Empowered to Connect Podcast

Latest Episodes:

[E237] When You’re New to Supporting a Foster or Adoptive Family May 05, 2026

Show notes

Episode 237 is live! ️

If someone you love is in the middle of a new placement (whether that's a newborn, a toddler, or a teenager), this one is for the people standing beside them.

Tona, Becca, and Jesse get practical about what it actually looks like to show up well for foster and adoptive families. Not just in the first week, but in the long haul.

What's the most meaningful thing someone did for you (or that you did for someone else) during a new placement?

[E236] When You're New to Walking Together as Adoptive/Foster Parents Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

Community can feel different when your parenting journey looks different. Sometimes your circle shifts. Sometimes it shrinks. And sometimes it stretches you in ways you didn’t expect.

But here’s what’s true: you are not the only one figuring it out as you go. Ask for help. Say the honest thing. Find people who truly get it, and hold onto the ones who love you even when they don’t fully understand.

Your community might not look how you imagined, but it can still show up for you, support you, and grow with you.

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

[E235] When You’re New to Parenting through Adoption & Foster Care Apr 07, 2026

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In this episode Becca, Jesse, and Tona walk us through what it looked like for them at the beginning of their parenting journey. Starting foster care, adoption, or any new parenting role can feel disorienting and overwhelming. It won’t always feel natural or easy, and you may not feel an instant connection. That’s normal! There will be stress, uncertainty, and moments where you question yourself, but that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. What matters most is showing up consistently, being willing to learn, and creating a sense of felt safety over time. You don’t have to be perfect to make a real difference. Your steadiness and presence is what builds trust.

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

[E234] When Protection Becomes a Prison: Breaking Down the Wall Between Us with Sherry Varughese Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

Let’s talk about the “Wall Between Us”, the invisible, protective bricks we build from past hurt that quietly block connection with the people we love most. Our snapping, withdrawing, overreacting, and people-pleasing once protected us. But what if they’re now keeping us stuck? Healing doesn’t start with fixing our kids. It starts with noticing our own “shark music;” noticing what is keeping us from connection.

This conversation is about compassion over shame. Curiosity over judgment. And small, daily shifts that break generational cycles. Every brick you take down builds something better for the next generation.

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

[E233] Why the Best Teachers Lead with Connection with Marti Smith & Amie Huggins Mar 10, 2026

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What if connection is one of the most powerful tools in the classroom?

In this episode, Marti Smith and Amie Huggins join us to share about their new book The Connected Classroom and what they’ve learned working with educators inside real school systems. They talk about why building trust with students matters so much—and how connection creates the safety kids need to engage, learn, and grow.

If you’re a teacher, caregiver, or anyone who cares about helping kids thrive at school, this conversation offers practical encouragement and hope for creating classrooms where students feel safe, seen, and ready to learn.

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

Suppoort Amie and Marti by ordering their book. https://a.co/d/098ZnA1F

To reach Amie, check out the information below.

Website: www.amiehugginsconsulting.com

Email: Amie.arhllc@gmail.com

Instagram: teacher_amie49

To reach out to Marti, check out the information below.

Website: www.creativetherapies.com

[E232] When You're Tired Of Trying with Melissa Corkum Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

Does your nervous system feel like it’s been in survival mode for a long time?

This episode is for you.

We sat down in person with Melissa Corkum to talk about burnout, blocked care, and why connection can start to feel like a shock instead of a reward.

A few takeaways:

✨ Emotional pain and physical pain activate the same parts of the brain.
✨ Blocked care isn’t a character flaw — it’s a protective response.
✨ You don’t heal it by trying harder. You start by caring for your own nervous system.

If you’ve felt resentful, numb, exhausted, or ashamed for not feeling the joy you “should,” you are not alone.

It won’t always feel this way.
Keep hope. Carry on. We’re with you.

For the Blocked Care Assessment, click here.

[E231] When You're Tired in Your Heart with Dr. Archandria Owens Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

On this next part of our mini-series “When You’re Tired”, we reflect on being emotionally tired. It is the quiet exhaustion that comes from caring deeply, showing up consistently, and holding space for others. Dr. Archandria Owens and Jesse discuss naming and expressing emotions, unmet expectations, and explore gentle ways to care for ourselves when we are exhausted in this particular way.

[E230] When You're Tired in Your Body with Jill Stockburger Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, Jesse and Jill Stockburger dive into a big question: What do we do when we’re living in chronic stress? They talk about how stress, adversity, and trauma impact us on a deeper level, and what it actually feels like to carry these experiences in our bodies. If you’re feeling tired in your body, you are not alone.

[E229] Connection Over Compliance: What We’re Really Teaching Kids in Hard Moments Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

In today’s episode, Jesse and Tona take a deep dive into the tension between connection and compliance in everyday parenting moments. Through real-life stories (yes, even dishes), we explore how prioritizing relationship doesn’t mean abandoning expectations and structure. Instead, it creates the foundation for lasting responsibility and trust. Join us for a thoughtful conversation about playing the long game, responding instead of reacting, and why connection is often the fastest path to meaningful compliance.

[E228] The Midyear Reset: Supporting Kids in the Second Half of the School Year Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

New semester! Same kids, different needs.

As the second half of the school year begins, routines may get messy, expectations may shift, and those old pain points may resurface. In this episode Jesse, Becca, and Dr. Rachel talk about pausing, noticing what’s not working, and making small, doable adjustments (at home and at school). From the kiddos to adults, we can all find ways to revamp our expectations by staying curious and starting small.

Here’s to a second semester filled with grace, flexibility, and hope!

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