Today on EmotionAL Support, I’m joined by author and journalist Pooja Makhijani.

Pooja’s forthcoming picture book, Together for Mama, was inspired by her own experience with postpartum depression and explores a conversation that so many families face but rarely know how to talk about: what happens when a parent is struggling with their mental health?

We often discuss postpartum depression through the lens of the mother experiencing it, but we don’t talk enough about how it affects the entire family—or how children make sense of changes they see in the adults they love most. As someone who has been incredibly open about my own maternal mental health journey, I know firsthand how important it is to reduce stigma, seek support, and create honest conversations around these experiences.

In this deeply educational and heartfelt interview, Pooja and I dive into the realities of postpartum anxiety, parenting through difficult seasons, and breaking generational cycles of silence. We also discuss how children's literature and storytelling can give families the tools they need to navigate conversations that sometimes feel impossible to start.

Whether you are a parent currently navigating your own emotional health, a family member looking to provide better community support, or someone passionate about breaking mental health stigma, this episode is a reminder that you are never alone.

🕒 Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 – Understanding Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

03:04 – The Impact of Maternal Mental Health on Families and Children

05:56 – The Journey to Seeking Help & Overcoming Stigma

08:58 – The Crucial Role of Community and Multigenerational Support

11:51 – Writing as a Healing Process

15:00 – Creating Together for Mama: A Children's Book on Mental Health

17:51 – Children's Awareness of Parental Emotions & Emotional Intelligence

20:27 – Navigating and Validating Children's Big Emotions

22:17 – The Role of Picture Books in Emotional Understanding

26:35 – Breaking the Silence on Postpartum Depression

29:04 – Building Community in Modern Parenting

34:24 – Lifesaving Conversations to Break the Stigma

36:07 – Finding Your Own Emotional Support

🔗 Resources & Links

Learn more about Pooja Makhijani: Pooja Makhijani's Website

Connect with Alessandra: Follow along on Instagram @alessandratorresani

Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Today on EmotionAL Support, I’m joined by author and journalist Pooja Makhijani.

Pooja’s forthcoming picture book, Together for Mama, was inspired by her own experience with postpartum depression and explores a conversation that so many families face but rarely know how to talk about: what happens when a parent is struggling with their mental health?

We often discuss postpartum depression through the lens of the mother experiencing it, but we don’t talk enough about how it affects the entire family—or how children make sense of changes they see in the adults they love most. As someone who has been incredibly open about my own maternal mental health journey, I know firsthand how important it is to reduce stigma, seek support, and create honest conversations around these experiences.

In this deeply educational and heartfelt interview, Pooja and I dive into the realities of postpartum anxiety, parenting through difficult seasons, and breaking generational cycles of silence. We also discuss how children's literature and storytelling can give families the tools they need to navigate conversations that sometimes feel impossible to start.

Whether you are a parent currently navigating your own emotional health, a family member looking to provide better community support, or someone passionate about breaking mental health stigma, this episode is a reminder that you are never alone.

🕒 Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 – Understanding Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

03:04 – The Impact of Maternal Mental Health on Families and Children

05:56 – The Journey to Seeking Help & Overcoming Stigma

08:58 – The Crucial Role of Community and Multigenerational Support

11:51 – Writing as a Healing Process

15:00 – Creating Together for Mama: A Children's Book on Mental Health

17:51 – Children's Awareness of Parental Emotions & Emotional Intelligence

20:27 – Navigating and Validating Children's Big Emotions

22:17 – The Role of Picture Books in Emotional Understanding

26:35 – Breaking the Silence on Postpartum Depression

29:04 – Building Community in Modern Parenting

34:24 – Lifesaving Conversations to Break the Stigma

36:07 – Finding Your Own Emotional Support

🔗 Resources & Links

Learn more about Pooja Makhijani: Pooja Makhijani's Website

Connect with Alessandra: Follow along on Instagram @alessandratorresani

Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

What if the shows our children watch could help them become more resilient, emotionally intelligent, and confident?

This week on EmotionAL Support, Alessandra Torresani sits down with Angela Santomero, the Emmy Award-winning creator behind Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Super Why!, and Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things.

Angela shares the intentional philosophy behind creating some of the most beloved children’s programs of all time and why slowing things down, encouraging imagination, and treating children with respect became the foundation for programming that continues to resonate with families decades later.

Together, Angela and Alessandra explore how children’s media shapes emotional development, self-esteem, resilience, and critical thinking—and why kindness should never be underestimated as a superpower.

They discuss the importance of diverse representation, fostering creativity in a screen-saturated world, the emotional impact of Steve’s viral Blue’s Clues farewell message, and practical ways parents can nurture confidence, curiosity, and emotional intelligence in everyday life.

Angela also shares insights from her newest franchise, Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things, a whimsical series designed to help children build empathy, resilience, creativity, and problem-solving skills through imaginative storytelling.

