Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

For a child with severe food allergies, everyday moments—eating at school, attending a birthday party or trying something new—can feel out of reach. What happens when groundbreaking research offers a new reason to hope?

In this episode of Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, host Katie Beasley sits down with the Gardner family to share how a life-changing clinical trial transformed their experience with severe food allergies—opening doors, easing daily fears and giving their child greater freedom.

Dr. Brian Vickery breaks down the OUtMATCH food allergy trial, what its results could mean for children and why the findings are changing the conversation for families. Dr. Kristy Murray also takes listeners behind research at Children’s, where today’s clinical trials are helping shape tomorrow’s treatments and cures.

Hear how courageous families, powerful research partnerships and innovative science are expanding what’s possible for kids with food allergies—and why participating in research matters. Whether you’re a parent, researcher or someone navigating food allergies, this conversation offers practical insight, powerful encouragement and a reminder that no family has to face the journey alone.

Listen now to discover how research is turning fear into freedom—and hope into possibility.

Tune in now.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

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Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org 

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

They're flying down neighborhood streets. They’re taking over school parking lots. And they’re fueling some of the most heated parenting debates online.

E-bikes may look like bicycles, but many can reach motorcycle-like speeds without requiring a license, registration or formal training.

As their popularity has surged, so have the injuries. Between 2024 and 2026, Children's saw a 479% increase in e-bike-related injuries. The consequences can be severe, ranging from lacerations and broken bones to traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, organ damage and even amputations.

In this episode, a mother recounts the terrifying moments after her son's e-bike collided with a moving car. Then, a Children’s pediatric emergency medicine physician shares what she's seeing on the front lines of a growing trend and what every parent should know before handing over the handlebars.

Whether you're shopping for an e-bike, already have one in your garage or have found yourself deep in a neighborhood social media debate, this episode cuts through the noise with something more valuable: the real stories behind the statistics.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl 
• Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta
• X @childrensatl 

Follow Strong4Life:

• Instagram @wearestong4life
• Facebook @S4LGA
• X @childrensatl 

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org 

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Since the 1998 merger that created Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, our system has been led by just two CEOs: Jim Tally and Donna Hyland. Jim guided Children's through its first decade before passing the torch to Donna in 2008. Over the next 18 years as CEO, Donna helped transform Children's into one of the nation's leading pediatric healthcare systems. Earlier this year, Donna announced her retirement after an extraordinary 40-year career at Children's.

In sharing the news, Donna said one of her top priorities was making sure Children's would be in exceptional hands for the future. She also hinted at "fantastic news" still to come. That news was the appointment of Dr. Patrick Frias as her successor.

A familiar face to many, Patrick previously spent 18 years at Children’s as a pediatric cardiologist and executive leader before serving as CEO of Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego.

Just days before his first official day as our CEO—and mere hours after he officially landed back in Atlanta—Patrick sat down with Hope and Will for a candid conversation about leadership, family and the future of Children’s.

Tune in for a warm, personal introduction to the respected leader, admired physician and devoted father of four who’s taking the helm at a pivotal moment in healthcare history.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When a doctor says your child needs surgery, it can feel overwhelming. Is it safe? Will my child need anesthesia? Will they be scared? In this episode, we pull back the curtain to the operating room to help you get a feel for what to expect if your child needs surgery. We hear from two people who have spent considerable time on both sides of the operating room doors. 

The episode opens with Brittny, a proud mom of two. Brittny has ridden the pre-surgery emotional rollercoaster through three ear tube surgeries and one tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. She shares the fears she had before each procedure and what it was like to be in the waiting room. We then pivot to Dr. Jill Wilson, a pediatric anesthesiologist. Dr. Wilson addresses concerns that keep parents up at night and shares fascinating insight into what it’s like to call a pediatric operating room her workday home.

The episode aims to leave parents feeling informed, reassured and mentally prepared for a child’s surgery, whether it’s one that has been planned for months or one that arises emergently due to illness or injury.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eating disorders are becoming more common in younger kids, and the early signs are often easy to miss. Small changes in eating, routines or behavior can build over time and turn into something more serious.

In this episode of Hope and Will, we talk with Dr. Anna Tanner and Ellen Ewing. Ellen shares her daughter’s experience, from noticing that something was off to getting a diagnosis after years of uncertainty and starting treatment.

Dr. Tanner explains that eating disorders can show up in different ways and are not always obvious. She talks through common warning signs, the different types of eating disorders, and how they can affect both boys and girls.

