Parenting for the Future

In this Episode you will learn about:

• The U.S. foster care system
• Why kids go into foster care
• Reunification – pros and cons
• The foster parenting experience
• The work of a case/social worker
• The role teachers play in the foster care system
• How fostering can change a child's life for the better
• Strategies to improve foster care for all involved
• What you can do to help kids in foster care

In this Episode you will learn about:

• The meaning of intelligence
• The scientists who developed IQ tests
• How racism and discrimination shaped the IQ test
• Eugenics
• Why standardized tests don't measure intelligence
• IQ tests most frequently used in the US
• How IQ tests shape the lives of kids with Down Syndrome and other conditions
• How to advocate for fairer measures of intelligence

In this Episode you will learn about:

• The meaning of intelligence
• The scientists who developed IQ tests
• How racism and discrimination shaped the IQ test 
• Eugenics
• Why standardized tests don’t measure intelligence
• IQ tests most frequently used in the US
• How IQ tests shape the lives of kids with Down Syndrome and other conditions
• How to advocate for fairer measures of intelligence

In this Episode you will learn about:

• The definition of "body image"
• Why body image impacts every aspect of our lives
• How mothers influence their children's body image
• How culture and geography impact body image
• Eating disorders
• Disordered eating
• Diet culture
• How to listen to our bodies and teach our kids to do the same
• The Health at Every Size movement
• "Embodiment"
• The effects of social media on body image
• FACE: A tool to avoid the comparison culture of social media

In this Episode you will learn about:

• The definition of "citizen"
• Why U.S. schools have failed to teach civics or what it means to live in and support a democracy
• The ramifications of not understanding our political system
• How to overcome obstacles to talking to your kids about politics
• 4 questions to ask your kids when they show interest in politics
• How to help our kids if they express extremist of violent political views
• How to register your child vote
• How our kids are advantaged by learning about our political system and government
• The basic information you need to start conversations about politics with your kids

In this Episode you will learn about:

• Why short, consistent positive messages and actions can meaningfully improve mental wellness
• How to develop a gratitude habit and teach your kids to do the same
• Gratitude journaling
• The Gratitude challenge
• Dream journaling
• How texts can promote mental health
• How AI can save lives

In this Episode you will learn about:

• The reasons all kids should learn programming
• Hedy, a free, opensource platform to teach kids textual programming
• The role of natural languages in teaching programming
• How parents can teach themselves programming
• The Codasium Program
• Efforts to make programming a mandatory subject in K-12 schools
• Why gender stereotypes have no place in STEM education

In this Episode you will learn:

• The meaning of educational displacement
• Why children need to see themselves and their experiences in the places they learn
• Why identity is a story and not a category
• How hate takes root
• The relationship between "othering" and radicalization
• How the suffering of one child can cause many to suffer
• How interfaith collaborations and conversations can irradicate hate
• The power of every person's story
• How we can build resilience to hate

In this Episode you will learn about:

• How parents can raising confident, curious, human-centered people
• The life-shaping power of books and conversations
• Civic journalism
• Keys to rebuilding trust in the press and key institutions
• Why hope is a muscle and how we can make it strong

In this Episode you will learn about:

• Now Look! The newest book by Sydney Lea
• The scourge of addiction in small-town America
• The role of nature in shaping a life
• The role of friendship and community in saving a life
• Why a Liberal Arts education matters more than ever
• How to help kids embrace poetry
• Three poets all kids (and parents) should read