Keep Kids Alive Podcast

In this episode of the Keep Kids Alive podcast, host Tom Everson discusses the critical role of storytelling in advocating for traffic safety with guests Amy Cohen, Allie Geller, and Regina Bateson. They explore the impact of personal narratives on policy change, the importance of community support, and the newly introduced story map that memorializes victims of traffic violence. The conversation emphasizes the emotional journey of sharing stories, the need for empathy in advocacy, and the collective effort required to create safer streets for all.

This conversation between Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Founder Tom Everson and Lenore Skenazy, founder of Free-Range Kids and president of the Let Grow Initiative, focuses on the importance of allowing children to have independent play and explore their surroundings. They discuss how society's fear and overprotection have limited children's freedom and hindered their development. Lenore shares her experience of letting her son navigate the subway alone and the backlash she faced as a result. They also discuss the benefits of unstructured play and the negative effects of excessive adult supervision. The conversation highlights the need to trust children, promote their independence, and allow them to take risks. Tune in and explore the importance of allowing children to engage in independent play and take risks, highlighting the benefits of free play and the negative consequences of overprotective parenting. Learn about the Let Grow initiative, which promotes mixed-age, unstructured play in schools, and the Free-Range Parenting legislation that has been passed in several states. https://www.freerangekids.com/ https://keepkidsalivedrive25.org/

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 founder and podcast host, Tom Everson, hosts a heartfelt conversation about the life and impact of Brandon, a young boy who tragically passed away in a 2004 car accident. The conversation includes Brandon's mother, Denise, his fourth-grade teacher, Gary, and his classmate, Shea. They share stories and memories of Brandon's vibrant personality, his love for entertaining, and his ability to bring joy to those around him. The conversation highlights the lasting impact Brandon had on his friends and the community. https://www.keepkidsalivedrive25.org/podcast

Struggling to engage your students in math? This episode explores a unique solution! Join Tom Everson (Keep Kids Alive Drive 25) alongside Kelly Campbell and Jillian Garrigues (Idaho Transportation Dept.) as they discuss a curriculum that uses real-world traffic data to make math come alive for young people. Hear from Josie Derrick, a Boise math teacher, about her experience implementing this innovative program. https://itd.idaho.gov/news/do-the-math/

Host and Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Executive Director Tom Everson talks with Kerry Chausmer, Director of Programs and Member Services with the Governors Highway Safety Association, highlighting efforts for child passenger safety and car seat education.

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Joel Feldman, founder of End Distracted Driving and The Casey Feldman Foundation in honor of his daughter who was killed by a distracted driver in 2009.

Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson hosted a live book event on August 25, 2023, in Denver, Colorado with copy editor, writer, and illustrator Laura Carney about her new book, "My Father's List - How Living My Dad's Dreams Set Me Free." ABOUT THE BOOK: On the cusp of middle age, a newlywed journalist discovers and finishes the bucket list of her late, free-spirited father. Fifty-four adventures in six years. That's what 38-year-old journalist Laura Carney embarked on when she discovered her late father Mick's bucket list. Killed in a car crash when Laura was 25, Mick seemed lost forever. "My Father's List" is the story of how one woman—with the help of family, friends, and even strangers—found the courage to go after her own dreams after realizing those of a beloved yet mysterious man. This is a story about secrets—and the freedom we feel when we learn to trust again: in life, in love, and in a father's lessons on how to fully live.

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Ivy Drop, Miss Nebraska Petite 2023 and representative of the Think Twice Foundation, which strives to make communities safer with alcohol education programs.

Host and Executive Director of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Tom Everson talks with Trilety Wade, writer and co-founder of Safe Omaha Streets (SOS), and Jeff Sobczyk, Vision Zero Coordinator for the City of Omaha, Nebraska.

