he taught English as a second language for 5 years. Since then, he's worked in Oakland and Philadelphia as a teacher and educational researcher. He is currently teaching high school ESL in North Philadelphia and conducting research with the Penn Literacy Network and with Penn's Red and Blue Exchange.Contact Matthew:Twitter: @AranhaMatthewemail: [email protected]’s RecommendationsPodcasts: 1) Have you heard?, 2) Sam Harris: Making Sense, 3) The Moth, 4) This American LifeBooks: 1) Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, 2) Fist Stick Knife Gun by Geoffrey Canada, 3) Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett, Ph.D. Find out more about Penn’s Red & Blue Exchange. Questions for a future episode? Email: [email protected], Text: 717-693-7744.Subscribe to our mailing list.Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children The Behavior Hub websiteThe Behavior Hub blogStruggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help! Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

In this three-part series, Lauren talks about the parts of the brain that most relate to emotions and behavior: Prefrontal Cortex – Thinking Brain or “Wise Owl”Limbic System – Emotional Brain or “Barking Dog”Brainstem – Reptilian Brain or “Fight or Flight”This episode is about the Limbic System, often referred to as the Emotional Brain, Barking Dog, or Downstairs Brain. The Limbic System is located in the very center of your head. This part of your brain is the Emotional Control Center: the heart of emotions, memory formation, and survival. It acts much like a threat detection system…..like a dog that is barking. What happens if the Limbic System is “dysfunctional”? It can cause disorders like anxiety, epilepsy, dementia, schizophrenia, autism, and memory issues. Lauren also discusses the effect of drugs, alcohol, chronic stress, and traumatic events on this part of the brain. She then explains how a child exposed to these same things in utero may have certain types of behavior issues. The Limbic System is often referred to as the “Barking Dog”. It’s the part of the brain that is meant to protect us. If a child is having a breakdown, it means their Barking Dog is barking. They are stuck in the Limbic System, and the emotional brain has taken over. It overrules the logic and reasoning part of the brain. The first step is to get the Barking Dog back to neutral. Then, the child can access logic, reason, and communication.The easiest way to calm the Limbic System is through movement, touch, and deep breathing. Model these things for the child. Why? We all have these lovely things called mirror neurons, which mirror what we see. So, if your child sees you doing deep breathing, they will try to mirror it. We discuss several ways to get back to neutral in ALL the Coping Strategies for Your Kiddos.Be sure to check out all the episodes in this short series, where Lauren continues the conversation about our amazing brain!Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How can we support classroom teachers in implementing SEL and trauma-informed practices?Try-at-home tip:  Try Qigong.Other resources from The Behavior Hub: Blog Post: Thinking Brain: The Wise Owl Emotional Brain: The Barking DogReptilian Brain: Better known as the BrainstemOur Online Courses: From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings – How to Self-Regulate (5 Needs Areas) Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode! Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children The Behavior Hub websiteThe Behavior Hub blogAre you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help! Schedule a free discovery call</

In this three-part series, Lauren talks about parts of the brain that relate to emotions and behavior: Prefrontal Cortex – Thinking Brain or “Wise Owl”Limbic System – Emotional Brain or “Barking Dog”Brainstem – Reptilian Brain or “Fight or Flight”This episode is about the Prefrontal Cortex, often called the Thinking Brain, Wise Owl, or Upstairs Brain. Logic, reason, thought, and communication lives here. And...it’s harder to access when we are upset. The brain develops from top to bottom and back to front. That means the Thinking Brain is the final part of the brain to develop. Emotions and “Fight or Flight” develop first, while logic and reason are last. The Thinking Brain is responsible for learning, concentration, focus, and listening. When our bodies and brain are calm, it is much easier to access this part of the brain. As a result, we can better control our impulses and focus on regulating our emotions.The Thinking Brain is the final part to develop and continues developing well into our 20’s. It’s also the hardest part to access when we need it. When reacting to something that is emotional or sensory, it’s processed in the order the brain was developed. Translation: the Fight or Flight part of your brain often responds BEFORE your Thinking Brain does. When our body or brain is NOT calm, we cannot easily access the Thinking Brain. So, when a child is having a breakdown and is told to “calm down”, it won’t work. Here’s why: Communication lives in the Thinking Brain. If they are stuck in their Emotional Brain (the Limbic area/Barking Dog), they can’t access logical thought or communication. They are so emotional, they literally cannot hear you. Instead, model ways they can help themselves calm down. You want them to “catch YOUR calm”.  Examples are deep breathing, calming touch, and movement. (Detailed examples are explained in this episode.) Be sure to check out our next two episodes where Lauren continues the conversation about our amazing brain!Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How do we balance social-emotional practices and academics?Try-at-home tip:  Eat something flavorful.Other related resources from The Behavior Hub: Blog Post: Thinking Brain: The Wise Owl Emotional Brain: The Barking DogReptilian Brain: Better known as the BrainstemOur Online Courses: From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings – How to Self-Regulate (5 Needs Areas) Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode! Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children The Behavior Hub websiteThe Behavior Hub blogAre you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help! Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

