Who is impacted by eating disorders with Bryn Austin Nov 18, 2024

This episode is the first in Talking About Kids’ series on eating disorders. Over four episodes, leading experts and I will discuss prevalence, consequences, prevention, and the resources available to help you help the kids in your classroom, program or home. We will address body image, food, language, and when and how to intervene. My guest to start us off with a description of who is impacted, who is at-risk, and who is often overlooked, is the award-winning researcher, educator, and advocate, Bryn Austin. Bryn is responsible for some of the most-cited and most-impactful research on eating disorders. She is the Founding Director of the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED) at Harvard University, where she also is a Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences in the School of Public Health and a Professor of Pediatrics in the Medical School. More information about Bryn and resources hand-picked by her, including a tool for finding treatment providers in your area, are at talkingaboutkids.com.

What you need to know about sibling aggression and abuse during adolescence with Corinna Jenkins Tucker Nov 11, 2024

Sibling aggression and abuse are often described as “invisible” by experts because of society’s tendency to confuse them with sibling rivalry or dismiss them as a natural part of growing up. However, the consequences of sibling aggression and abuse are very visible and potentially debilitating. My guest this episode is Corinna Jenkins Tucker, Director of the Sibling Aggression and Abuse Research and Advocacy Initiative (SAARA) at the University of New Hampshire. Corinna and her colleagues at SAARA are working to increase awareness of sibling aggression and abuse and provide guidance on preventing and addressing their occurrences. More information about Corinna and SAARA is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How rational emotive behavior therapy benefits kids and the adults around them with Debbie Joffe Ellis Nov 04, 2024

Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is an evidence-based therapy that can help kids overcome anxiety, depression, guilt, and a variety self-defeating thoughts and behaviors. My guest today to explain REBT is the legendary therapist Debbie Joffe Ellis. Among other things, Deb is a licensed mental health counselor, an adjunct professor at Columbia University (where she teaches Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Comparative Psychotherapies), and the author of second edition of the book Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. More information about Deb is at talkingaboutkids.com

What you need to know about kids' dreams with Stanley Krippner Oct 28, 2024

Stanley Krippner has received multiple lifetime achievement awards from the American Psychological Association, including the Award for Distinguished Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology and the Award for Distinguished Lifetime Contributions to Humanistic Psychology. He is the subject of the edited volume, Stanley Krippner: A life of dreams, myths, and visions, and his own three-volume memoir, A Chaotic Life, came out just this year. At 92, Stan continues to write, lecture, and conduct research. I recently had the opportunity talking with Stan about helping kids process dreams. The interview took place in my living room, where he is better known by my wife and daughter as Uncle Stanley. More information about Stan, including a link to his autobiography, is talkingaboutkids.com.

Why all young readers need to see themselves represented in books with Zetta Elliott Oct 21, 2024

Zetta Elliott writes the kinds of books that she wanted to read when she was younger. They are sweeping, fantastic, and crackling with energy. Zetta and I discuss the latest addition to her Dragons in a Bag series, entitled The Oracle’s Door, and what it means to kids to read about aspirational protagonists with whom they share experiences, gender, and skin color. More information about Zetta, including a link to her books, is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How engaging fathers can improve outcomes for kids with Sundjata Aya Oct 14, 2024

There is a simple equation when it comes to raising a healthy and happy kid: the more competent and caring adults there are in the life of a kid, the better off that kid will be. Unfortunately, policies and prejudices often prevent fathers from being present to their own children. My guest today to discuss these problems and what is being done to address them is the dedicated father, public servant, and public policy researcher at MEF Associates, Sundjata Aya. More information about Sundjata, including a links to his research projects, is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What we are getting dangerously wrong about school shootings with David Riedman Oct 07, 2024

By several measures, 2024 is on course to be one of the worst ever in terms of gun violence on school campuses. My guest this episode to discuss these tragic incidents is David Riedman. David is the founder of the K-12 School Shooting Database, arguably the most complete accounting of school shootings in the United States. As you will hear, David's own analysis of the data has revealed some chilling findings that suggest that many schools’ prevention efforts and active shooter plans are, at best, inadequate and ill-informed, and, at worst, making students more vulnerable. This episode was intentionally produced to support the formation and coordination of adolescent-centered care and services, so you also will hear from Tracy Pedrotti of the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health. It was recorded live using a webinar platform to encourage questions from alliance members and other listeners. More information about David, the K-12 School Shooting Database, and the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What we know about school-based mental health services with Ezra Golberstein Sep 30, 2024

The U.S. is in the middle of what many experts are a calling a “mental health crisis.” As a result, there is increased interest in initiatives that place mental health clinicians on campuses. Despite research suggesting that this model should help students, there was, until recently, little evidence that school-based mental health services have the desired impacts. My guest this episode is Ezra Golberstein, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Ezra and his colleagues recently published an article entitled, “Effects of School-Based Mental Health Services on Youth Outcomes,” in which he examines the causal effects of the approach. He and I discuss his findings. More information about Ezra, including a link to his article, is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to help a child cope with the loss of a pet with Anne Marie Farage-Smith Sep 23, 2024

I doubt that anyone listening to the Talking About Kids podcast needs science to tell them that kids form deep attachments to their pets. However, it is worth noting the research on kids’ emotional reactions to a pet’s death. Studies show that a pet’s death may be traumatic for children and associated with subsequent mental health difficulties. A mitigating factor may be bereavement or how kids are allowed to process that death. My guest today to explore this topic is licensed mental health counselor and animal lover Anne Marie Farage-Smith. Anne Marie shares some practical tips for supporting children from her newly released book, Healing Wisdom for Pet Loss: An Animal Lover’s Guide to Grief. More information about Anne Marie and her book are at talkingaboutkids.com.

Why we need more leadership from pediatricians with Timothy McKnight Sep 16, 2024

My guest this episode is Timothy McKnight, a respected pediatrician, a second-generation Black physician, and an innovative leader. Tim believes that more can be done to address the healthcare disparities that too many families face, and he believes that pediatricians are in a unique position to help bring about the necessary changes. It is why he teaches leadership skills to pediatricians and why he is the Director of a program that supports students from communities that face healthcare disparities on their paths to becoming physicians. Tim and I discuss his inspirational work, as well as what you can do to help end healthcare disparities. More information about Tim is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What you need to know about bullying perpetration and the implications of working with adolescent bullies with Kevin Runions Sep 09, 2024

Bullying comes up a lot on Talking About Kids. When it does, we typically are discussing statistics and system-wide initiatives. My guest this episode to discuss bullying in adolescence is globally-recognized expert, Kevin Runions. In his roles as Area Lead Consultant for Research, Evaluation & Monitoring with School Mental Health Ontario, Kevin is supports 76 school boards serving over 2 million elementary and secondary students. In other words, he deals in statistics and system-wide initiatives, but, as you will hear, Kevin believes that to stop bullying we need to pay more attention to the unique individuals involved, including the bullies. This episode was intentionally produced to support the formation and coordination of adolescent-centered care and services, so you also will hear from Vinny Chulani and Tracy Pedrotti of the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health. It was recorded live using a webinar platform to encourage questions from alliance members and other listeners. More information about Kevin and about the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to teach kids about the real people of Capitol Hill with Kitty Felde Sep 02, 2024

Talking About Kids is kicking off our fourth season with a very special guest, Kitty Felde. Kitty is a veteran public radio journalist who has won multiple awards for her coverage of Capital Hill. Kitty’s desire to expose kids to the genuine Capital Hill and the real workings of government lead her down an unconventional path, that of writing mysteries. Kitty discusses her Fina Mendoza book series next. More information about Kitty – including links to the books, the teacher's guides, and her booking information – is talkingaboutkids.com.

Summer Episode 6: What we know about the volunteerism of kids Aug 26, 2024

This is the final mini summer episode of Talking About Kids. In it, I share some statistics about kids that are related to the Positive Indicators Project's measures of kids "Helping Others to Flourish" that I described in the previous episode. To help us through the stress and fear-mongering of this political season, I share some encouraging statistics about kids and volunteerism. Links to some of the research I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes return next week with a very special guest!

Summer Episode 5: Why we should look for positive indicators of child development Aug 19, 2024

In this fifth mini summer episode of Talking About Kids, I introduce the Positive Indicators Project, which is a movement to measure and track positive behaviors and attitudes in kids. I also present concepts, like gratitude and thrift, that the project has defined, categorized, and analyzed. A link to the project is at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes return in the Fall.

Summer Episode 4: What we know about the delinquent behaviors of kids Aug 12, 2024

This is the fourth mini summer episode of Talking About Kids. In it, I share some favorable statistics about kids and delinquency. I hope these encouraging facts about kids will help us through the stress and fear-mongering of this political season. Links to some of the research I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes return in the Fall.

Summer Episode 3: What we know about adolescents and drug use Aug 05, 2024

This is the third mini summer episode of Talking About Kids. In it, I share some encouraging statistics about kids and substance use. I hope these encouraging facts about kids will help us through the stress and fear-mongering of this political season. Links to some of the research I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes return in the Fall.

Summer Episode 2: What we know about adolescents and sex Jul 29, 2024

This is the second mini summer episode of Talking About Kids. In it, I share some encouraging statistics about kids and sex. I hope these encouraging facts about kids will help us through the stress and fear-mongering of this political season. Links to some of the research I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes return in the Fall.

Summer Episode 1: Why we need research on kids Jul 22, 2024

This is the first mini episode of Talking About Kids for summer 2024. In it, I share some little-known facts about kids in the U.S., and I present the theme for the remaining summer episodes: namely positive facts about kids to help us through the stress and fear-mongering that are all too present today. Links to some of the research I cite are are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes return in the Fall.

How the legal choices you make during a divorce impact family well-being with Charles Jamieson Jul 15, 2024

Divorce is hard on kids. My guest this episode is the attorney Charles Jamieson. Charles has spent over 40 years using his skills and considerable experience to help families around the country mitigate the damage divorce proceedings can cause. His insights are as practical as they are valuable, and I am grateful that he found the time to share them here. More information about Charles and his practice is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What LGBTQ+ activists have to say about banning books from school libraries Jul 08, 2024

Nationwide, school libraries – often refuges for students who are being othered by their classmates – are being weaponized. In this final Pride Month installment of 2024, I asked several of the Grand Marshals of the 2024 NYC Pride March to react to the growing movement to deny students access to books with queer and trans voices.

