CaseyCast - the monthly podcast of The Annie E. Casey Foundation

Latest Episodes:

Julia Baez and Assi Sy on Creating Spaces for Baltimore Youth to Connect and Lead Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of CaseyCast, Foundation President and CEO Lisa Lawson spoke with Assi Sy and Julia Baez from Baltimore’s Promise about what young people need to thrive, the importance of youth engagement and why their perspectives should shape the programs, policies and systems intended to serve them. Sy and Baez are working together on Baltimore’s Promise’s Youth Well-Being Landscape Project — the third iteration of the organization’s Youth Opportunities Landscape. The citywide initiative centralizes, aggregates, maps and analyzes the opportunities available to Baltimore residents ages 0 to 24. Young Baltimoreans are helping lead the work, defining well-being, conducting research, interpreting findings and shaping recommendations for change. Learn more at aecf.org/podcast.

Nat Kendall-Taylor on Narrative and Why the Way We Talk About Social Issues Matters Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

People don't make decisions based on facts alone. They rely on stories and assumptions to make sense of complex issues like juvenile justice, economic opportunity and child well-being. Those narratives shape not only what people believe but also the solutions they are willing to support. On this episode of CaseyCast, Foundation President and CEO Lisa Lawson talks with Nat Kendall-Taylor, CEO of the FrameWorks Institute, about why facts alone rarely change minds, how framing shapes public understanding and how stories grounded in research can build support for solutions that help children, youth and families thrive.

Jeffrey Arnett on Helping Young People Navigate Emerging Adulthood Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

On the latest episode of CaseyCast, Foundation President and CEO Lisa Lawson talks with Dr. Jeffrey Arnett, professor at Clark University and the psychologist who coined the term “emerging adulthood,” about how young people navigate the years between adolescence and established adulthood. Emerging adulthood refers to the life stage from about ages 18 to 29 — a period marked by exploration, identity formation and major decisions about education, work, relationships and independence. Arnett’s research highlights how this stage has changed over the past several decades as young people marry later, have children later, take longer to find stable work and face a more complex path to adulthood.

Adriana Galvan and Lisa Lawson on Using Brain Science to Help Gen Z Thrive May 13, 2026

Show notes

This episode of CaseyCast is adapted from a live conversation at the 2026 Adolescent Brain Development Summit hosted by the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent. Foundation President and CEO Lisa Lawson joined Adriana Galván for a fireside chat about how to better support young people as they navigate the path to adulthood.

Michele Jacobs on Helping Young People Earn, Learn and Thrive in Atlanta Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

On the latest episode of CaseyCast, the Annie E. Casey Foundation's President and CEO Lisa Lawson talks with Michelle Jacobs, associate vice president of college and career ready at United Way of Greater Atlanta, about how Career Ready ATL is reimagining pathways to work for young people. Career Ready ATL is a youth apprenticeship program designed to support young people ages 16 to 24 who are furthest from opportunity — including those involved in foster care, the juvenile justice system or disconnected from school and work. Through partnerships with employers, schools and community organizations, the initiative combines paid, on-the-job learning with education and wraparound supports to help young people build sustainable careers.

Nicole Clifton on How Employers Can Help Young People Thrive Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

Nicole “Nikki” Clifton, president of social impact at UPS and president of the UPS Foundation, joins the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Lisa Lawson to discuss how companies can support young people through jobs, mentoring and community partnerships — from delivering vaccines to fighting trafficking to creating career pathways.

Adriana Galván on the Adolescent Brain, Stress and Systems that Support Young People Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Adolescence is a time of both vulnerability and possibility. UCLA professor Adriana Galván — a leading researcher on the adolescent brain — joins Casey Foundation President & CEO Lisa Lawson to discuss how brain science can guide education, justice, and social systems to better support young people on their path to adulthood.

Introducing Thrive: A Special CaseyCast Episode With Lisa Lawson Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

Lisa Lawson, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, introduces her new book Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children. In this special short episode, Lisa shares why adolescence is not just a challenge to navigate but an opportunity to help young people ages 14 to 24 flourish — and previews upcoming CaseyCast conversations inspired by the book.

How Medicaid and EMS Corps Are Creating New Futures for Young People | Alex Briscoe on CaseyCast Jul 06, 2025

Show notes

What if Medicaid could do more than cover doctor visits? What if it could change lives? In this episode of CaseyCast, public health expert Alex Briscoe joins host Lisa Lawson to explore how rethinking Medicaid can unlock better mental health care, build a more diverse workforce and empower young people. Alex shares the story of EMS Corps, a program he helped launch that trains young adults — many with experience in foster care or juvenile justice — to become emergency medical technicians. With mentorship, stipends and real career options, EMS Corps is proving that workforce development can be a healing intervention. Hear how this model is scaling nationally — and what it takes to turn policy into purpose.

The Power of Mentorship: A Conversation with Artis Stevens Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

Artis Stevens, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, joins the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Lisa Lawson to discuss how mentorship transforms lives. From breaking cycles of poverty to promoting equity and inclusion, Stevens highlights BBBSA’s innovative programs and vision for the future. Tune in to hear how mentorship creates opportunity and empowers youth to thrive. Learn more at https://www.aecf.org/blog/mentorship-as-a-pathway-to-opportunity-a-conversation-with-artis-stevens

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