Podcast Summary: Right About Now—Alyssa Campbell on Emotional Regulation, Resilience, and Proactive Behavior Support for Children

Podcast: Right About Now: Legendary Business Advice
Host: Ryan Alford (The Radcast Network)
Guest: Alyssa Campbell, author of Tiny Humans, Big Emotions and Big Kids, Bigger Feelings, CEO of Seed & Sew
Date: September 26, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode delves into the critical topic of emotional regulation in children, with a focus on building resilience and developing proactive supports for kids—especially in educational contexts. Ryan Alford interviews Alyssa Campbell, a renowned educator and author, about the real, actionable methods to help children (and the adults guiding them) handle the challenges of the modern world. The conversation also touches on Alyssa’s new book, the science of sensory processing, and what it actually means to raise “good human beings” in today’s society.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. About Alyssa Campbell and Seed & Sew

[01:55-02:47]

• Alyssa is the CEO of Seed & Sew, which works with schools, childcare programs, and organizations to foster emotionally healthy, regulated spaces.
  • “We work with schools and childcare programs and teachers... on how to actually create spaces that are calm and regulated.” – Alyssa [02:18]
• Their methods are used internally within their team as well as externally for clients.
• The “STEP Method” (Collaborative Emotion Processing) forms the basis of their practice.

2. Understanding the Book & Its Audience

[03:23-04:11]

• Big Kids, Bigger Feelings targets families and elementary school educators working with children aged 5–12.
• The book aims to serve both parents and teachers, with many schools ordering copies for staff and families.
• Their approach is grounded in practical science, not just theory.

3. Moving Beyond Five Senses: The Nine Senses Framework

[04:33-07:16]

• Alyssa introduces four lesser-known senses, vital for self-regulation:
  • Vestibular (balance/movement)
  • Proprioceptive (body positioning)
  • Interoceptive (internal feelings like hunger, fatigue, anxiety)
  • Neuroceptive (sense of emotional energy in environments)
• Integrating awareness of all nine senses helps children and adults recognize what drains or restores them.
  • “We look at all nine of these senses and help you understand where you fall… It’s not one size fits all.” – Alyssa [05:04]
• Real-world example: Applying these insights in a high-needs school reduced behavioral calls by 66% in one quarter.

4. Proactive Versus Reactive Behavioral Support

[07:51-09:29]

• Critics of behavior-tracking often focus on discipline; Alyssa advocates for using data to understand and support students proactively.
• Their system links sensory profiles with behavioral data to create tailored support plans.
  • “How about we actually use that information to change behavior?” – Alyssa [08:25]
• Instead of “playing whack-a-mole” with problem behaviors, the goal is to address root causes.

5. Scalability: Adapting Approaches for Whole Schools

[09:29-11:49]

• Alyssa acknowledges typical teacher concerns about individualization:
  • Strategy is not about assigning one-on-one supports to every child, but about multi-tiered systems:
    • Tier 1: Universal supports for all.
    • Tier 2: Some customized tools for some kids.
    • Tier 3: Specialized interventions.
• Practical example: Noticing one student’s lunchroom meltdowns were tied to sensory sensitivity, the school provided noise-canceling headphones. This stopped behavioral incidents for three months.
  • “All we did was say, yeah, his nervous system needs some help during lunch.” – Alyssa [11:25]

6. The Myth of Permissiveness—Real Resilience Isn’t Coddling

[12:15-13:38]

• Alyssa clarifies that supporting children’s feelings isn’t about shielding them from discomfort—it’s about coaching them through hard feelings, not removing them.
  • “We’re not saying we’re going to snowplow obstacles out of their way. We’re saying, how do we teach them what it really looks like to cultivate resilience?” – Alyssa [12:24]
• Real-life vignette: A parent wonders whether to intervene when her daughter is left out. Alyssa encourages creating space to talk about it, not “fixing” or eliminating every hard experience.
• Generational shifts: Many adults weren’t taught how to process emotions, leading to today’s mental health crisis.

7. Parenting Realities—Respect, Dialogue, and Individual Differences

[13:38-15:38]

• Ryan reflects on his own upbringing and parenting challenges with four boys: “Everybody’s makeup is different. It’s a hard reality. But that’s why we have books like yours...” [14:10]
• Alyssa shares her personal approach:
  • Respect is core, but so too is allowing emotional expression.
  • Not a “because I said so” household: boundaries stand, but curiosity and dialogue are encouraged.
    • “It doesn’t mean the boundary changes, but we can have a dialogue in this.” – Alyssa [15:20]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Foundation of Emotional Guidance:
  “We work with schools and childcare programs… on how to understand, how to actually create spaces that are calm and regulated.” – Alyssa [02:18]

• On the Nine Senses:
  “We look at all nine of these senses and help you understand where you fall or where a kid falls in terms of whether they’re sensitive to it... it’s not one size fits all.” – Alyssa [05:04]

• Real Impact—Data on Behavioral Outcomes:
  “We saw a 66% reduction in behavior support calls from Q1 to Q2 just by doing that.” – Alyssa [06:31]

• On Resilience, Not Coddling:
  “We’re not saying we’re going to snowplow obstacles out of their way. We’re saying, how do we teach them what it really looks like to cultivate resilience?” – Alyssa [12:24]

• Parenting Philosophy:
  “In my household, because I said so culture, it’s … Yeah, you get to ask why and be curious and I’ll let you know why. Again, it doesn’t mean the boundary changes, but we can have a dialogue in this.” – Alyssa [15:20]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:55] – Alyssa introduces Seed & Sew and mission
• [03:38] – Book’s target audience and school collaboration
• [04:33] – Explanation of the nine senses and nervous system regulation
• [06:31] – Quantitative impact in a high-needs school
• [08:25] – Using data to create customized, proactive support
• [10:05] – Multi-tiered system for scalable school support
• [11:25] – Case study of sensory accommodations during lunch
• [12:24] – The difference between emotional permissiveness and cultivating resilience
• [14:10] – Reflections on parenting and emotional processing
• [15:20] – Alyssa’s approach to family dialogue and boundary setting

Resources & Where to Learn More

• Seed & Sew: seedandsew.org
• Books: Big Kids, Bigger Feelings and Tiny Humans, Big Emotions available wherever books are sold; audiobooks narrated by Alyssa herself.
• Podcast & Host: More episodes at ryanisright.com

Episode Takeaway

The path to raising emotionally resilient children who become well-adjusted adults lies in proactive understanding—not just enforcing discipline, but identifying and meeting the real sensory and emotional needs behind behaviors. Alyssa Campbell’s work offers a science-backed, compassionate alternative to old-school discipline: give kids the language and tools for emotional navigation, and trust that outcomes in both home and school settings will improve.