Chitty Chats with Stacy

What if some of the most important learning happening at school isn't happening inside the classroom?

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, I'm welcoming back my longtime friend and colleague Jon Konen, superintendent, author, and educational leader, to talk about why recess deserves more attention and why taking it away might be doing more harm than good.

Jon shares insights from his newest children's book, Peyton's Problems on the Playground Again, and the companion playbooks featuring 42 practical strategies for supporting student behavior, teaching conflict resolution, and building positive school cultures.

We...

What makes a great leader? Is it having all the answers, managing every problem, or creating an environment where others can succeed?

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, I sit down with Dr. Darrin Peppard, former educator, principal, superintendent, author, and founder of Road to Awesome, for a conversation about leadership, organizational culture, and the power of intentionality.

Drawing from his 26 years in public education and his current work coaching leaders and leadership teams, Darrin shares practical insights into moving from reactive to intentional leadership, building effective systems, and creating teams grounded in...

What does healing really take? And what happens when talking about our trauma isn't enough?

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, I'm joined by one of my dearest friends and fellow trauma therapists, Kate Nesterwitz, LMFT, founder of Conscious Pathways Therapy and Journey Work.

Kate and I have spent more than a decade exploring the complexities of trauma, relationships, and healing—both professionally and personally. And this conversation goes deep.

We explore the evolving world of psychedelic-assisted therapy, the importance of working with skilled, trauma-trained clinicians, and why healing requires so mu...

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy sits down with educator, author, speaker, and dyslexia and special education teacher Becca Engle for a powerful conversation about neurodivergence, regulation, play-based learning, and what it really means to teach the whole child.

Becca shares her perspective as both an educator and a neurodivergent person, offering practical insight into how teachers can better understand students with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, dysgraphia, executive functioning challenges, and other learning differences. Together, Stacy and Becca discuss why students need more than a one-size-fits-all approach, how classroom environments can support regulation, and why...

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy sits down with Eli Varney, a Wyoming veteran, trauma therapist, and former Wyoming Army National Guard officer, for a powerful conversation about trauma, dissociation, veterans, and what it really takes to heal.

Eli shares how his own military journey led him into mental health counseling and why traditional talk therapy is not always enough for people with deep trauma histories. Together, Stacy and Eli explore EMDR, Internal Family Systems, brain spotting, QEEG brain scans, somatic work, dissociation, and the importance of getting to the root of what is...

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy sits down with Stefanie Lachenauer, 2025 New Jersey Teacher of the Year, author of Let the Glitter Settle, middle school educator, and board member with the Attachment and Trauma Network. Stefanie shares what 20 years in the classroom have taught her about “kids these days,” technology, boredom, creativity, regulation, and why mindfulness belongs in the school day.  

Together, Stacy and Stefanie explore practical ways teachers and parents can help kids build self-awareness, manage big emotions, take breaks from screens, and reconnect through play, relationship, and community. Stefanie also talks about...

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy shares the story behind her new book, What Really Happens in Therapy: Behind Closed Doors, A Guided Journey to Healing, releasing June 15, 2026.

After more than 20 years as a clinician, 25 years in the mental health field, years of teaching trauma-informed practices, and a recent deployment working with Soldiers and Veterans, Stacy began asking a deeper question: Why don’t more people come to therapy, and what are they missing when they don’t?

This episode explores the barriers that keep people from seeking therapy, including cost...

In this heartfelt episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy speaks directly about Pride Month, allyship, trauma-informed care, and suicide prevention. She shares what it means to sit with people who believe the world would be better without them simply because of who they are, who they love, or how they live.

This conversation is a call to choose love over judgment, safety over shame, and humanity over hate. Stacy reminds listeners that being trauma-informed means making space for people to live fully, honestly, and safely. For LGBTQIA+ individuals, especially those carrying fear, rejection, religious trauma, family...

Finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming, especially when you’ve already worked hard just to make the appointment. In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy talks honestly about what clients should look for when searching for a therapist—and what therapists need to do better when creating safety, trust, and connection from the very first interaction.

Stacy shares practical questions clients can ask, including questions about licensing, training, therapy experience, specialized populations, and treatment modalities. She also reminds listeners that the therapeutic relationship matters deeply. If something feels off, it’s okay to trust your g...

In this heartfelt Chitty Chat, Stacy sits down with Jim Sporleder, longtime educator, administrator, trauma-responsive pioneer, and one of the familiar faces from Paper Tigers. Together, they reflect on more than four decades of work with students, schools, and communities — and the powerful truth that one caring adult can change the direction of a child’s life.