In this episode you will hear:

- Robin Drake, Afrolatino trans male, advocate, and professional with the Hetrick-Martin Institute

- Eshe Ukweli, writer, content creator, and digital strategist

- DaShawn Usher, Senior Director of Communities of Color and Media at GLAAD and Founder and Executive Director of Mobilizing Our Brothers Initiative (MOBI)

- Baddie Brooks, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and champion for queer and transgender communities

- Miss Major, author, pioneering activist, and community organizer for transgender rights; and

- Michelle Visage, singer, producer, and permanent judge on RuPaul's Drag Race

More information about these activists, including links to their organizations, is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What LGBTQ+ activists want for all families Jul 01, 2024

For the second year in a row, Talking About Kids was granted media access to all of NYC Pride’s events, including the 2024 NYC Pride March. At the press conference for the march, each of the Grand Marshals described their platforms and the changes they hoped their profiles would affect. I found it interesting that most of them used their time to address issues that impact all children and families, like this nation’s lack of affordable housing. In this episode you will hear:

- DaShawn Usher, Senior Director of Communities of Color and Media at GLAAD and Founder and Executive Director of Mobilizing Our Brothers Initiative (MOBI);

- Eshe Ukweli, writer, content creator, and digital strategist;

- Raquel Willis, transgender rights activist, the former national organizer for the Transgender Law Center, the former executive editor of Out magazine;

- Baddie Brooks, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and champion for queer and transgender communities;

- Robin Drake, Afrolatino trans male, advocate, and professional with the Hetrick-Martin Institute;

- Miss Major, author, pioneering activist, and community organizer for transgender rights; and

- Michelle Visage, singer, producer, and permanent judge on RuPaul's Drag Race.

More information about these activists, including links to their organizations, is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to support perinatal care for queer individuals with Bianca Sprague Jun 24, 2024

It goes without saying that would-be parents who are supported have healthier babies. For this fourth Pride Month installment of Talking About Kids, I want to address the perinatal care that queer individuals receive because it can be stressful and dehumanizing in ways that have negative short-term and long-term consequences for them and their children. My guest to discuss this issue is Bianca Sprague. Bianca is a passionate advocate for perinatal care for marginalized communities, an author, an educator, and the founder of bebo mia, a training and mentorship organization that promotes “anti-racist, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed and intersectional” approaches to reproductive health. Bianca and her team assembled some materials just for Talking About Kids listeners. Those can be found at bebomia.com/aboutkids and at talkingaboutkids.com. In addition, Talking About Kids listeners receive 15% off of bebo mia resources when they use the code TAK15 at bebomia.com.

What you need to know about the rights of LGBTQ+ youth with Gaelle Esposito Jun 17, 2024

During Pride Month, Talking About Kids is devoted to LGBTQ+ issues. This third installment is about the rights of LGBTQ+ youth. My guest is Gaelle Esposito, a Partner with the lobbying, government relations, communications, and legislative advocacy firm Creosote Partners. Gaelle and I discuss the current state of the rights of LGBTQ+ youth and what you can do to help ensure their access to health and mental health care and education. More information is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to support Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ youth with Jerico Cummings Jun 10, 2024

During Pride Month, Talking About Kids is devoted to LGBTQ+ issues. This second installment is about supporting Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ youth. My guest is Jerico Cummings. Jerico is a 2SLGBTQ+ Training & Community Engagement Specialist for the Paths (Re)Membered Project at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. The mission of the Paths (Re)Membered Project is to protect the health and wellbeing of 2SLGBTQ+ Indigenous people. Jerico will discuss the Two Spirit tradition, what all of us can learn from it, and how the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ Indigenous youth might differ from those of non-Indigenous youth. This episode was intentionally produced to support the formation and coordination of adolescent-centered care and services, so you also will hear from Vinny Chulani of the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health. It was recorded live using a webinar platform to encourage questions from alliance members and other listeners. More information is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How understanding history can help LGBTQ+ youth with Marshall Shore Jun 03, 2024

In honor of Pride Month, Talking About Kids is devoting its June episodes to LGBT+ issues. This first installment is about how understanding history can help LGBT+ youth, and my guest is the “Hip Historian,” Marshall Shore. Marshall is known throughout the southwestern United States and beyond for excavating videos, news stories, and other lost artifacts from the distant and not-so-distant past and using them to make history come alive in engaging events. Along the way, Marshall has helped right some past wrongs that were done to LGBT+ Americans and brought attention to both their contributions and hardships they faced. In doing so, Marshall has comforted and inspired LGBT+ youth. He has advice for how you can do the same. More information about Marshall and how to bring him to your community is talkingaboutkids.com.

What kids learn from wordless novels and relief printmaking with George Walker May 27, 2024

George Walker is an artist, educator, and historian, who is best known for his books about public figures ranging from Leonard Cohen to Tom Thomson. George tells these stories without words, using only images printed from wood he engraves. These wordless novels, as they are known, are in the tradition of works by Frans Masereel, Lynd Ward, and Otto Nückel, all famous artists who have inspired George and whom he has written about in his more academic books on creating relief prints and on appreciating wordless novels. I was excited to have George on the podcast because I think there is something profound about his art and his medium that can really benefit kids. First, wordless novels are accessible to everyone, regardless of their language or level of literacy. Children at every age can pick them up, engage their imaginations, and infer a story. As a child develops, a great wordless novel affords the inference of more nuanced stories or even different stories all together. Second, relief printmaking is an inexpensive technique that children can learn very quickly to make their own stories or individual art pieces, but, while it is easy to pick up initially, relief printmaking scaffolds perfectly, allowing infinite room for children to challenge and develop their skills. Of course, George explains all of this better than I do. More information about George and his art is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to teach kids about hope and joy with Gina Prosch May 20, 2024

As a writer, social media figure, and, now, children’s book author, Gina Prosch has focused on hope and joy. The second book in her Holly’s Choice series was just released. It is called, Hope! More Than Wishful Thinking. True to its title, it addresses hope, but, as you will hear, Gina’s conception of hope is not a Pollyanna one, but a practical and empowering one that, in my opinion, aligns with a growth mindset. More information about Gina and her books is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How mentors can support antiracist action in youth with Noelle Hurd May 13, 2024

Mentors have come up before on Talking About Kids, but the work of my guest today, Noelle Hurd, challenges more traditional notions of how mentors are identified and recruited and their role in the life of a kid, especially a racially or ethnically marginalized one. Noelle is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, where she also runs the Promoting Healthy Adolescent Development (PHAD) Lab. More information about Noelle is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How a healthy democracy can support healthy families with Sandra Gutierrez May 06, 2024

Vot-ER is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that believes that a healthy and inclusive democracy makes for healthy communities. To that end, Vot-ER works to integrate civic engagement into healthcare. My guest this episode to discuss Vot-ER’s rationale, how it goes about promoting an inclusive democracy, and what you can to do to achieve similar goals in your community and for issues you care about is Vot-ER’s West Coast Deputy Field Director, Sandra Gutierrez. The episode was recorded live using a webinar platform to encourage questions from Alliance members and other listeners. If you would like to participate in the webinars, you can join the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health’s mailing list at healthyazyouth.org. More information about Sandra, Vot-ER, and the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How faith communities build resilience in kids with David Myles Apr 29, 2024

The website for the Center for the Developing Child at Harvard University lists the factors that “predispose children to positive outcomes in the face of significant adversity.” Among them is “sources of faith.” My guest this episode to help me understand how faith traditions build resilience is David Myles. David is an award-winning speaker, radio host, and professor who attributes his own resilience in the face of adversity to his faith. David generously allowed me to ask him some difficult questions about the role of that faith and the mechanisms of its impact. More information about David is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What you need to know about mandated reporting and child maltreatment with Rachel Rosenberg and Sarah Catherine Williams Apr 22, 2024

Child maltreatment is a major public health concern in the United States, but are the mandated reporting laws that were intended to reduce child maltreatment working? My guests this episode, Rachel Rosenberg and Sarah Catherine Williams, are two of the authors of a new report from ChildTrends. As you will hear, their research suggests that mandated reporters need better training to help make the system more effective and to reduce the stigmatization of families who are experiencing financial insecurities. More information about Rachel, Sarah Catherine, and their report, Mandated Reporting Policies Do Not Promote More Accurate Reporting of Suspected Neglect, is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How household chores strengthen families with Lori Sugarman-Li Apr 15, 2024

There are many things I could say about the importance homelife. Chiefly among them is the fact that the behaviors and relationships that are modeled for children in the home are paramount to their healthy development. A close second is the fact that the work required to maintain a home and care for a family is undervalued in the marketplace. My guest today is Lori Sugarman-Li. Lori’s brand-new children’s book, Our Home: The Love, Work, and Heart of Family, takes on both of these issues, illuminating unpaid labor and encouraging families to take on the work of the home as a way to bond and promote individual growth. More information about Lori and Our Home: The Love, Work, and Heart of Family is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Why youth, caregiver, and professional perspectives are important to the planning and implementation of trauma-informed care with Yehudis Stokes and Marjorie Robb Apr 08, 2024

In previous episodes, Talking About Kids has addressed the need for trauma-informed care and the importance of involving youth in the design and oversight of programs for them. This episode combines the two. Recently, Yehudis Stokes, Marjorie Robb, and their colleagues published a paper on the perspectives of youth, caregivers, and other stakeholders on implementing trauma-informed care in an inpatient mental health program. Yehudis Stokes is a Registered Nurse at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and a Clinical Nurse Specialist with the Psychosocial Oncology team at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Marjorie Robb is the Acting Chief of Psychiatry at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the Division Chief of Community-Based Psychiatry. The episode was recorded live using a webinar platform to encourage questions from Alliance members and other listeners. If you would like to participate in the webinars, you can join the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health’s mailing list at healthyazyouth.org. More information about Yehudis, Marjorie, their research, and the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to support digital wellness in kids with Forest Bronzan Apr 01, 2024

