Lean Into You

Hey everyone, we are going to break for season 3 to give ourselves some time to rest, develop new content, and book new speakers in preparation for season 4 of the show. Thank you to everyone who has followed us since the beginning and to new listeners of the show. We truly couldn't do it without you. As always, follow us on Instagram @leanintoyoupod for episode highlights and self-care tips you can implement in your everyday life. That is all for now but stay tuned for the start of season 4!This project is funded by a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc. 

Cas Holman is a toy designer and play advocate who has spent her entire career creating products that encourage openness and free play. She has worked with Rockwell Group, has been a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, and was recently featured on Netflix's Abstract: The Art of Design.In part two of our conversation, we talk about how we can begin to break open the boxes we often put ourselves in, and how that might be beneficial to us as adults. To find out more about Cas' work, you can visit her website at:www.casholman.com.This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc. 

Cas Holman is a toy designer and play advocate who has spent her entire career creating products that encourage openness and free play. She has worked with Rockwell Group, has been a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, and was recently featured on Netflix's Abstract: The Art of Design. In our two-part conversation with Cas, we explore what we mean when we say "free play", some of the reasons why humans tend to create categories for what play is and what it should look like, and how we, as adults, can develop a philosophy of openness in adulthood. To find out more about Cas' work, you can visit her website at:www.casholman.com.This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc. 

Diversity is a fact of life. As educators we will have new students coming in each year from different socio-economic statuses, abilities, religious backgrounds, gender identities and much more. So, how do we become empowered to honor those different lived experiences of the children in our care, without being intimidated by that diversity?Dr. Denise Reid is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at Biola University in La Mirada, California. She conducts research on the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities as they rise through their educational careers. Dr. Reid has authored several articles including, "Lessons learned: Educational experiences as described by individuals who attended Black segregated schools during Jim Crow" as well as, "Disproportionality in special education: The persistent reality for African American students."In our conversation, we talk about the realities of diversity in the teaching environment, how we can manage the stress that may arise from simply wanting to honor each students lived experience, and she talks about the importance of starting a daily wellness journey we maintain consistently. This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

Breathing deep. It sounds simple but we forget to do it all the time. It is so nice, then, to set aside some time to refocus back in on our breath. This guided meditation helps with just that. We found this meditation at lovetoknowhealth.com in an article titled, "9 Guided Meditation Scripts: Short + Long". This is a great article to check out if you want to do more guided meditation work but don't necessarily know where to get started. This meditation specifically was written by Shoshana Hebshi Holt. This project is funded through a grant with the TN Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

How has the history of racism within child care led to the current landscape that we see today? And how can we learn from the past to help change our future?We talk about this and much more in today's episode with Dr. Iheoma Iruka. Iheoma is a professor teaching at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She's also the Founding Director of the Equity Research Action Coalition. Dr. Iheoma walks us through the ways in which historical racism has shaped the world of child care and how we can begin to shift the needle towards a more equitable future through legislation and community building.This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

What is the value of connecting our daily, lived experiences with the bigger picture of what is happening in early childhood policy and advocacy?We talk about this and much more in today's episode with Shannon Rudisill. Shannon is the Executive Director of the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, an organization that activates private philanthropists to fund advocacy efforts in early childhood.Prior to joining ECFC, Shannon served on the Obama Administration's senior leadership team for early childhood programs and was the Director of the Administration for Children and Families' Office of Child Care (OCC). OCC administers the Child Care and Development Fund, which provides over $5 billion per year to States, Territories, and over 500 Tribal communities to provide child care for about 1.5 million children each month.This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

As an educator, what is our responsibility when navigating how and when to include parents in our curriculum?It's easy to assume that since we are the authority figures, it is our role to impart knowledge and wisdom onto families. In our conversation with Ana De Hoyos O'Connor, we talk about how educators need to dance with parents so they can honor the lived experiences of the families who provide the context for the children we care for.We also talk about how educators can incorporate fun questions into the curriculum to help center that lived experience.This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

We don't have an episode recorded for today but we want to let you know what we have in store for the next month or two. We are excited to talk with Dr. Carol Brunson Day, Shannon Rudisill, and many other forward thinking individuals who are doing important work to take child care to the next level. Stay tuned. We promise you won't want to miss it. This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc. 

