Empowered to Connect Podcast

[E246] You're Not the Hero of Their Story, & That's the Point: A Conversation about Open Adoption with Annie Iverson

What does open adoption actually mean, and what happens when fear gets in the way of staying connected? Annie Iverson, adoptive mom of four and creator of Write It & Reme

[E245] The Science and Heart of Bedtime with Allison Ezell

If bedtime in your house feels like a nightly negotiation, or you're the one lying in the dark at 2 a.m. wondering why nothing seems to work, this conversation is for you

[E244] Redefining the Parent Report Card with Nicole Barlow

What if the parent report card you've been grading yourself on this whole time was never actually yours to fill out? Episode summary bullets: Nicole Barlow, longtime fo

[E243] The Risk of Winning

Ever notice how a bedtime standoff, a backtalk moment, or a flat-out refusal can turn into you against your kid? Jesse sits down with Mo & Tona Ottinger for an honest loo

[E242] Torn From the Root: Rhonda Roorda on Honoring the Voice Within

Some books change the way we see. Rhonda Roorda's In Their Own Voices did that for countless adoptive families, including our own here at ETC. In this episode, Rhonda ret

[E241] The Consequences of Consequences

You said it would be the last warning. You meant it this time. And somehow you are standing in the hallway with your voice raised, wondering how you ended up here again.

[E240] Your Summer Survival Guide

Summer is here, and Jesse and Tona are keeping it real: they love summer, and it also asks a lot of them. In this episode, they sit down (virtually, because summer pivots

[E239] Replay Let's Talk About Lying with Robyn Gobbel

Why do kids lie, even when the truth would have been easier? This week, we’re replaying an oldie but a goodie: Let's Talk About Lying with Robyn Gobbel. Lying is usually

[E238] Replay Understanding the Brain, Body, Behavior Connection with Mona Delahooke

Catch the replay! Mona is a Pediatric Psychologist and the author of Beyond Behaviors, among several other books. If you've ever read Beyond Behaviors, you know how brill

[E237] When You’re New to Supporting a Foster or Adoptive Family

Episode 237 is live! ️ If someone you love is in the middle of a new placement (whether that's a newborn, a toddler, or a teenager), this one is for the people standing

[E236] When You're New to Walking Together as Adoptive/Foster Parents

Community can feel different when your parenting journey looks different. Sometimes your circle shifts. Sometimes it shrinks. And sometimes it stretches you in ways you d

[E235] When You’re New to Parenting through Adoption & Foster Care

In this episode Becca, Jesse, and Tona walk us through what it looked like for them at the beginning of their parenting journey. Starting foster care, adoption, or any ne

[E234] When Protection Becomes a Prison: Breaking Down the Wall Between Us with Sherry Varughese

Let’s talk about the “Wall Between Us”, the invisible, protective bricks we build from past hurt that quietly block connection with the people we love most. Our snapping,

[E233] Why the Best Teachers Lead with Connection with Marti Smith & Amie Huggins

What if connection is one of the most powerful tools in the classroom? In this episode, Marti Smith and Amie Huggins join us to share about their new book The Connected

[E232] When You're Tired Of Trying with Melissa Corkum

Does your nervous system feel like it’s been in survival mode for a long time? This episode is for you. We sat down in person with Melissa Corkum to talk about burnout,

[E231] When You're Tired in Your Heart with Dr. Archandria Owens

On this next part of our mini-series “When You’re Tired”, we reflect on being emotionally tired. It is the quiet exhaustion that comes from caring deeply, showing up cons

[E230] When You're Tired in Your Body with Jill Stockburger

On today’s episode, Jesse and Jill Stockburger dive into a big question: What do we do when we’re living in chronic stress? They talk about how stress, adversity, and tra

[E229] Connection Over Compliance: What We’re Really Teaching Kids in Hard Moments

In today’s episode, Jesse and Tona take a deep dive into the tension between connection and compliance in everyday parenting moments. Through real-life stories (yes, even

[E228] The Midyear Reset: Supporting Kids in the Second Half of the School Year

New semester! Same kids, different needs. As the second half of the school year begins, routines may get messy, expectations may shift, and those old pain points may res

[E227] Rupture is Inevitable; Repair is a Choice

A quote that we posted, “Your willingness to come back and repair matters more than getting it right the first time” went viral. On this week’s episode of the Empowered t