MCEC Podcast

Conversations about the challenges Military-Connected Children face as they navigate multiple education systems from birth through high school.

MCEC Podcast is a education podcast hosted by Military Child Education Coalition, with 375 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Military Child Education Coalition hosts MCEC Podcast, a education show with 375 episodes published.

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  Episode #377

  Protecting Kids' Mental Health, Joyfully

  Aug 21, 202643 min

  Every child faces some level of stress, and for many, that includes Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, which can increase the risk of mental health struggles down the road. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Whitney Raglin Bignall, Associate Clinical Director at The Kids Mental Health Foundation, about how protective factors like strong relationships, a sense of belonging, and yes, JOY, can help buffer kids against that risk. We explore what protective factors actually are, how they work alongside joy to build real resilience, and simple ways caregivers, educators, and communities can strengthen them in a child's everyday life. It's a grounded, hopeful conversation about turning joy into more than just a nice moment, but a genuine source of protection for kids facing hard things. Show Notes: Mixed and mastered by Concentus Media, Temple, Texas, USA. This show is provided by generous funding by the USAA Foundation. Biography for Dr. Whitney Raglin Bignall: Dr. Raglin Bignall is the Associate Clinical Director of The Kids Mental Health Foundation and the Director of Community Impact and Evaluation, where she utilizes her expertise in mental health disparities, cultural factors, and community partnerships to drive the foundation's mission to give expert-created resources to all U.S. communities so everyone can understand and promote children's mental health. Her vision is to build a world where mental health is a part of the upbringing of every single child. She enjoys having the opportunity to build relationships that break stigma and provide care that includes the whole child, family and community. She strives to become part of a family's village and network of care because she knows how essential and influential each member of that network can be. Resources: https://www.kidsmentalhealthfoundation.org/ https://militarychild.org https://www.cdc.gov/aces/about/index.html Broaden & Build Theory: Fredrickson BL. What Good Are Positive Emotions? Rev Gen Psychol. 1998 Sep;2(3):300-319. doi: 10.1037/1089-2680.2.3.300. PMID: 21850154; PMCID: PMC3156001. Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218–226. Related MCEC Podcasts for Deeper Listening: The Power of Positive Childhood Experiences, published 7.30.2024 Mental Health Care and Military Families, published 9.10.2024 Mental Health Education in Schools, published 9.19.2023

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  Episode #375

  Protecting the Promise - Military Families and the Special Education Experience

  Jul 23, 202642 min

  Picture this: moving every year (or more)! Finding a new dentist, a new doctor, a new playground, the best spot for coffee, a haircut, a new school, a new friend! Now, visualize having all of these tasks and a child with special needs who needs supportive services right away. We sat down with the legal analyst and the director of research from Partners in PROMISE to talk about what the data really says about military-connected special needs families, and why every number in that research represents a family figuring out how to make it work, again and again. Behind every policy gap and every statistic is a parent who's become an expert in something they never signed up for. Come for the research. Stay to witness the incredible lengths these families go to, providing emotional stability and educational continuity for their children. Show Notes: This podcast is made possible through generous funding by the USAA Foundation. This show is mixed by Concentus Media in Temple, Texas, USA. Resources: Partners in PROMISE https://thepromiseact.org/ Partners in PROMISE Data & Reports https://thepromiseact.org/our-data/ Military Child Education Coalition https://militarychild.org Our Guests: Crystal DeVoss Mahany, MA, MPS Crystal has worked as a paralegal, advocate, policy researcher, and legal analyst in Special Education Law, and has taught courses on Special Education as a Civil Right and Disability as a Tenet of Diversity. A founding member of Partners in PROMISE, she serves as Adjunct Faculty at George Washington University. As a military spouse and mother to two military-connected sons with special needs, Crystal is a fierce advocate with a focus on Civil Rights, Disability Rights, and Special Education Law. Dr. Jenna Kremkow Jenna is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Elmhurst University, where her research focuses on the experiences of military families with children with autism and the use of technology to improve communication outcomes for these families. She holds an MS and PhD from Penn State with an emphasis in autism and augmentative and alternative communication, and has worked clinically as a speech-language pathologist in schools, clinics, and early intervention settings. Her goal is to use data-driven research to support policy changes that improve special education services for military families.

