Stanford psychologist Dr. William Damon has spent his life studying how young people find purpose. In this episode, he shares the moments, questions, and choices that can lead you there.linktree: https://linktr.ee/thelifterpodcast

On today’s episode of The LIFTER Podcast, I interview Dr. Erik Hanushek, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and one of the world’s leading experts on the economics of education. His groundbreaking research has shaped how we understand teacher quality, student outcomes, and the long-term economic impact of education policy. We talk about what really makes a difference in schools, why investing in learning outcomes matters, and how smarter policy could change the future for millions of students.

Welcome back to the LIFTER podcast, where we talk about current youth issues and their solutions! My name is Anya Parasher. I'm a high school student, and advocate for mental health. For today's podcast, I talk with Mireya Macias. As a high schooler this past year, Mireya worked alongside her friends to write and pass legislation that will provide menstrual products in all public school bathrooms in the state of NM. In today’s episode, we talk about the process of passing legislation, the intersections between education and public health, and her experience creating change in local communities. Thank you for joining, and enjoy this episode!

It's Mental Health Awareness month, so for this episode, I talk to Dr. Kristina Sowar, who is Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UNM. We discuss a range of topics regarding mental health, teenage depression, and how to create better solutions around the mental health crisis at a societal level. Enjoy!

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Sanjeev Arora, the Founder and Director of Project ECHO. We talk about Project ECHO, the ECHO model, how to create change within a community, and issues that youth face today throughout the world.

During this episode, I talk with Christina Anaya, who is a Project Manager at Project ECHO for Education. We discuss SEL (Social Emotional Learning), issues with the education system in New Mexico, and advice for teachers who want to introduce SEL into their classrooms.