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EPPiC Broadcast — Kids & Family
EPPiC Broadcast

Welcome to the EPPiC Broadcast: Empowering Parents and Protecting Children. Featuring personal stories, breaking news, and insightful commentary, we’ll encourage and inform you on the issue of family and parental rights as you guide and protect that child who is your world. From the Parental Rights Foundation. The EPPiC Broadcast welcomes discussion on a variety of viewpoints regarding parental rights issues; however, the views and opinions expressed by guests are solely their own.

Copyright: ℗ & © 2020 The Parental Rights Podcast

Latest Episodes:

100 Years of Pierce v. Society of Sisters, with Melissa Moschella Oct 29, 2024

This week, our guest is Melissa Moschella, professor of practice and philosophy at Notre Dame University’s McGrath Center for Church Life. Her areas of expertise include natural law, biomedical ethics, and the family, especially parental rights. She’s also the author of To Whom Do Children Belong: Parental Rights, Civic Education, and Children’s Autonomy.

This week, Melissa tells us about a pivotal Supreme Court case about parental rights and education that’s turning 100 next year: Pierce v. Society of Sisters. Melissa argues that, while the Supreme Court has generally held to a narrow interpretation of this case in the subsequent years, a broader interpretation would better safeguard parental rights in public and private educational settings.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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Parents Defending Education, with Nicki Neily Oct 22, 2024

This week, our guest is Nicki Neily, the founder and president of Parents Defending Education. Parents Defending Education is a national grassroots organization working to preserve parents’ voices in their children’s public school education. Today, Nicki tells us how she came to found this organization and about the important work it is doing.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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Star Wars and CPS, with Josh Gupta-Kagan Oct 15, 2024

What does the recent Star Wars show The Acolyte have to do with the flaws in our real-world child welfare system? As it turns out, more than you might think!

This week, our guest is Josh Gupta-Kagan, a clinical professor of law and director of the Family Defense Clinic at Columbia University’s School of Law. Today, Josh discusses his recent article for The Imprint, in which he draws connections between the actions of Jedi knights in a galaxy far, far away and the actions of child welfare officials much closer to home.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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Narrowing the Front Door, with Angela Burton Oct 08, 2024

Our guest this week is Angela Burton, founder and co-chair of the New York City Narrowing the Front Door workgroup. Angela is also the founder of the Repeal CAPTA workgroup. Previously, Angela has worked within the New York State child welfare system and she currently works closely with families navigating the system.

Today, Angela tells us about the goals and work of the Narrowing the Front Door and the Repeal CAPTA workgroups, plus her insights for her years of experience in working to help parents and families in the child welfare system.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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Parental Rights & Appreciation Month, with Jackie Rosario and Patti Sullivan Oct 01, 2024

This week, we talk with Jackie Rosario, board member at the Indian River Public School Board in Florida, and Patti Sullivan, Parental Rights Foundation State Coordinator in Florida. The Indian River Public School Board recently passed a proclamation declaring October “Parental Rights and Appreciation Month.” Jackie and Patti tell us about how they passed the proclamation, why it’s important, and other work they’re doing for parental rights in Florida.
The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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The Science of the Teenage Brain with Jane Anderson Sep 24, 2024

Today, we welcome Jane Anderson onto the podcast. Dr. Anderson is the Vice President of the American College of Pediatricians, and author of the paper “The Teenage Brain: Under Construction.” She gives us a crash course on how the teenage brain functions, and shows how science supports the idea that teenagers’ brains are not mature enough to make informed decisions yet on medical treatment and other important life decisions. She highlights the crucial role that parents play during these years as their children’s brains are learning how to fully function, and provides practical ways that parents can support their teenage children.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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Considering All Options with Vivek Sankaran Sep 17, 2024

This week’s guest is Vivek Sankaran, a professor of law at the Michigan University School of Law and Director of their Child Advocacy Law Clinic. Vivek recently argued two cases in front of the Michigan Supreme Court, which highlight the harms of permanently terminating parental rights without considering other ways to preserve the parent-child relationship. Vivek argues that if a child is in a secure situation, and is benefitting from their parental and familial relationships, courts should not immediately assume that taking away the parent’s right to be in the child’s life is in the child’s best interest.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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Looking at Homeschooling Law in West Virginia, with Kevin Boden Sep 10, 2024

This week, our guest is Kevin Boden, an attorney at the Home School Legal Defense Association. Kevin tells us about some potential changes to homeschooling law in West Virginia, and makes his case for why the state laws governing homeschooling there should remain unchanged.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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Working Toward Systemic Child Welfare Reform, with Chris Gottlieb Sep 03, 2024

Welcome back to the EPPiC Broadcast! We’re kicking off season 9 with returning guest Christine Gottlieb. Chris has been newly appointed the Director of the New York University School of Law's Family Defense Clinic. Today she tells us about the work the Clinic does to defend individual families in child welfare cases and to advocate for broader systemic change for family preservation in the child welfare system. Plus, Chris shares what you can do to advocate for child welfare reform today.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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Listening to Lived Experience with Sixto Cancel May 07, 2024

This week, we’re joined by Sixto Cancel. Sixto is the founder and CEO of Think of Us, a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to reform and transform the child welfare system, led and guided by people who have been directly impacted by this system. Sixto tells us about the work that Think of Us is doing, and shares how his own experience growing in the foster care system led him to work toward its transformation and reform.
This episode is the last episode of Season 8! Thank you for listening. The EPPiC Broadcast will return for Season 9 in August 2024.

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Recapping the National Conference on Parent Representation with Kathleen Creamer Apr 30, 2024

This week, Kathleen Creamer is returning to the EPPiC Broadcast. Kathleen is the managing attorney of the Family Advocacy Unit at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. This week, Kathleen gives us an overview of many topics under discussions at the ABA Center on Children and the Law’s recent National Conference on Parent Representation, which featured panels from many of the top scholars, lawyers, and authors in the world of child welfare reform.

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Rewind: Better Outcomes for Families with Ernestine Gray Apr 23, 2024

This week, we're rewinding to a a conversation with Ernestine Gray from April 2023.
This week, we talk with former judge Ernestine Gray, who served for 35 years in the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court in Louisiana. During her tenure, the Orleans Juvenile Court went from what the New York Times described as “the worst juvenile court in the nation” to a model that other juvenile courts looked to for best practices. Ernestine tells us about her many years of striving to improve the child welfare system in her parish, and how she’s worked to improve the lives of the parents and children who came into her courtroom.

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Progress for Parental Rights in Texas with Andrew Brown Apr 16, 2024

What effects would legislation proposed in various states have on families and the states' child welfare systems? To answer that, we looked to Texas, where the same measures have already become law. This week, we talked with Andrew Brown, vice president of Policy with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, about some of the laws Texas passed in recent years, including a new law guarenteeing a right to a second opinion for parents who have been accused of abuse by a child abuse pediatrician, a law that requires parents to be told their legal rights during a child welfare investigation, and a law that differentiates between poverty and neglect.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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New Parental Rights Legislation, with Patti Sullivan Apr 09, 2024

This week, we’re talking with Patti Sullivan, the Parental Rights Foundation's Florida State Coordinator. Patti and Michael were in DC to bring attention to two national bills aimed at protecting parental rights: the Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act and the Parental Rights Amendment. They discuss those bills and their efforts in this episode.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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The Child Welfare System and Homeschooling with James Mason Apr 02, 2024

This week, we’re talking with James Mason, president and senior counsel at the Homeschool Legal Defense Association. Previously, James has served as the president of the Parental Rights Foundation and the host of the EPPiC Broadcast. This week, James tells us about a case in Texas that HSLDA has recently litigated on behalf of a homeschooling family caught up in a CPS investigation.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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Addressing Child Welfare Disproportionality in Minnesota, with Joanna Woolman Mar 26, 2024

This week, Joanna Woolman returns to the podcast! Joanna is an associate professor of law at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law and the executive director of the Institute to Transform Child Protection. Today, Joanna tells us about a civil rights complaint brought forward to address the disproportionality of African American children in Minnesota's child welfare system, as well as the African American Family Preservation Act, a bill introduced to address the racial disproportionality and provide better oversight and stricter removal standards for Minnesota's child welfare system overall.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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Do Parental Rights Come from the Government? with Will Estrada Mar 19, 2024

This week we talk with Will Estrada, senior counsel at the Homeschool Legal Defense Association and former president of the Parental Rights Foundation, as well as the former host of the EPPiC Broadcast. Will has also served as attorney with the Federal Department of Health and Human Services.

In this episode, Will tells us about his upcoming law review article, in which he argues that parental rights are a pre-political right, and that the family is a basic building block of society.
The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

Support the show

Diagnosing a Verdict with Michelle Weidner Mar 12, 2024

This week, we’re talking with Michelle Weidner, executive director of the Family Justice Resource Center in Illinois, which represents families in CPS cases across the country. Michelle is also a parent with lived experience dealing with the child protective system. In this episode, she tells about her experience being falsely accused by a child abuse pediatrician over a blur on her infant son’s medical scan.
Michelle also tells about how the Family Justice Resource Center works to reunite parents and children who have been separated by the system, and legislation that the Center is championing in Illinois to protect families from false allegations of abuse.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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Rewind: A History of Child Welfare, with Martin Guggenheim Mar 05, 2024

This week, we're rewinding to a a conversation with Martin Guggenheim from February 2021.
In this episode, we talk with Martin Guggenheim, who has taught at the NYU School of Law for over 25 years, and is one of the foremost experts on family law and family rights today. Marty tells us about his lengthy career in the family law field, including how the current child welfare system came to be, and why it’s vitally important that parents receive legal representation in court.

