The Uplift Kids Podcast

The ancient philosophy of Stoicism urges us to focus on what we can control and to not worry about what we cannot control. It's an insight that has tremendous value in therapy, counseling, and at home. Listen to this episode to see how to put this insight to use.

"Rituals play very important functions in human societies," writes Dimitris Xygalatas, author of Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living. "They help individuals through their anxieties, connect to one another. They help people find meaning in their lives.”

In this episode we explore how rituals can help kids feel a sense of stability and connection.

How do you navigate potential disagreement with family members during Thanksgiving? How do you create an atmosphere of gratitude? We explore these questions and also demonstrate how you can use sentence stems during the Thanksgiving meal — found in our Thanksgiving mini-lesson:

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/thanksgiving/

Regardless of belief or disbelief, having regular time to express intentions, gratitude, and awe can deepen wellbeing. In this episode, Amanda, Michelle, and Jon explore different ways to approach prayer and meditation, including attuning to your wisest self, and how the essence of prayer can be helpful for spiritual health — again, regardless of belief or disbelief.

When we don’t place limits on our abilities, we’re able to grow through challenges. Hear how having a growth mindset can help kids learn at school.

See the lesson: https://upliftkids.org/lessons/growth-mindset

We recently held a 3-day parenting workshop in Scholls Valley, Oregon with 20 parents including ourselves. The experience was marvelous and transformative, so we'll be offering another workshop at the same place from Friday, Jan 31st to Sunday, Feb 2nd.

See details and apply: https://upliftkids.org/parenting

We'd love have you join!

(Note that we recorded this episode in person after the workshop, and we apologize for the subpar audio.)

Connecting with grandparents can be good for the wellbeing of kids, parents, and grandparents alike — so long as that connection isn't centered around difference and judgment. This episode explores examples of relationships with grandparents that work well and why these relationships matter.

See the lesson for members, which contains questions and prompts that can help grandkids connect with their grandparents:

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/grandparents/

What do you do if your kid doesn't have a clear sense for what does and doesn't count as appropriate language? In this podcast episode we talk about firsthand experiences with helping kids make sense of rules that can feel confusing.

When we deal with lonely feelings and prioritize time with family, friends, and community we live happier and healthier lives.

This episode gives suggestions for grownups and kids alike when it comes to dealing with feelings of loneliness.

When we know about proper boundaries, we feel safe and empowered. If we know our no, we can know our yes.

See the lesson (for members):

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/consent/

"Conversational competence might be the single most overlooked skill we fail to teach," writes high school teacher Paul Barnwell. How do we help kids of all ages learn the art of conversation? In this episode, Amanda, Michelle, and Jon discuss a range of ideas.

See the lesson (for members):

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/conversations/

It can be helpful to name our personality traits, as long as we don’t limit ourselves to them. In this episode, Amanda, Michelle, and Jon talk about different approaches to personality tests, including how to help kids not limit themselves to a set of perceptions and respect a range of differences.

Exploring personality types can be fun! Use our lesson (for members) to get started:

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/personalities/

How do you help your kids learn good manners? In this episode, Amanda Suarez (school psychologist) and Michelle Larson (marriage and family therapy associate) spell out ways to help kids and grownups alike learn and practice social skills.

See the full lesson for members:

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/social-skills/

How do you help kids navigate puberty wisely? In this episode, Michelle (marriage and family therapy associate), Amanda (school psychologist), and Jon (curriculum creator) talk about how to talk about puberty with kids.

“Education is not the filling of a pail," wrote the poet William Butler Yeats "but the lighting of a fire." How do you help kids find a love of learning that can serve them throughout their whole lives? How do you this while helping kids build the discipline they'll need to overcome difficult challenges with learning?

School psychologist Amanda Suarez and marriage family therapy associate Michelle Larsen give insights about these questions, interviewed by Jon Ogden, writer and curriculum creator.

See the full lesson for members:

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/education/

Crushes are part of growing up. With practice we can handle these feelings with kindness and respect for oneself and others.

Members can see the full lesson at:

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/crushes

Caring for our bodies supports physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Get activities, curated videos, checklists, and more in our member lesson on hygiene:

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/hygiene/

Nature is a powerful way to restore wellbeing and reconnect — to family and to something bigger than family. In this episode, the team at Uplift Kids discusses how to make nature practice a regular part of life with kids.

Today we're talking about the intersection of psychology and spirituality — sometimes known as transpersonal psychology. Hear direct insights from Amanda Suarez, school psychologist, and Michelle, a marriage and family therapy associate, about how spirituality informs their work in helping people find meaning, purpose, and awe.

When we sing or chant together, we reduce stress and feel connected. In this discussion, Michelle, Amanda, and Jon talk about the benefits of singing together in the home and in community. See the full lesson: https://upliftkids.org/lessons/singing/

Uplift Family Camp 2024 was a success! A fun and transformational mix of games, water play, activities (sound bath, crafts, storytelling), singing, and heartfelt discussions.

