The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast

Plain Talk: Dogs, Cats, & the Neurodivergent Brain (Unscripted & Unedited) 🐶💕🐱🥹
This episode is a different one, y’all!
No outline.
No “cheat sheet.”
No editing out the pauses or the “you knows.” 🤓🤫
Just a real “plain” conversation. I thought it would be fun to see what happens without my safe bullet points. 
💜 Give me about two minutes on this one—it settles in and gets really good. Besides, it’s all about FURRY FAMILY! 🤩 Animals are everything. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be a great experience. 
Middle school is a time when life feels unpredictable—friendships shift, social rules change by the hour, and for neurodivergent kids, sensory overload can turn an ordinary day into a storm.
So why do animals help so much?
In this off-the-cuff episode, we talk about dogs and cats not as “pets,” but as teammates—partners that help regulate a child’s nervous system in real, measurable ways.
We break down the neuroscience in plain language:
Petting an animal can lower cortisol, raise oxytocin, and help the brain feel safer. The limbic system begins to settle. The world feels different.
Then we get into what almost sounds unbelievable about dogs—their ability to detect emotional states through scent, track routines by “smelling time,” respond to subtle pressure changes, and hear what the rest of us miss.
If you’ve ever felt like your dog knew you were having a bad day before you did… you’re not imagining it.
And yes—we give cats their due.
Cats aren’t “less social.” They’re selectively social—wired for predictable, low-pressure connection. From the slow blink to their carefully chosen moments of closeness, we explore why cats can be exactly what an anxious brain needs.
You’ll also hear stories about Neville, a little “street council” energy, and the very real truth about loving animals—even knowing loss is part of the deal.
💬 Tell me: which animal has helped you (or your child) feel safe?
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New here? Start with “Ridiculous Joy” to get a feel for the heart of the show.
Want to reach out?
Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSW
📧 [email protected]
🌐 msmarypoppins.com
Produced by StellaMix Podcast Productions: https://stellamix.com/
Support the show:
If this episode helped your family or classroom, visit msmarypoppins.com and click Support the Show.
Your support keeps this podcast free, research-based, and centered on emotional health for kids—especially neurodivergent tweens and teens.
💜 NO COMMERCIALS. NO “BUY SOMETHING.”
JUST KIDS, FAMILIES, TEACHING, AND LEARNING—TOGETHER. 💜🔥☂️
Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
Support the show
If this episode helped your family or your classroom, you can support the work behind Middle School Mary Poppins by visiting msmarypoppins.com and clicking Support the Show.
Your support helps  keep the podcast free, research-based, and focused on emotional health for kids—especially neurodivergent tweens and teens.
Thank you for being part of this community. 💛

Screen time is not going anywhere, so instead of arguing about whether it is “good” or “bad,” let’s get specific about what it doing positively for our kids. My EDS is in Education Technology, bring it! 
This is episode two in our exploring screen time series, where we discuss how digital tools can be used in more intentional, supportive ways for kids and families. I found Mightier!  I think Mightier is doing something truly innovative, affordable, & educationally way ahead of the pack. So, I vetted it. Again and again. Nights of secretly evaluating on ridiculously high-level criteria. Had kids try it. 
And the Result? Legit👏🫶🏼
I sought THEM out. No paid testimonial. Just a shrewd educator seeking a diamond. Really thrilled to bring this solution to listeners.  There are kids out there that would be so benefited by what they do with biometrics. Brilliant.
WEBSITE: www.mightier.com
 COUPON CODE: MARYPOPPINS (15% OFF)
In this episode, I share a surprising tool I vetted myself: a set of video games that use heart-rate biofeedback to help kids practice emotional regulation while they play. If your child melts down quickly, struggles with anxiety, or gets stuck in frustration, this conversation offers a concrete way to think about intentional screen time and digital wellness at home. Please note: I am not being paid in any capacity for this interview. I simply am absolutely mesmerized by this software. Share the knowledge!
A VISIT FROM JESSICA RAGNIO FROM MIGHTIER:
Suzanne is joined by her first-ever guest, Jessica Ragnio, a clinical social worker, therapist, and mom of three who serves as Clinical Director at Mightier. She breaks down how the program grew out of research at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and why real-time practice matters more than simply talking about coping skills when a child is already flooded.
We dig into how the games respond to rising heart rate, what “red zone” and “blue zone” cues look like, and how kids are rewarded for bringing their bodies back down to calm.
We also cover what families tend to notice over time, including stronger emotional awareness, better frustration tolerance, and calmer recovery in school and friendships. For parents who want visibility, we talk through the companion app and the progress data it tracks, including cooldowns.
If you want to explore it yourself, head to www.mightier.com and use the code MARYPOPPINS for 15% off.
If this episode helps you rethink screen time, subscribe, share it with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find practical mental health tools.
Contact Suzanne M. Swain EdS LMSW: 
[email protected] 
Website: msmarypoppins.com
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Special thanks to our producer, StellaMix podcast productions, another Palm Beach County School of the Arts collaboration. Need a podcast? Connect with Janine Stella ASAP: http://www.Stellamix.com
Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
Support the show
If this episode helped your family or your classroom, you can support the work behind Middle School Mary Poppins by visiting msmarypoppins.com and clicking Support the Show.
Your support helps  keep the podcast free, research-based, and focused on emotional health for kids—especially neurodivergent tweens and teens.
Thank you for being part of this community. 💛

