Episodes

  • The teen years may seem terrifying, as our kids start to step away from our sheltering presence and turn outwards, beginning to learn who they truly are.

    These years can be filled with rupture and disconnection BUT they can also be a great time for connection and growth for the parent and the child!


    Listen on in this important conversation I had with Cheryl Pankhurst where we talked about ways to have a great experience when parenting teens and enjoying those years of deeper connection to our kids before they shift into adulthood.

    We want to make sure we nurture the best connection we can before they leave the nest and start their own life journey, so they will know that even when they leave they always have a safe place to come back to!


    Here are Cheryl's info if you'd like to connect with her:

    Cheryl is newly retired in order to share her expertise on a global scale with the recently launched Podcast, “Teen Minds Redefined. Cheryl is a Special Education Specialist. My mantra, “Kids do well when they can .” Her mission during the last 25+ years has been supporting teenagers with any type of disability and/or social emotional challenges; helping them navigate the often-tricky path starting in grade 9 all the way to post-secondary opportunities. Her podcast has truly evolved from the original “vision” because Cheryl soon realized that our families do not need a diagnosis in order to need support and that the work we need to do starts with us as the caring adults in our teens world. What sets her apart from the rest is her knack for thinking outside the box and finding creative solutions. Cheryl is also the mom of 2 incredible adults, the only child of her widowed mom and just found her soulmate at just the age of 54! Cheryl has seen some major life challenges- divorce, caring for a parent with dementia, and ultimately losing them, co-parenting with an ex, and navigating some pretty major transitions. 

    Cheryl is currently in transition to coaching in the online space as well and has just launched a podcast - to share her own insights and experiences with others who may be going through similar struggles. Whether you're a Special Education student, a parent or teacher, or just someone navigating the twists and turns of life, she’s got your back!

    Social Media Space-Feel free to DM me

    https://www.instagram.com/cheryl.a.pankhurst/

    https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.a.pankhurst/

    [email protected]

    Website cherylpankhurst.com

    LInk to Bio




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  • There is a misconception about what colleges are looking for, and it has a devastating effect on the way we educate our kids!

    We think that they are looking for people who are top of the class in grades, who excel in sports, and do all the "right" after-school activities, but is that true?


    In the podcast episode, I interview Anne Johnson, she is an education coach and she guides people to find their educational path,

    after 13 years working as a high school counselor, she has a deep understanding of how to guide kids to find the right path for them and assist them in pursuing their desires.


    Here is a link to her website: www.edpathcoach.com

    Link to the checklist I referenced: https://mindfulcollege.ck.page/pathchecklist


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  • Tap into this philosophical and spiritual conversation I had with Marco Colasacco. Marco is married to Dalia, they have 3 kids in the alternative school Acton Academy, he is a successful Real estate investor as the founder of the Colasacco real estate group.

    We talked about the flaws of our current education system, the fact that it takes away our kid's freedom to think, to create, to make mistakes, and to just be. We discussed different concepts such as what it takes to defy the system, take control over our life, delay gratifications, adopt a growth mindset, what failure is, and trust our kids to find their path. 


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  • Mother’s Day is around the corner and I thought it’s a great time to remind us all of the importance of self-care- not only on Mother’s Day but EVERY DAY. That is why I invited Anna Trefel who is a Health Coach that specializes in transformational coaching and low-tox living.

    In this conversation, we talked about the importance of changing our mindset about self-care.

    For many moms, the thought of self-care evokes thoughts of vanity and selfishness. Many of us walk around in the world feeling guilty if we prioritize ourselves, if we go out with friends and leave the kids at night time, if we go on a vacation only with our spouse or if we set a boundary around our time to meditate, take a walk, practice yoga, or exercise. 


    Anna said a sentence that stood out to me in the interview: We are all willing to die for our kids, But are we willing to LIVE for them?


    Take that in for a second!


    The shift we want to make is adopting a new belief that I as a mother am Worthy of taking care of myself! I am the foundation of my house! And that foundation needs to be strong and stable so I can hold all my family's needs. I come first!


