Is it more important to be liked… or to be trusted?

In this episode of The Safe Space Podcast, I, Malakai, unpack the powerful difference between being a “popular” adult and being a truly safe one. While popularity is built on approval, safety is built on consistency, boundaries, and emotional security — and kids can feel the difference.

This conversation challenges mentors, educators, and caregivers to reflect on their leadership: Are we guiding children, or are we auditioning for their approval? You’ll learn why boundaries create security, how validation-seeking can quietly undermine authority, and what it really means to be a safe presence in a child’s life.

Because long after popularity fades, safety is what they remember.

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Have you ever watched a child grow quieter… not because they had nothing to say, but because they started to feel invisible?

In this powerful episode of The Safe Space Podcast, we explore how favoritism, comparison, and labeling can deeply shape a child’s confidence, identity, and sense of belonging. Children are always asking one silent question: “Do I matter here?” — and the way adults respond can influence how they see themselves for years to come.

Join myself, Malakai, as I unpack the subtle ways children can feel overlooked, why comparison can do more harm than motivation, and how labels often stick longer than we realize. More importantly, you’ll walk away with practical, intentional ways to help every child feel recognized, valued, and emotionally safe.

Because when kids feel seen… they begin to believe in who they can become.

All music provided by Loki on YouTube and JG's Barney Musical Arena on Youtube.

Not all children need the same things — and that doesn’t make them difficult or demanding. In this episode of The Safe Space Podcast, I, Malakai, explore why some kids need more attention and how that need is often rooted in safety, connection, and unmet emotional support.

This episode breaks down the difference between equality and equity, how unmet needs show up as behavior, and why labeling children as “attention-seeking” often misses the deeper message. You’ll learn how to respond with compassion while still maintaining healthy boundaries, and how intentional, consistent connection can change behavior over time.

If you work with kids who seem to need “a little extra,” this episode will help you see that need not as a problem — but as an opportunity to lead with empathy and purpose.

All music provided by "JG's Barney Musical Arena" and "Loki"