Marty also explains how the Adoption and Safe Families Act, a cornerstone of the modern child welfare system, provides states with an incentive to permanently remove children from their birth families over the smallest parenting shortcomings, and what a better alternative would look like.

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Motherhood and CPS Surveillance with Kelly Fong Feb 27, 2024

This week, we’re talking with Kelly Fong, author of Investigating Families: Motherhood in the Shadow of Child Protective Services, published in 2023. Kelly is an assistant professor of sociology at the University of California Irvine.

In this episode, Kelly explains how child protective services exert an inescapable surveillance over many parents, especially low income and minority mothers. During her research, Kelly embedded herself in the child protective system to gain an inside perspective on how the system affects families.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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The Families Rights and Responsibilities Act, with Matt Sharp Feb 20, 2024

This week, we’re talking with Matt Sharp, senior legal counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom. Matt tells us about the Families Rights and Responsibilities Act, recently introduced into the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives that aims to safeguard parental rights and provide parents with strong legal protections at the national level. Matt explains what’s in the bill, why it was created, and what you can do to help support it.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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Why Reasonable Childhood Independence Matters, with Diane Redleaf Feb 13, 2024

Welcome back to the EPPiC Broadcast! We’re kicking off season 8 with a returning appearance of Diane Redleaf. Diane is the legal consultant at Let Grow, an organization that promotes reasonable childhood independence. She’s also the author of They Took the Kids Last Night.

In this episode, Diane tells us what reasonable childhood independence is and why it matters for protecting parental and family rights. Plus hear about her work advocating for families caught up in the child welfare system.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Diane Redleaf's mother, Rhoda Redleaf, herself an iconic national leader in child advocacy for six decades who was instrumental as a strategic partner of our speaker in her own career as a child and family advocate. Rhoda passed away on Feb. 3, 2024.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation. You can sign up for email alerts to keep yourself informed on parental rights news at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/.

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A Conversation with Will Estrada Nov 14, 2023

This week we talk with Will Estrada, senior counsel at the Homeschool Legal Defense Association and former president of the Parental Rights Foundation, as well as the former host of the EPPiC Broadcast. Will has also served as attorney with the Federal Department of Health and Human Services.

Today, Will explains some of the parental rights-focused work that HSLDA is currently doing. Plus, hear about what he accomplished during his tenure as president of the Parental Rights Foundation and his perspective on where the parental rights movement is headed in the future.

This episode marks the end of Season 7. Thank you for listening, and we will see you again in February 2024 for Season 8!

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International Homeschooling, with Kevin Boden Nov 07, 2023

This week we talk with Kevin Boden, director of HSLDA International. Kevin tells us about the victories and challenges homeschooling is facing internationally. Kevin is the lead attorney for the Romeike family, who came to the US in 2006 after facing legal hardships in Germany for homeschooling their children.

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Homeschooling and Parental Rights, with Jim Mason Oct 31, 2023

This week we talk with Jim Mason, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association and former president of ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation.

In this episode, Jim explains how homeschooling has grown from its fringe roots in the 70's into an enduring education option today, with abundant resources to help parents best educate their children. He also explains what he believes is next for the homeschooling movement.

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The Case for Abolishing Family Court, with Jane Spinak Oct 24, 2023

This week we talk with Jane Spinak, author of The End of Family Court: How Abolishing the Court Brings Justice to Children and Families. Jane is a Clinical Professor of Law Emerita at Columbia Law School, where she directed clinical programs in family regulation for forty years. In this episode, Jane traces her journey from working to reform the family court system to advocating for its abolishment. She tells us about the history of the family court system, which was created to be benevolent toward families, but harshly punishes parents and children. Jane’s book lays out the case for abolishing family court completely, and replacing it with programs designed to truly support families rather than surveilling and policing them.

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Catching Up with Michael Farris Oct 17, 2023

This week we talk with Michael Farris, constitutional law scholar, founding president of ParentalRights.org, and the former CEO and president of Alliance Defending Freedom. In this episode, Michael responds to a recent Washington Post article about his role in the parental rights movement and gives us an update on the projects he’s been working on recently.

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New York’s ACS and Disproportionality with Joyce McMillan Oct 10, 2023

This week, we talk with Joyce McMillian. Joyce is a thought leader, advocate, community organizer, educator, and the Founder and Executive Director of Just Making A Change for Families (JMACforFamilies).

Joyce walks us through her work advocating for families that find themselves caught up in New York’s child welfare system, the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). Black, low income families are targeted by the ACS at a disproportionate rate. Joyce explains what factors play into this disproportionality and how New York could do better.

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Giving the Choice to Parents, with Melissa Moschella Oct 03, 2023

This week, we talk with Melissa Moschella, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America, where her teaching focuses on bioethics and the moral and political status of the family. Melissa is also the author of To Whom Do Children Belong? Parental Rights, Civic Education, and Children's Autonomy.

Melissa explains her argument that parental rights are pre-governmental and rely on the natural rights of parents, rather than being conferred by the government, and why the family is the most important, basic building block of society. She explains why schools keeping secrets from parents, even with the best interest of children in mind, ultimately harms both children and parents.

This episode contains discussion of controversial subject matter. The EPPiC Broadcast welcomes discussion on a variety of viewpoints regarding parental rights issues; however, the views and opinions expressed by guests are solely their own.

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Family Court and the Fourth Amendment, with Anna Arons Sep 26, 2023

This week, we talk with Anna Arons. Anna is the Impact Project Director at the New York University Defense Clinic and formerly the acting assistant professor of lawyering at the New York University School of Law. She’s also an assistant professor of law at the Saint John’s University School of Law.

In this episode, Anna discusses her law review article, The Empty Promise of the Fourth Amendment in the Family Regulation System. In her article, she explains how the child welfare system unfairly targets and polices poor and minority families and denies them the constitutional protections they are promised under the Fourth Amendment.

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Meet the Vice President, with William Wagner Sep 19, 2023

This week, Michael talks with William Wagner, vice president of the Parental Rights Foundation. William is a distinguished Professor Emeritus of Law at the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, and founder of Salt and Light Global. William has served as a federal magistrate judge in the U.S. Courts, as Legal Counsel in the U.S Senate, and as Senior Assistant United States Attorney in the Department of Justice.

William tells us about his background in constitutional law and how he came to care passionately about parental rights, plus the work he’s been doing recently on parental rights cases.

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Advocating for Parents’ Rights with Erin Phillips Sep 12, 2023

This week, we talk with Erin Phillips, president of Power2Parent, an organization uniting parents who want to advocate for their children’s education. Power2Parent is based in Nevada, but maintains chapters in many states. Erin tells us about recent challenges to parents rights in Nevada that her organization has faced, plus victories in Nevada and across the country.

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Preserving Family Connections, with Vivek Sankaren Sep 05, 2023

Vivek Sankaren is a clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, and director of their Child Advocacy Law Clinic and the Child Welfare Appellate Clinic. He’s authored over three dozen journal and law review articles, including “The Ties That Bind Us: an Empirical, Clinical, and Constitutional Argument Against Terminating Parental Rights”. In this episode, Vivek discusses the arguments he makes in his law review article that children are best cared for and protected when they maintain an attachment and connection to their families of origin.

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Reforming the Child Welfare System from the Inside, with Jerry Milner Aug 29, 2023

This week, we talk with Jerry Milner, former Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau in the US Department of Health and Human Services. Far too often, the US child welfare system creates incentives to unnecessarily separate families, harming the children it tries to protect. During his tenure with the Children’s Bureau, Jerry worked to create reforms that prioritize family preservation and reunification instead. Now, Jerry serves as the Director of the Family Justice Group.

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The World of Hidden Foster Care, with Josh Gupta-Kagan Aug 22, 2023

This week, we talk with Dr. Josh Gupta-Kagan, Professor at Columbia University School of Law and author of “The Hidden Foster Care System.” Josh explains how many parents in child welfare investigations find their children placed with relatives, completely off the official record. While placing children with relatives, sometimes called kinship care, is not an inherently bad thing and can result in good outcomes for families, the severe lack of oversight and documentation in these placements is a glaring problem. Josh tells us what happens during an off-the-record placement, why the child welfare system doesn’t keep track of these cases, and how he’s fighting for reform and better oversight.

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What Medical Child Abuse Is - and Isn’t, with Maxine Eichner Aug 15, 2023

This week, we talk with Maxine Eichner. Maxine is a Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina, and she writes on legal issues surrounding families and social welfare law and policy. In this episode, Eichner explains the history of a concept called “medical child abuse” and how innocent parents of medically complex children can easily find themselves caught up in allegations of child abuse - all because some doctors don’t understand the medical issues their children face.

