Hosted by Walter “Q Bear” Banks Jr. of KMOJ Radio, this conversation features Andre Dukes, Vice President of Community Power and Impact Programs at NorthAchievement Zone, assistant pastor at Shiloh Temple International Ministries, and a University of Minnesota instructor in infant mental health. Andre explains developmental screenings for children ages 0–3 as a quick check-in of milestones across communication, movement, problem-solving, social-emotionaldevelopment, and everyday skills, emphasizing they are not tests or diagnoses and can help families celebrate strengths and identify supports early. He discusses how screenings can lead to evaluations and early interventionservices such as speech, occupational, and physical therapy or developmental coaching, and encourages parents to trust their instincts, ask questions, anduse everyday talking, reading, singing, playing, counting, and the environment to prepare children for school.

This episode was recorded live on the radio program TheAfternoon Drive, which airs on KMOJ at 89.9 FM in the Twin Cities. For more information, visitlittlemomentscount.org/podcasts 

In this episode, hosted by Mike “Big Mic” Brooks of KRSM Radio, is joined by Isaiah Allen, a 25-year-old St. Paul author, community leader, and activist, who shares his path from earning a leadership and management degree at the University of St. Thomas and working in tech to becoming an author after being laid off at 23. Allen discusses the importance of representation and joyful,healthy images of Black people in children’s media, highlights his first book "Smile" (rooted in his family, experiences, and living with type 1 diabetes), and explains his involvement with the Rondo Renaissance anthologyproduced by Planting People, Growing Justice. He emphasizes respectful communication with kids, answering “why,” and taking interest in children’sinfluences and interests.

This episode was recorded live on the radio program For The Culture, which airs on KRSM Radio at 98.9 FM in Minneapolis. For more information, visitlittlemomentscount.org/podcasts

Hosted by Walter “Q Bear” Banks Jr. of KMOJ Radio, thisconversation features early childhood advocate  Carrie Zelin Johnson, who explains about trauma-informed care.She discusses shifts adults can take, from asking children “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”. She emphasizes that young children’s big emotions and behaviors communicate needs that caregivers should respond to through presence, flexibility, and relationship-building. She discusses learning a child’s individual temperament, reducing distractions, and reflectingon how adults were raised, and  highlights Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families training opportunities.

This episode was recorded live on the radio program TheAfternoon Drive, which airs on KMOJ at 89.9 FM in the Twin Cities. For more information, visitlittlemomentscount.org/podcasts 

In this episode, Native Roots Radio host Robert Pilot interviewsLiam Mackin, communications and development manager at Reach Out and Read Minnesota. Liam discusses supporting brain development from birth to age five through everyday reading and language-rich interactions. He explains theprogram’s origins with pediatricians who give children a free, new book at well-child visits to spark parent-child bonding, encourage reading, and help clinicians assess development and screen for concerns like excessive screen time. He highlights Minnesota’s network of over 300 participating clinics since1997, including strong partnerships with Indian Health Services and tribally affiliated clinics, and the importance of culturally relevant, high-quality multilingual books, including Dakota and Ojibwe. He also shares where to learn more and emphasizes simple, loving interaction as key for families.

This episode was recorded live on the radio program NativeRoots Radio: I’m Awake, which airs on multiple stations throughout the Midwest. For more information, visitlittlemomentscount.org/podcasts 

En este episodio de Little Moments Count, la presentadora Maya Santamaria de KMNV La Raza Radio da la bienvenida a Alicia García González de CLUES. Las primeras experienciasde un niño ayudan a moldear su cerebro, sus relaciones y su éxito futuro. Alicia explica por qué los primeros cinco años de vida son tan importantes y cómo momentos cotidianos como hablar, leer, cantar y jugar favorecen un desarrollo saludable.Este episodio se emitió en marzo de 2026 en La Raza Radio, en las frecuencias 95.7 FM y 1400 AM en las Ciudades Gemelas. Para más información, visite littlemomentscount.org/podcasts

Why the First Five Years Matter with Alicia Garcia Gonzalez

On this episode of Little Moments Count, host MayaSantamaria of KMNV La Raza Radio welcomes Alicia.  García González from CLUES. A child’s earliest experiences help shape their brain, relationships, and future success. Alicia discusses why the first five years of life are so important and howeveryday moments like talking, reading, singing, and playing support healthy development.

