Talking About Kids

Send us a textThis episode is about digital wellness, and my guest is Michael Rich. Michael is a pediatrician, the Founder and Director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital (a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital) and the author of The Mediatrician's Guide: A Joyful Approach to Raising Healthy, Smart, Kind Kids in a Screen-Saturated World. In his book, Michael writes, “The best strategy for protecting your child from potential harm is to teach them not just to survive, but to thrive in the screen media environment: to cultivate their awareness, develop their critical thinking, awaken their creativity, and nurture their empathy, providing them with the skills to harness the positive affordances and to recognize and avoid the negative influences of the screens that surround us all.” Michael and I discuss this wonderful goal and some techniques for making it a reality. The episode was recorded during a live webinar that Talking About Kids regularly convenes with the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health (AAAH), so you also will hear from Celeste Krell-Colum and Vinny Chulani of AAAH. More information about Michael, the Digital Wellness Lab, his book, and AAAH is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textEmotional regulation comes up a lot on Talking About Kids. That is because a growing number of experts believe that it is fundamental to a child or adolescent's health and well-being. My guest this episode, Bethany Bilodeau – or “Dr. B” as she is known to her fans – is one of those experts. Dr. B and I discuss her insights from her book, Ease the Pain in the Classroom: A Guide to Safety and Regulation, and techniques that you can employ today to keep yourself and the kids in your life regulated and ready for success, however you define it. More information about Dr. B and a link to her contact information and book are at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textI get excited when I learn about new or innovative ways to address any of the many adversities that kids face, but I get more excited when I learn about ways to prevent adversities from occurring in the first place. In a previous episode of Talking About Kids, a guest and I discussed sleep apnea in children, its terrible consequences, how to treat it, and how it often results from a child having an underdeveloped jaw. In this episode, my guest, Ben Miraglia, and I do a more in-depth examination of the consequences of underdeveloped jaws in children – which include everything from crooked teeth to chronic pain – and we discuss how to prevent these problems from ever occurring. Ben is the Chief Clinical Officer at Toothpillow. Ben brings more than his two decades of experience to that role. As you will hear, he brings a passion and an intellectual curiosity that I hope you will find as engaging as I do. More information about Ben and links to resources he cites are at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textAs its title implies, Joanna Parga-Belinkie's new book – The Baby Bonding Book: Connecting With Your Newborn – is centered on the connection between the infant and the primary caregiver. The book is thoughtful, smart, practical, and a pleasure to read. It is no wonder that the American Academy of Pediatrics selected Joanna as an official spokesperson and the co-host of its flagship podcast, Pediatrics On Call. Joanna and I discuss her book and tips for parents of newborns next. More information about Joanna and links to resources are at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textWhen it comes to understanding the terrible adversities that some kids face, like sibling sexual abuse, it is important to separate the facts from the hyperbole and the anecdotes that get used to generate fear or to gain attention. Trusted and proven sources of information are critical, and there is no more trusted source for this topic than the Sibling Aggression and Abuse Research and Advocacy Initiative (SAARA) at the Crimes against Children Research Center, a center that has been studying family violence and related topics since 1975. My guest today to share information and resources about sibling sexual abuse is Tanya Whitworth, a Research Scientist at SAARA and a generous guest and advocate. More information about Tanya and links to resources are at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textJust under a year ago on Talking About Kids, the attorney Charles Jamieson recommend mediation, not litigation, to protect kids' well-being during a divorce. My guest today, Karen McNenny, is a mediator and more. Karen is a Certified Divorce Coach, CoParenting Specialist, Crucial Conversations trainer, and Gracious Space facilitator. As you will hear, Karen is passionate about shifting the focus from “getting a divorce” to “being divorced,” because, she contends, it is everything that happens after the paperwork that really impacts kids. More information about Karen and divorce coaches is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textWhere's the Party, the latest children's book from Scott Casperson, is described as the story of a cupcake rediscovering “joy within its community and the comfort of being alone.” That intrigued me, especially the part about finding comfort in being alone, so I read it. In this episode, Scott and I discuss his motivation for the book, my reaction, and the skills kids need to be content without screens or other people to entertain them. More information about Scott and his books is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textTalking About Kids is committed to the science of raising happy and healthy children and adolescents. Unfortunately, there are times when the best research seems out of sync with the needs of families. For example, it is rare for me to encounter the parent of a neurodivergent kid who is completely satisfied with their child's diagnosis or the care their child is receiving. This is especially true for kids whose issues are defined by a combination of symptoms, some of which may be contradictory or shared by multiple syndromes. My guest today is Ethan Pompeo. Ethan has pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections or PANDAS. In this episode, Ethan describes how his and his family's inability to find a suitable treatment for him eventually led them to CBD. Ethan and I discuss PANDAS, his experience with CBD, what CBD is and is not, the state of the research on CBD as a treatment for PANDAS and other conditions, and how Ethan's company, Green Valley Nutrition, is helping advance the science. While researchers from groups like the Harvard Medical School agree that the available studies of CBD are promising, the consensus in the scientific community is that there is more to learn, which is why you should review the evidence yourself and consult with the care team before introducing CBD into a kid's treatment regimen. More information about Ethan and links to Green Valley Nutrition and the other resource we cite are at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textThis is the fifth and final episode in a series of discussions I was lucky enough to have with esteemed developmental psychologist Debra Pepler in which she reflects on her research, experiences, and her approach to fostering positive outcomes for kids. In this episode, Deb talks about applying her developmental-relational approach in out-of-schooltime programs and in public policy. It builds on concepts explained in greater detail in the first two episodes of the series. More information