Words Mean Things Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:35:41 -0500 https://wordsmeanthings.buzzsprout.com en-us © 2026 Words Mean Things yes 50059c38-e6af-51f9-b3b7-1d0231052920 wordsmeanthingspod@gmail.com WordsMeanThings episodic true Two best friends, one an early childhood educator and the other a mental health professional, talking about words and their meanings. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) WordsMeanThings wordsmeanthingspod@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/a5rizb4i5phzq0lqyx7reaoy8rot?.jpg Words Mean Things Aja Sabrina Universal Design and Accessibility Universal Design and Accessibility This week we are talking about accessibility! This is such a big and complex topic and Sabrina and Aja discuss how it shows up in their careers as a social worker and an early childhood educator. 

]]> This week we are talking about accessibility! This is such a big and complex topic and Sabrina and Aja discuss how it shows up in their careers as a social worker and an early childhood educator. 

]]> WordsMeanThings Buzzsprout-17759831 Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2593 accessibility, disability justice, autism, adhd, actually autistic, social work, early childhood education, education, teacher, school, universal design, neurodivergence, accommodation 1 14 full true Karen Karen We've all seen one, someone acting a fool right there in front of everyone! Online, at the store, in a park, Karens are all around us. Let's learn about the history and use of that word and all the racial implications to go along. 

]]> We've all seen one, someone acting a fool right there in front of everyone! Online, at the store, in a park, Karens are all around us. Let's learn about the history and use of that word and all the racial implications to go along. 

]]> WordsMeanThings Buzzsprout-17724744 Wed, 27 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2417 racism, karen, racial justice, appropriation, white supremacy, anti-racism, colonization 1 13 full true Motivation Motivation Ahhh, the elusive motivation. Where does it come from, where does it go? How do you get more? What even is it? Aja and Sabrina discuss this nebulous idea that effects both of their jobs heavily this week on the Words Mean Things Podcast. 

]]> Ahhh, the elusive motivation. Where does it come from, where does it go? How do you get more? What even is it? Aja and Sabrina discuss this nebulous idea that effects both of their jobs heavily this week on the Words Mean Things Podcast. 

]]> WordsMeanThings Buzzsprout-17683574 Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2498 mental health, early childhood education, funny, social work, motivation, motivational 1 12 full true Akata What Now?! Akata What Now?! Sabrina and Aja are FLOORED by some new information about a popular book series and lots of...insight about the author! We get down and dirty and explore a bunch of interlocking topics as we explore the hellish world of "Akata". 

]]> Sabrina and Aja are FLOORED by some new information about a popular book series and lots of...insight about the author! We get down and dirty and explore a bunch of interlocking topics as we explore the hellish world of "Akata". 

]]> WordsMeanThings Buzzsprout-17656041 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2820 akata witch, binti, ADOS, racial justice, author, indigenous rights, social justice, 1 11 full true Explanation vs Excuse Explanation vs Excuse In this weeks episode Aja and Sabrina explore a topic which causes a lot of stress. How does one tell if they're explaining their behavior or excusing it? Are excuses always bad? Lets talk it all out! 

]]> In this weeks episode Aja and Sabrina explore a topic which causes a lot of stress. How does one tell if they're explaining their behavior or excusing it? Are excuses always bad? Lets talk it all out! 

]]> WordsMeanThings Buzzsprout-17617660 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2682 community, mental health, early childhood education, funny, social work, child development, 1 10 full true Political (Deliriously) Political (Deliriously) Just back from a trip to the highlands, Sabrina and Aja are delirious with jetlag and amped up about the work political. Yeah, yeah, we aren't support to talk politics in polite company but y'all know we couldn't be further from polite and we got some shxt to say! Tune in now to hear about how living in a politicized body with expectations of silence just ain't it! 

]]> Just back from a trip to the highlands, Sabrina and Aja are delirious with jetlag and amped up about the work political. Yeah, yeah, we aren't support to talk politics in polite company but y'all know we couldn't be further from polite and we got some shxt to say! Tune in now to hear about how living in a politicized body with expectations of silence just ain't it! 

]]> WordsMeanThings Buzzsprout-17547762 Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2734 political, social work, outlander, scotland, comedy, bo burnham, 1 9 full true Book Corner - Middlegame Book Corner - Middlegame This week we are talking about a favorite book of Sabrina's which Aja recently finished - Middlegame by Seanan McGuire. There are spoilers in here so be mindful though if you need a kick in the pants reason to read maybe this ep will help you decide! We explore the situations where words fail us and ways in which repair takes words and actions and most of all intention. 

Content Warning: mention of unaliving self attempt

]]> This week we are talking about a favorite book of Sabrina's which Aja recently finished - Middlegame by Seanan McGuire. There are spoilers in here so be mindful though if you need a kick in the pants reason to read maybe this ep will help you decide! We explore the situations where words fail us and ways in which repair takes words and actions and most of all intention. 