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Reforming the Texas Foster Care System, with Andrew Brown Aug 08, 2023

Welcome back to the EPPiC Broadcast! We’re kicking off season 7 with Andrew Brown, Associate Vice President of Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. As an attorney, Andrew has represented children in the child welfare system, advocated for the rights of parents, and helped build families through domestic and international adoption.

Andrew breaks down some recent major wins for Texas families in the child welfare system. Texas recently passed into law five bills that help families, which will take effect very soon. These new laws guarantee that parents under investigation in child welfare cases have access to legal representation, replace anonymous child abuse reporting with confidential reporting, and more. Andrew explains these recent reforms in more detail, plus how they will affect families who find themselves involved in child welfare investigations.

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Adoption and Foster Family Advocacy with Laura Adams May 23, 2023

In the final episode of Season 6, we talk with Laura Adams, founder of FACTS4safefamilies.com, which provides education, support, and advocacy to improve understanding of adoptive and foster children and complex trauma. Laura explains how through her work with international adoption and parenting her own adopted children with special needs, she saw firsthand the challenges that exist in getting the proper assessments and support in schools, especially in mental healthcare. Laura is an advocate for attachment-based interventions and today works to transform school social work to provide better outcomes for adopted and foster children.
This episode concludes Season 6 of the EPPiC Broadcast. Thank you for listening!

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Advocating for Parents with Erin Phillips May 16, 2023

This week, we talk with Erin Phillips, president of Power2Parent, an organization uniting parents who want to advocate for their children’s education. Erin discusses her journey in advocating for her parental rights in her own children’s education and how Power2Parent was formed to give parents in her home state of Nevada and across the country the power to speak up for themselves and their children in our public schools.

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Challenging CPS Overreach with Peter Kamakawiwoole May 09, 2023

This week, Homeschool Legal Defense Association staff attorney Peter Kamakawiwoole returns to the Eppic Broadcast. Peter tells us about a case that he litigated on behalf of a mom who found herself dealing with an invasive CPS investigation including strip searches of her young children - all because she left her children in the car for a few minutes to buy coffee and muffins.

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Fighting for Reasonable Childhood Independence, with Diane Redleaf May 02, 2023

This week, we welcome Diane Redleaf back to the Eppic Broadcast. Diane is the author of They Took the Kids Last Night and founder of the Family Defense Center. Diane is working with Let Grow to pass legislation in Virginia and Utah that protects reasonable childhood independence, the idea that children should be able to pursue age-appropriate activities on their own without the threat of their parents being reported for child neglect. Reasonable independence laws have already been passed in Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado, and Diane is hopeful to expand these laws to more states in the future.

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Putting Parents in the Driver’s Seat, with Patrick Garrison Apr 25, 2023

This week, we talk with Patrick Garrison, founder and president of True Corrective, an education curriculum to help parents teach their children about America’s shared principles. Patrick explains what led him to found this curriculum program, including his background as a public school teacher. Plus, he explains how True Corrective can help parents reconnect with their children’s education.

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A Doctor’s Perspective on Parenting with Roger Smith Apr 18, 2023

This week, we talk with Dr. Roger Smith, a physician and pediatrician, and author of Parenting with Influence: Shifting Your Parenting Style as You and Your Child Grow. Roger gives a doctor’s perspective on how you as a parent can work best with your child’s pediatrician. Plus, he lays out some principles for how to stay connected with your children as they grow older and mature into adulthood.

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Parental Rights and Strict Scrutiny with Hugh Phillips Apr 12, 2023

This week, we talk with Hugh Phillips, a constitutional litigator at Liberty Counsel. Hugh has also served as a judicial law clerk for the Supreme Court of Alabama and he’s the author of a law review article entitled “Liberating Liberty: How the Glucksberg Test Can Solve the Supreme Court’s Confusing Jurisprudence on Parental Rights”. Hugh discusses his law review article and explains a path forward to consistently applying the strict scrutiny test to parental rights issues in our nation’s courts.

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Better Outcomes for Families with Ernestine Gray Apr 04, 2023

This week, we talk with former judge Ernestine Gray, who served for 35 years in the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court in Louisiana. During her tenure, the Orleans Juvenile Court went from what the New York Times described as “the worst juvenile court in the nation” to a model that other juvenile courts looked to for best practices. Ernestine tells us about her many years of striving to improve the child welfare system in her parish, and how she’s worked to improve the lives of the parents and children who came into her courtroom.

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Building a Better Support System, with Chelsea Sobolik Mar 28, 2023

This week, we talk with Chelsea Sobolik, the Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy for Lifeline Children’s Services. Lifeline Children’s Services assists families with international adoption in all 50 states, each of the U.S. territories and U.S. citizens living abroad. Lifeline also serves women in unexpected pregnancies and families through domestic adoptions.

Chelsea tells us about the mission of Lifeline and how the organization is working to help provide better solutions for adoption and foster care to parents and children. You can find out more about Chelsea and follow her work on her website.

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Episode Five: Restoring Classical Learning, with Jeremey Tate Mar 21, 2023

This week, we talk with Jeremy Tate, founder of the Classic Learning Test. The Classic Learning Test, an alternative to the ACT and the SAT standardized tests, emphasizes classical texts and key threads of Western culture that have been neglected in mainstream American education.

Jeremy breaks down the history of public education for us and explains why the CLT is needed. He also gives us his perspective on what’s missing from our public education and how we can improve our schools in the future.

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The Power of Classical Learning, with Robert Bortins Mar 14, 2023

This week, we talk with Robert Bortins, the CEO of Classical Conversations since 2012, and a member of the board of directors of Homeschool Now USA. Robert tells us how Classical Conversations went from a single homeschooling classroom in a basement to the world’s largest classical homeschooling organization. Robert explains the process and philosophy of classical education, which aims to prepare students for whatever they may face in life and give them the tools they need to learn anything.

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Child Abuse Registries and Due Process, with Timothy Sandefur Mar 07, 2023

This week, we talk with Timothy Sandefur, Vice President of Legal Affairs at the Goldwater Institute. Timothy is representing a mother in Arizona who found herself falsely accused of child neglect and placed on the state’s central child abuse registry in a court case that challenges the constitutionality of Arizona's child abuse registry. Today, Timothy breaks down the details of the case and argues for why exactly child abuse registries are unconstitutional. You can learn more about Timothy and his work here.

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Free Speech and Parental Rights with Suzanne Nossel Feb 28, 2023

This week, we’re talking with Suzanne Nossel. Suzanne is the CEO of PEN America, a leading human rights and free expression organization, and she is author of Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All. Previously, Suzanne has served as Chief Operating Operator of Human Rights Watch and as Executive Director of Amnesty International USA.
How do principles of free speech interact with parental rights, especially in issues of education? Suzanne shares her perspective on book bans in school libraries, including concerns of censorship and the chilling of free speech in education. Plus, Suzanne tells us about her book and her hope for a renewed respect for free speech in our public discourse.

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An Inside Look at the Foster Care System, with Ethan Demme Feb 21, 2023

Welcome back to the EPPiC Broadcast, season 6! We’re kicking off our season by talking with Ethan Demme, President and CEO of Demme Learning, and member of the Parental Rights Foundation Board. Ethan is also an elected member of the board of supervisors in East Lampeter Township (Pennsylvania).

As a foster and adoptive parent, Ethan explains how children are often brought into the foster care system and how we can better care for children in the system. Even though some children need to be removed from their parents for their safety, parents and children being reunited is the best outcome for most families that enter the child welfare system. However, many parents who lose their children find themselves without the support that they need to successfully work their case plans and get their children back, and in many states the child welfare system prioritizes the needs of the bureaucracy itself over the needs of parents and children. Ethan also tells us about reforms that would help the foster care system and improve outcomes for parents and children.

Plus, Ethan tells us more about his curriculum company, Demme Learning, which provides learning curriculum to homeschool families, and his efforts as an elected official to help safeguard parental rights.

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Today is Giving Tuesday! Nov 29, 2022

This week, Parental Rights Foundation president Will Estrada and executive director Michael Ramey host a special discussion about Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a day to give back to nonprofits and charitable organizations, and it’s today, November 29th! Michael and Will discuss the mission of the Parental Rights Foundation and give us a snapshot into how the organization runs on a day-to-day basis. Plus, hear about our victories this year so far and the upcoming projects we’re working on.

You can donate towards the Parental Rights Foundation at https://secure.parentalrights.org/forms/giving-tuesday, where today only your tax-deductible donation counts double toward protecting parental rights!

This episode marks the conclusion of our fifth season of the EPPiC Broadcast. We'll be back soon in February 2023. Thank you for listening!

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Parental Rights and Vaccines, with Rolf Hazlehurst Nov 22, 2022

This week, we talk with Rolf Hazlehurst, Rolf is a senior attorney with Children's Health Defense and has been actively engaged in the practice of law since 1995. Rolf breaks down the history of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, which should help families of children with vaccine-related medical injuries receive justice, but often just causes more problems for them instead.

