Resilience is not just a buzzword; it is a life-changing practice rooted in the power of human connection. In 2015, the documentary Paper Tigers changed the conversation about education and childhood trauma forever, and today, those lessons are more vital than ever.

📺 Watch the full video version on YouTube!

In this special episode of the PAWsitive Choices Podcast, I am joined by Jim Sporleder—the visionary principal featured in the film—for a deep dive into the heart of resilience and trauma-responsive leadership.

Jim shares the moving story of how he led a revolution in school culture at Lincoln High School. After realizing the fundamental truth that "stressed brains can't learn," Jim and his team implemented trauma-responsive practices that led to a 75% decrease in fights and a five-fold increase in graduation rates. This interview captures Jim's unwavering belief that every child is just one caring adult away from a different future.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Power of One: Jim’s core philosophy that a single, stable, and caring relationship is one of the most powerful tools we have to build resilience in the face of adversity.
• From Informed to Responsive: Practical insights on moving beyond "trauma-informed" theory to creating a school culture that prioritizes safety and student relationships.
• Restorative Practices in Action: How to handle discipline in a way that maintains a student's sense of belonging and dignity while fostering learning and accountability.
• Student Achievement through Connection: Why focusing on a child's emotional well-being is one of the most effective ways to unlock their academic potential.

Key Takeaways from Jim:

• Safety First: Learning cannot happen if a student does not feel physically and emotionally safe.
• The Behavior is a Symptom: Looking past the "acting out" to see the toxic stress or trauma that is driving the reaction.
• Never Give Up: The importance of being the "one" who refuses to walk away from a struggling student.

Resources & Links:

• Watch the Film: Paper Tigers Documentary on Amazon
• Read the Book: The Trauma-Informed School: A Step-by-Step Implementation Guide by Jim Sporleder
• Connect with Jim: Jim Sporleder Consulting Official Website

Happy Holidays, everyone! 🎄 This conversation with Dr. Eko is the perfect reminder to lead with love and focus on connection during this busy time of year.

📺 Watch the full video version on YouTube! https://youtu.be/HWxqiUnuHmk

How do we truly hear what a child is trying to tell us? In this episode of the PAWsitive Choices Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Hokehe Eko—a board-certified pediatrician, ADHD/Autism expert, and author. We dive deep into why understanding a child's emotional "love language" is the key to strengthening your relationship and how nutrition and environment play a vital role in their brain health.

Key highlights from this episode:
→ Why children learn more from your actions than your words.
→ How life experiences significantly affect a child's behavior and development.
→ How nurturing and connection lead to profound, positive changes.
→ Why parents must address their own unresolved issues to support their children effectively.
→ How to foster a safe space that encourages open communication.
→ The vital role imagination plays in fostering creativity.
→ How nutrition directly impacts emotional well-being and brain health.
→ The Goal of Parenting: Shifting from "control" to helping children become the best version of themselves.

⭐ About Our Guest: Dr. Hokehe Eko is a Board-Certified Pediatrician specializing in Integrative Medicine and an ADHD/Autism Expert. Through her practice, Glow Pediatrics, she provides holistic care to improve behaviors and boost the gut and brain health of her patients. A TedX Speaker and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Eko has been featured on PBS, NPR, and Business Insider. She is also the founder of Kits of Hope, Inc., a 501c(3) organization sharing love and dignity with children in foster care.

📚 Featured Books & Resources:
→ Children's Love Letters: https://www.glowpediatrics.com/the-book
→ How to Love Your Brain and Make ADHD Your Superpower 🧠 https://youtu.be/HcV-bcOEwKQ
→ Fox Tries New Foods: https://a.co/d/iIcLtKc (Our PAWsitive Choices book to encourage healthy eating habits)

Connect with Dr. Eko: https://www.glowpediatrics.com

🧠 Our Journey: The Brain It On! Podcast- While PAWsitive Choices was on a hiatus, my husband Thomas and I launched a new project during his journey through Leukemia and a bone marrow transplant. Join us at The Brain It On! Podcast, where we talk about resilience and "loving your brain" through the hardest challenges: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheBrainitOnPodcast

#SEL #BrainHealth #ParentingTips #ADHD #Autism #DrHokeheEko #PawsitiveChoices #BrainItOn #FosterCare #IntegrativeMedicine #FoxTriesNewFoods

In this deeply personal and long-awaited episode, we offer an update on our lives since our last regular PAWsitive Choices content.

We share our journey navigating two profound family challenges that began almost simultaneously last year: my mother-in-law, Julie, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and just three months later, my husband and co-host, Thomas, was diagnosed with leukemia. Julie embraced her role as our "Cancer Club President," walking alongside us in solidarity until her passing in September.

We realized that the resilience, growth mindset, and brain-based strategies we taught through PAWsitive Choices became our absolute lifeline. This immediate need for coping tools led us to launch our new show, The Brain It On! Podcast, where we continue to share these strategies through cancer treatment and beyond.

To give you the full story, we are sharing the first episode of The Brain it On! Podcast, recorded live from Thomas's hospital room. At the time of this original recording, Thomas' mother was still with us. Julie has since passed away from pancreatic cancer. This episode captures the beginning of our journeys through cancer.

📺 Watch the video version of this special episode on our PAWsitive Choices YouTube Channel.

📢 The Future of Pawsitive Choices

We want to assure you that The PAWsitive Choices Podcast is NOT ending. While The Brain It On! Podcast is updated more frequently, we are still committed to sharing PAWsitive Choices content. Thank you for your incredible patience and support.

➡️ Please Join Our New Community!

You can find our most frequent and current episodes on our new platform. Please follow our ongoing journey and advice on building resilience together:

• Subscribe to The Brain It On! Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. (This is where you'll find frequent new episodes!)
• Subscribe to The Brain It On! YouTube Channel for video updates!

Connect with us on Instagram @thebrainitonpodcast📱 and thank you for being the most supportive community we could ask for.

If this episode helped you, please leave us a review and share it with someone who is navigating a hard season. ❤️