This week on The Hamilton Review Podcast, we're pleased to welcome pediatrician Dr. Cori Cross.

In this episode, Dr. Cross explores the impact of social media on children and offers practical guidance for parents navigating today's complex digital landscape.

Drawing from her Peds in Review article, "The Complicated Reality of Social Media," Dr. Cross joins Dr. Bob for a thoughtful discussion that takes a deeper look at the challenges and opportunities social media presents for families.

We hope you enjoy this important and timely conversation.

Cori Cross is a board-certified pediatrician and has been serving the LA community since her residency at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) in 2004. Dr. Cross graduated cum laude from Barnard College with a BA in philosophy. She attended The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, where she obtained her M.D. and was elected to the AOA honor society.

Dr. Cross works as an advocate and public educator speaking nationally and locally to children and adults on a variety of topics. She is an American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Spokesperson and uses this platform to advocate for children and educate the public on pediatric and public health issues. In addition to interviews on behalf of the AAP, she is a repeat medical expert on CNN's Headline News and Los Angeles' CBS news.

After years on the interviewee side of things, Dr. Cross can now be heard hosting peer-to-peer medical podcasts for RadioMD.

In 2010 with the advent of the iPad, it was evident that screens would have a profoundly different effect on this next generation. Dr. Cross joined the AAP's Council on Communications and Media and served two terms on the Executive Committee. She was a lead author on the AAP's "Media Use in School-Aged Children and Adolescents" as well as the accompanying technical report "Children and Adolescents and Digital Media."

She has continued working and educating in this space, giving talks locally and nationally to parents, student, educators and pediatricians. She partnered with Common Sense Media locally to give panel discussions and nationally to develop resources for pediatricians to address these issues in their offices. In 2017, she won an Outstanding Achievement in Innovation Award from the AAP for her work in creating the Family Media Use Plan Toolkit on HealthyChildren.org.

She has continued to work with the AAP to update these resources and policies. She authored The Complicated Reality of Social Media, published in August of 2025 in Peds in Review and co-authored Digital Ecosystems, Children and Adolescents Policy Statement and Technical Report published in Pediatrics in January of 2026.

How to contact Dr. Cori Cross:

Dr. Cori Cross Website

How to contact Dr. Bob:

Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ

Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/

Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656

Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/

Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/

Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/

This week on The Hamilton Review Podcast, we welcome Dr. Aditya Nagrath, founder of Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy.

Dr. Nagrath breaks down how Elephant Learning is changing the way children learn math—and why traditional approaches often fall short.

A must-listen for parents with kids who struggle with math.

Dr. Nagrath helps students overcome mathematics anxiety. Aditya is the creator and founder of Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy which helps students learn years of mathematics over the course of a few months using their system just 10 minutes per day, 3 days per week.

With a PhD in Mathematics & Computer Sciences, Dr. Nagrath has spent over 30 years in industry as a software engineer, author, leader, speaker, and serial entrepreneur working on everything from atomic clocks to iOS and Android apps to Amazon's Kindle Fire. As the Founder of Elephant Head Software, which won the prestigious JD Edwards Innovation Award in 2015, he has also done software projects for Pearson, Verizon, Telefonica, JD Edwards (Oracle), and other billion dollar companies.

Now with Elephant Learning, Dr. Nagrath has taught nearly 200,000 years of mathematics to over 160,000 students around the world, and is on a mission to change the way the world teaches mathematics.

With a Facebook following of over 54k, Aditya has spoken at the University of Denver, and is the author of numerous scientific works, a series of blogs on learning mathematics, as well as the Amazon Best Sellers "Rethinking Math Learning" and "Treating Mathematics Anxiety."

For his expertise, Dr. Nagrath has been recognized by the California Department of Education and featured in over 100 podcasts, news articles, interviews, and television/video appearances.

How to contact Dr. Aditya Nagrath:

Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy

How to contact Dr. Bob:

Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ

Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/

Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656

Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/

Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/

Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/

This week on The Hamilton Review Podcast, we're delighted to welcome children's book author John Redstone.

In this episode, John shares his personal journey from working as an investment analyst to becoming a children's book author, an inspiring story of where kids and culture collide.

We know you'll enjoy John's colorful, rich, and delightful storytelling, and young listeners will especially love Humphrey the Hippo!

John Redstone was born and raised in London and came to Canada in 1980. He had no intention of staying until he met his future wife, Chantal. They have now been together for over forty years. He held various Marketing and Engineering roles in the Metals and Mining industry until 1992.

At that point he made the fateful decision to become an Investment Analyst in the Financial Markets - a position he maintained until retiring in 2011.

He has always been a faithful fan of Crystal Palace Football Club and a great admirer of hippos.