Jim shares how his unexpected start in special education shaped his entire career, why relationships remain at the center of trauma-responsive practice, and how the work continues today through bus drivers, school systems, and the often-overlooked adults who shape a stud...

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy sits down with clinical social worker, trauma therapist, EMDRIA-approved consultant, educator, and Safe and Sound Protocol provider Laurie Belanger for a rich conversation about trauma, neurodiversity, EMDR, dissociation, and nervous system healing.

Laurie shares her belief that people are “tangled, not broken,” and offers a deeply compassionate way of understanding complex trauma, especially in children, adoptive and foster families, neurodiverse individuals, and adults still carrying the impact of early experiences. Together, Stacy and Laurie explore why trauma and neurodiversity do not always fit into neat diagnostic boxes, how EMDR...

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy sits down with Andy Grant—author, coach, energy worker, and host of the long-running Real Men Feel podcast—for a deep and honest conversation about men, masculinity, emotional numbness, suicidal thoughts, and the gap between outward success and internal emptiness.

Together, Stacy and Andy explore why so many men feel alone in their pain, how cultural expectations can keep men disconnected from themselves, and why asking for help may be one of the bravest things a person can do. Andy shares practical tools for moving through heaviness, including move...

In this Listener Questions episode, Stacy responds to a powerful and tender question from Alexandra about navigating life as someone who is childless not by choice while working in an environment centered around children.

This conversation explores the reality of living grief, the unexpected triggers that can surface in classrooms and child-focused spaces, and the importance of regulating your body without making children responsible for your emotions. Stacy offers practical, compassionate ways to sit with grief, locate it in the body, use bilateral movement or music to process the heaviness, and ask the deeper question: How can...

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy sits down with her longtime friend Bryce—someone she met during her time in the military—for an unfiltered, honest conversation about mental health, military culture, parenting, and what it really looks like to grow after hard experiences.

Bryce shares his personal journey into mental health support, sparked not by himself—but by his children. Together, they unpack the stigma around getting help, the myth of “suffering in silence,” and why so many veterans struggle to transition from a team-based military life to feeling like they have to carry ever...

What do you do when students don’t care… and nothing seems to work?

In this Listener Questions episode, Stacy responds to two powerful questions from educators facing what feels like an epidemic—rising anxiety, depression, and student apathy in today’s classrooms.

Instead of quick fixes, this conversation goes deeper.

Stacy unpacks:

What actually shifts a school?

In this episode, Stacy sits down with lifelong educator and superintendent Jon Konen to talk about what it really takes to change school culture—from the inside out.

This conversation goes far beyond strategies and into the heart of education: relationships, regulation, accountability, and the courage to lead through resistance.

Together, they unpack what happens when schools stop focusing only on academics and begin to support the whole child—and the adults responsible for them.

If you’ve ever felt the tension between “what works on paper” a...

In this first-ever listener question episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, we’re diving into something so many of us quietly carry:

👉 How do you start taking care of yourself when everyone else is used to you taking care of them?

Heather asks a powerful question about navigating self-care as a midlife mom, partner, and eldest daughter—and what it means to shift long-standing patterns of overgiving.

We also explore:

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, I’m taking you inside one of the most powerful professional experiences I’ve had in years—the Psychotherapy Networker Symposium.

After four days immersed in learning from leaders like Dr. Bruce Perry, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, and Dr. Dan Siegel, I walked away with insights that don’t just apply to clinicians—they apply to all of us.

We’re talking about:

What does it really mean to teach in rural America?

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy shares reflections from her recent travels to small communities in Montana and Colorado and dives into the unique realities of rural education. In many rural schools, educators wear multiple hats—teacher, coach, counselor, mentor, and sometimes the only consistent support system a child has.

With limited resources and fewer specialists available, rural educators often have to rely on their own understanding of child development, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed practices to support students.

Stacy ex...

Last week, Stacy hit a wall.

In this deeply honest episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy shares what happens when even someone who spends a career helping others through trauma reaches their own breaking point.

Between global conflict, disturbing news cycles, and the emotional weight many people are carrying right now, Stacy found herself overwhelmed with anger, grief, and exhaustion. As a trauma therapist who has spent over two decades working with survivors of violence, abuse, and loss, she reflects on a hard truth:

Humans were never designed to absorb endless streams...

In this heartfelt episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, licensed clinical social worker and Behavioral Health Officer Stacy Nation sits down with her husband Billy — a combat veteran with over 24 years of military service — for a candid and emotional conversation about men’s mental health, the military stigma around therapy, and the journey toward healing.

Together, Stacy and Billy pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to navigate trauma, marriage, and masculinity after years of deployments to Iraq, Kuwait, and the UAE.
Billy opens up about his early years in the military, when seeking...