In this episode, Tom Everson, the executive director and founder of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 is handing over the hosting reigns to Margie Sturgeon of Webberized Podcast Production, to talk about how the nonprofit Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 has evolved since its creation in 1998, how it has helped families honor and remember their loved ones and how strong relationships with donors supporting communities around the country have made an impact in helping KKAD25 in their mission to make streets safer for all who walk, cycle, play, drive, and ride. 2023 will mark the 25th anniversary of the organization, and Tom talks about what's ahead as his call to action has never been louder.

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Triny Willerton, President and Founder of It Could Be Me, a nonprofit organization based out of Boulder, Co. whose mission is to change the relationship between drivers and vulnerable users of the road by re-humanizing cyclists and creating a movement of mutual responsibility and respect to make roads safer together.

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Shane Taylor, founder of the Mia Taylor Foundation and retired Omaha Police Officer, and 2022 Live Forward Trail Run participant Connie Garro.

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with attorney Matt Boulton of the Boulton Law Group in Brownsburg, Indiana, and KKAD25 Safe Streets Initiative partner.

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Laura and Rich Fredricks, co-founders of Families for Safe Streets in Greater Philadelphia, and the Emily Fredricks Foundation in honor of their daughter.

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Dave Walter, Dina McCaffery and Carly Mannon of Bucks County, PA about the Bucks County High School Seatbelt Safety Challenge & Teen Driver Safety Video PSA Challenge.

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Lisa White, Christy Nielsen and Shelly Bailey about the Tristan's Trail initiative in Treynor, IA, and the progress they've made in making it a reality.

In the 25th Episode of the Keep Kids Alive Podcast, in support of the Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 initiative, Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Melissa Wandall, President of the National Coalition for Safer Roads.

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Candace Lightner, Founder of M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and We Save Lives, an organization that offers a representative voice on traffic safety issues.

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Teresa Sosa of the Perry Park Neighborhood Association, Mailen Pankiewicz, Principal Planner for the City of Phoenix, AZ and Erik Cole, Director of the Design Studio for Community Solutions at Arizona State University.

You've heard of the 12 days of Christmas, well the Keep Kids Alive Podcast is bringing you the 10 lessons of safe roads. These lessons come from the generous individuals who've shared their stories in our past podcasts. Like the ghost of Christmas past, let's look back at the lessons they've shared with us.

Host and executive director of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Tom Everson talks with Lili Trujillo and Lori Argumedo, founder and executive director and director of outreach and community relations of Street Racing Kills in Los Angeles, CA.

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Shamayim 'Mama Shu' Harris, founder and CEO of Avalon Village in Detriot, Michigan, and Malika Pryor, advocate and Senior Director of Education and Programs for the Detroit Historical Society.

Enjoy this bonus featuring Vince Puzick reading his essay "Searching Through the Afterlife", originally published by literary magazine Rougarou here https://rougarou.org/summer-2021-issue/searching-through-the-afterlife/

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Vince Puzick, author of the essay "Searching Through the Afterlife", his exploration of meaning behind the death of his sister Janie in 1955. Originally published by Rougarou here https://rougarou.org/summer-2021-issue/searching-through-the-afterlife/

Host and Executive Director of KKAD25 Tom Everson talks with Sangeeta and Sunil Badlani, founders of The Nikhil Badlani Foundation, about their son Nikhil, who was tragically killed by a distracted driver in 2011, as well as the mission of the foundation.

It's a story that doesn't get easier to tell, no matter how many years go by. But Shelley Forney endures the emotional struggle to educate others about the consequences of distracted driving. In 2008, her 9-year-old daughter, Erica, was riding her bike when she was hit by a distracted driver and died two days later. Shelley now dedicates herself to public speaking so she can share her daughter's story and change driver behavior.

Listen as distracted driving awareness advocates Amy Cohen and Lindsey Ganson talk about their efforts to make roads safer. Amy is the co-founder of Families for Safe Streets, and Lindsey is the Director of Advocacy and Communications for Walk/Bike Nashville.