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  Episode #374

  Stranger No More - Orion Military Scholars

  Jul 7, 202630 min

  Picture this: the cool kids, the right clothes, the music that impresses, covering that acne, wiping those sweaty palms, and most importantly, getting the kids to include you, even though you’ve moved three times in these four years of high school. High school can be rough, especially if you’re moving every year or more often. With an Orion Scholarship, though, a homebase for your high school years is possible, and affordable. So maybe, you can at least face the challenges of high school with the same familiar faces by your side, because everyone deserves to be known. Join us to learn more about the Orion Military Scholars Program and how you can become a part of it today. Show Notes: Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas, USA. This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation. Resources: The Orion Military Scholars https://orionmilitary.org Military Child Education Coalition https://militarychild.org Biography for guest host Lisa Smith Molinari: Co-founder of national nonprofit Orion Military Scholars, award-winning author, attorney, military spouse, and mom, our guest Lisa Molinari's talents are far-reaching and have a wide and deep impact. Her focus on helping families stems from her lived experience, and her approach to life is full of humor, practical strategies, compassion, and the wisdom that only comes from weathering storms. The Orion Military Scholars Program provides financial resources to military-connected students so they can have a consistent high school experience, without moves, at boarding schools across the country that provide excellent educational and social opportunities. Lisa is there to walk families through every step of the way as they navigate the application and process to become Orion Military Scholars.

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  Episode #373

  Stars, Stripes, and Sesame Street

  Jun 11, 202629 min

  As a staple of our childhoods and a safe space for our children, we all know and love Sesame Street. Perhaps we were unaware of the resources available specific to military families. Join us and long-time expert and representative of Sesame Street, Rocio Galarza, as we explore the exciting website for families, educators, and community members who support military-connected children on Sesame Street for Military Families! Wellness, everyday challenges, deployments, grief, healing, military life, routines, and building bonds are just a few of the topics that you can find outstanding resources and activities made for you and your child. In this episode, we highlight the recent updates to the website that make it even more user friendly for educators and families. Show Notes: Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation. Resources: Sesame Street for Military Families https://sesamestreetformilitaryfamilies.org/ Military Child Education Coalition https://militarychild.org/ Military OneSource https://militaryonesource.mil Biography for guest host Rocio Galarza: Rocio is the Vice President for Sesame Street's U.S. Educational Programs, targeting social impact and how to connect families with necessary resources. She has been with Sesame Street for over twenty years and has consistently focused on Social Emotional well-being for children and families, as well as how to strategize on a larger national scale to secure resources for programs providing this safety at scale. We are honored to explore the recent updates to the website Sesame Street for Military Families with Rocio!

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  Episode #372

  Stability in Motion

  Dec 23, 202514 min

  Stability in Motion Description: Listen as Mary Bier, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), discusses what military-connected children need most to thrive amid constant change. Drawing on both professional leadership and lived experience as a military parent, she reflects on the importance of stability, belonging, and prepared adults. This conversation offers parents and educators thoughtful insight into how consistent support helps military kids learn, lead, and feel grounded wherever they go. This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation. Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. Bio: Mary Bier, President & Chief Executive Officer of MCEC Mary Bier, MBA, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). A seasoned leader with more than 20 years of experience in business strategy, organizational leadership, and community engagement, she brings a dynamic vision to MCEC’s mission of ensuring every military-connected child has access to quality educational opportunities. As a military spouse and parent, Bier has firsthand insight into the unique challenges and strengths of military families. This lived experience fuels her passion for advocating for military-connected students, ensuring they receive the educational support and opportunities they deserve. Bier’s professional background spans both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, where she has successfully led high-impact initiatives, built collaborative partnerships, and served as a subject matter expert on veteran and military family issues. She has been invited to the White House to share insights on military-connected programs, testified before the New York City Department of Veteran Affairs, and facilitated expert panels on military family well-being. Prior to joining MCEC, Bier held leadership roles in business strategy, customer success, and military initiatives, where she was instrumental in scaling operations, optimizing talent development, and fostering inclusive organizational cultures. Her ability to translate strategic goals into actionable outcomes has driven mission impact across multiple organizations. At MCEC, Bier is committed to expanding the organization’s reach, deepening partnerships, and championing the needs of military-connected children. Under her leadership, MCEC will continue to be a trusted resource for families, educators, and policymakers dedicated to supporting military students on their educational journey. Bier holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Management and Organizational Behavior and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from California Lutheran University. She resides with her family in Madison, Wisconsin.

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