The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered

S2 EP 27 - PlainTalk: Give Kids a Break — Don’t You Forget About Me

Middle school can feel like a daily showdown until you flip one assumption: the kid isn’t the problem, the kid is the signal. We’re talking about the moments that make adults say “Seriously?” and why that reaction is understandable, but often aimed at the wrong target. When behavior goes sideways, we tend to put all the weight on a 12- or 13-year-old who is navigating hormones, identity, social pressure, and a brain that’s still building impulse control. That is not an excuse, it’s a roadmap....

S2 EP 26 - Internet Culture & Emotional Health: The Safety Dance

Internet Culture & Emotional Health: The Safety Dance feat. Adam Brooks, Program Coordinator from BARK Technologies for Part 3 of our “Safe Screen Time” technology series. Today we are discussing all things safety, balancing screens with quality time, family tech planning, & opening up a family discussions re: usage and appropriate boundaries. Suzanne took a deep dive into safety and devices, finding BARK. So excited about their work, Suzanne invited BARK to discuss their rese...

S2 EP 25 - Dogs and Cats Help Anxious Kids Feel Safe — You’ve Got a Friend in Me

Middle school is a time when everything feels unpredictable—friendships shift, social rules change by the hour, and for neurodivergent kids, sensory overload can turn an ordinary day into a storm. So why do animals help so much? In this episode, we’re talking about dogs and cats not as “cute pets,” but as teammates—partners that can regulate a child’s nervous system in real, measurable ways. We break down the neuroscience in plain language: When you pet a dog or cat, cortisol drops, oxy...

S2 EP 24 - Leveling Up Self-Regulation: The Final Countdown

Screen time is not going anywhere, so instead of arguing about whether it is “good” or “bad,” let’s get specific about what it is actually doing for our kids. This is episode two in our technology series, where we explore how digital tools can be used in more intentional, supportive ways for kids and families. WEBSITE: www.mightier.com COUPON CODE: MARYPOPPINS (15% OFF) In this episode, I share a surprising tool I vetted myself: a set of video games that use heart-rate biofeedback to he...

S2 EP 23 - The Screen Time Clash: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Screens: the ultimate villain… or your kid’s emotional support sidekick? In this playful (and eye-opening) episode, Suzanne dives into the nightly showdown every parent knows too well—the “put the phone down” battle—and flips the script in a way you probably didn’t see coming. What looks like defiance might actually be overwhelm. What feels like obsession might be regulation. From dopamine hits and digital comparison to cyberbullying and late-night scrolling, we unpack what’s really going on ...

S2 EP 22 - Growing Up Neurodivergent: Karma Chameleon

You can be smart, creative, and deeply caring and still walk through life feeling like you’re getting “thrown to the curb.” That ache hits a lot of neurodivergent adults, especially when old childhood labels keep playing on loop: too sensitive, too emotional, too intense, too distracted, so much potential if you could just… I’m busting those cognitive distortions and telling a truer story about neurodiversity, ADHD, autism, giftedness, and what it’s like when your brain takes in more than the...

S2 EP 21 - Cancer Changes Everything: Listen to Your Heart

S2 EP 20 - Unpacking Neurodivergence: She Blinded Me With Science