Oh Crap with Jamie

Latest Episodes:

52. Learning from Life with Chantel Zimmerman Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

Today, I have a treat for you guys—I’m interviewing Chantel Zimmerman, the founder and creator of Sensory Garden and Play, on her first podcast ever! Chantel lives, breathes, eats, and shits proprioception, vestibular movement, and big play, and I wanted to have her on the show to talk about her educational philosophy and the programs that she runs, including her forest school. Chantel starts the episode by telling us about her background as a public school teacher and how her post-pregnancy move into tutoring led to her setting up programs based on sensory learning and eventually opening her full-blown forest school. She then explains how important it is for parents to give serious thought to what they want from childcare before choosing a program and that we often get trapped in an outdated educational philosophy that prepares kids to work in industry rather than for the modern world they’ll be living in. In her school, Chantel uses a Scandinavian model that encourages kids to learn from life and experience the outdoors rather than prioritizing academics. She also talks about how the pandemic has resulted in many parents challenging the school system and explains how she attempts to bridge public schooling, homeschooling, and unschooling to combine the best of all three systems. The Finer Details of This Episode: The COVID pandemic has led to many parents challenging the school system (not the educators, it’s important to note) and realizing that there are serious flaws in it. Chantel herself has decided not to send her kids to kindergarten this year, instead letting them learn to play and figure out life on their own terms rather than on the standards. Chantel advocates for risk in play, which means stop telling your kids to be careful and start telling them to assess the situation. When hiking with her own kids, she tells them that if they go up, they have to come down on their own. That doesn’t mean she’s going to leave them up there crying, but they do have to think about whether they can handle the hike and if they need help. In Chantel’s opinion, there needs to be a beautiful blend between life skills and social and emotional well-being. Her kids’ homework every day is to ask someone in their home how their heart is and listen and report back the next day at school. She’s had parents text her and say they don’t know if they’ve ever known how their heart feels, and Chantel’s response is that they’d better find out because the kid will be asking every single day. Chantel is a huge fan of big loose play, which allows kids with high energy to do things like move logs around and build forts before ten o’clock, so they can funnel all their positive energy and then participate in the whole class. Whereas, if you put that same kid in a preschool or kindergarten setting, they wouldn’t be able to participate. Instead of using shame and humiliation to keep kids in line, Chantel encourages risk and play and has a set of standards for how to conduct oneself. She also points out that girls tend to be told to be quiet and don’t try to be leaders, an attitude she tries to counter by letting the kids she teaches (including her daughters) feel empowered in their learning and giving parents a track to focus on. Links: Jamie’s Homepage - www.jamieglowacki.com Oh Crap! Potty Training – https://www.amazon.com/Crap-Potty-Training-Everything-Parenting-ebook/dp/B00V3L8YSU Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-I-Have-a-Toddler/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781982109738 Jamie’s Patreon Page: www.patreon.com/join/jamieglowacki? Jamie’s Instagram Page: @jamie.glowacki Sensory Garden and Play Homepage: https://www.sensorygardenandplay.com/ Chantel’s Instagram Page: @sensory garden_and_ play Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

51. Parent Power, Absent Fathers, etc. Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, I want to cover something I’ve noticed becoming quite rampant in the work I do with both parenting and potty training—sustained cajoling as a parental technique. Rewards and compliments are great things to give our kids, but when you start cajoling or bribing to get them to do daily activities, you’re not empowering them, you’re disempowering yourself as a parent. Instead of putting yourself in a position of weakness, I discuss better ways to take control of your parenting, including developing your Mom Voice and using statements, choices, and challenges as your techniques for getting your kid to play ball.

The Finer Details of This Episode:

