30: It Starts With Us — Nervous System Regulation with Alyssa Blask Campbell

In this episode, I sit down with Alyssa Blask Campbell - founder of Seed and Sew, host of the Voices of Your Village podcast, and bestselling author of Tiny Humans, Big Emotions and the upcoming Big Kids, Bigger Feelings. A mom of two, Alyssa has spent years researching emotional intelligence in children - only to realize that many adults, including herself, never had the tools modeled for them in the first place. We talk about what it really means to support emotional development, starting with ourselves. Alyssa shares how regulating our nervous systems isn’t just a self-care buzzword - it’s the foundation for helping kids navigate their own emotions. She walks us through the simple yet powerful practice she used with her students (and now with her kids): checking in with her body cues, modeling emotional awareness, and embracing rupture and repair. We also dive into why regulation is never one-size-fits-all - why it’s okay to lose it sometimes, and how the true goal is quicker recovery and connection afterward. Alyssa talks about the importance of saying, “That wasn’t about you, that was about me. I’m sorry I yelled,” and how moments like that can rewire relationships and build true emotional safety. She also shares why she created the S.E.E.D. Certification® (Schools Excelling in Emotional Development) - a new model of professional development for educators that prioritizes emotional support for the adults in children’s lives. We wrap by discussing Alyssa’s two game-changing books: ✨ Tiny Humans, Big Emotions - A guide to helping kids navigate big feelings like tantrums, separation anxiety, and overwhelm while building a foundation for emotional intelligence from the start. ✨ Big Kids, Bigger Feelings - Available now for pre-order, this is the much-needed next step: a guide for supporting kids ages 5–12 through the emotional complexities of the elementary years—name-calling, meltdowns, cliques, and more. If you’ve ever wondered how to actually help your child with their big feelings - without losing your own mind - this episode is your starting point. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices