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In this inspiring episode of The Neuro Collective Podcast, Mae Bagnell sits down with Orlanda Bettison, a children’s book author, educator, and passionate advocate for teaching kids about their brains in playful and empowering ways.

Through her beautifully illustrated books, Orlanda transforms complex neuroscience into simple, relatable stories that help children (and their parents!) understand their emotions, brain function, and resilience. From characters like the guard dog (amygdala) and the professor wise (prefrontal cortex) to the lovable hippo (hippocampus), her work makes brain science accessible and fun for the whole family.

🔑 Highlights from this episode:

• The power of storytelling in teaching emotional intelligence and mental health.
• How Orlanda’s personal journey with postnatal depression and anxiety led to the birth of her books.
• Why brains are not fixed — the myth of “set wiring” and the truth of neuroplasticity.
• Practical tools from her book My Brain is a Home — including the Problem Scale for teaching kids resilience.
• How parents and teachers can use her books to nurture self-compassion, regulation skills, and empathy.
• A live breathing exercise to calm the nervous system and activate the vagus nerve.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or simply someone curious about brain health, this episode will leave you with actionable tools and a fresh perspective on supporting children’s unique, distinctive brains.

📚 Learn more about Orlanda’s books and how they’re changing the way kids (and adults) view the brain!