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We unpack how sensory integration shapes behavior, learning, and emotions, and why kids may react so strongly to noise, textures, or crowds. We share practical tools to reduce overload, build routines, and guide kids toward regulation, curiosity, and growth.

• Defining proprioception, vestibular input, and interoception
• How brain development affects perception and safety signals
• Overstimulation versus engagement in groups and classrooms
• Age-by-age sensory milestones and play that builds regulation
• Simple home strategies including movement, bins, and fidgets
• Room design, lighting, and acoustics that lower stress
• Screens, dopamine, and passive sensory diets
• Spotting red flags that disrupt daily functioning

Contact:
podcasts@calfarley.org

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https://secure.calfarley.org/site/Donation2?3358.donation=form1&df_id=3358&mfc_pref=T

To Apply:
https://apply.workable.com/cal-farleys-boys-ranch/j/25E1226091/

For More Information about Cal Farley's Boys Ranch:
https://www.calfarley.org/

Music:
"Shine" -Newsboys
CCS License No. 9402

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Ever feel the urge to “match” your child’s intensity and show who’s in charge? That reflex has a name—counteraggression—and it’s quietly wrecking connection at home. We unpack why power struggles feel so tempting, how mirror neurons pull us into escalation, and what it actually takes to set firm, respectful boundaries without losing your cool.

We get practical: the subtle red flags of counteraggression (including sarcasm and the cold shoulder), the pride and fear that justify “teaching a lesson,” and the long-term cost when kids learn to walk on eggshells. You’ll hear simple moves that work under pressure—front-loading your mindset with a mantra, using tag-team handoffs with your partner, stepping away when hijacked, and using curiosity to understand what just changed in the room. We share moments we blew it, why repair matters more than perfection, and a phrase that instantly diffuses baiting: “We’re not talking about that.”

You’ll also learn how to model healthy conflict in everyday life—from a frustrating cashier to a tough work call—because your kids are always watching how you treat people who get it wrong. We talk through sincere apologies that rebuild trust (“I owe you an apology for…”) and why consistent, calm limits beat winning the argument. Expect practical scripts, relatable stories, and a hopeful reset: you can stop the spiral without becoming permissive.

Ready to trade power struggles for steady leadership? Press play, subscribe for more brain-based parenting tools, and share your toughest trigger or go-to de-escalation line in a review. Your story might help another parent find calm today.

Contact:
podcasts@calfarley.org

To Donate:
https://secure.calfarley.org/site/Donation2?3358.donation=form1&df_id=3358&mfc_pref=T

To Apply:
https://apply.workable.com/cal-farleys-boys-ranch/j/25E1226091/

For More Information about Cal Farley's Boys Ranch:
https://www.calfarley.org/

Music:
"Shine" -Newsboys
CCS License No. 9402

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Kick off the year 2026 with 25 Parenting tips to start you our on the right foot

Contact:
podcasts@calfarley.org

To Donate:
https://secure.calfarley.org/site/Donation2?3358.donation=form1&df_id=3358&mfc_pref=T

To Apply:
https://apply.workable.com/cal-farleys-boys-ranch/j/25E1226091/

For More Information about Cal Farley's Boys Ranch:
https://www.calfarley.org/

Music:
"Shine" -Newsboys
CCS License No. 9402

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Predictability isn’t boring when you’re raising an anxious or easily overwhelmed child—it’s a lifeline. We walk through how structure lowers the brain’s threat response, why surprises often backfire for kids with trauma histories, and how to build a simple regulation schedule that targets the toughest moments of the day. You’ll hear concrete examples from home and classroom life, including how a two-minute pre-class check-in turned a dreaded period into a manageable one, and why short, well-timed breaks restore focus faster than pushing through.

We compare daily routines with regulation schedules and explain how to spot a child’s arousal pattern—when they spike into restlessness or sink into dissociation—so you can match the right tool at the right time. From crunchy vs. chewy snacks to chair push-pulls, breath work, walks, rocking, and DIY fidgets, we share a toolbox that respects sensory preferences and honors the fact that one size never fits all. You’ll also learn to read nonverbal cues—posture, breathing, eye contact, pace of speech—to catch dysregulation early and intervene before behaviors escalate.

Travel and chaotic seasons don’t have to break your stride. We offer front-loading strategies, visual lists, and small rituals that add predictability on the go, plus a reminder that proactive minutes on the front end save hours on the back end. If you’re a tired parent or educator, consider this a warm nudge: you’re not alone, and modeling your own regulation is one of the most powerful lessons you can give. If these strategies help your family regain calm and connection, subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a quick review so more caregivers can find practical, trauma-informed support.

