Zahra Kassam on Montessori education and raising an independent thinker

"There are stages I miss desperately and some I’m glad to leave behind. And that’s ok."

In their new book, “The Montessori Child,” authors and experts Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike share that it’s not about the minimalist aesthetic—but the philosophy behind the method.

All you need is a piece of cardboard.

Bolts. Crib slats. Absolute disassembly. It’s giving Tool Time meets IKEA After Dark. The only thing missing is a tiny hard hat.

In a quick-fire Q&A with her mom, Annie answers a series of questions with surprising confidence for her age.

Creator Vanessa McNeal shared a video of a conversation between a mother and her young son that, frankly, deserves its own Oscar for emotional gut-punch.

Before stepping out, she casually leaves a student named Princess “in charge.”

This viral video is more than just cute content. It’s a joyful, messy, mop-wielding reminder that boys need space to practice caregiving, too.

Kristen Bell and Jackie Tohn have been best friends since they met as young singers and actors more than 15 years ago. Now, they are collaborating on a new Amazon Original animated kids series — Do, Re & Mi — which premieres this week. Liz checked in with them to talk about the universal power of music, why they want to "sneak teach" music to your kids, what their collective village looks like, and why close friendships are so important for both kids and parents.

Amanda Sudano Ramirez, one half of the musical duo, JohnnySwim, and star of an upcoming reality show on Joanna and Chip Gaines' Magnolia Network, talks about what she's learned about embracing chaos from life on the road touring with kids, how she and her husband juggle being both musical partners and parents, and why "home" will always be her family.

Zahra Kassam, internationally certified Montessori teacher and CEO and cofounder of Monti…

Zahra Kassam, internationally certified Montessori teacher and CEO and cofounder of Monti…

Artist Harmonia Rosales, talks to Liz about how her daughter inspired her paintings, pursuing a creative career path after having her children, and why she hopes her art reshapes the narrative of what power and beauty looks like, putting women - and particularly women of color - at the center. She also talks about the parallels between creating art and motherhood and encourages mothers to remember that it is never too late to pursue a dream.

To kick-off Season 5 of the podcast, Liz speaks with actress, activist, and author Alyssa Milano about her #metoo tweet that helped to ignite a movement, how she learned to let things roll off her back, and why she's so passionate about helping working mothers. Alyssa also talked about her COVID-19 diagnosis in March and shared how her children's clear-eyed views of the world inspire her.

In this episode, Liz and Caterina talk about how Caterina processed her daughter's condition, and learned to embrace her daughter's differences rather than view them as "disabilities."