Talking About Kids

R. Bradley Snyder

Talking About Kids is a weekly podcast for parents, educators, and direct service providers that explores the latest information on issues impacting children and adolescents, from preventing bullying to unlocking creativity. Hosted by R. Bradley Snyder, author of The 5 Simple Truths of Raising Kids, each episode presents a new topic and introduces listeners to authors, academics, and visionaries from around the globe.

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29 episodes
weekly
Avg 31 min
English

Episodes 29

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S6 · E10
Monday · 36 min
What you need to know children’s exposure to plastics (part 2 of 2) with Imogen Napper
Send us Fan Mail My guest for the second part of Talking About Kids’ miniseries on children and plastics is Imogen Napper. Imogen is a Post Doctoral Researcher at The University of Plymouth, where she studies plastic pollution in the environment. Imogen is a National Geographic Explorer and Sky Ocean Rescue Scholar. Her influential research has been reported by news outlets like The Guardian, cited in government testimony, and criticized by Chris DeArmitt (my guest for the first part of this miniseries). Imogen and I discuss her interpretation of the research on plastics in the environment and what that research might mean to kids. More information about Imogen and her research is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S6 · E9
September 28 · 42 min
What you need to know children’s exposure to plastics (part 1 of 2) with Chris DeArmitt
Send us Fan Mail As people who care about kids, we are ripe for exploitation by all sorts of bad actors who use fear to peddle products, sell books, and get clicks. Countering such exploitation with research and science is one of the guiding principles of Taking About Kids, so I listened when Chris DeArmitt – materials scientist; author of Shattering the Plastics Illusion: Exposing Environmental Myths; and Founder of the Plastics Research Council – offered to replace “‘plastic panic’ with evidence-based peace of mind.” I listened, and I read. I read Chris’s research, many of the papers he cites, and the research cited by the scientists and public health officials most worried about plastics. I even interviewed one of the researchers whose work Chris regularly critiques, Imogen Napper. My discussion with Imogen is the second part of this mini-series on plastics. I encourage you to listen to both episodes before drawing any conclusions. I am confident that you will emerge with a healthier understanding of plastics. More information about Chris, his books, and the Plastics Research Council is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S6 · E8
September 21 · 28 min
How an AI-powered app can help you co-parent with Sol Kennedy
Send us Fan Mail Business taglines featuring phrases like “AI” and “AI powered” are everywhere, as are stories about AI errors, its harmful impact on education, its bad counsel, and the natural resources it consumes. This is why I was excited to talk to Sol Kennedy. The app Sol founded, BestInterest, uses AI to improve communication between co-parents in ways that benefit their children and their own mental health. I am not alone in thinking that BestInterest in amazing. Therapists, mediators, family law attorneys, and judges are recommending it to their clients. Sol and I discuss what BestInterest does and how AI helps make it happen. More information about Sol and the BestInterest app is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S6 · E7
September 14 · 42 min
Why be useless, be empty, and live a better story might be good advice for kids with Curtis White
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Curtis White returns to discuss his latest book, On Resistance: A Manifesto, and to explain why his advice to “make yourself useless,” “take back your emptiness,” and “live better stories” might be the best advice we can give kids today. More information about Curtis and his book is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S6 · E6
September 7 · 39 min
What young people can teach us all about resilience and how to flourish with Lawrence C Harris
Send us Fan Mail When Lawrence C. Harris was 14, he was failing in school, playing videogames all day, and existing on junk food. He was unhappy and unhealthy, and, as Lawrence recalls, he felt like he “didn’t deserve to feel better.” Then Lawrence decided to turn his life around, and (spoiler alert) he did. Now, at the ripe old age of 20, Lawrence is a successful author, personal coach, and public speaker. Lawrence chronicled his transformation in his book Think Feel Live Different, which is one of the clearest case studies of a growth mindset in action that I have ever encountered. Lawrence and I discuss his book, his transformation, and what he hopes other young people might learn from him. More information about Lawrence and how you can bring him and his insights to your community is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S6 · E5
August 31 · 37 min
What parents need to know about AI chatbots with Jeremy Heffner
