Dr. Peirong Lin is Deputy Secretary General for the World Evangelical Alliance.  Fortunately for our show, she's also a humble and wise conversationalist.  Peirong talks about her upbringing in Buddhism, her view of global Christian age groups, and the life stages of organizations like World Vision.

Additional resource:

Worldea.org

Award-winning national culinary consultant Callie Fowler Farish talks about the many factors that combine to make a school lunch what it is. In feeding thousands of kids per day, she has innovated with food trucks coming to campus, holding tasting events for students, and promoted field trips to understand local sourcing.  You will see your child's "lunch ladies" in a new light.  Find Callie at fowlerculinary.com.

Additional resources:

fowlerculinary.com

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/nutrition/schoolnutrition.htm

https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/nutrition-standards-school-meals

https://www.myplate.gov/life-stages/kids

Three 10 to 11-year-olds reveal what they think about bad teachers, getting scared at night, forgiveness, Greek mythology, graphic novels, Kindles, and God.  And they have plenty of advice for 7 to 9-year-olds

Tami Peterson evolved from high school guidance counselor to a life architect.  From her deep experience in charting college plans and beyond, Tami gives us compassionate portrayals of Gen Z and Millennials and their dreams.  Leah talks about folk dance, being a slob, and intercepting report cards.  Believe it or not, this was the same conversation.  Whether you or someone you love is contemplating a big career change, starting a family, or applying to community college, Tami has practical wisdom for you.

Additional resources:

"Design Your Life" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29V2xRitBGc

Lennell Haley recounts a life story that includes molestation and assault, but also hope and beauty.  If you want to hear what a Black woman's heart feels about growing up and raising kids in Compton and Watts, Los Angeles, where poverty and gangs ruled the streets, don't miss this episode. Hear the surprising thing the police did after Lennell was robbed.  Then Lennell reads her poems about angels, buses, and husbands.

An award-winning chef and kitchen designer gets personal with Leah about food, family, and table manners.  In this episode, Callie Fowler Farish of Fowler Culinary Concepts gives us a place at her table with her toddler and a "special-special."  Family memories, child nutrition training, and biblical ethics have shaped this young mother / renowned professional, and we get a taste of it all.  She's promised to come back next time with a macro view of child nutrition and the school lunch industry.

Fighting the trafficking and sexual exploitation of our precious children: this is Kristin Weis's mission at the Demand Project.  She and Leah talk about how listeners can thwart the efforts of pimps and molesters.  They discuss cartels, the southern U.S. border, sextortion on teens' cellphones, family trafficking, predators at school, the abuse rescue hand signal, and how volunteers can help her organization. Then Leah asks her a grim question that no one has ever asked her.  Hear and share this haunting but hopeful interview.

Professor of Jewish Studies Ilana Horwitz's recent book God, Grades, and Graduation looks at whether students do better in school when they believe in God and belong to a community of faith.  Leah explores with this sociologist such factors as parental influence, compliance with school rules, and socioeconomic inequality.  "Leah's Quadrant" is revealed, both women discuss atheist kids, and Dr. Horwitz tells us how religious kids fare in college admissions and qualities like empathy, happiness and self-restraint.

What do the state of Michigan, ESPN, Indian tribes, LSU's sports program, and Caesar's in Las Vegas have in common?  According to Les Bernal of StopPredatoryGambling.org, they want you and your kids to gamble.  He connects the dots between state lotteries, online gaming, and the epidemic of child gambling.  You can hear the indignation in his voice when he tells us how FanDuel, MGM, Nickelodeon, and state governments are cultivating new gamblers in startling numbers and younger ages than ever imagined, leading to addiction and homelessness.  And Leah explains gamblers' licenses.

Pastor of a Methodist megachurch, Jessica tells stories about and muses upon the elders among her congregation.  Leah asks how older Christians are different, what they need from church, and what religious organizations need from them.  How does aging affect the spirit of the believer, and their friends and families?  There were so many surprises and nuggets of wisdom in this conversation that Leah persuaded Jessica to come back soon.

Further resources:

First Methodist Tulsa  https://fumctulsa.org