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Career Pathways Coordinator Bob Manning from Stillwater Area High School (MN) joins us to explore opportunities for high school students thinking about what's next!

The leap from elementary to middle school can be big. We talk with former Minnesota Teacher of the Year Dr. Derek Olson about what he argues is the biggest and most transformative time for students in their educational career. And offers some tips to make this leap a little easier to navigate for both students and parents too.

Join us in this bright conversation around preschool age development. We talk with Karen LeMay, preschool and early learning teacher with Minneapolis Public Schools. Karen encourages parents to seek the best environment where their child can grow and flourish. She also shares her expertise on the importance of play-based learning and socialization to foster happy, well-rounded preschoolers. This is also a great opportunity for parents to pick up some tips on navigating the anxieties around this next big step, both for kids and adults.

We talk with Diving Coach and 2016 Olympic Diving Trials Finalist, Sarah McCrady about her experience at the elite level of competition and what it takes to get to that level from an early age. Sarah also shares what skills from sports transfer to learning, developing self esteem, a good work ethic, and competing "in the flow."

We meet with self-taught nutrition expert, and my daughter, Nicole Hellenbrand to talk about making small changes toward better nutrition both as parents, and then changing things for kids.

We meet with Dr. Karrin Meffert-Nelson to talk about music and playing instruments and the impact on learning for kids as well as adults.

Podcast host Kathie Smith chats with pediatric neurologist Dr. Kelsey Christoffel, who treats children with conditions originating in the brain. Her specialties prenatal-neonatal neurology and neonatal neurocritical care.

Meet Laura McCrady, 8th grade language arts teacher. She talks with us about preparing your middle school kids for reading to learn. She shares skills parents can work on with their students including having conversations around books they are reading, to even reading the books at home with their kids.

In this episode, we meet with music educator, Jodie Sands Dahl as she shares personal stories about her musical experiences and teaching kids about music. She talks pointedly about what is a good age to start lessons, and how to encourage kids to try.

Erika Koopmans, Licensed Mental Health Professional, joins us to talk about some of the challenges young people are struggling with and a few suggestions to help navigate the world around us all. She emphasizes that every struggle is different and there is help available. She shares resources and talks about 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and that kids can text, chat or call anytime of day.