Our kids are falling behind in one of the most basic life skills imaginable: reading. According to the latest national data, millions of students are not reading at grade level. So why are schools spending so much time debating pronouns, gender identity, and classroom policies instead?

In this episode of Melissa Unfiltered, I take a fact-based look at one of the most polarizing issues in education today. I examine public school policies, pronoun guidance, parental rights, classroom curriculum, reading proficiency, and the growing concerns many families have about transparency in schools.

I'm not attacking teachers or bullying children. Every child deserves kindness, dignity, and compassion. But parents also deserve honesty, transparency, and a voice in their children's education.

Together, we'll look beyond the headlines and ask some difficult questions:

•  Why are so many children struggling to read? 
•  Should schools be discussing gender identity with young students? 
•  Where should the line between schools and parents be drawn? 
•  Why are parents across the country demanding greater transparency? 

Whether you agree with me or completely disagree, my hope is that this episode encourages thoughtful conversation backed by facts rather than political talking points.

If you're a parent, educator, or simply someone concerned about the future of education, this is a conversation worth having.

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Why Did Fauci Take the Fifth?

Years after COVID changed our lives, millions of Americans are still asking the same question: Who is accountable?

In this episode of Melissa Unfiltered, I break down Anthony Fauci's recent Senate testimony, his decision to invoke the Fifth Amendment, and the controversy surrounding the release of his personal diary. I also share my own experiences during the pandemic...what it was like to question the official narrative, refuse to mask my children, lose friendships, and watch our country become more divided than ever.

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When I sat down with Mel Lambert, founder of Sunshine Farm Sanctuary in Massachusetts, I thought we would spend most of our time talking about horses and foster care. Instead, we uncovered much bigger questions about how America responds to childhood trauma.

Mel has spent more than a decade working directly with children in foster care. What she's witnessed is heartbreaking. Too often, children who've experienced unimaginable trauma are labeled as having behavioral problems, placed on multiple psychiatric medications, and punished for behaviors rooted in fear rather than given the support they need to heal.

We talk about why trauma changes a child's brain, why so many foster children end up on psychotropic medications, why accountability is missing throughout the foster care system, and how something as simple as feeling safe can completely change a child's future.

I hope this episode encourages you to look beyond behavior and ask a deeper question:

Are we truly helping these children heal or are we simply managing their trauma?

If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation. Meaningful change starts when more people are willing to talk about the difficult issues affecting our most vulnerable children.

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When Illinois State Senator Darby Hills (R) introduced the Healing Through History Act, it seemed like common sense.

The bill simply required that adoptive families and adults who aged out of foster care receive copies of their own case records...records that already exist and were created about their own lives.

The Illinois Senate passed it unanimously.

Then it quietly died in the House Rules Committee without ever receiving a vote.

In this episode, Senator Hills joins me to discuss what happened behind the scenes, why transparency matters, and why so many foster children are still waiting to learn the story of their own lives.

We also talk about politics, accountability, and why this fight is far from over.

Every child deserves to know where they came from.

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Did we really hear the whole story?

After spending days watching the Charlie Kirk preliminary hearing, I walked away with more questions than answers.

In this episode of Melissa Unfiltered, I break down the testimony, evidence, witness statements, and courtroom moments that stood out to me and explain why I believe some parts of the case deserve a closer look.

If you've been following the Charlie Kirk case or you've only seen the headlines, this episode offers a deeper look at the preliminary hearing and the questions that remain.

If you enjoy thoughtful conversations that challenge assumptions and encourage critical thinking, subscribe to Melissa Unfiltered and join the discussion.

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For years, I thought the biggest battles facing our country were political. Left versus right. Conservative versus liberal. But the more I stepped back, the more I realized we've been distracted from something much bigger.

In this episode, I share why I deleted almost everything from my personal social media, why I believe privacy has become one of our most valuable assets, and why our attention (not our money) has become the most valuable thing companies, politicians, and algorithms are fighting over.

If we've normalized constant distraction, endless scrolling, public validation, and giving strangers access to every part of our lives…what have we quietly given away?

I hope this conversation makes you stop, think, and maybe see the world a little differently.

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This episode is personal.

My grandparents lost $50,000. They weren't buying gift cards. They weren't responding to strange emails. They simply searched for their bank online because they needed a phone number during a home purchase.

Everything looked legitimate.

What happened next changed my family's life and raised questions I can't stop asking. How can fake bank websites appear so convincing? Why aren't these scams being stopped? Where does the accountability fall when criminals exploit systems millions of us trust every day?

In this episode, I share exactly what happened to my grandparents, what I've learned since, and why I believe every family...especially those with aging parents or grandparents...needs to hear this story.

If this happened to someone you love, or if you've experienced something similar, I want to hear from you. This conversation is just beginning.

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A father takes his young daughters into a women's restroom, someone calls the police, and suddenly millions of people are arguing online.

In this episode, I dive into the viral bathroom video that sparked outrage across social media and ask a bigger question: How did ordinary parenting situations become national controversies?

From my own childhood experiences to a personal encounter involving a family locker room, I explore the challenges parents face, the ongoing debates surrounding bathrooms and privacy, and the growing culture of recording, judging, and publicly shaming strangers online.

Join the conversation and let me know what you think.

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For years, I've been asking a question that should have a simple answer: Why can't adopted children have access to their own stories?

When my husband and I adopted our children through foster care, we were given medical records...but almost nothing else. No caseworker notes. No placement histories. No stories about their first steps, favorite toys, birthday parties, or the people who cared for them during the first years of their lives.

Those records exist. But families like ours are often unable to access them.

In this episode of Melissa Unfiltered, I share why I decided to stop complaining about the system and do something about it. I take you behind the scenes of creating the Healing Through History Act, working with Illinois lawmakers, testifying before the Senate, and the surprising obstacles we encountered along the way.

Every child deserves to know their story.

And every family deserves the information needed to help them heal.

If you're involved in foster care, adoption, or child advocacy or if you've ever wondered how laws are really made, I hope you'll join the conversation.

And if you're in another state and want to help bring these ideas to your community, I'd love to hear from you.

~ Melissa

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For years, I wasn't sure if I would ever tell this story publicly.

In this episode of Melissa Unfiltered, I'm sharing one of the most difficult and personal experiences of my life. What started as fragmented memories eventually led me to uncover painful truths from my childhood and make a decision that would set off a years-long journey toward justice, healing, and finding my voice.

I talk openly about reporting sexual abuse, navigating a complex investigation, facing resistance from people I never expected, and learning firsthand how difficult it can be for survivors to come forward. I also share why I chose to speak up, and what happened after I did.

In breaking my silence, I hope someone else feels less alone in their own journey.

If you're a survivor, I want you to know that your story matters. What happened to you does not define you, and your healing journey belongs to you.

If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who may need to hear it.

Thank you for listening and for being part of this community.

~ Melissa

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse and may be difficult for some listeners.

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