Right Moves: A LiiNK Center for Healthy Play Podcast

Dr. Rhea is back with Dr. Daphne Harris to continue their conversation on father daughter play, diving into the effects of intersectionality, mental health, and the importance of a strong support system.

Daphne Chambers Harris, a dynamic speaker, researcher, and dedicated educator, holds a master's degree in clinical community psychology from Texas Southern University and a Ph.D. in Child Development from Texas Woman’s University. She serves as faculty at the University of North Texas-Denton within the College of Education’s Educational Psychology Department. In this role, she teaches courses in human development and family science and instructs courses on the administration and management of youth and family programs. She is also a non-profit consultant with expertise in organization start-up, program design, and implementation. 

Dr. Harris's research is centered on exploring the lived experiences of Black children, families, and communities. Her current speaking topics and academic interests include examining Black men's mental health and masculinity, parenting socialization practices, homeschooling, play, and fatherhood among men of African descent. 

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Dr. Rhea brings on Dr. Daphne Harris from the University of North Texas, to share how her relationship with her father and the lessons she learned through father daughter play shaped her life and her career.

Daphne Chambers Harris, a dynamic speaker, researcher, and dedicated educator, holds a master's degree in clinical community psychology from Texas Southern University and a Ph.D. in Child Development from Texas Woman’s University. She serves as faculty at the University of North Texas-Denton within the College of Education’s Educational Psychology Department. In this role, she teaches courses in human development and family science and instructs courses on the administration and management of youth and family programs. She is also a non-profit consultant with expertise in organization start-up, program design, and implementation. 

Dr. Harris's research is centered on exploring the lived experiences of Black children, families, and communities. Her current speaking topics and academic interests include examining Black men's mental health and masculinity, parenting socialization practices, homeschooling, play, and fatherhood among men of African descent. 

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Dr. Rhea brings back Cheryl Potemkin, this time to discuss her other role with Fort Worth Botanic Gardens and the development of the new family garden coming soon! Learn all the exciting features of the garden and how it will promote risky play, curiosity, and confidence in children and a great place for adults to find their inner play as a “Garden of YES!”.

Cheryl Potemkin is the Early Childhood Program Manager at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. At FWBG Cheryl is dedicated to implementing early childhood programs and professional development, teaching science thinking concepts through quality children’s literature and hands-on Environmental-STEM activities. Cheryl is also the lead for the OLE! Texas DFW Coalition, part of the statewide initiative dedicated to improving health and wellness through outdoor learning environments, as well as one of the North Texas Regional leads for the Texas Children in Nature Network.

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Dr. Rhea brings on early childhood educator and OLE! Texas leadership member, Cheryl Potemkin, to share her expertise on outdoor learning environments. Listen as they discuss the goals of OLE! Texas, the benefits and qualities of outdoor learning environments, and the abundance of resources in Texas and nationwide for the promotion of outdoor learning.

Cheryl Potemkin is currently exploring a love of nature and early childhood education as the Early Childhood Program Manager at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. At FWBG Cheryl is dedicated to implementing early childhood programs and professional development, teaching science thinking concepts through quality children’s literature and hands-on Environmental-STEM activities. Cheryl is also the lead for the OLE! Texas DFW Coalition, part of the statewide initiative dedicated to improving health and wellness through outdoor learning environments, as well as one of the North Texas Regional leads for the Texas Children in Nature Network.

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Dr. Rhea continues her discussion from a whole-health perspective and introducing more blurred lines between healthy and unhealthy habits. Tune in as Dr. Rhea discusses more about diets, healthy eating,  and how to manage individual food issues.

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Unstructured play is necessary to all humans, especially children, but how easy is it to have unstructured play in our daily lives? We can play anywhere… right? Dr. Rhea brings in Bethany Fort to explain the prevalence of play deserts, particularly in urban areas, and how her non-profit, ”Out to Play”, is working to bring unstructured play to you!

Why are the physical and mental health of our youth declining? Dr. Rhea brings back her PhD candidate, G. Kate Webb, to discuss the two extremes of children’s activity levels that we see today – sedentary behavior, and specialization in sport. Both of these lifestyles can take away from the amount of unstructured, outdoor play a child receives, which in turn leads to decreased muscle strength, possible injuries at very early ages, and an overall decline in physical and mental health as children develop and mature.

