Local mom and executive director of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs Rachel Holt joins us to talk about what giving back means to her both professionally and personally. She shares recent milestones for the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs in expanding prevention services for youth and families as well as expanding therapeutic care for young people requiring secure care treatment. Rachel encourages local parents in striving to raise kids who value giving back by sharing how she and her husband OKC Mayor David Holt involve their children in community efforts that serve causes meaningful to them.

Cléo Nash, the Executive Director of the Independent Shopkeepers Association, as well as Paige Beal, owner of Tulips Home & Gift in Norman, join us to talk about the whirlwind of the pandemic and how local retail is recovering – and even thriving in 2022. Small business is no small feat; according to the US Small Business Association, there are currently 27.9 million small businesses in the US, making up 44% of economic activity. Listen in as Cléo and Paige fill us in on what has changed, what challenges have been presented and what opportunities have risen. The State of Retail report for 2022 has been released. Find it here: https://isaok.org/stateofretail

Did you know shared family meals have a positive impact on our kids mental health, in addition to their physical health? Therapist, author and psychology professor Dr. Anne Fishel shares why family mealtimes are so important as well as how busy families can set reasonable expectations for shared meals. Listen in for easy how-tos to schedule time together, make meal planning and prep easier, encourage meaningful conversation and promote both nutrition and positive body image for our kids.

Madison Whitekiller, who holds the title of 2022 Miss Indian Oklahoma, joins us to talk about her platform: guiding Native American youth to discover success through STEM. She discusses her own journey to a STEM field, advice for parents on helping children discover the fun of STEM and the power of representation when kids see people who look like them succeeding in a field they love. Whitekiller also addresses her vision to combat the healthcare disparities faced by Indigenous communities.

Local mom and chief of pediatric infectious disease for Oklahoma Children’s Hospital at OU Health, Dr. Donna Tyungu joins us to discuss the rapidly rising number of children with RSV in the metro. Dr. Tyungu shares the signs and symptoms of RSV parents should be watching for, what age children are most prone to complications from RSV and when parents should call their pediatrician. Most importantly, she shares the best strategies for prevention of RSV and reassures parents of both our capabilities and the resources available to us as we head into respiratory illness season.

This month we are joined by a representative from The Boeing Company to talk about how just a spark of an interest can turn into a life-long passion. Fueling STEAM opportunities for all ages within Oklahoma, Boeing is a leader in innovation and discovery. Listen in to learn how to foster your child's natural skill-set in aeronautics!

We get an update on the foster care system in Oklahoma from Dr. Deb Shropshire, director of Child Welfare Services for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, and Destyni Trayler, senior program director for Sunbeam Family Services. Currently there are around 6,600 children in DHS custody in Oklahoma, which is at least a 20 year low. Dr. Deb and Destyni discuss the improvements that have led to this shift, the current challenges our state's foster care system faces and how metro families can help by becoming foster families or supporting foster families. Despite the decrease of kids in care, more foster families are needed to increase the state's capacity to match children with the right foster families and build networks of support.

Dr. Ariana Hoet works in pediatric primary care and is the clinical director for On Our Sleeves, a national movement to break stigmas around children’s mental health with a mission to provide free mental health educational resources to every community in America. Dr. Hoet equips us as parents with tools to maintain conversations with our kids about their mental health. She shares advice to talk about difficult topics like violence, politics and bullying, as well as creative everyday questions to get past kids' typical answers of "fine" when asked about their school day.

The weather is cooling down and the outdoors are calling. Listen in as we chat with Skylar St. Yves, Aquatic Education/R3 Fishing Coordinator at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, about how we can enjoy outdoor activities as a family, including fishing, hiking, camping and more. We all naturally have a calling to the great outdoors, not to mention the benefits like reducing anxiety as well as the opportunity for family bonding, learning and growing confidence and so much more. Get tips on fishing, cold-weather exploring and so much more!

Internationally acclaimed reading specialist, educational therapist and author Dr. Vicki Waller joins us to talk about identifying learning differences and motivating all kids to love learning. Dr. Waller outlines key points in helping to reengage kids in their learning, including shifting your mindset as a parent first, and also how to find an advocate to lean on. She keys us in on the step-by-step process outlined in her new book, Yes! Your Child Can: Creating Success for Children with Learning Differences.