Empowered to Connect Podcast

Today, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day, we felt it would be appropriate to bring back one of our favorite episodes, our episode with Dr. Charles McKinney from Season One. How did we get here? College Professor, Author and Civil Rights Historian Dr. Charles McKinney joins us to discuss the history of the civil rights struggle in America, being a black parent in 2020 and advice for transracial adoptive parents with their children of color. A word to our majority culture (white) listeners: as many have noted over the past few years, there is a deep need for listening and learning about the plight of our black and brown brothers and sisters. This conversation with Dr. McKinney is not the end all be all - rather a starting point for many of us as we journey together to bring healing and peace to our families, our communities and the systems that govern them.

To connect further with our guest today, the brilliant Dr. Charles McKinney, find him on Twitter @CharlesWMcKinn2 and buy his books here!

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Today on the Empowered to Connect Podcast we delve into a pivotal connecting practice: the power of play in parenting with one of our favorite guests, Tom Jordi. Hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa, Tom is not only a TBRI Practitioner but also a Cultivate Connection Facilitator, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to our conversation. He and his wife Dawn have 4 kiddos and are an absolute joy to be around, if this is your first time hearing an episode with the Jordis, you're gonna love it!

In this episode, Tom engages in a captivating discussion with our host, JD Wilson, and ETC Executive Director, Mo Ottinger, about the profound impact that play can have on the parent-child relationship. Together, they explore how play serves as a transformative tool for fostering connection, building trust, and nurturing healthy attachments.

With a refreshing perspective, they discuss various playful strategies that parents can incorporate into their everyday interactions with their children. From imaginative play to sensory experiences, he shares practical insights on how these approaches can cultivate emotional resilience, enhance communication, and create joy-filled moments within the parent-child dynamic.

Throughout the episode, our guests share personal anecdotes and real-life examples that illustrate the transformative power of play, highlighting its ability to bridge gaps, facilitate healing, and strengthen the parent-child bond. Tom's expertise and passion shine through as he emphasizes the importance of creating safe and secure spaces where children can express themselves freely and experience the power of unconditional love and acceptance.

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or professional working with children, this episode offers a wealth of valuable strategies and insights that can revolutionize your approach to parenting and caregiving. Tune in as we explore the profound impact of play and its ability to empower parents and children alike on the journey of connection and growth.

Is meal time a source of constant stress in your house? Have you wondered why your kids just can't bring themselves to try a certain food or texture? This can seem small on the surface, but often we forget that eating is one of the very few activities in life that involves all five senses. Today we wanted to bring in an Occupational Therapist and Speech Pathologist to walk us through an intro into the world of feeding and food issues. Courtney Mitchell and Katherine Byrd work at the Memphis Family Connection Center and walk us through not just WHY kids sometimes struggle but also how to begin walking through this struggle with them.

Also - WE HAVE SOME BIG NEWS!

As you know if you're a regular listener, we empower Facilitators to take our parenting course, Cultivate Connection to their local communities. We are so grateful and proud of the work our Facilitators are doing to provide life on life support for parents near them.

Over the years, MANY of you have reached out asking for a course online, especially those of you who do not have a Facilitator near you. First, a reminder: We've currently got an opportunity to sign up to become a Cultivate Connection Facilitator, so check our website for those details if YOU want to become part of our growing network! We'd love to consider your application! If you are wanting to take the class, however, and for whatever reason the opportunities available haven't worked out for you - WE ARE OFFERING CULTIVATE CONNECTION ONLINE for the first time ever!!!!!

As a special limited time offer, YOU as an ETC Podcast Listener get 20% off with the Code ETCPOD-23 . SIGN UP FOR OUR ONLINE COURSE TODAY if the dates and times line up with your schedule! This class will be LIVE not recorded, and it starts Sunday, March 12th! Again, that's ETCPOD-23 for 20% off the parenting course! We'd love to see you there!

The Stress Responses - chances are, you've heard of them - Fight, Flight and Freeze...well, you may be surprised to learn that there are actually 4 stress responses ("Fawn" is the fourth - don't worry, we'll cover it in great detail in a few weeks) and we are taking the next several weeks to do deep dives into each of them! We'll look at how you can support both yourself and those you love IN those responses! Today, we dive into the "Fight" Response.

Those who identify with a fight stress response have learned to step up to the plate to protect themselves. This instinctive reaction often sends them into an aggressive, sometimes attack mode to fend off the danger they face - real or perceived. What's the best way to support someone with a fight response? You'll have to listen in to find out! JD, Becca and Tona walk through everything from what a stress response is to how to support those you love in the middle of those 'fight' responses.

To learn more about Empowered to Connect, check out our website and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube!

Picture this: you're enjoying a beautiful day in your neighborhood park. Kids are running around having fun, adults are getting a rare moment to talk to each other - it's euphoric...and then it's time to leave. Cue the meltdown. We all face them in life, so let's just talk about them - transitions. They might be daily, seasonal or major life transitions, but they're all capable of tripping us up in the right conditions. That goes for us - AND our children. We pulled ETC Staffers Becca McKay and Jesse Faris in to explain why transitions can be SO hard for some of us and our kids and to give us some practical, everyday advice for how to handle them a little smoother. Check it out and let us know what you think! #parentingpodcast #traumainformedparenting #parentingadvice #empoweredtoconnectpodcast #ETCPodcast #mentalhealth #gratitude #selfcare #inspiration #ETC #connectedparenting #empoweredtoconnect #attachmentbasedparenting #parenting #parentingtips #TBRI #family