We all have moments where we struggle to love ourselves or give ourselves any credit. This short meditation is centered around five affirmations you can repeat to help get in touch with yourself again.This meditation was written by Jenée Johnson and was originally published on www.mindful.org. We highly recommend mindful.org as a resource for continuing the conversation about mindfulness, meditation, and overall wellness.

Licensing...For the longest time, if you mentioned that word there would be a collective eye roll in response. For many people in child care, licensing is synonymous with more paper work, more rules, more regulations and very little additional benefit. Not to mention the process to become licensed is tedious to say the least.Cynthia Roberts is the Program Manager of the Pre-Licensure Unit with the Tennessee Department of Human Services. In our conversation we talk about why the licensing process is the way that it is, how providers can get started on the journey to becoming licensed, the supports available to providers along the licensing process, and finally, the benefits to being a TDHS-licensed child care facility, which we think make this process a no brainer. If you are interested in becoming licensed, start the process today by emailing:childcareprelicensure.dhs@tn.gov.This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc. 

What kinds of things should an educator look for in an employer? What types of questions should you ask in an interview? How do you have a conversation with your supervisor when your growth is leading you away from your child care facility?We discuss all of these things and more in our conversation with Candace Hansen, Small Business Coordinator for the Child Care Resource & Referral Network. We'll also cover why it is vital for educators to have their own set of standards when entering the workforce. Above all, we'll discuss how educators can navigate their professional journey from a place of empowerment.For more info on CCR&R's Small Business Academy, visit www.tnccrr.org.This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc. 

What does it mean to be an intuitive decision maker? Is your intuition something you can exercise? In part two of our conversation with Holly Elissa Bruno we talk about strategies that can help you strengthen your intuition, so that you can make decisions you're proud of and that align with your values.Holly Elissa Bruno is a "recovering attorney" who has authored several NAEYC bestsellers like, "Happiness is Running through the Streets to Find You: Translating Trauma's Harsh Legacy into Healing," and "Leading on Purpose: Emotionally Intelligent Early Childhood Administration."For more info on Holly's work you can visit www.hollyelissabruno.com. This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc. 

Do you struggle with making decisions? Listen, we get it. It can be stressful. You want to make the right choice. You are worried about what you may miss out on but choosing one thing over another. You may disrupt your sense of belonging within your community.In this conversation, we talk with Holly Elissa Bruno about the psychology of making decisions, what we are actually afraid of when we make a choice, and how we can confront it to become the most confident decision maker possible. Holly Elissa Bruno is a "recovering attorney" who has authored several NAEYC bestsellers like, "Happiness is Running through the Streets to Find You: Translating Trauma's Harsh Legacy into Healing," and "Leading on Purpose: Emotionally Intelligent Early Childhood Administration." For more info on Holly's work you can visit www.hollyelissabruno.com. This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc. 

Do you see yourself as a creative person? You might after listening to this conversation with Fran Sorin. In this conversation, we talk with Fran about what creativity actually means, how we are all exercising our creativity on a daily basis, and how cycles of shame and being a perfectionist are the biggest enemies to creativity. For more info on Fran's work you can visit www.fransorin.com.This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc. 

What does it mean to work in a compassion profession, and how can you be aware when you might be experiencing compassion fatigue? We get to the bottom of all these questions in our first chat of season 3! Our guest is Becky Haas, who is an author, trainer, and public speaker. Becky leads trainings on trauma informed care, ACE's, and resiliency with groups that range from Early Childhood Educators to police officers and medical professionals. In this conversation we also talk a little bit about the Provider Resilience App, a great tool for educators to assess their burnout levels. For more info on Becky's work you can visit www.beckyhaas.com.This project is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc. 