The insidious ways in which technology may be harming our kids that we discussed in the previous episode are not new to this episode’s guest, Forest Bronzan. Forest is a veteran tech entrepreneur who, as co-founder and CEO of Digital Detox, is advancing initiatives to promote “digital wellness” in schools and homes. Forest shares his insights and information on these initiatives now. More information about Forest and Digital Detox is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What you need to know about kids and surveillance capitalism with David Donnelly Mar 25, 2024

What you need to know about kids and surveillance capitalism with David DonnellyTalking About Kids has addressed the potential dangers of screens, social media, and our increasingly digitized economy before, but a new documentary, The Cost of Convenience, examines the harm surveillance capitalism is doing to kids in a way that is both subtler and more disturbing. My guest to discuss the film is its Director, documentarian David Donnelly. More information about David and The Cost of Convenience is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to foster aggressive optimism in kids with Jenna Edwards Mar 18, 2024

My guest this episode, Jenna Edwards, is an actor, activist, and author. Jenna and I discuss her newly-released book, Aggressive Optimism, which is a fictional account of a young woman coping with mental health challenges following a traumatic event. Jenna openly acknowledges that the work parallels her own story, which might be why the protagonist’s thoughts, insecurities, struggles, and successes seem so real, and why I recommend the book for young readers who are facing their own challenges. More information about Jenna and Aggressive Optimism is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to strengthen relationships with kids with Kimberly Louvin Mar 11, 2024

Healthy relationships are a building block of resilience and, according to the science, a major predictor of happier and healthier lives. My guest today, Kimberly Louvin, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a therapist who has as adopted a “relationship-first” approach. Kim “enjoys helping young people and their families contemplate how to take a closer look at their relationships with one another.” I believe that her insights can help you do the same. This episode was intentionally produced to support the formation and coordination of adolescent-centered care and services, so you also will hear from Vinny Chulani of the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health. It was recorded live using a webinar platform to encourage questions from alliance members and other listeners. More information about Kim and about the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How a summer camp combats screen addiction in kids with Michael Jacobus Mar 04, 2024

More and more attention is being paid to the potential dangers kids face when they spend too much time in front of screens. Setting aside the veracity of those claims, it does seem that there are more people suggesting problems than there are suggesting solutions. My guest for this episode, Michael Jacobus, is an exception. Michael has applied his considerable experience as a child development specialist and seasoned youth camp leader to the creation of Reset Summer Camp, a summer residential program in which participants, “detox from their screen addiction and learn how to self-regulate, as they participate in individual and group therapy.” Even if the kids in your life are unable to attend Reset Summer Camp, you will learn a lot from Michael’s insights on helping young people develop healthier habits and, ultimately, lead healthier lives. More information about Michael and Reset Summer Camp is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to help kids with chronic reading challenges with Joe Lockavitch (part 2) Feb 26, 2024

This is part two of my conversation with Joe Lockavitch in which Joe shares his insights on helping students read and his general passion for education. If you have not heard part one, I recommend navigating to the previous episode. Like most everything in the education sector, Joe’s Failure Free Reading Program has proponents and detractors. Proponents say that they have seen students progress rapidly using the Failure Free Reading Program. Detractors point to a lack of empirical evidence for its effectiveness (according to the What Works Clearinghouse, the single rigorous evaluation of Failure Free Reading found moderate positive effects on comprehension), and they say that it is not easy to integrate into existing curricula. Regarding the latter, I imagine Joe thinks that is part of the point because he is fond of stating that, the “real enemy” of students with chronic reading challenges is the existing instructional approach. More information about Joe and his Failure Free Reading Program is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to help kids with chronic reading challenges with Joe Lockavitch (part 1) Feb 19, 2024

Joe Lockavitch is enthusiastic about helping students read. That enthusiasm is contagious, so much so that our conversation on learning spans two episodes. This is part one. Joe has been in the field of education for over 30 years, and, during that time, he has held multiple roles, including teacher, school psychologist, and special education director. Most recently, he has turned his attention towards reading because, in his words, “we are underestimating the reading potential of chronically failing students.” As you will hear, however, Joe’s insights on students extend well beyond reading. More information about Joe and his Failure Free Reading Program is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How colorblind racism and white fragility hurt all kids with Anne Williford Feb 12, 2024

There is a nationwide movement to ban discussions of race or ethnicity from classrooms. Proponents of a ban argue that such discusses compromise learning, undermine white students, and actually promote racism in an environment that should be focused solely on “individuals and merit.” My guest today is Anne Williford. Anne is an Associate Professor and PhD Program Director in the School of Social Work and the Director of the Healthy Schools Initiatives Division at the Prevention Research Center at Colorado State University. Anne and her colleagues have studied what actually happens when such bans are implemented. This episode was intentionally produced to support the formation and coordination of adolescent-centered care and services, so you also will hear from Vinny Chulani of the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health. It was recorded live using a webinar platform to encourage questions from alliance members and other listeners. More information about Anne and about the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to be a youth advocate for mental health with Nagasriya Ramisetty and Kaylee Woods Feb 05, 2024

Speak Up Stand Up Save a Life is an annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona, that aims to empower middle school students to organize and be changemakers at their home campuses. This year, the conference focused on identifying and overcoming the barriers that prevent kids from accessing mental health or suicide prevention services for themselves or their friends. As one of the conference organizers, I chose to interview Nagasriya Ramisetty and Kaylee Woods. When Nagasriya and Kaylee were high school students, each started movements at their schools that continue to improve the mental health of students and community members. Our conversation was recorded in front of the live audience at the conference. More information about Nagasriya, Kaylee, and the Speak Up Stand Up Save a Life conference are at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to be a good enough parent with Tim Cavell Jan 29, 2024

Tim Cavell approached me at the World Anti-Bullying Forum and claimed that his book on parenting and my book on parenting have some things in common. He was being generous. Tim is the co-author of Good Enough Parenting: A Six-Point Plan for a Stronger Relationship with Your Child published by the American Psychological Association. It is a great book, and I am very happy that he agreed to share some of the insights from it here. More information about Tim and his work is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to stop bedwetting, overactive bladders, incontinence, and constipation in kids with Steve Hodges Jan 22, 2024

Toilet issues are not uncommon in kids. Despite this, there is a growing body of evidence that these conditions are often misunderstood and mistreated. My guest today, Dr. Steve Hodges, is a Professor of Pediatric Urology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. A leading authority childhood toileting, Steve’s work is debunking many of the myths about it. If a kid in your life has toilet issues, you will want to pay close attention. More information about Steve and his work is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What you can do to help prevent adolescent suicides with Carla Allan Jan 15, 2024

Suicides and suicide attempts peak in spring and early summer, but research shows that the ideation and mental health issues that precede the acts are at their worst now, in the winter. My guest to discuss what you can do help kids who may be having suicidal thoughts is Carla Allan. Carla is the Chief of the Division of Psychology at Phoenix Children's Hospital. Her insights on this topic are both professional and deeply personal. This episode was intentionally produced to support the formation and coordination of adolescent-centered care and services, so you also will hear from Beheir Thompson and Vinny Chulani of the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health. It was recorded live using a webinar platform to encourage questions from alliance members and other listeners. More information about Carla and about the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Holiday Break Episode 3: New Year's school shootings Jan 08, 2024

In this third mini Holiday Break episode, I share David Reidman's (K-12 School Shooting Database) analysis of one of the first school shootings of 2024. Links to the research I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return later in this new year.

Holiday Break Episode 2: Why you should keep your New Year's resolution Jan 01, 2024

In this second mini Holiday Break episode, I revisit the science of why New Year's resolutions fail or succeed, and why, if your resolution is to improve your mental health, you should keep it for the sake of your kid. Links to the research I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return later in this new year.

Holiday Break Episode 1: What you can do to avoid being a Scrooge Dec 25, 2023

In this first mini Holiday Break episode, I explore A Christmas Carol's central idea, which I argue is empathy. Links to the research I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return in the new year.

What you need to know about what is in your kids' clothing with Samantha Gentry Dec 18, 2023

The research is conclusive: how and with what our kids’ clothes are manufactured affects the environment and kids’ health and well-being. As you are about to hear, my guest for this episode, Samantha Gentry, is very passionate about this topic, so much so that she started her own store in the U.S. just to ensure that her own child would have access to safe clothing. For more information, go to talkingaboutkids.com.

How media and commercialism harm kids with Susan Linn Dec 11, 2023

As we navigate the gift giving season and the accompanying onslaught of sales and advertisements, I think it is important to understand the impact that the media and commercials have on the behaviors and, ultimately, the health and well-being of our kids. My guest to discuss this is Susan Linn. Susan is a world-renowned psychologist; the author of Consuming Kids, The Case for Make Believe, and, most recently, Who’s Raising the Kids?; and a ventriloquist who appeared frequently on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. This episode was intentionally produced to support the formation and coordination of adolescent-centered care and services, so you also will hear from Beheir Thompson and Vinny Chulani of the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health. It was recorded live using a webinar platform to encourage questions from alliance members and other listeners. More information about Susan and about the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What you need to know about sleep apnea and kids with Blaine Leeds Dec 04, 2023

Kids need sleep. Adequate sleep helps prevent Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, mental health problems, and even injury. My guest today, Blaine Leeds, and his colleagues believe that apnea is to blame for many kids’ sleep issues. Blaine is a dentist, an innovator, the author of What Happens When Your Child Doesn’t Sleep, and a passionate advocate. More information about Blaine, including links to his book as other researchers and practitioners he cites, is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Thanksgiving Episode: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving Nov 27, 2023

In this mini Thanksgiving episode, I look at the "Rethinking Thanksgiving Celebrations: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving" from the National Museum of the American Indian and read from the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. Links to the article and the full address are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return next week (December 4, 2022).

What a book from 1950 can teach us about living with kids with Lori Robinson Nov 20, 2023

This is the second installment in a new segment in which a colleague and I examine classic and obscure books about kids from the past. We will be looking at what has changed and what has stayed the same to try to uncover universal truths and inspiration that you can use as you care for your own kids. This episode focuses on the introductory chapter of book from 1950 called How to Live with Children by Edith Neisser. My guest to help me with this effort is Lori Robinson, a social worker and therapist with years of experience working with children and families. She also is an autodidact with an exceptional capacity for contextualizing and putting into practice research on kids. More information about Lori is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Veterans Day Episode: Learning from the excellent education of children of soldiers Nov 13, 2023

In this mini Veterans Day episode, I explore some of the reasons why the schools run by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) are outperforming schools in the rest of the United States. Links to some of the materials I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return next week (November 20, 2023).

