Family 360 Podcast

Through her study and work with children in trauma, Dr. Lacy Finn Borgo sees the importance of trusted adults engaging in spiritual conversation with children, and describes BOW (an acronym for Body, Openness and Wonder) that avails children to encounter deeper connection with themselves, others and the natural and supernatural world.

In this episode, author and social justice activist Tim Huff discusses compassion through the lens of his three decades serving the homeless on the streets of Toronto. Tim believes bringing children into conversations on social concern is key to how we develop and build our cultural capacity for compassion. Tim speaks internationally to students and school boards using a program called The Compassion Series.

In this episode, neurologic music therapist Allison Davies describes MUSIC as, “the mother tongue of the brain” and an antidote to the bombardment of sensory information flooding our world. This interview is filled with accessible ideas for a practice Allison calls “musical parenting” – using music to ease and support the dysregulation of our children’s brains and bodies.

Kim Zeglinski grew up “pretending to be normal”. Her young son’s diagnosis of autism offered Kim insight, not only for her son but also for herself. At 43 years of age, Kim too was diagnosed on the spectrum. In this episode, Kim shares her story, one that is common to many adults who remain undiagnosed throughout childhood and adolescence.

In this episode, sexual health educator and author Saleema Noon shares with a candor, humor and humility that have earned her multiple awards and national acclaim. “All children have a right to scientific understanding about their bodies,” says Saleema, “however, parents are the ones who explain values around sex because those will differ in every family.” Through her book Talk Sex Today, and her online courses and workshops, Saleema warmly and wisely helps children and parents navigate these potentially complicated conversations.

In this episode of Family360, pediatrician and adolescent specialist, Dr. Dzung Vo, describes ‘stress’ as a root cause of mental and physical health during teen years. “Adolescence is a time when our kids need us the most,” says Dr. Vo, yet, while we try to help them manage stress, it can feel like they resist our care. In this interview, Dr. Vo explains the delicate dance between parents and teens; how we can take the lead without stepping on their toes. He also shares from his impactful book The Mindful Teen (impactful for all ages!) with principles and practices that welcome stress to fuel our resilience rather than rule our reality.

In this episode, author and developmental theorist, Dr. Gordon Neufeld, describes the 7 properties of true play. He identifies play as a basic human drive that starts at birth and remains essential throughout all of life. Globally, psychologists pinpoint loss of play as central to the rise in anxiety, depression and mental suffering in children and adults. “True play,” says Dr Neufeld, “takes care of our emotions, opens the door to our potential, and is nature’s way of taking care of us.”

In this episode, author and parenting specialist Janet Lansbury explains why boundaries are one of the highest forms of love. Many parents are uncomfortable being large and in charge, even though their children desperately need and want them to be so. Janet says, “It’s next to impossible for children to accept our limits if we are anything but sure of ourselves.” Recognizing boundaries as evidence of our love and respect for our children gives confidence for that needed parental surety.

In this episode mental health specialist and Vicar, Dr. Sharon Smith, explains how we infuse protection and preventative care into our mental health by the giving and receiving of friendship. Whether or not we’re diagnosed with a mental health concern, all of us move between emotional flourishing and languishing. When we are “known” by another, a quality of relationship Dr.Smith describes in her conversation, our patterns of thinking can be safely and lovingly challenged. And this can make the difference in how we thrive.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “If we want to reach peace in the world, we must begin with the children.” His words are foundational to the mission of family 360 podcast. In this episode we’re sharing a collection of excerpts from our first season of guests. Each guest uniquely describes how we, “begin with the children,” and Gandhi’s implied necessity of starting with ourselves. For this Season One finale to Family360, we’ve divided the excerpts from our guests into four key conversations; The science of family. The philosophy of family. The heartache of family, and the potential of family. Thanks for following us at Family360! We are excited to jump into Season Two, continuing our conversations exploring all the ways we are family to each other.