We hear about racism all the time in our neighborhoods, on the news, and on social media. But what does it actually look like to talk about race with our families, especially with kids? How do we help everyone understand each other, instead of shutting down or getting scared?

W. Kamau Bell, a comedian and Emmy Award-winning host of CNN's United Shades of America, shares how race and identity have shaped his experiences, alongside the importance of understanding intersectionality across generations. Later in the episode, founder of A Kids Co. and author of A Kids Book About Racism Jelani Memory emphasizes that kids are ready for challenging, empowering, and important topics, and encourages parents and grownups to be honest when tackling those conversations.

Key takeaways for parents:

Kids can and do experience racism, regardless of their education about it. 

Start conversations about racism often to raise conscious kids, instead of ignoring the issue.

Practice proactive conversations, especially when organic opportunities to do so are fewer.

Invite different experiences and perspectives into your life, and approach them with curiosity to learn alongside your kids.

⏱️ Timestamps:

Keep the conversation going at home with our FREE Conversation Kit companion guide: https://delivery.shopifyapps.com/-/1fd4535ac87f7447/0d3bc39a64b1a1de

Follow W. Kamau Bell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wkamaubell/

Follow Jelani Memory on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jelanimemory

New episodes every Tuesday:

YouTube: https://swap.fm/l/P8iCjNFnIWI7kTmU0vmk

Apple: https://swap.fm/l/kCnCRNdWkpuYYbyzyE77

Spotify: https://swap.fm/l/SOQe4gSHh3vVIwPGFDet

Or wherever you get your podcasts.

🔗 START HERE

📌 Get free weekly conversation kits: https://akidsco.com/pages/raising-us

📌 Browse A Kids Co. books that pair with episodes: https://akidsco.com

📌 Follow Elise Hu: https://www.instagram.com/elisewho

ABOUT THE SHOW

Raising Us | Parenting Podcast for Kids, Tweens, & Conscious Caregivers

Award-winning journalist Elise Hu (TED Talks Daily, Forever35) hosts Raising Us, a parenting podcast for grownups raising Big-Question Kids. From puberty and identity to tech and body image, each episode gives you tools to spark real conversations with the kids in your life.

Created by A Kids Co. (a family media company) the show blends expert-backed insights with real, lived experiences featuring trusted doctors, educators and purpose-driven public figures sharing age-appropriate advice so you don't have to wing the hard stuff.

Follow on:

YouTube: https://swap.fm/l/P8iCjNFnIWI7kTmU0vmk

Apple: https://swap.fm/l/kCnCRNdWkpuYYbyzyE77

Spotify: https://swap.fm/l/SOQe4gSHh3vVIwPGFDet

Or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you like parenting podcasts like Good Inside with Dr. Becky, The Longest Shortest Time, Raising Good Humans or Ask Lisa, this podcast is for you.

Topics Covered on Raising Us:

Parenting kids and tweens

Mental health for kids

Talking to kids about racism, identity, and inclusion

Screen time and social media

Puberty, anxiety, and big feelings

Building emotional intelligence in families

Conscious and values-driven parenting

Elise Hu parenting podcast

A Kids Co. podcast series

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Immigration is in the news, in our communities, and sometimes in our own families. But how do we explain it to kids without scaring them? Elise Hu talks with comedian and writer Negin Farsad about what her daughter has noticed, and what Negin chooses to share. Children’s author Duncan Tonatiuh joins to share how his book Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote helps kids understand the dangers and resilience behind migration stories. From undocumented families to family separation headlines, this conversation shows parents how to talk about immigration as part of our shared story, while giving children hope, safety, and practical ways to understand their world.

Key takeaways for parents:

Show the kids in your life that immigration is part of America’s shared story.

When tough headlines come up, acknowledge them and offer age-appropriate context instead of avoiding the subject.

Use books and stories to build empathy, showing both the risks and the resilience in migration journeys.

Talk about civic values like rights, community, and responsibility.

Balance safety with normalcy: give kids tools like memorizing a phone number while still letting them enjoy the fun of childhood.