about Deb is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textThis is the fourth in a series of discussions with the eminent developmental psychologist Debra Pepler in which she reflects on her research, experiences, and her approach to fostering positive outcomes for kids. In this episode, Deb offers instructions for educators on applying her developmental-relational approach in the classroom. It builds on concepts explained in greater detail in the first two episodes of the series. The next and final episode will explore applying the developmental relational approach in public spaces and policies. More information about Deb is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textThis is the third in a series of discussions with the developmental psychologist Debra Pepler in which she reflects on her research, experiences, and her approach to fostering positive outcomes for kids. In this episode, Deb offers insights for parents on how to apply her developmental-relational approach in the home. It builds on concepts that were explored in the previous episodes. The next episodes will explore applying the developmental-relational approach in the classroom, and in public spaces and policies. More information about Deb is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textThis is the second in a series of discussions with the famed developmental psychologist Debra Pepler in which she reflects on her research, experiences, and her approach to fostering positive outcomes for kids. In this episode, Deb explains her developmental-relational approach and the concepts that are important to it. Subsequent episodes will explore how to apply this approach in the home, in the classroom, and in public spaces and policies. More information about Deb is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textThe impact of Debra Pepler's scholarship and work on the positive development of kids is global. You do not have to take my word for it.  You can ask the Canadian Psychological Association, who bestowed on her the Donald O. Hebb Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology; or the nation of Canada who made her an Officer of the Order of Canada; or Oprah, who sought out Deb to help the audience of Oprah Winfrey Show understand and prevent childhood bullying. Recently, Deb has been reflecting on her research, experiences, and her approach to fostering positive outcomes for kids, which she calls a “developmental-relational” approach. I have had the good fortune of helping Deb organize these reflections in a series of conversations that will premiere on Talking About Kids over five weeks. This episode is a brief primer on her developmental-relational approach and some other concepts that are important to her work. It was recorded in a live webinar that Talking About Kids convenes monthly with the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health (AAAH), so you also will hear from Celeste Krell-Colum and Vinny Chulani of AAAH. More information about Deb and AAAH is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textFor the final Black History Month episode of Talking About Kids, I want to explore steps that we all can take to help protect Black students from the harm caused by gendered and racial stereotypes in the classroom.  As you will hear from my guest, the celebrated scholar Sheretta Butler-Barnes, the things that benefit Black students actually benefit all students. Sheretta is the Dean's Distinguished Professorial Scholar in the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, where she also is the Principal Investigator for the Black Families, Racism, & Resilience Lab. More information about Sheretta is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textRacial socialization competency refers to a parent's or caregiver's ability to communicate with their kids about race and to impart strategies for coping with racial discrimination, and the research shows that higher levels of competency are associated with better outcomes for Black children and youth. For this third Black History Month episode of Talking About Kids, I asked Dr. Riana Elyse Anderson to explain racial socialization competency, its components, and how it can be developed. Riana is an Associate Professor at Columbia University's School of Social Work and the developer of the EMBRace (Engaging, Managing, and Bonding through Race) program, racial socialization skills training for parent and caregivers. More information about Riana and the EMBRace program is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textAs adolescents transition into adulthood and independence, their needs change. For Black History Month, Talking About Kids is looking at the specific needs of Black youth and young adults. My guest to help me do that is Mavis Sanders. Mavis is a senior research scholar at Child Trends who recently released a wonderfully insightful brief entitled, “Black Emerging Adults Identify Protective Community Resources That Promote Their Well-Being.” More information about Mavis and her research brief and a link to sign up for Child Trends' quarterly newsletter on Black children and families are at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textTalking About Kids is designed to support the positive development of all kids with the recognition that the factors that influence that development will be unique for each child based on their individual characteristics as well as those of their family and community. For Black History Month, Talking About Kids is examining the factors that influence the positive development of Black children and youth, and we kick off the month with insights from Seanna Leath. Seanna is an Assistant Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, where she directs the Fostering Healthy Identities and Resilience (FHIRe) Collaborative, a research lab devoted to studying the development of Black girls. 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 Seanna and her work and about the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health is at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textMy guest today is Sasha Saidman. Sasha is the author of multiple children's books, including First Day, All Out of Ducks, and, my personal favorite, Melonade. As you will hear, one of the things that makes Sasha special is her willingness to unabashedly explore the adversity she has experienced in order to write authentic books that resonate with young children and their caregivers alike. More information about Sasha and her books and a link to the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline are at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textA lot has changed since the days when baby monitors were little more than pastel-colored intercoms. Today, baby monitors transmit video as well as sound, they play lullabies and have night vision, and some even proport to be able to alert parents to changes in their baby's breathing. While these advancements should result to healthier and happier children, the temptation to replace actual physical contact between a parent and a child with monitoring is great and doing so would be incredibly damaging. The people at LittleOne.Care think that their baby monitor, Elora, not only avoids this temptation but actually strengthens the connection between a parent and a child and even among members of their community. My guest to explain how Elora accomplishes this is LittleOne.Care's CMO and a driving force behind Elora, Ami Meoded. More information about Ami and a link to LittleOne.Care are at talkingaboutkids.com.

