Steve Adubato is joined by a panel of early childhood professionals to address the progress made in the child care sector and the work that still needs to be done on a local and national level. 

Panelists include: 

Winifred Smith-Jenkins, Director of Early Learning Policy and Advocacy at Advocates for Children of New Jersey

Natasha Johnson, Assistant Commissioner of NJ, Division of Family Development 

Meghan Tavormina, M.A., President of New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children

Air Date: 9/23/23 

Show #514

Steve Adubato welcomes William Connell, Ph.D., La Motta Chair of Italian Studies at Seton Hall University, for an informative discussion about the history and impact of Italian Americans in New Jersey.

Michele Siekerka, President & CEO of New Jersey Business and Industry Association joins Steve Adubato to discuss the corporate business tax, the implications of the StayNJ program, and changes in tourism at the Jersey Shore.

Senior Correspondent, Jacqui Tricarico, goes on-location to the New Jersey Sharing Network 5K Celebration of Life to speak with Anika Bhatnagar, NJ Sharing Network’s Youth Volunteer of the Year, about her commitment to educate her peers about the importance of organ and tissue donation. 

Air Date: 9/02/23 

Show #518

Steve Adubato and Dr. Eddie S. Glaude Jr., author of Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own and Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, have an insightful and important conversation about the acclaimed writer James Baldwin and our failure to confront racism, as well as the issue of race relations in America.

Air Date: 7/15/23 

Show #510

Steve Adubato sits down with U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D) – NJ of the 5th Congressional District who provides his perspective on the 2024 Presidential Election and the need for a bipartisan approach to important issues facing our nation.

Ambassador Meryl Frank (ret.), Author of “Unearthed: A Lost Actress, a Forbidden Book, and a Search for Life in the Shadow of the Holocaust”, sits down with Steve Adubato to share her heartbreaking family history, the importance of remembering those that were lost in the Holocaust, and how society can learn from her family’s powerful story. 

Air Date: 8/05/23 

Show #511

Retired NY Giants Super Bowl Champ, Kareem McKenzie, joins Steve Adubato to highlight his career off the football field and his passion for helping young people in marginalized communities.

Jeannie Fournier, Vice President of Programs & Services at Community FoodBank of NJ joins Steve Adubato to address the heightened issue of food insecurity, inflated food costs, and the need for menstrual equity legislation.

Tim McLoone, Owner of McLoone’s Restaurants, joins Steve Adubato for a discussion about the impact of COVID on the restaurant business, liquor license reform, and giving back to his community.

Air Date: 9/09/23 

Show #519

Jade Duncan, D.D.S., M.ED.;

Vincent Solomeno

Brian Bridges, Ph.D., New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education, joins Steve Adubato to address the mental health issues facing college students, affirmative action in higher education and the impact of institutional racism.

Jade Duncan, D.D.S., M.ED., Director of Dental Services at Zufall Health, sits down with Steve Adubato to talk about the impact dental hygiene has on our overall well-being and their mission of providing dental care to underserved communities.

Vincent Solomeno, Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs and New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, sits down with Steve Adubato to highlight their mission of providing quality care to veterans in New Jersey.

Air Date: 8/26/23 

Show #517

Lynnette Mawhinney, Ph.D.

NJ Globe Columnists Daniel Bryan, Democratic Strategist and Alex Wilkes, Republican Strategist join Steve Adubato to discuss the need for civil conversations around politics and the leadership of both President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

Lynnette Mawhinney, Ph.D., Professor & Chair of the Department of Urban Education at Rutgers University-Newark,joins Steve Adubato to talk about the lack of diversity in the teaching profession and barriers for teachers of color.

Air Date: 8/19/23 

Show #516

Asw. Shanique Speight (D) – NJ, joins Steve Adubato for an important discussion about period poverty, the marginalized groups that are impacted, and her personal experience that influenced her passion for this legislation.

Asw. Aura Dunn (R) – NJ joins Steve Adubato to provide her perspective on affordable, accessible child care, the child tax credit, and the polarization of politics.

Steve Adubato welcomes Yuriy Boyechko, President & CEO of Hope for Ukraine, for a compelling conversation about the ongoing war in Ukraine, the recourses he’s providing to his home country, and his family who are being directly impacted by the war.

Air Date: 5/20/23 

Show #503

Steve Adubato sits down with a panel of New Jersey educators to discuss the ever-changing landscape in public education and the impact of book banning.

Panelists include:

Ariel Babcock, Social Studies & Media Teacher

Martha Hickson, High School Librarian

Ian Evans, 7th Grade Literacy Teacher

Betsy Ginsburg, Executive Director of Garden State Coalition of Schools, joins Steve Adubato to discuss the mental health crisis our children are facing and the complexity of school funding.

“Daniel Semenza, Ph.D., Director of the Interpersonal Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers University, joins Steve for a compelling conversation about the prevalence of gun violence, concealed carry laws and the communities that are disproportionately impacted.

Then, Steve Adubato is joined by two Russ Berrie Making A Difference winners to highlight their personal commitment to addressing gun violence and the critical services they’re providing for their communities.

Panelists include:
A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, Founder & CEO, SHE Wins Inc.
Al-Tariq Best, CEO & Founder, The HUBB Arts & Trauma Center”

Air Date: 5/27/23 

Show #504