Plus, Rolf tells us what parents can do to help secure their parental rights in issues surrounding vaccines and discusses his important role in overturning Washington DC’s dangerous Minor Consent to Vaccination Act, which would have allowed children as young as 11 to receive vaccines without parental consent.

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The Problem with ASFA, with Joanna Woolman Nov 15, 2022

This week, we talk with Joanna Woolman, associate professor of law at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law and the executive director of the Institute to Transform Child Protection. Joanna tells us about the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), a key piece of legislation in America’s child welfare system. ASFA creates arbitrary deadlines and financial incentives for states to separate parents and children, and even terminate parental rights. Joanna explains why the law operates this way and how we can do better.

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Election Day, with Will Estrada and Michael Ramey Nov 08, 2022

This week, we feature a special discussion between Parental Rights Foundation president Will Estrada and executive director Michael Ramey about how important it is to go out and vote today for candidates that support parental rights.

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Why School Choice Matters, with Quisha King Nov 01, 2022

This week, we talk with Quisha King. Quisha is the host of the Quisha King Show podcast and the founder of the Mass Exodus movement, which aims to get children into better learning environments. She’s a national speaker on education issues and parental rights and she’s the mother of two daughters. Today, Quisha tells us about her journey to embracing parental rights issues and how she’s working to draw awareness to the importance of school choice and improving education for children.

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A Pediatrician's Perspective on Parental Rights, with Dr. Rodger Sayre Oct 25, 2022

This week, we talk with Dr. Rodger Sayre. Rodger is a pediatrician and family doctor with over forty years of experience in the medical field, and he’s also a Parental Rights Foundation board member. He gives us expert advice on raising healthy children and explains how to interact with the medical community as a parent while ensuring that your parental rights are respected. He also explains how to respond to false claims of medical abuse or neglect.

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A History of Parental Rights, with Stephen Krason Oct 18, 2022

This week, we talk with Stephen Krason, Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, and Parental Rights Foundation board member. Stephen tells us about the historical background of parental rights, and why we have the parental rights laws that we have today. He also explains the legal underpinnings of our federal parental rights law, including key Supreme Court decisions.

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Family is Fundamental, with Melissa Moschella Oct 11, 2022

This week, we talk with Melissa Moschella, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America, where her teaching focuses on bioethics and the moral and political status of the family. Melissa is also the author of To Whom Do Children Belong? Parental Rights, Civic Education, and Children's Autonomy.
Melissa discusses why parental rights are critical to society as a whole, and why the family is the most important, basic building block of society. She also tells us about why school choice is important for parental rights and to protect children.

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Episode Seven: A Jewish Perspective on Parental Rights, with Rabbi Yaakov Menken Oct 04, 2022

This week, we talk with Rabbi Yaakov Menken, the founding Managing Director of Coalition for Jewish Values, the largest Rabbinic public policy coalition in the world. Rabbi Menken tells us the Orthodox Jewish perspective on parental rights and why it is so important to pass our culture and traditions on to our children. Plus, Rabbi Menken tells us about the history of Jewish education and shares his perspective on some current events.

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Maryanne Godboldo’s Story, with Allison Folmar Sep 27, 2022

In 2011, Detroit-area parent Maryanne Godboldo found herself in a standoff with social workers, police, and even a SWAT team threatening the removal of her daughter - all because Maryanne refused to give her daughter a dangerous, mind-altering psychiatric drug.
This week, we talk with civil attorney Allison Folmar, who represented Maryanne in this nationally-publicized case. Allison has represented many parents caught up in the child welfare system, and she’s a member of the Parental Rights Foundation board. In this episode, Allison tells us about Maryanne’s case from the inside, including how she successfully fought to change Michigan state law. You can learn more about Allison and her work on her website.

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Episode Six: In Defense of Yeshiva Schools, with Jason Bedrick Sep 20, 2022

Recently, the New York Times ran an article entitled “In Hasidic Enclaves, Failing Private Schools Flush With Public Money”, attacking the Yeshivas (religious schools) of New York’s Hasidic Jews. But what’s the real story?

This week, we talk with Jason Bedrick, a former member of the New Hampshire state legislature, and now a Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation. Jason explains the tradition of Yeshivas; some teach secular subjects in addition to religious texts, while some schools focus solely on religious instruction. And he tells us the other side of this story - the perspective of Hasidic Jews in New York who want to give their children an education in their religion and history. You can learn more about Jason and his work here.

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Why Due Process Matters, with Frank Garrison Sep 13, 2022

This week, we talk with Frank Garrison, an attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation, which fights to protect civil rights, private property rights, and to uphold the constitutional separation of powers. Frank is representing a mother in Arizona who has been falsely accused of child neglect and has found her name on the state child abuse registry without due process.

In this episode, Frank tells how his case is challenging the constitutionality of putting parents on a state child abuse registry without due process, and how he’s fighting to give this mother a fair trial with a jury. You can learn more about Frank and his work here.

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Episode Four: Are State Child Abuse Registries Unconstitutional? with Timothy Sandefur Sep 07, 2022

In Arizona, one mom found her name on the state registry of child abusers, with many job and volunteer opportunities closed to her for the next 25 years, all because she let her child play in a safe neighborhood park with friends while she shopped for groceries. How does this happen to an innocent, loving parent?

This week, we talk with Timothy Sandefur, Vice President of Legal Affairs at the Goldwater Institute.

Timothy is representing this mom in a court case that challenges the constitutionality of Arizona's child abuse registry. You can learn more about Timothy and his work here.

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Protecting Innocent Parents, with Jamie Gullen Aug 30, 2022

This week, we talk with Jamie Gullen. Jamie is the Managing Attorney of the Employment Unit and Youth Justice Project at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia.

On August 10th, Community Legal Services filed a lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over Pennsylvania’s state child abuse registry. When child abuse investigations are opened, parents are automatically placed on the registry, regardless of whether they have actually been convicted of child abuse. Jamie is the lead attorney on the lawsuit, and today she explains how Pennsylvania’s child abuse registry violates due process for parents.

You can learn more about Jamie’s work here.

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A History of Homeschooling, with Jim Mason Aug 23, 2022

This week’s episode features an interview with Jim Mason, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association. Jim has represented homeschooling families in a wide range of challenging situations and has set precedents that have expanded freedom for the homeschool community. Today, he tells us about HSLDA’s work in protecting the right of parents to teach their children at home.

Plus, learn about the future of the parental rights movement and why families choose to school their children at home.

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Representing Parents in Family Court, with Kathleen Creamer Aug 16, 2022

Welcome back to the EPPiC Broadcast! We’re kicking off our fifth season by talking with Kathleen Creamer, managing attorney of the Family Advocacy Unit at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia.

Despite the life-altering consequences of CPS investigations, up to losing their children forever, many parents go to court completely unrepresented by any legal counsel. The system is particularly harsh on low-income families and families of color. Kathleen works to give high-quality legal aid to families caught up in child welfare investigations in Pennsylvania.

Kathleen also breaks down how anonymous child abuse hotlines and central registries for child abusers, while ostensibly intended to protect children, often do more harm than good to innocent families. Plus, hear about a new bill in Pennsylvania that threatens parents with compulsory drug screenings based only on an anonymous hotline call.

You can learn more about Kathleen’s work on the CLS website, and you can hear more from her on her Twitter. Also check out Community Legal Services’ podcast, How Is That Legal?.

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More Choices for Parents, with Julie Gunlock May 24, 2022

This week, Will talks with Julie Gunlock, director of the Independent Women’s Network and IWF’s Center for Progress and Innovation. Before joining IWF, Julie served as a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and on the House Homeland Security Committee.

Julie tells us about the importance of school choice, how parents can advocate for their rights with local school boards, and how to get organized with like-minded parents to affect change.

Julie also hosts the Bespoke Parenting Hour—a podcast that explores parenting issues and encourages parents to custom tailor their parenting to best fit them, their families, and their kids!
Note: this episode concludes Season 4 of the EPPiC Broadcast! We'll be back on August 9th, 2022. In the meantime, you can always listen through our archives.

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Helping Your Children Grow, with John Rosemond May 17, 2022

This week, we talk with John Rosemond, a parenting expert who has worked with families, children, and parents since 1971. His parenting advice column is published in over 225 newspapers across the country, and he’s the author of over 15 books on parenting. John is also a Parental Rights Foundation board member.

In this episode, John sits down with Will Estrada to discuss good parenting techniques, current parental rights issues, and what parents can do to help their children grow into strong, independent adults.

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Education Transparency, with Tony Kinnet May 03, 2022

This week, we talk with Tony Kinnet, who made headlines for posting a video about the school he worked at teaching Critical Race Theory. Now, Tony is the Executive Director of the Chalkboard Review, an education commentary website that promotes diverse views in education.

Tony tells us about what prompted him to post the now-viral video, what the reaction to it was, and why he believes so strongly that transparency and parental choice matters in education.

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Religious Liberty and Parental Rights, with Brad Dacus Apr 26, 2022

This week, we talk with Brad Dacus, founding president of the Pacific Justice Institute, a non-profit legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious liberties, parental rights, and other civil liberties. Brad served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Phil Gramm and then received his juris doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law. He went on to found the Pacific Justice Institute in 1997.