We've been hosting conversations about self-care for just over a year now, which kind of blows our minds. Thank you to everyone who continues to entrust us with leading these conversations every week. We are going to do season break to prepare for season 3, but before we go, we have curated some of our favorite moments from the first and second season. Enjoy this bonus episode and we can't wait for you to join us again for season 3!

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Rick Lozano, a keynote speaker, musician, and author.  In this conversation, we will talk about how educators can begin to understand their passions better. We will cover:        1) What passion means and how we can revamp our understanding of passion     2) Borrowing from other interests in order to adopt a lens for viewing our work     3) How emotional intelligence plays a role in understanding our passions     4) The importance of facilitating a work environment that nurtures its employees' passionsIf you would like to engage more with Rick's work, visit www.ricklozano.com.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

We all have moments of anxiety. That anxiety affects us all in different ways. This guided meditation will help you slow down and learn how to rest in the midst of your anxious emotions, so you can understand them, and eventually move past them.This meditation was written by Bob Stahl and was originally published on www.mindful.org. We highly recommend mindful.org as a resource for continuing the conversation about mindfulness, meditation, and overall wellness. 

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Barbara Brown Taylor, a New York Time's bestselling author and retired Episcopal priest and professor. In this conversation, we will talk about what our rituals and traditions can teach us about self-care.  We will cover:        1) Barbara Brown Taylor's own seeking journey through her faith tradition     2) How her faith tradition taught her how to ask better questions rather than providing specific answers     3) The importance of rituals and traditions in the search for becoming more fully human     4) How she became inspired by religious traditions outside her own and by those who claim no religious affiliationIf you would like to engage more with Barbara's work or writing, visit her website at www.barbarabrowntaylor.com.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Lisa Walsh, the Registry and Training Manager for TECTA. In this conversation, we will talk about how educators can really take ownership of their professional development with the Tennessee Professional Archive of Learning. We will cover:        1) What TNPAL is and how it works     2) Why TNPAL is an invaluable tool in a child care setting     3) How TNPAL makes fulfilling licensing requirements easier for directors     4) How TNPAL empowers educators to view their work with young children as a careerIf you would like to find out more about the TNPAL system, or to register today,  visit www.tnpal.org.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Brian Taylor, the Vice-President of the Enneagram Institute. In this conversation, we will talk our how we can use the Enneagram as an evaluation tool to help us break out of self-limiting beliefs.  We will cover:        1) What the Enneagram is and how it is structured     2) How we can use the Enneagram as a self-evaluation tool     3) How the Enneagram encourages growth     4) Why it is important for educators to understand the EnneagramIf you would like to engage more with Brian's work or to start the Enneagram assessment today, you can visit www.enneagraminstitute.com. This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Dr. Christopher Willard, a psychologist and education consultant who specializes in mindfulness. In this conversation, we will talk our relationship with food and how we can begin to eat more mindfully. We will cover:        1) What does mindful eating mean?     2) What are some benefits of eating mindfully and how do we do it?     3) How we can strike a balance between self-care and self-indulgence     4) Some mindful eating prompts educators can ask their kids If you would like to engage more with Chris' work you can visit www.drchristopherwillard.com. To learn more about his books on mindfulness for kids, visit www.alphabreaths.com. Visit him on instagram at Dr. Chris Willard for mindfulness challenges and healthy habits you can form.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

It’s easy to think about things we can be grateful for, family and friends, our basic needs being met. But how hard is it for us to be grateful for growth opportunities that come from challenging times, an annoying person, a moment of disrespect. We wrote this guided meditation as a way of helping us hold both in our hands and viewing both as being worthy of gratefulness. This meditation does require you to write down some lists so it is best to have a journal or notebook for this exercise. If you’d rather make a mental list, that is okay too. We hope you enjoy this guided meditation on cultivating gratefulness in your everyday life. 