When you start cajoling or bribing for daily activities, like getting dressed or putting their shoes on, you run into trouble because you’re asking your child permission to parent them. And by doing so, you’re not empowering them, you’re losing your own power by putting yourself in a position of weakness.
My number one rule when you’re potty training is don’t ask your child if they have to go. There are many other, more effective ways to prompt by using a statement, choice, or challenge.
I’m a firm believer in the Mom Voice; I want you to cultivate a voice that means business. That doesn’t mean using a mean voice, it means being regulated and letting your kid know that you’re in control.
Don’t blow smoke up your kid’s ass by using excessive flattery to get them to do things—children already think they’re the center of the universe, don’t encourage that self-centered perception.
I got a question from a listener about dealing with her child’s father not wanting to be part of his life. We tend to see this happening with the biological father more than the mother; some women do abandon their child, but it tends to be coupled with factors that make it almost preferable for them not to have contact.
As single moms, we can fall into the trap of thinking our kids are going to communicate as females, but sometimes they need male figures because men communicate very differently to women.
As far as full-time homeschooling, I wouldn’t recommend setting up a classroom for kids at an early age, especially for only one child. Part of the reason to do homeschooling is that it gives a lot more freedom in how the kid learns, whereas setting up a classroom keeps you in the mindset of school. Homeschooling lets you break out of the formality of school—and all the crowd control that goes along with it—so you don’t have to stick rigidly to schedules, subjects, or locations.
One of the best things you can do is read to your child and provide opportunities for learning words. When Pascal was in kindergarten and first grade, I would label everything from the windows to the tables to the chairs to help him learn sight words.
If you’re planning on getting outside regularly as part of homeschooling (which is a great idea!), invest in some gear. The best thing you can do with your kid is get one of those one-piece shells (insulated or not!), and then you can layer all the clothes you need underneath.
Go for brand names over generics if you can because they have better heat technology and let you have a slim profile, which makes being outside in the cold so much more pleasant. I tend not to recommend specific brands, but I personally like Hannah Anderson (which are really sturdy and last a long time), Columbia, and North Face.

Links:

Jamie’s Homepage - www.jamieglowacki.com

Oh Crap! Potty Training – https://www.amazon.com/Crap-Potty-Training-Everything-Parenting-ebook/dp/B00V3L8YSU

Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler -

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-I-Have-a-Toddler/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781982109738

Jamie’s Patreon Page: www.patreon.com/join/jamieglowacki?

Jamie’s Instagram Page: @jamie.glowacki

50. Pelvic Floors and Innate Wisdom with Sarah Smith Jun 02, 2022

Show notes

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by a very special guest, Sarah Smith, who’s a pelvic floor rehab specialist. Sarah and I share some pretty similar philosophies and practices—we’ve both done intermittent fasting, we both cold plunge, and we both mouth-tape—and I wanted to have her on the show because of her expertise and unorthodox views. We start things off with Sarah talking about her work and explaining the various kinds of pelvic floor issues women can experience, including prolapses. Sarah herself had a pelvic floor prolapse in 2015 and was prescribed kegels as part of her recovery, which she found not only didn’t help but actually made her feel worse. Instead, Sarah uses breathwork to strengthen the core, and she explains how this helps your body manage pressure and align itself as a support system, ensuring that no one part of the body, pelvic floor included, is doing all of the work. Next, Sarah shares some of the breath practices she utilizes in her work that help people get out of constant fight or flight mode (which is hugely important for parents trying to co-regulate with their kids). We also talk about our shared love of infrared sauna therapy, and Sarah shares the impact that using the sauna has had on her health, including dramatically improving her gut health. The Finer Details of This Episode: Oftentimes, the people who realize they need help are postpartum women (whether they’re new mothers or had their kids decades ago) struggling with pelvic floor issues as a result of the changes and sacrifices they’ve gone through after becoming mothers. Sarah says the best way to strengthen the core, including the pelvic floor, is through breathwork. Inhaling creates pressure in the body, which meets resistance from your muscles and creates stability in the body and causes your pelvic floor to relax; exhaling engages your deep core muscles and again creates stability. Sarah thinks kegels create problems for many reasons, number one being that a lot of people are already walking around with tension in their pelvic floors, and kegels make that worse—in fact, they can create inflammation and tension in the body. Signs that you may need some pelvic floor help include chronic low back pain, chronic constipation not caused by diet, tailbone pain, and discomfort in sex (see above!). It seems that we’ve all come to accept a level of sickness in our lives, from sinus problems to hypoglycemia to not sleeping at night. Sarah says that part of the reason for this is some people find themselves in the trap of finding their identity in an illness and locking themselves into that story. Sarah advocates unfollowing social media accounts that make you feel like you’re not doing enough. Seeing those accounts can stress you out and put you in fight or flight mode, so removing them, even just until you can handle seeing them better, is the healthy choice. We’re less connected than we used to be, which means moms are trying to figure out parenting all by themselves. Personally, I think the boomers fucked it up for us because they forced us to reject them as part of our community, but we’re starting to get back to our roots and ancestral wisdom. Links: Jamie’s Homepage - www.jamieglowacki.com Oh Crap! Potty Training – https://www.amazon.com/Crap-Potty-Training-Everything-Parenting-ebook/dp/B00V3L8YSU Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-I-Have-a-Toddler/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781982109738 Jamie’s Patreon Page: www.patreon.com/join/jamieglowacki? Jamie’s Instagram Page: @jamie.glowacki Sarah’s Homepage: https://www.sarahsmithstrength.com/ Sarah’s Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sarahsmithstrength/ Sarah’s Instagram: http://instagram.com/sarahsmithstrength/ Dirty Strength Radio podcast: https://sarahsmithstrength.com/podcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