This episode was aired in March of 2026, on La Raza Radio at 95.7 FM and 1400 AM in the Twin Cities. For more information, visit littlemomentscount.org/podcasts 

Hosted by Katey DeCelle of  WFNU Frogtown Community Radio, this conversation features Dr. Roger Sheldon, a former neonatologist and early childhood advocate. Sheldon discusses Doctors for Early Childhood, a group of retired pediatricians formed after the George Floyd disaster to support earlybrain development through policy and public education. He emphasizes that nearly 80% of brain growth happens in the first 1,000 days and urges caregivers to talk, read, sing, and play with children, noting kids learn language best from people, not screens. He discusses early relational health, the importanceof touch and oxytocin, toxic stress and ACEs, and concerns about low reading proficiency in Minnesota, childcare workforce pay, and support for families from pregnancythrough age four.

This episode was recorded live on the radio program So SaintPaul, which airs on WFNU at 94.1 FM in Saint Paul. For more information, visit littlemomentscount.org/podcasts 

Hosted by Walter “Q Bear” Banks Jr. of KMOJ Radio, this conversation features Andre Dukes with the Northside Achievement Zone. Andre explains that kindergarten readiness goes beyond ABCs and 123s to include social-emotionaldevelopment shaped by everyday “serve and return” interactions. He encourages caregivers to talk, read, sing, and play, emphasizing vocabulary growth through descriptive language and the value of one-to-one engagement over screens.He stresses that love and tone build trust, noting “no correction without connection”. You can learn more at northsideachievementzone.org and 612-594-8360.

This episode was recorded live on the radio program The Afternoon Drive, which airs on KMOJ at 89.9 FM in the Twin Cities. For more information, visit littlemomentscount.org/podcasts 

Hosted by Katey DeCelle of  WFNU Frogtown Community Radio,this conversation features Dr. Artika Tyner, Rondo native, civil rights attorney and law professor, and author of 40 books. She shares why she focuses on early literacy after seeing manyclients learn to read in prison and noting reading failure as an indicator of future incarceration. She explains how literacy begins in the womb, how families can build learning into everyday life, and how summer can become a season of learning gains through intentional community-based activities. Tynerdiscusses the importance of diverse books as “mirrors and windows,” and highlights Planting People Growing Justice’s NEA Big Read work and ways to get involved through resources, columns, and the Leaders or Readers program.

This episode was recorded live on the radio program So Saint Paul, which airs on WFNU at 94.1 FM in Saint Paul. For moreinformation, visit littlemomentscount.org/podcasts 

En este episodio de Little Moments Count, la presentadora Maya Santamaria de KMNV La Raza Radio da la bienvenida a Alicia García González de CLUES. Ella comparte cómo losprogramas de visitas familiares a domicilio apoyan a padres y cuidadores durante los primeros años de vida de un niño. Explica cómo el apoyo personalizado y culturalmente sensible puede fortalecer la relación entre padres e hijos, promover un desarrollo saludable y conectar a las familias con recursos valiosos.

Este episodio se transmitió en marzo de 2026 en La Raza Radio, a través de las frecuencias 95.7 FM y 1400 AM en las CiudadesGemelas. Para más información, visite littlemomentscount.org/podcasts.

The Power of Family Home Visiting with Alicia Garcia Gonzalez

On this episode of Little Moments Count, host Maya Santamaria of KMNV La Raza Radio welcomes Alicia García González fromCLUES. She shares how family home visiting programs support parents and caregivers during a child’s earliest years. She discusses how personalized, culturally responsive support can strengthen parent-child relationships, promote healthy development, and connect families with valuable resources.

This episode was aired in March of 2026, on La Raza Radio at 95.7 FM and 1400 AM in the Twin Cities. For more information, visit littlemomentscount.org/podcasts

In this episode, hosted by Mike “Big Miic” Brooks of KRSM Radio, is joined by Crystal Stein, founder and CEO of Beret Publishing, a Minnesota-based children’s media company creating multi-sensory board books that integrate original music, poetry, Grade 2 braille, and storytelling to support early interactions between children and caregivers. Stein shares her transition from a 16+ year finance and consulting career to launching Beret during COVID after becoming a parent and realizing a lack of diverse classical composers represented in children’s materials. She discusses the importance of reading, singing, and being present in the first 1,000 days, accessibility as a baselinefor all children, and “windows and mirrors” representation through Beret’s Echoes of Excellence collection, which highlights historically overlooked composers such as Vicente Lusitano and George Bridgetower.

This episode was recorded live on the radio program For The Culture, which airs on KRSM Radio at 98.9 FM in Minneapolis. For more information, visitlittlemomentscount.org/podcasts