EPPiC Broadcast

Latest Episodes:

Rewind: Arrested for Valuing Her Son’s Independence, with Brittany Patterson and David DeLugas Oct 14, 2025

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Welcome back to the EPPiC Broadcast! This week, we're rewinding to our episode featuring Brittany Patterson, a Georgia mother who made headlines when she was arrested after her 10-year-old walked to the store solo. David DeLugas, executive director of ParentsUSA and Brittany’s attorney, joined us as well.

Brittany tells her story and gives us a closer look at what happened on the day she was arrested. She and David both discuss the injustice of the event and what it signifies for parental rights and childhood independence for any family.

This episode has a happy ending! Not long after this, Georgia passed a Reasonable Childhood Independence law, making it clear that letting kids walk to school, play outside, or stay home for a short time is not 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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Parenting under Slavery vs. Parenting under the Child Welfare System, with Prof. Peggy Cooper Davis Oct 07, 2025

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During the times of American legalized slavery, the relationship between Black parents and their children was fraught with fear, and entirely controlled by the heavy hand of their owners. In her book Neglected Stories: The Constitution and Family Values, Prof. Peggy Cooper Davis draws the connection between this past reality, and the present reality of Black families finding themselves under the control of the child welfare state, subject to the whims of oft-biased court systems and social workers.

Welcome back to the EPPiC Broadcast! Today, Prof. Peggy Cooper Davis, Esq., Professor of Lawyering and Ethics Emeritus at NYU, is here with us to discuss her book’s analysis of the analogous relationship between the historical slavery system and the current child welfare system - and the horrible impact both have had on Black parents and children.

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California AB 495, with Greg Burt Sep 30, 2025

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AB 495 is a troubling bill in California that’s just passed the legislature and is heading to the governor’s desk for his signature or veto. The bill would allow for any adult to make custody-like educational or medical decisions for any minor child, simply by signing an affidavit claiming they are “related to the child by blood, adoption, or affinity within the 5th degree of kinship.” No proof would be required for this process to take place.

Welcome back to the EPPiC Broadcast! Today, Greg Burt, Vice President of the California Family Council, is here with us to discuss this bill, its ramifications, and potential consequences.

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The Washington State CPS Voluntary Placement Hotline, with Marci Comeau Sep 23, 2025

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Welcome back to the EPPiC Broadcast! Today, our guest is Marci Comeau, the managing attorney at the Washington State Office of Public Defense in the Parents Representation Program. She talks with Michael about the hotline she manages, the WA Voluntary Placement Agreement Legal Consultation Hotline. This is a number that parents can call if they are facing a CPS investigation where they are offered the option of a voluntary placement for their children. Parents often don’t know what the right decision is in these circumstances, and Marci and her team are here to help.

The hotline’s toll-free number (State of Washington only) is 833-240-9746. It is open and staffed by an attorney 24/7 and also provides translation services.

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Letting Kids Go Outside, with Lenore Skenazy Sep 16, 2025

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A family who had CPS called on them four separate times for letting their children play outside in front of their house. A mother who was arrested after her ten-year-old walked into town and back alone. How do we keep this from happening?

Welcome back to the EPPiC Broadcast - today, our guest is Lenore Skenazy, president of Let Grow. She’s here to discuss the negative consequences of society not allowing responsible children to spend time independently in their neighborhoods - and how to affect change.

You can also find Lenore’s recent TED Talk here! https://youtu.be/whaesnYloMQ?si=Vc8EZPxpmh9mi5Y9

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The Landmark Decision of Mahmoud v. Taylor, with William Wagner Sep 09, 2025

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Welcome back to the EPPiC Broadcast! We’re kicking off season 11 with returning guest William Wagner, Esq. William is the Vice President of the Parental Rights Foundation, and a constitutional legal scholar. Today, he discusses the recent monumental Supreme Court decision on Mahmoud v. Taylor from this past summer, and what it means for parents' right to direct the education and upbringing of their children.

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100 Years of Pierce, Part 2: The Right Panel, with Michael Farris, Melissa Moschella, and Emilie Kao May 20, 2025

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On June 1, 1925, the Supreme Court declared, “The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.” Pierce firmly established the liberty of parents to direct the lives of their minor children without interference by the government.

You’ve listened to our Left Panel’s discussion of Pierce – now, it’s the Right Panel’s turn! Today, we speak with Michael Farris, founding president of ParentalRights.org and former CEO and president of Alliance Defending Freedom; Melissa Moschella, professor of practice and philosophy at Notre Dame University’s McGrath Center for Church Life; and Emilie Kao, Vice President of Alliance Defending Freedom.

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Episode Twelve: 100 Years of Pierce, Part 1: The Left Panel, with Martin Guggenheim, Angela Burton, and Josh Gupta-Kagan May 13, 2025

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The Supreme Court released its landmark parental rights decision in Pierce v. Society of Sisters on June 1, 1925—exactly 100 years ago next month. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve gathered two special panels on the EPPiC Broadcast, comprised of parental rights champions from either side of the political aisle to protect our children.

Today, we speak with the Left Panel: Martin Guggenheim, founder and co-director of New York University School of Law’s Family Defense Clinic; Angela Burton, founder and co-chair of the New York City Narrowing the Front Door workgroup; and Josh Gupta-Kagan, a clinical professor of law and director of the Family Defense Clinic at Columbia University’s School of Law.
The book referenced in our episode is Neglected Stories: The Constitution and Family Values by Peggy Cooper Davis. Find more information here: us.macmillan.com/books/9780809016075/neglectedstories/
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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Hidden Foster Care and Its Victims, with Sarah Katz and April Lee May 06, 2025

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Our topic for today is hidden foster care: a process wherein children are sent to live with relatives or friends in order to prevent foster care with strangers. Considered a “voluntary” placement, in reality it often involves coercion or threats. In one such instance, Su’Leya Williams was a baby girl taken from her mother’s care and placed with a woman who claimed to be a relative, but wasn’t. Baby Su’Leya died in her care.

Today, we welcome Sarah Katz, a Professor of Law at the Temple University Beasley School of Law and Director of Temple Law’s Family Justice Clinic, and April Lee, the Founder of Philly Voice for Change. Sarah and April discuss the requirements DHS is legally bound to in this process, how they are often skirted or ignored completely, and the resulting impact on parents and children.

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In the Matter of Sapphire W., with Melissa Friedman, Zoë Allen, and David Shalleck-Klein Apr 29, 2025

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Today we discuss In Re: Sapphire W. with three attorneys who worked on the case: Melissa Friedman and Zoe Allen of the Legal Aid Society's Juvenile Rights Practice and David Shalleck-Klein of the Family Justice Law Center. In Sapphire W., they took on New York City family courts' practice of placing families under the supervision of ACS any time a child was alleged to have been neglected or abused, even if there was no allegation against the custodial parent.

Together, our guests won a major victory to preserve family integrity for Sapphire and her mom, and for countless other NY families.

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