Episodios

  • Why it is important to support emerging education leaders of color with Ulric Shannon
    Jul 7 2025

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    Ulric Shannon believes that students who do not see themselves reflected in their teachers and in the educational leadership develop harmful beliefs about authority, power, and value. Indeed, statistics show that the faculty in many school districts do not share the demographics or the backgrounds of the student bodies they serve. Ulric set out to change this. In this episode, Ulric and I discuss what he did, whether it is working, and how you can get involved. More information about Ulric and Surge is at talkingaboutkids.com.

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    33 m
  • Why safe spaces are important to kids
    Jun 30 2025

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    To succeed, to be happy and healthy, kids need safety and support. Unfortunately, too many kids do not feel safe or supported at school or in out-of-school-time programs (OST) because they do not share the dominant culture’s abilities, race, religion, orientation, identity or identity expression. For the third year in a row, Talking About Kids was granted media access to all of NYC Pride’s events, and took the opportunity to ask two of the parade Grand Marshalls about the importance of safe spaces for kids. The first voice you will hear is Elisa Crespo, the Executive Director of the Stonewall Community Foundation. After her, you will hear Alaina Daniels, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Transformative Schools. More information about these activists, including links to their organizations, is at talkingaboutkids.com.

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    6 m
  • How Eleanor Roosevelt can inspire kids today to be allies with Kelly Mangan and Lee Wind
    Jun 23 2025

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    There is a richness to the new children’s book, Like That Eleanor: The Amazing Power of Being an Ally by writer Lee Wind and illustrator Kelly Mangan, that affords a caregiver and a child myriad opportunities for discussion, exploration, and, ultimately, connection. It weaves history lessons with contemporary, school scenarios that young children will recognize in a way that entertains while modeling skills that young children need. I think Lee and Kelly have created something special, and I was excited to talk to both of them about their process and what they want kids and adults to take away from this book. More about Lee and Kelly and Like That Eleanor: The Amazing Power of Being an Ally is at talkingaboutkids.com.

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    39 m
  • Why you need Norway’s antibullying ombudsmen initiative with Kaja Asmyhr, Bodil Houg and Jon Lenning
    Jun 16 2025

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    My guests this episode to talk about Norway’s antibullying ombudspersons, what they do, their value, and tips for bringing this important initiative to your community are three of Norway’s most experienced ombuds: Kaja Vintervold Asmyhr, Bodil Jenssen Houg, and Jon Halvdan Lenning. Our conversation was recorded in front of a live audience at the 2025 World Anti-Bullying Forum, in Stavanger, Norway. The 2025 World Anti-Bullying Forum was hosted by the Norwegian Centre for Learning Environment and Behavioural Research in Education at the University of Stavanger (UiS) in collaboration with the teacher education programs at UiS; the UNESCO Chair in Diversity, Inclusion and Education; the Knowledge Centre for Education; and the Partnership Against Bullying. This biannual conference – the largest and most important of its kind – is an initiative of the Swedish NGO, Friends, and its Presenting Sponsor is BRP, a global leader in powersports products who, through its Ride Out Intimidation program, takes a firm stand against bullying. More information about Kaja Vintervold Asmyhr, Bodil Jenssen Houg, and Jon Halvdan Lenning; the resources they mentioned; the antibullying ombudspersons initiative and its supporters; the World Anti-Bullying Forum; the conference organizers; and BRP’s Ride Out Intimidation program is at talkingaboutkids.com.

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    54 m
  • How to support single and divorced parents with Ronald Platt
    Jun 9 2025

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    It is not uncommon to hear divorces and adoptions described as “finalized.” However, if you have been through either, you know that the most difficult parenting begins after the legal documents are executed. My guest this episode is Ronald Platt, co-founder of the National Association for Single and Divorced Families (NASDF). NASDF exists to support parents with vetted resources that save time and promote well-being and stability. Ron and I explore the experiences that prompted him to start NASDF and those things that we all can do to help single and divorced families. More information about Ron and NASDF is at talkingaboutkids.com.

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    42 m
  • How to promote kids' digital wellness with Michael Rich
    Jun 2 2025

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    This 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.

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    37 m
  • How to promote safety and emotional regulation in the classroom with Bethany Bilodeau
    May 26 2025

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    Emotional 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.

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    40 m
  • What you need to know about underdeveloped jaws in children with Ben Miraglia
    May 19 2025

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    I 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.

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    44 m