Join us in this captivating episode as we dive into the world of parenting with acclaimed family counsellor, speaker, and bestselling author, Alyson Schafer. With years of research and clinical experience, Alyson shares her expertise on stages around the world, providing actionable tactics and empowering parents to face the challenges of modern life. Alyson's ultimate goal is to raise resilient, caring, and capable kids, all while embracing the joy and adventure that comes with it. So, whether you're a seasoned parent or just starting your journey, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you along the way.

For the better part of the last 40-plus years, award-winning Owl, Chickadee and Chirp magazines have adorned the book shelves of Canadian families and we're thrilled to have their editor, Jackie Farquhar, on the show this week. Jackie stopped by to discuss the legacy of the magazines, how the publications have been adopting new ways to connect with kids, and the importance of physical media in the lives of our children.

Meg Stafford is a Massachusetts-based writer and social worker who has been helping others negotiate the terrain of relationships and connections for over three decades. She's published a pair of memoirs and has been a columnist for newspapers for more than 30 years. She stopped by the podcast with advice on putting things aside and living in the moment with our families, and fostering a closer, healthier relationship with our kids.

Regular physical activity benefits children and youth in countless ways — but actually getting them to exchange their screens for exercise can sometimes feel like a tall order. Dr. Leigh Vanderloo, a research scientist specializing in pediatric exercise science, stopped by the podcast to chat about ways that we can help kids, from birth all the way up to 18, live their most active lives.

Hellooo! Jack "The Coach" Armstrong — former NCAA basketball coach and beloved Toronto Raptors analyst on TSN — visits the Shaping Our World podcast to chat about the intersection of parenting and coaching and the value of sport in the lives of young people.

Raising children in the age of digital media can be a daunting task for any parent. With the ever-increasing use of technology and screen time, it is essential for parents to be vigilant about online safety and the potential risks associated with the internet. Mental healthcare professionals, authors and digital technology trend experts Jenny Black and Bob Hutchins stop by the podcast to chat about how technology and digital media affects us, impacts young people, and the ways parents can help children navigate the new digital reality.

Skye Bowen is an educator with over 20 years of teaching experience. She's a passionate leader and an advocate for equity and social justice. Skye and her husband Orlando — who's also been a guest of Shaping Our World — dealt with the trauma of Orlando being assaulted by two police officers in a racial profiling incident. Despite this challenge, she continued to mentor students and empowered them to persevere despite the racism and discrimination many of her own students faced. She joins us on the podcast to talk about how she's shaping the world of young people through both an educational and social justice lens.

Elizabeth Bennett is an award-winning principal with over 35 years of experience as an educator and administrator. She's also an author, and coaches parents on how to have meaningful discussions with their kids to build healthy and helpful relationships. She stopped by the podcast to talk about ways parents can lead their lives with joy and love, and really helps us unpack how to have "courageous conversations" with our teenagers.

Nora Vincent-Braun is the Be There Network representative for Jack.org, a Canadian charity revolutionizing youth mental health. Nora is passionate about creating a more accessible and equitable mental health landscape in Canada. She recently stopped by the podcast to discuss her role at Jack.org along with ways we can help to promote mental health advocacy and improve mental health outcomes among youth in our communities.

Our first-ever roundtable discussion features veteran educators from the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (Brian Marenchin, Greg Peck and Paul Picard) and Muskoka Woods' Director of Schools & Groups, Lucas Durocher, chatting about youth development, the importance of camp and extracurriculars, parenting tips and more!