Brad tells us about the work of the Pacific Justice Institute, and some of the most pivotal cases that he’s worked on.

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Reasonable Childhood Independence, with Lenore Skenazy Apr 12, 2022

This week, we talk with Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-Range Kids, and founder of Let Grow. Lenore tells us about the reasonable childhood independence movement and her organization, which aims to “make it easy, normal and legal to give kids the independence they need to grow into capable, confident, and happy adults.”

Plus, hear about recent childhood independence legislation that Let Grow has introduced, and how it can help protect families from poorly-worded neglect laws and unnecessary CPS investigations.

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An Education Commissioner's Perspective, with Frank Edelblut Apr 05, 2022

This week, we talk with Frank Edelblut, New Hampshire’s Education Commissioner since 2017. An accountant and entrepreneur and a former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Edelblut now administers the state's Department of Education.

Frank tells us about his work representing the interests of New Hampshire’s parents and taxpayers in the public school system and how he has helped make education more accessible to low income families.

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Defending Families from CPS, with Jey Rajaraman Mar 29, 2022

This week we talk with Jey Rajaraman, who served the last 15 years as chief counsel and supervising attorney at Legal Services of New Jersey's Family Representation project. She has recently joined former Children's Bureau chiefs Jerry Milner and David Kelly at Family Integrity & Justice Works. Jey tells us about her work in providing legal support to families before a removal into foster care is needed.

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Parenting with a Disability, with Rachel Barkley Mar 23, 2022

This week, we talk with Rachel Barkley, an experienced coalition- and community-builder at the state and local level, and a spinal cord tumor survivor and mom. Rachel tells us about her work promoting policies that promote personal freedom and human dignity, and about parenting her children while quadriplegic.

In this episode, Rachel shares her professional experience in the policy-making world, and her personal experience in parenting with a disability. Rachel also hosts a podcast with her husband at instagram.com/wearethebarkleys/.

This episode is hosted by Will Estrada, president of the Parental Rights Foundation and ParentalRights.org!

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A School Board Member’s Perspective, with Willie Deutsch Mar 15, 2022

This week, we’re talking with Willie Deutsch, who served for four years on the school board of Prince William County, Virginia. A parent himself, Willie focused on making parents’ voices heard in the local school system. Hear about how he worked to pass parent-focused policies and what it’s like to serve on a school board, plus tips for parents looking to engage with their local school board and advice for those interested in running for local school boards themselves.

This episode is hosted by Will Estrada, president of the Parental Rights Foundation and ParentalRights.org!

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Parental Rights and Public Schools, with Ian Prior Mar 08, 2022

This week, we’re talking with Ian Prior, founder of Fight for Schools, an organization of concerned parents dedicated to protecting parental rights in the public school system of Loudoun County, Virginia. Ian explains how he came to be involved in the parental rights movement and the work his organization has done and is currently doing on behalf of parents in the local schools.

This episode is hosted by Will Estrada, president of the Parental Rights Foundation and ParentalRights.org!

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Talking with Parental Rights Foundation President Will Estrada Mar 01, 2022

In the final installment of our anniversary series, we’re celebrating 15 years of ParentalRights.org by talking with Will Estrada, president of ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation!

Will began his career with Home School Legal Defense Association and has served in the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He shares why parental rights matter to him and how his journey led him to helm ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation.

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Parental Rights in Florida, with Patti Sullivan and Adriana Gonzales Feb 23, 2022

In the third week of February, we’re celebrating the 15th anniversary of ParentalRights.org by talking with two volunteer State Coordinators!

This week, Michael talks with Adriana Gonzales, former Florida State Coordinator for ParentalRights.org, and her successor, Patti Sullivan, now a long-time advocate for families and parental rights.

Adriana and Patti share how they’ve worked to pass parental rights legislation over the years, including the recent Florida Parents Bill of Rights that was signed into law in 2021.

This episode is dedicated in memory of Treon G., Leroy B., Robert M., and Barbara D., parental rights heroes who have passed in this first 15 years.

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Joining the Parental Rights Movement, with Shaun Alexander and Ethan Demme Feb 15, 2022

Welcome to week two of our celebration of 15 years of ParentalRights.org!

This week, Michael talks with Shaun Alexander, 2005 NFL MVP and Vice President of the Parental Rights Foundation, and Ethan Demme, CEO of Demme Learning and former chairman of the Parental Rights Foundation Board.

Shaun and Ethan share why protecting parental rights is important to them, and how they came to join ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation.

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15 Years of Parental Rights, with Michael Farris Feb 08, 2022

In this first episode of our fourth season, we talk with Michael Farris, founding president of ParentalRights.org and currently the president and CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom. This month, ParentalRights.org is celebrating its 15th anniversary! To celebrate, we’re interviewing key figures from our organization’s history, beginning with our founding president.

Michael explains to us why he founded ParentalRights.org, and why the mission of the organization remains so important today.

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Season Three Wrap-Up Dec 14, 2021

Thank you for listening to Season Three of the EPPiC Broadcast! Episode 21 with Shanta Trivedi marks the end of our third season, but we’ll be back soon with more interviews and more parental-rights focused content.

The EPPiC Broadcast will return on February 7th, 2022 so mark your calendars. As always, new episodes air on Tuesdays at 2 PM Eastern Standard Time.

In the meantime, you can catch up on our older episodes at parentalrightsfoundation.org/podcast. If you enjoy the show, how about leaving a review on Apple Podcasts? New reviews help listeners find our podcast and help us reach a wider audience.

Thank you so much for listening, and we’ll see you again on February 7th, 2022.

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Keeping Children with Their Parents, with Shanta Trivedi Dec 07, 2021

Our child welfare system exists to protect children from harm. Yet, in most jurisdictions in America, courts fail to consider the trauma that children will suffer if they are removed from their parents. The best way to protect most children is to support their parents and families.
This week, Michael talks with Shanta Trivedi, an Assistant Professor of Law and the Faculty Director of the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts, at the University of Baltimore School of Law. In 2018, Shanta published a law review article entitled “The Harm of Child Removal” that outlines the harm and trauma that children suffer when the child welfare system removes them from their families of origin. In this episode, Shanta walks us through how the removal process functions, and how we can do better for children and parents.
This episode concludes the third season of the EPPiC Broadcast. We are taking a short break, and we’ll be back with more content for you in February, 2022. As always, thank you for listening!

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The Right to Choose a Babysitter, with Peter Kamakawiwoole Dec 01, 2021

A new law in Virginia makes it illegal for parents to choose babysitters based on shared beliefs. Not only does this new statue violate previously existing law, it represents a dangerous threat to parental rights.

This week, Homeschool Legal Defense Association staff attorney Peter Kamakawiwoole, who has helped us to file suit against this law, joins us to explain how it violates Virginia state law regarding freedom of religion and disregards the traditional rights of parents. At HSLDA, Peter helps families across the country who encounter legal difficulties because of their decision to homeschool, and represents families before administrative tribunals, and in state and federal court.

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The Case for Blind Removals, with Dr. Jessica Pryce Nov 23, 2021

Our child welfare system removes minority children from their parents’ homes at a much higher rate than white children. What if there were a way to remove racial biases from CPS child removals and end the over-representation of black and minority children in our child welfare system?

This week, Michael talks with Dr. Jessica Pryce, Director of the Florida Institute of Child Welfare. Jessica is a professor and a former social worker, and she’s the author and presenter of a TED Talk entitled “To transform child welfare, take race out of the equation”. Hear more about Jessica’s concept of blind removals in this week's episode.

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Making More Time for Parents, with Andrew Brown Nov 16, 2021

The 21st Century Children and Family Act, recently introduced into the House of Representatives, promises to reduce "legal orphans" in the foster care system by supporting families up front and keeping them together. Can we expect to see this change succeed?

This week, Michael talks with Andrew Brown, a distinguished senior fellow of child and family policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Andrew has advocated for parents and families as an attorney, and he’s an expert on issues surrounding child and family policy. Andrew explains how our foster care system came to be this way, and breaks down the details of this new pro-family bill.

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Parents and the 2021 Virginia Election, with Generation Joshua Nov 09, 2021

The recent Virginia gubernatorial election signaled a win for parental rights, arguably on a national level. Will the growing grassroots support for parental rights continue?

This week, Michael talks with Joel Grewe and Jeremiah Lorrig, director and deputy director, respectively, of Generation Joshua -- an organization dedicated to educating youth about the political process and helping them enter the political arena.

Join us for an in-depth breakdown of how parents rallied in Virginia to reject the establishment's anti-parent views. Can we expect to see similar victories for parental rights in the future?

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Special Update Oct 26, 2021

The EPPiC Broadcast is taking an official, two-week hiatus. We’ll be back with more great content on November 11th. Coming up, we’re going to be talking with Shanta Trivedi, Assistant Professor of Law and the Director of the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Family, Children and the Courts, at the Baltimore University School of Law.
Another upcoming guest is Dr. Jessica Pryce, Assistant Professor in the College of Social Work at Florida State University and the Executive Director of The Florida Institute for Child Welfare.
In the meantime, you can find our back catalog of episodes at parentalrightsfoundation.org/podcast, and our facebook page at facebook.com/eppicbroadcast. Thank you for listening to the EPPiC Broadcast. We truly appreciate your support. Once again, we will return on November 11th!