In this episode, Lauren discusses how knowing yourself is an important step in developing your self-care routine. She talks about how to identify your three main core values and then how to dig deeper to find your most authentic self. Lauren recommends journaling for 7 days and provides each day’s topic to focus on and consider. Next, check your self-care activities in 6 key areas of wellness: mental, physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual.How you live and feel is often shaped by your personality and values in life. Understanding yourself opens the door to know what motivates you in life and helps you live a satisfying life, both internally and externally. Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How do you work with challenging behaviors when there is a deficit in language skills? Try-at-home tip:  Saying “no”.Items mentioned during this podcast:36 Questions to Fall in Love by Arthur Aron.The Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoPodcasts by Brene Brown, Dr. Mark Hyman, Jim Kwik, Joe Rogan.Other related resources from The Behavior Hub: Blog Post: What is self-care & why is it important?Know Thyself: Initial Steps for a Self-Care PracticeTying Self-Care Practices to Your ValuesOur Online Courses: Self-care:  filling up your own cup From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings – How to Self-Regulate (5 Needs Areas)Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode! Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children The Behavior Hub websiteThe Behavior Hub blogAre you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help! Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

Lauren discusses how to design a self-care routine that is in alignment with your personality and core values. She talks in detail about her own routine, including some of the struggles she’s had along the way. Time is our most valuable, nonrenewable resource. How we choose to use it can make all the difference in feeling happy, inspired, and valued. Self-care doesn't have to be as extravagant as an hour-long meditation or an entire spa day. It’s the tiny habits (or micro-routines) embedded into a busy schedule to help sustain you and keep you going. Lauren explains how her consistent rituals and routines have absolutely changed her life. She feels happier, healthier, and that she is her best “self”. It wasn’t easy, but she always remembered to give herself a little grace while making these changes. Remember…..a self-care routine is a work in progress. Start small and build your routine. Take time to reflect on what’s working and what’s NOT working, then make adjustments. Many of the rituals and routines discussed have ZERO costs. Plus, you can save LOTS of money on medical expenses since you are focused on your own preventative health care. Lauren’s routine has helped her find balance and mental clarity in her own life. Giving yourself a little TLC every day will go a long way and will help you to “show up” for the people in your life.  Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How can I be better at being present for struggling youth? Not just punishing but how to talk and listen to them.Try-at-home tip:  Bulletproof coffee.Mentioned during this podcast:The 20/20/20 Formula by Robin Sharma.Journals by Monica Sweeney.Journals and books by GG Renee Hill. Other related resources from The Behavior Hub: Blog Post: Creating Rituals, Routines, and Habits: The How To of Preventative Self-CareBlog Post: Know Thyself: Initial Steps for a Self-Care PracticeBlog Post: Tying Self-Care Practices to Your ValuesOur Online Courses: Self-care:  Filling up your own cup From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings – How to Self-Regulate (5 Needs Areas)Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode! Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children The Behavior Hub websiteThe Behavior Hub blogAre you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help! Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

This episode is one of Lauren’s favorite topics: Personality Profiling and how it relates to Self-Care.How you live and feel is often shaped by your personality and values in life. Understanding yourself opens the door to know what motivates you and helps you live a satisfying life, both internally and externally. Also, knowing yourself makes decisions and what actions to take much easier. Lauren discusses several options for learning your personality profile, including: Myers-BriggsHuman Design EnneagramAyervedic DoshaTo show how this information can be helpful, Lauren discusses some of her own personality profiles. She has discovered she feels most aligned when helping others. Knowing her profile has also helped her design a stress-management routine. Lauren discusses the steps to self-discovery, which include: STEP 1: Find your personality type.STEP 2: Use that information to create routines and habits.STEP 3: Schedule regular time for reflection. We have to know who we are to be able to make decisions that feel good, are right for us personally, and to find true happiness.  Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How do I work with educators to recognize behaviors as a symptom of a need?Try-at-home tip:  Spend time in natural light.Other related resources from The Behavior Hub: Blog Post: Know Thyself: Initial Steps for a Self-Care PracticeBlog Post: Tying Self-Care Practices to Your ValuesBlog Post: 5 Reasons Behaviors OccurPodcast: Why Behavior Occurs - The 5 Needs AreasOur Online Courses: Self-care:  filling up your own cup From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings – How to Self-Regulate (5 Needs Areas)Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode! Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children The Behavior Hub websiteThe Behavior Hub blogAre you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help! Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