Send us Fan Mail Jeremy Heffner is a successful trauma surgeon, entrepreneur, and self-described systems thinker. To vet some of his ideas about complex systems, Jeremy started a dialogue with an AI chatbot. What happened next is chronicled in great detail and with supporting documentation in Jeremy’s book Proof of the Impossible: What the AIs Are Really “Thinking.” It is a cautionary tale, one Jeremy and I believe we need to learn from as more and more young people are turning to AI chatbots for advice or to deal with isolation or mental health concerns. More information about Jeremy and Proof of the Impossible: What the AIs Are Really “Thinking” is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S6 · E4
August 24 · 35 min
How mindfulness, meditation, and intuitive learning benefit children and families with Veronica Moya
Send us Fan Mail Today on Talking About Kids, I am joined by Veronica Moya, a children's emotional wellness expert, mindfulness educator, author, and entertainer. Veronica and I explore her journey into teaching mindfulness, meditation, and intuitive learning; we clarify common misconceptions about these practices; and we discuss how they support children's well-being and family relationships. Veronica also shares tips for bringing mindfulness and meditation to the kids in your life. More information about Veronica is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S6 · E3
August 17 · 33 min
What chess reveals about kids with Daniel Shapiro
Send us Fan Mail When Daniel Shapiro’s son demonstrated a passion for chess, Dan found himself learning alongside his son, playing games, attending tournaments, and exploring the rich history of chess and its champions. The result is his new book, Decoding Genius: The Unexpected Lessons of After-School Chess Club, which is an exploration of how chess develops the mind and why its lessons extend far beyond the chessboard. Dan and I discuss those lessons and some of the fascinating players and matches that exemplify them. For a limited time, Decoding Genius is available for just 99 cents on Kindle at amazon.com. A link to that and more information about Dan also are at talkingaboutkids.com.
S6 · E2
August 10 · 37 min
How speech-language pathologists help children and families with Luba Patlakh
Send us Fan Mail Although it is difficult to admit, most of us need help with our kids at one time or another. Thankfully, there are trained professionals. I am not just talking about therapists or pediatricians. I am talking about speech-language pathologists. Through her firm, Kidology, Luba Patlakh is bringing the speech-language pathologist lens to issues that disrupt families but might not require the intervention of a doctor or psychologist. Luba and I discuss exactly what she and her colleagues do to support parents and where these services fall in a continuum of care. More information about Luba and Kidology is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S6 · E1
August 3 · 28 min
How cooking activities benefit kids and families with Maegan Zelner
Send us Fan Mail The benefits of preparing and sharing homecooked meals with kids are many. Unfortunately, our schedules and other pressures often prevent us from doing it deliberately and more frequently. My guest this episode, Maegan Zelner, is the Chief Operating Officer of Raddish Kids, a company committed to bringing cooking and baking activities to all families. Maegan and I discuss her perspective on the benefits of shared cooking and baking experiences, the obstacles that prevent some families from enjoying these experiences, and her tips for overcoming those obstacles. More information about Maegan and Raddish Kids is at talkingaboutkids.com.
July 27 · 3 min
Summer Episode 4: What to watch or listen to this summer
Send us Fan Mail This is the fourth and final summer vacation episode of Talking About Kids for 2026. For the second year in a row, I am devoting these mini episodes to movies, TV shows, or songs that inspire us as people who care about kids. Last year, I asked some previous guests for recommendations, but this year I asked listeners. This recommendation comes from Jeff Kirchler. A link to information about Jeff's recommendation is at talkingaboutkids.com.
July 20 · 4 min
Summer Episode 3: What to watch or listen to this summer
Send us Fan Mail This is the third summer vacation episode of Talking About Kids. For the second year in a row, I am devoting these mini episodes to movies, TV shows, or songs that inspire us as people who care about kids. Last year, I asked some previous guests for recommendations, but this year I asked listeners. This recommendation comes from Jessica Flowers. Links to information about Jessica and her recommendation are at talkingaboutkids.com.
July 13 · 3 min
Summer Episode 2: What to watch or listen to this summer
Send us Fan Mail This is the second summer vacation episode of Talking About Kids. For the second year in a row, I am devoting these mini episodes to movies, TV shows, or songs that inspire us as people who care about kids. Last year, I asked some previous guests for recommendations, but this year I asked listeners. This recommendation comes from Tom Reardon. Links to information about Tom and his recommendation are at talkingaboutkids.com.
July 6 · 2 min
Summer Episode 1: What to watch or listen to this summer
