Kids Do Well If They Can; Then Why Are So Many Struggling in School? With Dr. Ross Greene, PhD

Before we dive in: the breakdown of this episode includes a discussion of sexual assault, and briefly mentions the Epstein Files. Please take care while listening.

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today’s episode is one that hits close to home for so many of us—whether you’re parenting a kid who’s struggling in school, teaching in a classroom where big behaviors are on the rise, or simply wondering why it feels like more kids aren’t okay right now. I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Dr. Ross Greene, clinical psychologist and author of The Explosive Child, Lost at School, and now his newest book, The Kids Who Aren’t Okay: The Urgent Case for Reimagining Support, Belonging, and Hope in Schools. If you’ve ever heard the phrase “kids do well if they can,” you’ve already been impacted by Dr. Greene’s work. In this conversation, we dig into what it really means to meet kids where they are—and what gets in the way of actually doing that in so many systems. We talk about why behavior isn’t the whole story, why diagnoses alone can’t capture the full picture, and how to shift from reactive discipline to proactive, collaborative support. If you’ve been feeling the weight of trying to support kids who are struggling, this episode offers both validation and real, hopeful direction. 

And— if this conversation sparks something for you, make sure to spread the word about the Seed Teacher Summit, going live March 10th to 12th. It’s a free virtual event created to give educators the kind of ongoing support we talk about in this episode—tools to help them regulate, connect with kids, and feel less alone in the work. We’ll be featuring 18 incredible speakers who share our commitment to building schools where everyone—kids and adults—can thrive. You can learn more at ⁠seedandsew.org/summit⁠. Alright folks, Lets dive in.

Connect with Dr. Ross Greene:

Instagram: ⁠@livesinthebalance⁠ 

Website:  ⁠www.livesinthebalance.org⁠ 

Order the book:  ⁠The Kids Who Aren't Okay: The Urgent Case for Reimagining Support, Belonging, and Hope in Schools⁠ 

Connect with us:

Instagram and TikTok: ⁠@seed.and.sew ⁠ 

Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: ⁠Take the Quiz⁠ 

Order ⁠Big Kids, Bigger Feelings⁠ now! 

Website: ⁠seedandsew.org⁠ 

Credits:

Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell

Co-host: Rachel Lounder

Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh

Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig

Music by: ⁠Ruby Adams⁠ and  ⁠Bensound⁠ 

Check out the transcript on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!