Childhoods By Wonderschool

I am thrilled to invite Dr. Jessica Ulrich on the show today for a truly beautiful conversation. Jessica is a Nome Eskimo Inupiaq indigenous member and an assistant professor at IREACH Washington State University. She graduated from the University of Washington with a doctorate in social welfare and is now part of our diverse cohort working towards the shared goal of improving early childhood development. Growing up in Anchorage and Wasilla, Alaska, Jessica was deeply connected to the land and animals and her Indigenous traditions played a vital role in her childhood experiences. However, she also faced challenges when moving to a less diverse community where her Indigenous heritage was less accepted and understood. This led Jessica to hide her Native heritage and home life from her peers at school, making it feel like she lived in two separate worlds. As she grew older, she became more aware of the importance of embracing her roots and the beauty of how much can be learned about ourselves from our community and ancestry.   Jessica discusses how she turned the challenges she experienced as a child into wisdom to help heal others and improve the lives of Indigenous children moving forward. She is passionate about helping young ones to reconnect with their heritage and feel safe to be themselves in their relationships, rather than feeling the need to hide as she experienced. In this episode you’ll hear: How Jessica’s connection to the land and animals at an early age shaped her life The impact Jessica’s Native heritage had on her upbringing  Why indigenous students are becoming disconnected from important knowledge of their own culture The benefits of promoting child well-being within communities. Resources from this episode: Dr. Jessica UIllrich on LinkedIn  Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.

I am delighted to bring today’s guest, Julie Kashen, on the show to share how her early life experiences growing up in Queens and Long Island shaped her views on childhood and her life's purpose. Julie is the Director of Women's Economic Justice and Senior Fellow at the Century Foundation, an independent think tank that conducts research, develops solutions and drives policy change to improve people's lives. Julie has over two decades of experience advocating for issues around work and family and she played a key role in drafting national legislation including the first paid sick day bill and the Childcare for Working Families Act.  From an early age, Kashen was aware of gender dynamics and was determined not to let her gender hold her back. Her passion for social justice was ignited during her time in a Jewish youth group where she learned about the concept of "Tikkun olam" or repairing the world. This led her to pivot from her initial aspiration of being an actress to dedicating her time to social justice. Upon her parents' divorce, she saw the need to be financially independent and focused on a career that would allow her to make a difference in the world. Her journey took her to the White House and British Parliament, where she observed different mindsets about the role of government and the impact of policies such as the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 on low-income families in the US. In our conversation, Julie discusses the importance of diversity and intentional parenting. She emphasizes the significance of being intentional when connecting with people from different backgrounds and the importance of children growing up with diversity. Kashen's unique perspective highlights the lasting impact of childhood experiences on our lives and the importance of advocating for social justice and equality. In this episode you’ll hear: Julie's journey from aspiring actress to social justice advocate The importance of being intentional when connecting with people from different backgrounds. How to make childhood more fun and the impact that can have on parent-child relationships. Resources from this episode: Learn more about Julie’s advocacy work at the website for The Century Foundation: www.tcf.org  Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.

In today’s episode of Childhoods by Wonderschool, former New Braunfels mayor Rusty Brockman joins the conversation to share insights from his upbringing that have shaped his outlook on the importance of creating a nurturing environment for children to thrive. Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Rusty moved to Baytown, Texas when he was two years old due to his father's search for better job opportunities. At his father’s urging, he attended college to get his degree so that he would not have to deal with the same trials his father did in his line of tradework. As the eldest of three siblings, Rusty had a unique upbringing with lots of closeknit one-on-one time with his mother before his siblings were born. His mother's love for reading instilled in him a passion for learning and leadership despite not having the chance to attend preschool. Growing up in a family that valued hard work, respect, discipline, and community service, Rusty was inspired to pursue a life dedicated to helping others. His experiences and upbringing led him to a distinguished 15-year career in education and coaching and eventually to the Mayor's office in New Braunfels, Texas. There, he continued to carry on the values and principles instilled in him during his childhood while making his lasting impact on his community. In this episode you’ll hear: How Rusty’s parents’ experiences shaped his own view of the working world Where Rusty’s inspiration to work in public service arose from The importance of community, respect, and giving back to others Resources from this episode: if you want to learn more about Mayor Brockman in New Braunfels, Texas, go to www.nbtexas.org  Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.  