A year ago today, I was in the Middle East.

After nearly two years serving on full-time orders with the Wyoming Army National Guard — preparing soldiers for deployment, deploying alongside them, and supporting them through combat and operational stress — I’m finally ready to unpack what that experience did to me.

Because here’s the truth:

No one goes on deployment and comes home the same.

In this episode, I share:

Today, Stacy express heartfelt gratitude towards educators. She encourages listeners to take a moment to appreciate their favorite teachers by reaching out with a message of thanks instead of spending their time on the podcast. 

Highlighting the significant shifts and challenges in education, Stacy acknowledges the dedication and hard work of educators, including their own 'army bestie' and their children's sports coaches, who go above and beyond their teaching duties. 

00:00 Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week

01:41 A Personal Shoutout to Influential Educators

02:21 Acknowledging the Extraordinary Efforts of Coaches

03:19 A Heartfelt Thank Yo...

In this episode, Stacy reflects on the importance and value of friendship, sparked by a recent visit from a long-time friend. 

She recount the joy of reconnecting with friends from different phases of her life, including high school friends and a best friend of over two decades. 

Stacy speaker highlights the practices that have helped maintain these friendships, such as sharing daily gratitudes, and the unique connection felt with people from her small hometown.

00:00 Starting the Journey: Reflections on Friendship

00:37 Cherishing Long-Term Friendships: A Weekend of Reconnection

01:44 The Power of...

In this episode of Chitty Chats, Stacy shares a training she has held titled "How Does Your Past Impact Your Teaching?". 

Stacy introduces the concept of how one's physiological and emotional blueprint, developed during early childhood, affects their responses and interactions in educational settings. 

The session covers the development of the brain, stress response systems, sensory systems, and techniques for emotional regulation, both for teachers and their students. 

Educators are encouraged to reflect on their own triggers, how they were wired through their own developmental stages, and how this impacts their relationships with stu...

Today, Stacy reflects on motherhood, inspired by a recent encounter with a group of mothers during a weekend at a hot springs. 

She emphasizes the unique challenges and joys of raising toddlers, stressing the significance of emotional development and the importance of supporting each other without judgment. 

Stacy also acknowledges the hard work of parenting, particularly during the toddler years, and offers encouragement and empathy to all mothers, reminding them they're not alone in their journey. 

Additionally, she touches on societal expectations of mothers, the importance of self-care, and the necessity of community sup...

In this episode, Stacy is joined by Bri Miller, a behavior interventionist from Wichita, Kansas, to discuss the impact of whole brain teaching and behavior intervention strategies in the classroom. 

Bri shares her journey from teaching fourth and second grades to becoming a behavior interventionist, emphasizing the effectiveness of whole brain teaching in boosting student engagement and reducing classroom disruptions. 

Topics include:

This reflection focuses on the significance of repair in maintaining healthy relationships. 

Stacy shares personal thoughts on her recent stress-related behavior that has negatively impacted her closest relationships. 
Acknowledging her own responsibility, she emphasizes the importance of not just apologizing, but also changing one's behavior to truly repair the bond. 

The episode highlights the need for adults to take ownership of their actions, model appropriate behavior for children, and actively work on mending relationships that matter to them. 

Stacy then encourages listeners to reflect on their relationships and take steps towards repair, unde...

In this episode, Stacy chats with Jethro Jones. A multitasking educator, podcaster, and advocate for the transformative power of technology in learning, Jethro shares his journey from resisting the teaching profession to embracing various methods of education and podcasting. 

With experiences ranging from being a K-12 teacher and school principal to creating podcasts like Resilient Schools and Cybertraps, Jethro illustrates his dedication to learning and personal growth. 

He shares about the impact of his daughter being born with Down Syndrome on his perspectives on education, shedding expectations, and recognizing individual learning paths. 

The con...

In this reflection, Stacy discusses the significance of basic needs such as food, water, sleep, social connection, exposure to sunlight, and movement for maintaining emotional regulation and mental well-being. 

Through a personal anecdote involving a miscommunication with their spouse being resolved post-meal, Stacy underscores how basic needs directly affect our interactions and emotional state. 

The story highlights not only the immediacy of these needs but also the awareness of the younger generation about mental health and emotional well-being. 

Stacy encourages the audience to recognize and address their own basic needs and those of the...

This episode features an in-depth conversation with James Moffett, the principal of Ferris Elementary School in Hutchinson, Kansas. Moffett shares his journey from being unaware of trauma-informed education to fully embracing it and implementing its practices both professionally and personally. 