Kate Webb graduated with a B.S. degree and Master’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science from Tarleton State University, worked as the Education and Retreat Director for Camp Eagle (Christian Adventure Camp in the Texas Hill Country), as a Biology/PE Teacher - Head Track/CC Coach at Wylie High School, and in the fitness industry.  As an educator, she completed the Principalship Certification in Educational Leadership at Dallas Baptist University and the Level 2 USATF Coach Certification. 

In the fitness industry, she taught group fitness classes, and traveled with MASHUP Conditioning as a coach/presenter at SCW conferences.  As a NASM Sport Performance Specialist, she worked with children on developing foundational fitness to improve stability/flexibility/mobility to aid in decreased body imbalances and injury.  Additionally, she created a free Summer Track and Field Program for k-12 that has just completed its fifth season.

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Are we over-diagnosing and over-medicating ADHD in kids? Avigail Gimpel returns with Dr. Rhea to further discuss the ADHD epidemic, long-term effects of ADHD medication, and what it would be like to prescribe nature as an aid for ADHD symptoms.

Avigail earned her BA and graduate degree at Touro college graduate school for Special Education. She married Daniel Gimpel in 1998 while teaching 3rd grade in an inclusion classroom. In this school, she developed a successful intervention program for her students struggling with ADHD symptoms.  

She and Daniel emigrated to Israel soon after their marriage.  Avigail earned advanced degrees in teaching children with Dyslexia and cognitive education for children with ADHD symptoms. In 2003, she and her husband, with three small children moved to Moscow, Russia.  She observed that kids with ADHD have very similar symptoms in New York, Jerusalem, and Moscow.  

Upon returning to Israel, she immersed herself in developing treatment options for ADHD for her own six kids and struggling students.  She built a teacher’s training program which she teaches at Hertzog College. She lectures in schools and to parent groups across Israel.  In private practice, she educates parents to become ADHD coaches to their children. She is the author of HyperHealing, The Empowered Parent’s Complete Guide to Raising a Healthy Child with ADHD Symptoms (a #1 best seller on Amazon), and HyperHealing, Show Me the Science! 

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ADHD has reached endemic levels in today’s youth, and it’s become increasingly difficult to distinguish ADHD-like symptoms from true ADHD. Dr. Rhea brings in author and educator, Avigail Gimpel, to share her personal journey with ADHD. They discuss what ADHD symptoms may look like in youth and adults, how technology has affected symptom prevalence, and whether exercise could be the key.

Avigail earned her BA and graduate degree at Touro college graduate school for Special Education. She married Daniel Gimpel in 1998 while teaching 3rd grade in an inclusion classroom. In this school, she developed a successful intervention program for her students struggling with ADHD symptoms. She and Daniel emigrated to Israel soon after their marriage.  Avigail earned advanced degrees in teaching children with Dyslexia and cognitive education for children with ADHD symptoms.

In 2003, she and her husband, with three small children moved to Moscow, Russia. She observed that kids with ADHD have very similar symptoms in New York, Jerusalem, and Moscow.  

Upon returning to Israel, she immersed herself in developing treatment options for ADHD for her own six kids and struggling students.  She built a teacher’s training program which she teaches at Hertzog College. She lectures in schools and to parent groups across Israel.  In private practice, she educates parents to become ADHD coaches to their children. She is the author of HyperHealing, The Empowered Parent’s Complete Guide to Raising a Healthy Child with ADHD Symptoms (a #1 best seller on Amazon), and HyperHealing, Show Me the Science! 

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Jennifer Jolly returns with Dr. Rhea to continue their discussion on TBRI, this time focusing on professional settings. TBRI is adaptable to any setting with a caregiver role, including schools. So how do we help teachers understand and implement the TBRI model in classrooms?