On today’s episode of Childhoods by Wonderschool, we are joined by special guest Alyssa Campbell, the founder of S.E.E.D, a research based program fostering social emotional health in early chidhood education. Alyssa is an expert in emotional development with a master's degree in early childhood education. She's also a teacher, a parent, an author, and co-creator of the collaborative emotion processing method. Alyssa is here with me to take a peek back into her childhood years and explore how her love for taking care of tiny humans bloomed at a young age. Growing up in a low-income family in rural Western New York, Alyssa spent her first five years at home, surrounded by children. Her mother ran a daycare out of their home, which was already pre-populated by Alyssa and her four other siblings. Being around so many other kids, often in a caretaker role, was the norm for Alyssa and something she embraced like second-nature. Alyssa can also recall the culture-shock she experienced upon leaving her close-knit, farming community for college and discovering just how financially diverse the rest of the world was. She describes the surprise and anger that she felt upon understanding how truly wide the income gap was for lower-income communities and families.  She has since coupled this anger with her passion for community and early childhood education and is now trying to target the systems that create such inequity, beginning with advocating for greater financial support and resources for early childhood education teachers and classrooms. In our conversation, she recalls her parent’s empowering mindset that helped her to learn to unlock her potential, and how the village-mindset of her rural farming hometown has influenced her approach to childcare and community. In this episode you’ll hear: How Alyssa’s love for childcare was fostered from an early age How Alyssa dealt with realizing that taking care of children was not as financially valued as other high profile career choices Some of Alyssa’s ideas on how to make early childhood education more accessible and affordable for all Resources from this episode: To learn more about Alyssa and her incredible work, visit https://www.seedandsew.org/  Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.  

Our guest on the podcast today is Regen Horchow, an advocate for early childhood education in Dallas and across Texas. Regen chairs the Dallas County initiative called Early Matters Dallas. This ambitious and broad-based coalition aims to reach new heights in kindergarten readiness and children's literacy around the state.  Growing up in Dallas, Regen’s childhood was pleasant and lively. Her parents, both involved in retail and marketing, were also big on entertaining. Regen remembers her sprawling childhood backyard filled with lively poolside conversation and the variety of guests always seated around the dinner table. Regen and her sisters were always expected to sit at the table and make conversation with her parents’ guests, which instilled an early curiosity for learning about others' stories and hearing from a variety of different viewpoints.  By high school, Regen had already begun to explore her passion for education. In our conversation, she recalls her parents’ straightforward but warm parenting style that emphasized progress over perfection and how it has helped her take both successes and failures in stride. Now a mother to three grown children herself, Regen shares how her parent’s love for people and positivity has shaped her outlook on parenting, education, and philanthropy. In this episode, you’ll hear: The influence of Regan’s upbringing on her outlook and approach to education Why fostering conversation around the dinner table is an important skill for young, developing minds How helping children to appreciate progress over perfection can have a lasting impact Supporting Resources: You can learn more about Regen’s initiative at EarlyMattersDallas.org Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.  

I am thrilled to bring you today's guest, Ruben Harris. Ruben is the CEO of Career Karma, which recently raised a $40 million Series B round, and co-host of the Breaking Into Start-Up podcast which reaches 3 million listeners and counting. Ruben is a lifelong learner, dedicated to connecting people to jobs in technology and sharing his personal insights. Ruben comes from a Seventh-Day Adventist family from Atlanta, Georgia. His faith played a strong role in his upbringing, attending an Adventist school, and his parents especially helped to grow Ruben’s early love for learning, music, and language. Ruben was brought up understanding that everyone is born with a gift and that it's your duty to use what you've been given to put out into the world. This philosophy has influenced his worldview, understanding that you cannot force someone into a path, they have to take their own journey with their own discoveries to get there. In my discussion with Ruben, we talk about how his Adventist upbringing has shaped his mindset and approach to entrepreneurialism and the importance of following your own path to what you define as success. In this episode, you’ll hear: The ways that Ruben’s Adventist upbringing has influenced his perspective and priorities as an adult How your own inner conflict can hold you back from growth and when to trust your instincts instead The importance of seeing learning as a lifelong process Supporting Resources: You can connect with Ruben Harris on Twitter at @RubenHarris and on Linkedin *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