Send us a textIt has been just over two weeks since Baby New Year 2025 arrived, so for this sixth and final mini holiday break episode of the 2024-2025 season of Talking About Kids, I am going to discuss births, deaths, and the fetal mortality rates and maternal mortality ratios. Links to the data I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return next week.

Send us a textIn this fifth mini holiday break episode of the 2024-2025 season of Talking About Kids, I am going to explain the differences between a preparticipation physical examination and an annual well child examination. Links to more information are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return soon.

Send us a text2025 is just a few days old and the United States has already seen old adults, young adults, and adolescents injured or killed in a mass shooting in New York City, a bombing in Las Vegas, and, what is being described as, an act of domestic terrorism in New Orleans. I think 2025 needs a restart, so, for this fourth mini holiday break episode of the 2024-2025 season of Talking About Kids, I am going to look at second chances. In particular, I will examine a recent update to a decade-old report from the Word Health Organization called, Health for the World's Adolescents: A Second Chance in the Second Decade. Links to the reports I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return soon.

Send us a textIn this third mini holiday break episode of 2024-2025 season of Talking About Kids and the final episode of 2024, I want to talk about kids and humor. In particular, I will present a little bit about what we know about humor's importance to development, its role in establishing and maintaining relationships, and why at least one world leader thinks it is crucial to our survival. Links to some of the articles I cite are at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return in 2025.

Send us a textIn this second mini holiday break episode of the 2024-2025 season of Talking About Kids, I share some seasonal joy in the form of brand-new statics from the Monitoring the Future study, which is conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and funded by National Institute on Drug Abuse. Here is a sneak peek: The substantial declines in adolescent substance use that started in the 1990s continue! A link to the Monitoring the Future study is at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return in 2025.

Send us a textIn this first mini holiday break episode, I share a brand-new article from Pediatrics. It is entitled “Children's Understanding of Commonly Used Medical Terminology,” and it examines “jargon-oblivion” or the problem that some professionals who work with kids do not recognize that those kids do not understand all of the words or phrases that are being used in their care. A link to the article is talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes will return in 2025.

This is the final episode in Talking About Kids' four-part series on eating disorders. In the first episode, Bryn Austin described the prevalence and stigmas of eating disorders. In the second episode, Jean Doak explained the harm caused by them. In the third episode, Anna Lutz and I discussed preventing eating disorders and how to intervene when issues arise. My guest to wrap up the series and describe some of the federal and state-level resources that are available to help address eating disorders, body image issues, and nutrition in the classroom, program, or home is Noelle Veilleux Markham. Noelle is a registered dietitian and the Population Health Dietitian at the Arizona Department of Health Services. More information about Noelle and links to resources she recommends are at talkingaboutkids.com.

This is the third of four episodes in Talking About Kids' series on eating disorders. In the first episode, Bryn Austin described the prevalence and stigmas of eating disorders. In the second episode, Jean Doak explained the harm caused by them. In this third episode, we examine how to prevent eating disorders or intervene when issues manifest. My guest to provide her expert insights on these topics is Anna Lutz. Anna has a distinguished history as a dietician and eating disorder specialist. She is co-owner of Lutz & Alexander Nutrition Therapy, which focuses on eating disorders and pediatric and family nutrition, and she is the co-creator of Sunny Side Up Nutrition, which is a website and podcast that assists parents in feeding their kids successfully. More information about Anna - including links to Lutz & Alexander Nutrition Therapy, Sunny Side Up Nutrition, and a tool for finding treatment providers in your area - is at talkingaboutkids.com.

This is the second of four episodes in Talking About Kids' series on eating disorders. In the first installment, the preeminent Bryn Austin addressed the prevalence and stigmas of eating disorders. The core of this episode is on why we care. My guest to help us understand the harm to kids caused by body image issues, unhealthy eating behaviors, and eating disorders, is the amazing Jean Doak. Jean is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and the Clinical Director in the universally respected Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (CEED). CEED was founded to help ensure access to appropriate care for everyone, and, for over 20 years, CEED has been doing just that through its three pillars of research, training, and service. More information about Jean and links to resources she recommends are at talkingaboutkids.com.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.