You’ll also hear what treatment can look like, including the role of parents and why support at home is important. Early action can make a big difference, and recovery is possible with the right help. Listen to hear real signs parents noticed and what helped along the way.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

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Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When the scrubs come off, many of the people who care for kids in our halls go home to care for their own kids. The same men and women who are whizzes at fixing broken bones and calming pre-surgery jitters are the same ones who go home to get slime out of carpet and claw through calculus homework. In this episode, we pull back the curtain to share our staff’s parenting tips, tricks and honest moments from the frontline of medicine and parenthood. Being parents shapes how we care for patients, and caring for patients shapes how we show up at home. Grab your coffee, even if it’s reheated for the third time, and get ready for a listen that’s equal parts insightful and cathartic. 

It’s a thoughtful wrap to our third season of this podcast, as well as a heartfelt thank you to the people who care for children in every sense of the word.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl
• Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta
• X @childrensatl

Follow Strong4Life:

• Instagram @wearestrong4life
• Facebook @S4LGA

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we’re joined by three incredible guests who are raising children with special needs. Together, they help us better understand what life is like for their families and provide insight to help parents harness kids’ natural curiosity and turn it into something positive. They share examples of big and little gestures that go a long way to help their kids feel loved and accepted.

Jenn is Mom to Wyatt, who has dwarfism. Nicole is Mom to Ruby, who has Down syndrome. And Neil is Dad to Jack, who is on the autism spectrum and communicates through a tablet.

You’ll hear what helps their kids feel supported in everyday settings like schools and sports, and what well-meaning people sometimes get wrong. They share advice for families starting their own special needs journeys, as well as support that makes a real difference for them as parents.

Before the panel discussion, you’ll also hear from Dale Spivey, a school social worker, double amputee and former Children’s patient, who reflects on her own childhood and the message her parents taught her early on: When life knocks you down, you turn your foot around and get back up.

This heartfelt conversation is an honest look at parenting and the small gestures that help every child feel like they belong.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl
• Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta
• X @childrensatl

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Type 1 diabetes often shows up without warning, and missed symptoms can put a child at serious risk. Parents, teachers, coaches and caregivers all play a role in noticing the early warning signs, like unusual thirst, fatigue and sudden weight loss.

In this episode of Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we chat with pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Presley Nichols, diabetes educator Alison Higgins and parent guest Megan Bowman. They break down what type 1 diabetes is—and what it isn’t—while sharing practical tips for recognizing symptoms, supporting kids with the condition and creating environments where children can thrive.

You might be raising a child with type 1 diabetes, teaching one, babysitting one or coaching one. Or maybe your child shares a classroom, dugout or birthday party circuit with one. Whether you're deep in this world already, or just want to be a more informed adult in an affected child’s life, this episode will give you the knowledge—and the confidence—to be a champion for kids with type 1 diabetes.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl
• Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta
• X @childrensatl

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you have kids, you won’t be surprised to hear that “Is my child getting enough sleep?” and “hours of sleep by age” are top digital search queries.

In this episode of Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we dive into something that keeps parents up at night—literally. Whether you have a younger child whose nighttime routine somehow morphed from a sprint into a marathon or a teenage night owl, this episode has insight for you. We discuss how much sleep kids need by age and signs a child is getting too little—or too much—sleep. We also take on the topic of sleep-aid supplements like melatonin and magnesium, which seem to be everywhere these days.

The episode opens with cathartic insight from two parents who are in the throes of sleep time conundrums, then segues into tips from Dr. Stan Sonu from our Strong4Life team. Dr. Sonu draws from his experience as a pediatrician and a dad to tackle questions he regularly hears from parents. Whether you captain a ship with elementary schoolers, teens or both, this episode offers insight you don’t want to miss.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl
• Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta
• X @childrensatl

Follow Strong4Life:

• Instagram @wearestrong4life
• Facebook @S4LGA

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As technology becomes a bigger part of childhood, parenting in a digital age presents new challenges and risks. From video games and smartphones to social media and AI, digital platforms are giving kids more access than ever while also opening doors for online predators, sextortion and overexposure.

In this episode of Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we hear from Traci Hurley and Anne Huegel of the Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Children’s. The conversation breaks down threats kids face in digital spaces and what parents should watch for, including grooming, risks built into online gaming, how AI can be used to exploit photos and why sexting among teens is more common than many realize.

From privacy settings and parental controls to communication tips that actually work, this episode offers real-world tools for handling tech in the home with more confidence and less stress.

Given the mature nature of topics discussed in this episode, listener discretion is advised. This episode discusses sensitive topics that may not be suitable for kids. Parents are encouraged to listen first and use judgment before sharing with others.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl
• Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta
• X @childrensatl

Follow Strong4Life:

• Instagram @wearestrong4life
• Facebook @S4LGA

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.