I am thrilled to bring you today's guest, Ruben Harris. Ruben is the CEO of Career Karma, which recently raised a $40 million Series B round, and co-host of the Breaking Into Start-Up podcast which reaches 3 million listeners and counting. Ruben is a lifelong learner, dedicated to connecting people to jobs in technology and sharing his personal insights. Ruben comes from a Seventh-Day Adventist family from Atlanta, Georgia. His faith played a strong role in his upbringing, attending an Adventist school, and his parents especially helped to grow Ruben’s early love for learning, music, and language. Ruben was brought up understanding that everyone is born with a gift and that it's your duty to use what you've been given to put out into the world. This philosophy has influenced his worldview, understanding that you cannot force someone into a path, they have to take their own journey with their own discoveries to get there. In my discussion with Ruben, we talk about how his Adventist upbringing has shaped his mindset and approach to entrepreneurialism and the importance of following your own path to what you define as success. In this episode, you’ll hear: The ways that Ruben’s Adventist upbringing has influenced his perspective and priorities as an adult How your own inner conflict can hold you back from growth and when to trust your instincts instead The importance of seeing learning as a lifelong process Supporting Resources: You can connect with Ruben Harris on Twitter at @RubenHarris and on Linkedin *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

Isabelle Hau, the first executive director of the Stanford Transforming Learning Accelerator, joins us on the podcast today. Isabelle founded and led the U.S. education practice at Omidyar Network and, in 2020, spun off Imaginable Futures, a global philanthropic investment firm that supports organizations across public, private, and social sectors in Brazil, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the United States. Isabelle was born and raised in the South of France to a deeply loving family. Coming from humble beginnings, she benefitted greatly from France’s universal preschool system. In her early years, Isabelle gained confidence in her own vision when a kindergarten teacher encouraged her to take on a leadership role in a school play. Looking back, Isabelle fondly remembers her early childhood educators for their support and belief in her abilities which helped her grow into herself. Their nurturing outlook has inspired Isabelle in her adult career, prioritizing a value-driven vision in her own investment enterprises. In my discussion with Isabelle today, she brings us through her journey from southern France to Silicon Valley and how she achieved her goal of blending the scale of a for-profit company with the heart and values of a non-profit in order to make a mission-driven impact in the education sphere. In this episode, you’ll hear: Isabelle’s experience with the education system in France compared to the U.S. What inspired Isabelle to seek out investment opportunities The benefits of allowing children to be children for as long as developmentally necessary Supporting Resources: You can connect with Isabelle Hau on Twitter at @Volcoucou and on Linkedin *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

Isabelle Hau, the first executive director of the Stanford Transforming Learning Accelerator, joins us on the podcast today. Isabelle founded and led the U.S. education practice at Omidyar Network and, in 2020, spun off Imaginable Futures, a global philanthropic investment firm that supports organizations across public, private, and social sectors in Brazil, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the United States. Isabelle was born and raised in the South of France to a deeply loving family. Coming from humble beginnings, she benefitted greatly from France’s universal preschool system. In her early years, Isabelle gained confidence in her own vision when a kindergarten teacher encouraged her to take on a leadership role in a school play. Looking back, Isabelle fondly remembers her early childhood educators for their support and belief in her abilities which helped her grow into herself. Their nurturing outlook has inspired Isabelle in her adult career, prioritizing a value-driven vision in her own investment enterprises. In my discussion with Isabelle today, she brings us through her journey from southern France to Silicon Valley and how she achieved her goal of blending the scale of a for-profit company with the heart and values of a non-profit in order to make a mission-driven impact in the education sphere. In this episode, you’ll hear: Isabelle’s experience with the education system in France compared to the U.S. What inspired Isabelle to seek out investment opportunities The benefits of allowing children to be children for as long as developmentally necessary Supporting Resources: You can connect with Isabelle Hau on Twitter at @Volcoucou and on Linkedin *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

On today’s episode, Sarah Rittling, Executive Director of the First Five Years Fund, joins us to discuss her dedication to using innovative early childhood policy as a way of tackling childhood poverty. Sarah is widely regarded as a national leader in the field of children's advocacy due to her years of expertise in politics and legislation. From brain development to political analysis, the work she is leading at First Five Years Fund is among the most comprehensive and up-to-date on all aspects of the lives of young children today. Born to a family of educators in a very small town in Upstate New York, Sarah has not only her background in education to thank for her passion in childcare reform, but also the inspirational family dynamic of having a working mother and supportive father. From an early age, her parents instilled in her the need to do good and be of service to others, particularly those who didn't have what her family had. Now with a family of her own, Sarah has continued that thread of service in her own career, working to solve the childcare crisis by raising funds for childcare programs throughout the country. In my discussion with Sarah, we talk about the ways that she continues to pursue this thread of service in government and how she is raising her own children with the integrity of small-town upbringing that she had while in the much different environment of Capitol Hill.  In this episode, you’ll hear: Where Sarah’s inspiration to do good in the world began What the First Five Years Fund’s vision and mission is How the pandemic brought light to the issues that Sarah and the First Five Years Fund have been working to solve in childcare Supporting Resources: If you would like to learn more about Sarah’s work at First Five Years Fund, check out  www.ffyf.org *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