He emphasizes the importance of meeting basic needs, like sleep, for students to aid their learning process and discusses his school's creative partnership with a local high school for providing stackable cots. Moffett outlines a continuum for becoming trauma-informed, including awareness, sensitivity, responsiveness, and investment. 

He asserts that trauma-informed practices are about best practices for hu...

In this reflection, Stacy shares insights from her experiences attending a virtual psychotherapy network conference, which involves over 5,000 mental health professionals. 

She talks about the importance of continuing education for licensed clinicians, touching on various topics such as ethics, internal family systems, affairs and betrayal, and the impact of trauma. 

Stacy also highlights training sessions she found particularly impactful, including discussions on tapping, brain spotting, and the work of Brian Stevenson on uncomfortable conversations and justice. 

Additionally, she emphasizes the value of regulating personal well-being amid intense professional development and the power of the...

In this episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, Stacy welcomes Charles Williams, a Chicago-based school administrator with extensive experience in speaking, workshop facilitation, and podcast hosting. 

Charles shares his unexpected journey into education, originating from a need to ensure financial security for his children as a single father. He speaks about his progression from being an assistant principal to focusing on nationwide educational speaking engagements, emphasizing equity in education, and balancing family life. 

Charles elaborates on his efforts to create equitable educational spaces and the broader implications of equity beyond racial lines, touching on socioeconomic di...

In this reflection, Stacy, who is both in the military and a military spouse, shares her personal experiences and challenges of being part of a military family. 

Reflecting on a week of unpredictable events and the need for flexibility, She highlights the unique struggles and resilience of military spouses. 

From dealing with deployments and maintaining communication through video calls to handling unexpected situations and the complexities of purchasing a home online, this reflection  underscores the importance of flexibility and support within military families. 

00:14 Reflecting on Military Life and Its Challenges
01:17 A Personal Jour...

In this episode, Stacy chats with her longtime friend and fellow clinician, Chelle Taylor. They recall their mutual training in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics under Dr. Bruce Perry, which greatly influenced their approach as clinicians. 

Chelle shares experience in early intervention work with families and children up to 5 years old, and she stresses the importance of the role of relationships and authenticity in therapy, pointing out that love can be the strategy while maintaining proper boundaries. 

Chelle discusses the healthcare system in Australia, including its struggles, and compares it with the American system. She me...

In this reflection, Stacy reflects on  a sewage pipe break in her home, using it as a springboard to dive into the broader theme of perspective.

She highlights how life's experiences, both minor and significant, shape our ability to view situations in relative terms. Emphasizing the development of the cortex, which greatly influences our critical thinking, problem-solving, and perspective-taking abilities, she points out that perspective is a gift that comes with age and experience. 

Stacy also discusses the importance of not minimizing others' experiences due to differing perspectives, particularly in the context of children and te...

In this episode, Marcel Hernandez opens up about his personal and professional journeys in working with justice-involved youth in Nashville, Tennessee.

 As the founder of BeAboutChange, Marcel shares how he weaves his experiences from his recovery journey into his work, focusing on the power of relationships in promoting brain development, mental health and overcoming trauma. He also talks about his role as development director for Tucker's House, a non-profit that provides home modifications for families with children with disabilities. 

He delves into the critical role parenting plays in setting up strong foundational values in children by...

In this episode, Stacy shares insights on understanding triggers, particularly in the context of interactions with children, whether they are one's own children, students, or clients. With nearly two decades of experience as a clinician and a long history of working with children and families, she introduces the concept of triggers—what activates our stress responses in relation to children. 

The core of this reflection revolves around five critical questions to ask oneself when triggered by a child's behavior. These questions aim to explore one's basic needs, sensory system activations, past experiences and reminders, prior feelings similar to...

In this interview, Stacy talks with Brian Post, a mental health professional focused on the importance of love and self-reflection in helping adoptive families and individuals struggling with trauma. Over their conversation, Stacy and Brian discuss the foundational principles of his work including his stress model — the idea that all behavior is a reaction to stress, compounded by either fear or love. Brian emphasizes the importance of clinicians doing personal reflective work to best support their patients and shares his experiences. They discuss the lasting impact of love and relationships in the field of mental health, touching on generational tr...

In this episode, the Stacy reflects on the past week and the recurring theme of judgment, or rather, the importance of abstaining from it, across various situations. 

She urges listeners to show grace to themselves and others, emphasizing that most people are doing the best they can based on their unique circumstances and internal compass.

Stacy advocates for letting go of perfection and self-judgment, encouraging listeners to approach the week ahead with less judgment towards themselves and others, and to remember that everyone has their own story, which is often more complex than it appears.