Mental Fitness Challenge 2026: Build Resilient Kids One Week at a Time (with the summer off!)

Bored Is Beautiful: Nicole Briggs on Screen Limits, Stress Tools, and the Power of Slowing Down

Are your kids glued to their screens, and you're not sure how to set limits without starting a battle? Wellness coach Nicole Briggs breaks down her screen time guidelines by age and explains why boredom isn't something to fix, but something to protect. Nicole also reveals the two techniques that resonate most with the kids she coaches — minis and positive self-talk — and how she gets even the most resistant kids to buy in.  Finally, Nicole shares her favorite practical tool — the Energy Audit — a simple exercise that can help you identify what drains you and what fills you up, so you can show up as your best self for the kids in your life. Whether you're a parent, teacher, coach or anyone who works with kids and teens, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom you can use today. About Nicole Nicole Briggs has been in the wellness industry for over 25 years and has had the privilege of helping more than 10,000 people — from teens to veterans — find relief from stress and reconnect with their health and well-being. Her journey began with a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience and a deep curiosity about the human mind and body. That curiosity led her to train at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital's Mind Body Medicine Program as a Positivity and Resilience Trainer. She is also a certified Life Coach. Today, at Bella Viva Wellness, Nicole helps clients heal from the inside out — teaching them how to relax, unwind the effects of stress, and create real, lasting change. She is passionate about helping her clients learn how to manage stress, because when they do, something powerful happens — they rediscover joy, resilience, and better health. Learn more at: https://www.bellavivacapecod.com/ [https://www.bellavivacapecod.com/]  Thank You Thank you for listening to the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast! We are siblings on a mission to help kids become their strongest selves. Each episode, we share proven strategies with parents, teachers, and all who work with youth and teens to build resilient, confident kids who can tackle life's challenges and thrive. For more information on the podcast, or if you have a question you would like answered by one of our expert guests, please visit us at –  https://www.smarthwp.com/raisingresilientkidspodcast [https://www.smarthwp.com/raisingresilientkidspodcast]. Special Thanks to Our Sponsors Mind of a Champion  https://smart-hwp.teachable.com/a/aff_9pt0kd23/external?affcode=246901_xpbs0um0 [https://smart-hwp.teachable.com/a/aff_9pt0kd23/external?affcode=246901_xpbs0um0] The So Happy You're Here YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@sohappyyouarehere [https://www.youtube.com/@sohappyyouarehere] The Resilient Youth Certification Program - https://www.smarthwp.com/resilient-youth-certification [https://www.smarthwp.com/resilient-youth-certification]

Sports Heroes as Resilience Teachers: How to Use Athletes' Stories to Build Stronger Kids with Author Dan Gold

What if the most powerful resilience lessons your teen will ever receive aren't coming from you — they're coming from the athletes they already admire? In this episode, Tom and Jeannie sit down with Dan Gold, award-winning author of the Game Changers series — books that use true stories of famous athletes and coaches to teach teens resilience, mental toughness, leadership, and character. Dan is a former surgeon, father of four, and lifelong sports fan who discovered that the lessons he learned on the field as a kid were the same ones that carried him through medical school, residency, and years in the operating room. In this conversation, you'll discover: * Why Simone Biles represents a complete picture of resilience — across three distinct, life-defining moments * The Andre Agassi story: a cautionary tale for parents about the real cost of pushing kids toward goals that aren't their own * How Tom Brady was passed over 198 times before being drafted — and why the most powerful comeback is often invisible until it isn't * Three teachable mental skills that elite athletes use and your kid can develop too * How the Game Changers books are structured to spark real conversations between parents and teens without lecturing * Why teens ages 13–17 are actually hungry for nuanced, complex stories — and how to use that developmental readiness to your advantage Dan's books are available on Amazon: * Game Changers: Inspirational Sports Stories — An Empowering Playbook for Teens to Build Resilience, Crush Goals and Cultivate Exceptional Character [https://amzn.to/4bLhgTC] * Game Changers 2: Inspirational Coaches Stories — A Second Playbook for Teens to Build Confidence, Strengthen Character and Lead with Heart [https://amzn.to/4bCfi9f] Visit Dan's website: https://gamechangerstories.com/⁠ [http://www.gamechangerstories.com]  ABOUT DAN GOLD Dan Gold is a lifelong sports fan, father of four, former surgeon, and storyteller who believes the lessons learned through sports mirror the lessons that matter most in life. As a dad and youth coach, he saw firsthand how sports shape young people into stronger, more grounded individuals. That belief is at the heart of his award-winning Game Changers series, which shares true stories of athletes and coaches whose lives remind readers that real success is measured not by wins, but by effort, resilience, integrity, and heart. His debut, Game Changers: Inspirational Sports Stories, earned a 2025 Reader's Favorite Gold Medal and continues to inspire teens, parents, and coaches alike. CONCLUSION Thank you for listening to the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast! We are siblings on a mission to help kids become their strongest selves. Each episode, we share proven strategies with parents, teachers, and all who work with youth and teens to build resilient, confident kids who can tackle life's challenges and thrive. For more information on the podcast, or if you have a question you would like answered by one of our expert guests, please visit us at –  https://www.smarthwp.com/raisingresilientkidspodcast [https://www.smarthwp.com/raisingresilientkidspodcast]. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS Mind of a Champion [https://smart-hwp.teachable.com/a/aff_9pt0kd23/external?affcode=246901_xpbs0um0]  The So Happy You're Here YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@sohappyyouarehere] The Resilient Youth Certification Program [https://www.smarthwp.com/RY4teachers]