49. “Have Your Cake and Eat It Too” with Stay-at-Home Bookkeeper Tiffany Higgins May 07, 2022

Show notes

Tiffany Higgins is a CPA, mother of five, and owner of the “Stay-at-Home Bookkeeper Academy,” a program that walks you through the process of setting up and running your own bookkeeping business from home, even if you do not have any previous bookkeeping experience. If you’re a stay-at-home parent who’s ever contemplated starting your own business from home or having a flexible, lucrative career that also allows for plenty of valuable family time, today’s interview is a must-listen! Tiffany breaks down how you can “have your cake and eat it too,” and shares her own story of leaving the corporate world to start her business. She speaks about balancing family life and work life, and offers her advice to separate the two so that you can be fully present no matter what you’re doing. She also discusses the importance of hiring the right help at home so that you can maximize your work productivity and actually enjoy quality time with your kids once you’ve packed up for the day, rather than feeling bogged down in chores. This is especially true coming off of the pandemic. We wrap up by comparing our homeschooling experiences, and Tiffany invites listeners to check out her website or Facebook group to see if stay-at-home bookkeeping is the right fit for you! The Finer Details of This Episode: She walks you through how to set up and run your own bookkeeping business from home, even if you do not have any previous bookkeeping experience Keep work life and family life separate so that you can be fully present no matter what you’re doing It’s also important to make sure you have the right help at home, which might mean hiring a housecleaner or childcare provider With bookkeeping, you’re able to make about $40,000 per year and only work about 10 hours per week You do not need to have any previous bookkeeping experience, and in fact, it’s better to start Tiffany’s program from scratch She teaches how to make the mindset shift to becoming an entrepreneur, and embracing a “growth” mindset Mistakes help us learn and grow There is a common misconception that bookkeepers have to be good at math - you don’t Bookkeeping is also a great career for introverts because everything is done online Quotes “I started a bookkeeping business, and it literally just changed our entire family's lives in so many ways. So now we help and inspire other moms to do that.” “You want to build up walls around yourself when you're working versus when you're with your family. So that way, you can be present no matter what you're doing.” “It's actually more important to hire help at home than it even is for your business.” “We actually help people understand how to become an entrepreneur, and the mindset shift that's involved with that. How to understand being a business owner, and also how to learn every skill that you need around offering bookkeeping services.” “We teach everything from scratch. We actually prefer to have people that don't have any prior bookkeeping experience, and guide them through the whole process.” “A huge common myth, misconception, about being a successful bookkeeper is that you have to be good at math. You don't - I use the calculator for literally everything.” “It's a really great job for especially introverts because you don't necessarily have to get on the phone or see anybody in person.” “The value that bookkeepers provide to business owners is incredibly high. And it makes the sales process really easy.” Links: Jamie’s Homepage - www.jamieglowacki.com Oh Crap! Potty Training – www.amazon.com/Crap-Potty-Training-Everything-Parenting-ebook/dp/B00V3L8YSU Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler - www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-I-Have-a-Toddler/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781982109738 Jamie’s Patreon Page: www.patreon.com/join/jamieglowacki? Stay-at-Home Bookkeeper Academy Homepage: www.stayathomebookkeeper.com Have Your Cake and Eat It Too Facebook Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