On today’s episode, Sarah Rittling, Executive Director of the First Five Years Fund, joins us to discuss her dedication to using innovative early childhood policy as a way of tackling childhood poverty. Sarah is widely regarded as a national leader in the field of children's advocacy due to her years of expertise in politics and legislation. From brain development to political analysis, the work she is leading at First Five Years Fund is among the most comprehensive and up-to-date on all aspects of the lives of young children today. Born to a family of educators in a very small town in Upstate New York, Sarah has not only her background in education to thank for her passion in childcare reform, but also the inspirational family dynamic of having a working mother and supportive father. From an early age, her parents instilled in her the need to do good and be of service to others, particularly those who didn't have what her family had. Now with a family of her own, Sarah has continued that thread of service in her own career, working to solve the childcare crisis by raising funds for childcare programs throughout the country. In my discussion with Sarah, we talk about the ways that she continues to pursue this thread of service in government and how she is raising her own children with the integrity of small-town upbringing that she had while in the much different environment of Capitol Hill.  In this episode, you’ll hear: Where Sarah’s inspiration to do good in the world began What the First Five Years Fund’s vision and mission is How the pandemic brought light to the issues that Sarah and the First Five Years Fund have been working to solve in childcare Supporting Resources: If you would like to learn more about Sarah’s work at First Five Years Fund, check out  www.ffyf.org *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

In today’s episode, we are talking to Socorro Cordova, the director of Art & Wonder preschool in New York. Socorro was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and has degrees in Women’s Studies and Eary Childhood Education. Now, Socorro resides in New York City, which is very different from the tropical climate of San Juan. However, her experiences have taught her the importance of not taking your surroundings for granted and finding beauty all around. A firm believer in the Emilia Reggio approach, Socorro has applied her own learning from these experiences to her educational philosophy. Socorro knows that all children have potential and it is the educator's job to meet them at their own level and allow them autonomy and exploration. As a result, Socorro makes it her mission to ensure all the children that enter into her care understand first and foremost that they are capable and respected. In our conversation today, Socorro discusses the importance of establishing a foundation for openness through creating routine and security for children and why centering children’s voices in the classroom can create a comforting and safe space for growth. In this episode, you’ll hear: The experiences that have shaped Socorro’s educational philosophy How teaching into routine and security in the classroom build foundational skills for future learning Why a child-centered classroom is crucial in helping children to feel more confident in their own abilities Supporting Resources: Check out the website for Socorroi’s Art & Wonder School on Wonderschool: https://www.wonderschool.com/ny/new-york/art-&-wonder-preschool-758 *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

In today’s episode, we are talking to Socorro Cordova, the director of Art & Wonder preschool in New York. Socorro was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and has degrees in Women’s Studies and Eary Childhood Education. Now, Socorro resides in New York City, which is very different from the tropical climate of San Juan. However, her experiences have taught her the importance of not taking your surroundings for granted and finding beauty all around. A firm believer in the Emilia Reggio approach, Socorro has applied her own learning from these experiences to her educational philosophy. Socorro knows that all children have potential and it is the educator's job to meet them at their own level and allow them autonomy and exploration. As a result, Socorro makes it her mission to ensure all the children that enter into her care understand first and foremost that they are capable and respected. In our conversation today, Socorro discusses the importance of establishing a foundation for openness through creating routine and security for children and why centering children’s voices in the classroom can create a comforting and safe space for growth. In this episode, you’ll hear: The experiences that have shaped Socorro’s educational philosophy How teaching into routine and security in the classroom build foundational skills for future learning Why a child-centered classroom is crucial in helping children to feel more confident in their own abilities Supporting Resources: Check out the website for Socorroi’s Art & Wonder School on Wonderschool: https://www.wonderschool.com/ny/new-york/art-&-wonder-preschool-758 *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