Screens: the ultimate villain… or your kid’s emotional support sidekick? In this playful (and eye-opening) episode, Suzanne dives into the nightly showdown every parent knows too well—the “put the phone down” battle—and flips the script in a way you probably didn’t see coming.
What looks like defiance might actually be overwhelm. What feels like obsession might be regulation. From dopamine hits and digital comparison to cyberbullying and late-night scrolling, we unpack what’s really going on behind the screen—and why simply taking the phone away might be missing the bigger picture.
With relatable stories, a dash of humor (shoutout to Lieutenant Steve 🐾), and practical strategies you can actually use, this episode helps parents, educators, and caregivers move from power struggles to real connection. Because the goal isn’t to win the screen time war—it’s to understand the kid on the other side of it.
Tune in for a fresh perspective, a few “aha” moments, and maybe even a little peace at bedtime. 
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PRO BONO: Currently, MSMP does not profitize nor monetize as an effort to avoid bias & to help build trust with new listeners. (Too many commercials ruin messaging.) 
Trust is everything & worth earning first. MSMP will only support rigorously vetted advertisers that commit to bettering the lives & mental health of kids and their families - no fluff. Your time is valuable. ——————————-
4/21/26: 🍎 Issue: Currently working with Apple to fix the incorrect rating & reviews. There is a glitch in the system currently but please feel free to continue to add your ratings & written review if possible! They hope to have it back soon. Thx -Suz 🤦‍♀️
For current & accurate ratings, please see MSMP’s page on Spotify. 2600 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Wow y’all! 🥳
Contact Suzanne M. Swain EdS LMSW: 
[email protected] 
Website: msmarypoppins.com
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Special thanks to our producer, StellaMix podcast productions, another Palm Beach County School of the Arts collaboration. Need a podcast? Connect with Janine Stella ASAP: http://www.Stellamix.com
Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
Support the show
If this episode helped your family or your classroom, you can support the work behind Middle School Mary Poppins by visiting msmarypoppins.com and clicking Support the Show.
Your support helps  keep the podcast free, research-based, and focused on emotional health for kids—especially neurodivergent tweens and teens.
Thank you for being part of this community. 💛

You can be smart, creative, and deeply caring and still walk through life feeling like you’re getting “thrown to the curb.” That ache hits a lot of neurodivergent adults, especially when old childhood labels keep playing on loop: too sensitive, too emotional, too intense, too distracted, so much potential if you could just… I’m busting those cognitive distortions and telling a truer story about neurodiversity, ADHD, autism, giftedness, and what it’s like when your brain takes in more than the room expects. 

We start with a memory from childhood that’s equal parts funny and revealing: walking up to neighbors’ houses and asking if they had kids who wanted to be friends. Through that lens, we talk about why connection can become a core driver for neurodivergent people and why shame is often just misunderstood wiring. Then we get into brain science that matters, especially for parents and educators: the middle school brain renovation where the limbic system runs hot and the prefrontal cortex is still under construction. Add sensory sensitivity and emotional intensity, and the world can feel loud, fast, and harsh, even when you’re doing your best. 

From there we connect the dots to adulthood: executive functioning challenges, workplace expectations, the “inconsistent but brilliant” stereotype, and why “failure to launch” is often about planning, time management, stress regulation, and systems that weren’t built for neurodivergent minds. We also talk hyper empathy, reading body language, and the loneliness of being highly attuned. Most importantly, we practice reframes that are fair, specific, and actually usable and we translate that into how we can support neurodivergent kids without trying to fix them, by getting curious about their thinking steps and honoring their process. 

If this resonates, subscribe, share with someone raising or living as neurodivergent, and leave a review so more people can find language that replaces shame with clarity. What’s one label you’re ready to rewrite?

Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: [email protected] Website: msmarypoppins.com
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Special thanks to our producer, StellaMix podcast productions, another Palm Beach County School of the Arts collaboration. Need a podcast? Connect with Janine Stella ASAP: http://www.Stellamix.com
Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
Support the show
If this episode helped your family or your classroom, you can support the work behind Middle School Mary Poppins by visiting msmarypoppins.com and clicking Support the Show.
Your support helps  keep the podcast free, research-based, and focused on emotional health for kids—especially neurodivergent tweens and teens.
Thank you for being part of this community. 💛

What I thought was a routine appointment turned into an 11-hour stretch in the ER—and then the words no one is ever ready to hear: stage four metastatic cervical cancer. I’m sharing this with a shaky voice but a steady purpose, because my best friend Tanya is fighting for her life, and right now, I’m one of her primary caregivers.
This has made me really think about what chosen family actually means when the crisis isn’t abstract. Tanya is my person—the friend who crossed countries, built a life from nothing, cared deeply for others, loved animals like family, and showed up for me through surgeries, pain, and all the messy parts of being human. Now she’s facing cancer that has spread to her bones, lungs, liver, and lymph nodes, and I’m trying to navigate pain management, treatment decisions, and the emotional whiplash that comes when someone you love can’t even sit up in a chair.
And I have to say the part people don’t always want to talk about: the cost. The reality of U.S. healthcare. Insurance questions, growing medical bills, and the impossible math of losing income while caregiving becomes a full-time job. If you’ve ever carried caregiver stress, unresolved grief, or that deep wound of losing someone too early, you’ll understand—this is raw, unfiltered, and straight from the heart.
If you can, please listen. Share this with someone who believes in showing up for others. Help Tanya in her fight by donating or spreading the word. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell me—what does showing up for your person look like in your life?
Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: [email protected] Website: msmarypoppins.com
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Special thanks to our producer, StellaMix podcast productions, another Palm Beach County School of the Arts collaboration. Need a podcast? Connect with Janine Stella ASAP: http://www.Stellamix.com
Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
Support the show
If this episode helped your family or your classroom, you can support the work behind Middle School Mary Poppins by visiting msmarypoppins.com and clicking Support the Show.
Your support helps  keep the podcast free, research-based, and focused on emotional health for kids—especially neurodivergent tweens and teens.
Thank you for being part of this community. 💛