The Perkins Platform

Authors Helen Shwe Sdanai and Rachael Katz join to discuss their book The Emotionally Intelligent Child: Effective Strategies for Parenting Self-Aware, Cooperative, and Well-Balanced Kids. The book outlines the stages of development a child goes through as they gain social awareness and emotional balance.Helen Shwe Hadani, PhD, is currently a fellow at the Brookings Institution where she conducts policy-focused research on the benefits of playful learning in both formal and informal contexts. Prior to joining Brookings, she served as the director of research at the Bay Area Discovery Museum where she guided program and exhibit development. An expert in early childhood and creativity development, she has more than twenty years of experience in research and education settings, and has worked with toy, media, and technology companies, including Disney, Sesame Workshop, Apple, LEGO, Fisher-Price and Mattel. Helen holds a BA in cognitive science from the University of Rochester, and a doctorate in psychology from Stanford University.Rachael Katz, MS, Ed, teaches social and emotional learning skills to parents and children. She has over 25 years of experience as an early childhood educator and school leader. Rachael was the Head of the Discovery School at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Head of Social and Emotional learning for Early Years at Dulwich College Beijing, and an elementary classroom teacher for preschool - third grade.  In addition to working in school settings, Rachael has created and written television for Nick Jr. and Radio Television Hong Kong, and was a consultant for educational programs at Children’s Television Workshop. Currently, she is working on a children’s animated series on emotional intelligence with Marc Lumer Productions. Rachael holds a Master’s degree in education from Bank Street College and a BA from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Psychologist, professor and author, Dr. Todd B. Kashdan joins us on Wednesday, June 29 @ 6pm EST to discuss his new book, The Art of Insubordination: How to Dissent and Defy Effectively. Dr. Kashdan is the leading expert on the psychology of well-being, curiosity, mental flexibility, and social relationships and a professor of Psychology at George Mason University, a leading authority on well-being, psychological flexibility, curiosity, courage, and resilience. He has published over 220 peer-reviewed articles and his work has been cited over 38,000 times. He received the Distinguished Faculty Member of the Year Award from George Mason University and Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contributions from the American Psychological Association. He is the author of Curious? and The Upside of Your Dark Side, and his latest book is The Art of Insubordination: How to Dissent and Defy Effectively. His writing has appeared in the Harvard Business Review, National Geographic, Fast Company, among other publications, and his research is featured regularly in media outlets such as The Atlantic, The New York Times, NPR, and Time Magazine.  He's a twin with twin daughters (plus one more), with plans to rapidly populate the world with great conversationalists!

Dr. Jolanta Burke joins us on Wednesday, June 22 @ 2pm EST to share her thoughts on powering off smart devices. Dr. Burke is a Chartered Psychologist (British Psychological Society) specializing in positive psychology and an Associate Professor at the Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. She has authored eight books, one of which is “The ultimate guide to implementing wellbeing programmes for school” and published over 200 articles (academic, professional, popular). She is a regular contributor to Psychology Today and has spoken at conferences worldwide. Dr. Burke was acknowledged by the Irish Times as one of 30 people who make Ireland a better place.

Dr. Frederic Luskin joins us on Wednesday, June 15 @ 6pm EST for an impactful conversation about his research on forgiveness. Dr. Luskin founded and currently serves as Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects. He is also the Department Chair in Clinical Psychology at Sofia University. At Stanford, he teaches classes on Positive Psychology, The Art and Science of Meditation, Forgiveness, Wellness, Flourishing and The Psychology of Storytelling. Dr. Luskin is the author of the best-selling books Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness and Forgive for Love: The Missing Ingredient for a Healthy and Happy Relationship. Dr. Luskin teaches stress management, emotional intelligence and happiness skills to corporate clients throughout the United States and has been interviewed by the New York Times, O Magazine, Today Show, Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, Huffington Post, and CBS Morning News, etc. His work has been applied in veteran’s hospitals, churches, in resolving legal disputes, with cancer patients as psycho education and in psychotherapy. Dr. Luskin’s work focuses on the research proven triad of a healthy and happy life: Enhancing interpersonal relationships, creating a positive purpose in life and guided practice in appreciation and other positive emotions.

Organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association, Dr. Mike Rucker, joins us for a conversation on authenticity and the workplace. Dr. Rucker has been academically published in publications like the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of the upcoming book The Fun Habit, available January 2023. Tune in on Wednesday, June 8 @ 6pm EST!