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What Will It Take to Reunite Families?, with Martin Guggenheim Oct 05, 2021

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) was passed in 1997 to keep children from languishing in foster care, but today this law gives state agencies a cash bonus for breaking up families. How did we get here, and what can we do to give families that encounter social services a fighting chance to stay together?

This week, we talk again with Dr. Martin Guggenheim of the NYU School of Law. Marty tells us about how ASFA creates a ticking clock for families caught in the CPS system, and how he’s working to help reform this law. He also explains why it is usually in the best interest of children to reunite with their parents, rather than finding permanency in foster care.

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The Problem with ASFA, with Jerry Milner Sep 21, 2021

This week, Jim talks again with Jerry Milner, former Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau in the US Department of Health and Human Services. Jerry now works with Family Integrity & Justice Works. Jerry explains why the Adoption and Safe Families Act, created in the 1980s, needs to be reformed to preserve families, rather than splitting them up unnecessarily. He also tells us about the harms that the current mandatory reporting system causes, and what can be done to better protect children without removing them from their families.

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A Pandemic of Child Abuse?, with Anna Arons Sep 14, 2021

In March 2020, we heard ominous warnings of ‘pandemic of child abuse’ accompanying the COVID-19 shut downs. Children went home, away from the watchful eyes of mandated reporters, and back to their families.

But did cases of child abuse actually increase during the added stress of the pandemic?

This week, Jim sits down with Anna Arons, a professor at the NYU School of Law. Anna has previously worked as a family defender at the Neighborhood Defender Services of Harlem, representing parents in child welfare cases.

Anna explains what actually happened in New York’s child protection agency during the pandemic and why the alarm about spiking child abuse during the pandemic has largely dissolved.

Read more about Anna’s research in her recent law review article (https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=38152170).

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Passing the Parents’ Bill of Rights, with Rep. Erin Grall Sep 07, 2021

This week, Jim sits down with Florida State Rep. Erin Grall, sponsor and architect of the recently passed Florida Parents’ Bill of Rights. Erin tells us about the long road to this historic victory for Florida parents, and how grassroots involvement from local parents helped the bill gain traction. Plus, hear about how this bill can help parents and families in other states.

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A Bill of Rights for Parents, with Patti Sullivan Aug 31, 2021

Florida parents are celebrating a historic victory - the successful passage of a Parents' Bill of Rights in their state.

This week, Michael talks with Patti Sullivan, ParentalRights.org's Florida State Coordinator, and a long-time advocate for families and parental rights. Patti was deeply involved with the passage of this bill, and she explains how this bill was passed, how it will help families in Florida and across the nation, and the opposition the bill faced.

Learn more about Patti’s work at these resources, mentioned on the program:

ParentalRightsFL.org
Parental Rights Florida Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/parentalrightsFL)

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Standing up for Parents in Family Court, with Judge Ernestine Gray Aug 24, 2021

During her time as a family court judge, foster care rates in her city dropped to just 10% of the national average. How did she do it?

This week, Michael talks with former judge Ernestine Gray, who served for 35 years in the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court in Louisiana. Judge Gray explains how she prioritized preserving families and parent-child relationships in her court, and how she helped parents find community resources and support, rather than immediately revoking their rights.

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Keeping Politics Out of the Classroom, with Michael Farris Jul 27, 2021

Parental rights and religious liberties are being increasingly threatened by radicalized school curricula. What can we do about it?

This week, ParentalRights.org founder and Alliance Defending Freedom CEO Michael Farris returns to the EPPiC Broadcast. Michael explains why these new curricula are harmful to children and even unconstitutional, and what Alliance Defending Freedom is doing about it. Hear about ADF’s ongoing case representing Tanner Cross, the Virginia PE Teacher who was suspended for objecting to controversial new school policies.

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Pursuing Respect and Justice, with David Kelly Jul 20, 2021

How can we build a child welfare system that treats families with respect and justice?

This week we talk with David Kelly, former Special Assistant at the Children’s Bureau in the US Department of Health and Human Services. David tells us about his work, and explains why our child welfare system needs a complete overhaul to truly support families, from providing better support and services to replacing laws like CAPTA and ASFA.

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Homeschooling Growth During COVID, with Steven Duvall Jul 06, 2021

How has the pandemic affected education, including parental rights and homeschooling issues?

This week we talk with Dr. Steven Duvall, Director of Research at the Home School Legal Defense Association, and former public-school psychologist and university professor. Dr. Duvall unpacks some shifting trends in the education world, including some recent data on the increase in homeschooling in the past year, and why that’s good news for the rights of all parents.

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Freedom to Grow, with Lenore Skenazy Jun 29, 2021

What is “Reasonable Childhood Independence,” and why is it so important?

This week we talk again with Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-Range Kids, and founder of the Let Grow movement. Lenore explains why it’s important for children to grow up with a healthy amount of freedom and responsibility. Plus, hear about some recent legislative wins in Texas and Oklahoma for childhood independence and parental rights!

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Reforming CAPTA, with Andrew Brown Jun 22, 2021

As we celebrate legislative victories in Texas, Congress is set to re-authorize the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). How should this important legislation be reformed to better help parents and children?

This week, we talk with Andrew Brown, a distinguished senior fellow of child and family policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Andrew has advocated for parents and families as an attorney, and he’s an expert on issues surrounding child and family policy. Andrew tells us about the CAPTA reforms he’s championing and discusses those recent victories in his home state of Texas.

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The Case Against Universal Preschool, with Peter Gray Jun 15, 2021

The Biden administration has recently proposed universal preschool for American families, but some experts are skeptical. What’s the case to be made against universal preschool?

This week, Jim talks with psychologist and Boston College research professor of psychology Dr. Peter Gray, author of the recent Psychology Today article, The Case Against Universal Preschool. Peter explains how, over time, early child education has come to emphasize test scores and academics, rather than the play and organic learning that young children need to learn and grow. Hear about what young children need instead to truly thrive in preschool and kindergarten, and the choices that you as a parent have in your child’s education.

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What is a Guardian Ad Litem? With Joanna Woolman Jun 08, 2021

Guardians ad litem have great power over your family in a CPS case. But who are they?

This week, we’re talking with Joanna Woolman about guardians ad litem [GAL’s], the people responsible for representing your child’s interests in court. Joanna is an associate professor of law at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law and the executive director of the Institute to Transform Child Protection.

GAL’s can be a big help to your family by representing what is best for your child, but a lot of them are simply unfamiliar with the parent’s side of the issue. Joanna explains the details of how a GAL functions in a CPS case, and what you need to know to protect your family.

If you are a guardian ad litem, you want to use this power for good. Listen to this episode to broaden your perspective and better understand what that means for each unique situation you face.

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Before You Call CPS, with Vivek Sankaren Jun 01, 2021

When faced with a struggling family, bystanders can be quick to call CPS, not realizing that child protective agencies often aren't equipped to help families and rush to punish them instead.

Vivek Sankaren is working to reform this broken system and provide families with helpful, high-quality legal care in the midst of CPS cases. Vivek is a clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, where he heads a program to educate future lawyers.
In this week’s episode, Jim and Vivek talk about the work Vivek is doing to help create a more supportive and humane child welfare system - a system that actually helps families instead of harming them.

Thank you for listening! In our next episode, we will discuss the role and function of guardians ad litem with Professor Joanna Woolman.

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Special Announcement: Season Three Coming June 1st Apr 06, 2021

Thank you so much for listening to the EPPiC Broadcast! This week, Michael shares a brief special announcement to mark the end of Season Two and reveal exciting plans for Season Three. Plus, hear how you can help educate friends and family on parental rights issues. We’re returning on June 1st—see you then!

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The Problem with Anonymous Reporting, with Dale Cecka Mar 16, 2021

Anonymous calls to report child abuse are designed to protect children, but far too often anonymous reporting is maliciously abused to harm families. What if we replaced anonymous calls with confidential reporting?

This week, Jim talks with Dale Cecka, author of “Abolish Anonymous Reporting to Child Abuse Hotlines” and “How Child Abuse Hotlines Hurt the Very Children They’re Trying to Protect”, and former Professor of Law at the University of Richmond School of Law. Dale lays out her research on the harms caused by anonymous reporting, from deliberately false reports of child abuse to well-intentioned but misinformed calls from bystanders. We can do better for children and families by confidentially recording the identity of those who report child abuse.

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Reforming the Child Welfare System, with Jerry Milner Mar 09, 2021

Far too often, the child welfare system sends children straight to foster care, destroying innocent families and harming the very children it tries to protect. How can we prioritize preserving families and giving parents the support they need instead?

This week, Jim talks with Jerry Milner, former Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau in the US Department of Health and Human Services. Jerry shares his experience over the last four years in the Children’s Bureau, and in his long career in the field of child welfare, including the problems that plague the system and reforms he has championed for parents and children.

