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 — former middle school teacher, school librarian, administrator, professor of education, therapist, and educational sociologist with over 20 years of experience working with tweens, teens, families, and school systems.
👩🏫📚🎓 Educated, trained, and classroom-tested in Tennessee (UT🧡), Suzanne taught 5th, 7th, and 8th grade while becoming deeply determined to understand every layer of the middle school experience in order to better serve kids. From classrooms and school libraries to administration, behavioral support, higher education, and emotional health, that journey eventually became the foundation of The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast™ — a warm, research-based approach to helping families navigate the emotional realities of adolescence.
💕 ND-Friendly: MSMP is designed with neurodivergent listeners and families at the heart if the show, keeping distractions, abrupt interruptions, & excessive ads to a minimum for continuity & regulation. Any carefully selected, relevant sponsors will be limited and placed primarily at the beginning or end of episodes.
✨ Today, the podcast has grown into one of the top-ranked independent parenting podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, reaching listeners in more than 115 countries and earning over 3,600 five-star Spotify reviews.
🍎 Apple Podcasts (May 2026):
#1 in Kids & Family
#1 in Kids & Family: Parenting
🏆 Spotify:
3,600+ five-star reviews
Each episode blends years of classroom experience, humor, neurobiology, emotional regulation tools, school culture insight, and real-world support for parents, educators, and caregivers navigating the beautiful chaos of adolescence. Topics include anxiety, autism, ADHD, screen time, emotional resilience, executive functioning, family systems, neurodivergence, and the emotional realities of modern parenting.
📚 The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast™ is especially known for its “Emotional Critical Thinking” educational theory developed by Swain, (ECT) is based in systems theory and is focused on helping families move beyond shame, punishment, and panic toward connection, re/regulation, technology resilience, and long-term self-recognized growth using simple, practical tools families can actually use, with technology as a constant thread.
👏 The show proudly remains independently produced and intentionally selective about sponsorships and featured partnerships. Companies and organizations highlighted on the show are carefully vetted for alignment with the podcast’s mission, values, and commitment to supporting children and families ethically. If you are interested in speaking engagements or advertising, email: suzanneswain@gmail.com
🦊 If this episode helped your family, classroom, or community, you can support the show and explore additional resources for parents and educators at:
msmarypoppins.com. Help spread the word by offering some stars or a review! Thank you for supporting grassroots podcasting!
Coming Soon:
Downloadable Survival Guides & More
🎤 For media appearances, conferences, speaking engagements, educational consulting, or partnership opportunities:
suzanneswain@gmail.com
💜 Extra special thanks to Janine Stella of StellaMix for supporting independent podcast production and creative collaboration behind the scenes. To learn more about StellaMix or to help make your own podcasting dreams come true, visit: stellamix.com
The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast
S2 EP 13 - Holiday Joy & Eustress: Run Run Rudolph
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Happy holidays from Middle School Mary Poppins! In this heart-centered episode, Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSW—your friendly neighborhood kid therapist—dives into a powerful holiday homophone: presents vs. presence. One is wrapped. The other is felt.
Suzanne explores why time, attention, and shared experiences often mean more to kids than expensive gifts—and how families can use the holiday season to build gratitude, empathy, and real connection. From low-cost, high-impact traditions (like handmade gifts, wishing stars, love-heart ornaments, and family service projects) to practical ways kids can give back, learn life skills, and feel genuinely valued, this episode is packed with meaningful ideas you can actually use.
You’ll also hear personal updates, including a shout-out from Lieutenant Steve and Suzanne’s very real (and very cool) journey into cyborg territory with a robot-assisted, 3D-printed knee replacement—happening the day this episode drops.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by holiday pressure, this episode is your reminder that kids want presence over presents—and that the simplest moments often become the most lasting memories.
Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: suzanneswain@gmail.com
Facebook: Suzanne Swain
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Production
