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Featured Guest:
Sasha Monaco Children's Book Author, Illustrator, Publisher Technology Strategist Life Satisfaction Researcher Published Date: July 17, 2026 In this inspiring episode of Wisdom for Wannabes, Jackie Morreale sits down with children's author, illustrator, publisher, psychology researcher, and technology strategist Sasha Monaco. From making sales calls to major companies at just fifteen years old to creating evidence-based children's books that help young readers navigate anxiety, OCD, and goal setting, Sasha shares how she has built a life at the intersection of creativity, psychology, and business. Together, they explore the science behind happiness, the power of cognitive reframing, the importance of embracing healthy discomfort, and why turning complex ideas into simple, actionable stories can change lives. |
Full Interview with Sasha Monaco:
"Think about what lights up your heart and then reverse engineer the path to get there."
- Sasha Monaco (Wisdom for Wannabes episode 64, 10:40)
Great quotes from the interview:
(More great quotes throughout the transcript in aqua below.)
- "What it boils down to in both fields is turning data into stories."
- "Life is a formula of happiness."
- "Create like a child. Edit like a scientist."
- "Every problem has a solution, even if it doesn't feel like it."
- "Success means: Go next."
- "You can hype yourself up to do anything—and children can too."
- "We can't assume the world will be kind to our children, but we can create resilient, durable children."
- "The people who are happier are the ones who know what makes them happy and what makes them unhappy."
- "If I can stop that suffering for even one child, that would be the best."
- "Whatever you think is big, think a little bit bigger."
- "If people do it, then it can be done."
- "Negative things are cyclical, and so are positive things."
- "You are creating the inner wiring of a child's brain every single day."
- "If you defy discomfort, your brain creates a pathway that says: you can do it."
- "Focus on what makes you happy instead of what other people will find impressive."
- "Children are brilliant. They're a blank canvas."
- "I wanted to be whatever was going to be impressive to the people around me."
- "Research is me-search."
- "The idea is to make the rest of your life so blindingly bright green that even if some of it is red, you're overall happy."
(More great quotes throughout the transcript in aqua below.)
www.SashaMonaco.com
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Key Takeaways:
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Sasha Monaco, author and child development researcher, offers book signings and goal-setting workshops. More information at: www.sashamonaco.com
Interview Transcript:
Jackie Morreale (00:00)
Welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes, the podcast that seeks wise words in business, beauty, and betterment. I am the host, Jackie Morreale.
Today's guest is someone who proves that creativity, research, and business success don't have to exist in separate worlds. Sasha Monaco is a children's book author, illustrator, publisher, psychology researcher, and technology strategist.
A graduate of the University of Florida with dual degrees in psychology and criminology, Sasha has dedicated herself to translating evidence-based psychological research into engaging children's stories... (These are the top of my reading pile.) ...that help young readers navigate challenges like anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, goal setting, and family relationships.
Through Monaco Publishing, Sasha has authored and illustrated books, including Tap Tap Tap: A Child's Guide to Navigating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, one of my all-time favorites, My Baby Brother, and the STEAM Team Water Workbook Series, which is so fun. (If you flip it over, it also has the WATER Workbook on the back.) Another one of my favorites, The Happiness Formula, also by Sasha Monaco.
Her work combines positive psychology, research, and storytelling to empower children and families. At the same time, Sasha has built an impressive career in the telecommunications and technology industry, currently serving as a Channel Manager at Spectrotel, where she helps organizations optimize their technology infrastructure and business operations.
Whether she's analyzing data, solve complex challenges, or creating stories that support children's mental health, Sasha is passionate about helping people thrive. In my personal opinion, Sasha Monaco can do anything.
Welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes, Sasha Monaco! Thank you so much for being here.
Sasha Monaco (02:00)
Thank you for having me, Jackie. I am so happy to be here. I'm such a fan of you and your podcast and the community that you've built. I think that you've built a community of people who turn their passions into life goals and then achieve those goals. That's one of my favorite things in the world. Thank you for having me.
Jackie Morreale (02:18)
Oh my goodness. I'm going to cry.
I really appreciate your kind words. I'm such a fan of yours as well. For anybody who doesn't know you yet, and they will very soon, please tell us your full name, hometown and where you work now, and a little bit about yourself?
Sasha Monaco (02:31)
I am Sasha Monaco. I grew up in Delray Beach, Florida. I now live in Tampa, Florida. I'm a technology strategist by day and by night, a children's book author. What it boils down to in both fields is turning data into stories. It's one of my favorite things to do.
Jackie Morreale (02:46)
You do a lot of things. What is your passion?
Sasha Monaco (02:49)
My passion is taking complex, fact-driven, data-driven concepts and turning them into things that are very easy to understand. My passion falls into helping children understand complicated topics, helping parents turn into teachers for their children on those positive psychology topics, and making them more digestible and fun.
Jackie Morreale (03:10)
How many years have you been doing all this? What's your favorite thing about it?
Sasha Monaco (03:13)
I've been a children's book author, illustrator, and publisher for five years. The books ramped up pretty quickly. I started one as a passion project and then realized that I could turn something in my head into a physical book… and then freaked out about it. I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I could do this all day, every day!' It's so much fun.
Then the channel manager. I've been in the technology strategy space since I was 15 years old. My dad ran a technology strategy agency. He put me on the phone when I was 15 years old. He said, 'Call the IT Director at Publix, at Winn-Dixie, at this store, that store.’ I just did it because children have no fear. It built so much confidence in all the rejection.
Now I'm in the space, professionally, in the corporate world, doing the same thing.
Jackie Morreale (03:54)
You have been doing this since you were 15 years old? Other people are scooping ice cream or sitting by a pool with a whistle in Delray Beach as their teenage jobs. You're calling up Heads of IT, you're giving good advice to business leaders, landing deals, making sales. Taking names, kicking butt, all that stuff. Also making books when other people in college are in their sweatpants. Here, you are taking stuff that lives in your head and turning it into a business about books. There's so much there.
So, to get to know you a little bit better, let's do some quick-fire questions.
Sasha Monaco (04:32)
Absolutely. Let's do it!
Jackie Morreale (04:33)
Sasha Monaco, coffee or tea?
Sasha Monaco (04:35)
Coffee.
Jackie Morreale (04:36)
Morning person or night owl?
Sasha Monaco (04:37)
Definitely night owl, I like to work when it's quiet.
Jackie Morreale (04:40)
Favorite children's book growing up?
Sasha Monaco (04:41)
There's a book called One, by Kathryn Otoshi, and there's a book called Mr. Peabody's Apples, by Madonna. Those are my favorites.
Jackie Morreale (04:46)
Favorite place in Florida?
Sasha Monaco (04:47)
Tampa, because it's where I'm building my new life.
Jackie Morreale (04:49)
Hardcover, paperback, or audiobook?
Sasha Monaco (04:51)
Hardcover.
Jackie Morreale (04:52)
There's something to a good hardcover, agree. Pen and paper or digital notes?
Sasha Monaco (04:56)
Digital notes because I forget things as soon as I write them down. Digitally, I can search my notes.
Jackie Morreale (05:01)
A new skill you'd love to master?
Sasha Monaco (05:03)
Meditating. Fully meditating instead of being distracted.
Jackie Morreale (05:05)
One book every aspiring entrepreneur should read?
Sasha Monaco (05:08)
Atomic Habits by James Clear. Great book.
Jackie Morreale (05:09)
A book every child should read? It could be one of yours.
Sasha Monaco (05:12)
Speaking of habits, I would say that this (Super STEAM Team) is one book every child should read in order to form healthy, scientifically-backed habits early on.
Jackie Morreale (05:20)
Read this book with both of my children. We learned a lot. The illustrations are so fun. We love that it has lots of options and a WATER Workbook at the end.
Sasha Monaco (05:29)
The reinforcement with social support is super important to child development.
Jackie Morreale (05:33)
Every child must read it. Favorite musical artist or song?
Sasha Monaco (05:38)
My favorite song is 'Our House.' My mom never used to sing when I was younger. I remember telling her, 'Are you sad? You never sing.' When I'm happy, I sing. Then she started to sing this song really loud around the house. I would be like, 'Okay, she's happy.'
Jackie Morreale (05:38)
Thought it was going to be 'Mamma Mia.' Your amazing mom.
Sasha Monaco (05:53)
Mamma Mia. Close second.
Jackie Morreale (05:55)
What is something that most people would be surprised to learn about you?
(Continued below)
Welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes, the podcast that seeks wise words in business, beauty, and betterment. I am the host, Jackie Morreale.
Today's guest is someone who proves that creativity, research, and business success don't have to exist in separate worlds. Sasha Monaco is a children's book author, illustrator, publisher, psychology researcher, and technology strategist.
