The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast
đâď¸ The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast⢠is a chart-topping parenting and education podcast hosted by Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSW â 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.
đŠâđŤđđ Educated, trained, and classroom-tested in Tennessee (UTđ§Ą), 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⢠â a warm, research-based approach to helping families navigate the emotional realities of adolescence.
đ 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.
đ Apple Podcasts (May 2026):
#1 in Kids & Family
#1 in Kids & Family: Parenting
đ Spotify:
3,800 + five-star reviews âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
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.
đ The Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast⢠is especially known for its âEmotional Critical Thinkingâ 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.
đ 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 podcastâs mission, values, and commitment to supporting children and families ethically. If you are interested in speaking engagements or advertising, email: suzanneswain@gmail.com
đŚ 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
đ¤ For media appearances, conferences, speaking engagements, educational consulting, or partnership opportunities:
suzanneswain@gmail.com
đ 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
Episodes
34 episodes
S2 EP 26 - Internet Culture & Emotional Health: The Safety Dance
Internet Culture & Emotional Health: The Safety Dancefeat. Adam Brooks, Program Coordinator from BARK Technologies adamb@bark.usSpecial MSMP listener offer:Use code POPPINS25 for $25 off any ...
S2 EP 25 - Dogs, Cats, and the Neurodivergent Brain: Youâve Got a Friend in Me
Plain Talk: Dogs, Cats, & the Neurodivergent Brain (Unscripted & Unedited) đśđđąđĽšThis episode is a different one, yâall!No outline.No âcheat sheet.âNo editing out the pauses or the âyou knows.â đ¤đ¤ŤJust a re...
S2 EP 24 - Leveling Up Self-Regulation: The Final Countdown
Screen time is not going anywhere, so instead of arguing about whether it is âgoodâ or âbad,â letâs get specific about what it doing positively for our kids. My EDS is in Education Technology, bring it! This is episode two in our ex...
S2 EP 23 - The Screen Time Clash: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Screens: the ultimate villain⌠or your kidâs emotional support sidekick? In this playful (and eye-opening) episode, Suzanne dives into the nightly showdown every parent knows too wellâthe âput the phone downâ battleâand flips the script in a wa...
S2 EP 22 - Growing Up Neurodivergent: Karma Chameleon
You can be smart, creative, and deeply caring and still walk through life feeling like youâre getting âthrown to the curb.â That ache hits a lot of neurodivergent adults, especially when old childhood labels keep playing on loop: too sensitive,...
S2 EP 21 - Cancer Changes Everything: Listen to Your Heart
What I thought was a routine appointment turned into an 11-hour stretch in the ERâand then the words no one is ever ready to hear: stage four metastatic cervical cancer. Iâm sharing this with a shaky voice but a steady purpose, because my best ...
S2 EP 20 - Unpacking Neurodivergence: She Blinded Me With Science
What if the behaviors we rush to fix are actually signals from a beautifully organized, differently wired brain? In this episode, we explore new neuroscience showing why attention differences, sensory intensity, and big emotions often appear to...
S2 EP 19 - Anger & Reactivity: Under Pressure
Anger feels fast. Powerful. Loud. But whatâs really underneath it?In this special, kid-requested episode, Suzanne M. Swain, EDS, LMSW â child therapist, educational specialist, and veteran middle school teacher â talks directly to tweens...
S2 EP 18 - Neurodivergent Perseverance: I Need a Hero
Heroes arenât always loudâand they donât always wear capes.In this episode of Middle School Mary Poppins, Suzanne M. Swain explores what heroism really looks like in the real world: persistence, joy, empathy, and showing up as yourself...
S2 EP 17 - Outsmarting Bullies: Tainted Love
Bullying in middle school isnât always loud or obviousâand thatâs what makes it so confusing and harmful. In this episode of Middle School Mary Poppins, child therapist and educational specialist Suzanne M. Swain, EDS, LMSW explores the subtle,...
S2 EP 16 - Emotional Safety: Time After Time
Ever wonder why your child completely melts down the second they walk through the door after school? In this episode, veteran middle school teacher and child therapist Suzanne M. Swain, EdS LMSW breaks down whatâs really going o...