Jennifer Jolly is a pastor's wife and mom of two biological sons, 22 and 20, and one adoptive son, 18. Her "Varsity sports" are grocery shopping and sitting in bleachers, which she has done in all seasons in stadiums and gyms around the Northwest Georgia area. She has a Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling and a Masters in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. In 2017 she sought TBRI out of desperation in their adoptive parenting journey. She became a Making Sense of Your Worth and Parenting for Positive Self Worth facilitator in October of 2022. She worked for six years as a secondary school Guidance Counselor before shifting gears to work on implementing TBRI in the YMCA after-school program housed in Restoration Rome. She is currently in her third year as the TBRI Coordinator for Rome City Schools. She loves her role in scaffolding change and implementing TBRI at the micro and macro level in each school and the school system as a whole. 

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Dr. Rhea sits down with former school guidance counselor and current TBRI coordinator, Jennifer Jolly, to share her personal and professional journey with TBRI. TBRI, or Trust-Based Relational Intervention, is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. Jennifer explains how TBRI has helped her gain a wider understanding of herself and her kids, both biological and adopted.

Jennifer Jolly is a pastor's wife and mom of two biological sons, 22 and 20, and one adoptive son, 18. Her "Varsity sports" are grocery shopping and sitting in bleachers, which she has done in all seasons in stadiums and gyms around the Northwest Georgia area. She has a Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling and a Masters in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. In 2017 she sought TBRI out of desperation in their adoptive parenting journey. She became a Making Sense of Your Worth and Parenting for Positive Self Worth facilitator in October of 2022. She worked for six years as a secondary school Guidance Counselor before shifting gears to work on implementing TBRI in the YMCA after-school program housed in Restoration Rome. She is currently in her third year as the TBRI Coordinator for Rome City Schools. She loves her role in scaffolding change and implementing TBRI at the micro and macro level in each school and the school system as a whole.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Jenny Eyer returns with Dr. Rhea to talk about her current role at the American Heart Association (AHA), and the differences between state and local policy. They discuss her team’s current goals to improve public health initiatives of which recess and nutrition are at the top.

Jenny Eyer graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry from Abilene Christian University and earned her MPH with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health. A native Texan, Jenny has spent her entire career focused on improving the lives of children and their families across the state, working to make Texas a great place to live, work, pray, and play.

Her work has included passing legislation at the state level that has increased food access for students across the state, partnering with school districts to expand meal programs before and after the school day, and conducting research around physical activity in schools to inform state and local legislation.

As the Vice President of Health Strategies, for AHA’s North Texas area, she focuses her time on implementing community-facing programs, advocating for sustainable policy solutions, and ensuring all North Texans have the ability to live longer, healthier lives. She is a member of the LiiNK Advisory Board and a Fellow of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Child Health Leadership Network. Her favorite job, though, is raising her three children with her husband, Jesse, and drinking lots of coffee.

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Dr. Rhea brings on public health advocate, Jenny Eyer, to share her story of what drove her to focus on nutrition and food availability for kids. Jenny’s primary focus encompasses policy changes around free and reduced breakfast & lunch in schools.

Jenny Eyer graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry from Abilene Christian University and earned her MPH with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health. A native Texan, Jenny has spent her entire career focused on improving the lives of children and their families across the state, working to make Texas a great place to live, work, pray, and play.

Her work has included passing legislation at the state level that has increased food access for students across the state, partnering with school districts to expand meal programs before and after the school day, and conducting research around physical activity in schools to inform state and local legislation.

As the Vice President of Health Strategies, for AHA’s North Texas area, she focuses her time on implementing community-facing programs, advocating for sustainable policy solutions, and ensuring all North Texans have the ability to live longer, healthier lives. She is a member of the LiiNK Advisory Board and a Fellow of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Child Health Leadership Network. Her favorite job, though, is raising her three children with her husband, Jesse, and drinking lots of coffee.

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Dr. Rhea sits down with Summer Belloni again to discuss the importance of advocacy for parents and educators in schools and the barriers they may face. They also discuss "practice what you preach" and why having access to recess, child-directed play, and the outdoors is the place where children learn how to learn.

Dr. Rhea sits down with play advocate and former teacher, Summer Belloni M.Ed, to share her view on why play is important for kids. Summer describes her advocacy work and collaboration with the Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC) for increased recess in Midland, Texas.

Summer Belloni, a former teacher with experience in elementary and middle school education, is passionate about getting kids outside as much as possible.  She taught in both public and private schools in California and Louisiana before relocating to Texas where she managed a community engagement website for families. 