Content Warning: mention of unaliving self attempt

]]> Buzzsprout-17493779 Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2902 middlegame, seanan mcguire, up and under, early childhood education, rupture and repair, 1 8 full true Narratives...you ok Dex? Narratives...you ok Dex? Aja and Sabrina are watching Dexter and they have thoughts and feeling about it! Join us as we talk about the narratives others have about us and how they can deeply affect our own self view, and as we get goofy trying to make any sense of this show about serial killers. 

]]> Aja and Sabrina are watching Dexter and they have thoughts and feeling about it! Join us as we talk about the narratives others have about us and how they can deeply affect our own self view, and as we get goofy trying to make any sense of this show about serial killers. 

]]> Buzzsprout-17457087 Wed, 09 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2709 narratives, mental health, funny, Dexter, serial killers, 1 7 full true White Fragility White Fragility We're coming in hot after a week off, let's talk about "fragility". This mythical concept has brought up a lot for Sabrina and Aja and they discuss impacts from social, to political, to career. Don't miss this important episode of the Words Mean Things Podcast! 

]]> We're coming in hot after a week off, let's talk about "fragility". This mythical concept has brought up a lot for Sabrina and Aja and they discuss impacts from social, to political, to career. Don't miss this important episode of the Words Mean Things Podcast! 

]]> WordsMeanThings Buzzsprout-17427028 Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3337 white fragility, racial justice, anti-racism, early childhood education, social work, social workers 1 6 full true Activist Activist In this weeks episode Sabrina and Aja get topical. We're talking activism and ways to contribute to causes you care about without sliding into performative bs. Come join us as we discuss both current attempts at activism as well as one of our favorite upcoming holidays (Juneteenth). 

]]> In this weeks episode Sabrina and Aja get topical. We're talking activism and ways to contribute to causes you care about without sliding into performative bs. Come join us as we discuss both current attempts at activism as well as one of our favorite upcoming holidays (Juneteenth). 

]]> WordsMeanThings Buzzsprout-17341102 Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2674 activism, Juneteenth, social justice, social work 1 5 full true Book Corner - Sunrise on the Reaping Book Corner - Sunrise on the Reaping This episode is the first installment of a segment where Aja and Sabrina discuss books. The ways authors use words and what we get out of books will be the main focus of this segment. 

In this episode we spoil TF out of Sunrise on the Reaping, the newest Hunger Games book. We explore the main themes and what we find so readable about Suzanne Collins. 

]]> This episode is the first installment of a segment where Aja and Sabrina discuss books. The ways authors use words and what we get out of books will be the main focus of this segment. 

In this episode we spoil TF out of Sunrise on the Reaping, the newest Hunger Games book. We explore the main themes and what we find so readable about Suzanne Collins. 

]]> WordsMeanThings Buzzsprout-17319913 Wed, 11 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0400 3040 sunrise on the reaping, hunger games, suzanne collins 1 4 full true TERF, Happy Pride Yall TERF, Happy Pride Yall This episode is a little echo-y, sorry y'all. 

It's pride mont and we are starting strong talking about TERFs. F TERFs. 

]]> This episode is a little echo-y, sorry y'all. 

It's pride mont and we are starting strong talking about TERFs. F TERFs. 

]]> WordsMeanThings Buzzsprout-17284320 Wed, 04 Jun 2025 22:00:00 -0400 3236 1 3 full true Just a SpaceMan Just a SpaceMan Aja and Sabrina talk about space, man. No but really, in this spiritual successor to episode one we discuss safe spaces, brave spaces, and everything in between. Tune in for laughs, a shout out to Sabrina's professor from grad school, and things Aja's kids certainly never do as we talk about how to intentionally create the kinds of spaces you want to be in. 

]]> Aja and Sabrina talk about space, man. No but really, in this spiritual successor to episode one we discuss safe spaces, brave spaces, and everything in between. Tune in for laughs, a shout out to Sabrina's professor from grad school, and things Aja's kids certainly never do as we talk about how to intentionally create the kinds of spaces you want to be in. 

]]> WordsMeanThings Buzzsprout-17237059 Wed, 28 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2859 1 2 full true Community Community In this Episode Sabrina and Aja discuss community, something we are all striving for these days. What makes a community? How do we avoid being just a bunch of loose b*tches sharing space? Come explore what makes a community with us for our very first episode. 

]]> In this Episode Sabrina and Aja discuss community, something we are all striving for these days. What makes a community? How do we avoid being just a bunch of loose b*tches sharing space? Come explore what makes a community with us for our very first episode. 

]]> WordsMeanThings Buzzsprout-17206060 Wed, 21 May 2025 18:00:00 -0400 3100 community, mental health, early childhood education, funny, social work 1 1 full true