A graduate of the University of Florida with dual degrees in psychology and criminology, Sasha has dedicated herself to translating evidence-based psychological research into engaging children's stories... (These are the top of my reading pile.) ...that help young readers navigate challenges like anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, goal setting, and family relationships.
Through Monaco Publishing, Sasha has authored and illustrated books, including Tap Tap Tap: A Child's Guide to Navigating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, one of my all-time favorites, My Baby Brother, and the STEAM Team Water Workbook Series, which is so fun. (If you flip it over, it also has the WATER Workbook on the back.) Another one of my favorites, The Happiness Formula, also by Sasha Monaco.
Her work combines positive psychology, research, and storytelling to empower children and families. At the same time, Sasha has built an impressive career in the telecommunications and technology industry, currently serving as a Channel Manager at Spectrotel, where she helps organizations optimize their technology infrastructure and business operations.
Whether she's analyzing data, solve complex challenges, or creating stories that support children's mental health, Sasha is passionate about helping people thrive. In my personal opinion, Sasha Monaco can do anything.
Welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes, Sasha Monaco! Thank you so much for being here.
Sasha Monaco (02:00)
Thank you for having me, Jackie. I am so happy to be here. I'm such a fan of you and your podcast and the community that you've built. I think that you've built a community of people who turn their passions into life goals and then achieve those goals. That's one of my favorite things in the world. Thank you for having me.
Jackie Morreale (02:18)
Oh my goodness. I'm going to cry.
I really appreciate your kind words. I'm such a fan of yours as well. For anybody who doesn't know you yet, and they will very soon, please tell us your full name, hometown and where you work now, and a little bit about yourself?
Sasha Monaco (02:31)
I am Sasha Monaco. I grew up in Delray Beach, Florida. I now live in Tampa, Florida. I'm a technology strategist by day and by night, a children's book author. What it boils down to in both fields is turning data into stories. It's one of my favorite things to do.
Jackie Morreale (02:46)
You do a lot of things. What is your passion?
Sasha Monaco (02:49)
My passion is taking complex, fact-driven, data-driven concepts and turning them into things that are very easy to understand. My passion falls into helping children understand complicated topics, helping parents turn into teachers for their children on those positive psychology topics, and making them more digestible and fun.
Jackie Morreale (03:10)
How many years have you been doing all this? What's your favorite thing about it?
Sasha Monaco (03:13)
I've been a children's book author, illustrator, and publisher for five years. The books ramped up pretty quickly. I started one as a passion project and then realized that I could turn something in my head into a physical book… and then freaked out about it. I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I could do this all day, every day!' It's so much fun.
Then the channel manager. I've been in the technology strategy space since I was 15 years old. My dad ran a technology strategy agency. He put me on the phone when I was 15 years old. He said, 'Call the IT Director at Publix, at Winn-Dixie, at this store, that store.’ I just did it because children have no fear. It built so much confidence in all the rejection.
Now I'm in the space, professionally, in the corporate world, doing the same thing.
Jackie Morreale (03:54)
You have been doing this since you were 15 years old? Other people are scooping ice cream or sitting by a pool with a whistle in Delray Beach as their teenage jobs. You're calling up Heads of IT, you're giving good advice to business leaders, landing deals, making sales. Taking names, kicking butt, all that stuff. Also making books when other people in college are in their sweatpants. Here, you are taking stuff that lives in your head and turning it into a business about books. There's so much there.
So, to get to know you a little bit better, let's do some quick-fire questions.
Sasha Monaco (04:32)
Absolutely. Let's do it!
Jackie Morreale (04:33)
Sasha Monaco, coffee or tea?
Sasha Monaco (04:35)
Coffee.
Jackie Morreale (04:36)
Morning person or night owl?
Sasha Monaco (04:37)
Definitely night owl, I like to work when it's quiet.
Jackie Morreale (04:40)
Favorite children's book growing up?
Sasha Monaco (04:41)
There's a book called One, by Kathryn Otoshi, and there's a book called Mr. Peabody's Apples, by Madonna. Those are my favorites.
Jackie Morreale (04:46)
Favorite place in Florida?
Sasha Monaco (04:47)
Tampa, because it's where I'm building my new life.
Jackie Morreale (04:49)
Hardcover, paperback, or audiobook?
Sasha Monaco (04:51)
Hardcover.
Jackie Morreale (04:52)
There's something to a good hardcover, agree. Pen and paper or digital notes?
Sasha Monaco (04:56)
Digital notes because I forget things as soon as I write them down. Digitally, I can search my notes.
Jackie Morreale (05:01)
A new skill you'd love to master?
Sasha Monaco (05:03)
Meditating. Fully meditating instead of being distracted.
Jackie Morreale (05:05)
One book every aspiring entrepreneur should read?
Sasha Monaco (05:08)
Atomic Habits by James Clear. Great book.
Jackie Morreale (05:09)
A book every child should read? It could be one of yours.
Sasha Monaco (05:12)
Speaking of habits, I would say that this (Super STEAM Team) is one book every child should read in order to form healthy, scientifically-backed habits early on.
Jackie Morreale (05:20)
Read this book with both of my children. We learned a lot. The illustrations are so fun. We love that it has lots of options and a WATER Workbook at the end.
Sasha Monaco (05:29)
The reinforcement with social support is super important to child development.
Jackie Morreale (05:33)
Every child must read it. Favorite musical artist or song?
Sasha Monaco (05:38)
My favorite song is 'Our House.' My mom never used to sing when I was younger. I remember telling her, 'Are you sad? You never sing.' When I'm happy, I sing. Then she started to sing this song really loud around the house. I would be like, 'Okay, she's happy.'
Jackie Morreale (05:38)
Thought it was going to be 'Mamma Mia.' Your amazing mom.
Sasha Monaco (05:53)
Mamma Mia. Close second.
Jackie Morreale (05:55)
What is something that most people would be surprised to learn about you?
(Continued below)
March 2026 Mindset Lab by Monaco Publishing in partnership with Bloomingdales:
Mindset Lab by Monaco Publishing in partnership with Bloomingdales poster, for the March 2026 event at the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton, Florida
Sasha Monaco at Mindset Lab! Bloomingdales event in Boca Raton, FL
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Sasha Monaco's books on display at the event
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Sasha Monaco with participants and fans of all ages at the event
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(Continued)
Sasha Monaco (05:59)
I was painfully shy as a child. You could not get a word out of me.
Two, I hate the beach. I live in Florida, and I hate the beach. It’s very backwards. I don't like sand. I have weird texture issues.
Jackie Morreale (06:08)
See, this is why you relate to children. Every time I take my children to the beach, they have the exact same feeling. I'm like, 'What? This is what I've been looking forward to doing my whole life.' Toes in sand. The pool's okay, though?
Sasha Monaco (06:14)
Yes.
Jackie Morreale (06:15)
What is one word that describes this 'era' that you're going through in your life right now?
Sasha Monaco (06:18)
Love. This. Question. 'Blooming' is my first answer.
My second answer is ‘healthy discomfort.’
Jackie Morreale (06:29)
There's always growth and blooming on the other side of some healthy discomfort.
Favorite creative tool: pencil, paint, camera, or computer?
Sasha Monaco (06:39)
iPad. That's what I use to do my illustrations, with my Apple Pencil. It's my favorite thing to do in the world.
Jackie Morreale (06:44)
Such a great idea to use the Apple Pencil and to keep everything right there digitally.
Sasha Monaco (06:50)
There’s an app called Procreate. You can actually watch a sped-up timeline of your art being made. Super cool at the end.
Jackie Morreale (06:56)
The more you know! Sasha Monaco, thank you for the tip!
What is harder: Writing a children's book or closing a business deal?
Sasha Monaco (06:59)
Closing a business deal.
Writing a children's book feels like I'm talking to people that I understand very well. I just understand children really well. I always have.
When you're talking to a child, you're painting on a blank canvas.
When you're talking to an adult, you're talking to someone who's stuck in their ways, a lot of the time. That's the challenge of a business deal.
Jackie Morreale (07:21)
One piece of advice that you would give to your younger self?
Sasha Monaco (07:25)
Every problem has a solution, even if it doesn't feel like it.
Jackie Morreale (07:28)
We could all probably use that advice. This is hard. Success means: what?
Sasha Monaco (07:32)
Success means: Go next. That's directly from my father, Joe Monaco. Every single time we ever came up with a problem, his answer was, 'Go next.' If you are on a bad date, failed a test, lost a job... go next. It's just so simple, but it works. That's success.
Jackie Morreale (07:47)
Go next. This is hard, too. I know you have an entire Formula on this one. Happiness is: what?
Sasha Monaco (07:51)
Happiness is more green than red, which directly relates to this (The Happiness Formula book). That's scientifically fact-based; that's what happiness is.
Jackie Morreale (07:58)
Anyone who's done your book can attest to that for sure.
Wisdom is: what?
