Talking About Kids

Latest Episodes:

How speech-language pathologists help children and families with Luba Patlakh Aug 10, 2026

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Although it is difficult to admit, most of us need help with our kids at one time or another. Thankfully, there are trained professionals. I am not just talking about therapists or pediatricians. I am talking about speech-language pathologists. Through her firm, Kidology, Luba Patlakh is bringing the speech-language pathologist lens to issues that disrupt families but might not require the intervention of a doctor or psychologist. Luba and I discuss exactly what she and her colleagues do to support parents and where these services fall in a continuum of care. More information about Luba and Kidology is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How cooking activities benefit kids and families with Maegan Zelner Aug 03, 2026

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The benefits of preparing and sharing homecooked meals with kids are many. Unfortunately, our schedules and other pressures often prevent us from doing it deliberately and more frequently. My guest this episode, Maegan Zelner, is the Chief Operating Officer of Raddish Kids, a company committed to bringing cooking and baking activities to all families. Maegan and I discuss her perspective on the benefits of shared cooking and baking experiences, the obstacles that prevent some families from enjoying these experiences, and her tips for overcoming those obstacles. More information about Maegan and Raddish Kids is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Summer Episode 4: What to watch or listen to this summer Jul 27, 2026

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This is the fourth and final summer vacation episode of Talking About Kids for 2026. For the second year in a row, I am devoting these mini episodes to movies, TV shows, or songs that inspire us as people who care about kids. Last year, I asked some previous guests for recommendations, but this year I asked listeners. This recommendation comes from Jeff Kirchler. A link to information about Jeff's recommendation is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Summer Episode 3: What to watch or listen to this summer Jul 20, 2026

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This is the third summer vacation episode of Talking About Kids. For the second year in a row, I am devoting these mini episodes to movies, TV shows, or songs that inspire us as people who care about kids. Last year, I asked some previous guests for recommendations, but this year I asked listeners. This recommendation comes from Jessica Flowers. Links to information about Jessica and her recommendation are at talkingaboutkids.com.

Summer Episode 2: What to watch or listen to this summer Jul 13, 2026

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This is the second summer vacation episode of Talking About Kids. For the second year in a row, I am devoting these mini episodes to movies, TV shows, or songs that inspire us as people who care about kids. Last year, I asked some previous guests for recommendations, but this year I asked listeners. This recommendation comes from Tom Reardon. Links to information about Tom and his recommendation are at talkingaboutkids.com.

Summer Episode 1: What to watch or listen to this summer Jul 06, 2026

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This is the first summer vacation episode of Talking About Kids, and, for the second year in a row, I am devoting these mini episodes to movies, TV shows, or songs that inspire us as people who care about kids. Last year, I asked some previous guests for recommendations, but this year I asked listeners. The first recommendation comes from Mary Arredondo. A link to it is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to organize your photos to bring your family closer together with Megan O’Hare Jun 29, 2026

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Family photos can help build resilience in kids by connecting them with their heritages or reminding them of times when they felt competent, safe, and loved. In the digital age, we create more family photos than ever, but, ironically, we seem to be appreciating them less. My guest this episode, Megan O’Hare, teaches adults how to organize and keep their photos safe and how to convert them into formats that kids enjoy accessing and sharing. Megan and I discuss her tips for starting – what might seem to be – the herculean task of sorting digital photos and her professional insights on common mistakes and misconceptions about creating and storing photo archives. More information about Megan and her service, The Photo Project, is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How 12 years of mentoring benefits kids with Jorie Das Jun 22, 2026

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Research shows that mentoring improves health, mental health, and other outcomes for mentees. But these outcomes can be compromised and even worsened when mentor relationships are brief, inconsistent, or inadequately supported. Jorie Das, my guest this episode, is the Executive Director of Friends LA. Like all Friends of the Children chapters, the mission of Friends LA is to provide every child involved in the child welfare system with a single, trained mentor for the entirety of their primary, middle, and high school years. How does Friends LA get mentors to make such a commitment? It pays them. Jorie and I discuss this model, its benefits, and the effect it is having in her region. More information about Jorie and Friends LA is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How to bring the benefits of camp experiences to more kids with Shawna Rosenzweig Jun 15, 2026

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It is Shawna Rosenzweig’s vision to bring the benefits of structured outdoor experiences to all kids. If she is seeing farther than some, it is because she stands on the shoulders of the benevolent 100-year-old giant that is Camp Fire. Shawna and I discuss how outdoor experiences boost self-efficacy and equality, Camp Fire’s pioneering legacy, the hallmarks of great outdoor programs, and how to bring those programs, or elements of them, to the kids in your life. More information about Shawna and Camp Fire is at talkingaboutkids.com.

How correcting clubfoot improves the lives of kids with Daphne Sorensen Jun 08, 2026

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I have spent decades trying to help kids thrive. Unfortunately, the adversities children and youth face are varied and persistent, and the victories over them are few and far between. Consequently, when I encounter an intervention that dramatically improves the lives of kids efficiently and universally, I get excited because we all need a win sometimes. MiracleFeet provides technical and financial support to a network of local partners in 38 countries to provide best-in-class treatment of clubfoot. As you will hear from MiracleFeet’s CEO, Daphne Sorensen, the organization’s cost-effective approach has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of kids by removing the barrier to success that this painful and debilitating condition otherwise creates. More information about Daphne and MiracleFeet is at talkingaboutkids.com.

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