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Parental Rights and the Constitution, with William Wagner Mar 02, 2021

This week, Michael talks with William Wagner, distinguished Professor Emeritus of Law at the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, and president of Salt and Light Global. William has served as a Federal Judge in the U.S. Courts, as Legal Counsel in the U.S Senate, as Senior Assistant United States Attorney in the Department of Justice, and as a former member of the ParentalRights.org Board.

William tells us how parental rights are protected by the Constitution, and why parents’ rights to direct the upbringing and especially education of their children is so important. Learn about the work that Salt and Light Global is doing to protect educational and religious liberties in the public sphere, and how unique problems caused by the pandemic are affecting parental rights issues.

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DC Bill 23-171 with Rolf Hazelhurst Feb 23, 2021

Imagine if your 11-year-old child could receive medical procedures without your knowledge or approval. What exactly is DC Bill 23-171, the Minor Consent to Vaccination Act, and why are we so concerned with stopping this legislation?

Rolf Hazlehurst is a senior attorney with Children's Health Defense and has been actively engaged in the practice of law since 1995. This week, Rolf gives us a history of vaccine law policy and explains why DC Bill 23-171 puts children at serious risk. Learn more about the details of this dangerous legislation, and what you can do to stop it from becoming law.

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Who Gets to Decide? With Melissa Moschella Feb 16, 2021

Someone is going to make decisions for your child. Should it be you (the parent) or the government? And what really is in the best interest of your child?

This week, Jim talks with Melissa Moschella, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America, where her teaching focuses on bioethics and the moral and political status of the family. Melissa is also the author of To Whom Do Children Belong? Parental Rights, Civic Education, and Children's Autonomy.

Melissa discusses competing philosophies of parental authority and family rights, including the works of Elizabeth Bartholet and James Dwyer. Melissa also explains why parents should be the ones who decide for their children, and how we can create stronger protections for parental authority.

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A History of Child Welfare, with Martin Guggenheim Feb 09, 2021

This week, Jim talks with Martin Guggenheim, who has taught at the NYU School of Law for over 25 years, and is one of the foremost experts on family law and family rights today. Marty tells us about his lengthy career in the family law field, including how the current child welfare system came to be, and why it’s vitally important that parents receive legal representation in court.

Marty also explains how the Adoption and Safe Families Act, a cornerstone of the modern child welfare system, provides states with an incentive to permanently remove children from their birth families over the smallest parenting shortcomings, and what a better alternative would look like.

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Stopping the ASFA Clock, with Chris Gottlieb Feb 02, 2021

The Adoption and Safe Families Act imposes a 15-month deadline for families separated by the child welfare system to reunify. In the age of COVID, many families are torn apart because of governmental delays they can’t control. What can we do to stop this unjust timetable?

This week, Jim talks with Chris Gottlieb, Co-Director of New York University School of Law Family Defense Clinic and a key player in the #StoptheClock working group of the United Family Advocates coalition. Chris tells us about her work on a bipartisan bill to stop the 15-month timeline and her efforts and experiences in the field of family and parental rights.

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A Better Permanence, with Maggie McKneely Jan 26, 2021

It’s a new year, with a new Presidential Administration and a new Congress. What changes and reforms can we expect in child welfare and parental rights law?

This week, Michael talks with Government Affairs Liaison Maggie McKneely. Maggie gives us an update on the DC Vaccines Bill and discusses why the ASFA (Adoption and Safe Families Act) causes unnecessary harm to struggling families in the name of permanency. How can we fully preserve family bonds and give children a better foundation than mere legal permanency?

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Parents Need Support, Not Policing, with Joyce McMillan Jan 19, 2021

Child welfare and family services claim to act in the best interest of children, but far too often government agencies punish innocent parents and rip apart low-income and minority families.

What would a child welfare system look like that supports parents and keeps families together?

This week, Michael talks with Joyce McMillan, Founder of JMAC for Families and the PLAN Coalition. Joyce is a deeply respected NYC activist for families, and she has been there herself. Joyce tells us about her work defending families in New York, how the system is failing parents and children, and what a better model of child welfare might look like.

See more of Joyce’s work at her new website, jmacforfamilies.com.

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Grassroots Change for Parental Rights, with Patti Sullivan Jan 11, 2021

The need for reform in the child welfare system and parental rights legislation is great, but the challenge is daunting. How can you get involved in the fight to protect your parental rights?

This week, Michael talks with Patti Sullivan, ParentalRights.org's Florida State Coordinator and long-time advocate for families and parental rights. Patti tells us how she became involved in working to change her state's laws, plus how you can get involved in working to protect your family and your rights.

Learn more about Patti's work here.

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Hope for 2021 Jan 04, 2021

This week in a rare solo episode, Michael talks about our legislative efforts coming up in 2021 as we aim to keep more families together and empower parents to protect their children. Child abuse registry reform and anonymous reporting reforms are highlighted.

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Wrapping up 2020 Dec 29, 2020

This week, Michael and Shellby look back on our work in 2020. Although it's been a rough year for all of us, we've seen a number of bright spots in the work of the Parental Rights Foundation and in the discussions we've had on the EPPiC Broadcast. Join us for a recap!

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Where Do Parental Rights Come From? with Robert George Dec 15, 2020

Where do parental rights come from? And why are parents the ones best suited to make decisions for their children?

This week, Jim talks with eminent scholar, natural law expert, and Princeton law professor Robert P. George. Robert unpacks the legal and philosophical underpinning of parental rights, and deals with some arguments made by detractors of parental rights and homeschooling, including Harvard Law Professor Elizabeth Bartholet.

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Stopping the DC Vaccine Bill Dec 08, 2020

DC is poised to enact a piece of legislation which would allow children as young as 11 to consent to a vaccination that their parent had already decided is not in their best interest, without even notifying the parent.

This week, Maggie McKneeley, Government Affairs Liaison for ParentalRights.org, breaks down the details of the legislation and what we can do to stop this bill from passing.

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Talking with Shaun Alexander Dec 01, 2020

This week, Michael talks with Shaun Alexander, 2005 NFL MVP and Vice President of the Parental Rights Foundation. Shaun talks about homeschooling his kids, what makes a great parent, and the importance of Giving Tuesday - an event coming up on December 1st.

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How One Dad Kept His Family Safe, with Chris Clay Nov 24, 2020

He didn’t mind if his daughter spent time with the other significant people in her life, but that should be his decision to make, not the court’s. Right?

This week, we talk with Chris Clay, the Texas dad who was forced to share custody of his daughter with an unrelated third party. In this episode, Chris details his story and how he won his case before the Texas Supreme Court.

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Election Results and Your Parental Rights, with Joel Grewe Nov 18, 2020

How will the election results affect your parental rights?

This week, Michael talks with Joel Grewe, director of Generation Joshua and Councilman of the town of Purcellville, Virginia. Joel breaks down what we know about the 2020 election results so far, and how your family and parental rights will be affected by the new political landscape.

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How Can We Keep Families Together? with Richard Wexler Nov 10, 2020

Confusing poverty with neglect, ridden with severe racial bias, and inflicting trauma on thousands of innocent children and families - the current child welfare system is broken.

This week, Richard Wexler, executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, shares his goal with Jim: to stop the child welfare system from inflicting unnecessary trauma on so many children, reform the system to truly support parents, and ultimately keep more families together.

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Vanessa’s Story: Innocent Mom Hogtied by Police, with Diane Redleaf Nov 03, 2020

What would you do if CPS investigators broke into your home with no evidence?

This week, Michael talks with Diane Redleaf, author of They Took the Kids Last Night, about Vanessa People’s case. Vanessa is the mom who was hog-tied by police in her own home. Diane tells us the details of Vanessa’s story and what you and I can do to prevent things like this from happening to more families.

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Education’s Changing Landscape, with Ethan Demme Oct 27, 2020

COVID-19 is causing a revolution in the education world. The number of homeschooling families has doubled in just a few months, and now both parents and teachers are reevaluating the most basic systems of traditional schooling. So, how can you best guide your family through this shifting landscape?

This week, Michael talks with Ethan Demme, CEO of Demme Learning and chairman of the Parental Rights Foundation Board. Ethan tells us how parents and educators are responding to these changes, and what you should expect for the future.

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Catching Up with Michael Farris Oct 20, 2020

This week, Jim catches up with the founder of the Parental Rights Foundation and current president and general counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom, Michael Farris. Hear his perspective on the recent Supreme Court nomination, an in-depth look at our judicial system, and how ADF and parallel organizations are working to defend your personal freedoms and parental rights.

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Exposing the Hidden Foster Care System, with Josh Gupta-Kagan Oct 13, 2020

In most states, children can be taken from their parents without ever officially entering the foster care system. This means the system is removing even more children than we thought.

This week, Dr. Josh Gupta-Kagan, Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law and author of “The Hidden Foster Care System,” explains how this “hidden foster care system” operates and what we can do to help keep more children with their parents.

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Schooling After COVID, with Kerry McDonald Oct 06, 2020

As school starts up again, what will be the new normal for post-pandemic learning?

How should parents respond?

Education expert Kerry McDonald is a Senior Education Fellow at FEE, an adjunct scholar at the CATO Institute, and author of Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Education Children Outside the Conventional Classroom. Kerry explains some strategies that parents are using in the post-pandemic learning world, plus how to protect your parental rights.