48. The Hierarchy of the Underneath Apr 14, 2022

Show notes

Last week’s episode was all about the hierarchy of misbehavior, and the two main components at play when you’re dealing with these issues - there’s the Band Aid solution that will stop the misbehavior in the moment, and then there’s the underlying cause. Today I revisit the idea of what’s underneath the behavior, and break down the many reasons why your child may be acting out in the first place. Of course, the first thing to look for is whether they’re hungry or tired. You also want to keep an eye on their blood sugar and make sure you always have plenty of snacks on hand. Next, we want to check to see if their buckets are full - emotional, attention, and power. I explain in great detail the signs that these buckets might be empty, and what you can do to keep them full. My mother used to say that sometimes parents just don't give their kids the chance to be their best selves, and today’s episode is all about giving your little ones the tools and support they need to do exactly that. Next I review the importance of Big Play and getting outside in the elements with your child as much as possible, and I detail my favorite strategies for helping your child regulate their own emotions, such as the throwing corner, “burrito” compression hug, and teaching them to name and identify where their feelings start in their bodies. We want to make sure our kids understand that no emotion is wrong. Finally, I urge parents to look at their child’s diet and be on the lookout for allergies, sensitivities, or overly processed foods as these can often be the culprit for problematic behavior. And I also share an interesting tidbit I recently learned about the difference between men and women’s brain circuitry that may shed some light on why men approach problem-solving differently than women. The Finer Details of This Episode: We want to put everything in our kids’ corner so they can be their best selves, and that means making sure they’re eating well and getting enough rest Next, ask yourself if their buckets are full (emotional, attention, and power) If they’re in the constant “Why?” phase, this could mean their attention bucket is empty and they’re craving conversation and connection with you If you can give them your focused attention for short spurts throughout the day (I call this the Bouillon Cube), it will go a long way in filling their attention buckets If your kid feels like this time is never enough, it could be an indicator that they aren’t getting enough attention Also keep in mind that your child may simply need you more as life opens up post-pandemic and we dive back into “real life” Toddlers are just so new - they’re small and vulnerable, and they’re hardwired to want power Make sure your toddler is getting lots of Big Play Getting outside in the elements with your child is also a good chance to have quality time together Some kids seem to have a propensity for deep anger and may say mean things, spit, yell Try not to judge your kid’s emotion or take it personally If you try to shut down those feelings, they’ll get backed up and cause bigger problems The best gift you can give your kid is emotional wisdom We want to make sure our kids know that no emotions are wrong - the expression of emotion can result in misbehavior, but the emotion itself is not bad Links: Jamie’s Homepage - http://www.jamieglowacki.com/ Oh Crap! Potty Training – https://www.amazon.com/Crap-Potty-Training-Everything-Parenting-ebook/dp/B00V3L8YSU Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-I-Have-a-Toddler/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781982109738 Jamie’s Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/join/jamieglowacki? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

47. The Hierarchy of Misbehavior Mar 24, 2022

Show notes

With so many new listeners joining the Patreon recently, today I'll be clarifying the hierarchy of misbehavior, and outlining in very clear steps, the timeline of exactly what to do when your child is misbehaving, using the example of hitting. It may seem cute and harmless when your kid is 16 months old, but if you don't nip it in the bud, hitting can become very problematic and painful if you allow it to continue, particularly when it's directed at another kid. First, you want to try the gentle method of simply grabbing their hand and saying, "No, we don't hit." If the behavior doesn't stop or even escalates from there, this is when the “Go To Your Room” strategy comes into play. The most important thing you can do is keep yourself regulated, and while co-regulation is ideal, this can be hard to do when someone is slapping you in the face or throwing Tonka Trucks at your head. If you need to take space separately to stabilize your own mental state, that’s absolutely okay. This way you can come back and lend your child your calm, instead of giving them your Psycho Mom chaos. Once again, thank you so much for your patronage, and for all of your wonderful questions and feedback as we unpack these important topics together. For more information on my potty training and parenting resources, please visit the links below. The Finer Details of This Episode: Similar to my experience raising my puppy, Maverick, it’s not fair to expect your young child to make good decisions - it’s up to us as adults to help guide them If you are feeling like your routine isn’t working, it might be helpful to break down the components of your day and see where you can shift things around to maximize your time When behavior escalates, we’re working either Overground (stopping the behavior in the moment) or Underground (getting to the root cause behind it) If we give in when the child’s behavior escalates, we are moving the boundary and the child will keep testing it - moving the boundary can actually cause the behavior to escalate and give kids too much power When your child is escalating, check that you’re not moving the boundary or letting them dictate your actions If you allow your child to continue with aggressive or violent behavior, it will only cause you to become dysregulated as well The “Go To Your Room” strategy allows you to separate and calm your bodies before the situation gets out of hand I find the Gentle Parenting approach to label your child’s feeling in the middle of a tantrum very annoying and condescending - they already know they’re angry or frustrated When we get to the root cause, this is where we implement our conscious parenting strategies in non-hot moments (use a throwing corner, help build emotional vocabulary, role play) If you can regulate together with your child, great, but don’t be afraid to take that space alone - it is crucial that you stabilize your own mental state so you can come back and lend your child your calm, not give them your chaos Co-regulation is ideal, but it is not always possible - if that’s the case, it’s okay to separate Maintaining boundaries can be exhausting, and it’s often easier to give in to a meltdown Our kids don’t really care about us - they’re busy playing and learning, and it’s not their job to concern themselves with us Also, they’ll never love us the way we love them so we can’t expect equal love - it’s just the nature of the beast and we will always love them more Links: Jamie’s Homepage - http://www.jamieglowacki.com/ Oh Crap! Potty Training – https://www.amazon.com/Crap-Potty-Training-Everything-Parenting-ebook/dp/B00V3L8YSU Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-I-Have-a-Toddler/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781982109738 Jamie’s Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/join/jamieglowacki? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