Sasha Monaco (08:07)
Wisdom is having a repertoire of evidence that you can face challenges and bounce back. A lot of the time, that comes from social support mechanisms, finding social evidence for overcoming challenges.
Jackie Morreale (08:17)
Favorite quote for life?
Sasha Monaco (08:18)
One of them like a child, edit like a scientist.'
Another one of them is: 'Stay awkward, brave, and kind.' That's from my favorite person, Brené Brown.
Jackie Morreale (08:27)
Being awkward and kind does take some bravery, right?
Sasha Monaco (08:29)
Yes.
Jackie Morreale (08:30)
I'll think about how to edit like a scientist, but I also love creating like a child. It's just free, uninhibited; you being yourself, relatable.
Sasha Monaco (08:39)
Authentic, and that's where you reach a flow state. There's a lot of research flow states and happiness and how they relate.
Jackie Morreale (08:45)
Let's talk about your origin story. I want to know more about how you got to this current amazing state of flow. You're an author, illustrator, researcher, publisher, and technology strategist. Which identity emerged first? How did the others follow?
Sasha Monaco (09:02)
The identity that was first the psychological mind. A lot of my research is focused on something called 'parentification.' It's when children are emotionally placed into parental roles, whether that's taking care of siblings or parents emotionally.
What we found in my research was that it can negatively impact a child, but if you have a lot of positive reinforcement after the parentification happens, the child actually has better social and romantic relationships. As well as better self-efficacy, higher self-confidence, and unconditional positive regard.
I think that I was put in a parentified role as a child, but then I was also celebrated so heavily. My family always celebrated us. There was nothing that we couldn't do in their eyes. I started to take on the idea that I can understand people, and I can use that to grow in my life.
The psychology part took place first. I also struggled really heavily with OCD. That's where the psychology and creating the books came to form a partnership.
Jackie Morreale (09:56)
Thank you for sharing that. I know that's not easy to go back and relive some of your origin story. We always research what's personal to us, right?
Sasha Monaco (10:03)
There's a saying that one of my first mentors taught me, and it's, 'Research is me-search.' Whatever you find yourself wanting to research, there's a reason it's inside of you.
Jackie Morreale (10:11)
If it doesn't live inside of you, it's going to be a really hard thing to put together.
Let's keep going with when you were a child. What did you imagine that you would be when you grew up?
Sasha Monaco (10:21)
This is an interesting question. I brought up Brene Brown before; she's all about vulnerability research. I'm going to be very vulnerable.
My genuine answer to that question is that I wanted to be whatever would impress the people around me, which is not a great answer.
I encourage children to look for their intrinsic motivation.
What makes you happy?
What lights up your own heart?
Let's follow that, then collect social support.
I did it a little backwards, which led to some falling over myself a little bit along the way. I originally was like, 'I'm going to be a lawyer.' There was nothing inside me that wanted to be a lawyer. I just knew it sounded good. Then I was like, 'I'm going to be a doctor of psychology.' I got there, and I was like, 'This is not for me.'
One of the most important lessons of my life and what I pass on to the children I work with in my workshops is that the question is extremely important to you, and the adults around you really care about the answer.
It breaks down into: Are you enjoying the little things that you do that are the ingredients of your day? I prioritized making sure that I do.
(Continued below)
Sasha Monaco (05:59)
I was painfully shy as a child. You could not get a word out of me.
Two, I hate the beach. I live in Florida, and I hate the beach. It’s very backwards. I don't like sand. I have weird texture issues.
Jackie Morreale (06:08)
See, this is why you relate to children. Every time I take my children to the beach, they have the exact same feeling. I'm like, 'What? This is what I've been looking forward to doing my whole life.' Toes in sand. The pool's okay, though?
Sasha Monaco (06:14)
Yes.
Jackie Morreale (06:15)
What is one word that describes this 'era' that you're going through in your life right now?
Sasha Monaco (06:18)
Love. This. Question. 'Blooming' is my first answer.
My second answer is ‘healthy discomfort.’
Jackie Morreale (06:29)
There's always growth and blooming on the other side of some healthy discomfort.
Favorite creative tool: pencil, paint, camera, or computer?
Sasha Monaco (06:39)
iPad. That's what I use to do my illustrations, with my Apple Pencil. It's my favorite thing to do in the world.
Jackie Morreale (06:44)
Such a great idea to use the Apple Pencil and to keep everything right there digitally.
Sasha Monaco (06:50)
There’s an app called Procreate. You can actually watch a sped-up timeline of your art being made. Super cool at the end.
Jackie Morreale (06:56)
The more you know! Sasha Monaco, thank you for the tip!
What is harder: Writing a children's book or closing a business deal?
Sasha Monaco (06:59)
Closing a business deal.
Writing a children's book feels like I'm talking to people that I understand very well. I just understand children really well. I always have.
When you're talking to a child, you're painting on a blank canvas.
When you're talking to an adult, you're talking to someone who's stuck in their ways, a lot of the time. That's the challenge of a business deal.
Jackie Morreale (07:21)
One piece of advice that you would give to your younger self?
Sasha Monaco (07:25)
Every problem has a solution, even if it doesn't feel like it.
Jackie Morreale (07:28)
We could all probably use that advice. This is hard. Success means: what?
Sasha Monaco (07:32)
Success means: Go next. That's directly from my father, Joe Monaco. Every single time we ever came up with a problem, his answer was, 'Go next.' If you are on a bad date, failed a test, lost a job... go next. It's just so simple, but it works. That's success.
Jackie Morreale (07:47)
Go next. This is hard, too. I know you have an entire Formula on this one. Happiness is: what?
Sasha Monaco (07:51)
Happiness is more green than red, which directly relates to this (The Happiness Formula book). That's scientifically fact-based; that's what happiness is.
Jackie Morreale (07:58)
Anyone who's done your book can attest to that for sure.
Wisdom is: what?
Sasha Monaco (08:07)
Wisdom is having a repertoire of evidence that you can face challenges and bounce back. A lot of the time, that comes from social support mechanisms, finding social evidence for overcoming challenges.
Jackie Morreale (08:17)
Favorite quote for life?
Sasha Monaco (08:18)
One of them like a child, edit like a scientist.'
Another one of them is: 'Stay awkward, brave, and kind.' That's from my favorite person, Brené Brown.
Jackie Morreale (08:27)
Being awkward and kind does take some bravery, right?
Sasha Monaco (08:29)
Yes.
Jackie Morreale (08:30)
I'll think about how to edit like a scientist, but I also love creating like a child. It's just free, uninhibited; you being yourself, relatable.
Sasha Monaco (08:39)
Authentic, and that's where you reach a flow state. There's a lot of research flow states and happiness and how they relate.
Jackie Morreale (08:45)
Let's talk about your origin story. I want to know more about how you got to this current amazing state of flow. You're an author, illustrator, researcher, publisher, and technology strategist. Which identity emerged first? How did the others follow?
Sasha Monaco (09:02)
The identity that was first the psychological mind. A lot of my research is focused on something called 'parentification.' It's when children are emotionally placed into parental roles, whether that's taking care of siblings or parents emotionally.
What we found in my research was that it can negatively impact a child, but if you have a lot of positive reinforcement after the parentification happens, the child actually has better social and romantic relationships. As well as better self-efficacy, higher self-confidence, and unconditional positive regard.
I think that I was put in a parentified role as a child, but then I was also celebrated so heavily. My family always celebrated us. There was nothing that we couldn't do in their eyes. I started to take on the idea that I can understand people, and I can use that to grow in my life.
The psychology part took place first. I also struggled really heavily with OCD. That's where the psychology and creating the books came to form a partnership.
Jackie Morreale (09:56)
Thank you for sharing that. I know that's not easy to go back and relive some of your origin story. We always research what's personal to us, right?
Sasha Monaco (10:03)
There's a saying that one of my first mentors taught me, and it's, 'Research is me-search.' Whatever you find yourself wanting to research, there's a reason it's inside of you.
Jackie Morreale (10:11)
If it doesn't live inside of you, it's going to be a really hard thing to put together.
Let's keep going with when you were a child. What did you imagine that you would be when you grew up?
Sasha Monaco (10:21)
This is an interesting question. I brought up Brene Brown before; she's all about vulnerability research. I'm going to be very vulnerable.
My genuine answer to that question is that I wanted to be whatever would impress the people around me, which is not a great answer.
I encourage children to look for their intrinsic motivation.
What makes you happy?
What lights up your own heart?
Let's follow that, then collect social support.
I did it a little backwards, which led to some falling over myself a little bit along the way. I originally was like, 'I'm going to be a lawyer.' There was nothing inside me that wanted to be a lawyer. I just knew it sounded good. Then I was like, 'I'm going to be a doctor of psychology.' I got there, and I was like, 'This is not for me.'
One of the most important lessons of my life and what I pass on to the children I work with in my workshops is that the question is extremely important to you, and the adults around you really care about the answer.