How to share decision making and activity leadership with youth with Ty Muhammad and Sarah Sullivan Nov 06, 2023

If you want the children and youth in your classroom, in your program, or even in your home to succeed, then you need to understand them, but gaining insights or even engaging them as cocreators of their experience is not always easy. Here to discuss what Rising Youth Theatre does to share decision making and activity leadership with the young people in its organization are two of Rising Youth Theatre’s Producing Artistic Collaborators, Ty Muhammad and Sarah Sullivan. This episode was intentionally produced to support the formation and coordination of adolescent-centered care and services, so you also will hear from Vinny Chulani of the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health. The episode was recorded live using a webinar platform to encourage questions from Alliance members and other listeners. If you would like to participate in the webinars, you can join the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health’s mailing list at healthyazyouth.org. More information about Ty, Sarah, Rising Youth Theatre, and the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How a developmental-relational perspective prevents bullying with Debra Pepler Oct 30, 2023

My guest this episode to talk about the importance of a developmental-relational perspective in addressing and preventing bullying is a Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology at York University, the recipient of the Canadian Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contributions to Public or Community Service, and my new friend: Debra Pepler. Our conversation was recorded in front of a live audience the 2023 World Anti-Bullying Forum, in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is the first time that the Forum has been hosted in the U.S., and more than 500 researchers, practitioners, policymakers, educators, young people, and more have gathered for three days of panels, symposia, keynotes, and workshops with the goal of advancing our global understanding of and our work to prevent bullying. 2023 World Anti-Bullying Forum was hosted by the UNC School of Education and was powered by BRP, a global leader in powersports products who, through its Ride Out Intimidation program, takes a firm stand against intimidation. More information about Debra, her work, the UNC School of Education, BRP’s Ride Out Intimidation program, and the World Anti-Bullying Forum is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to treat lice with Ilene Steinberg Oct 23, 2023

Lice. We have checked for them, we have been checked for them, and we have worried about the. But how much do we really know about lice? In light of some relatively new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, I asked Ilene Steinberg – Founder and CEO of the Center for Lice Control and the so-called “Lice Queen” – to come on the podcast and help me comb through the myths and facts about lice. More information about Ilene and a link to her Professional Lice Treatment kits are at talkingaboutkids.com. Talking About Kids listeners receive 15% off the price the kit when they use the code CLCTAKE15OFF.

How school discipline affects civic engagement with Thomas Catlaw and Aaron Kupchik Oct 16, 2023

A couple of weeks ago, the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE) held its annual conference. At it, a study from 2015 received some new attention. That study is “Discipline and Participation: The Long-Term Effects of Suspension and School Security on the Political and Civic Engagement of Youth” from the journal Youth and Society. My guests to talk about the study and its importance, are the study’s authors: Thomas Catlaw and, long-time friend of Talking About Kids, Aaron Kupchik. More information about Tom and Aaron, including a link to their study, is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Indigenous People's Day Episode: What (most of) the world believes about the rights of indigenous kids Oct 09, 2023

Globally, the rights of indigenous kids are protected, in part, by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. For this mini Indigenous People’s Day episode of Talking About Kids, I briefly examine the adversities indigenous kids face, what the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child asserts about the rights of indigenous kids and all kids, and the United States’ position on those rights. Links to the materials I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return next week (October 16, 2023).

What a book from 1920 can teach us about caring for kids with KellyAnn Bonnell Oct 02, 2023

For as long as there have been kids, people have offered advice on how to care for them. Talking About Kids is introducing a new segment in which a colleague and I examine classic and obscure books about kids from the distant and not-so-distant past. We will be looking at what has changed and what has stayed the same to try to uncover universal truths and inspiration that you can use as you care for your own kids. In this episode, we analyze a chapter called, “The Bad Child,” from the 1920 book series, The Kindergarten Children’s Hour by Lucy Wheelock. My guest to help me with this effort is KellyAnn Bonnell, the Early Childhood and Elementary Education Coordinator at Feather River College. KellyAnn has an encyclopedic knowledge of early childhood education theory, but she also is a skilled practitioner whom I have seen transform classrooms. More information about KellyAnn is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to foster drawing and cartooning skills in kids with Art Roche Sep 25, 2023

Incorporating the arts into education helps students succeed academically and socially. Despite this, art programs continue to face cuts and even elimination. To help counter this, I enlisted the help of Art Roche. If you have been a fan of animation in the last 20 years, it is likely that you have seen Art’s work or work that he supervised. Art created the Cartoon Network series, Nacho Bear, and he continues to consult on Apple TV+’s Peanuts series, Camp Snoopy. But I asked Art on because of his two wonderful instructional children’s books, Art for Kids: Cartooning and Art for Kids: Comic Strips. If your kids are not getting enough opportunities to be creative, Art can help you get them drawing. More information about Art and his books is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to balance saving for retirement and saving for college with Brad Baldridge Sep 18, 2023

The rising cost of college is in the news once again, as are 529 plans and student loan repayment. As a result, I wanted to revisit the topic of paying for college and how to balance saving for college with saving for retirement. My guest to help unpack these issues is Brad Baldridge. Brad is a College Funding Specialist and the host of the Taming the High Cost of College podcast. Brad has helped thousands of families plan for the expenses of college, and I am grateful that he agreed to share some of his insights here. More information about Brad is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to Help Kids Prepare Emotionally for the Transition from High School to College with Amy McGrath Sep 11, 2023

The transition from high school to college can be difficult for some students. Here to talk about that is Amy McGrath. Amy is the Vice President of Educational Outreach and Student Services for Arizona State University and the Managing Director the ASU Preparatory Academy, which is a network of public charter schools sponsored by ASU. Starting now, Talking About Kids will be dedicating one episode a month to supporting the formation and coordination of adolescent-centered care and services. We will be using Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health as a model, so, once a month you will also hear Vinny Chulani and Beheir Thompson participate in the discussion and share information about Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health’s activities and resources. These episodes are recorded live using a webinar platform to encourage questions from alliance members and other listeners. If you would like to participate in the webinars, you can register here. I hope that these episodes will inspire you to join the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health or whatever alliance exists in your community or, if none exists, to form your own. More information about Amy, Vinny, Beheir, and the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Labor Day Episode: What we know about juvenile employment Sep 04, 2023

Millions of kids in the U.S. have jobs. For this mini Labor Day Episode of Talking About Kids, I want to examine what we know about the benefits and risks of juvenile employment. Links to some of the research I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return next week (September 11, 2023).

Why we should emphasize the humanities in education with Curtis White Aug 28, 2023

Not long ago, Rebecca Sugar, creator of Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe, and I were discussing things that undermine the health and wellbeing of kids. I must have been painting a bleak picture because she suggested that I read Living in a World That Can’t Be Fixed: Reimagining Counterculture Today by Curtis White. I did, and then I immediately delved into his other writings, including The Science Delusion: Asking the Big Questions in a Culture of Easy Answers and the brand new Transcendent: Art and Dharma in a Time of Collapse. In these and other works, I think Curtis makes a strong case for the importance of arts education. Given the increased emphasis on STEM in schools at the expense of the humanities, I thought it was important to have Curtis on the podcast to share his perspective. More information about Curtis, including links to his books, is talkingaboutkids.com.

How to help kids with diverse body types stay fit and active with Pam Luk Aug 21, 2023

Participation in sports declines during adolescence. There are many reasons for this, and I want to address all them because, when kids stop playing sports, they miss out on the mental and physical benefits that sports afford. My guest today is Pam Luk. Pam believes that one of the reasons adolescents quit sports is that athletic wear for kids does a poor job of accommodating different body types. Pam share her story and what she did to address the problem next. More information about Pam and Ember & Ace is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What you need to know about fentanyl and kids with Haley Coles Aug 14, 2023

Adolescence is a time of experimenting, and that experimenting sometimes involves trying illicit drugs. Unfortunately, dealers are adding fentanyl to illicit drugs, like cocaine and methamphetamine, to make them cheaper and more potent, but fentanyl also makes them more deadly. Every day in the U.S., over 150 people die from overdoses related to fentanyl. To explain what fentanyl is and what you, as people who care about kids, can to do prevent overdoses from happening, I reached out to my friend Haley Coles. Haley is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sonoran Prevention Works and a pioneer in harm reduction. More information about Haley, Sonoran Prevention Works, and harm reduction is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Summer Episode 2: What we can do to improve the care of kids with suicide-related symptoms Aug 07, 2023

News about increases in adolescent suicide can seem overwhelming, so in this second mini summer vacation episode of Talking About Kids, I want to share a newly published paper on the care of kids with suicide-related symptoms that I think it suggests something constructive that we, as people who care about kids, can do to help reverse the trend. Links to some of the research I cite are talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes return in mid-August with an important examination of fentanyl.

Summer Episode 1: What we know about lower back pain in kids Jul 31, 2023

Back-to-school sales are underway, so in this a mini summer episode of Talking About Kids I decided to address the “back” in “back-to-school.” That is to say, I examine lower back pain in students, its prevalence, its causes, and how to prevent it. Links to some of the resources I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes return in mid-August with an important examination of fentanyl.

How to support adolescent-centered care with Veenod Chulani and Beheir Thompson Jul 24, 2023

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on July 19th, 2023, at the Adloscent Health Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. My guests are Veenod Chulani, Section Chief of Adolescent Medicine at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and Beheir Thompson, Adolescent Health Program Coordinator for Affirm. Along with their colleagues, Vinny and Beheir are working to bring professionals together to advance health equity for youth. Their insights on what adolescent-centered care entails, why it is important, and what steps you can take to become more effective when working with youth are addressed. More information about Vinny, Beheir, and the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health is talkingaboutkids.com.