⏱️ Timestamps:

Keep the conversation going at home with our FREE Conversation Kit companion guide: https://delivery.shopifyapps.com/-/ed0fd48c366bfcc5/f9e9fe86fd9c42cf

Follow Negin Farsad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neginfarsad

Follow Duncan Tonatiuh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duncan.tonatiuh/

New episodes every Tuesday:

YouTube: https://swap.fm/l/P8iCjNFnIWI7kTmU0vmk

Apple: https://swap.fm/l/kCnCRNdWkpuYYbyzyE77

Spotify: https://swap.fm/l/SOQe4gSHh3vVIwPGFDet

Or wherever you get your podcasts.

🔗 START HERE

📌 Get free weekly conversation kits: https://akidsco.com/pages/raising-us

📌 Browse A Kids Co. books that pair with episodes: https://akidsco.com

📌 Follow Elise Hu: https://www.instagram.com/elisewho

ABOUT THE SHOW

Raising Us | Parenting Podcast for Kids, Tweens, & Conscious Caregivers

Award-winning journalist Elise Hu (TED Talks Daily, Forever35) hosts Raising Us, a parenting podcast for grownups raising Big-Question Kids. From puberty and identity to tech and body image, each episode gives you tools to spark real conversations with the kids in your life.

Created by A Kids Co. (a family media company) the show blends expert-backed insights with real, lived experiences featuring trusted doctors, educators and purpose-driven public figures sharing age-appropriate advice so you don't have to wing the hard stuff.

Follow on:

YouTube: https://swap.fm/l/P8iCjNFnIWI7kTmU0vmk

Apple: https://swap.fm/l/kCnCRNdWkpuYYbyzyE77

Spotify: https://swap.fm/l/SOQe4gSHh3vVIwPGFDet

Or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you like parenting podcasts like Good Inside with Dr. Becky, The Longest Shortest Time, Raising Good Humans or Ask Lisa, this podcast is for you.

Topics Covered on Raising Us:

Parenting kids and tweens

Mental health for kids

Talking to kids about racism, identity, and inclusion

Screen time and social media

Puberty, anxiety, and big feelings

Building emotional intelligence in families

Conscious and values-driven parenting

Elise Hu parenting podcast

A Kids Co. podcast series

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Banned books are sparking debates in schools and libraries across the country. But what do book bans really mean for the kids in your life? And how can families respond in ways that build understanding instead of fear? In this episode, bestselling author Jason Reynolds (All American Boys, Long Way Down) talks about what it feels like to see his work pulled from classrooms, and scholar Dr. Emily Knox (Book Banning in the 21st Century) explains how censorship takes shape today and why it matters for all of us. They highlight practical ways to guide the kids in your life through tough topics on the page without shutting the door on important stories.

Key takeaways for parents:

Why banned books shape the way kids see the world, even if they never read them.

What small, practical steps families can take to stand up for access to stories.

How to approach “challenged” books with curiosity, care, and context.

⏱️ Timestamps:

Keep the conversation going at home with our FREE Conversation Kit companion guide: https://delivery.shopifyapps.com/-/347196eeaecf58e1/f40aeb5376d16808

Follow Jason Reynolds on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonreynolds83

Follow Dr. Emily Knox: https://www.emilyknox.net/

New episodes every Tuesday:

YouTube: https://swap.fm/l/P8iCjNFnIWI7kTmU0vmk

Apple: https://swap.fm/l/kCnCRNdWkpuYYbyzyE77

Spotify: https://swap.fm/l/SOQe4gSHh3vVIwPGFDet

Or wherever you get your podcasts.

🔗 START HERE

📌 Get free weekly conversation kits: https://akidsco.com/pages/raising-us

📌 Browse A Kids Co. books that pair with episodes: https://akidsco.com

📌 Follow Elise Hu: https://www.instagram.com/elisewho

ABOUT THE SHOW

Raising Us | Parenting Podcast for Kids, Tweens, & Conscious Caregivers

 Award-winning journalist Elise Hu (TED Talks Daily, Forever35) hosts Raising Us, a parenting podcast for grownups raising Big-Question Kids. From puberty and identity to tech and body image, each episode gives you tools to spark real conversations with the kids in your life.