Send us Fan Mail This is the first summer vacation episode of Talking About Kids, and, for the second year in a row, I am devoting these mini episodes to movies, TV shows, or songs that inspire us as people who care about kids. Last year, I asked some previous guests for recommendations, but this year I asked listeners. The first recommendation comes from Mary Arredondo. A link to it is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S5 · E36
June 29 · 38 min
How to organize your photos to bring your family closer together with Megan O’Hare
Send us Fan Mail Family photos can help build resilience in kids by connecting them with their heritages or reminding them of times when they felt competent, safe, and loved. In the digital age, we create more family photos than ever, but, ironically, we seem to be appreciating them less. My guest this episode, Megan O’Hare, teaches adults how to organize and keep their photos safe and how to convert them into formats that kids enjoy accessing and sharing. Megan and I discuss her tips for starting – what might seem to be – the herculean task of sorting digital photos and her professional insights on common mistakes and misconceptions about creating and storing photo archives. More information about Megan and her service, The Photo Project, is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S5 · E35
June 22 · 33 min
How 12 years of mentoring benefits kids with Jorie Das
Send us Fan Mail Research shows that mentoring improves health, mental health, and other outcomes for mentees. But these outcomes can be compromised and even worsened when mentor relationships are brief, inconsistent, or inadequately supported. Jorie Das, my guest this episode, is the Executive Director of Friends LA. Like all Friends of the Children chapters, the mission of Friends LA is to provide every child involved in the child welfare system with a single, trained mentor for the entirety of their primary, middle, and high school years. How does Friends LA get mentors to make such a commitment? It pays them. Jorie and I discuss this model, its benefits, and the effect it is having in her region. More information about Jorie and Friends LA is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S5 · E34
June 15 · 38 min
How to bring the benefits of camp experiences to more kids with Shawna Rosenzweig
Send us Fan Mail It is Shawna Rosenzweig’s vision to bring the benefits of structured outdoor experiences to all kids. If she is seeing farther than some, it is because she stands on the shoulders of the benevolent 100-year-old giant that is Camp Fire. Shawna and I discuss how outdoor experiences boost self-efficacy and equality, Camp Fire’s pioneering legacy, the hallmarks of great outdoor programs, and how to bring those programs, or elements of them, to the kids in your life. More information about Shawna and Camp Fire is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S5 · E33
June 8 · 37 min
How correcting clubfoot improves the lives of kids with Daphne Sorensen
Send us Fan Mail I have spent decades trying to help kids thrive. Unfortunately, the adversities children and youth face are varied and persistent, and the victories over them are few and far between. Consequently, when I encounter an intervention that dramatically improves the lives of kids efficiently and universally, I get excited because we all need a win sometimes. MiracleFeet provides technical and financial support to a network of local partners in 38 countries to provide best-in-class treatment of clubfoot. As you will hear from MiracleFeet’s CEO, Daphne Sorensen, the organization’s cost-effective approach has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of kids by removing the barrier to success that this painful and debilitating condition otherwise creates. More information about Daphne and MiracleFeet is at talkingaboutkids.com.
S5 · E32
June 1 · 36 min
How executive functioning coaches help neurodivergent kids with Norrine Russell
Send us Fan Mail Interest in executive functioning coaches for neurodivergent kids has grown considerably over the last five years, which is both exciting and worrisome. It is exciting because coaches promise to help students plan, organize, focus, and manage their emotions and tasks. It is worrisome because there are no degree, training, or licensing requirements to be an executive functioning coach. To help me parse this and to gain a better understanding of executive functioning coaches, how they work, and what to look for in a coach, I asked Norrine Russell to come on the podcast. Norrine has decades of experience in youth development, and her firm, Russell Coaching, has been working with neurodivergent students since well before the recent boom. More information about Norrine and Russell Coaching is at talkingaboutkids.com.
May 25 · 4 min
Memorial Day Episode: Poppies for remembrance
Send us Fan Mail In this mini Memorial Day episode, I look at poppies as a symbol of remembrance that you can share with the kids in your life. A link to “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae is at talkingaboutkids.com. Full-length Talking About Kids episodes return next week (June 1, 2026).

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