Whether you’re raising young children, creating content, or simply interested in how we shape the next generation, this conversation is a powerful reminder that what we teach our children today becomes who they are tomorrow.

In This Episode:

• The surprising philosophy behind the success of Blue’s Clues

• Why slower-paced content supports emotional development

• How children’s media influences confidence, resilience, and self-esteem

• The importance of diverse representation and inclusive storytelling

• Why emotional intelligence is one of the most valuable skills a child can develop

• How parents can foster critical thinking and curiosity at home

• The lasting impact of Steve’s farewell message on an entire generation

• Angela’s newest project, Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things

• Simple ways parents can raise kind, creative, resilient kids

• Why community, collaboration, and creativity matter more than ever

About Angela Santomero

Angela Santomero is a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning creator, producer, and author whose work has helped shape generations of children through educational and emotionally intelligent storytelling. She is the co-creator of Blue’s Clues, creator of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Super Why!, and the creator of Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things. Her work focuses on helping children develop empathy, resilience, creativity, curiosity, and confidence through research-backed media and storytelling.

Connect with Angela Santomero

Website: https://www.angelasclues.com

Princess Penelope: https://princesspenelope.com

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

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

Connect with Alessandra Torresani

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamalessandratorresani

Podcast: EmotionAL Support

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a parent, educator, or caregiver who believes in raising kind, confident, emotionally healthy kids.

What if the shows our children watch could help them become more resilient, emotionally intelligent, and confident?

This week on EmotionAL Support, Alessandra Torresani sits down with Angela Santomero, the Emmy Award-winning creator behind Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Super Why!, and Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things.

Angela shares the intentional philosophy behind creating some of the most beloved children’s programs of all time and why slowing things down, encouraging imagination, and treating children with respect became the foundation for programming that continues to resonate with families decades later.

Together, Angela and Alessandra explore how children’s media shapes emotional development, self-esteem, resilience, and critical thinking—and why kindness should never be underestimated as a superpower.

They discuss the importance of diverse representation, fostering creativity in a screen-saturated world, the emotional impact of Steve’s viral Blue’s Clues farewell message, and practical ways parents can nurture confidence, curiosity, and emotional intelligence in everyday life.

Angela also shares insights from her newest franchise, Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things, a whimsical series designed to help children build empathy, resilience, creativity, and problem-solving skills through imaginative storytelling.

Whether you’re raising young children, creating content, or simply interested in how we shape the next generation, this conversation is a powerful reminder that what we teach our children today becomes who they are tomorrow.

In This Episode:

• The surprising philosophy behind the success of Blue’s Clues

• Why slower-paced content supports emotional development

• How children’s media influences confidence, resilience, and self-esteem

• The importance of diverse representation and inclusive storytelling

• Why emotional intelligence is one of the most valuable skills a child can develop

• How parents can foster critical thinking and curiosity at home

• The lasting impact of Steve’s farewell message on an entire generation

• Angela’s newest project, Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things

• Simple ways parents can raise kind, creative, resilient kids

• Why community, collaboration, and creativity matter more than ever

About Angela Santomero

Angela Santomero is a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning creator, producer, and author whose work has helped shape generations of children through educational and emotionally intelligent storytelling. She is the co-creator of Blue’s Clues, creator of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Super Why!, and the creator of Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things. Her work focuses on helping children develop empathy, resilience, creativity, curiosity, and confidence through research-backed media and storytelling.

Connect with Angela Santomero

Website: https://www.angelasclues.com

Princess Penelope: https://princesspenelope.com

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

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

Connect with Alessandra Torresani

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamalessandratorresani

Podcast: EmotionAL Support

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a parent, educator, or caregiver who believes in raising kind, confident, emotionally healthy kids.

What happens when traditional mental health treatments aren’t enough?

In this powerful episode of EmotionAL Support, Alessandra Torresani sits down with Dr. Jeff McNairy, Psy.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer of Rythmia and one of the leading voices in psychedelic-assisted healing and trauma recovery.

With more than 25 years of experience in psychology, addiction treatment, and mental health care, Dr. Jeff shares how unresolved trauma can become trapped in the body and brain—and why many people struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, addiction, and emotional pain continue searching for answers long after conventional treatments have failed.

Together, they explore:

✨ The neuroscience of trauma and emotional memory

✨ How the brain stores unresolved experiences

✨ The growing role of ayahuasca and psychedelic-assisted therapy in mental health treatment

✨ Why emotional healing often requires more than symptom management

✨ The connection between trauma, addiction, depression, and the nervous system

✨ What thousands of patient transformations have taught him about recovery

✨ The future of mental health and psychedelic medicine

Whether you’re curious about plant medicine, trauma recovery, emotional wellness, or the evolving landscape of mental health treatment, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how healing may be possible in ways many people never imagined.