It breaks down into: Are you enjoying the little things that you do that are the ingredients of your day? I prioritized making sure that I do.
(Continued below)
Sasha Monaco is Recognized for her Technology Strategist Role:
Sasha Monaco speaking at the ChannelUP event in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
|
Sasha Monaco is recognized with the 2025 Rookie of the Year Award, and the Circle of Excellence Award, by Spectrotel, in Neptune Township, New Jersey
|
(Continued)
Jackie Morreale (11:19)
Was there a specific moment when you realized that children's books could become this meaningful part of your life and career?
Sasha Monaco (11:27)
Having something in my head, having a character that I almost dialogue with, then seeing that character in print on a page. That was step one. I was like, 'I can create something!'
Step two was the reaction from the people around me.
My last event at Bloomingdale's, a store manager came over, found my book, Tap Tap Tap: A Child's Guide to Navigating OCD, read it, and cried. He was like, 'This is it.' He was pointing. He was like, 'This is what it feels like! This is what it feels like.'
He was emphatically explaining and thanking me for understanding and putting on a page.
I had to excuse myself because I cried too.
This would have made me so happy as a child to read it.
Jackie Morreale (12:02)
I hope your inner child understood the gravity of this workshop at Bloomingdale's, with your children's books.
The depth of understanding of people and psychology, that even somebody who works at the retail store of Bloomingdales is is going to read your children's books and say, 'I wish that this was around when I was little, somebody who gets me and is willing to put it out there.' You're doing this for the next generation, so that hopefully they don't have to deal with some of the issues that we've had to deal with.
Sasha Monaco (12:30)
There was an event where different parents came up to me in the same 30-minute period.
They started to tell me that they saw their child knocking and looking and blinking around a little bit.
I'm not a psychologist; I'm not a therapist either. I'm not in the place to diagnose nor do want to be.
But it started a conversation that I don't think they would have had before.
The onset of OCD, for me, was at the age of three years old. Mine went untreated for 10 years. It had 10 years to grow and grow and grow.
If I can stop that for any child, even one, that would be best.
Jackie Morreale (13:00)
You're doing all the things. Thank you so much. Starting big conversations.
Looking back, are there any specific experiences that most influenced the path that you're on?
Sasha Monaco (13:11)
Anyone who has OCD or has a child with OCD will probably understand this very well. There's a lot of isolation and shame when it comes to OCD. In the shame and vulnerability research, there's an idea that nobody understands what I'm doing. Nobody understands the knocking in patterns or the need to repeat things excessively.
The idea is that isolation, I wanted to turn it into something that is actually very powerful: That you're not isolated; you're understood, and you're not weird.
That's the message I wanted to deliver.
Jackie Morreale (13:33)
I think weird is good! In my personal opinion, weird is amazing. Weird is the best.
I always tell my own kids: if you want to be super off-the-charts, outlier-successful, think about the people and the behaviors they're doing every day. They're not doing normal stuff. They are doing super off-the-charts weird behavior to get that weird outlier success.
You have to be willing to be different.
Sasha Monaco (13:51)
You're right. The research supports what you're saying.
Neurodivergent people actually have higher success rates in the real world.
There's out-of-the-box thinking.
Imagine what we could do if not only do they have that brain component of thinking differently, but now it's celebrated by their parents, their teachers, their coaches, and their friends.
The sky's the limit at that point.
Jackie Morreale (14:25)
I totally agree. Please help me learn. Your books are rooted in this empirical psychological research. What inspired you to translate academic concepts and psychology into stories for children?
Sasha Monaco (14:37)
My sophomore year of college, I created the first two books, Tap Tap Tap, the OCD book, and then My Baby Brother. I was approached by two professors, one of them at Appalachian State and one of them at the University of Florida. They had their life's research in their hands.
One of their dreams was to translate it into something digestible and fun for children.
They approached me and said, 'I would like you to read this whole big stack of research and turn it into a story and illustrate it.'
They wanted it to be double-sided because part of their research was that, you can read it and relate to it, but you also have to practice it with a trusted adult.
That's what brought more of the research element into it.
This book, in particular, is based on their research on the STEAM framework. STEAM is an acronym, and so is WATER.
Jackie Morreale (15:10)
Yes.
Sasha Monaco (15:21)
The different superheroes…
We call this generation 'the anxious generation' based on the research about depression, anxiety, loneliness epidemic rising. This is what children feel like... (Sasha shows brain fog illustration.)
Jackie Morreale (15:39)
That illustration is everything.
Sasha Monaco (15:41)
In the research, it's called 'frenzy doing.' In my book, it's called 'the frenzy fog.'
Kids that are stuck in the frenzy fog are visited by these superheroes. There's:
It's really research coming to life in a very structured way, that's able to be practiced, and also scalable for classrooms and workshops.
Jackie Morreale (16:10)
That stack of research and your beautiful creativity and outcome with this book is so impressive. Shout out to your contributing authors.
Sasha Monaco (16:20)
I'm so happy to shout them out. Dr. Martin Heesacker and Dr. Brian P. Higley. They are fantastic. They're very STEAM-centered and extremely smart.
Jackie Morreale (16:28)
That's so great to have amazing people on your team. I love that research has built superheroes that help them out of their brain fog; it's something that's so relatable.
Again, you're a technology strategist, so you're walking both sides of this. We have technology that's really great at making things accessible, and we also have technology that gives kids this feeling. It's a double-edged sword.
Sasha Monaco (16:52)
By day, I'm working on the technology strategy, and at night, I'm purely designing my workshops. I'm helping children completely navigate away from that.
(Continued below)
Jackie Morreale (11:19)
Was there a specific moment when you realized that children's books could become this meaningful part of your life and career?
Sasha Monaco (11:27)
Having something in my head, having a character that I almost dialogue with, then seeing that character in print on a page. That was step one. I was like, 'I can create something!'
Step two was the reaction from the people around me.
My last event at Bloomingdale's, a store manager came over, found my book, Tap Tap Tap: A Child's Guide to Navigating OCD, read it, and cried. He was like, 'This is it.' He was pointing. He was like, 'This is what it feels like! This is what it feels like.'
He was emphatically explaining and thanking me for understanding and putting on a page.
I had to excuse myself because I cried too.
This would have made me so happy as a child to read it.
Jackie Morreale (12:02)
I hope your inner child understood the gravity of this workshop at Bloomingdale's, with your children's books.
The depth of understanding of people and psychology, that even somebody who works at the retail store of Bloomingdales is is going to read your children's books and say, 'I wish that this was around when I was little, somebody who gets me and is willing to put it out there.' You're doing this for the next generation, so that hopefully they don't have to deal with some of the issues that we've had to deal with.
Sasha Monaco (12:30)
There was an event where different parents came up to me in the same 30-minute period.
They started to tell me that they saw their child knocking and looking and blinking around a little bit.
I'm not a psychologist; I'm not a therapist either. I'm not in the place to diagnose nor do want to be.
But it started a conversation that I don't think they would have had before.
The onset of OCD, for me, was at the age of three years old. Mine went untreated for 10 years. It had 10 years to grow and grow and grow.
If I can stop that for any child, even one, that would be best.
Jackie Morreale (13:00)
You're doing all the things. Thank you so much. Starting big conversations.
Looking back, are there any specific experiences that most influenced the path that you're on?
Sasha Monaco (13:11)
Anyone who has OCD or has a child with OCD will probably understand this very well. There's a lot of isolation and shame when it comes to OCD. In the shame and vulnerability research, there's an idea that nobody understands what I'm doing. Nobody understands the knocking in patterns or the need to repeat things excessively.
The idea is that isolation, I wanted to turn it into something that is actually very powerful: That you're not isolated; you're understood, and you're not weird.
That's the message I wanted to deliver.
Jackie Morreale (13:33)
I think weird is good! In my personal opinion, weird is amazing. Weird is the best.
I always tell my own kids: if you want to be super off-the-charts, outlier-successful, think about the people and the behaviors they're doing every day. They're not doing normal stuff. They are doing super off-the-charts weird behavior to get that weird outlier success.
You have to be willing to be different.
Sasha Monaco (13:51)
You're right. The research supports what you're saying.
Neurodivergent people actually have higher success rates in the real world.
There's out-of-the-box thinking.
Imagine what we could do if not only do they have that brain component of thinking differently, but now it's celebrated by their parents, their teachers, their coaches, and their friends.
The sky's the limit at that point.
Jackie Morreale (14:25)
I totally agree. Please help me learn. Your books are rooted in this empirical psychological research. What inspired you to translate academic concepts and psychology into stories for children?
Sasha Monaco (14:37)
My sophomore year of college, I created the first two books, Tap Tap Tap, the OCD book, and then My Baby Brother. I was approached by two professors, one of them at Appalachian State and one of them at the University of Florida. They had their life's research in their hands.
