S2 EP 17 - Outsmarting Bullies: Tainted Love
1/27/202619 min
Bullying in middle school isn’t always loud or obvious—and that’s what makes it so confusing and harmful. In this episode of Middle School Mary Poppins, child therapist and educational specialist Suzanne M. Swain, EDS, LMSW explores the subtle, strategic, and emotionally manipulative forms of bullying that often get overlooked by adults but deeply affect kids’ confidence and sense of safety.
You’ll learn how power, group dynamics, humor, and digital spaces fuel bullying, why neurodivergent kids are often targeted, and how calm, smart responses can disrupt the cycle without escalating conflict. This episode offers practical...
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSuzanne M. Swain· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Hey, y'all. How's it going? Welcome to Middle School Mary Poppins. My name is Suzanne M. Swain, EDS, LMSW, child therapist and educational specialist. So today, we are going to be talking about how to outsmart bullies. So we're gonna talk about these big feelings, growing brains, and emotional mazes of middle school, all that, but how bullies affect that. So if you're new here, I'm really, really glad you found us. Thank you so much. And if you've been listening for a while, hey, welcome. Um, we're in 90 countries now. What? That's insane. If you're from another country, you know, please send me some emails and let me know where you're at and what you're doing and what you think. Always wanting to hear it. It's S-U-Z-A-N-N-E S-W-A-I-N@gmail.com. Send me a note. Let me know how things are going, or you can go to our website, msmarypoppins.com. So like I said, today's episode is about bullying, but not the obvious movie version of a bully. We're gonna talk about, you know, what the more subtle, clever type of bully is. So let me ask you something. You ever had someone just say, "Oh, relax, I'm just joking," but somehow you're the one who walks away feeling embarrassed and confused and small, and just kinda like, "What?" Like, you're totally dysregulated. Well, maybe they smiled at you, and the other kids laughed, and then later you're kind of just lying in bed and replaying the moment and trying to figure out