How your pharmacist can help you and your kids with Stephanie Young Moss Jul 17, 2023

My guest for this episode is Stephanie Young Moss. Dr. Stephanie, as she is known professionally, approached me with a unique thesis: pharmacists can help reduce healthcare disparities among families. Her education and decades of experience as a pharmacist and an activist convinced me, and I am eager for you to hear her insights as well as the advice that she, and every pharmacist, has for parents. More information about Dr. Stephanie is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How IEPs can help kids with Kimberly Robinson Jul 10, 2023

All kids are unique, but some do better in typical classroom settings than others. The process of recognizing that a kid has special academic needs can be frustrating and stressful for parents, educators, professionals, and the student. Unfortunately, recognition is often just the beginning. The meetings and myriad terms, initials, and acronyms that follow a diagnosis can be confusing and intimidating. In this episode, I am going to address one of the more common ones: the IEP, or the Individualized Education Program. To help explain the IEP, I have enlisted the help of Kimberly Robinson. Kim came highly recommended to me because of her over 20 years of experience working as a Speech Language Pathologist and her expertise formulating and monitoring IEPs. More information about Kim is talkingaboutkids.com.

What advice LGBTQ+ activists have for kids Jul 03, 2023

For this final episode honoring Pride Month, I attended four NYC Pride events and interviewed speakers, dignitaries, and leaders. I asked them all one question: What words of advice or encouragement do you have for kids who are not feeling valued and supported as they realize their orientation, identity, and identity expression?

In this episode you will hear:

-Gabrielle Souza, Executive Director of The Okra Project, a mutual aid collective that supports Black Trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people;

-Sage Dolan-Sandrino, queer trans activist, journalist, and the inaugural Monica Roberts Fellow at the National Black Justice Coalition;

-Melissa D’Andrea, Executive Director of PFLAG NYC, a family-based organization committed to celebrating LGBTQ+ young people and creating a better future for all;

-NYC Pride March Grand Marshal Yasmin Benoit, award-winning British asexual activist, creator of the popular #ThisIsWhatAsexualLooksLike movement, and co-founder International Asexuality Day;

-NYC Pride March Grand Marshal Hope Giselle, organizer, trans activist, and best-selling author of Becoming Hope: Removing the Disguise;

-NYC Pride March Grand Marshal Randy Wicker, legendary, trailblazing LGBTQ+ activist;

-NYC Pride March Grand Marshal AC Dumlao, Chief of Staff at Athlete Ally, a nonprofit working to educate and activate athletic communities to eliminate homophobia and transphobia in sports, and creator of the popular Facebook page “Call Me They”; and

-Sandra Pérez, Executive Director for NYC Pride.

I recommend sharing the powerful advice and encouragement they offered with the kids in your life.

More information about these activists, including links to their organizations, is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What LGBTQ+ activists want you to do to support kids Jun 26, 2023

For this fourth episode of Pride Month, Talking About Kids was granted media access to The Rally, NYC Pride’s annual protest and activism event that takes place just a few blocks away from the location of the Stonewall Riots, the 1969 protests that sparked the gay rights movement. I asked three of the speakers for advice for caregivers on how to support kids as those kids realize their orientations, identities, and identity expressions. In this episode you will hear:

Gabrielle Souza, Executive Director of The Okra Project, a mutual aid collective that supports Black Trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people;
Sage Dolan-Sandrino, queer trans activist, journalist, and the inaugural Monica Roberts Fellow at the National Black Justice Coalition; and
Melissa D’Andrea, Executive Director of PFLAG NYC, a family-based organization committed to celebrating LGBTQ+ young people and creating a better future for all.

More information about these activists, including links to their organizations, is at talkingaboutkids.com.

What caregivers need to know to support transgender and nonbinary kids with Lane Kantor Jun 19, 2023

Lane Kantor is my guest for this third episode of Pride Month. Lane is an MD with a Masters degree in Public Health. Recently, Lane and their colleagues conducted a study of the knowledge gaps and educational needs of the parents of transgender and nonbinary kids. Lane shares what they learned and recommendations for supporting kids as they realize their identities and how they want to express them. More information about Lane, including links to the research they cite, is talkingaboutkids.com.

Why we must support sexual orientation and gender identity development in kids with Stephen Russell Jun 12, 2023

For the second episode of Pride Month, I asked Stephen Russell to describe what we know from research about supporting kids as they realize their orientations and identities. Stephen is the Director of the School of Human Ecology at the University of Texas at Austin. He also is the author of the award-winning book, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Schooling. I am honored that he found time in his busy schedule to share his insights here on the Talking About Kids podcast. More information about Stephen, including links to his research, is www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

What social sciences say about gender identity and gender expression in kids with Madelaine Adelman Jun 05, 2023

In honor of Pride Month, I wanted to look at sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in kids. In particular, I wanted a better understanding of the terms that are used to describe gender identity and gender expression. I also wanted to get an overview of what happens when we fail to support kids who are perceived as not conforming to prevailing sexual and gender norms. To help with this, I reached out to Madelaine Adelman. Maddie is a Professor of Justice Studies in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University, an author, and, for over two decades, one of the driving forces in GLSEN, a national organization that was founded by teachers to promote safe, supportive, and LGBTQ-inclusive K-12 education. More information about Maddie and links to resources for parents and educators are at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

What data suggest about school shootings with David Riedman May 29, 2023

School shootings are all-too-frequently in the news. When they are, there is a good chance that my guest’s work will be cited. David Riedman is the co-founder of the K-12 School Shooting Database, which contains detailed information on all school shootings in the United States from 1970 to present. David, an expert on security and crisis management, has spent a lot of time with this information, and his conclusions about our society’s response to school shootings might surprise you. More information about David, including a link to the K-12 School Shooting Database is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How desegregation impacted school discipline with Aaron Kupchik May 22, 2023

Aaron Kupchik returns to Talking About Kids to discuss his new research on the origins of contemporary school discipline practices. Aaron is a Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware and the author of numerous articles and books, including the award-winning Judging Juveniles: Prosecuting Adolescents in Adult and Juvenile Courts and Homeroom Security: School Discipline in an Age of Fear. When I initially invited Aaron back to provide an update on school violence, Aaron replied, “I don’t study school violence. I look at the crappy things adults do because of an irrational fear of school violence,” which is why we like him. More information about Aaron, including links to his books, is at www.talkingaboutkids.com.

How being a mother is changing with Nicole Feliciano May 15, 2023

In honor of Mother’s Day, I wanted to examine the evolving demands of motherhood, and I could think of no better person to help me do that than Nicole Feliciano. For nearly two decades, Nicole has convened and supported mothers, initially through her wildly successful blog, MomTrends, then with her book Mom Boss: Balancing Entrepreneurship, Kids & Success, and most recently with Ski Moms Fun, which is a podcast and social media focusing on winter sports and motherhood. She and I discuss the changes she has seen and her advice for staying balanced. More information about Nicole, including links to her projects, is at TalkingAboutKids.com.

How equity-centered research benefits kids with Sheryl Cababa May 08, 2023

My guest this episode is Sheryl Cababa. Sheryl is the Chief Design Officer at Substantial, an insights, design, and development firm based in Seattle, WA. Sheryl and her colleagues are working with amazing partners – like The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – and using equity-centered research to improve education technology. Sheryl and I discuss what “equity-centered research” is and how it might benefit the kids in your life. More information about Sheryl and her new book, Closing the Loop: Systems Thinking for Designers, can be found at TalkingAboutKids.com.

Why school boards fail with AJ Crabill May 01, 2023

Public opinion of school boards is low, and that is understandable. When school boards are not making headlines for banning books, enacting discriminatory policies, or arming teachers, videos of brawls erupting at school board meetings are blowing up social media. So when the award winning educator, AJ Crabill, comes out with a brand new book that proports to outline how school boards can improve so that student outcomes can improve, I jumped at the chance to talk with him. The book is called, Great on Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail, How Yours Can Become Effective. I think it is smart, accessible, and right. More information about AJ and his new book can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How neurofeedback benefits kids with Dianne Kosto Apr 24, 2023

When Bessel van der Kolk – famed researcher and author of The New York Times best seller, The Body Keeps the Score – says that neurofeedback has the potential to help kids reshape their brains to be more regulated and more open to new experiences, one takes notice. After all, helping kids stay regulated is the first thing that we, as people who care about kids, need to do to ensure their success. Consequently, I was excited to talk with Dianne Kosto, the CEO and Founder of SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training because she is a self-described “mom on a mission” to bring neurofeedback services to everyone. The story of Dianne’s passion, what neurofeedback did for her kid, and what it potentially can do for the kids in your life, are the topics of this episode. More information about Dianne and SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training can be at TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to do early childhood STEM with Karen Martinson Apr 17, 2023

The introduction of the U.S. Department of Education’s webpage on STEM states, “In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, it's more important than ever that our nation's youth are prepared to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and know how to gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions. These are the kinds of skills that students develop in science, technology, engineering, and math, including computer science—disciplines collectively known as STEM/CS.” While this is an excellent summary of the need, getting kids interested in STEM can be tricky, especially when they are very young. To help explain early childhood STEM, I reached out to Karen Martinson. Karen is the founder of Early STEM Ed, an organization that supports parents, teachers, and out of school time professionals in establishing and maintaining early STEM education programs. She also happens to be the teacher that turned my kid into a chemistry junkie. More information about Karen can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

Spring Holiday Episode: How expectations affect kids Apr 10, 2023

In this Spring Holiday episode, I discuss the ways that expectations affect kids and how we, as adults who care about them, can adjust our expectations to help them succeed. Links to the research I cite are at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return next week.