How to contact John Redstone:

John Redstone Website

John Redstone on TikTok

John Redstone on Facebook

How to contact Dr. Bob:

Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ

Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/

Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656

Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/

Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/

Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/

This week on The Hamilton Review Podcast, we are pleased to welcome science journalist, Michaeleen Doucleff.

In this episode, Michaeleen discusses details from her Wall Street Journal article, My Family Went Off Ultra-Processed Foods for a Month. The Results Surprised Us.

Enjoy this raw, real and informative conversation.

Michaeleen is the author of the New York Times Bestseller, Hunt, Gather, Parent. Her second book, Dopamine Kids, comes out March 3, 2026. It explains how screens and ultraprocessed foods work inside our children's brains, and how parents can use this knowledge to raise confident, healthy kids.

As a science journalist for over a decade, Michaeleen studies and reports on cross-cultural parenting, psychology and neuroscience, primarily for NPR.

Michaeleen began her career as a research chemist, completing her postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health.

How to contact Michaeleen Doucleff:

Michaeleen Doucleff website

How to contact Dr. Bob:

Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ

Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/

Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656

Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/

Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/

Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/

This week on The Hamilton Review Podcast, we are pleased to welcome Patrick T. Brown.

In this episode, Patrick discusses his work at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he focuses on advancing a strong, pro-family economic agenda and supporting families as the foundation of a healthy, flourishing society.

He also shares insights from his Wall Street Journal article, "'The Success Sequence' Goes to School," which explores how family life classes in Tennessee are emphasizing the importance of work and marriage.

This is a thought-provoking and informative conversation you won't want to miss.

How to contact Patrick T. Brown:

Patrick T. Brown at the Ethics and Public Policy Center

Family Matters (on Substack) by Patrick T. Brown

How to contact Dr. Bob:

Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ

Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/

Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656

Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/

Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/

Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/

This week on The Hamilton Review Podcast, it is our pleasure to welcome Ilana Kurshan to the show! In this conversation, Ilana discusses her book, "Children of the Book", which explores the closeness forged when family life unfolds against a backdrop of reading together.

Kurshan, a mother of five living in Jerusalem, at first struggles to balance her passion for literature with her responsibilities as a parent. Gradually she learns how to relate to reading not as a solitary pursuit and an escape from the messiness of life, but rather as a way of teaching independence and forging connection. Introducing her children to sacred and secular literature—including the beloved classics of her childhood—helps her become both a better mother and a better reader.

Enjoy this insightful conversation!

Ilana Kurshan is the author of If All the Seas Were Ink, winner of the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish literature. She has worked in literary publishing both in New York and in Jerusalem as a translator and foreign rights agent, and as the books editor of Lilith Magazine. Kurshan is a graduate of Harvard University (BA, summa cum laude, History of Science) and Cambridge University (M.Phil, English literature). She teaches and studies Torah in Jerusalem, where she lives with her husband and five children.

How to contact Ilana Kurshan:

Ilana Kurshan website

Ilana Kurshan on Facebook

How to contact Dr. Bob:

Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ

Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/

Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656

Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/

Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/

Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/

This week on The Hamilton Review Podcast, we are excited to have Peter and Clara Hamilton on the show!

In this episode, Peter and Clara are sharing all about the launch of their brand new company, Loam.

Loam is architecturally inspired heirloom wood toy blocks, all natural and sustainably sourced and fully made in the USA.

You will thoroughly enjoy Peter and Clara's personal story (from Peter's Architectural career, Clara's career in Educational Counseling and balancing their four children with very limited screen time) and how they created Loam.

Loam is designed to nurture creativity, imagination,and mindfulness through open-ended, screen-free play. Loam is inspired by the timeless elegance of beautiful materials and craftsmanship. It's a generous gift that connects generations through design, imagination, and tactile joy.

Enjoy this inspiring conversation and share it with your friends and family!

Peter Hamilton, founder of Loam, was born and raised in Santa Monica, California, studied Creative Writing and Art at Pepperdine University, and has a Master's Degree in Architecture from the University of Oregon. Peter is a licensed architect, and he has owned his own architecture office, Studio Peter Hamilton, for eight years. In his free time, Peter enjoys studying art books, planting trees, and coaching his kids' baseball teams.

Clara Hamilton, wife of Peter and mother of their four children, is a full-time mother and home educator. Clara was raised in Culver City, California, studied Sports Medicine at Pepperdine University and has a Master's Degree in Educational Counseling, and before staying home to care for their children, she served twelve years as a high school teacher, counselor, and administrator in both public and independent schools. In her free time, Clara enjoys reading with her kids, sewing, or spending time outside with her family.

How to contact Peter and Clara Hamilton:

Loam Blocks website

Loam Blocks on Instagram

Studio Peter Hamilton

How to contact Dr. Bob:

Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ

Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/

Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656

Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/

Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/

Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/

This week on The Hamilton Review Podcast, it is our pleasure to welcome Clare Morell to show!