Dr. Rhea and early-learning play advocate, Tessa Baden, discuss the power of trusting and listening to your children’s interests and abilities to help nurture unstructured play and independence. Often times, the best way to steer your child toward exceptional overall health and academics is to let the child do the steering.

Tessa Baden is a nature and play advocate who shares her personal transformation story to inspire reflection, connection and evolution in others.  She started her career at Camp C.A.M.P. and preschools. Tessa has spent 15 + years journeying through public and private spaces exploring opportunities to ensure adults trust and honor children’s learning to occur in its most authentic form.  She encourages others to name the challenges and fears they face in working with children and find peaceful ways to transform thinking and action. Her personal mission is to advocate peace for all children and those who guide them in all spaces, always. Tessa is the mother to 2 strong, clever, and compelling souls. Her favorite place to be is outside camping, walking, hiking, but especially playing with loose parts in her backyard!

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It’s Mental Health Awareness Month! How can we address the mental health crisis plaguing us today? Dr. Rhea brings on therapist and social worker, Talia Filippelli, to discuss the stigma around mental health and how play, empathy, and therapy are all key in creating more resilient children and adults.

Dr. Rhea brings back Dr. Catherine Ramstetter and Dr. Robert Murray for part two of their series. Listen as they share their thoughts on Medina’s Big Three - sleep, play and nutrition – in schools. What’s in a donut? Let’s find out!

Dr. Rhea brings on colleagues and collaborators, Dr. Catherine Ramstetter and Dr. Robert Murray, to discuss their work in promoting play and recess, and their perspective on the importance of recess on children’s health.

What should we be focused on in our childhood and youth to decrease risk of chronic disease as we age? Dr. Rhea brings back Dr. John Medina for part 2 of their discussion on factors that affect memory and overall health. This time, they focus on stress and the brain-body connection.

Dr. Medina is a developmental molecular biologist focused on the genes involved in human brain development and the genetics of psychiatric disorders. He has spent most of his professional life as a private research consultant, working primarily in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries on research related to mental health. Medina is an affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Medina was the founding director of the Talaris Research Institute, a Seattle-based research center originally focused on how infants encode and process information at the cognitive, cellular, and molecular levels. Medina is also the author of the New York Times bestseller “Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work” and the national bestseller “Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five”.

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Dr. Rhea and Dr. Bauml are back for the third and final installment of their discussion on early childhood education and unstructured play. They’ve talked about not letting the weather stop you from getting outside as long as it’s safe, but what about when it isn’t? If we must stay indoors, there are still plenty of ways to create unstructured play environments for our kids and students that foster social/emotional, physical, and cognitive growth.   Dr. Michelle Bauml is the Clotilda Winter Professor of Education and an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning Sciences at TCU with an emphasis in social studies education. As a former elementary teacher, Dr. Bauml’s research and teaching reflect her beliefs that children need ample opportunities for creative expression, play, and meaningful instruction in today’s schools. She conducts qualitative research aimed at helping teachers navigate professional complexities to make thoughtful, effective curricular and instructional decisions in order to promote student learning. Prior to joining the faculty at TCU, Dr. Bauml taught at a Title 1 elementary school in the Houston area and coached beginning teachers in Houston ISD. She has extensive experience working with prospective and early career teachers, and she enjoys teaching undergraduate courses for the Early Childhood Education (EC-6) program and graduate courses in Curriculum and Instruction. In 2021, Dr. Bauml received a university Deans Teaching Award for excellence in teaching. She was also granted the Honorary Leon Jaworski Award for Teaching Excellence in Law Focused Education by the State Bar of Texas and Texas Young Lawyers Association in 2016.

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Has the desire to go outside in the rain – or at all – dwindled in recent generations? Dr. Rhea is back with Dr. Bauml to discuss how weather can affect play, and why it shouldn’t always stop you from heading outdoors. Listen as they reminisce on childhood memories of soggy shoes, puddle jumping, and making the most of the weather.

Dr. Rhea sits down with friend and colleague, Dr. Michelle Bauml, to discuss unstructured or child directed play vs. structured or adult directed play in the school setting through the lens of early childhood development and education.