Annapolitans and Marylanders in general have been eagerly awaiting the Annapolis Blues Soccer Group - a new soccer team in the state capital! Joining us is Fred Matthes, the team’s General Manager. Our discussion with Fred Matthes touches on the following topics:Let’s start with a bit of background and context for listeners and viewers. Could you explain both the Annapolis Soccer Group and the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), and where the Annapolis Blues fits within both? The...

What's the best way to deal with seasonal allergies? We talked to Dr. Jennifer Dantzer, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Johns Hopkins, and Johns Hopkins pediatric allergy and immunology fellow Dr. Aimee Magnarelli. We discussed something near and not-so-dear to many of us in the mid-Atlantic right now- seasonal allergies!Questions about Seasonal AllergiesLet’s begin with what you do at Hopkins- what does the average day of a pediatric allergist and immunologist look like?Allerg...

Today, we’ll be talking about body image- a healthy body image and how it can be disturbed, the media’s effect on body image, and what parents can do to help their children love their bodies.Joining us is Dr. Renee Engeln, professor of psychology at Northwestern University and author of Beauty Sick: How the Cultural Obsession with Appearance Hurts Girls and Women.The interview answers the following questions.You run the Body and Media Lab at Northwestern. Could you tell us your focus and work...

Caregiving and losing a loved one is different for every family. Authors of the book, Ok, Now What? A Caregiver’s Guide to What Matters, Nancy Taylor Robson and Sue Collins give the answers to questions that caregivers don't even know to ask. They address how to talk to children about a loved one’s illness or the fact that they’re dying. Quoting from the book: “Some children want and need to be protected until they can’t be protected any longer. Others need to be included. It’s a soup-to...

What are the benefits of Garden to Table for your family? Farm, or Garden to Table, or the process of growing and consuming your own food - from the nutritional benefits, to the process, to the recipes, is featured in Kayla Butts’s new Garden to Table cookbook.A recent study has revealed that Americans now consume 25% more than they did in the 1970s. A big part of American diets consists of refined grains and inflammatory see grains. Corn and soy are in nearly everything that we eat. The aver...

We’re talking about mental health and teaching coping skills for children with Jenna Bernstein, assistant director of social work at Sheppard Pratt. They are the nation’s largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health services. A Pew Research study from January noted that more than being bullied or facing difficulties with drugs/alcohol, parents are most worried about their child experiencing depression or anxiety. The CDC’s recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey reflects a worseni...

We discuss the symptoms, treatment and prevention of concussions with Dr. Adrian Svingos from the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Center for Brain Injury Recovery.Concussion SourceIt’s estimated that each year between 1 and 2 million children experience a concussion. Falls are the primary source for toddlers and preschoolers, while driving and sports accidents cause the most concussions in teens.Concussion SymptomsParents and coaches should learn the symptoms of a concussion, some of which are no...

We’re talking about STEM, nature, language, and illustration in children’s literature. Joining us are Donna Jo Napoli and Feleecheeta Sala, author and illustrator (respectively) of the new children’s picture book AS NIGHT FALLS, from Penguin Random House.AS NIGHT FALLS is a glimpse into what creatures do after dark. From algae to spiders to jackals. Why is this important- uncovering the mysterious for kid readers? The book depicts the exact processes, habits, tendencies of these creature...

We’re talking about all things homeschool and joining us is homeschool advocate, educational consultant, and founder of the Maryland Homeschool Association, Alessa Giampaolo Keener. Also with us are Nicole Kennedy Green, a veteran homeschool parent, author, and co-director of eXtend Homeschool Tutorial, and Brittany Young, a Maryland mother now in her third year of homeschooling.The Maryland State Department of Education reported roughly 4.6% of K-12 public school population students were bei...

Today we’ll be talking about the importance of crafting and what it provides for the community.Joining us are Judith Carr, owner of Bumbershoots sleep sacks, Amy Blair, owner of Sun Ah Blair jewelry, and Nicole Stokes, owner of HGE Designs. You’re all from the Baltimore/Anne Arundel County area and will be exhibiting your crafts at the 46th annual American Craft Council Craft Made Marketplace- Baltimore Convention Center, March 3-5, where 350 artists will be showcasing their creations.Each cr...