I am super excited to bring today’s guest, Nini Diouf, onto the show. Nini is a Wonderschool director who runs an incredible French program called Nini’s Jolie Jardin in Alameda, California. Nini was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, which she describes as a beautiful, welcoming, and communal place to grow up. However, preschool is not a requirement in Senegal and most are privately owned. Nini was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend preschool but recalls how the less fortunate children were ostracized for needing extra help in school or for their inability to speak French properly. For Nini, these memories cemented the importance of learning at an early age and making preschool more accessible to all children, especially those in her birthplace of Senegal. As an educator, she is focused on positive redirection and social-emotional learning to ensure that no child is made to feel discriminated against as a result of their level of education. In my conversation with Nini today, she shares her journey of becoming a mom and a business owner and her insights into early childhood development, gained from her experiences working as a celebrated preschool director. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Nini’s school-age experiences in Senegal informed her outlook on early childhood education Why opportunities for learning are so important at a young age to ensure children have a strong foundation for growth The value of positive redirection and social-emotional learning in the classroom Supporting Resources: Check out the website for Nini’s Jolie Jardin on Wonderschool: https://www.wonderschool.com/ca/alameda/nini's-jolie-jardin-986 *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

I am super excited to bring today’s guest, Nini Diouf, onto the show. Nini is a Wonderschool director who runs an incredible French program called Nini’s Jolie Jardin in Alameda, California. Nini was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, which she describes as a beautiful, welcoming, and communal place to grow up. However, preschool is not a requirement in Senegal and most are privately owned. Nini was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend preschool but recalls how the less fortunate children were ostracized for needing extra help in school or for their inability to speak French properly. For Nini, these memories cemented the importance of learning at an early age and making preschool more accessible to all children, especially those in her birthplace of Senegal. As an educator, she is focused on positive redirection and social-emotional learning to ensure that no child is made to feel discriminated against as a result of their level of education. In my conversation with Nini today, she shares her journey of becoming a mom and a business owner and her insights into early childhood development, gained from her experiences working as a celebrated preschool director. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Nini’s school-age experiences in Senegal informed her outlook on early childhood education Why opportunities for learning are so important at a young age to ensure children have a strong foundation for growth The value of positive redirection and social-emotional learning in the classroom Supporting Resources: Check out the website for Nini’s Jolie Jardin on Wonderschool: https://www.wonderschool.com/ca/alameda/nini's-jolie-jardin-986 *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

I am thrilled to share my conversation with today’s guest, Governor Jane Swift. From 1999 to 2003, she was the 69th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. She was 36 when she became acting governor of Massachusetts, making her the first woman to perform the duties of governor in Massachusetts as well as the youngest governor or acting governor in the United States. Though she went on to break many barriers in her adult career, Jane considers her childhood to be rather traditional. Growing up in a close-knit family, Jane’s mother was involved in education and her father was involved in politics. Through engaging with her parents in each of their fields, Jane saw first-hand the importance that education and civic duty hold in one’s life. From an early age, her parents instilled loving, family-oriented values in their children that Jane still carries on to this day through her relationships with her own children. Having faced the scrutiny that being a high-profile working mother can bring, Jane has worked hard throughout her career to dismantle the barriers that women face when engaging in public service. In our conversation, Jane shares with me the source of her tenacious and hardworking drive to succeed, how her parents cultivated core values for success in their family routines, and why the privilege of growing up in a loving community is so important for a child’s future. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Jane’s childhood of growing up in a close-knit family was an inspiration to her The importance of persistence, hard work, and tenacity when working to achieve your goals Why being a great leader isn’t just about doing everything yourself but instead learning to delegate and embrace community Supporting Resources: Check out Jane’s website for the Farm Education and Rescue Center she has recently started at www.CHFarm.org  *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

I am thrilled to share my conversation with today’s guest, Governor Jane Swift. From 1999 to 2003, she was the 69th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. She was 36 when she became acting governor of Massachusetts, making her the first woman to perform the duties of governor in Massachusetts as well as the youngest governor or acting governor in the United States. Though she went on to break many barriers in her adult career, Jane considers her childhood to be rather traditional. Growing up in a close-knit family, Jane’s mother was involved in education and her father was involved in politics. Through engaging with her parents in each of their fields, Jane saw first-hand the importance that education and civic duty hold in one’s life. From an early age, her parents instilled loving, family-oriented values in their children that Jane still carries on to this day through her relationships with her own children. Having faced the scrutiny that being a high-profile working mother can bring, Jane has worked hard throughout her career to dismantle the barriers that women face when engaging in public service. In our conversation, Jane shares with me the source of her tenacious and hardworking drive to succeed, how her parents cultivated core values for success in their family routines, and why the privilege of growing up in a loving community is so important for a child’s future. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Jane’s childhood of growing up in a close-knit family was an inspiration to her The importance of persistence, hard work, and tenacity when working to achieve your goals Why being a great leader isn’t just about doing everything yourself but instead learning to delegate and embrace community Supporting Resources: Check out Jane’s website for the Farm Education and Rescue Center she has recently started at www.CHFarm.org  *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