One of their dreams was to translate it into something digestible and fun for children.
They approached me and said, 'I would like you to read this whole big stack of research and turn it into a story and illustrate it.'
They wanted it to be double-sided because part of their research was that, you can read it and relate to it, but you also have to practice it with a trusted adult.
That's what brought more of the research element into it.
This book, in particular, is based on their research on the STEAM framework. STEAM is an acronym, and so is WATER.
Jackie Morreale (15:10)
Yes.
Sasha Monaco (15:21)
The different superheroes…
- 'S' for social support, that's a social butterfly.
- 'T' is Tommy Time. That's all about smart goals. Taking distractions away.
We call this generation 'the anxious generation' based on the research about depression, anxiety, loneliness epidemic rising. This is what children feel like... (Sasha shows brain fog illustration.)
Jackie Morreale (15:39)
That illustration is everything.
Sasha Monaco (15:41)
In the research, it's called 'frenzy doing.' In my book, it's called 'the frenzy fog.'
Kids that are stuck in the frenzy fog are visited by these superheroes. There's:
- Social Support
- Tommy Time for time management.
- Enjoyment, enjoying your goals, because kids deserve to have fun too.
- Andi Access, so having accessible resources around you.
- Motivation Man, the intrinsic motivation and positive affirmation is floating around in your head.
It's really research coming to life in a very structured way, that's able to be practiced, and also scalable for classrooms and workshops.
Jackie Morreale (16:10)
That stack of research and your beautiful creativity and outcome with this book is so impressive. Shout out to your contributing authors.
Sasha Monaco (16:20)
I'm so happy to shout them out. Dr. Martin Heesacker and Dr. Brian P. Higley. They are fantastic. They're very STEAM-centered and extremely smart.
Jackie Morreale (16:28)
That's so great to have amazing people on your team. I love that research has built superheroes that help them out of their brain fog; it's something that's so relatable.
Again, you're a technology strategist, so you're walking both sides of this. We have technology that's really great at making things accessible, and we also have technology that gives kids this feeling. It's a double-edged sword.
Sasha Monaco (16:52)
By day, I'm working on the technology strategy, and at night, I'm purely designing my workshops. I'm helping children completely navigate away from that.
(Continued below)
January 2026 Monaco Publishing book signing in partnership with Barnes & Noble:
Sasha Monaco at her book signing at Barnes & Noble in Tequesta, FL
|
Sasha Monaco with the Morreale family at her book signing event
|
Coloring sheets by Sasha Monaco
|
Super STEAM Team Book written, illustrated and signed by Sasha Monaco
|
(Continued)
Jackie Morreale (17:00)
Despite tech and AI and all the amazing things that are coming to the forefront in media, you can still think differently and bigger and out of the box, with the right strategies. How has your psychology background changed the way you approach challenges in your own life?
Sasha Monaco (17:15)
I love this question because it really has. Took a class at University of Florida called 'Positive Psychology.' It was with Dr. Ryan Duffy. Almost like a stand-up comedy routine that he did. He was a genius.
Jackie Morreale (17:25)
Was there a wait list for Professor Duffy's class at UF?
Sasha Monaco (17:30)
I want to sneak back in and take that class again. There's basically this positive psychology research. The way I break down my days is all based on a color pattern. I call it The Happiness Formula.
I assess how much red, yellow, and green this is in my life.
Red are blocks of time that you really don't enjoy, whether that's traffic, people that drain you, etc.
Green blocks are things that you really enjoy. Blocks that light up your heart. They make you happy. We all know what these things are.
People who are very aware of what makes them happy versus what makes them unhappy. Green versus red.
Those are the people that are happier in life.
Then there's yellow blocks. These are pretty neutral, not green, not red, like, folding my laundry.
The idea is: Look at any given week and either plan ahead or retroactively color in how my day went.
In the beginning, I have a lot more red. In the end of the week, I have more green. Maybe it's because it's the weekend, but also because I'm more intentional about it.
Jackie Morreale (18:22)
Yes.
Sasha Monaco (18:24)
There are red blocks here that are lighter red here because, for instance, on Tuesday, my drive to work has traffic, and it makes me upset.
So, on Wednesday, I intentionally decide to pair that drive to work in the traffic with a podcast that I love, like Wisdom for Wannabes.
Suddenly, I love my drive to work a little bit more!
That's how I take that direct research and apply it to my life. That's why I made it into a journal for other people to do the same in a very simple way.
Jackie Morreale (18:49)
I love the example week. Thank you for walking through it. You have three days of 5 p.m. commute home in solid red and then two pink because you're adding a call or a podcast. Thank you. Simple strategies. It's intentional.
Sasha Monaco (18:55)
It puts you in the driver's seat of your own life. I think a lot of us go on autopilot, which I'm guilty of, too.
If you think about it:
How can you make that really enjoyable?
How can you make the rest of it so, so, so blindingly bright green that even if the rest is red, you're overall happy?
It is a formula, very effective and proven directly in psychological research.
Jackie Morreale (19:34)
I am a fan of your The Happiness Formula book. I took on your challenge four weeks in a row, and I can proudly say there was much more red in week one than in week four.
Sasha Monaco (19:46)
There you go.
Jackie Morreale (19:46)
I think every single person needs this workbook.
Sasha Monaco (19:49)
It's data collection; we're collecting data about our lives.
It's a litmus test of: Are you in the right place?
Doing something that's going to make me optimally happy?
Just look at the colors and the numbers, and you'll know.
Jackie Morreale (19:59)
Albert Einstein said, If you can make really complex concepts simple, that's the definition of genius. Sasha Monaco, genius! This is the proof.
Sasha Monaco (20:05)
I love that quote.
Jackie Morreale (20:10)
If every parent could teach their child one psychological skill early in life, based on research and your publishing, what would you recommend?
Sasha Monaco (20:20)
Cognitive Restructuring. Take something that might be a fact of nature or life or your day that you might not love, and learn how to flip it.
There's a good example of that in this book. One of my characters is Motivation Man.
If there are negative thought bubbles in their head, he identifies them and pops them.
You might have a book report in front of you. Maybe you don't necessarily want to read the book, but working hard makes me feel proud of myself.
If I read this book, I'll be smarter. It's that cognitive reframing of a situation.
What happens after we start these bubbles up is you're on an energy stream.
We feel that all the time. You can hype yourself up to do anything. Children can too.
Children are brilliant. A blank canvas.
Those are three very achievable things for a child or for an adult to help a child capture in their life.
Jackie Morreale (21:05)
A little extra goal motivation, like a candy land (Jackie shows page from book) of how to get them to the next steps, and working smarter.
Sasha Monaco (21:08)
Yeah! Zooming out, thinking about what you want in life. That's the first part of the workshop. We zoom all the way out. We start on that page.
What do you want at the end of schooling or maybe even life?
Let's reverse engineer it together.
The message we deliver to the child in that workshop is: I really care about what you want to do and what you care about.
We can't assume that the world will be kind to our children, but we can create a resilient, durable child who can do that cognitive reframing skill early on. Then send them out into the world and feel confident about it.
Jackie Morreale (21:41)
Let's talk specifically about Tap Tap Tap. I love the story.
It tackles OCD in a way that children can understand. How, in sophomore year of college, did this come out of you?
Sasha Monaco (21:52)
Even though the story behind it is more on the negative side of the scale, it actually came from a very positive experience, which was exposure therapy.
I had the most fantastic psychologist, Dr. Stephanie Sachs. She gave me so much confidence about defeating this awful disorder.
OCD is a shapeshifter. It'll start with whatever you're scared of at that moment.
When you defeat the beast, it comes back two years later about whatever you're scared of at that point in your life.
It can feel cyclical and discouraging.
She supported me beautifully and came back to help me.
I'm sitting through a difficult storm, and she's holding my hand, figuratively, and that's all I need right now.
There's a page in the book where the child is sitting with both of her parents.
They're watching worry clouds, the figurative representation of the OCD, drifting away.
Happy clouds and silly clouds are coming in.
That's all it takes sometimes.
(Continued below)
Jackie Morreale (17:00)
Despite tech and AI and all the amazing things that are coming to the forefront in media, you can still think differently and bigger and out of the box, with the right strategies. How has your psychology background changed the way you approach challenges in your own life?
Sasha Monaco (17:15)
I love this question because it really has. Took a class at University of Florida called 'Positive Psychology.' It was with Dr. Ryan Duffy. Almost like a stand-up comedy routine that he did. He was a genius.
Jackie Morreale (17:25)
Was there a wait list for Professor Duffy's class at UF?
Sasha Monaco (17:30)
I want to sneak back in and take that class again. There's basically this positive psychology research. The way I break down my days is all based on a color pattern. I call it The Happiness Formula.
I assess how much red, yellow, and green this is in my life.
Red are blocks of time that you really don't enjoy, whether that's traffic, people that drain you, etc.