46. Sleep Expert Dana Obleman Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

On today’s episode, I’m delighted to welcome sleep expert Dana Obleman. Dana is the founder of the acclaimed Sleep Sense Program, and she lives for helping parents get their babies to sleep through the night. We begin with our own stories of sleepless nights with new babies, and how this struggle prompted Dana to find a solution that she then felt compelled to share with other exhausted parents. Her program offers a number of different options to help sleep train your baby, but Dana explains no matter which way you choose to get there, the heart of the issue is always going to be teaching your baby independent sleep skills.

Dana breaks down how to help your child have a positive relationship with sleep, the importance of being consistent when your toddler pushes limits around bedtime, and how to build a simple, calm “sleep sanctuary” for your kid and yourself. She also talks about avoiding overstimulation, working with biological cues like light and temperature to encourage sleep, and dispels the myth of the night owl in children. We discuss the ideal number of nighttime sleep hours for your little ones, how circadian rhythms shift in the teen years, and bond over our shared belief that sleep is one of the best nutrients we can give ourselves and our children.

The Finer Details of This Episode:

The heart of the issue is that you have to teach baby independent sleep skills, but there are different ways to get there
As human beings, we are very protective of and habitual with our sleep habits - this is why we don’t sleep as well at a hotel or at a friend’s house
As we return to school or daycare following the pandemic, you need to slowly back up bedtime to get them ready for this, rather than waiting until the night before
If you throw all rules and boundaries out the window, it can actually make your child feel insecure and you could see worse behavior show up as a result
Boundaries and routines make your kid feel secure, especially when they’re really young
If you let yourself become exhausted and sleep-deprived, you’re going to be stressed out and reactive toward your child
Sleep is a nutrient - we have to sleep well ourselves
A lot of behavioral issues are actually related to sleep deprivation
Making sure your child gets the right nutrition is more important than the ritual of a family meal together
Dana always stresses quality over quantity
Teach your child to have a good relationship with sleep - it is not a punishment, it’s not the enemy
If your kid figures out that something is a non-negotiable, they will be much less resistant to fighting it
A common place for toddlers to push boundaries is bedtime
If you shelter your child from feeling any “negative” emotions or getting upset, they will struggle with how to regulate themselves as adults
Most kids are early birds, not night owls - bedtime should match with this biological clock
If you let your child stay up past the point when they naturally feel tired, then cortisol kicks in to push them through and keep them awake, and they start getting hyper or cranky
We wake more often through the night when we’re overtired, and we wake up earlier in the morning

Links:

Jamie’s Homepage - www.jamieglowacki.com

Oh Crap! Potty Training – https://www.amazon.com/Crap-Potty-Training-Everything-Parenting-ebook/dp/B00V3L8YSU

Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler -

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-I-Have-a-Toddler/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781982109738

Jamie’s Patreon Page: www.patreon.com/join/jamieglowacki? Dana Obleman’s Homepage www.SleepSense.net and Instagram

