Shows
The Leading for Children PodcastLiving Our ValuesIn this episode of the Leading for Children Podcast, Nichole Parks and Julia Connolly have an inspiring conversation with Kaylee Phillips, a dedicated Arkansas teacher who leads with her values—modeling integrity and empowering her students to find their voices. From guiding young people to reflect on their choices to creating spaces where they feel fully seen, Kaylee is the kind of educator who makes a lasting impact.2025-06-1335 min
The Leading for Children PodcastThriving Communities: Honoring the Month of the Military ChildIn honor of the Month of the Military Child in April, we spotlighted two powerful voices from our Humanity First community: KiOwana Phillips, a U.S. Army Sergeant Major and mother, and Shannon Newman, a mother, military spouse, and LFC team member. Through their stories, they offer meaningful insight into what it looks like to show up for military children—fostering a sense of safety, support, and belonging in the face of their unique challenges.A quote to take away: Shannon shared, " Resilience isn't built in isolation. It's really nurtured in relationship. And when military children are bein...2025-05-0826 min
The Leading for Children PodcastStories Unite Us: Parents & ChildrenIn this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, we hear from father and son duo, Jonathan and Noah Fribley, as they share the tender, yet powerful story of their relationship—its beautiful and challenging evolution over its multi-decade course.Storytelling can be life-changing. As we express our truths and listen to those of others, we have a profound opportunity to be known, to know others more deeply, to expand our capacity for empathy, and to strengthen the foundation of wisdom that unites and activates us as a greater community.A Quote to Take Away: No...2025-04-0840 min
The Leading for Children PodcastMutual Learning in Family Relationships: Mothers & DaughtersIn this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, we hear from a courageous lineup of mother-daughter duos who are deeply committed to embodying mutuality in their relationships with one another.Each duo brings authentic moments of connection, their beautiful and messy humanity, and unique and uplifting insights into how they perceive their relationship as a partnership based on equity, kindness, empathy, respect, and a Humanity First approach.A Quote to Take Away: Serene Stevens shared, “Having a daughter introduced a different dynamic of my reflective practice as it relates to being a mom. I ge...2025-01-1057 min
The Leading for Children PodcastHumanity First: Finding Strength in Kindness, Empathy, & RespectIn this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Kyson Bunthuwong, Vivian Matalon, and show producer Julia Connolly for a timely conversation about how kindness, empathy, and respect are among our greatest human strengths—and what a world grounded in these values might look and feel like.To learn more about Leading for Children’s Humanity First Model, visit our website here.A Quote to Take Away: Nichole shared, “I think it's very important that we don't lose ourselves and the core of who we are, a...2024-12-0344 min
The Leading for Children PodcastNurturing Equitable Communities Grounded in HumanityEpisode Notes:In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Shannon Bracamonte, Program Operations Director at the Early Childhood Services Center at the University of New Mexico. Shannon shares about her experience bringing the Humanity First Model into her community, emphasizing how awareness of who we are and intention in how we show up in the world help us feel stronger, more connected, and more effective.Together, they explore the central role of community in the Humanity First Model and discuss how the Mutual...2024-09-1836 min
The Leading for Children PodcastThe Power of Putting Humanity FirstIn the premiere episode of The Leading for Children Podcast’s second season, show producer Julia Connolly revisits highlights from a compelling conversation in Season 1, Episode 3. Hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Leigh Sargent, Preschool Development Grant Supervisor at the Mississippi Department of Education K-12 (at the time of this recording, Leigh was the Executive Director of the Tallahatchie Early Learning Alliance in the Mississippi Delta) for a discussion on the power of putting Humanity First.Together, they explore LFC’s Humanity First Model, and dive into its core principles of connection, equity, agency. List...2024-08-3024 min
The Leading for Children PodcastSimple Rule #11: ActionableIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Tsundzukani Whatsi, Wildlife Tracker at Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa. Together, they engage in a dynamic conversation about what it can look and feel like to have and cultivate actionable learning experiences, as well as how they support inspired, capable, and thriving communities for children. Tsundzukani shares how her passion for nature has driven her to overcome challenges in the field, as she has pursued a career that isn’t typical in her village, and almost unheard of for women.Show No...2024-07-1038 min
The Leading for Children PodcastSimple Rule #10: ExploratoryIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by mother, wife, and LFC’s Former Chief of Staff, Gretchen Henderson, for a conversation about what it can look and feel like to have and cultivate exploratory learning experiences, and how this helps to create thriving communities for children.Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available for purchase here.A quote to take away: Gretchen shared, “When I think about exploratory, I think about curiosity. The big phrase for me is, 'wha...2024-06-1335 min
The Leading for Children PodcastSimple Rule #9: MeaningfulIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Jill Gunderman, mother, wife, community member, and Associate Director for Strategic Alliance, and Julia Connolly, daughter, sister, friend, and LFC’s Development and Communications Associate, for a conversation about what it can look and feel like to have and cultivate meaningful learning experiences, and how this helps to create thriving communities for children.Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available for purchase here.A quote to take away: Julia shared, “When I think about the word...2024-05-0830 min