My guest today is well-known in our Wonderschool community: founder of Little Earthlings Forest School in San Francisco, David Calabrese. David founded Little Earthlings, an outdoor preschool program, as a passion project to instill agency, choice, and guided risk-taking in early childhood education. Growing up, the wilderness outside David’s family home became his school and playground. To this day, he can recount the many lessons he learned while fending for himself in the woods with an abundance of cousins and no adult supervision. With the other neighborhood kids in tow, David would spend hours outside making forts and playing in the nearby creek until the sound of his aunt’s cowbell called the children home for dinner. It was here that David learned the impact that autonomy and choice have on a child’s sense of identity and self-esteem. Though he initially found his calling in art and philosophy, David’s need for inquiry and exploration eventually led him to create his own outdoor school. This decision has helped him to share the insights that he gained from his own childhood experience with a new generation of growing Earthlings. In my discussion with David today, he takes us through the various experiences and decisions that led him to pivot from a career in art to early childhood education and why this project is so close to his heart. In this episode, you’ll hear: How David discovered his passion for early childhood education Why experiential knowledge is so important for children The benefits of weighing risk vs. hazard in a supportive environment for growing children Supporting Resources: Check out David’s website on Wonderschool: https://www.wonderschool.com/ca/san-francisco/little-earthlings-forest-school-225  *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

My guest today is well-known in our Wonderschool community: founder of Little Earthlings Forest School in San Francisco, David Calabrese. David founded Little Earthlings, an outdoor preschool program, as a passion project to instill agency, choice, and guided risk-taking in early childhood education. Growing up, the wilderness outside David’s family home became his school and playground. To this day, he can recount the many lessons he learned while fending for himself in the woods with an abundance of cousins and no adult supervision. With the other neighborhood kids in tow, David would spend hours outside making forts and playing in the nearby creek until the sound of his aunt’s cowbell called the children home for dinner. It was here that David learned the impact that autonomy and choice have on a child’s sense of identity and self-esteem. Though he initially found his calling in art and philosophy, David’s need for inquiry and exploration eventually led him to create his own outdoor school. This decision has helped him to share the insights that he gained from his own childhood experience with a new generation of growing Earthlings. In my discussion with David today, he takes us through the various experiences and decisions that led him to pivot from a career in art to early childhood education and why this project is so close to his heart. In this episode, you’ll hear: How David discovered his passion for early childhood education Why experiential knowledge is so important for children The benefits of weighing risk vs. hazard in a supportive environment for growing children Supporting Resources: Check out David’s website on Wonderschool: https://www.wonderschool.com/ca/san-francisco/little-earthlings-forest-school-225  *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. 

On today’s episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ryder Pearce, the founder of Skip, a mission-driven company based in California that has helped over a million people get easier access to government-related services since 2016. As a child, Ryder and his twin sister spent their days split evenly between their mother's and father’s houses, as their parents had separated early in their lives. Learning how to plan ahead for each day–what supplies they’d need, which books for school they would have to bring, what not to forget at one parent’s house that they might need at the other’s–instilled in Ryder an early appreciation for the importance of long-term thinking. His involvement in sports throughout his childhood and teenage years further emphasized the benefits of being consistent and accountable in planning for the future. Through these early experiences, Ryder learned lessons that would become the foundation for his success as an entrepreneur in his adulthood. In my discussion with Ryder, he reflects on his parents’ influence on his current-day values and the importance of being consistent in your goals to build future success. We discuss the impact that his participation in various sports teams has had on his definition of achievement and success and why it is so crucial to look for those silver linings when faced with setbacks. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Ryder learned the value of being well-rounded from his hard-working parents The importance of consistency over perfection Why setbacks are just as valuable as successes How long-term thinking can change your outlook on setbacks Supporting Resources: To learn more about Ryder’s company Skip, check out HelloSkip.com  *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.