In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Lisa J. Lucas, educator, therapeutic coach, and author of Better Days and Practicing Presence. Drawing on more than 35 years in education, Dr. Lucas shares how small, consistent daily practices, such as reflection, gratitude, intentional pauses, and relationship-centered routines, can significantly improve teacher well-being, classroom climate, and student engagement, even within imperfect systems.

We discuss why she wrote Better Days, how daily practices support teachers facing increased stress and challenging classroom behaviors, and why simple habits like spending time outdoors can regulate emotions and restore connection. Dr. Lucas also offers practical self-care strategies for the new year, explains how her work can be used by both teachers and parents, and leaves listeners with one powerful piece of advice for navigating today’s demanding educational landscape; with presence, intention, and hope.

In our debut episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Aimee and Crystal introduce the mission behind the podcast—merging the education and medical models to bring science-based, practical insights to parents, teachers, therapists, and policymakers. We walk through our seven recurring segments and dive into this week’s topic: the real science of co-regulation and developmentally appropriate mindfulness. Learn why young children can’t self-regulate on their own, what the research actually says about mindfulness in early childhood, and one simple strategy you can try tomorrow.