45. It’s Not The “What” But The “Why” with Parenting Coach Stephanie Sotelo Feb 10, 2022

Show notes

On today’s episode, I’m excited to welcome my good friend and colleague, Stephanie Sotelo, who also happens to be my backup parenting coach. Stephanie blows my mind over and over again as we talk about accessing our “Whys” as parents, and tapping into our values, which act as our compass on this journey and give us the courage to hold firm in our parenting choices when others may question them. We explain how knowing your “Why” can help you understand yourself better as a parent, as well as your partner and even other parents who may have the same “What,” but a different “Why.” We also discuss the ways your “Why” can change over time, and the importance of finding your own authentic voice in a world where so many other opinions are thrown at you. We talk about choosing connection with your child above all else, encouraging your child to advocate for themselves and find their own strong voice, and why authenticity, confidence, and consistency are your most important tools as a parent. Thank you for your listening, and I appreciate your patronage more than I can say. For more information on my potty training and parenting resources, please visit the links below. You can also visit Stephanie Sotelo’s website at www.StephanieSotelo.com or on Instagram @consciousparentcoach. The Finer Details of This Episode: Your values are your compass as to how you’re going to parent (for example, with sports, commitment is very important or it may just be about being social) It’s a bit more difficult for dads to access those emotions and tap into their “Why” But knowing your “Why” and being strong in your values gives you courage Stephanie values respect and manners for her son, but also wants him to be able to advocate for himself and be able to tell other adults when he feels uncomfortable with something It’s not the “What” but the “Why” - Parents have different “Whys” and this is why we judge each other, even when we have the same “What” (for example, two different parents may agree that children need an allowance, but one implements this to help teach money management while another may be trying to teach their child about work ethic) Encouraging kids to advocate for themselves versus being disrespectful Parents can also practice finding their own voice, which can help you sort it out from all the other voices that can be overwhelming in the gentle parenting world Doing parallel chores can help you connect while actually getting a few things done Kids really enjoy playing with everyday items like tape or simply running water on the tap If you’re constantly looking at other people’s lives and not your own, this is where things get lost and you feel like you’re on shaky ground It’s important to honor your voice and adjust based on what works for you As a parenting coach, we cannot give an exact script that will work every time as it will always depend on your ‘Why’ Authenticity and confidence are huge - when you have that confidence and courage, kids are more likely to listen to the boundaries Pick your hill to die on, and if you’re going to cave, cave early and be authentic to what it is you really want to do It’s also important to keep your child’s age and developmental stage in mind, and shift your expectations for them accordingly We all feel like we want to be perfect, and we all see the “What” out there in the world on social media, but the “Why” is so much more important Links: Jamie’s Homepage - www.jamieglowacki.com Oh Crap! Potty Training – https://www.amazon.com/Crap-Potty-Training-Everything-Parenting-ebook/dp/B00V3L8YSU Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-I-Have-a-Toddler/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781982109738 Jamie’s Patreon Page: www.patreon.com/join/jamieglowacki? Stephanie Sotelo’s Homepage www.stephaniesotelo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

