You're tuned into another powerful episode of GUIA: Growing Up in America, the podcast where childhood meets policy, and voices young and old come together for change. In this week’s episode, we dive deep into the heart of today’s most pressing children’s issues — from current events shaking the lives of our youth, to the programs and policies shaping their future.

Featuring:

Dana Sheridan, Counselor, The Village School

o Summer Learning Loss

Jacob Newsome, Founder & CEO, Power of the Narrative; Founder, Sinclair Scholars

o Education & Health Equity

Sydney Zuiker, Director of Safe Community Institute at Crime Stoppers of Houston

o Gun Violence Awareness Month

Cherry Steinwender, Executive Director, The Center for the Healing of Racism

o Racial Healing

Featuring

Dana Sheridan, Counselor, The Village School

o Summer Learning Loss

Jacob Newsome, Founder & CEO, Power of the Narrative; Founder, Sinclair Scholars

o Education & Health Equity

Sydney Zuiker, Director of Safe Community Institute at Crime Stoppers of Houston

o Gun Violence Awareness Month

Cherry Steinwender, Executive Director, The Center for the Healing of Racism

o Racial Healing

This is a rebroadcast of our May 28, 2025 episode that aired live on 90.1 FM KPFT.

This is a rebroadcast of our May 21, 2025 episode that aired live on 90.1 FM KPFT.

This is a rebroadcast of our May 14, 2025 episode that aired live on 90.1 FM KPFT.

This is a rebroadcast from our original episode aired on May 7, 2025 on 90.1 FM KPFT Pacifica Radio

This week, it’s a Dr. Data Takeover—and we’re hungry for solutions.

Co-hosts Dr. Chris Kulesza (Rice University) and Dr. Shreela Sharma (UTHealth School of Public Health) lead a special episode dedicated to one of the most urgent issues facing Texas families: food insecurity. From pediatric clinics to City Hall, we spotlight the people and policies working to feed children and families in crisis.

First, Dr. Sandy McKay shares how pediatricians are screening for food insecurity and supporting families through clinical care. Then we dive into community solutions with Mike Pomeroy from Brighter Bites, Steven James from the City of Houston, and Shariq Ghani, Chair of the Houston Food Insecurity Board.

Plus, Katarina Reyes returns as Ms. Data with a new Data of the Day, and Rebecca George serves up fresh slang in this week’s Hip Speak segment. From research to real-world response, this episode is all about turning data into action to ensure every child has access to nutritious, affordable food.

From budget cuts to baby shots—this week on Growing Up in America, we explore what Texas kids are up against and who's fighting for their future.

We kick off with Houston Chronicle’s Megan Menchaca, breaking down the looming HISD cuts and the latest on school vouchers and accountability ratings. Then Kim Kofron from CHILDREN AT RISK joins us to sound the alarm on Texas' deepening child care crisis—including a staggering loss of nearly 75,000 seats and the sharp drop in family care homes.

Our Data of the Day reveals a sugary truth about American diets, followed by a dose of public health with Dr. Gabby Segura on the rise in pertussis (whooping cough) and how vaccine hesitancy is fueling outbreaks. Finally, Trudy Taylor Smith from Children’s Defense Fund Texas walks us through how changes to the public charge rule could harm children’s access to health and education—and what advocates are doing about it.

Plus: a sweet and slang-filled Hip Speak segment with Rebecca George, and a fresh round of Fast Five Fun Questions to wrap things up.

This week on Growing Up in America: The Way it Is, we spotlight the systems shaping children’s lives in Texas and beyond. Dr. Cathy Horn of the University of Houston unpacks barriers to educational equity and the future of college access. Christian Salas, LMSW, explores the realities of child welfare and how we can truly protect vulnerable kids. Wendolyn Ward from the Texas Immunization Project shares critical insights on vaccine access for aging adults, and Dr. Michael Chang of UTHealth Houston returns to discuss pediatric health and the latest on measles outbreaks.

Plus, don’t miss this week's round of “Hip Speak” with Rebecca George, where Gen Z slang meets millennial confusion.

📍 Tune in for real conversations that drive public policy and community change — now streaming wherever you get your podcasts.