How futurcasting impacts education with Cyndi Coon Apr 03, 2023

Cyndi Coon is an Applied Futurist and a self-described “time traveler and rule-bender.” I first collaborated with Cyndi on an Emerge: A Festival of Futures event at Arizona State University. Since then, I have followed the work of her and her colleagues as they futurcast for government agencies and high-tech private sector companies. What is “futurcasting”? Well, I am going to let Cyndi explain it, but I think you will find that it directly applies to kids and education. More information about Cyndi is at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

What it is like to be a youth in need of shelter and transitional housing services Mar 27, 2023

This is the final episode in Talking About Kids series using the history of HomeBase Youth Services to examine the lifecycle of a nonprofit from founding, through hardships, and into maturity. To conclude the series, I thought it would be important to hear from some of HomeBase’s clients. Several years ago, three young adult residents offered to - anonymously and with the support of the clinical staff - share their stories to help professionals better understand the lasting effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the importance of programs like HomeBase. As mentioned, there are three anonymous, yet distinct, voices in this podcast. Each is generous and courageous. More information about HomeBase Youth Services is at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to manage a mature nonprofit with Dede Yazzie Devine Mar 20, 2023

This is the third episode in Talking About Kids’ series using the history of HomeBase Youth Services to examine the lifecycle of nonprofits from founding, through hardships, and into maturity. My guest this episode to discuss managing a large, complex and community-embedded nonprofit is Dede Yazzie Devine. Dede is the CEO of Native American Connections, a position she has held for over 40 years. Some nonprofit administrators embody the mission of an organization. Others are masters of the technical logistics of the work. Somehow, Dede is both. More information about Dede, Native American Connections, and HomeBase Youth Services is at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

What a nonprofit Board of Directors does with Neil Sutton Mar 13, 2023

This is the second episodes in the series that uses my experience with HomeBase Youth Services to examine what it is like to found a nonprofit, the role of a nonprofit Board of Directors, and how mature nonprofits grow and embed themselves in communities. My guest for this episode is Neil Sutton. Neil is an entrepreneur and serial community servant. He was on one of the first Boards of Directors for HomeBase and its Chair through the through the roughest time in its history. We discuss how he led HomeBase through those trials and, more importantly, why he did. More information about Neil and HomeBase can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to start a nonprofit with Dan Minton Mar 06, 2023

There are over 1.8 million nonprofits in the United States. Tens of thousands of new nonprofits are launched every year, and tens of thousands fail. With 10% of the U.S. workforce employed in nonprofits, I thought I would use my experience with HomeBase Youth Services to examine what it is like to found a nonprofit, the role of a nonprofit Board of Directors, and how mature nonprofits grow and embed themselves in communities. My guest for this first episode in the series is Dan Minton. Dan was the first Executive Director of HomeBase, a position that came with very little pay and a lot of heartache. Today, Dan is the Associate Vice President of The Steier Group, a national firm that assists nonprofits with fundraising and capital campaigns. More information about Dan, The Steier group, and HomeBase Youth Services, is available at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How technology can help prevent cyberbullying with Yasin Silva and Deborah Hall Feb 27, 2023

Protecting kids from the cyberbullying can be, to say the least, frustrating. Parental controls and gatekeeper apps can be easily bypassed, other restrictions might be incompatible with assigned schoolwork, and all oversight seems, at least, a step behind how young people are engaging in the digital world. But there is hope! My guests for this episode, Yasin Silva, Director of the Data Science Graduate Program at Loyola University Chicago, and Deborah Hall, Associate Professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Arizona State University, share what we know about cyberbullying and discuss the technology they are developing to promote a positive relationship-based approach to cyberbullying prevention and cessation. More information about Yasin, Deborah, and the BullyBlocker project is at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to pay for college with Ann Garcia Feb 20, 2023

If you are a parent or you work with parents, then you know that the topic of paying for college can be unpleasant, which I why I am so glad that I was introduced to this episode’s guest, Ann Garcia. Her book, How to Pay for College, is easy-to-read and implement. More importantly, Ann is committed to the belief there is a college that fits your budget, your values, and your kid, but it might not be the one you are focused on right now. More information about Ann, including information on purchasing How to Pay for College, can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to motivate kids to read and write with Sharon Lynn Feb 13, 2023

With all of the headlines about the pending death of writing at the hands of artificial intelligence like ChatGPT, I thought it would be useful to talk about the value of reading and writing and how we inspire kids to do both. My guest to help explore these issues is Sharon Lynn. Sharon teaches writing at UAT, a technology university where the students and faculty are very familiar with chat bots. She and I discuss strategies for engaging students and her own experience writing and finding a publisher for her wonderful new book, Death Takes a Bath: A Cotswolds Crimes Mystery. More information about Sharon and her book can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

What you need to know about year-round schools with Cara Jackson Feb 06, 2023

As communities struggle to address the impact of the pandemic on student learning and well-being, there seems to be renewed interest in year-round schools. In this episode of the Talking About Kids podcast, I wanted to address what year-round schooling is and what we know about it. To answer these questions, I enlisted the help of Cara Jackson, a Senior Associate at Abt Associates who evaluates and conducts systematic reviews of educational programs. In response to Education Next’s article, “Busting the Myths About Year-Round School Calendars,” Cara recently wrote a piece entitled, “Do Year-Round Schools Work? Three Questions to Ask.” We ask and answer those questions here. More information about Cara and some resources hand-picked by her are at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to teach kids to manage emotions and tolerate frustrations with Kate Lund Jan 30, 2023

The science is clear: Kids need to be able to regulate their emotions and overcome adversity and frustration to be successful in a classroom, in relationships, and in life. Social and emotional skills do not detract from learning other subjects. Rather, these skills allow all learning to occur. My guest this episode, Kate Lund, knows this. As she bravely describes in her book, Bounce: Help Your Child Build Resilience and Thrive in School, Sports and Life, Kate's own early childhood experiences taught her the importance of managing emotions and of resilience. She brings these insights to her work as a clinical psychologist and a peak performance coach, and she is sharing them here for you. More information about Kate and her work can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

Holiday Break Episode 5: How to bridge the gap between home and school Jan 23, 2023

In this final mini Holiday Break episode, I asked Dan Uttech and Anthony Smith, two Response to Intervention Behavior Specialists from Cartwright Unified School District in Phoenix, to share insights on their approach to their roles and to address misconceptions that might exist between parents and school faculty and staff. More information about Cartwright Unified School District is at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. Full episodes of Talking about Kids return next week when my guest will be psychologist and best-selling author Kate Lund.

Holiday Break Episode 4: How to interpret the Teens and Pornography report Jan 16, 2023

In this fourth mini Holiday Break episode, I address Teens and Pornography, the new report from Common Sense Media; I discuss what is and what is not included in the report; and I offer my own interpretation of some of the findings. Links to the research I cite are at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return later in this new year.

Holiday Break Episode 3: What we know about Pediatric Seasonal Affective Disorder Jan 09, 2023

In this third mini Holiday Break episode, I look at the research on Pediatric Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I present its definition, describe its prevalence, explore why we should care, and describe treatment options. Links to the research I cite are at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return later in this new year.

Holiday Break Episode 2: What News Year's resolutions teach us about how kids want to learn Jan 02, 2023

In this second mini Holiday Break episode, I look at the science of why New Year's resolutions fail or succeed, connecting it to the research on students' success in the classroom. Links to the research I cite can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return later in this new year.

Holiday Break Episode 1: How an understanding of foreign cultures benefits kids Dec 26, 2022

In this first mini Holiday Break episode, I explore the research on the ways being exposed to foreign cultures impacts children and adolescents. Links to the research I cite can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return in the new year.

How to make gifted and talented programs more equitable with Scott Peters Dec 19, 2022

In the United States, 6.6% of public-school students are enrolled in gifted and talented programs, but enrollment is not evenly distributed. For example, 12.6% of Asian students are enrolled, but only 4.5% of Hispanic students and 3.6% of Black students are. Scott Peters, my guest for this episode, has been studying and writing about these and other discrepancies for some time. Scott is a Senior Research Scientist at NWEA, where he specializes in educational assessment and data use. A series of articles he wrote about equity within gifted and talented programs is receiving a lot of attention, and I am grateful that he agreed to share his insights in this podcast. More information about Scott and his research can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to make the most of a children's museum experience with Kate Wells Dec 12, 2022

The Holiday Season is a great time to take the kids to a children’s museum, but museums can be intimidating, especially if you have not been before. To help you make the most of your next visit, I sought guidance from Kate Wells. Kate is the co-founder and CEO of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, a top destination in Arizona and one of the highest ranked children’s museums in the U.S. Kate is passionate about her work, and her insights might even help you create your own interactive learning space. More information about Kate and the Children's Museum of Phoenix can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to create a vibrant youth program with Ziana James, Arielle Kelley, and Melina King from YTC Dec 05, 2022

I recently was in a workgroup in which some colleagues were complaining about how difficult it can be to engage teens in out-of-school time activities. That made me think about Youth Taking Charge (YTC), which is the youth component of Tanner Development Corporation’s HEAAL (Help Enrich African American Lives) program. Over the years, I have worked with YTC on some anti-bullying initiatives and found the teen participants to be completely engaged, so I reached out to the team at the Tanner Community Development Corporation to see if they would be willing to provide some tips. They agreed, but, instead of speaking with me themselves, they sent 14-year-old Ziana James, 14-year-old Arielle Kelley, 13-year-old Melina King, three members of YTC’s youth leadership team. In addition to sharing amazing insights on how to create a vibrant youth program, these impressive young leaders provide an example of what a growth mindset looks like in practice. More information about YTC and the Tanner Community Development Corporation can be found www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

Thanksgiving Episode: What we know about gratitude and kids Nov 24, 2022

In this mini Thanksgiving episode, I discuss the science of gratitude, its benefits, and one technique for fostering it in ourselves and the children in our lives. Links to the research I cite can be found www.TalkingAboutKids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return next week (December 5, 2022).

What we know about growth mindset with Elizabeth Tipton Nov 21, 2022

Growth mindset has come up before in this podcast because some advocates believe that it helps kids succeed. Everyone seems to be talking about growth mindset, but there is a poor understanding of how to define it, how to foster it, or how to determine if it works. This is why I was so excited to speak with Elizabeth Tipton. Beth is an Associate Professor of Statistics at Northwestern University, where she co-directs the Statistics for Evidence-Based Policy and Practice Center and is a Faculty Fellow in the Institute for Policy Research. Just this month, Beth and her colleagues published a commentary on two different meta-analyses of growth mindset. In our conversation, Beth explains what that means and what she found. She also provides a framework for how to think about growth mindset and any program or initiative we are thinking about for the kids in our lives. More information about Beth can be at TalkingAboutKids.com.

Veterans Day Episode: Supporting the children of soldiers Nov 14, 2022

In this mini Veterans Day episode, I discuss two things research indicates you can do right now to support the children of soldiers. Links to the research I cite can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return next week (November 21, 2022).