    I always say, and I want to repeat this now, our kids will become who we ARE! Whatever we wish for them, however, we want them to be in this world we have to be ourselves!

    If we want our girls to become powerful women that know their boundaries and put themselves first we have to be that mother to them.

    If we want our boys to respect their woman, support her in taking care of her needs, and also know that their needs matter and they need to prioritize themselves then we need to model that to them.


    We are not doing anyone good by neglecting ourselves!

    It’s our responsibility as parents and as leaders of our families to put ourselves first and take care of ourselves!


    Here are all the links mentioned in the episode:

    Anna Trefel - Clean Living Links:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annatrefelClean Organic Living Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/200279547370143Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clean.healthylivingWebsite: www.cleanlivingcoaching.com. Book a 15 minute complimentary discovery call.Nontoxic personal care and cleaning products (15% off your first order): www.purehaven.com/cleanlivingRecommended Superfoods such as wild Sea Moss, Elderberry Elixirs, and Real Raw Kombuchas ($5 off for first time customers with code FIVEOFF): www.crunchysisters.comHemp Flower Extracts to support body’s homeostasis (USDA Organic CBD) $10 off your first order: https://vitality.greencompassglobal.com/share/579326

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  • Every time my kids finish their martial arts class with their exceptional teacher, Dante, they come away not just with improved skills but with a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. Dante's classes are a blend of mindfulness, mentorship, and of course, martial arts. His unique approach touches the souls of his students, leaving them enriched and empowered long after the class ends. 

    I reached out to Dante because I really wanted to understand his approach in teaching martial arts and I thought it would also be great to share this with all you listeners! So today you will have the conversation I had with him!


    In this conversation, we talked about power and discipline which are both very misunderstood in our society.

    We attach a positive or negative meaning to power when actually power is just is. Power can definitely be corrupted if not utilized properly, but when we master our power we become the most powerful beings. Martial arts emphasizes discipline and how with discipline we can achieve our biggest hopes and dreams! Discipline also applies to our thoughts because when we gain control over our thoughts and become mindful then we can have a real impact on others and the world around us.



    Dante Howell has been building relationships and communities for twenty years. He’s a father, entrepreneur, decorated Martial Arts practitioner, and international mentor/speaker serving youth & adults. He hosts coaching sessions for families, individuals, & professionals. He also serves as a consultant/advisor in various capacities. He carries deep compassion and endeavors to continually walk alongside individuals & communities to assist in repairing unity, and integration; with the hope of seeing wholesome & thriving families. In 2022, Dante co-founded Project DNA Inc. with the hope that all will have an opportunity to heal and be empowered to function "imperfectly perfect" in the human experience.



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  • In this episode, join me as I delve into three personal anecdotes from my journey as a parent. Two of these stories highlight moments I consider successful, where I was able to provide nurturing support that fostered my children's resilience. However, I also candidly share a challenging experience where my own exhaustion left me unable to offer the support my child needed to overcome their struggles. Tune in as I reflect on these experiences and the lessons they impart on the complexities of parenting.


    If you haven't yet, grab your free Raising Resilient Kids guide at :

    https://alternative-parenting.ck.page/resilience


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  • Grab your free guide- Raising Resilient Kids here:

     alternative-parenting.ck.page/resilience


    Aida Mysan, Aida is a trauma-informed somatic and psychedelic practitioner, she helps people who are suffering from depression, anxiety, and overwhelm or are dealing with difficult feelings and relationship issues, creative blocks,  life transitions and unresolved grief, stress, and trauma.


    She is trained in multiple trauma-healing modalities and is currently pursuing post-graduate clinical education. She also has extensive experience and training in using psychedelics for healing and spiritual growth where she brings 25+ years of spiritual practices into her work, guided through formal yoga, mindfulness, and meditation training.


