Raising Joy

In this episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Pyrc and Wini dive deep into the profound impact of the digital world on our children's psychological development. With YouTube, TikTok, and AI tools like ChatGPT at their fingertips, kids today face a landscape of information – and misinformation – unlike any generation before.
 

Join us as we welcome Austin Greenhaw, M.D., a child psychiatrist from Cook Children's, to unpack the real-world effects of technology on young minds. We explore
 the nuanced ways social media and AI influence mental health, the specific challenges posed by apps like TikTok, and how parents can guide their children through the complexities of online algorithms and misinformation.

Dr. Greenhaw shares insights on fostering a strong sense of self-worth in a world of online validation, the differences in how boys and girls navigate these issues, and practical advice for raising children in this digital age.  

Join us as we welcome back Carol Klocek, CEO of the Center for Transforming Lives, to discuss their monumental new Riverside Campus. This state-of-the-art facility in Southeast Fort Worth will revolutionize how the Center for Transforming Lives serves mothers and children experiencing poverty and homelessness.

Carol details the comprehensive services offered, including expanded childcare, a hub for economic opportunity with a makerspace and commercial kitchen, and a trauma-informed design aimed at healing.  

Learn how this move, driven by the need to better serve a community where one-third of single mothers with a child under age 5 are living in poverty, will significantly increase their impact and bring hope to thousands. 

For more information about Center for Transforming Lives and its Riverside Campus, please visit
www.transforminglives.org/Riverside-Campus. 

Today on Raising Joy, we're diving into the world of learning differences and exploring how to best support kids who learn differently.
 
We're joined by two special guests from The Key School and Training Center in Fort Worth: Lauren Johnston, a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in child and adolescent mental health (and currently training to be an Autism Specialist), and Beth Lamb, MANPM, APR, the Executive Director of The Key School and Training Center.
 
The Key School and Training Center provides vital services to students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Join Dr. Pyrc and Wini as they discuss the school's origins, the specialized education they offer, and how their environment differs from a traditional public school. Lauren also shares insights into her role as the school counselor, and both guests offer valuable information for parents and educators looking to support children with learning differences. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about empowering learners and unlocking their full potential. 

 
Remember to connect with Raising Joy on Instagram @raisingjoypodcast and TikTok @Raising.joy to see video content from episodes. 

Grief is a complex journey, and often, one crucial stage is overlooked: anxiety. On this episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Pyrc and Wini interview Claire Bidwell Smith, author of "Anxiety:
The Missing Stage of Grief," about this often-unspoken aspect of loss.  

Claire shares her personal journey with grief and how it inspired her insightful book. They discuss why anxiety is frequently missed in the grieving process, how it can manifest
 in various ways, and the impact of societal pressures to "move on."  

Claire also offers practical strategies for managing grief-related anxiety and shares the most important lessons she's learned about grief. Join us for a powerful and illuminating
 conversation about navigating loss and finding healing. 

Remember to connect with Raising Joy on Instagram @raisingjoypodcast and TikTok @Raising.joy to see video content from episodes.   

This week on Raising Joy, we dive into the complex world of social media's impact on kids with Karrie Curry, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor at UNT Health Science Center. Dr. Curry
 is leading a two-year research study on how social media influences adolescent mental health and substance use. The conversation explores current social media trends, what's being normalized online for teens, and the specific connections to substance use.
 Dr. Curry offers valuable advice for parents based on her work, and shares her hopes for the future of this critical research. Tune in for an insightful discussion and remember to connect with Raising Joy on Instagram @raisingjoypodcast and TikTok @Raising.joy
 for more content you can feel good about! 

What began as a six-article campaign in response to rising rates of youth suicide has blossomed into a thriving podcast reaching nearly 24,000 listeners in 60 countries. In this
 milestone episode, the hosts reflect on their incredible journey, sharing fun facts (did you know the most popular episode focused on Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder?), and answering insightful questions like:
 
What were their favorite and most impactful episodes?
 

What common themes emerged?
 

What surprised them most?
 

They also discuss listener feedback, dream guests, debunking parenting myths, and the personal impact of hosting Raising Joy. Tune in for a candid conversation about the podcast's past, present, and future, and the biggest lessons they've learned about themselves and parenting along the way. And don’t forget to follow Raising Joy on Instagram @raisingjoypodcast and TikTok @Raising.joy for more content you can feel good about! 

**This is our final episode until February 2025. Please subscribe to ensure you are alerted when episode 100 becomes available.** 

This episode of Raising Joy shines a light on the critical work being done to increase access to mental health services for families living in poverty and/or lacking health insurance
 in Tarrant County. Our guests, Kelly Rand and Dayo Jolayemi, are two exceptional Licensed Clinical Social Workers dedicated to Cook Children's Neighborhood Health Centers.
 

In this conversation, we'll explore: 

·                 
The unique needs of children and families facing poverty and health insurance barriers. 

·                 
How Kelly and Dayo navigate these challenges to provide essential behavioral health support. 

·                 
The importance of accessible and equitable mental health care for all children. 

·                 
The impact of their work on the lives of children and families in Tarrant County. 

This episode offers valuable insights into the critical role of social workers in supporting the mental health of children and families in underserved communities. 

In this episode of Raising Joy, we delve into the critical issue of childhood obesity and explore a new bariatric surgery program at Cook Children's. Joining us is Kanika Bowen-Jallow,
 M.D., the medical director of the program at Cook Children’s Medical Center - Prosper. 

Dr. Bowen-Jallow provides invaluable insights into: 

·       
When and why bariatric surgery is considered
for adolescents struggling with severe obesity. 

·       
The potential health benefits of weight loss
surgery, including improvements in physical health and mental well-being. 

·       
The multidisciplinary approach at Cook Children's,
which involves a team of experts to support patients on their weight loss journey. 

This episode offers valuable information for parents and caregivers concerned about childhood obesity and provides a deeper understanding of the role of bariatric surgery in addressing
 this complex health challenge. 

In this episode of Raising Joy, we welcome Andrea Dunlop, author and host of the true crime podcast "Nobody Should Believe Me," which investigates medical child abuse (MCA), formerly known as Munchausen by Proxy. Andrea shares her personal connection to the topic, stemming from a family experience, and explains what MCA is: a parent or caregiver, most often the mother, inducing, exaggerating, or fabricating a child's medical illness for attention and sympathy.

Andrea discusses the red flags that may indicate MCA, and highlights the importance of distinguishing between anxious parents and those intentionally deceiving medical professionals. This episode contains sensitive content related to child abuse. Listener discretion is advised.

This episode of Raising Joy focuses on a sensitive yet crucial topic: understanding and managing chronic pain in children. We're joined by Matthew Reed, LCSW, BCB, a pain clinical therapist at Cook Children's who specializes in providing clinical therapy for children, adolescents, and families affected by chronic pain. Whether it’s headaches or other pain, Matthews shares how mental health can be impacted and what parents can do to help their children.