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Eugene Schneeberg, the Director of Outreach for Fatherhood.gov. In this conversation, we will talk about how educators can start to activate fathers during the early childhood years. We will cover:        1) How to identify whether we carry biases about fathers into our work with families     2) Strategies for activating fathers in our child care environment     3) The outcomes for families when fathers are present     4) What educators can do when they encounter a family with an absent father     5) The self-care benefits of leading this work with familiesIf you would like to engage more with Eugene's work you can visit Fatherhood.gov.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Maureen Hollocker, the director of Great Start Collaborative, an early childhood collaborative which trains educators on utilizing the protective factors in their work with families.  In this conversation, we will talk about the importance of connecting with families by offering them concrete supports in their times of need. We will cover:        1) What it means to be a concrete support     2) The importance of self-reflection in being that support to a family     3) What it means to know your community      4) The self-care benefits for educators in leading this work with familiesIf you would like to engage more with Maureen's work you can visit Great Start Collaborative or the Children's Trust Fund Alliance.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Rebecca Slaby, the Executive Director of Amazeworks. In this two part conversation we will talk about how directors can create a culture of belonging through anti-bias training.  In part two, we will cover:        1) Some practical strategies for creating an anti-bias culture in your center     2) How leading this work can operate as a self-care method     3) How the desire to preserve relationships doesn't excuse accountability     4) The consequences of leading this work and how they balance with the benefitsIf you would like to engage more with Rebecca's work you can visit www.amazeworks.org, or email her directly at rebecca@amazeworks.org. If you would like to access some of the resources she mentioned in this episode, visit: Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves and Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Rebecca Slaby, the Executive Director of Amazeworks. In this two part conversation we will talk about how directors can create a culture of belonging through anti-bias training.  In part one, we will cover:        1) What biases are and some of the misconceptions surrounding having a bias     2) The difference between creating a safe space and creating a brave space     3) What it means to call someone in versus calling someone out     4) How the core of this conversation stems from understanding intent versus impactIf you would like to engage more with Rebecca's work you can visit www.amazeworks.org, or email her directly at rebecca@amazeworks.org. If you would like to access some of the resources she mentioned in this episode, visit: Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves and Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Dr. Toni Sturdivant, a researcher and consultant working in forming positive racial identities. In our chat, we will talk about how to lead this work with the children in our care.  We will cover:        1) The Clark's "Doll Test" and where there is room for improvement     2) When children start to notice difference and show preference     3) The steps for formulating our own racial identity     4) Strategies for building strong racial identities in childrenIf you would like to engage more with Toni's work, you can visit her website www.toniphd.com or her Instagram account @positive.identity.teacher. This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Gina Tek, the Senior Director of Childcare Tennessee. In our chat, we will talk about how Childcare Tennessee operates as a resource hub for directors and educators across the state. We will cover:        1) What Childcare Tennessee is     2) The kinds of resources you can find on the website     3) How to apply for enhancement and emergency grants through Childcare Tennessee     4) How Childcare Tennessee is promoting equity across the state     5) How you can register to start receiving services from Childcare TennesseeTo begin the registration process, visit www.childcaretennessee.com.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Dr. Claire Warden, an internationally-renowned advocate for nature-based practices in early childhood education. In our chat, we will talk about promoting a nature pedagogy and what that means for ourselves and our kids.  We will cover:        1) What it means to have a nature pedagogy     2) How we can use the four elements to promote a equitable nature-learning environment     3) How to bypass the obstacles that come with documenting nature-based learning     4) Inside, outside, and beyond as three literal and metaphoric spaces we occupy     5) How promoting nature-based learning can slow us down as educatorsIf you would like to engage more with Claire's work, you can visit her consulting page at www.claire-warden.com. For tutorials and resources related to Claire's work, visit www.mindstretchers.academy. For more information on Claire's charitable work related to nature-based learning, visit www.livingclassrooms.org.uk.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we continue our conversation with Pat Stanislaski, the Director of Partnering for Prevention, LLC. In part two of our chat, we will talk about how educators can cultivate resiliency within themselves. We will cover:        1) The five protective factors     2) The importance of reframing obstacles in front of us     3) Using humor as a strategy for cultivating resiliency     4) Asset building through I have, I am, I can affirmations     5) The five domains of post-traumatic growthThis podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Pat Stanislaski, the Director of Partnering for Prevention, LLC., an organization which focuses on child abuse prevention training and education. In part one of our chat, we will talk about how educators can develop and cultivate resiliency within the kids in their care. We will cover: 1) How have the protective factors changed Pat's definition of resiliency 2) The research on the resiliency gene and the importance of environmental factors 3) Strategies to cultivate resiliency within kids 4) How educators can be a resource for parents in helping cultivate resiliency at home This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Marj Flemming, the founder of Launchpoint Leadership, a consultancy that develops individuals into strong leaders. In our chat, we will talk about how you can know when you may need a mentor. We will cover: 1) What the qualities of a good leader are 2) The dynamics of a mentor/mentee relationship 3) How to diagnose whether you need a mentor or not 4) How to find a mentor and what the benefits are for educators 5) How educators can become mentors in the everyday through "mentoring moments"If you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.launchpointleadership.com.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