In this episode of the Keep Kids Alive Podcast, Tom and Wendy Goeltz share the story of their daughter Megan, who was killed in a 2016 crash caused by a speeding distracted driver. The Goeltz hope their daughter’s story will help others understand the dangers of distracted driving. You’ll also hear from Mitch Bain, who hopes to make roads safer with the CellSlip, a pouch for cell phones that blocks out all cell signals (phone calls, text messages & apps) allowing the driver to focus on the road.

Do you have the courage to call and report dangerous drivers? That’s a question from this month’s guest on the Keep Kids Alive Podcast, Pam O’Donnell, founder of the Catch You Later Foundation and cancer survivor. Pam and her 11-year-old daughter Ali’s lives were changed forever five years ago when a crash caused by an impaired driver took her husband Tim and daughter Bridget. Now she speaks to groups about the ramifications of distracted and impaired driving.

The bucket list was her father’s, but the adventures are all Laura Carney’s. Since losing her father, Mick Carney, to a traffic incident involving a distracted driver in 2003, Laura has been steadily completing his list of life goals. In this episode of the Keep Kids Alive Podcast, Laura shares how she has become a safe driving advocate.

Our guests this month on the Keep Kids Alive Podcast are Kayla Miller and her parents Sheri and Duke Rogers. The family shares how they’ve kept the memory of Bobby Rogers alive through a seat belt awareness campaign called Buckle Up for Bobby, plus the role the Run to Remember race up Pike’s Peak played in their journey.

This pandemic year has been filled with surprises and challenges for us all. Yet, amidst all the uncertainty, Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 is most grateful both for your generosity and for our first year of "Keep Kids Alive" podcasts which have celebrated amazing stories of traffic safety advocates from throughout the U.S. Most importantly, the podcast has opened doors to new partnerships for Keep Kids Alive Drive 25.

Tiffanie Stanfield founded Fighting Hit-And-Run-Driving (H.A.R.D.) in 2017 as she grieved the loss of her sister, Jameca Stanfield, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in April 2016. Learn about the St. Louis, Missouri nonprofit’s mission to be a voice for the victims and a resource for their families. https://fightinghard.org/

Jeri Lynch, founder of the Conor Lynch Foundation, talks with host Host Tom Everson about the importance of sharing stories for healing and moving forward while advocating for safer roads. Today, October 19th, marks 10 years since her 16-year-old son, Conor, was killed by a hit-and-run, distracted driver while training with his high school cross country team.

Jackie Rowan shares her daughter Erika’s story on the Keep Kids Alive Podcast with host Tom Everson. In 2008, Erika Joy Rowan was 16 years old when she was killed in a single-vehicle rollover crash. Since then, her mother has carried Erika’s legacy of joy and worked to raise awareness about the importance of seatbelts.

Jacy Good and her husband, Steve Johnson, join the Keep Kids Alive Podcast to share their story and mission for distraction-free roads as the founders of Hang Up and Drive. They have spoken around the country about their journey after a 2008 car crash caused by a distracted driver left Jacy severely injured and killed both her parents. Learn more about their advocacy at hangupanddrive.com.

Host and Executive Director of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Tom Everson talks with Mike Speck, professional race car driver and Lead Facilitator for Ford Motor Company's Driving Skills for Life Program.

In the fifth episode of the Keep Kids Alive Podcast, host Tom Everson takes a look back at the families we’ve met so far and honors their memories of loved ones they’ve lost. Learn more about KKAD25 at http://kkad25.org/

Host Tom Everson talks to Rob and Shari Reynolds, remembering their daughter, Cady Anne Reynolds, and sharing how the CAR Alliance for Safer Teen Driving came to be.

In this episode, host Tom Everson is joined remotely by Doug and Sherri Troupe, plus Beth Norris, who share their stories about connecting with Keep Kids Alive Drive 25.

Christy Nielsen and Lisa White have been working on a walking trail project with Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 in memory of Tristan White, a teenager who was killed while running along a gravel road in Treynor, Iowa.

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 launches the Keep Kids Alive Podcast. In the first episode, the nonprofit’s founder and executive director Tom Everson shares how the organization began and expanded over the years. Learn more at www.kkad25.org.