The Grow Kinder Podcast

In this episode of the podcast, LaShuna McBride sits down with author and educator Rosalind Wiseman to discuss the complexities of motivation in young people. Rosalind, whose book inspired the iconic film Mean Girls, emphasizes the importance of understanding the emotional landscapes of today’s youth and how parents and educators can better support them in a rapidly changing world.

Throughout the episode, the pair explores the impact of social media on young people's mental health, the necessity for adults to reflect on their motivations when guiding their children, and the significance of fostering meaningful social connections. Rosalind shares insights from her upcoming book, 10 to 25, which focuses on listening to young people's needs to help promote genuine motivation and will be released just a few weeks after the infamous October 3rd “Mean Girls Day”—an important touchstone in pop culture history that still impacts generations of teens.

Rosalind also addresses the challenges posed by negative adult behaviors and offers practical advice for navigating these interactions. She advocates for small, meaningful gestures of kindness, particularly in the spirit of October 3rd, encouraging listeners to reflect on how they can foster positivity in their relationships.

Stay tuned for more enlightening episodes this season. Catch us on your favorite podcast platforms like Apple, Spotify, and SoundCloud. For more information, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org.

Additional Resources

Learn more about Rosalind Wiseman: https://rosalindwiseman.com/

Sign up for Committee for Children’s policy and advocacy newsletter: https://www.cfchildren.org/sign-up-stay-informed/

In this episode of the Grow Kinder® podcast, Dr. Tia Kim sits down with educator and author Jessica Lahey to explore the vital role of social-emotional learning (SEL) in nurturing children’s success—both academically and emotionally. Jessica talks about how parents can embrace failure as a way to foster resilient adults, sharing vulnerable real stories of overparenting that highlight its impact.

In this episode, you’ll find effective strategies to combat overparenting. You’ll also learn more about the link between SEL programming and substance use prevention, and how advocating for nurturing environments can help foster the emotional intelligence needed to succeed.

Jessica offers practical insights for parents and educators on giving children the space to thrive, encouraging open discussions about feelings and perspectives. Reflecting on the pandemic, she sees an opportunity to strengthen social-emotional skills and underscores the importance of building resilience in children

Stay tuned for more enlightening episodes this season. Catch us on your favorite podcast platforms like Apple, Spotify, and SoundCloud. For more information, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org.

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Jessica Lahey: http://JessicaLahey.com

Sign up for Committee for Children’s policy and advocacy newsletter: https://www.cfchildren.org/sign-up-stay-informed/

In this episode of the Grow Kinder® podcast, Committee for Children Chief of Staff Shauna McBride talks with Katie Wohlford-McCracken, recipient of our Second Step® Educator of the Year Award and counselor at Fairview Elementary School, a National Blue Ribbon School outside of Asheville, NC.

Katie shares how her school integrates social-emotional skills directly into its school-wide behavior expectations. Students are expected to be assertive and ask for what they want or need, as well as be able to stop and name overwhelming feelings and work to calm themselves down.

Katie attributes her school’s success to teachers being fully on board and SEL being the “base language” at Fairview. SEL success, she explains, can often be identified by what you don’t see, like disruptions. Instead, students are quietly engaged and learning.

Katie shares her favorite part of Second Step’s curriculum and how she weaves personal stories into her lessons. Shauna and Katie explore misconceptions about SEL and what parents and community members can do to amplify SEL’s benefits.

To sign up with Committee for Children to advocate for children’s social-emotional well-being, click here: https://www.cfchildren.org/sign-up-stay-informed/

Stay tuned for more episodes on our thought-provoking journey throughout this new season. You can catch us on your favorite podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and more.

For additional information, visit: https://www.cfchildren.org/podcasts/

Don’t forget to engage with us by filling out our listener survey: forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

We created this podcast for you, and your feedback is invaluable. Keep an eye on your podcast feeds for the new season, and in the meantime, remember to Grow Kinder!

In this episode of the Grow Kinder® podcast, Dr. Tia Kim interviews Dr. Laura Markham, a renowned clinical psychologist, author of the Peaceful Parent series of books, and the founder of Aha! Parenting. Throughout the episode, the pair explores the concept of peaceful parenting. Peaceful parenting focuses on self-regulation, connection with children, and coaching rather than controlling kids. Dr. Markham emphasizes the importance of parents and caregivers being mindful of their own social-emotional skills in order to effectively teach these skills to their children. Dr. Markham also highlights the significance of social-emotional learning in both the home and school environments, stating that these skills are essential for building healthy relationships and communities - now and for future generations.