Here is some of what participants had to say: 

• "Beautifully planned and executed. So grateful for this new family tradition."
• "Loved the circles and group sessions. Amazing food!"
• "Loved this so much! Would love to come back."
• “The first thing my kids said when they got in the car to head home was, ‘Can we do this again next year?'”

To get on the waitlist for next year, visit upliftkids.org/family-camp

*Our apologies — We recorded this episode in person right after camp ended and the audio isn't as clear as we hoped it would be.

It can be difficult to help kids know what's true and what's not true — especially when it comes to information online. In this episode Amanda, Michelle, and Jon talk about how our personal attitude and disposition can make a big difference to finding the truth.

Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation has sparked an international conversation about screen time. In this episode, we talk about the topic as it relates to connection and disconnection, considering both aspects together. Listen to hear ideas about how to navigate this tricky topic.

What do you do when your kid says, "I'm bored!" — and how does boredom relate to spirituality? In this episode, the Uplift team explores the best ways to navigate feelings of boredom at home.

If you're a member, check out the full lesson at: UpliftKids.org/lessons/boredom

If you're not a member, start a free two-week trial: https://upliftkids.org/join/membership

Finding the balance between structure and flexibility in the morning routine helps everyone feel prepared for whatever comes their way. In this episode, Amanda, Jon, and Michelle share their own struggles to make mornings work as well as small ways they find connection.

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/mornings/

Wisdom is when we can discern what is the best way forward, especially as it relates to two good things. It's easy to tell your kid to be kind. But what about being kind *and* honest? Wisdom is when we can discern what's appropriate in any given moment.

In this followup episode to last week's conversation about spiritual parenting, the Uplift team discusses specific ways to implement spiritual parenting at home.

See the guide at UpliftKids.org/Resources

Spiritual parenting is the practice of helping your kids connect with awe, love, and purpose. This episode explores why it matters and how to implement it at home.

See the full guide here.

We all benefit when we appreciate the beauty and complexity of our diverse minds. Hear about the direct experiences the Uplift team has had working with neurodiverse kids.

By becoming calm enough to listen to your anger, you’ll hear what it’s trying to tell you. In this episode we explore practices to navigate angry feelings in a healthy and mature way — showing how at its core, dealing with anger can be a spiritual, transformative practice.

When we know what depression is, we can be better prepared if it surfaces.

See the lesson (for members).

See the article from Drew Hansen, Uplift Cofounder.

By learning to work with our feelings, we can better connected to life. (Note that this lesson is a followup to our lesson on naming emotions.)

Get our free Uplift emotions chart: https://upliftkids.org/emotions

Access our full lesson library here: https://upliftkids.org/join/membership

In this episode, Amanda Suarez (school psychologist and conscious parenting coach) and Michelle Larsen (marriage and family therapy associate) talk to Jon Ogden about how kids can learn to name and feel all emotions instead of pushing them away.

This episode is slightly longer and showcases a change in our approach. We'll be iterating even more in future episodes!

Here is our emotions chart: https://upliftkids.org/emotions

And here is the lesson: https://upliftkids.org/lessons/naming-emotions/

Attachment to material possessions clutters our lives and distracts from what brings joy. In this episode, Amanda Suarez, school psychologist, and Michelle Larson, marriage and family therapy associate, talk about materialism, minimalism, and trends — and how spiritual health can help us live more fully.

By making your home a place where discussions about spirituality feel safe, you open the possibility for more profound moments of connection.

Knowing the patterns of life can help us grow with grace. Hear how to help kids set out on an "adventure" of learning and growth and give them a deeper sense of inner confidence.

Remembering our past challenges can help us through our current ones.

We feel more free and whole when we’re consistently honest. In this episode, the Uplift Team discusses how to explore honesty together in a balanced (gentle and firm) way.

When we’re aware of what’s present, we make better choices about how we live our life. In this discussion, the Uplift Team discusses mindful strategies including the technique of see, hear, feel.

When we have true curiosity we are less judgmental of ourselves and others. In this episode we talk about how to curious alongside kids as well as how to be curious with ourselves — and how both approaches lead to love.

When we feel and alleviate the suffering of others, we find meaning and happiness in life. This lesson contains scenarios, activities, and curated videos that highlight the power of compassion.

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/compassion/

Mindful eating is a wisdom practice that can help us be in tune with our bodies, enjoy meals more fully, and draw closer together.

When we focus on our breath, we reduce stress and lay the foundation for additional meditation techniques. In this episode, we talk about ways to engage kids in meditative techniques — even without ever using the word "meditation." If you're interested in exploring a meditative practice of your own, we recommend the checking out the podcast Mindfulness+ by meditation teacher Thomas McConkie.