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Introducing the EPPiC Broadcast Oct 01, 2020

Our second season is coming soon, starting October 6th!
But first here’s a special update from Michael, covering an important change. The Parental Rights Podcast is coming back as EPPiC Broadcast, which stands for “empowering parents, protecting children.”
We’re excited about this change, so stay tuned for the premiere of season 2, on October 6th!

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Season One Finale Jun 29, 2020

Our Season One Finale is here! Michael and Jim cover the breaking news of Friday’s pivotal ruling from the Texas Supreme Court, while also looking back on some highlights from our inaugural season. Thank you for listening, and we'll see you soon for Season Two!

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The Devastating Effects of Anonymous Reporting Jun 22, 2020

How badly can false reports of abuse and neglect hurt a family?
This week, Kathleen Creamer, the Managing Attorney of the Family Advocacy Unit at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, explains the devastating impacts that false, anonymous reports of child abuse can have on families. She and Jim break down the details, from traumatic and invasive investigations to protracted legal nightmares, and hope for how the system can be reformed.

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Episode Update from Michael Jun 15, 2020

A special update from Michael as we get ready for our first season finale. Thanks for listening!

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What's Happening to Your Rights? Jun 08, 2020

What’s changing in parental rights laws, and how will your family be affected?
This week, we recap the good and the bad from this year’s developing parental rights legislation. Both the federal and state legislatures have been busy, so Michael breaks down the new developments in school choice, anonymous child abuse reporting, and more with Dan Beasley of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.
Don’t forget to submit your question for our upcoming Q&A season finale here: parentalrightsfoundation.org/podcast.

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When Rights Become Orders Jun 01, 2020

What happens when a judge rules that your kids have a “right” to government-controlled schooling?

This week, we cover a developing case in Detroit - what looks like a positive win for school children actually endangers the right of parents to direct and determine their kids’ education. Jim breaks down the case with William Wagner, a former Federal prosecutor and judge, as well as a distinguished professor of law Emeritus, and current president of Salt and Light Global.

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Texas' Moment of Decision May 26, 2020

What if someone didn’t even have to be related to you to claim legal custody and visitation rights to your child?
That’s exactly what happened to Texas dad, Chris, in an ongoing case that could set a dangerous precedent for Texas families. Today, Andrew Brown, a distinguished fellow with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, tells us why this case matters so much, and how the ruling will affect parental rights in the future. Listen as he breaks down the case that’s made it all the way to the Texas Supreme Court.

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Behind the Scenes in COVID-19 May 15, 2020

What’s changing, and what isn’t?
Just like the rest of the country, parental rights are facing some challenges, some changes, and some blessed normalcy. Michael and Shellby discuss the challenges that parents are currently facing, from COVID-19 disruptions to Harvard elitists, to concerns over legislation, to our ongoing efforts to fight back and protect families.

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Changing the System May 11, 2020

What should the social services system actually change to get the right job done?

Dr. Vivek Sankaran, a clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, discusses his work with families who find themselves faced with the hostile CPS system, and what social services should do to support families rather than attack them.

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What You Can Learn from Unschooling May 04, 2020

What can parents teaching their children at home during COVID-19 learn from the world of Unschooling?
This week, Michael talks with Kerry McDonald, author of Unschooled, education policy writer, and Harvard graduate. Hear Kerry's take on a recent Harvard Magazine article attacking homeschooling and parental choice on education, and her thoughts on how the philosophy of Unschooling can help parents schooling their children at home during the pandemic.

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The Devastating Impact of CPS Apr 27, 2020

What does it take to fight CPS? And what happens if we fail?
In the second part of this two part series, Joyce McMillan is back to share her experience fighting for families in the courtroom, and the devastating impact of children being unjustly taken from their families. Joyce also tells us about some recent successes, and what can be done to reform CPS.

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Fighting CPS in COVID-19 Apr 21, 2020

How is COVID-19 affecting families like yours and mine, and how do you fight CPS?
This week, Michael talks with Joyce McMillan, an advocate for vulnerable families in New York, who shares her experiences fighting the CPS system and how New York families are being affected by the virus. This episode is the first in a two-part series.

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COVID-19 and Your Family Apr 15, 2020

This week, Jim talks with Dr. Lainna Callentine, pediatrician and former ParentalRights.org board member. Dr. Callentine gives us a doctor’s perspective on COVID-19, plus practical steps on social distancing and encouragement for families who are learning and working together from home.

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Free Range Kids Apr 08, 2020

This week, Michael talks with Lenore Skenazy, founder of Let Grow and author of Free-Range Kids. Lenore tells us about the free-range parenting movement, and the importance of giving kids the freedom and responsibility they need to grow into successful adults.
Lenore blogs at Free Range Kids.

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They Took the Kids Last Night Mar 30, 2020

This week, we're talking with Diane Redleaf, author of They Took the Kids Last Night and founder of the Family Defense Center. Diane tells us about her extensive experience defending families in civil rights cases, from dealing with "hidden foster care" system to combating a shocking lack of due process in child abuse registries.

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C & S: Why Foreign Parental Rights Matter for Americans Mar 23, 2020

What’s happening with foreign parental rights, and why does it matter for you?
In the latest episode of the Cory and ShellbyJo Show, we discuss some important cases about foreign parental rights. Hear about the medical, educational, and interpersonal impact of government interference in other countries - and why these cases matter for American families.

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Medical Kidnapping: The Pelletiers' Story Mar 16, 2020

What does it feel like when the doctors you trust to heal your children turn on you, and take them away instead?

This week, we’re privileged to speak with the family of Justina Pelletier, the teen abducted by Boston Children’s Hospital in 2013. Justina’s dad Lou, her mom Linda, and her sister Jennifer tell the family’s story from the inside, sharing details from their recent medical malpractice lawsuit, and how they’ve been fighting for families facing the same nightmare they endured.

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Blind Parents' Fight Against Discrimination Mar 09, 2020

Did you know that in a majority of states the government can take your children from you just because you have a disability, like being blind?
Don't miss out on this episode, where Michael talks with Mark Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind. President Riccobono sheds crucial light on how blind parents are discriminated against, and how they're fighting back to protect their children and their rights.

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To Whom Do Children Belong? Mar 05, 2020

Your children are yours, right? Or are they?
This week, Michael talks with Melissa Moschella, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at The Catholic University of America, about the legal and philosophical underpinnings of parental rights. Melissa also breaks down the arguments of those who want to treat children as property of the government and reduce parents to mere caretakers.

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C&S: Reviewing "The Pursuit of Happyness" Feb 24, 2020

Are poor parents automatically bad parents?
The Cory and Shellby Jo Show is back with our first movie review, exploring parental rights in pop culture. This week, we discuss The Pursuit of Happyness, a movie that highlights a father's resolve to provide for his son, no matter what.
For us, this movie raises questions about what is and isn't bad parenting, and when should the government step in?

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"Child Abuse Pediatricians" Feb 18, 2020

What are “child abuse pediatricians” and why should you be concerned? Find out in this episode, as Michael talks with UNC law professor Maxine Eichner. Eichner shares her professional and personal experience with parental rights in the medical world, plus her insight on the Justina Pelletier case from one who's been there.

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Allison Folmar Feb 11, 2020

This week, Michael talks with attorney Allison Folmar, who led the defense in the nationally publicized 2011 Maryanne Godboldo case. Allison tells us all about the case and the family's story from the inside, and how it impacted the state of parental rights.

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Maggie McKneely Feb 04, 2020

This week, hear about Senator Mike Lee's new parental rights legislation, which would help keep you informed and involved in your children's medical care. Michael breaks down these bills (and more) with Maggie McKneely, ParentalRights.org's liaison in Washington, DC.
You may hear a tapping sound in the background caused by our equipment - we'll be back to normal next week.

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The C&S Show: Daniel Heffington Jan 28, 2020

This week marks the first episode of the Cory & Shellby Jo Show. Once a month, two of our younger employees take over the show and break down some of the cultural issues surrounding parental rights. This week they're joined by father of two and local musician Daniel Heffington, a parental rights advocate from Generation Joshua.

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Concerns from Virginia Jan 21, 2020

Michael and Jim address recent legislative developments in Virginia that seriously threaten parental rights nation-wide. We explain why we're concerned about these bills, and break down how they change the debate on parental rights, what these changes mean for the rest of the country, and what you can do to protect your family.
Visit ParentalRights.org for live updates on the state of parental rights in Virginia and in your state.

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Patti Sullivan Jan 14, 2020

This week, Jim and Michael talk with ParentalRights.org's Florida grassroots coordinator, Patti Sullivan. Patti tells us why she is passionate about the role of parents, and shares some exciting developments from Florida's parental rights movement.

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Michael Farris Jan 06, 2020

In our first episode, our hosts, Jim Mason and Michael Ramey, talk with Mike Farris, founding president of the Parental Rights Foundation. Mike tells us about the status of parental rights in the States, the concept of "generational wins," and his vision for families and parental rights moving forward.
Visit our website to learn more and join the growing movement!

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