What happens when a child’s inner voice turns harsh before they even understand what it means to feel overwhelmed or afraid? And what can we do as parents, educators, and leaders to help rewrite that voice into something supportive and grounded?

In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with Monique Marcotte, founder of TRY, The Real You, a social emotional learning company that helps young people understand themselves from the inside out. With nineteen years in the classroom and powerful experience facilitating empathy based programs with Challenge Day, Monique has dedicated her work to helping kids build emotional awareness, resilience, and a healthier relationship with themselves.

Together, they explore how emotions move through the body, why the vagus nerve matters more than most of us realize, and how simple frameworks like the balloon theory can give kids practical ways to calm their bodies and name what they feel. Monique also shares how effective apologies build trust, why early beliefs can shape self perception for years, and how adults can use the same tools to lead with more compassion at home, at school, and at work.

This conversation is as relevant for leaders as it is for parents. It reminds us that emotional literacy is a learned skill, and that helping kids understand their inner world also teaches us how to navigate our own.

And just a heads up — the first half of this episode has a few small audio glitches. Stick with it, though, because the conversation that follows is really worth it. Thanks for tuning in!

Episode Resources:

Monique Marcotte: Website

Try - The Real You Workshops

ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

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