Green blocks are things that you really enjoy. Blocks that light up your heart. They make you happy. We all know what these things are.
People who are very aware of what makes them happy versus what makes them unhappy. Green versus red.
Those are the people that are happier in life.
Then there's yellow blocks. These are pretty neutral, not green, not red, like, folding my laundry.
The idea is: Look at any given week and either plan ahead or retroactively color in how my day went.
In the beginning, I have a lot more red. In the end of the week, I have more green. Maybe it's because it's the weekend, but also because I'm more intentional about it.
Jackie Morreale (18:22)
Yes.
Sasha Monaco (18:24)
There are red blocks here that are lighter red here because, for instance, on Tuesday, my drive to work has traffic, and it makes me upset.
So, on Wednesday, I intentionally decide to pair that drive to work in the traffic with a podcast that I love, like Wisdom for Wannabes.
Suddenly, I love my drive to work a little bit more!
That's how I take that direct research and apply it to my life. That's why I made it into a journal for other people to do the same in a very simple way.
Jackie Morreale (18:49)
I love the example week. Thank you for walking through it. You have three days of 5 p.m. commute home in solid red and then two pink because you're adding a call or a podcast. Thank you. Simple strategies. It's intentional.
Sasha Monaco (18:55)
It puts you in the driver's seat of your own life. I think a lot of us go on autopilot, which I'm guilty of, too.
If you think about it:
- You've got 168 hours in the week.
- You're probably sleeping for about 63 of those.
- You really have 105 intentional hours. A lot of those, you're in school, or you're at work.
How can you make that really enjoyable?
How can you make the rest of it so, so, so blindingly bright green that even if the rest is red, you're overall happy?
It is a formula, very effective and proven directly in psychological research.
Jackie Morreale (19:34)
I am a fan of your The Happiness Formula book. I took on your challenge four weeks in a row, and I can proudly say there was much more red in week one than in week four.
Sasha Monaco (19:46)
There you go.
Jackie Morreale (19:46)
I think every single person needs this workbook.
Sasha Monaco (19:49)
It's data collection; we're collecting data about our lives.
It's a litmus test of: Are you in the right place?
Doing something that's going to make me optimally happy?
Just look at the colors and the numbers, and you'll know.
Jackie Morreale (19:59)
Albert Einstein said, If you can make really complex concepts simple, that's the definition of genius. Sasha Monaco, genius! This is the proof.
Sasha Monaco (20:05)
I love that quote.
Jackie Morreale (20:10)
If every parent could teach their child one psychological skill early in life, based on research and your publishing, what would you recommend?
Sasha Monaco (20:20)
Cognitive Restructuring. Take something that might be a fact of nature or life or your day that you might not love, and learn how to flip it.
There's a good example of that in this book. One of my characters is Motivation Man.
If there are negative thought bubbles in their head, he identifies them and pops them.
You might have a book report in front of you. Maybe you don't necessarily want to read the book, but working hard makes me feel proud of myself.
If I read this book, I'll be smarter. It's that cognitive reframing of a situation.
What happens after we start these bubbles up is you're on an energy stream.
We feel that all the time. You can hype yourself up to do anything. Children can too.
Children are brilliant. A blank canvas.
- They want to be happy.
- They want structure.
- They want social support.
Those are three very achievable things for a child or for an adult to help a child capture in their life.
Jackie Morreale (21:05)
A little extra goal motivation, like a candy land (Jackie shows page from book) of how to get them to the next steps, and working smarter.
Sasha Monaco (21:08)
Yeah! Zooming out, thinking about what you want in life. That's the first part of the workshop. We zoom all the way out. We start on that page.
What do you want at the end of schooling or maybe even life?
Let's reverse engineer it together.
The message we deliver to the child in that workshop is: I really care about what you want to do and what you care about.
We can't assume that the world will be kind to our children, but we can create a resilient, durable child who can do that cognitive reframing skill early on. Then send them out into the world and feel confident about it.
Jackie Morreale (21:41)
Let's talk specifically about Tap Tap Tap. I love the story.
It tackles OCD in a way that children can understand. How, in sophomore year of college, did this come out of you?
Sasha Monaco (21:52)
Even though the story behind it is more on the negative side of the scale, it actually came from a very positive experience, which was exposure therapy.
I had the most fantastic psychologist, Dr. Stephanie Sachs. She gave me so much confidence about defeating this awful disorder.
OCD is a shapeshifter. It'll start with whatever you're scared of at that moment.
When you defeat the beast, it comes back two years later about whatever you're scared of at that point in your life.
It can feel cyclical and discouraging.
She supported me beautifully and came back to help me.
I'm sitting through a difficult storm, and she's holding my hand, figuratively, and that's all I need right now.
There's a page in the book where the child is sitting with both of her parents.
They're watching worry clouds, the figurative representation of the OCD, drifting away.
Happy clouds and silly clouds are coming in.
That's all it takes sometimes.
(Continued below)
Sasha Monaco's Super STEAM Team Characters:
Andi Access
|
Enjoyment
|
Frenzy Fog
|
Motivation Man
|
Social Support
|
Tommy Time
|
(Continued)
Jackie Morreale (22:43)
Are these the happy and silly clouds?
If you're sad about something, it can feel like this (shows sad cloud illustration). That (happy cloud illustration), cognitive reframing, puts a smile on your cloud. It's such a simple, beautiful visual way of demonstrating this really complex thing for kids, and they can get through this storm.
Shout out to Stephanie Sachs, she sounds like an amazing leader in the field of psychology.
What feedback have you received from children, parents, educators that has stayed with you about your books?
Sasha Monaco (23:11)
I have these events called Mindset Labs, and they're exactly what they sound like.
We sit down with your child in a very fun environment with stations, bubbles, prize wheels, and talk about their mindset and goals.
The feedback I get from the parents, live, in those moments, that's what stands out the most to me.
There was a parent who came up to me and said, ‘I have never seen my child talk this much ever. She is painfully shy.'
We're kind of like those Russian nesting dolls; there's always another layer.
There's a child inside of me that was like, 'Oh my gosh, I was painfully shy.'
This would have opened me up as a child and talked about my goals.
Another parent came to me and said, 'I had no idea that she had these goals.' The child was saying that she wanted to be 100 % on iReady, the reading program. Mom heard her say that, saw her write it down, looked at me, like, 'I had no idea that that was important to her.'
The next step was, 'Let's make this into a SMART goal that includes mom sitting with you for 20 minutes every day and doing a little extra practice for five weeks, and then let's measure your progress.' They went home together with that goal in her little workbook. That's been the feedback that there was so much in the brilliant child's mind that they didn't know was there.
Jackie Morreale (24:18)
Having these Mindset Workshops with you, as somebody who's researched, written about, and experienced it yourself, is going to bring up things in kids that we don't get as parents. We do our day-to-day: school, activities, and try to manage through the day.
For your Mindset labs to bring out something that they can do, with small actions, with those little changes to habits, and then feel so accomplished by hitting that goal.
They can change their entire life.
Sasha Monaco (24:46)
It's so true. Negative things are cyclical, and so are positive things. I try to focus on that part.
One of my mentors in my technology job, Gabe Sette, the chief revenue officer of my current company.
When he first onboards someone to the company, his one goal for the next however many months, number one goal, is to get that person a win.
They need to raise their confidence. Then it's just a slip-and-slide of wins and wins and wins.
It's the same with children. We can set parents up to successfully give their children wins.
Instead of going home and going on their iPad, they can go home and fill out this workbook.
Now parents can have actual conversations about these goals.
Jackie Morreale (25:09)
Wins, wins, wins.
Sasha Monaco (25:22)
You asked me before, 'What is wisdom?' It's having a repertoire of evidence that you can bounce back to. It starts the conversation, too.
When I hit a roadblock, I call my dad immediately because I know he's hit every roadblock that I've hit times 10. It starts the social support conversation, too.
Jackie Morreale (25:38)
You do have an amazing family. I love that your go-to first call when you have an issue is your dad. Shout out to Joe! Awesome guy.
Sasha Monaco (25:44)
Thank you.
Jackie Morreale (25:46)
Can a picture book change a child's life?
Sasha Monaco (25:49)
Yes, I think a children's book can change a child's life in two different ways.
One, it can inspire them. That spark can stay with them, like the books that inspired me.
Two, it can give them a repetitive structure to implement healthy habits. That is more the category that my books fall into. It's a conversation about positive coping mechanisms that invites and requires structure.
Jackie Morreale (26:13)
What has been your proudest moment as an author, illustrator, and publisher so far?
Sasha Monaco (26:18)
It has been seeing the reactions of the children.
I do school events. There was one school event where there was a very, very painfully shy child. He was the only child alone at the table. All the other children were filling out the workbook, popping their affirmation bubbles.
