Better Kids Better World

Blaze founder, Justin Lyons, discusses the need for critical thinking in the context of mainstream positivity and faith movements.

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Justin welcomes Brooke Murphy-Roothaan, an Evanston, IL mother of 2 children - one in middle school and another in high school.

Brooke's life has been turned upside down and inside out this past several months due to an unexpected, and still pending, divorce.   Instead of letting sadness and anger define her, Brooke has chosen to discover what an authentic life means to her and how she can positively contribute to the world around her.  

One passion Brooke cares deeply about is mental health.  Well versed and well traveled in her journey for knowledge, Brooke seeks to continue that journey and bring others along with her.

Justin chats with Jerry Marshall, a lifelong Evanston, IL resident.  Jerry is a coach, ordained deacon, community volunteer and devoted father of 4 children, including two middle school kids. 

Diagnosed over 20 years ago with a rare disease that primarily impacts African Americans, Jerry lost sight in one eye in his 20's and is currently in need of a kidney transplant.    With a blood type of "b positive",  Jerry faces a waiting list of over 7 years.   

Despite a lifetime of adversity, Jerry remains positive, committed to his faith, and devoted to selflessly giving his time and energy to lifting up the youth of Evanston.

Justin reflects on the recent death of Juice Wrld and the double edged sword of hit songs about addiction and pain.  

A question posed:  what can Juice Wrld's life and death teach our young kids?

Justin reflects on recent news:   drunk priest in a fatal hit and run;  a young victim of a police shootout; a mom high at a kid's birthday party.

The question posed:  how and when exactly does the shining light of a child become extinguished?

In this episode, Justin welcome Brandon Stiller.  Brandon is a top teacher at a leading high school in the nation, the founder of a booming science and ACT prep tutoring business and a graduate of Cal Berkley's Masters of Education Science program.   He's also a proficient DJ, once opening for the Roots back in the "early days".

Topics include:  how critical it is to build confidence in our youth, the power of connecting with students, the benefit of breaking big concepts into smaller chunks, and why he became an early believer and adopter of Blaze.

We hope you enjoy....

In this episode, Miles and Gabe return to discuss one thing they have in common:  being mixed race in Evanston, IL.  

With so much focus on race, racial history and racism in their educational experience, Miles and Gabe discuss learning about the extreme wrongs whites have done to African Americans and how it often leaves them torn with competing negative emotions:  shame and anger.  

In this episode, Justin welcomes Gabe and Miles - two 6th grade students new to middle school.   

Topics include:  what makes a good (and bad) teacher, what the first day of middle school is like, why kids are mean and why some 6th graders behave so differently between 5th and 6th grade?

In this short episode - Justin and his 11 year old son, Miles, reflect on the impact of John Lennon during difficult times.  

Miles discusses the what John Lennon means to him, shares a moment of deep concern for his Dad and offers advice to other Dads going through difficult times.

We hope you enjoy...