Dr. Markham introduces "Aha! Parenting" as a platform that provides support and guidance for parents in utilizing peaceful and connected parenting approaches. Aha! Parenting was founded to support parents to create a more peaceful home and happy, responsible, considerate kids. Concrete examples are given of how parents can apply these strategies with both toddlers and teenagers. Learn more about Aha! Parenting here: https://www.ahaparenting.com/about

To sign up with Committee for Children to advocate for children’s social-emotional well-being, click here: www.cfchildren.org/sign-up-stay-informed/

Stay tuned for more episodes on our thought-provoking journey throughout this new season. You can catch us on your favorite podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and more. For additional information, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org.

Don’t forget to engage with us by filling out our listener survey: forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

We created this podcast for you, and your feedback is invaluable. Keep an eye on your podcast feeds for the new season, and in the meantime, remember to Grow Kinder!

In this episode of the Grow Kinder podcast, host Dr. Tia Kim interviews Amber Coleman-Morley, Senior Director of Community and Culture at The Female Quotient. Throughout the episode, they speak to the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) in building strong communities, emphasizing the impact of how skills such as empathy and communication foster healthy relationships and help children and adults thrive.

Dr. Kim and Amber also explore the intersection of SEL and civics education, and how this powerful combination strengthens kindness in society. Amber also shares with listeners her extensive work in developing equity and equality initiatives.

To learn more about the work of The Female Quotient, click here: https://www.thefemalequotient.com/

To sign up with Committee for Children to advocate for children’s social-emotional well-being, click here: https://www.cfchildren.org/sign-up-stay-informed/

Stay tuned for more episodes on our thought-provoking journey throughout this new season. You can catch us on your favorite podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and more. For additional information, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org.

Don’t forget to engage with us by filling out our listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

We created this podcast for you, and your feedback is invaluable. Keep an eye on your podcast feeds for the new season, and in the meantime, remember to Grow Kinder!

In this episode of the Grow Kinder Podcast, host Andrea Lovanhill speaks with Dr. Kathleen Ethier, the director of the Division of Adolescent and School Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In this enlightening conversation, Andrea and Kathleen dive deep into the pressing issues surrounding the mental health of today's teenagers. We take a close look at the CDC's recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the startling findings related to the mental health of teenage girls. We discover the initiatives undertaken by the CDC to help schools address these mental health challenges. In addition, Kathleen offers advice for concerned parents on how they can actively support their children’s social-emotional well-being and development.

To learn more about the CDC’s work with schools, click here: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/whatworks/index.htm

To read the Youth Risk Behavior Report, click here: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/YRBS_Data-Summary-Trends_Report2023_508.pdf

To sign up with Committee for Children to advocate for children’s social-emotional well-being, click here: https://www.cfchildren.org/sign-up-stay-informed/

Stay tuned for more episodes on our thought-provoking journey throughout this new season. You can catch us on your favorite podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and more. For additional information, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org.

Don’t forget to engage with us by filling out our listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

We created this podcast for you, and your feedback is invaluable. Keep an eye on your podcast feeds for the new season, and in the meantime, remember to Grow Kinder!

In this episode of the Grow Kinder Podcast, our host Dr. Tia Kim chats with the illustrious Dr. Dorothy L. Espelage. A distinguished professor from the University of North Carolina (UNC) and a cherished partner with Committee for Children, Dorothy brings a wealth of knowledge on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and its crucial intersection with bullying prevention.

Having dedicated over 22 years to research, especially in bullying prevention, Dorothy sheds light on the significant role of SEL in fostering a positive school environment. Throughout their conversation, they touch on the deep relationship between bullying prevention and SEL, the hurdles educators frequently encounter while introducing SEL programs, and the actionable strategies they can employ for smoother implementation.

This episode is not just an exploration of the significance of SEL; it's a roadmap that offers a solutions-centric approach. It's a must-listen for decision-makers and educators aiming to harness SEL for an enriching academic experience.

For those eager to dive deeper into Dorothy's pioneering initiatives and research, take a moment to explore the Espelage Lab and click here: https://espelagelab.web.unc.edu/

To sign up with Committee for Children to advocate for children’s social-emotional well-being, click here: https://www.cfchildren.org/sign-up-stay-informed/

Stay tuned for more episodes on our thought-provoking journey throughout this new season. To listen to this season’s Grow Kinder podcast episodes, as well as more episodes from our archives, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org.

