Jackie Vernon Thompson, expert on courtesy, shares very personally how releasing forgiveness toward her absent father launched her into her career in etiquette training--truly from the inside out. Leah asks pesky questions about manners--like at fundraisers, on airplanes, and when meeting new people.

Additional resources:

From the Inside Out School of Etiquette https://fromtheinsideoutsoe.com/www.jointhepolishedsociety.com

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/local-woman-aims-to-restore-the-art-of-etiquette-one-student-at-a-time/2968090/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudest-things-host-overnight-guests_l_6422537ce4b04efaae785b97

Like a birth doula, a death doula accompanies a person in a milestone physical transition by lending practical, emotional and even spiritual support to a dying person and their family. Laurel Nicholson is a "death and resurrection" doula. She shares with us stories and wisdom from companioning people from life into eternal life.

Additional resources:Laurelnicholson.com

International Fellowship Cafe (via Laurel's website)

Surprised by Hope--N.T. Wright"

Holy Saturday"--Malcolm Guite-- from his book, Waiting on the Word: a Poem a Day for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany

Students and screens don't mix, says Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, and he has the receipts. Why old school (handwriting, textbooks, and phone-free classrooms) is better school. Ed tech is Big Business, but children's cognitive ability, privacy, health, and academic mastery are being sacrificed for profit. How does he make this all so fun to listen to though?

Additional resources:
The Digital Delusion by Jared Cooney Horvath

Learning Made Easy--LMEGlobal.net

Dr. Kerry Byrne suggests ways to maintain a long-distance relationship with tween and teenage grandchildren. Her research also shows us why this is so important. Check out her previous episode with us, about younger grandkids, and her website, which offers practical, encouraging tools for intergenerational connections.

Additional Resources:

TheLongDistanceGrandparent.com

Instagram @thelongdistancegrandparent

"A Little Goes a Long Way"--Episode 101, Conversation Balloons Podcast, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeUQYdP7Yho and https://open.spotify.com/episode/3pYFDX3Ysj8HIqLbhXQEX7

Award-winning journalist Vicki Larson shares her practical and compassionate insights on "living apart together"--with Leah focusing on older couples who are finding new romantic interests but needing to consider some very real limitations. They even discuss how the New Testament might apply.

Additional resources

--Books by Vicki Larson:

LATitude: How You Can Make a Live Apart Together Relationship Work

Not Too Old for That: How Women Are Changing the Story of Aging

Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, lively neurosciencesplainer and educator, uses brain science to reveal why classroom technology is inhibiting our kids' attention, memory, and creativity. School teachers, students and their families should hear this!

Additional resources:

LME Global--Learning Made Easy -- lmeglobal.net

The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids' Learning--And How To Help Them Thrive Again, by Jared Cooney Horvath, PhD.

Dr. Kenneth Cooper, researcher, physician, and founder of the Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, had to overcome widespread resistance to his belief that aerobic exercise improves rather than threatens health. Now a best-selling author, he sits down with Leah to describe how he personally came to grasp the importance of exercise, how his faith helped him to persevere, and how his "Cooperizing" process can help us grow healthier even as we age.

Additional resources:

Cooperaerobics.com

Grow Healthier as You Grow Older by Kenneth Cooper, MD, MPH

Author, filmmaker, and former US National Women's Gymnastics champion Jennifer Sey was forced to leave her job as Brand President at Levi's over her outspoken advocacy for kids. She's only bolder now, protesting boys in girls' sports and spaces. Jen founded XX-XY Athletics, sportswear that amplifies her POV.

Additional resources:

xx-xyathletics.com

Levi's Unbuttoned: The Woke Mob Took My Job But Gave Me My Voice by Jennifer Sey

Conversation Balloons Episode 86: Treatment for Trans Kids with Miriam Grossman

You may have seen Kerry draw faces on bananas and oranges to make FaceTime chats fun for kids! But Kerry Byrne, PhD, is no lightweight. She speaks with compassion and clarity on connecting with children 10 and under--while miles away from them. This first interview of two with her will help aunts, uncles, and others who want to remotely strengthen their family ties with a child.

Additional resources:

thelongdistancegrandparent.com

Instagram: @thelongdistancegrandparent

Celebrating 100 episodes on Conversation Balloons! Tune in for a fun episode with some great moments of the show and some questions answered by Leah! Thanks for tuning in to Conversation Balloons over the years and wait to see who we interview next!