    In this interview, Aida shares what somatic experiencing is, what resilience means, how we can cultivate a bigger capacity to endure stressful situations, how we can nurture resilience in our kids, what to do with anger, and how to express aggression in a healthy way.


    Find aida here: https://directory.traumahealing.org/practitioner/aida-mysan/

    Aida's email: [email protected]



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  • Grab your free Raising Resilient Kids Guide here:

    https://alternative-parenting.ck.page/resilience


    The mind-body connection is obvious to us, we know that our thoughts impact our body directly!

    But the part that we are learning more and more about these days is the power of our body in and of itself.

    We are mammals, we are part of nature, and we have innate wisdom running through our veins, it’s the one thing that is undeniable.

    Parenting trends will come and go, and as science advances we will learn more and more about our human nature but the wisest resource is not in the books but actually within us. What we want to do is learn to listen to it. The way that we do it is by connecting to our bodies.

    In this episode I interviewed Leah LaHue, We talked about the connection to our bodies, about birth as the first place where we can tap into our infinite power within, and then take that experience into our parenting, we discussed how we raise our kids to be connected from the get-go to their own inner knowledge so they can find their own purpose in life and curve their path!


    Find Leah on Instagram @liberatingmotherhood and her podcast on apple and spotify.  


    www.liberatingmotherhood.com (coming soon)


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  • Homaya is a highly attuned international spiritual leader, master teacher, and paramount healer, known for bringing together ancient wisdom with innovative contemporary modalities.

    Effortlessly, she activates a transformative sacred space filled with advanced luminous codes  facilitating profound shifts in consciousness.


    In this episode, we talked about how our relationship with our children has the ability to change the world. We can resist society’s push to create obedient people who serve the system and are obsessed with outside achievement by connecting to the world that lies beneath, the world that is perceived through our subtle senses. Humans are born with a capacity to connect fully and we learn to perceive the disconnection as we grow up but we all are born with the innate gift of living a life of connection to ourselves, others, and the world around us.

    Tuning into our inner child is the way to connect deeply with our child. Our inner work IS the work of parenting, our relationship with our children will be the reflection of the relationship we have with our kids!


    To connect with Homaya:


    Website   www.homaya.org

    Current offerings https://homaya-amar.mykajabi.com/links

    IG Homaya  -   https://Instagram.com/homaya

    FB profile Homaya -  https://www.facebook.com/homaya.amar


    Grab your free Guide to Raising Resilient Kids here:

    https://alternative-parenting.ck.page/resilience



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  • The Village Electric, an alternative school, emphasizes the importance of individualized progression, and nurturing each child's curiosity and genius. It brings just the right balance between structure and freedom while valuing social-emotional development over age-based grouping. In this episode, I interview Ben Ashfield, who is the co-founder of the school together with his wife Tammy, in this conversation, we dived into the core principles that shape alternative education in the village electric.


    For more information and to sign up for the virtual info session "Is your child a genius?" on Thursday March 21 at 8pm EST- visit- https://www.thevillageelectric.com/


    Follow them on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thevillageelectric/

    And on FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheVillageElectric


    Join Efrat for the free workshop- "Forming an Unbreakable Bond with Our Kids" on March 25th, 8:30 pm EST- https://alternative-parenting.ck.page/bond






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  • In this episode you will listen to an interview with Shilamida Friedman, we talked about appreciating the uniqueness of our children, and understanding and accepting that each individual is here on their path and has their mission to fulfill. We dove into how human design can be an incredibly valuable tool as parents to learn more about our children’s personalities, strengths, and traits, and how we can parent them in a way that will support them to grow to their full potential. We also touched upon understanding our kids' love language and how it can be a game changer in our relationship with our kids when we understand how they interpret our love signals and how we can be more international in showing them love in a way that they need. 


