Gear Up! Adventures In Parenthood

About Gear Up! Adventures In Parenthood

In their weekly podcast, Heather and Kristina dive into the “tricky terrain” of raising children and growing up in today’s world. With a blend of professional insight and personal stories, they offer practical tips, heartfelt advice, and plenty of humor. Whether you're a parent or caregiver, their discussions are designed to help you find joy and connection in the parenting journey. Tune in for a warm, engaging, and supportive resource for navigating the ups and downs of raising kids. Heather Bouwman and Kristina Boersma are Clinical Social Workers and Support Service Directors for ODC Early Childhood Network, a division of ODC Network, in Holland, Michigan. For years, their parenting classes and unique curriculum have been a beloved offering to the parents at ODC Network’s innovative nature-based preschools. The ODC Network has made this podcast possible so that others can share in this offering and have access to discussions based on Heather and Kristina’s approach. ODC Network is a non-profit organization that strives to advance outdoor education and conservation in West Michigan. Since 2000, ODC Network has served over one million people through hands-on, outdoor learning experiences and has conserved thousands of acres of habitat through restoration and preservation projects. ODC Network’s vision is building a better community by connecting people, land and nature. To learn more and get involved go to: www.ODCNetwork (http://odcnetwork.org/).org (http://.org/)

Publisher

The ODC Network, Heather Bouwman, and Kristina Boersma

Category

education · health & fitness · kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Oct 2024

Latest episode

10 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

32 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Feb 2026

   Our Kids & Tech: Reclaiming Attention & Real-World Joy - A Conversation with Catherine Price

   In this episode, Kristina and Heather talk with award-winning science journalist, speaker, and author Catherine Price for a timely conversation about childhood, technology, and mental well-being. Drawing from her New York Times bestselling book The Amazing Generation (co-authored with Jonathan Haidt), Catherine explains how technology is intentionally designed to capture attention—and why developing brains are especially vulnerable. Together, they explore why play equals learning, how nature ...

2. 

   28 Apr 2025

   Finding Our Joy

   In this uplifting episode, clinical social workers Heather and Kristina explore the transformative power of joy in parenting. They dive into how joy differs from happiness—while happiness can be fleeting, joy is an internal choice that nurtures fulfillment, contentment, and resilience. Heather and Kristina share how joy can be found in the small, everyday moments—like a child’s first steps or a shared moment of laughter—and how we can cultivate it through intentional presence and mindfulness....

3. 

   21 Apr 2025

   Parental Self-Care

   In this episode, clinical social workers Kristina and Heather dive deep into why self-care isn't a luxury for parents—it's a necessity for all parents to avoid burnout. With warmth and insight, they unpack the myths around parental selflessness and explain how prioritizing our well-being is essential to being the best parents we can be. From rediscovering hobbies and incorporating movement into our day, to setting healthy boundaries and leaning on community support, they share practical, rela...

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

47 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

67

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact Gear Up! Adventures In Parenthood

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.