Created by A Kids Co. (a family media company) the show blends expert-backed insights with real, lived experiences featuring trusted doctors, educators and purpose-driven public figures sharing age-appropriate advice so you don't have to wing the hard stuff.

Follow on:

YouTube: https://swap.fm/l/P8iCjNFnIWI7kTmU0vmk

Apple: https://swap.fm/l/kCnCRNdWkpuYYbyzyE77

Spotify: https://swap.fm/l/SOQe4gSHh3vVIwPGFDet

Or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you like parenting podcasts like Good Inside with Dr. Becky, The Longest Shortest Time, Raising Good Humans or Ask Lisa, this podcast is for you.

Topics Covered on Raising Us:

Parenting kids and tweens

Mental health for kids

Talking to kids about racism, identity, and inclusion

Screen time and social media

Puberty, anxiety, and big feelings

Building emotional intelligence in families

Conscious and values-driven parenting

Elise Hu parenting podcast

A Kids Co. podcast series

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere — from ChatGPT to TikTok algorithms, AI is transforming childhood, parenting, and everything about how we live today.

Creator and co-host of podcast Life With Machines Baratunde Thurston chats with Elise Hu about the ways we can help kids and ourselves navigate this new technology with curiosity and care. Learn how kids are engaging with AI today, and why adults and grownups need to learn alongside kids rather than just supervise them. By approaching an understanding with humility and setting practical and healthy boundaries with AI, parents can confidently help navigate using AI as a tool, instead of something to stay away from.

Key takeaways for parents:

Compare how kids of different ages use tech, and tailor your guidance to their stage.

Ask your child how information moves among friends, and practice checking before sharing.

Point out where AI shows up in daily life, and invite the child in your life's perspective on it.

Admit what you don’t know, and show curiosity so kids learn alongside you.

Break down AI as a tool, a platform, or a concept, so kids can see its different roles.

⏱️ Timestamps:

Keep the conversation going at home with our FREE Conversation Kit companion guide: https://delivery.shopifyapps.com/-/227992a4494016f2/b694b2dbd557aa6e

Follow Baratunde Thurston on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baratunde/

New episodes every Tuesday:

YouTube: https://swap.fm/l/P8iCjNFnIWI7kTmU0vmk

Apple: https://swap.fm/l/kCnCRNdWkpuYYbyzyE77

Spotify: https://swap.fm/l/SOQe4gSHh3vVIwPGFDet

Or wherever you get your podcasts.

🔗 START HERE

📌 Get free weekly conversation kits: https://akidsco.com/pages/raising-us

📌 Browse A Kids Co. books that pair with episodes: https://akidsco.com

📌 Follow Elise Hu: https://www.instagram.com/elisewho

ABOUT THE SHOW

Raising Us | Parenting Podcast for Kids, Tweens, & Conscious Caregivers

Award-winning journalist Elise Hu (TED Talks Daily, Forever35) hosts Raising Us, a parenting podcast for grownups raising Big-Question Kids. From puberty and identity to tech and body image, each episode gives you tools to spark real conversations with the kids in your life.

Created by A Kids Co. (a family media company) the show blends expert-backed insights with real, lived experiences featuring trusted doctors, educators and purpose-driven public figures sharing age-appropriate advice so you don't have to wing the hard stuff.

Follow on:

YouTube: https://swap.fm/l/P8iCjNFnIWI7kTmU0vmk

Apple: https://swap.fm/l/kCnCRNdWkpuYYbyzyE77

Spotify: https://swap.fm/l/SOQe4gSHh3vVIwPGFDet

Or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you like parenting podcasts like Good Inside with Dr. Becky, The Longest Shortest Time, Raising Good Humans or Ask Lisa, this podcast is for you.

Topics Covered on Raising Us:

Parenting kids and tweens

Mental health for kids

Talking to kids about racism, identity, and inclusion

Screen time and social media

Puberty, anxiety, and big feelings

Building emotional intelligence in families

Conscious and values-driven parenting

Elise Hu parenting podcast

A Kids Co. podcast series

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it really mean to raise kids who see every brain as worthy of belonging? In this episode, Elise Hu talks with actress, director, and author Lake Bell about her daughter’s journey with epilepsy and how that shaped her own understanding of neurodiversity. Later, ADHD advocate and creator of How to ADHD Jessica McCabe shares practical ways parents can explain neurodivergence, involve kids in their own care, and shift the conversation from “fixing” to thriving.