How animation can help kids with Mark Collington Nov 07, 2022

Over the course of my career, several private sector and public sector companies have asked me to consult or conduct research to help them develop animation on topics ranging from banking to relationship skills. Each time, the justification these companies gave for wanting animation was, “kids like cartoons.” I also have conducted research with parents and found that many of them would prefer that their children not watch animation because they felt that, as a medium, it was somehow less healthy than live action. As a result of these divergent experiences, I crafted this episode to explore what animation is and who and what it is good for. My guest is Mark Collington. Mark is a Senior Lecturer in Animation Production at the Arts University Bournemouth and the author of Animation in Context: A Practical Guide to Theory and Making, which is, in my opinion, the definitive book on this topic. More information about Mark can be found www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to prepare kids for careers in public service with Terry Babcock-Lumish Oct 31, 2022

Career days at schools tend to be generic. Students hear from doctors and lawyers, but they rarely hear from professionals who work for governments or nonprofits. This is despite the tremendous impact these sectors have. That is the impetus behind this episode, and Terry Babcock-Lumish is the perfect guest for it. Terry has worked at every level of government; she has trained young would-be public servants for some of the world’s more egalitarian and most exclusive universities; and she currently is the Executive Secretary of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, the premier graduate fellowship in the United States for public service leadership that awards live-changing scholarships to 50 plus students each year. Terry is dedicated, smart, funny, and busy. I am grateful that she found the time to share her insights. More information about Terry and the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to address the growing need for social and emotional intelligence with Angel Jannasch-Pennell Oct 24, 2022

The topic of this episode was suggested to me by the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence, which is that state’s professional association for out-of-school time programs (OST). Its member organizations were reporting some troubling incidents that involved, what they perceived to be, increasingly dysregulated students, staff, and parents. Their observations are anecdotal, but, as you will hear from my guest, Angel Jannasch-Pennell, they are indicative of some very real trends. Angel has a lifetime of experience working on educational issues as a teacher, a researcher, an administrator, and, for the last decade, as the co-founder and CEO of KOI Education, a firm that has trained thousands of educators and direct service providers on subjects like Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and behavior management. This interview was recorded in front of a live audience on October 22nd, 2022, at the Arizona Center of Afterschool Excellence’s annual conference. More information about Angel and KOI Education can be found www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to respond to traumatic brain injuries in kids with Stacy Suskauer Oct 17, 2022

This is part three in Talking About Kids' three-part series on traumatic brain injury (TBI). In part one, Keith Owen Yeates explained what TBI is and why we care. In part two, Juliet Haarbauer-Krupa shared strategies for preventing TBI. In this final installment, Stacy Suskauer presents the latest research on responding to concussions, TBIs, and other head injuries to ensure the best possible outcomes children and adolescents. Stacy is the Vice President of Pediatric Rehabilitation at Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Director of the Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. More information about Stacy and links to some TBI resources hand-picked by her can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to help prevent traumatic brain injuries in kids with Juliet Haarbauer-Krupa Oct 10, 2022

This is part two in Talking About Kids’ three-part series on traumatic brain injury (TBI). In part one, Keith Owen Yeates explained what TBI is and why, as people who care about kids, we need to be so very concerned about it. This episode is about prevention, and there is no better person to speak to this topic than my guest, Juliet Haarbauer-Krupa, Senior Health Scientist on the Traumatic Brain Injury Team in the Division of Injury Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Juliet brings to the position over 30 years of experience and over 100 publications and presentations on TBI. More information about Juliet and links to her hand-picked TBI resources can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

What you need to know about traumatic brain injuries and kids with Keith Owen Yeates Oct 03, 2022

Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are injuries that affect how the brain works, and they are a major cause of death and disability in the United States. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable, both in terms of sustaining a TBI and experiencing debilitating, potentially lifelong effects. The topic of traumatic brain injuries is so important to kids that I have decided to dedicate three episodes to it, each with a different, preeminent guest expert. The first episode is an overview of TBI (i.e., what it is, why we care, etc.), the second episode is on prevention, and the third episode is on responding to and treating TBI. For this episode - the first in the series - my guest is Keith Owen Yeates. Keith holds the Ronald and Irene Ward Chair in Pediatric Brain Injury at the University of Calgary, where he also is a Professor and Head of the Department of Psychology and an Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences. More importantly to our topic, Keith is the one of the most, if not the single most, cited pediatric TBI researcher. More information about Keith and links to TBI resources can be www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to approach educating kids about sex with Nikol Hasler Sep 26, 2022

Sex Education has been in the news a lot recently, and it has me thinking about my favorite sex education series: The Midwest Teen Sex Show. It aired new episodes on YouTube from 2007 to 2009. Nikol Hasler, my guest for this podcast, was one of the creators of the show, as well as its host and writer. After the show, Nikol wrote two sex education books. Sex: A Book for Teens came out in 2010, and a revised and expanded version of the book, called Sex: An Uncensored Introduction, came out in 2015. The series and the books are honest, respectful, informative, and engaging. They are among the best sex education materials I have ever seen. Professionally, Nikol now focuses on different issues, which is why I am honored that she agreed to share her insights on this topic. More information about Nikol and links to her videos can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How state agencies are supporting suicide prevention with Joshua Stegemeyer Sep 19, 2022

In the U.S., we have started to make real progress towards decreasing juvenile suicides by promoting mental health and reducing the stigma around suicidal ideation. However, practical concerns remain. What should a kid do when they are feeling suicidal? What should a parent, teacher, caring adult, or even a friend do when a kid they know is in crisis? I know it takes substantial resources and a concerted effort to put the correct services in place and then to make the public aware of those services. My guest to scratch the surface of the work state and federal agencies are doing to decrease juvenile suicides is Arizona’s Suicide Prevention Program Manager, Joshua Stegemeyer. The passion, experience, and innovation that Joshua brings to the position is inspiring, and I am honored to have him on to bravely share his story and to provide practical information on how you can plug in for assistance or to become a part of the larger movement. More information about Joshua and a link to Arizona’s suicide prevention hub can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

What we know about restorative justice practices in schools with Akiva Liberman Sep 12, 2022

Over the years, many teachers, administrators, and parents have asked me about restorative justice in schools. It is an important topic, but one that I am a little confused about myself, which is why I am so glad to be joined by Akiva Liberman. Akiva is a friend and colleague with whom I have discussed restorative justice many times. More importantly, Akiva has studied responses to youth misbehaviors for over two decades – much of it as a Senior Research Fellow at the Urban Institute – and he has published evaluations of restorative justice programs in schools. More information about Akiva and links to some of the research we cite can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

Labor Day Episode: Being a caring adult in the life of child Sep 05, 2022

In this mini Labor Day episode, I discuss labor and new evidence of the power of being a caring adult in the life of child. Links to the research I cite can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return next week (September 12, 2022).

How we know if an initiative or program for kids works with Eric Hedberg Aug 29, 2022

As parents, teachers, and direct service providers, we are bombarded with products and services that claim to help kids. Many of them are quite expensive. We want the best for the children and adolescents in our lives, but resources are scarce. My guest to help all of us understand how we can discern whether an app, a curriculum, a program, etc., might actually work is Eric Hedberg. Eric is an Accredited Professional Statistician and a Senior Associate at Abt Associates, a global public policy research firm and think tank. Eric has published extensively on statistical methods and on evaluations of educational programs. My first exposure to Eric was watching a video of him explaining statistics to group of non-researchers. I remember appreciating the clarity and humor of his explanation, which is why I approached him for this episode. More information about Eric and a link to the What Works Clearinghouse, which Eric and I discuss in the episode, can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

What we know about human trafficking with Dominique Roe-Sepowitz Aug 22, 2022

Dominique Roe-Sepowitz joins us for this episode. Dominique is the Founder and Director of Arizona State University’s Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research and the Clinical Director of Phoenix Starfish Place, a Federally funded supportive housing program for sex trafficked women and their children. Dominique has devoted her professional life to the heartbreaking topics of human trafficking and sex trafficking, and there is nobody I trust more to educate you about them. More information about Dominique and links to some of the resources she mentions can be found www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How we can support co-regulation with young children with Chandra Ghosh Ippen Aug 15, 2022

My guest for this episode is Chandra Ghosh Ippen. Chandra is the Associate Director and Dissemination Director of the Child Trauma Research Program at the University of California, San Francisco. She also is the author of a series of storybooks for young children that are written to support emotion regulation and healing after stressful or traumatic experiences. Titles from the series include Holdin Pott, You Weren’t With Me, and Once I Was Very Scared. Chandra is somebody who, when it comes to kids, just gets it, and the advice shares and the resources she has created are invaluable. More information about Chandra and her books can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

Why early childhood education is important with Melinda Gulick Aug 08, 2022

My guest this episode is Melinda Gulick. Melinda is the CEO of First Things First, which is an organization created by Arizona voters to help young children be ready for success in kindergarten and beyond. Melinda took over the helm of First Things First in March of 2022. As an award-winning public administrator with a breadth and depth of experience, Melinda is uniquely poised to advance First Things First’s mission, and I am excited for you to hear her perspective on why early childhood education is important and what you can do to promote it. More information about Melinda and First Things First can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to create a trauma-informed learning community with Steve King Aug 01, 2022

My guest this episode is Steve King. Steve is the Superintendent of the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District in Arizona. For over 28 years, Steve has been experimenting, exploring new ideas, and reforming schools to support those students with the most significant needs, because he believes that supporting them affords the best opportunities for all students to succeed. I happen to think that Steve is an innovator. This interview was recorded on July 25, 2022, in front of live audience at the Our Future in Mind - Youth Mental Health Awareness Conference. More information about Steve and the about the conference can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to L.E.A.D. (Learn. Explore. Act. Discover.) for racial justice and liberation for families with Corey Best Jul 25, 2022

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on July 19th, 2022, at the Child Abuse Prevention Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. My guest is the keynote speaker, Corey B. Best. Corey is the founder of Mining for Gold, a project that curates community members’ experiences with systems of oppression and utilizes that information to rebuild child- and family-serving systems. Corey is thoughtful, challenging, and generous, and I am so pleased to have him on this podcast. More information about Corey, Corey’s work, and Prevent Child Abuse Arizona can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

Why bullying is bad for kids with Dorothy Espelage Jul 18, 2022

My very special guest for this first episode of Season 2 is the venerable Dorothy Espelage. Dorothy is the William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Education; she is the author of numerous books on bullying, including Bullying Prevention and Intervention: Realistic Strategies for Schools; and she is the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the American Psychological Association for her work on bullying. In other words, Dorothy is the expert on bullying. She and I discuss bullying and its consequences, and we attempt to answer a listener's question about workplace bullying. More information about Dorothy can be found www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

Summer Episode 4: What can be done about kids' stress Jul 11, 2022

In this final mini summer episode, I discuss some new research about the effectiveness of fostering in kids a "synergistic mindset approach" to stress. Links to the research I cite can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return next week (July 18, 2002) with a very special guest.

