Empowered to Connect Podcast

Latest Episodes:

[E15] Chase The Why with Mo and Tona Ottinger Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

Lets face it…sometimes our kids' behavior is perplexing.

We have no idea why they are doing what they are doing. We have no idea how to make them stop and we can walk away feeling confused, defeated and even like a failure.

We have behavioral expectations and if we're not careful we can allow our children's behavior to determine whether we see ourselves as a good parent or not. We can measure our success by their behavior…

Why do we do that? How do we get to the root of what's ACTUALLY happening?

Glad you asked - tune in today to hear how we look to see the needs being expressed behind the behavior and meet those needs to build trust and attachment.

In this episode we reference several fantastic books (you should buy them all immediately): The Whole Brain Child, and Beyond Behaviors

To learn more about ETC, check out empoweredtoconnect.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E14] Talking to Your Kids About Sex (Pt 2) with Dr. Katherine Blackney Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

It's Part 2 of the conversation many of us dread. The sex talk, and for those of with kids who were adopted or are in foster care, the layers added into an already complicated conversation can feel like a bridge too far. Last week we aired Part 1 of our conversation with Dr. Katherine Blackney, a certified Clinical Sex Therapist who's been counseling for almost 20 years. She joined us and began walking us through the process of raising your kids with healthy conversations about their bodies and sex. In part one of our conversation with Dr. Blackney we learned that this is not a single conversation, but an ongoing process that weaves from preschool all the way to adulthood.

This week we cover puberty and the teenage years - how do we help our kids navigate these impossible years healthily while keeping the parent-child relationship in tact? Listen to Part 2 to find out!

To learn more about Dr. Blackney and her practice, check out her website here!
To learn more about ETC, check out empoweredtoconnect.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E13] Talking to Your Kids About Sex (Pt 1) with Dr. Katherine Blackney Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

It's the conversation many of us dread. For those of with kids who were adopted or are in foster care, the layers added into an already complicated conversation can feel like a bridge too far. It's the sex talk and it's not easy! That's why we asked Dr. Katherine Blackney, a certified Clinical Sex Therapist who's been counseling for almost 20 years to join us and walk us through the process. In part one of our conversation with Dr. Blackney we learn that this is not a single conversation, but an ongoing process that weaves from preschool all the way to adulthood. We cover everything from potty training to self touch in part one of our conversation with the one and only Dr. Katherine Blackney!

To learn more about Dr. Blackney and her practice, check out her website here!
To learn more about ETC, check out empoweredtoconnect.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E12] The Power of Asking Why PART 2 with Tom and Dawn Jordi Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

Today we share the second half of our interview with Tom and Dawn Jordi, our ETC Parent Trainers in Johannesburg, South Africa! In this episode, Tom and Dawn walk through their experiences as a transracially adoptive family in a post-apartheid South Africa and the work toward racial reconciliation they've done in schools there. You don't want to miss it! If you missed last episode make sure to check that out as well for the Jordi's story!

You can follow the Jordis via their blog here or listen to their podcast here!

To learn more about ETC, check out empoweredtoconnect.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E11] The Power of Asking Why with Tom and Dawn Jordi Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

Our first intercontinental guests come to us from Johannesburg, South Africa! Tom and Dawn Jordi join us to talk about their family's adoption journey, Tom's work as a trauma certified counselor in schools and the power of asking why when we see concerning behavior in our kiddos. Tom and Dawn are two of the most likable human beings on the planet and you'll love hearing their story and the wisdom they've got to share as we all work build stronger connection with the kids we care for!

You can follow the Jordis via their blog here or listen to their podcast here!

To learn more about ETC, check out empoweredtoconnect.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E10] Exploring & Navigating Racial Trauma with LPC Britney Bryson Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

Britney Bryson is an LPC at the University of Memphis and at her private practice working with teens and young adults. Doing so in 2020 is no easy task and Britney joins us to talk about the challenges that come with it. We talk through navigating racial trauma, a heated election season and how we move forward building unity and relationships across natural dividing lines. Britney ends the show by sharing a powerful story about a summer experience she had and what we can all learn from it.

Want to hear more from Britney? Follow her work on Facebook and Instagram!

To learn more about ETC, check out empoweredtoconnect.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E9] Catch it Low Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

Episode 9 features one of our best parenting tools! ETC's Parent Training Courses happen all over the globe and we thought it the perfect time to share one of tools taught in the course! Mo and Tona Ottinger join us to talk about what it means to 'Catch it Low' - how to spot disregulation on the horizon and use some simple practices to help deescalate the situation and bring regulation back to the brain.

Mo talks for a few minutes about the 'upstairs and downstairs brain' - for one of the best explanations of how the brain works, check out Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson's book The Whole Brain Child!

For more information about Empowered to Connect's resources and to find a Parent Trainer near you, check out empoweredtoconnect.org

[E8] Back to School with ETC Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

As the world begins to ease back into schools (both virtual and in person), we have 3 brilliant professionals with us to talk about utilizing ETC principles in their work in schools! Becca Tarleton, Jocelyn Lee and returning guest Jacque Rowe-Fields talk about the importance of attachment as the foundation of the classroom, how parents can best advocate for their kids and what you need to know as you get ready for the school year.

[E7] Parenting in a Pandemic with Jesse Faris Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

Have you been wondering what the secret to effective parenting is during a pandemic? We have too! Spoiler alert - we don't have THE answer, but we do have ETC Parent Trainer Jesse Faris as our guest to talk about some of the ways we can parent (and care for ourselves) more effectively during a historically hard time to parent and give nurturing care to our kids.

Jesse, Tona Ottinger and host JD Wilson talk about what's been working and discoveries that have been made in the quest to not lose our ever-loving minds in quarantine...

To purchase the Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey, click here! **Life Hack - the audiobook is great and is available through Audible at the same link above...

To learn more about Empowered to Connect, the new Dads Connected Coaching offering as well as any other ETC resources, check us out at Empoweredtoconnect.org or follow us on Facebook or Instagram!

[E6] Building Resilience Through the Power of Connection with Troy McPeak Aug 18, 2020

Show notes

Episode 6 is here and we are so excited to share it with you. In the last few years, one of the most exciting developments in the non profit and juvenile justice worlds has been the integration of trauma informed, healing centered approaches to care. One of the men helping lead this charge in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) is Troy McPeak. Troy joins us today to talk about how a hard nosed former football player from Riverside County (outside of LA) is helping pioneer attachment rich, connection-centered, resilience building systems of care in the TJJD. Trust us - you do NOT want to miss this episode, Troy is a really fun guest with some amazing stories of transformation happening in a place so often overlooked or forgotten.

To learn more about Troy and the TJJD's work, the new Dads Connected Coaching offering as well as all of ETC's resources, check us out at Empoweredtoconnect.org or follow us on Facebook or Instagram!

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