I spent a lot of time with this child. One of his goals was to finish his homework a greater percentage of the time. He wanted to feel good about showing up and knowing that in his backpack, the homework was complete and he was proud of it.
He really just needed more structure. We wrote a smart goal.
I signaled to the teacher to go over to him. She read it over his shoulder and she stopped the class, read his goal out loud and said, 'I am so proud of him for writing this goal.'
He lit up.
From a child who probably didn't say five words the whole year, he was talking about something that was important to him.
His smile lasted the whole rest of the session. I'll never forget it.
Jackie Morreale (27:06)
It's a little thing to be recognized for a goal, but it can make somebody's day and turn their whole cycle around. Now he's set up for excellence. What else can he do? Let's find out.
Sasha Monaco (27:17)
Exactly.
Jackie Morreale (27:18)
Let's talk about technology and Spectrotel. Although they feel very different, books versus technology and telecommunications, what connections do you see between these two worlds?
Sasha Monaco (27:29)
I'm passionate about both of them. The entire point of both is to find the value you can bring to people. That's what it boils down to.
Extracting value and presenting it.
I was a shy child, but my parents never gave me the impression that I couldn't do anything I wanted to do or be exactly who I wanted to be.
I have always carried that confidence, even when I could barely speak.
Whether they're psychological roadblocks or high-level corporate issues, it's all about solving problems.
(Continued below)
Jackie Morreale (22:43)
Are these the happy and silly clouds?
If you're sad about something, it can feel like this (shows sad cloud illustration). That (happy cloud illustration), cognitive reframing, puts a smile on your cloud. It's such a simple, beautiful visual way of demonstrating this really complex thing for kids, and they can get through this storm.
Shout out to Stephanie Sachs, she sounds like an amazing leader in the field of psychology.
What feedback have you received from children, parents, educators that has stayed with you about your books?
Sasha Monaco (23:11)
I have these events called Mindset Labs, and they're exactly what they sound like.
We sit down with your child in a very fun environment with stations, bubbles, prize wheels, and talk about their mindset and goals.
The feedback I get from the parents, live, in those moments, that's what stands out the most to me.
There was a parent who came up to me and said, ‘I have never seen my child talk this much ever. She is painfully shy.'
We're kind of like those Russian nesting dolls; there's always another layer.
There's a child inside of me that was like, 'Oh my gosh, I was painfully shy.'
This would have opened me up as a child and talked about my goals.
Another parent came to me and said, 'I had no idea that she had these goals.' The child was saying that she wanted to be 100 % on iReady, the reading program. Mom heard her say that, saw her write it down, looked at me, like, 'I had no idea that that was important to her.'
The next step was, 'Let's make this into a SMART goal that includes mom sitting with you for 20 minutes every day and doing a little extra practice for five weeks, and then let's measure your progress.' They went home together with that goal in her little workbook. That's been the feedback that there was so much in the brilliant child's mind that they didn't know was there.
Jackie Morreale (24:18)
Having these Mindset Workshops with you, as somebody who's researched, written about, and experienced it yourself, is going to bring up things in kids that we don't get as parents. We do our day-to-day: school, activities, and try to manage through the day.
For your Mindset labs to bring out something that they can do, with small actions, with those little changes to habits, and then feel so accomplished by hitting that goal.
They can change their entire life.
Sasha Monaco (24:46)
It's so true. Negative things are cyclical, and so are positive things. I try to focus on that part.
One of my mentors in my technology job, Gabe Sette, the chief revenue officer of my current company.
When he first onboards someone to the company, his one goal for the next however many months, number one goal, is to get that person a win.
They need to raise their confidence. Then it's just a slip-and-slide of wins and wins and wins.
It's the same with children. We can set parents up to successfully give their children wins.
Instead of going home and going on their iPad, they can go home and fill out this workbook.
Now parents can have actual conversations about these goals.
Jackie Morreale (25:09)
Wins, wins, wins.
Sasha Monaco (25:22)
You asked me before, 'What is wisdom?' It's having a repertoire of evidence that you can bounce back to. It starts the conversation, too.
When I hit a roadblock, I call my dad immediately because I know he's hit every roadblock that I've hit times 10. It starts the social support conversation, too.
Jackie Morreale (25:38)
You do have an amazing family. I love that your go-to first call when you have an issue is your dad. Shout out to Joe! Awesome guy.
Sasha Monaco (25:44)
Thank you.
Jackie Morreale (25:46)
Can a picture book change a child's life?
Sasha Monaco (25:49)
Yes, I think a children's book can change a child's life in two different ways.
One, it can inspire them. That spark can stay with them, like the books that inspired me.
Two, it can give them a repetitive structure to implement healthy habits. That is more the category that my books fall into. It's a conversation about positive coping mechanisms that invites and requires structure.
Jackie Morreale (26:13)
What has been your proudest moment as an author, illustrator, and publisher so far?
Sasha Monaco (26:18)
It has been seeing the reactions of the children.
I do school events. There was one school event where there was a very, very painfully shy child. He was the only child alone at the table. All the other children were filling out the workbook, popping their affirmation bubbles.
I spent a lot of time with this child. One of his goals was to finish his homework a greater percentage of the time. He wanted to feel good about showing up and knowing that in his backpack, the homework was complete and he was proud of it.
He really just needed more structure. We wrote a smart goal.
I signaled to the teacher to go over to him. She read it over his shoulder and she stopped the class, read his goal out loud and said, 'I am so proud of him for writing this goal.'
He lit up.
From a child who probably didn't say five words the whole year, he was talking about something that was important to him.
His smile lasted the whole rest of the session. I'll never forget it.
Jackie Morreale (27:06)
It's a little thing to be recognized for a goal, but it can make somebody's day and turn their whole cycle around. Now he's set up for excellence. What else can he do? Let's find out.
Sasha Monaco (27:17)
Exactly.
Jackie Morreale (27:18)
Let's talk about technology and Spectrotel. Although they feel very different, books versus technology and telecommunications, what connections do you see between these two worlds?
Sasha Monaco (27:29)
I'm passionate about both of them. The entire point of both is to find the value you can bring to people. That's what it boils down to.
Extracting value and presenting it.
I was a shy child, but my parents never gave me the impression that I couldn't do anything I wanted to do or be exactly who I wanted to be.
I have always carried that confidence, even when I could barely speak.
Whether they're psychological roadblocks or high-level corporate issues, it's all about solving problems.
(Continued below)
The Happiness Formula: Color Yourself Happy workbook, by Sasha Monaco
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The Happiness Formula - So, what is happiness?
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The Happiness Formula - Example week
|
(Continued)
Jackie Morreale (27:55)
How did your tech career begin?
Sasha Monaco (27:57)
My tech career began when my dad pulled out a stack of leads, IT leaders, and dropped it on the table, and bought me a desk phone at Office Depot. I was 15 years old, and he said, 'Call them.'
I just started calling and advocating for my dad's agency.
Actually, I scored a meeting with Publix at the time, because children have no fear.
A 14-year-old can probably call Publix better than I can right now.
That is the first place I learned that children can do more than adults can. That's how it started.
Jackie Morreale (28:26)
What?!
Sasha Monaco (28:27)
What!! My dad was running. He was doing laps around the office. He was celebrating so hard.
Jackie Morreale (28:31)
I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that call. It would have been a masterclass in sales. Sometimes when you don't have anything at stake, when it's just something to learn, that's when you're truly the most powerful.
Sasha Monaco (28:34)
Thank you. Exactly.
Jackie Morreale (28:45)
What principles have helped you succeed that maybe we, as other women in our own industries or in the technology field, can learn and apply to ourselves?
Sasha Monaco (28:54)
I would say, Don't be afraid.
As a woman, I think I have the tendency sometimes to shrink myself down a little bit and assume that I have to go for the smaller fish when in reality, you can call upon the big whale.
That works with anything, like calling up Barnes & Noble, Bloomingdale's, and saying, 'I know that my event will do really well in your venue and your venue will benefit from it.'
Whatever you think is big, think a little bit bigger, then do that one.
The worst that could happen is that you're taking a step back and going to what you thought was big.
Jackie Morreale (29:23)
It's life-changing, really.
Sasha Monaco (29:25)
There's a lot of neurological research about the pathways in your brain that get activated around discomfort.
Let's say I'm going to call the biggest bookstore in America, and I want them to sell my books. I'm about to pick up the phone and I get a little nervous, which is normal.
If I follow those nerves and I don't pick up the phone, my brain records that. It understands that.
If I pick up the phone and defy the brain now creates another pathway, an actual neurological pathway that says you can do it. That pathway is already forged.
The next time you do it, it's a lot easier.
There's a science behind it. I just defy the discomfort, and it genuinely has neurological effects.
Jackie Morreale (30:00)
So it's good for our brains to be uncomfortable and forge new paths?
Sasha Monaco (30:05)
Yes.