Contact:
podcasts@calfarley.org

To Donate:
https://secure.calfarley.org/site/Donation2?3358.donation=form1&df_id=3358&mfc_pref=T

To Apply:
https://apply.workable.com/cal-farleys-boys-ranch/j/25E1226091/

For More Information about Cal Farley's Boys Ranch:
https://www.calfarley.org/

Music:
"Shine" -Newsboys
CCS License No. 9402

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It's the Boys Ranch Christmas Special!!!

We swap carols, movies, and traditions while tracing why Christmas music unites people and how simple rituals build belonging for families and kids at Boys Ranch. Stories of Santa surprises, caroling nuns, and a candlelit Cantata bring humor, hope, and heart.

• favorite parts of the season, from lights to gifts
• when to start Christmas music and why it lifts mood
• why shared carols feel universal and participatory
• top three Christmas songs with personal reasons
• family traditions that create belonging and meaning
• tipping servers, gingerbread builds, and tree light sleepovers
• Christmas movie rankings and what they teach us
• It’s A Wonderful Life as a lens on purpose and worth
• Boys Ranch memories of Santa, gratitude, and joy
• Cantata, transformed dining hall, and caroling nuns

Contact:
podcasts@calfarley.org

To Donate:
https://secure.calfarley.org/site/Donation2?3358.donation=form1&df_id=3358&mfc_pref=T

To Apply:
https://apply.workable.com/cal-farleys-boys-ranch/j/25E1226091/

For More Information about Cal Farley's Boys Ranch:
https://www.calfarley.org/

Music:
"Shine" -Newsboys
CCS License No. 9402

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We unpack how regulation, not compliance, drives real change and why the brain’s state decides whether a child can listen, connect, and learn. We share tools for co-regulation, decode hyperarousal and dissociation, and show how to move from chaos to cortex with simple, steady steps.

• defining regulation as the capacity to regain control and act with intent
• differences between regulation and compliance
• arousal continuum from calm to terror linked to brain regions
• state-dependent functioning and why language fails in survival mode
• hyperarousal versus dissociation and how both block learning
• regulate, relate, reason as a practical sequence
• rhythmic, repetitive, patterned activities that soothe the lower brain
• mirror neurons, co-regulation, and caregiver self-checks
• trauma, sensory overload, and environmental tweaks that help
• behavior as communication and the power of snacks, water, and movement
• spotting re-regulation and building a personal toolbox
• honoring processing styles and using timed check-ins

Contact:
podcasts@calfarley.org

To Donate:
https://secure.calfarley.org/site/Donation2?3358.donation=form1&df_id=3358&mfc_pref=T

To Apply:
https://apply.workable.com/cal-farleys-boys-ranch/j/25E1226091/

For More Information about Cal Farley's Boys Ranch:
https://www.calfarley.org/

Music:
"Shine" -Newsboys
CCS License No. 9402

Send us a text

We unpack how confidence is the courage to use a skill and competence is the skill itself, then show how kids develop both through safe struggle, real responsibility and calm, consistent coaching. Stories from home, school and sports illustrate when to step in, when to step back and how to turn failure into resilience.

• confidence as courage, competence as skill
• failure reframed as data for learning
• real-world tasks with natural consequences
• knowing when to help and when to wait
• language that builds self-belief and grit
• modeling calm confidence under stress
• chunking big tasks to prevent overwhelm
• partnering with teachers, coaches and mentors

Contact:
podcasts@calfarley.org

To Donate:
https://secure.calfarley.org/site/Donation2?3358.donation=form1&df_id=3358&mfc_pref=T

To Apply:
https://apply.workable.com/cal-farleys-boys-ranch/j/25E1226091/

For More Information about Cal Farley's Boys Ranch:
https://www.calfarley.org/

Music:
"Shine" -Newsboys
CCS License No. 9402

Send us a text

We explore how everyday movement regulates kids’ brains, lifts moods, and strengthens family bonds, then trade practical ways to make activity normal, fun, and realistic. From garage gyms to free play and turkey trots, we show how tiny steps become lasting habits.

• why physical activity regulates mood and brain development
• modeling movement as parents through daily routines
• realistic active family habits without perfection
• balancing organized sports with unstructured free play
• engaging shy or nonathletic kids through low-pressure options
• replacing screens with connection and active fun
• overcoming barriers like time, weather and discomfort
• simple first steps and backup plans for consistency

Give the podcast a five-star review

Contact:
podcasts@calfarley.org

To Donate:
https://secure.calfarley.org/site/Donation2?3358.donation=form1&df_id=3358&mfc_pref=T

To Apply:
https://apply.workable.com/cal-farleys-boys-ranch/j/25E1226091/

For More Information about Cal Farley's Boys Ranch:
https://www.calfarley.org/

Music:
"Shine" -Newsboys
CCS License No. 9402