Best selling author, philanthropist, acclaimed speaker, and senior level executive, Steve Pemberton, joins us to discuss his new book, The Lighthouse Effect. Steve currently serves as Chief People Officer for Workhuman. He previously served as Global Chief Diversity Officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance, the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise in the world. Before his post at Walgreens Pemberton was the Chief Diversity Officer for Monster.com where he helped the company achieve all-time growth in applicants. From his participation on several non-profit boards to establishing A Chance in the World Foundation, Steve remains a relentless champion for those who have often been left in the shadows. His commitment to others and his refusal to accept things as they are, have earned him national recognition, including the coveted Trumpet Award and the prestigious Horizon Award by the United States Congress. Tune in on Wednesday, June 1 @ 6pm EST!

Join us on Wednesday, May 25 @ 6pm EST for a special conversation with the I Can Problem Solve (ICPS) program creator, Dr. Myrna B. Shure and lead national trainer for ICPS, Stephanie Colvin-Roy, to discuss their work and Dr. Shure’s book, Raising a Thinking Child.Dr. Myrna B. Shure is professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology at Drexel University in Philadelphia. She is the creator of the I Can Problem Solve (ICPS) program—a school-based social and emotional learning/violence prevention program, recognized for research and service by numerous national organizations. She is the author of the Raising a Thinking Child Workbook, an ICPS program for families, with recognition by the Strengthening America’s Families Project and NASP. She has been recognized by the American Psychological Association’s Psychology Matters initiative for research relating to schools and families.  Her books for parents, Raising a Thinking Child and Raising a Thinking Preteen are both Parent Choice Award winners. Dr. Shure consults on issues of mental health in our nation’s youth.Stephanie Colvin-Roy has spent over 18 years providing professional development in prevention education and youth development. She provides professional learning, consultation and technical assistance to schools and youth-serving agencies with a focus on social and emotional learning as the training and organizational development associate for the Center for the Promotion of Social and Emotional Learning at Center for Schools and Communities. She is Lead International Trainer and manages the I Can Problem Solve (ICPS) and Raising a Thinking Child programs in partnership with the program developer, Dr. Shure. She has received extensive training in SEL and other areas, including character education, Courageous Conversations-Beyond Diversity, and Supporting Students Exposed to Trauma.

SPECIAL BROADCAST:  Educator Sari Beth Rosenberg joins us on Tuesday, May 24 @ 6pm EST to discuss how she’s addressing the recent Buffalo supermarket shooting in the classroom.  Ms. Rosenberg has been teaching U.S. History and AP U.S. History at a New York City public high school for the past 20 years, and she currently hosts the PBS NewsHour Classroom Educator Zoom series. She writes social studies curriculum and lessons for the New York City Department of Education. She has also been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, Axios, Reuters, Chalkbeat, TheSkimm, and many other outlets. She is the co-founder of Teachers Unify Against Gun Violence and a senior advisor for Voters of Tomorrow. She holds a B.A. from Columbia College, Columbia University and a M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Join us on Tuesday, May 17 @ 6pm EST for an exciting conversation with professor and author, Dr. Ayelet Fishbach, discussing her work on motivation and her latest book, GET IT DONE: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation. Dr. Fishbach is the Jeffrey Breakenridge Keller Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. She is the past president of the Society for the Study of Motivation and the International Social Cognition Network. Also an expert on motivation and decision making, Dr. Fishbach’s groundbreaking research on human motivation has won the Society of Experimental Social Psychology's Best Dissertation Award and Career Trajectory Award, and the Fulbright Educational Foundation Award.

Join us on Wednesday, May 11 @ 6pm EST for an exciting conversation with Dr. Pam Davis, who is the Founder of Wellbotics, an organization that delivers pop up makerspaces to cancer care communities and other safe spaces. Dr. Davis is an accomplished educator with a balance of education and experience in instructional media and technology. Her expertise spans the fields of teaching computer literacy and integrating technology into existing practice. Dr. Davis excels in developing student centered learning environments for learners at all levels and proficiencies. In 2016, Dr. Davis combined her interests, passion and profound gratitude to those who helped her in her own battle with breast cancer by developing and offering Wellbotics to children and families dealing with the troubling times that often accompany a family cancer diagnosis. Wellbotics now helps people of all ages cope with and prevent the negative impact of various traumatic events. She resides in the New York City area as a workshop leader, public speaker and a STEM Educator. To learn more about Dr. Davis and her journey follow wellbotics on social media and drpamdavis on LinkedIn.