Jackie Morreale (30:06)
Sasha Monaco, what would you say to anyone looking to start their technology journey, or perhaps their publishing journey, or both?
Sasha Monaco (30:14)
Work backwards.
The world set up in front of us right now is full of distractions and full of self-comparisons.
I can pick up my phone right now and find five people my age that are more successful than me.
That's discouraging. Or, it can be motivating.
Or, you can just put your phone away and think about what you intrinsically want and then reverse engineer it.
I would say think very intensely about what will light up your heart, instead of going for what you think other people will find impressive.
Jackie Morreale (30:40)
Can we just stamp it somewhere on my body so I can look at it every day and remind myself not to compare and just know what I want and go for it?
Sasha Monaco (30:46)
It's literally evolutionary. We can't blame ourselves because way people survived was by looking at what other people were doing and replicating it. But, if you defy that a little bit, you can be happier.
Jackie Morreale (30:59)
Any shout-outs to anyone who has helped you get to where you are today?
Sasha Monaco (31:03)
My mom and dad. The thought bubbles in my mind were always directly from my mom and dad. I think parents have such a huge impact on a child. You are creating the inner wiring of their brain every single day. I want to thank my parents.
Then, also, my boyfriend. I left doctoral school, and I was terrified. He kept giving me such positive reassurance that whatever I chose would be successful. He was right. That's indispensable.
Jackie Morreale (31:25)
I agree. Where can people find your books, Sasha Monaco, and other services that you provide to the technology sector?
Sasha Monaco (31:33)
On the technology side, LinkedIn, I’m pretty active on there.
On the book side, LinkedIn also, but you can find me on Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Amazon, Books a Million, and smaller local stores as well.
You might also be able to find me locally at a Mindset Lab around you. I'm starting to plan a world tour of Mindset Labs. I'm starting to build more partnerships.
Jackie Morreale (31:52)
I can't wait to see the world take over. Maybe we'll all be a little bit more zen as a result. What is next for you, Sasha Monaco? Anything that you are excited about?
Sasha Monaco (32:02)
Personally, I'm about to be an aunt for the first time. There's a first baby in my family, so I'm glad I left this blank... (Sasha shows role/mission workbook page.) One of my other roles that I'm going to be is an aunt. It's very important to me that I do it right and that I'm that little girl's new best friend.
Professionally, community events. I'm partnering with nonprofits. I’m applying to some grants now so that we can bring Mindset Labs to children without parents having to do any kind of financial planning around it. I want to get these books in the hands of as many children as possible.
Jackie Morreale (32:31)
Let's reverse engineer it. Get it done. Can't wait to see all the big, amazing things that happen for you, and also for you in your new role as an auntie.
Thank you for everything. I've learned so much.
Sasha Monaco (32:42)
Thank you, Jackie. This was so bright green. I'm going to put this in my journal. Thank you.
Jackie Morreale (32:46)
Thank you so much, Sasha. Have a wonderful day.
To learn more about Sasha Monaco, visit: sashamonaco.com
Jackie Morreale (27:55)
How did your tech career begin?
Sasha Monaco (27:57)
My tech career began when my dad pulled out a stack of leads, IT leaders, and dropped it on the table, and bought me a desk phone at Office Depot. I was 15 years old, and he said, 'Call them.'
I just started calling and advocating for my dad's agency.
Actually, I scored a meeting with Publix at the time, because children have no fear.
A 14-year-old can probably call Publix better than I can right now.
That is the first place I learned that children can do more than adults can. That's how it started.
Jackie Morreale (28:26)
What?!
Sasha Monaco (28:27)
What!! My dad was running. He was doing laps around the office. He was celebrating so hard.
Jackie Morreale (28:31)
I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that call. It would have been a masterclass in sales. Sometimes when you don't have anything at stake, when it's just something to learn, that's when you're truly the most powerful.
Sasha Monaco (28:34)
Thank you. Exactly.
Jackie Morreale (28:45)
What principles have helped you succeed that maybe we, as other women in our own industries or in the technology field, can learn and apply to ourselves?
Sasha Monaco (28:54)
I would say, Don't be afraid.
As a woman, I think I have the tendency sometimes to shrink myself down a little bit and assume that I have to go for the smaller fish when in reality, you can call upon the big whale.
That works with anything, like calling up Barnes & Noble, Bloomingdale's, and saying, 'I know that my event will do really well in your venue and your venue will benefit from it.'
Whatever you think is big, think a little bit bigger, then do that one.
The worst that could happen is that you're taking a step back and going to what you thought was big.
Jackie Morreale (29:23)
It's life-changing, really.
Sasha Monaco (29:25)
There's a lot of neurological research about the pathways in your brain that get activated around discomfort.
Let's say I'm going to call the biggest bookstore in America, and I want them to sell my books. I'm about to pick up the phone and I get a little nervous, which is normal.
If I follow those nerves and I don't pick up the phone, my brain records that. It understands that.
If I pick up the phone and defy the brain now creates another pathway, an actual neurological pathway that says you can do it. That pathway is already forged.
The next time you do it, it's a lot easier.
There's a science behind it. I just defy the discomfort, and it genuinely has neurological effects.
Jackie Morreale (30:00)
So it's good for our brains to be uncomfortable and forge new paths?
Sasha Monaco (30:05)
Yes.
Jackie Morreale (30:06)
Sasha Monaco, what would you say to anyone looking to start their technology journey, or perhaps their publishing journey, or both?
Sasha Monaco (30:14)
Work backwards.
The world set up in front of us right now is full of distractions and full of self-comparisons.
I can pick up my phone right now and find five people my age that are more successful than me.
That's discouraging. Or, it can be motivating.
Or, you can just put your phone away and think about what you intrinsically want and then reverse engineer it.
I would say think very intensely about what will light up your heart, instead of going for what you think other people will find impressive.
Jackie Morreale (30:40)
Can we just stamp it somewhere on my body so I can look at it every day and remind myself not to compare and just know what I want and go for it?
Sasha Monaco (30:46)
It's literally evolutionary. We can't blame ourselves because way people survived was by looking at what other people were doing and replicating it. But, if you defy that a little bit, you can be happier.
Jackie Morreale (30:59)
Any shout-outs to anyone who has helped you get to where you are today?
Sasha Monaco (31:03)
My mom and dad. The thought bubbles in my mind were always directly from my mom and dad. I think parents have such a huge impact on a child. You are creating the inner wiring of their brain every single day. I want to thank my parents.
Then, also, my boyfriend. I left doctoral school, and I was terrified. He kept giving me such positive reassurance that whatever I chose would be successful. He was right. That's indispensable.
Jackie Morreale (31:25)
I agree. Where can people find your books, Sasha Monaco, and other services that you provide to the technology sector?
Sasha Monaco (31:33)
On the technology side, LinkedIn, I’m pretty active on there.
On the book side, LinkedIn also, but you can find me on Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Amazon, Books a Million, and smaller local stores as well.
You might also be able to find me locally at a Mindset Lab around you. I'm starting to plan a world tour of Mindset Labs. I'm starting to build more partnerships.
Jackie Morreale (31:52)
I can't wait to see the world take over. Maybe we'll all be a little bit more zen as a result. What is next for you, Sasha Monaco? Anything that you are excited about?
Sasha Monaco (32:02)
Personally, I'm about to be an aunt for the first time. There's a first baby in my family, so I'm glad I left this blank... (Sasha shows role/mission workbook page.) One of my other roles that I'm going to be is an aunt. It's very important to me that I do it right and that I'm that little girl's new best friend.
Professionally, community events. I'm partnering with nonprofits. I’m applying to some grants now so that we can bring Mindset Labs to children without parents having to do any kind of financial planning around it. I want to get these books in the hands of as many children as possible.
Jackie Morreale (32:31)
Let's reverse engineer it. Get it done. Can't wait to see all the big, amazing things that happen for you, and also for you in your new role as an auntie.
Thank you for everything. I've learned so much.
Sasha Monaco (32:42)
Thank you, Jackie. This was so bright green. I'm going to put this in my journal. Thank you.
Jackie Morreale (32:46)
Thank you so much, Sasha. Have a wonderful day.
To learn more about Sasha Monaco, visit: sashamonaco.com
Books by Sasha Monaco available at www.sashamonaco.com or wherever you buy books.
Continued reading, written by Sasha Monaco:
My Baby Brother. August 2022. By Sasha Monaco.
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Tap, Tap, Tap!: A Child's Guide to Navigating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. May 2022. By Sasha Monaco.
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STEAM Team/WATER Workbook. August 2024.
By Sasha Monaco. Contributions by Dr. Martin Heesacker and Dr. Brian P Higley.
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The Happiness Formula : Color Yourself Happy. July 2025. By Sasha Monaco.
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Continued reading, recommended by Sasha Monaco:
Mr Peabodys Apples. April 2006.
By Madonna.
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Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. October 2018. By James Clear.
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