In this conversation, Clare discusses her book, "The Tech Exit" and guides us to discover a realistic path to tech freedom and how to unlock a happy, healthy and socially enriching life for our children.

A critically important episode for parents and caregivers.

Clare Morell is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in the Bioethics, Technology and Human Flourishing Program. She is also the author of The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, published by Penguin Random House.

How to contact Clare Morell:

Clare on Substack

The Tech Exit - book website

How to contact Dr. Bob:

Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ

Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/

Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656

Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/

Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/

Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/

"The answer to your parenting question is already within you."

- Heather Spadaccini

It is our pleasure to welcome Certified Parent Coach, Heather Spadaccini to The Hamilton Review Podcast!

From toddler tantrums to teenage angst, Heather helps parents navigate through the challenges that parenting brings. Heather's refreshing, practical approach guides parents towards uncovering the strengths, values and instincts that already live within them.

Parents! Don't miss this informative and critical discussion on The Hamilton Review.

Heather Spadaccini is a Certified Parent Coach through The Jai Institute for Parenting. She holds a Master's degree in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and has years of experience teaching elementary school in New York City and Los Angeles. She is a mom of two children, ages 9 and 14. Her work is rooted in the belief that every parent has the capacity to navigate the challenges that parenting brings.

Coaching is not about prescribing rigid rules or quick fixes, it's about guiding parents towards uncovering the strengths, values, and instincts that already live within them.

She approaches her clients with compassion, curiosity, and respect, offering parents both practical tools and reflective space to explore what is working, where they feel stuck, and what they truly want for their family. Through this process, parents gain clarity, confidence, and new ways of responding that align with their values and foster stronger, more peaceful relationships at home.

How to contact Heather Spadaccini:

Intrinsic Parenting Website

Intrinsic Parenting on Instagram

How to contact Dr. Bob:

Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ

Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/

Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656

Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/

Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/

Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/

It is our absolute pleasure to welcome distinguished conductor, Pola Benke to The Hamilton Review Podcast!

Pola was was recently appointed Music Director of the Santa Monica Symphony and Assistant Conductor of the Pacific Symphony, continuing to build a dynamic and impactful presence across Southern California.

In this conversation, Pola shares her story of discovering music as a young child growing up in Poland. She also talks about how she got into conducting, as well as the best ways to guide, nuture and support children in their musical journey. You'll also hear about what kinds of music that Pola listens to when she isn't working - her answers will surprise and delight you!

Don't miss this wonderful and informative discussion on The Hamilton Review.

Pola Benke is a distinguished conductor celebrated for her innovative approach to orchestral leadership and her commitment to standardizing diverse programming in the modern symphonic repertoire. She was recently appointed Music Director of the Santa Monica Symphony and Assistant Conductor of the Pacific Symphony, continuing to build a dynamic and impactful presence across Southern California.

Previously, she served as Assistant Conductor for both the Long Beach Symphony and the Riverside Philharmonic, where she earned a reputation for her clarity, musicality, and ability to foster meaningful connections with musicians and audiences alike.

Born in Poland, Pola's journey began with a strong foundation in performance, leading to Master's degrees in both cello performance and orchestral conducting. Her dual expertise equips her with a rare perspective—combining the analytical skills of a conductor with the empathetic understanding of a performer.

Pola believes that orchestras should serve as a reflection of the diverse world we live in. She is a committed advocate for thoughtful, inclusive programming that honors a wide spectrum of voices—seamlessly integrating cherished masterworks with compositions by historically underrepresented artists. With a deep sensitivity to narrative and context, she curates programs that invite personal connection and collective reflection. Whether through imaginative repertoire choices, compelling storytelling, or fresh interpretive insight, Pola aims to create concert experiences that are artistically vibrant, emotionally resonant, and genuinely welcoming to all.

Her professional path has been shaped by collaborations with leading conductors and ensembles, including Neeme Järvi, Sian Edwards, and Paavo Järvi. Her participation in prestigious programs such as the Järvi Academy in Estonia, the Dartington Music Festival in England, and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music has further refined her craft, earning her recognition as a forward-thinking and impactful conductor.

Her leadership style is marked by kindness, collaboration, and the ability to inspire musicians of all generations to perform at their best. Whether leading a large-scale symphonic work or rehearsing an intimate chamber ensemble, Pola brings energy and precision that elevates every performance.

Influenced by composers like Joseph Haydn, Krzysztof Penderecki, Jennifer Higdon, and Igor Stravinsky, Pola blends a deep respect for tradition with a spirit of curiosity and openness to new ideas. At the heart of everything she does is a love for sharing music with others.

How to contact Pola Benke:

Pola Benke Official Website

Pola Benke on Instagram

Pola Benke's email address

How to contact Dr. Bob:

Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ

Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/

Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656

Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/

Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/

Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/