Stuck in the Middle Podcast

By: Brian Sacks
  • Summary

  • Welcome to the Stuck in the Middle Podcast, your go-to resource for navigating the challenges of being sandwiched between raising children and caring for aging parents. Host Brian Sacks shares personal stories, insights, and practical advice drawn from decades of experience balancing these "middle" responsibilities. Each episode, tune in for inspiring interviews with industry leaders, insiders, and guests who share relatable stories and expert tips. Whether you're feeling the financial, emotional, or physical strain of being stuck in the middle, this podcast offers support, community, and practical solutions to help you thrive.


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Episodes
  • Building the Perfect Sleep Sanctuary for Kids and Families with JoAnna Inks
    Dec 24 2024

    About JoAnna Inks: JoAnna Inks is a Certified Pediatric Sleep Coach and the CEO of Sleep Solutions Unlimited, specializing in helping families teach their babies and children to sleep independently and consistently. Certified by renowned sleep expert Dana Obleman, JoAnna has spent over 14 years transforming sleepless nights into restful ones for thousands of families. In addition to her sleep expertise, she is a Certified Lactation Consultant and Pediatric Feeding Coach, offering a holistic approach to addressing children’s sleep and feeding needs. JoAnna’s mission is to empower parents with customized solutions so the entire family can enjoy the rest they deserve.


    In this episode, Brian and JoAnna Inks discuss:

    • Managing children’s sleep routines and family balance
    • Teaching children independent sleep skills
    • Creating an optimal sleep environment
    • Debunking pediatric sleep training myths


    Key Takeaways:

    • Sleep pressure, the natural buildup of a child’s need for sleep, is crucial for falling asleep independently, and activities like feeding or rocking just before sleep can disrupt this process and lead to nighttime wakefulness.
    • A child’s sleep environment should be a "sleep sanctuary," featuring complete darkness, an ideal temperature range of 68-72°F, and the removal of toys or distractions to establish clear sleep associations.
    • Consistency is key, with routines that aim for 11-12 hours of uninterrupted nighttime sleep, which helps children manage emotions better and supports overall development.
    • Tailored sleep plans, designed with a family’s unique preferences and a child’s specific needs, often succeed where rigid methods or generic advice fail, making sleep training approachable and sustainable.


    "A well-rested child is much more flexible than an exhausted child. So, get the foundation, get that child well-rested, and then I feel like you can have flexibility. It doesn't have to be just one way." — JoAnna Inks


    Get your free copy of 3 Tips To Help Your Baby Sleep Better Tonight!

    https://41a4-joanna.systeme.io/45c6cf65-f3b3e68d-3287c812


    Connect with JoAnna Inks:

    Website: https://sleepsolutionsunlimited.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannainks/


    Host contact information: 

    • Email: briansacksnewsletters@gmail.com

    

    Sign up for your FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER at www.stuckinthemiddlenews.com

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    26 mins
  • Jennifer Ginty: The Moody Monster and the Journey to Emotional Healing
    Dec 10 2024

    About Jennifer Ginty: Jennifer Ginty is a single mother, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate living with Complex PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder stemming from childhood trauma. She is the founder of My Moody Monster, a therapeutic tool helping children express emotions safely and fostering family communication. Through her podcast, When Not Yet Becomes Right Now, and her YouTube series, Jennifer shares her healing journey and practical coping strategies to inspire and support others. Her work emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, resilience, and prioritizing emotional well-being.


    In this episode, Brian and Jennifer Ginty discuss:

    • The lifelong impacts of unresolved childhood trauma
    • Tools and strategies for emotional regulation and healing
    • The challenges of balancing personal well-being with caregiving responsibilities
    • Support systems and innovative solutions for mental health and emotional struggles


    Key Takeaways:

    • Childhood trauma often continues to affect individuals long after they leave the abusive environment, with children frequently facing disbelief and inadequate emotional support, leaving them stuck in a cycle of unresolved pain.
    • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) offers effective techniques for managing PTSD and emotional regulation, focusing on skills like mindfulness and "checking the facts" to help individuals process emotions more constructively.
    • Jennifer shared how her creation, the Moody Monster, has become a powerful tool for children and adults to safely express and manage their emotions, particularly benefiting non-verbal children and those with autism.
    • Caregivers must prioritize their own emotional health and self-care to avoid burnout and provide better support to those who depend on them, especially when balancing overwhelming responsibilities and stress.


    "When you practice being able to live with your emotions in that moment, you start to develop coping skills that can help you work through that moment." — Jennifer Ginty


    Connect with Jennifer Ginty:

    Website: https://mymoodymonster.com/

    Show: When "Not Yet" Becomes "Right Now": https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-not-yet-becomes-right-now/id1767481477

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyfPBbjF8fYefOB6I8j007A

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-ginty/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mymoodymonster

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymoodymonster


    Host contact information: 

    • Email: briansacksnewsletters@gmail.com

    

    Sign up for your FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER at www.stuckinthemiddlenews.com

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    21 mins
  • Lauren Fonvielle: Managing Stress and Pain with Emotional Freedom Techniques
    Nov 26 2024

    About Lauren Fonvielle: Lauren Fonvielle is an Integrative Energy Practitioner and Coach specializing in EFT/Tapping to help entrepreneurs reduce anxiety, stress, and limiting beliefs. With a background in business coaching, Lauren now combines energy healing modalities like Reiki, Sound Healing, and Meditation to guide clients through transformative experiences that promote inner peace and personal growth. Drawing from her own journey of healing from chronic pain and anxiety, she helps women, especially entrepreneurs, break free from emotional and physical barriers to achieve balance in both their personal and professional lives.


    In this episode, Brian and Lauren Fonvielle discuss:

    • Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for stress and anxiety management
    • Linking emotional well-being to physical health and pain relief
    • Practical and accessible ways to incorporate EFT into daily life
    • Real-life transformations through EFT practices


    Key Takeaways:

    • Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), also called tapping, is a simple yet transformative practice of tapping on acupressure points while acknowledging emotions, shown to lower stress hormones like cortisol by up to 43%.
    • Tapping helps manage chronic conditions like fibromyalgia by addressing the emotional roots of pain and breaking the cycle of fear, anxiety, and physical discomfort that exacerbates symptoms.
    • By integrating EFT into daily routines, whether proactively as part of a wellness practice or reactively during high-stress moments, individuals can experience immediate and cumulative relief.
    • Through tapping, individuals often uncover and process buried emotions tied to past experiences, which not only alleviates physical pain but also resolves emotional barriers, leading to profound personal growth.


    "We do things to avoid the feelings, and this is a practice that really helps you acknowledge those feelings so that you can move through them, instead of just stuffing them down and trying to avoid them." — Lauren Fonvielle

    Connect with Lauren Fonvielle:

    Website: https://www.mindshiftwithlauren.com/

    Email: lauren@laurenfonvielle.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenfonvielle/


    Host contact information: 

    • Email: briansacksnewsletters@gmail.com

    

    Sign up for your FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER at www.stuckinthemiddlenews.com

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    24 mins

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