From ADHD to epilepsy to dyslexia, we explore how to talk about brain differences in ways that build empathy and confidence at home.

Key Takeaways:

Validate your child’s experience, even when others may dismiss it

Talk openly about your own brain differences to reduce shame

Involve kids in decisions about their own treatment and support

Normalize differences as part of the human condition, not something to “fix”

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Puberty can feel awkward, confusing, and even scary for kids (and parents!). Pediatrician and bestselling author Dr. Cara Natterson shares how to turn those hard moments into honest, supportive conversations that help kids feel confident about their changing bodies.

Puberty today starts earlier and lasts longer. From growth spurts and acne to mood swings and silence, kids need language that reduces shame and builds trust. Parents can provide it, even when it feels uncomfortable. With the right words and presence, parents can make it a time of learning, resilience, and connection.

Key takeaways for parents:

Talk about body changes, periods, erections, and hormones early, and keep talking.

Explain the science behind mood swings so tweens and teens know it’s normal.

Use everyday moments (car rides, dinner, bedtime) to open conversations.

Teach correct anatomical terms to reduce shame and improve safety.

Model openness, humor, and persistence. Puberty is a marathon, not a sprint.

Raising Us is hosted by Elise Hu, an award-winning journalist and mom of three, known for her warm, candid approach to tough conversations. Each week, she breaks down big questions families are facing, with help from expert voices and real-life stories.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do you talk to your kids about the political violence that’s unfolded this week, and over the past couple of years? And how much do you say? In this mini episode, we share a part of a conversation between Elise Hu and educator and author Sharon McMahon to help families talk about political differences with compassion, even when emotions run high. The full conversation about how to talk to your kids about democracy arrives later this season.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is the first episode of Raising Us, a new podcast from A Kids Co. about the questions our kids are already asking...and how we answer them.

What do kids learn when they hear “fat” used like an insult? And what do we say when they turn that word on themselves? In this episode, we talk about how to name fatphobia, challenge it, and model true body respect at any size.

Back-to-school season often brings comments about weight, growth, and how bodies “should” look. For parents of tweens and teens, it’s a critical time to talk about body image, confidence, and how kids feel in their own skin.

Model and body activist Tess Holliday shares what it was like growing up in the South, taking up space, and parenting through shame. Later, author and journalist Virginia Sole-Smith offers practical ways to push back on harmful beauty standards and make space for more honest conversations at home.

Whether you're unpacking what you grew up hearing or just trying to find the right words, this conversation is a place to begin.

Raising Us is hosted by Elise Hu, an award-winning journalist and mom of three, known for her warm, candid approach to tough conversations. Each week, she breaks down big questions families are facing, with help from expert voices and real-life stories.

Key Takeaways:

“Fat is just another way to have a body.” Reclaiming the word fat helps kids build respect, not shame.

“Perfection isn’t the goal. Showing up is.” Modeling body acceptance starts with honesty.

“If we don’t talk about fatphobia, kids will believe the dominant story.” Silence reinforces bias. Conversation builds empathy.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Award-winning journalist Elise Hu (TED Talks Daily, Forever35) hosts Raising Us, a parenting podcast for grownups raising Big-Question Kids. From puberty and identity to tech and body image, each episode gives you tools to spark real conversations with the kids in your life. Created by A Kids Co. (a family media company) the show blends expert-backed insights with real, lived experiences featuring trusted doctors, educators and purpose-driven public figures sharing age-appropriate advice so you don’t have to wing the hard stuff.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Parenting isn’t just about raising kids, it’s about raising ourselves, too. From “kids are resilient” to “toughen up,” journalist and mom of three Elise Hu unpacks the cultural scripts families pass down and reframes them with reporting, expert voices, and real-life stories. Every episode of Raising Us comes with a free conversation kit to spark connection around your dinner table, on the drive to school, or before bedtime.

New episodes begin September 9. Follow now so you don’t miss the first conversation: body image, confidence, and the messages our kids carry for life.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.