Buckle up for this enlightening episode, and don't forget to share your insights with us through our listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW.

And don’t forget to Grow Kinder!

In this episode of the Grow Kinder Podcast, host Andrea Lovanhill speaks with Helen Westmoreland, the Director of Family Engagement at the National Parent Teacher Association and cohost of the Notes From the Backpack podcast. In this enlightening conversation, Andrea and Helen dig into the world of family engagement, education, and the power of social-emotional learning (SEL). We discuss why it’s important for parents to not only embrace SEL, but to also champion it, and Helen shares inspiring examples of successful parent-teacher collaborations. Listeners will also learn strategies for how they can support SEL during the school year and beyond. And Helen provides valuable recommendations for parents, caregivers, and educators, offering insights into how they can nurture SEL in their schools and communities year after year.

To learn more about the National PTA’s Center for family engagement, click here: https://www.pta.org/the-center-for-family-engagement

To sign up with Committee for Children to advocate for children’s social-emotional well-being, click here: https://www.cfchildren.org/sign-up-stay-informed/

Stay tuned for more episodes on our thought-provoking journey throughout this new season. To listen to this season's Grow Kinder podcast episodes, as well as more episodes from our archives, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org.

Don’t forget to engage with us by filling out our listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

We created this podcast for you, and your feedback is invaluable. Keep an eye on your podcast feeds for the new season, and in the meantime, remember to Grow Kinder!

Welcome back, listeners! After a two-year hiatus, the Grow Kinder podcast has returned and it’s better than ever. In this exciting relaunch, your host, Andrea Lovanhill, CEO of the Committee for Children, alongside her co-hosts, Dr. Tia Kim, and Shauna McBride, kick off an incredible new season with a promise of enlightening discussions on all things Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).

This season features a stellar lineup of guests, including education experts, well-being advocates, communication specialists, health professionals, and research leaders. Each episode is meticulously crafted to address the SEL topics that matter most to parents and educators.

Shauna emphasizes the core mission of this season, which is to help listeners understand what SEL is and why it's crucial to creating lasting positive effects for children like improved academic achievement in math, reading and writing. Dr. Tia Kim shares her excitement about exploring the Second Step® social-emotional learning programs, designed to empower preschoolers, teenagers, and all age groups in between with the essential skills for success, such as communication, resilience, and problem-solving.

Andrea Lovanhill gives a sneak peek of the season's upcoming discussions, ranging from the dangers of misinformation in education to the role of AI in shaping the future of learning. The season begins with an insightful conversation with Helen Westmoreland from the National Parent-Teacher Association on the collaborative efforts of parents and teachers in implementing SEL in the new school year.

Stay tuned for a thought-provoking journey throughout this new season. You can catch us on your favorite podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and more. For additional information, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org.

Don't forget to engage with us by filling out our listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

We created this podcast for you, and your feedback is invaluable. Keep an eye on your podcast feeds for the new season, and in the meantime, remember to Grow Kinder!

In this episode, host Shauna McBride speaks with Nick Butler, artist and illustrator of Committee for Children’s Captain Compassion® comic series. Nick explains how he used every design choice to carefully and intentionally craft a visual identity for Captain Compassion® and her sidekick Kid Kinder®.

To create Kid Kinder, Nick took visual cues from his little brother and himself as children, making this project an intensely personal one. He tells Shauna, “When I had this opportunity with Kid Kinder to represent the Black community, I dug in. I really wanted to make sure that I was singing the praises of Black boys and Black girls, and I wanted to have the character capture that essence and really represent.”

Nick and Shauna also explore how Black creators are forging new, independent paths through the media landscape, no longer relying on traditional gatekeepers to allow them a seat at the table. These stories contain lessons for anyone seeking to create or consume media that represent a diversity of identities and lived experiences.

To see more of Nick’s work, check out his Instagram account @turtledusttoons, or at turtledustmedia.com.

Learn more about the Captain Compassion campaign at CaptainCompassion.org.

Visit GrowKinderPodcast.org for more episodes of the Grow Kinder® podcast. You can rate and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Take our listener survey to let us know more about you and what you think of the podcast. We’d love to hear from you!

Listener Survey: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=LWN-Qn3OEkeSrzrKSxjPe1fy2tWnuMpOsq-A9xekDc9UQlNYU05BVU5WVTJPOEQyNzc0Sk0wRjJGWi4u

Links to other resources from the episode:

Manuel Godoy’s Black Sands Entertainment

https://blacksandsentertainment.com/