We are taking February off!After producing an episode per week for the last five months, we are going to take a break over the next month to give our audience a chance to catch up with our contentbrainstorm new ideas for 2021, and focus on our Instagram account. Thank you for making Season 1 of Lean Into You more successful than we could have ever imagined and we'll see you on March 3rd for the start of Season 2!

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Dr. Matt McClanahan, the Medical Director for the Center for Insight Medicine. In our chat, we will talk about understanding pain and stoking our curiosity. We will cover: 1) What pain is and how it operates as a messenger in our bodies 2) The misconceptions surrounding pain 3) The connection between mind, body, and spirit 4) How we can begin to reframe pain to help us understand ourselves better 5) How approaching pain with curiosity can nudge the needle back towards safetyIf you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.centerforinsightmedicine.com. If you are interested in watching the Still Face Experiment mentioned in this episode, view it at the link above. This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

It is easy to get lost in New Years resolutions and feel frustrated when we don’t follow through with them. But by setting our intentions, being solution-oriented, finding mentors or friends to hold us accountable, and having a proper understanding of failure in relation to all of these things, we are better equipped to ease into the life we set out to lead. Just a note, this meditation does call for making a few lists so it is recommended you have a notebook or something to write on for this practice. Enjoy this meditation and we hope it brings you peace and empowerment for the coming year.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Dr. Craig Bailey, the Director of RULER for early childhood at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. In our chat, we will talk about the RULER approach to social/emotional learning. We will cover: 1) Having a growth mindset when it comes to social/emotional development 2) RULER's systematic approach 3) What the RULER acryonym means 4) How to keep your emotional journey from being a barrier to future growth 5) Practices we can use to model social/emotional intelligence to our kidsIf you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.rulerapproach.org or www.casel.org.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Crystal Jensen, the owner and founder of Mindful Expressions, a mindfulness and nature-based child care center in British Colombia, Canada. In our chat, we will talk about mindful play and how we can begin to restore childlikeness. We will cover: 1) The importance of play for self-realization 2) How we can begin to reclaim childlikeness for ourselves as educators 3) How to regulate while you educate 4) Some mindful play activities you can incorporate in classroom today.If you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.mindfulexpressions.co. Join Crystal's Mindful Play Community on Facebook for more ideas on mindful play. This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Michelle Kelly, the Director of Child Care WAGE$® Tennessee. In our chat, we will talk about how WAGE$ compensates educators for their commitment to the classroom. We will cover: 1) How WAGE$ got started and how it addresses turnover 2) How WAGE$ works and what are the requirements 3) How you can start receiving financial compensation through WAGE$If you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.tnwages.org.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

