The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast
💜☂️ The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast™ is a chart-topping parenting and education podcast hosted by Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSW—a former middle school teacher, school librarian, administrator, professor of education, therapist, and educational sociologist with more than 20 years of experience working with tweens, teens, families, and schools.
Designed especially for parents, educators, and caregivers of children ages 10–15, each episode combines brain science, emotional regulation strategies, practical parenting tools, school culture insight, and real-world support for navigating the middle school years.
Topics include anxiety, autism, ADHD, executive functioning, emotional regulation, friendship challenges, screen time, social media, resilience, neurodiversity, school success, family communication, and adolescent development.
Known for its warm, research-based approach and Neurodivergent-Friendly design, the podcast helps families move beyond shame, punishment, and panic toward connection, understanding, and emotional growth.
Whether you’re raising a middle schooler, teaching one, or simply trying to better understand the adolescent brain, you’ll find practical strategies, encouragement, and a little ridiculous joy along the way.
Stop. Regulate. Listen.
Learn more at msmarypoppins.com
Special thanks to Janine Stella at http://www.StellaMix.com for Producing MSMP. 💜☂️
The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast
S2 EP 9 - Learning Empathy: Right Here Waiting
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this thoughtful and essential episode of Middle School Mary Poppins, Suzanne M. Swain, EDS, LMSW—Education Master & Specialist as well as working school-based Child Therapist introduces a new concept she believes every family, teacher, and community needs right now: Elementary Empathy-Based Learning (EEBL).
Suzanne dives into why today’s youngest learners—especially those who experienced early childhood during the pandemic—need intentional support in developing empathy, emotional awareness, and social connection. Through relatable stories, pop-culture references like Inside Out, and decades of school counseling experience, she shares how empathy builds safety, strengthens families, and helps kids understand themselves and others.
She explains how EEBL & empathy shows up in body language, storytelling, imagination, and even anxiety—and offers simple ways adults can nurture it through conversations, routines, respect, and everyday social skills. Suzanne also explores how middle schoolers can channel big emotions through creativity and art, turning anxious energy into meaningful self-expression.
This episode is a must-listen for parents, teachers, counselors, and anyone working with kids today. You’ll gain practical tools, deeper insight into child development, and a renewed appreciation for how empathy creates confident, connected, and capable kids.
Tune in to learn how empathy grows, why it matters, and how you can bring more of it into your home, classroom, or community—one intentional moment at a time!
Check out our website for more content & playlists. Steve pics too! Pass Suzanne a note in her locker - would love to hear from you! http://www.msmarypoppins.com
Contact Suzanne M. Swain, EDS LMSW
Email: suzanneswain@gmail.com
Facebook: Suzanne Swain
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Production