    Here are some links to find Shilamida:


    www.Shilamida.com

    www.instagram.com/50shadesofshilamida

    www.instagram.com/goddess_of_gratitude

    www.youtube.com/@50shadesofshilamida

    www.pinterest.com/Shilamida



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  • Pamira Bezmen is a holistic, home-schooling mother of two. After years of building her career in corporate pharmaceuticals, Pamira got tapped on the shoulder by the divine light.  Giving up her mainstream toxic ways for an organic and clean lifestyle, she turned to attached parenting, natural healing and spiritual living.

    Since then, she has become an award-winning photographer and a well-recognized health advocate.  

    To build the hopeful, bright future our children deserve, Pamira has dedicated herself to home-schooling and empowering parents to “take their children back from the state”.  She, along with her husband Shawn, founded Truth and Light Ministries and its homeschool program that offers a non-denominational, faith-based education to children of like-minded families, where the main goals are to raise critical thinking, free individuals with entrepreneurial skills, in a spiritually connected and morally sound, loving community that protects the divine gifts given by our God and cherishes every child as sacred.


    Currently, Pamira is the head minister and teacher of Truth & Light Ministries Home-school Program and the primary bread-baker for her beloved family in New Jersey.


    In this episode, we talked about tuning into our internal intuition and guidance when parenting and educating our kids, how once you start questioning the system you find out that there is an abundance out in the world and that you don’t have to abide by a certain identity or an idea of what success looks like. We dived into integrating homeschooling in a community setting such as a pod and how there can be much freedom inside a structured day. We discussed the way that educating in a community can support both parents and children and how the whole community can thrive. What I loved about this conversation the most was the notion that we are free agents that we can take education back into the home where it has been for 99.9% of our human existence and that we can trust ourselves and our children to give our children whatever they need to become successful people in our society.





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  • Danielle Failla is a holistic health coach, entrepreneur, and devoted mom of two, she has dedicated her life to guiding individuals through the maze of health and wellness. Danielle is known for her mastery in crafting daily routines, she is a fitness enthusiast, meal-prep expert, and an organizing guru who simplifies the complexities of living a healthy lifestyle. Her mission is to alleviate the stress and confusion surrounding health for those who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or frustrated in their pursuit of wellness.


    In this episode Danielle gives us such practical and valuable tips on how to guide our kids to make good nutritional choices- she talks about creating connections around food, trusting our kid's innate body wisdom to eat mindfully, what to do when our kids are exposed to unhealthy options, candy and junk food, what does it mean if our kids crave sweets and so much more!


    Find her on Facebook and Instagram: @empoweredwellnessholisticcoach




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  • Kristina is the host of She’s Brave podcast a podcast that is dedicated to celebrating the stories of women who have overcome challenges and found the courage to pursue their passions and live a life full of purpose. In this episode Kristina shares her brave story and the unconventional parenting decisions she had to make while she was a caretaker for both her son and her husband, she shows us that sometimes you need to put your ego aside as a parent and make choices that are outside of the norm but are the best thing for your child. We talk about academic pressure and the toll it takes on kids today. We explore a different way of parenting and educating that will give our kids the confidence and competence they need to live a fulfilling life and a life of well-being.


    https://shesbravepodcast.com/



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  • In this episode I interview Lindsay Jacobi, Lindsay is the visionary founder of Acton Academy Morristown, a transformative educational institution dedicated to fostering independent thinkers and lifelong learners. With a passion for reimagining education, Lindsay embarked on a journey to create an environment where students take ownership of their learning journey.

    Lindsay's background in education and her unwavering belief in the potential of each child led her to establish Acton Academy Morristown. Her innovative approach to education empowers students to explore, collaborate, and develop essential skills for the 21st century. Under her leadership, Acton Academy Morristown has become a beacon of educational innovation, inspiring students to discover their passions and embrace self-directed learning.

    Lindsay Jacobi's commitment to educational excellence and her dedication to nurturing curious minds have made Acton Academy Morristown a place where young learners flourish, setting the stage for a brighter future for all.


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  • This week I have an interview with Sal Vasquez. Sal is a dynamic artist, entrepreneur, and a serial creator. He stands at the forefront of innovation. As the co-conspirator of The Awakened Village Collaborative, he pioneers a revolutionary school, empowering the next generation of young creators.