S2 EP 15 - Food for Mood 2: Sweet Dreams are Made of This
In Part II of the Food for Mood series, Suzanne explores how the Inside Out socially-based emotions like anxiety, embarrassment, envy, boredom, & ultimately motivation quietly influence behavior, mood, and emotional regulation.&nbs...
S2 EP 14 - Food for Mood: Hungry like a Wolf
Itâs a new year, so letâs talk about food and feelingsâbecause theyâre way more connected than we realize. In this episode, we break down how what you eat can either calm you down or completely throw you off, without diet rules or restriction.<...
S2 EP 13 - Holiday Joy & Eustress: Run Run Rudolph
Happy holidays from Middle School Mary Poppins! In this heart-centered episode, Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSWâyour friendly neighborhood kid therapistâdives into a powerful holiday homophone: presents vs. presence. One is wrapped....
Poetry Special: Twas the Night Before Middle School Break
Sharing a little bit of holiday cheer with you by creating a poem about life in middle school during the holiday season. Hope you enjoy it and happy holidays andMerry Christmas to you all.
S2 EP 11 - Ridiculous Joy: It's a Beautiful Life
Joy isnât a reward â itâs a skill.In this episode, Suzanne explores why joy matters for middle schoolers navigating big feelings, growing brains, and constant pressure. Not toxic positivity â real, grounding joy that supports regulation,...
S2 EP 10 - Thanksgiving Social Skills Special: We Are Family
Hey yâall & happy Thanksgiving, everyone! As we all know, this can be a stressful time of year for some individuals who may be struggling. I wanted to take a moment today to give you a list of some conversation, starters and questions that ...
S2 EP 9 - Learning Empathy: Right Here Waiting
In this thoughtful and essential episode of Middle School Mary Poppins, Suzanne M. Swain, EDS, LMSWâEducation Master & Specialist as well as working school-based Child Therapist introduces a new concept she believes every family, t...
S2 EP 8 - Tweens & Money: The Secret of My Success
In this episode, child therapist and master teacher Suzanne M. Swain, EDS LMSW, dives into a topic that makes many of us squirmâmoney management for neurodivergent kids. Whether your child has ADHD, autism, or another form of ...
S2 EP 7 - Masculinity: Letâs Hear It for the Boys
In this heartfelt and necessary episode, Suzanne dives into the topic of masculinity and emotional safety, exploring how adolescent boys communicate, why they struggle to open up, and how we can help them feel seen and supported. With wa...
S2 EP 6 - Educational Epic Fails: Insane in the Brain
What do Abraham Lincoln, a dead bird, and the local Fire Department have in common? Believe it or notâSuzanneâs teaching career. In this episode, kid therapist and master teacher Suzanne M. Swain spills her epic teaching fails
S2 EP 5 - ADHD Goes Back to School: Take on Me
Welcome back to the chaos and charm of back-to-school season! In this episode, therapist and former middle school teacher Suzanne M. Swain (EDS, LMSW) dives into one of her most requested topicsâADHD. Suzanne flips the script on the usual narra...
S2 EP 4 - Technology VR/ AI Killed the Radio Star
In this jam-packed, joy-filled episode, Suzanne Swain dives headfirst down the digital rabbit hole to share her lifelong love of techâand how itâs changing the game for kids and families alike. From her first VGA monitor to todayâs AI-powered t...
S2 EP 3 - Trauma: When Bad Things Happen - The Labyrinth
At 3:18 AM, Suzanne Swain found herself wide awake, anxious, and overwhelmed. In this heartfelt episode, she shares how a late-night rewatch of Labyrinth became the unexpected comfort she needed.Blending nostalgia, humor, and re...
S2 EP 2 - Grandparents: A Coat of Many Colors
Whatâs the grandest thing youâve ever done? Built a treehouse? Made a birthday cake from scratch? Raised a child⌠twice? In this heartwarming episode, Suzanne Swain (aka your favorite rural kid therapist) dives into the