#MentalHealth #TraumaHealing #Ayahuasca #PsychedelicTherapy #PTSDRecovery #DepressionHelp #EmotionalHealing #AddictionRecovery #Psychology #WellnessPodcast #EmotionALSupport

What happens when traditional mental health treatments aren’t enough?

In this powerful episode of EmotionAL Support, Alessandra Torresani sits down with Dr. Jeff McNairy, Psy.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer of Rythmia and one of the leading voices in psychedelic-assisted healing and trauma recovery.

With more than 25 years of experience in psychology, addiction treatment, and mental health care, Dr. Jeff shares how unresolved trauma can become trapped in the body and brain—and why many people struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, addiction, and emotional pain continue searching for answers long after conventional treatments have failed.

Together, they explore:

✨ The neuroscience of trauma and emotional memory

✨ How the brain stores unresolved experiences

✨ The growing role of ayahuasca and psychedelic-assisted therapy in mental health treatment

✨ Why emotional healing often requires more than symptom management

✨ The connection between trauma, addiction, depression, and the nervous system

✨ What thousands of patient transformations have taught him about recovery

✨ The future of mental health and psychedelic medicine

Whether you’re curious about plant medicine, trauma recovery, emotional wellness, or the evolving landscape of mental health treatment, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how healing may be possible in ways many people never imagined.

#MentalHealth #TraumaHealing #Ayahuasca #PsychedelicTherapy #PTSDRecovery #DepressionHelp #EmotionalHealing #AddictionRecovery #Psychology #WellnessPodcast #EmotionALSupport

What happens when the life you planned disappears overnight—and you’re forced to discover who you really are?

This week on EmotionAL Support, actress, filmmaker, author, and storyteller Angela Harger Thompson joins Alessandra for a deeply honest conversation about surviving abuse, finding independence, rebuilding your identity, and learning how to create a life that is truly your own.

Angela shares the incredible true story behind her documentary Quarantine at Sea, documenting the moment she found herself stranded in the Pacific Ocean during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with nowhere to land and no idea what the future would hold. But beyond the adventure is a much deeper story of resilience, faith, healing, and personal transformation.

Together, Angela and Alessandra discuss:

• Overcoming emotional abuse and reclaiming your voice

• Building independence after difficult relationships

• Learning to trust yourself again

• The power of storytelling as a path to healing

• Reinventing your life in your 30s and beyond

• Turning pain into purpose

• Following God-given dreams and creating a future that feels aligned with who you are

• The making of the documentary Quarantine at Sea

• Angela’s powerful new memoir, Worst Tits Ever

• Why every person’s story matters

Whether you’re navigating heartbreak, rebuilding after trauma, seeking greater independence, or stepping into your own “second act,” this conversation is a reminder that your past does not define your future.

About Angela Harger Thompson

Angela Harger Thompson is an actress, filmmaker, author, and founder of The Storytell Initiative. She directed, produced, and starred in the documentary Quarantine at Sea, chronicling her unexpected months stranded in the Pacific Ocean during the global pandemic. Her memoir, Worst Tits Ever, expands on the personal journey behind the film and explores themes of faith, resilience, healing, and self-discovery.

Follow Angela and learn more about her work through The Storytell Initiative.

What happens when the life you planned disappears overnight—and you’re forced to discover who you really are?

This week on EmotionAL Support, actress, filmmaker, author, and storyteller Angela Harger Thompson joins Alessandra for a deeply honest conversation about surviving abuse, finding independence, rebuilding your identity, and learning how to create a life that is truly your own.

Angela shares the incredible true story behind her documentary Quarantine at Sea, documenting the moment she found herself stranded in the Pacific Ocean during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with nowhere to land and no idea what the future would hold. But beyond the adventure is a much deeper story of resilience, faith, healing, and personal transformation.

Together, Angela and Alessandra discuss:

• Overcoming emotional abuse and reclaiming your voice

• Building independence after difficult relationships

• Learning to trust yourself again

• The power of storytelling as a path to healing

• Reinventing your life in your 30s and beyond

• Turning pain into purpose

• Following God-given dreams and creating a future that feels aligned with who you are

• The making of the documentary Quarantine at Sea

• Angela’s powerful new memoir, Worst Tits Ever

• Why every person’s story matters

Whether you’re navigating heartbreak, rebuilding after trauma, seeking greater independence, or stepping into your own “second act,” this conversation is a reminder that your past does not define your future.

About Angela Harger Thompson

Angela Harger Thompson is an actress, filmmaker, author, and founder of The Storytell Initiative. She directed, produced, and starred in the documentary Quarantine at Sea, chronicling her unexpected months stranded in the Pacific Ocean during the global pandemic. Her memoir, Worst Tits Ever, expands on the personal journey behind the film and explores themes of faith, resilience, healing, and self-discovery.

Follow Angela and learn more about her work through The Storytell Initiative.