Today, we’re bringing you another guided meditation to help us reflect on the previous year. This year is safe to say one that is unlike any many of us have ever experienced before. It’s easy and natural to want to wish it away and move forward but that would be dishonoring to the things we’ve learned precisely because of how this year went. So, Alex Farrell wrote this meditation to help us put 2020 in its proper context, to not rest too much in the good or the bad, but to see both as necessary for getting you to where you are today. We hope it brings you clarity and gratitude in the midst of the complexities we’re facing, and that we’ll begin to view the events of the past year with palms open and with acceptance.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we continue our conversation with Dr. Ajita Robinson, a licensed counselor and grief and trauma expert. In part two of our chat, we will talk about how adults and children are fundamentally different as grievers. We will cover: 1) Why children are often disenfranchised as grievers 2) How children express their grief 3) Why educators have an advantage in understanding how children grieve 4) Being a resource to parents so they can better understand the actions of their childrenIf you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.ajitarobinson.com.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Dr. Ajita Robinson, a licensed counselor and grief and trauma expert. In part one of our chat, we will talk about how to understand our own grief journeys. We will cover: 1) Some of the misconceptions surrounding how grief presents in adults 2) The difference between physical and symbolic loss 3) How we can begin to assess our own grief journeys 4) How grief can present us with a gift we couldn't have received any other wayIf you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.ajitarobinson.com.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Heather Hicks, the Chief Officer of Statewide Initiatives for Signal Centers and the Director for the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network. In our chat, we will talk about a few of the ways CCR&R supports educators. We will cover: 1) The scope of CCR&R's services 2) How CCR&R's Small Business Academy supports Owners/Operators 3) How educators can get CPR certified for free 4) How you can sign up for a training through CCR&RIf you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.tnccrr.org.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Monica Stone, the southeast coordinator for the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network. In our chat, we will talk about how we can begin to reverse our limiting beliefs. We will cover: 1) What limiting beliefs are and how they form 2) Why reversing limiting beliefs starts with how we speak about our work 3) Why finding a mentor can help remind us of our value 4) The importance of replacing our "but" statements with "and" statementsIf you are interested in receiving trainings on self-care, or are interested in finding a quality coach as a mentor, please visit www.tnccrr.org.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

We want to thank everyone who has tuned into our podcast over the last few months! We've received overwhelming positive support and we are so grateful that you've entrusted us with these, often sensitive, conversations. We hope that everyone tuning in will have a restful and rejuvenating holiday.If you would like to be more connected with us and our podcast, please follow us on our new Instagram! We'll be sharing bite-sized takeaways and teasers to help encourage you in your self-care journey.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Rebecca Parlakian, the Senior Director of Programs for ZERO TO THREE. In our chat, we will talk about what it means to be a co-regulator of our emotions with the children in our care. We will cover: 1) Noticing stress accumulation is the first step towards regulating our emotions 2) Adjusting our expectations to the ages and stages of the children in our care 3) How we can begin to regulate the toughest parts of the day 4) The importance of relaxing into being a "good enough" teacherIf you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.zerotothree.com.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

Today we are bringing you another guided meditation to help you connect with the other. This meditation was written by Alex Farrell as a way to help us resist the urge to dehumanize those that are different from us, or those that we feel have wronged us in some way. Through visualizing the things that influence our emotions, the messages we receive, and the words we speak, it becomes easier to find common ground, to see ourselves as human beings just trying to navigate the worlds that influence, mold, and shape us everyday.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Kristin Dunn, the Director of Professional Development with AimHiTN. In our chat, we will talk about a few of the ways AimHi supports educators. We will cover: 1) What AimHi is and how it fulfills a need within Early Childhood Education 2) How ACE's have elevated our knowledge of infant mental health 3) The infant mental health endorsement credential 4) How you can take the next step with AimHi If you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.aimhitn.org.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Jae Ellard, Founder and Director of Simple Intentions, a company which trains executives how to cultivate balance, stress management tactics, and conscious communication in the workplace. In our chat, we will talk about the power of a compassionate "no". We will cover: 1) How learning to say no starts with reassessing our values 2) What "hedging" means 3) How we can begin to practice saying no 4) How saying no can actually encourage community rather than hinder itIf you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.simpleintentions.com.This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.