44. Running Hot and Cold with Dr. Stephanie Rimka Jan 06, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the podcast, I’m so excited to be joined by Dr. Stephanie Rimka to talk about the science behind sauna, red light, and cold therapy. Dr. Rimka is a holistic brain optimization specialist; she’s been in private practice for twenty years, focusing on using a variety of natural therapies, including bio-hacks, to treat mental health issues including autism, depression, strokes, and Alzheimer’s. Her practice uses technology-based devices focusing on electromagnetic and light frequencies to alter brain structure and function and return normal function to it. The Finer Details of This Episode: Dr. Rimka usually starts her patients with red light therapy before moving on to sauna therapy. Red light is highly stimulating to the vagus nerve, a cranial nerve that comes out of your brain and is the most soothing, calming part of the nervous system. The fight or flight response is designed to last twenty to thirty seconds optimally and two minutes maximum. Yet many families are in fight or flight all day long, and that input is destroying health and longevity because your body can’t fight threats when it’s constantly in life or death mode. Dysregulated parents will always struggle to co-regulate with their child, and often the parent will assume the lack of regulation is a problem with the child rather than examining their own issues. It’s critical for parents to accept that they need to take care of themselves in order to take care of their families, even if that means bringing someone in to help. Dr. Rimka suggests that we have unrealistic expectations of what motherhood is supposed to be because of the information overload and the distractions of the internet and social media. Sauna therapy is a huge tradition in the Nordic region, which has long had saunas as part of its culture. Research suggests that saunas can have a beneficial effect on longevity, heart attack risk, and prevention of neurological conditions like dementia. A sauna is like a cardiovascular workout, equivalent to a two-mile jog but with zero impact on your joints. Your mitochondrial line comes from women—the male mitochondria get destroyed the moment the sperm goes into the egg. Unlike human DNA, mitochondria pick up on their environment and adapt by mutating very quickly in response to their surroundings. A mismatch between your genetics and where you live can create health problems—if you move a naturally warm person to a cold climate, they’re unlikely to flourish, and their health may suffer as a result. You can help your system adapt to such changes by using therapeutic doses of light, heat, or cold. However, it’s important not to overdo things, remember that what matters is how the body responds after the treatment, and to prioritize sleep because that’s when all your healing is done. The biohacking world is very male and very aggressive, but women are great at combining strength and softness in a way that really nourishes and nurtures. Our temperature-controlled homes and lack of exposure to hot and cold are breaking our hormone systems and contributing to massive dysregulation in insulin, blood glucose, cortisol, and testosterone. It’s part of what’s making us fat, depressed, and slow. Links: Jamie’s Homepage - www.jamieglowacki.com Oh Crap! Potty Training – https://www.amazon.com/Crap-Potty-Training-Everything-Parenting-ebook/dp/B00V3L8YSU Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-I-Have-a-Toddler/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781982109738 Jamie’s Patreon Page: www.patreon.com/join/jamieglowacki? Jamie’s Instagram Page: @jamie.glowacki Brain and Body Solutions Dr. Rimka’s Store Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

43. Living Your Authentic Life with World Traveler Jessica Sueiro Dec 23, 2021

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On today’s episode, I speak with yet another person I find truly fascinating, Jessica Sueiro. Jessica and her husband, Will, along with their two children, Avalon and Largo, are world traveling, homeschooling, bohemian vagabonds in the best possible way. They have an amazing YouTube channel called World Towning, where they document their full-time travel family adventures and share their passion for dreaming big. Jessica joins me from a boat in Majorca to discuss her family’s decision to leave their Boston 2013 in favor of trekking around the world together, how they have thrived throughout their traveling adventures, and the experience of managing homeschool in the process. For more information about the Sueiro family and their traveling lifestyle, visit WorldTowningVoyages.com or check out their YouTube Channel, which features new videos every Friday. Thank you for your listening! I appreciate your patronage more than I can say. For more information on my potty training and parenting resources, please visit the links below. The Finer Details of This Episode: Most people have a fear of stepping out of the box - accepting that we will f-ck up our kids no matter where we are gives us the freedom to take that leap It took them seven years to finally decide to change their lives - they are planners and it was not an impulsive decision They have a travel-based business, which works for their lifestyle They have maintained a sense of rhythm and routine as travelers by reading at night, eating dinner together, and having consistency as a family Home is in the heart, not the house you’re living in They have an ‘open-door policy’ where you can always interrupt if you have a question or need emotional support They have always prioritized their children’s social components through the homeschooling experience, which has been challenging during the pandemic Her daughter started her own book club, to help meet social needs and connect with friends Listen to your kids’ interests, create what you need, and be open-minded about the way kids make friends today Jessica shares how their travels informed a minimalist lifestyle - she is a minimalist by nature For the first three years, they left with eight bags and eight carry-ons, and lived in different countries for nine to twelve months at a time They traveled from Costa Rica to Ecuador to France, then they moved to an RV Their policy was if something came in, something went out Focus is on experiences over stuff Grandparents traditionally show their love through gifts and toys, but Jessica and Will have really tried to transition grandparents to giving experiences instead Grandparents get joy out of watching kids open presents, but Jessica and Will try to bring the focus back to experiences that will give the child joy instead The importance of community and asking for help Traveling makes you a better person because it’s humbling and you become so appreciative If you’re looking to make a major transition or change in your life, remember that as a parent, you are tough The worst that can happen is you go back to where you started, but you will have learned and grown so much along the way Links: Jamie’s Homepage - http://www.jamieglowacki.com/ Oh Crap! Potty Training – https://www.amazon.com/Crap-Potty-Training-Everything-Parenting-ebook/dp/B00V3L8YSU Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-I-Have-a-Toddler/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781982109738 Jamie’s Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/join/jamieglowacki? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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