When we reflect deeply on wisdom, we awaken to a sense of fullness and wonder in life. In this episode we talk about wisdom texts from around the world as well as a wisdom approach to texts — a practice that might be thought of as devotional reading, wisdom reading, scripture study, sacred reading, or something else. The goal is to celebrate words that open the heart.

When we’re free from distraction and able to focus, we learn more effectively and live more fully.

When we practice deliberately and achieve our heart’s desire, we experience deep joy. Explore how to improve our thoughts and behavior.

When we stick with something we care about, even through difficulty or boredom, we develop grit.

When we practice courage we learn how to stand up for ourselves and other people. We might still feel fear, but we can put our courage in front of that fear.

Each of us has unique strengths. Before we can give them to the world, we must find and develop them.

By setting intentions and creating the right plans and systems, we can get what we want.

When we cultivate hope we can navigate hard times without despair. As Amanda Suarez says, "When I think about the way real deep transcendent hope shows up, it's a fundamental trust in life — that life will support us, that life will hold us through the ups and downs. So deep hope really has no object. There's no need for a certain outcome. There's no need to reach a certain place."

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/hope/

Always treat others with dignity and kindness — especially those who are least fortunate. In this episode, Amanda, Michelle, and Jon talk about personal experiences with kindness and how kindness and achievement go hand in hand.

By reflecting on what makes us feel alive, we discover purpose in life and improve our well-being. This episode explores how to find many purposes depending on what makes you feel alive.

When we give, we feel closer to others and to our highest self.

Humility is courageous. It opens the door to learning and growth. In this episode we explore ways to help kids see that humility is the opposite of self-loathing or self-boasting. It's the key to growth.

In the daily grind of life, we can lose sight of what we have, not realizing the magic that each moment offers. Gratitude helps us love what's here.

As we carve out moments for stillness and contemplation, we get clarity about what matters most in life.

When we’re intentional about our influences, we’re intentional about who we become. This lesson helps families build a creative lineage or wisdom council that can be a source of stability and guidance in life. See the lesson: https://upliftkids.org/lessons/role-models/

Telling family stories gives us strength in hard times. This episode can help you spark conversations in the home about the stories that matter most to your family.

Find insights from the world’s wisdom traditions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Christianity, Stoicism, Sufism, and more.

Any virtue held too tightly becomes a vice. In this episode, we explore polarities: complementary opposites that rely on each other like the in-breath and the out-breath.

Forgiveness is a gift we can choose to give others and ourselves. In this episode, the Uplift Kids team talks about why forgiveness matters and how to keep boundaries in the process.

When we embody fairness, we receive what we need while making sure there’s enough for others. Hear ways to respond when kids say, "That's not fair!"

When we recognize the qualities of a good friend we also learn how to be a good friend. See the full lesson for scripts and prompts to help kids learn how to find, keep, or (when appropriate) end a friendship.

https://upliftkids.org/lessons/friendship/

When we see ourselves and other people for who we truly are, we embody an attitude of respect.

The skill of self-advocacy helps us to know what is important and communicate our needs with love and respect. Hear why this topic matters more than you might realize.

As we practice being direct and kind, we develop an empowered mindset and stand up for ourselves and others. See the full lesson for the chart referenced in this episode: https://upliftkids.org/lessons/bullying/

This week, we're talking about activism. As we talk about it in this week's featured lesson, activism isn't tied inherently to any political party or ideology. It's just about how we can help kids act on their inner values to reduce suffering in the world.

Explore why exercise matters and how you can turn inside to figure out what type of movement works for you.

When we allow ourselves to fully enjoy life, we connect to an intrinsic joy.

Dance brings happiness to millions of people around the world, alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety. In this episode, we explore the connection between dance and emotional and spiritual health.

When we immerse ourselves in music — particularly while in community — we open up the possibility of experiencing the transcendent.

As we get “in the zone,” we experience the natural delights of life. See the lesson to spark a conversation about flow: https://upliftkids.org/lessons/flow/

When we develop the skill of critical thinking, we are more equipped to navigate life with integrity and humility. See our critical thinking lesson for an easy 20-minute family experience, and read our article "Healthy Spirituality Vs. Toxic Spirituality" for more.

Explore how good humor can bring people closer to each other and our inner voice.

By living with an attitude of creativity, we stay open to the joy of inspiration.

Rest is restorative and essential to physical and spiritual health. See the full lesson for engaging ways to spark a conversation about sleep habits for all ages at home.

When we address conflict directly and work through it, we strengthen our bonds to each other.

Using digital technology wisely can help us be more fully in our life.

When we mindfully clean a shared space together, we feel like we belong.

With self-compassion we recognize our own suffering and respond with kindness and care for others.

Whether through stillness or movement, we have resources (including our inner compass) to find calm in the chaos.

**Note: The audio quality for this first episode isn't as optimized as our other episodes.

By sticking to a regular journal practice that we make our own, we can see how we change over time and experience inner transformation.