The 3-Step Framework Every Parent Needs to Build Truly Resilient Kids

If your child is melting down over small things and nothing you say seems to help, this episode will completely change how you see the problem — and give you a clear, research-backed plan to fix it. Episode Summary In this episode of the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast, Tom and Jeannie sit down with Resilience Expert and educator Talia Kovacs, founder of Calm Connected. Talia brings a rare perspective to the resilience conversation — one grounded in 17+ years of classroom teaching, literacy coaching across hundreds of schools, and teaching Raising Resilient Kids, her own parent empowerment program. Talia opens with a game-changing mindset shift: parents need to think less like engineers (expecting specific inputs to produce specific outputs) and more like gardeners — observing, adjusting, and trusting that there is TIME to make positive changes. This reframe alone reduces parental anxiety and creates a calmer household climate. From there, Talia walks through her powerful three-step resilience framework: starting with yourself (because resilience is modeled, not taught), creating the right conditions at home through sustainable systems and structures, and finally building your child's inner capacity. Critically, she explains why so many parents want to skip straight to step three — and why that always backfires. You'll also discover why resilience is built through connection and community (not grit), and the one simple thing — delighting in your children — that you can start doing this week to shift the entire dynamic at home. In This Episode You'll Learn: * Why resilience is modeled, not taught — and what that means for YOU as a parent * Talia's 3-step resilience framework: Start with yourself → Create conditions → Build capacity * How to use your child's unique strengths as the foundation for resilience * Why kids need time to 'fail privately' — and why this is disappearing from childhood * The research truth about resilience: it's built in community, not by pushing harder * One action you can take THIS WEEK to start transforming your home environment About Talia Kovacs Talia Kovacs is the founder of Calm Connected and creator of the Raising Resilient Kids class. A former classroom teacher and graduate-level education professor, Talia spent years as the CEO of Lit Life, an international literacy consulting firm, coaching teachers across hundreds of schools on social-emotional based literacy. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Newsweek, the Today Show, and Scholastic. Talia serves on the board of directors for Lit Life and is dedicated to equipping parents with tools to foster deep inner resilience in their kids, creating calm, connected families where children truly thrive. Connect with Talia * Website: https://taliakovacs.com/ [https://taliakovacs.com/] * Free Gift — 5 Steps to Use Your Kids' Strengths to Build Resilience: taliakovacs.com/gift [taliakovacs.com/gift] About the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast Thank you for listening to the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast! We are siblings on a mission to help kids become their strongest selves. Each episode, we share proven strategies with parents, teachers, and all who work with youth and teens to build resilient, confident kids who can tackle life's challenges and thrive. For more information on the podcast, or if you have a question you would like answered by one of our expert guests, please visit us at –  https://www.smarthwp.com/raisingresilientkidspodcast [https://www.smarthwp.com/raisingresilientkidspodcast]. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS * Mind of a Champion [https://smart-hwp.teachable.com/a/aff_9pt0kd23/external?affcode=246901_xpbs0um0]  * The So Happy You're Here YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@sohappyyouarehere] * The Resilient Youth Certification Program [https://www.smarthwp.com/RY4teachers]