The Leading for Children PodcastSimple Rule #8: RespectfulIn this episode, hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks welcome partners and co-parents, Beth Brett, an architect and project manager, and Meghan Kelley, a psychologist, for a conversation about what it can look and feel like to cultivate respectful emotional and physical environments, and how this helps create thriving communities for children. Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available for purchase here. A quote to take away: Beth shared, “It has taken many years to change that messaging in myself [that asking questions is di...2024-04-1333 min
The Leading for Children PodcastSimple Rule #7: OrganizedIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by fellow LFC Team Members Shannon Newman, also a mother, grandmother, and wife, and Serene Stevens, also a mother and wife, for a conversation about what it can look and feel like to cultivate organized emotional and physical environments, and how this helps create thriving communities for children. Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available for purchase here. A quote to take away: Serene shared, “If we are becoming tripped up trying to k...2024-03-1533 min
The Leading for Children PodcastSimple Rule #6: CalmIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Joelle Wheatley, member of LFC’s Humanity First Community and mother of four and six-year old children, and Maria Rosado, Montessori Teacher and LFC Facilitator, for a conversation about what it means to cultivate and be in calm emotional and physical environments, and how this helps create thriving communities for children. Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available for purchase here. A quote to take away: Maria shared, “Sometimes it is not ab...2024-02-1434 min
The Leading for Children PodcastSimple Rule #5: SafeIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks sit down for a conversation about what it means to cultivate and be in safe emotional and physical environments, and how this helps create thriving communities for children.Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available for purchase here. Nichole shared a quote that she holds onto from one of LFC’s partners in Alabama: “Safety is not the absence of threat -- it is the presence of connection.” Thanks for listening!2024-01-1835 min
The Leading for Children PodcastSimple Rule #4: Two-WayIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Beverly Erdmann, Former Administrator at Department of Defense Education Activity, for a conversation about what it means to be in two-way relationships and interactions and how this helps create thriving communities for children. Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available for purchase here. Use code Fall10 for a 10% discount. A quote to take away: Beverly shared, “I know I've been guilty in the past of thinking that I'm listening to someone, an...2023-11-2234 min
The Leading for Children PodcastSimple Rule #3: TrustingIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Casey Sims, Former Learning Network Member and Teacher at Jubilee Co-operative Preschool in Bluffton, South Carolina for a conversation about what it means to be trusting in our relationships and interactions and how this helps create thriving communities for children. Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available for purchase here. Use code Fall10 for a 10% discount. A quote to take away: Nichole shared, “The more children see us in trusting relationships with each other, and the more they experience us...2023-10-2533 min
The Leading for Children PodcastSimple Rule #2: OpenIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Leading for Children Senior Program Leader Jonathan Fribley and Marneshia Cathey, LFC Board Member and Director and Founder of the West Point Christian Preschool in Hattiesburg, Mississippi for a conversation about what it means to be open in our relationships and interactions and how this helps create thriving communities for children.Show notes:LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available for purchase here. Use code Fall10 for a 10% discount.A quote to take away: Jonathan shared a quote from one of LFC's...2023-09-1847 min
The Leading for Children PodcastSimple Rule #1: HonestIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Carol Barton and Tanya Taylor, Project Director and Project Coordinator for the Early Childhood Program at the Marin County Office of Education, for a conversation about what it means to be honest in our relationships and interactions.Show notesHonest is the first of LFC’s 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children. LFC's book outlining this groundbreaking approach is available here. Use code MAY23 for a 10% discount.LinksMarin County Office of Education Early Childhood ProgramNichole mentions Conscious DisciplineCarol mentions that her team has engaged in jo...2023-08-1655 min
The Leading for Children PodcastHumanity Starts With Each of UsIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Leigh Sargent, Executive Director for the Tallahatchie Early Learning Alliance in the Mississippi Delta, for a conversation about Leading for Children’s Humanity First model.Show notesThe words we use to talk about people and describe their circumstances can center or diminish their humanity. In this episode we mention “homeless people”. While preferred over “the homeless”, we understand that when people hear this term they might unintentionally associate with negative and harmful stereotypes that promote stigma. To emphasize the people at the center...2023-07-2152 min
The Leading for Children PodcastCommitment - We Can Grow Into Who We Want To BeIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Leading for Children's Senior Program Manager Jonathan Fribley for a conversation about commitment – what it means to us and why it matters that we model it for children.Show NotesJudy mentions LFC's Link and Weave technique. This practice allows us to deepen individual and group learning by integrating ideas that have been presented in conversation. We listen and take notes as our conversation partners share thoughts and then weave ideas together, highlighting connections. This practice cultivates our listening skills and models re...2023-06-2246 min
The Leading for Children PodcastLeading for ChildrenIn this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Leading for Children Program Leaders Serene Stevens and Jonathan Fribley to discuss the impact of modeling behavior for children and the way children can thrive in relationships with the important adults in their lives.2023-05-0337 min