Lauren has an in-depth conversation with Rebecca Britt, an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. Rebecca became involved with training horses as a child. In her career as a social worker, she realized the similarities of therapeutic intervention with children and training horses using natural horsemanship. From this realization, Stable Moments was born, an organization where community members play an active role in the lives of foster and adopted children. Rebecca talks about the importance of the mentorship program. And no…..you don’t need specialized training or a degree to make a difference in a kiddo’s life. The magic of the Stable Moments program is in the one-on-one mentorship. Leadership is about leading by example, so Rebecca regularly does her own healing work. Self-worth issues surface in different circumstances, defense mechanisms from her childhood. She feels we owe it to the world to heal ourselves so we are better able to “show up” for others in the way we truly want to. Try-at-home tip:  Try the “give and take” activity as described by our guest. Guest Bio:Stable Moments® was founded in October 2014 by Rebecca Britt. Rebecca is a social worker and horse trainer with a certification as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Vermont in 2010 and became employed as a Post Adoption Case Manager. During her work with adopted children, she realized the correlations between how to therapeutically intervene with children surviving with trauma and how to train horses using natural horsemanship. Through the growth of the Stable Moments program, Rebecca has developed the model and is offering it as a practical curriculum to anyone wishing to serve foster or adopted children. Rebecca is serving children nationwide, by offering training, curriculum, and resources to equine facilities across the country. Rebecca speaks to equine and mental health professionals across the nation about her unique approach and model. She holds a Master's Degree in Program Evaluation, as well as a professional certification in Results-Based Accountability. This allows her to provide all Stable Moments locations the best tools for collecting data and demonstrating impact of their programs.Find out more about Rebecca on her website or social media using @stablemoments.  Rebecca also lends strategic planning and evaluation to nonprofits through her consultancy business Kotulo (@kotulollc). Other resources from Rebecca Britt:Stable Moments PodcastStable Moments Book: Building Life Skills for Healthy Transitions into AdulthoodDo you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children The Behavior Hub websiteThe Behavior Hub blogAre you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help! Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

Think of self-care as preventative stress management. In this episode, Lauren talks about why it’s important to practice self-care preventatively and not just as a reaction to a current state or situation.Imagine being so in tune with your emotional state and moods that you could actually change them. Thanks to neuroscience, we know it’s possible. Self-care is a learned skill. It takes time, practice, commitment, resilience, and hard work to put a good self-care routine in place. Lauren discusses how working in the education field has made her realize that stress and overwhelm are a given, and burnout isn’t taken seriously. Teacher burnout rates are high with 40% to 50% of teachers leaving the profession within the first five years of teaching.In this situation, it can be difficult to pay attention to your own needs, your own emotional state, and then work on preventative measures. Remember, self-care is NOT selfish. It’s in YOUR best interest as well as everyone around you. Make sure to have everything YOU need, since you can’t pour from an empty cup. A self-care daily routine helps you recognize your limits, set boundaries, and be more aware of your emotional state. It also helps you strive for balance in all areas of your life. Having a routine enables you to set realistic boundaries and priorities while helping feel your best and function at your most optimal level. We are living in an over-stimulated world. Many are overworked and exhausted. Mismanagement of stress happens to the best of us. You are not alone! Tune in to the next few episodes where we discuss how to determine your personality type, understand your core values, and how to implement the type of self-care routine that will work best for YOU.Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: What are some good strategies to help staff stay regulated when a child is dysregulated?Try-at-home tip:  Pretend what objects can be.  Links to items mentioned during this podcast:View the Self-Care Continuum mentioned in this podcast. Other related resources from The Behavior Hub: Blog Post: What is self-care & why is it important?Self-Care: Filling Up Your Own CupProgressive Muscle Relaxation for Kids (& Adults!)Our Online Courses: Self-care:  filling up your own cup From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings – How to Self-Regulate (5 Needs Areas) Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode! Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children The Behavior Hub websiteThe Behavior Hub blogAre you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help! Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.