How to Make Your Classroom a Safe Space with 1st Grade Teacher Jackie Smrekar

What if the secret to a thriving first-grade classroom wasn't rushing into academics, but investing three weeks in emotional safety? Jackie Smrekar, an 11-year veteran first grade teacher and Great Teacher Award winner, reveals exactly how she creates a "classroom heart family" where six-year-olds learn to identify their emotions, self-advocate, and resolve conflicts independently. In this episode, Jackie shares her complete framework for building resilient first graders, including: * Why she "shys away from academics" the first three weeks and how this investment pays dividends all year long * The 20-minute morning routine that sets the tone for the entire day (and how intermediate teachers can have students lead it) * How to set up and use a calming corner that students access independently when they need emotional regulation support * The Slumberkins curriculum (https://slumberkins.com/) and how stuffed animals teach mindfulness, authenticity, and stress management * Real-time conflict resolution strategies that turn classroom disputes into learning opportunities for the entire class * The transformation of a student who hid under his desk to a thriving second grader who self-advocates for his needs * How restorative circles create safe spaces for sharing (even when it feels uncomfortable at first) * The power of teacher vulnerability in modeling that "feelings come and feelings go and all feelings are okay" * Specific ways to collaborate with school social workers and SEL staff to maximize support Jackie proves that when you front-load resilience tools and create consistent, emotionally safe routines, students aren't just better behaved—they're better learners. If you're an elementary teacher wondering how to fit SEL into your already-packed day, or a parent looking to understand what emotional safety looks like in the classroom, this episode gives you a complete, actionable roadmap. Guest Bio Jackie Smrekar teaches first grade at Farragut Elementary in her 11th year of teaching. She serves on her building's character committee and leadership team, and is certified in Teacher Clarity. She won the Great Teacher Award in 2020 from the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce. Resources Discussed * Slumberkins - https://slumberkins.com/ [https://slumberkins.com/]  * Second Step - https://www.secondstep.org/ [https://www.secondstep.org/]  Thank you Thank you for listening to the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast! We are siblings on a mission to help kids become their strongest selves. Each episode, we share proven strategies with parents, teachers, and all who work with youth and teens to build resilient, confident kids who can tackle life's challenges and thrive. For more information on the podcast, or if you have a question you would like answered by one of our expert guests, please visit us at –  https://www.smarthwp.com/raisingresilientkidspodcast. Thanks to our Sponsors Mind of a Champion [https://smart-hwp.teachable.com/a/aff_9pt0kd23/external?affcode=246901_xpbs0um0]  The So Happy You're Here YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@sohappyyouarehere] https://www.smarthwp.com/RY4teachers The Resilient Youth Certification Program [https://www.smarthwp.com/RY4teachers]

Mental Fitness Challenge 2026: Build Resilient Kids One Week at a Time (with the summer off!)

Looking for a New Year's resolution that creates lasting impact for you, your entire family, or your classroom? Join hosts Tom and Jeannie in the 2026 Mental Fitness Challenge—a simple, research-backed approach to building resilience through 36 weekly techniques that take just minutes per day. Specific Strategies You'll Learn: • How to access 36 free mental fitness techniques releasing weekly throughout the school year (with a summer break!) • The "Ritual for a Fulfilled Life"—Benjamin Franklin's approach adapted for modern times • Why popular techniques like Five Finger Breathing and the Concentration Grid help kids manage stress and improve focus • How teachers across Will County, IL are using these 2-minute videos as transformative classroom brain breaks • Why consistency matters more than perfection in building mental resilience About This Challenge: Starting January 8th, new techniques release every Thursday. Each video is professionally produced, evidence-based, and designed for all ages—from kindergarteners to adults. Whether you're a parent looking to strengthen family connections, a teacher seeking classroom tools, or simply someone committed to better mental health in 2026, this challenge offers a structured, supported path forward. Ready to Join? Sign up at www.smarthwp.com (Resources > Two Minutes to Resilience) or subscribe on YouTube to receive weekly videos. Let's make 2026 our most mentally strong year yet—one week, one technique at a time. Thank you Thank you for listening to the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast! We are siblings on a mission to help kids become their strongest selves. Each episode, we share proven strategies with parents, teachers, and all who work with youth and teens to build resilient, confident kids who can tackle life's challenges and thrive. For more information on the podcast, or if you have a question you would like answered by one of our expert guests, please visit us at – https://www.smarthwp.com/raisingresilientkidspodcast. A Special Thanks to our Sponsor Mind of a Champion https://smart-hwp.teachable.com/a/aff_9pt0kd23/external?affcode=246901_xpbs0um0 The So Happy You're Here YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@sohappyyouarehere and The Resilient Youth Certification Program - https://www.smarthwp.com/RY4teachers