Helping Neurodiverse & Marginalized Children Thrive Artwork

SoCal Voices

SoCal Voices is an award-winning podcast about navigating life in Southern California. Beyond the stunning coastline, great weather, and endless calendar of world-class events and experiences, other realities exist: High cost of living. Soul-crushing commutes. The pressure of hustle culture. The quiet ache for connection and purpose in the middle of all this sprawl. SoCal Voices is your companion through it all. Creator and host Angela Ross explores insightful conversations with guests offering real talk, local wisdom, and honest inspiration to help you navigate life in this one-of-a-kind place. Because Southern California isn’t just a dream. It’s a real place, and you deserve to feel grounded in it. SoCal Voices. Real talk in the land of dreams.

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SoCal Voices

Helping Neurodiverse & Marginalized Children Thrive

July 02, 2026 • Angela Ross

0:00 | 28:08

In this episode of SoCal Voices we're exploring a powerful new framework for helping neurodiverse and marginalized children thrive -- not by trying to change who they are but by transforming the environments and relationships that surround them. In her book, Heart-Centered Connections: Seven Essential Skills for Helping Neurodiverse and Marginalized Children Thrive, Niki Elliott of the University of San Diego brings together educational neuroscience, nervous-system wellness, and decades of work with educators, parents, and caregivers. We talk about what it really takes to create spaces where every child can feel safe, seen, and able to reach their full potential.

Resources

Visit Niki Elliott's website.

Learn about the Heart-Centered Connections Practitioners Certificate.

Mindful Leaders Project.

SoCal Voices Bookshelf

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