    Sal has a remarkable story, he transformed his life when he was 19. He went from being at rock bottom- living in the streets, dealing with guns and drugs, and being in life-threatening situations to recovering, finding a path of meaning and purpose, and creating a successful life while learning that he is actually good, smart and worthy. 

    He shares with us what he believes are the most essential things in parenting, among them, creating a resilient connection with our kids above all.



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  • In this episode I am interviewing Dena Farash, we have an incredible conversation about cultivating a more mindful approach to parenting by integrating meditation into our daily lives.


    I loved that Dena shows how it is possible to meditate if you set a doable goal of meditating for only 5 minutes a day and not expect to need to meditate for longer.

    The wonder is that even a short period of time can positively affect your happiness and well-being, and can change your parenting experience for the better.


    Dena Farash shares sameness and sanity so that Moms can feel cool, calm, and confident without guilt or shame.


    She is the founder of The Mindful Mom Revolution, an online space for Mothers to come together to deliberately create community, inspiration, and progress through awareness of their thoughts and inspired actions in their parenting.


    Dena is a successful online entrepreneur who has found her unique way of sharing how to thrive in Motherhood while still creating personal fulfillment, accomplishment, and connection with others.


    Happily married and a Mom of three, Dena loves to share with women how they can become the best version of themselves while raising the best version of their kids.


    denafarash.com


    Using tools like meditation, mindfulness, grit, and charm Dena has established herself as a strong voice in both the motherhood and online business spaces.


    When not working or spending quality find with her family, you can find Dena at the gym, with her girlfriends, or eating ice cream which she loves and would never EVER give up.


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  • My guest in this episode is Sofia Aguirre, a Mexican living in the US, an internal student, and the host of the I Used To Drink and I Know Things podcast. Sofia shares with us her story growing up, her journey with alcohol, and her healing path after her dad passed and she had her daughter.

    I was honored to be a witness to her story, sharing our stories is a deep way of healing and breaking generational patterns so we can be better humans for our children.

    We can change the world one story at a time.


    https://www.instagram.com/iusedtodrinkandiknowthings/



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  • In this episode I have a conversation with Diana Jenson,  Diana is a passionate Early Childhood educator from Denmark. 

    Diana's journey in early childhood education is a testament to her commitment to the lifelong pursuit of knowledge. She's an eternal student, consistently delving into the world of conscious discipline and brain science to unravel the mysteries of child behavior and how we, as adults, can navigate this path with grace.

    She is the host of the "Joyscovery Journeys - Navigating Early Childhood" podcast, where she guides parents, teachers, and caregivers through the intricate world of raising and educating young children. Diana's podcast began as an Instagram page, where she shares engaging activities for preschoolers, igniting a passion for early childhood education that continues to inspire her work today.


    In our conversation we talk about the gap between kid's developmental capacities and the demands that are inflicted on them in the early years of preschool, we discuss the difference between early education in the US and Denmark and set the tone for an alternative approach that gives kids ample freedom to play, explore and just be kids!



     Find out more about her and her work on her podcast or on Instagram @joyscovery



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  • Lights on. Lights off. When children are enthusiastic about their learning, you see it in their eyes. Rachel Pattisson is a home-educating mum with a healthy disregard for grades. Humans have an innate desire to learn and our intrinsic motivation is key to reaching our highest potential. The Lights On Learning community is a coaching space for parents who want to become inspiring leaders of their families. Do you know what it takes to learn what you love and love what you learn? On this quest, Rachel has reconnected with her passion for making music and found the courage to step beyond her edges. Let’s model for our children how to lead fulfilling, purposeful lives 💕


    Linktr.ee/rachelmusic


    IG @rachelcatherine_music


    FB Rachel Catherine https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100074057131695


    Lights On Learning Community:

    https://www.explorium.co.uk/LightsOnUniverse


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