Summer Episode 3: What we know about kids and fireworks Jul 04, 2022

In this third mini summer episode, I use the occasion of Independence Day (and my friend's birthday) to talk about kids and the dangers of fireworks. A link to the research I cite can be found at TalkingAboutKids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return in late July with very special guests to help you prepare for the new school year.

Summer Episode 2: How to support LGBTQIA+ kids in school Jun 27, 2022

In this second mini summer episode, I use the occasion of Pride week to address how LGBTQIA+ kids are treated in school and what can be done to support them and all students. Links to the research I cite can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. Once again, full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return in late July with very special guests to help you prepare for the new school year.

Summer Episode 1: What we really know about the "achievement gap" between Black and White students Jun 20, 2022

In this first mini summer episode, I expose truth of the so-called "achievement gap" between Black and White students and briefly introduce a strategy for supporting all kids as scholars and resilient human beings. Links to some of the research I cite can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return in late July with very special guests to help you prepare for the new school year.

How to take an Anti-Racist Approach to Supporting Indigenous Kids with Heather Sauyaq Jean Gordon Jun 13, 2022

My guest for this episode is Heather Sauyaq Jean Gordon. She is Iñupiaq and a research scientist in the Youth Development program at Child Trends. Heather’s work focuses on Indigenous youth, families, and Elders and the topics of colonization, historical trauma, and culture as a protective factor. Together, we explore the what, why, and how of anti-racist approaches to supporting the Native and Indigenous kids in your lives. We also answer a listener’s question about anti-racist approaches to researching Native and Indigenous kids. More information about Heather and her work can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How conferences like Speak Up Stand Up Save a Life benefit kids with Gina Godbehere and Annie Middlemist Jun 05, 2022

In this episode, I talk with Gina Godbehere, one of the founders of Speak Up Stand Up Save a Life, and Annie Middlemist, the organization’s Executive Director, about their conference’s approach to promoting mental health and reducing suicides, bullying, and substance abuse. I encourage you to listen and evaluate whether the Speak Up Stand Up Save a Life might benefit you or your work. I hope that this episode might also inspire you to a lead your own movement around an unaddressed issue that is important to the kids in your life. Finally, we answer a practical question from a listener about hosting a conference for kids. More information about Gina, Annie, a Speak Up Stand Up Save a Life can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

What domestic violence services are available to help kids and families with Michael Hughes and Kathy Di Nolfi May 30, 2022

It is difficult to overstate how terrifying it can be to try to leave an abusive relationship. In this episode, Michael Hughes, Chief Operating Officer, and Kathy Di Nolfi, Chief Program Officer, at A New Leaf – one of the Nation’s premier service providers – explain what domestic violence (or “DV”) services are available in communities and what happens at every step in the process. We hope that this information will make it easier for you to access or for you to help someone else access these important services. We also answer a listener's question about client confidentiality. More information about Michael and Kathy, A New Leaf, and DV services nationwide can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com..

How protective factors afford better outcomes for kids following childhood adversity with Tracie Afifi May 23, 2022

My guest this episode is Tracie Afifi, Professor in the Departments of Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba and an Associate Editor of the journal Child Abuse & Neglect. Tracie’s research advances our understanding of adverse childhood experiences and protective factors by examining, on a macro level, what makes an experience positive or negative and looking for other experiences that fit those criteria. She and I discuss her research and answer a listener's question about whether kids today are more or less resilient than previous generations. More information about Tracie can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to utilize the performing arts to increase hope, empathy and self-worth in kids with David Simmons May 16, 2022

My guest this episode is David Simmons. David is an actor, musician, director, playwright, composer, and educator, but I know him best as the founder of the UBU Project. The UBU Project is an arts education outreach organization specializing in social-emotional (SEL) arts integration. I first encountered David and the UBU Project when I was reviewing material for the Speak Up Stand Up Save a Life conference. I was and remain impressed. In his work, David is brave, honest, creative, and, most importantly, always himself. We discuss his approach and answer a listener’s question about hope. More information about David, including links to his social media, can be found at TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to help kids with visual arts with Tyanna Buie May 09, 2022

In this episode, I talk with Tyanna Buie. Tyanna is a visual artist whose work is exhibited nationally, including shows at the Haggerty Museum of Art, The Red Bull House of Art, and The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. She also is the Section Chair of Printmaking at the College for Creative Studies. Tyanna and I discuss how growing up in the foster care system shaped her approach to art and how she goes about inspiring young artists to find their own voices. Tyanna also answers a listener’s question about creating safe spaces for teaching art to children. More information about Tyanna, including a link to her artwork, can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How to create positive entertainment for young children with Tommy Snider May 02, 2022

My guest for this episode is Tommy Snider, the writer, director, and star of the YouTube children’s series Fizzling’s Funhouse. Tommy has been a working actor for nearly 20 years, and, if you do not know him by name, I guarantee you have seen him in Grey’s Anatomy, Rules of Engagement, Bad Samaritans, I’m Dying Up Here, Baskets the Clown, Top Elf, or Doom Patrol. I think Tommy’s personal journey explains a lot about his current project and his approach to creatively engaging kids. We also answer a listener’s question about tips for making videos for young kids. More information about Tommy and a link to the Fizzling’s Funhouse can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

What we know about school safety with Aaron Kupchik Apr 25, 2022

My guest for this episode is Aaron Kupchik, Professor of Sociology at the University of Delaware and the author of numerous articles and books, including the award-winning Judging Juveniles: Prosecuting Adolescents in Adult and Juvenile Courts and Homeroom Security: School Discipline in an Age of Fear. For the last two decades, Aaron has calmly and assertively promoted the research about what actually makes schools safer. Aaron and I discuss that research and answer a listener's question about mitigating anxiety when conducting safety drills in schools. Links to some of the research we cite, including an interview with Aaron from USA Today, can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How understanding discrimination can help all kids with Iya Affo Apr 18, 2022

In this episode, I talk with Iya Affo. Iya is a Culturalist, a Historical Trauma Specialist, and the founder of Heal Historical Trauma. When many of us were still gaining an understanding of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), Iya was pushing past early childhood and calling attention to the consequences of intergenerational trauma. She and I discuss this and how understanding discrimination can help all kids succeed. We also answer a listener's question about critical race theory (CRT). More information about Iya and links to her work can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

How experiencing nature benefits kids with Andrew Lenartz Apr 11, 2022

In this episode, I talk with psychologist Andrew Lenartz about his research on how connecting with nature yields a variety of benefits to children and adolescents. Andy was nice enough to suggest some resources for parents, educators, and direct service providers who are looking to create outdoor experiences for the kids in their lives. Links to those and to Andy's book can be found at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. We also answer a listener's question about the Dutch tradition of "dropping."

How partnering with faith-based organizations can help kids with Maria Cristina Fuentes Apr 04, 2022

In this episode, I discuss the benefits and misconceptions of partnering with faith-based organizations with Maria Cristina Fuentes, Director of the Arizona Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family. We also answer a listener's question about how the Office of Youth, Faith and Family supports schools.

What works for Native kids with Patty Talahongva Mar 28, 2022

In this episode, I talk with Patty Talahongva - documentary filmmaker, activist, and senior correspondent for Indian Country Today - about what does and does not work for Native kids. Native students have some of the worst education outcomes of any segment of the U.S. population, and Patty and I use her experience and the history of Indian boarding schools to give context to this issue. During our conversation, Patty mentions several resources for teachers, parents, and direct service providers, and links to those are available at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. We also answer a listener's question about honoring the land.

What statewide surveys know about our kids with Wendy Wolfersteig Mar 21, 2022

In this episode, I talk with Wendy Wolfersteig - Director of Evaluation and Partner Contracts at the Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center (SIRC) at Arizona State University - about what we know about kids from statewide surveys like the Arizona Youth Survey (AYS). Although the AYS is specific to Arizona, I believe that its findings are consistent with national trends. A link to the most recent AYS report is at www.TalkingAboutKids.com in case you want to follow along as Wendy and I discuss the data. We also answer a listener's question about bullying prevention.

What national surveys know about our kids with Sarah Lindstrom Johnson Mar 14, 2022

In this episode, I talk with Sarah Lindstrom Johnson - professor at Arizona State University and expert on prevention interventions for youth - about what we know about kids from national studies, like the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), Monitoring the Future, and the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey. If you want to follow along, links to data from those studies are at www.TalkingAboutKids.com. We also answer a listener's question about the rise of cocaine use among teens.

How LEGO engages kids' creativity with Peter Johnson Mar 07, 2022

In this episode, I talk with Peter Johnson - Head of Creation at LEGO - about what parents, teachers, and other professionals can learn from how LEGO inspires creativity in its customers and employees. We also answer a listener's question about girls and LEGO.
Additional information from this episode is available a www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

What we can learn from videogames with guest James Paul Gee Feb 28, 2022

In this episode, I talk with James Paul Gee - the leading expert on why kids like videogames - about what educators, parents, and others can borrow from videogames to make any environment, and learning environments in particular, more successful. We also answer a listener's question on violence in videogames.
Additional information from this episode is available a www.TalkingAboutKids.com.

Preview Feb 18, 2022

My name is R. Bradley Snyder. I am a researcher, activist, and author of several books, including The 5 Simple Truths of Raising Kids. In this episode, I introduce my new, weekly podcast, Talking About Kids. Designed for parents, educators, and direct services professionals alike, Talking About Kids explores the latest information on issues impacting children and adolescents, from preventing bullying to unlocking creativity. In this preview you will hear clips from James Paul Gee, author of the ground-breaking work, What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy, and Peter Johnson, Head of Creation at LEGO. I hope you will subscribe.

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