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PODCAST

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.

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

51:21

How homeopathy can help families with Marcus Fernandez

Talking About Kids ·

2026/05/18

Send us Fan Mail The science is clear: A one-size-fits-all approach to education or mental health does not work. But what about physical health? I am hearing more and more parents complain about the healthcare their children receive. At the same time, I am being overwhelmed with ads for potions, diets and supplements that promise to cure everything instantly. This is why I was eager to speak with Marcus Fernandez. Marcus has spent three decades advocating for preventative, homeostatic approac...

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35:25

How storytelling builds resilience in kids with...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/05/11

Send us Fan Mail The children’s middle grade action and adventure novel, George Goodwin, Dragon Slayer: A Scouting Legend, was written by long-term collaborators Candace Lee and Eric Newman. Bringing it to fruition was an act of resilience, so it is not surprising that resilience is theme in the book and a skill the authors hope the book fosters in its readers. Candace, Eric, and I discuss this, the importance of scouting and exploration, and the depth of the world they created. More informat...

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37:12

What quality out-of-school-time programming does for...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/05/04

Send us Fan Mail Kevin Cripe changed the culture of his under-resourced school in Modesto, California, with an afterschool program devoted to…chess. Kevin and I discuss his motivation for starting the program, how he did it, and, importantly, why he chose chess. I believe the lessons Kevin learned in the process can benefit all out-of-school time (OST) programs. More information about Kevin – including information on his books, how to engage him as speaker, and a picture of one his many chess...

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32:56

Why we need to rethink how we teach grammar with...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/04/27

Send us Fan Mail Grammar. If the thought of it makes you anxious, you are not alone. My guest this episode, Patty McGee, wants to change that by changing how we teach the subject. The pedagogy that she prescribes in her excellent book, Not Your Granny’s Grammar, is not necessarily new (Patty bases her recommendations on evidence-informed practices). However, solid pedagogy, like Patty’s, is rarely applied to subject of grammar. Patty and I discuss this, her book, and tips for reducing grammar...

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30:39

What you need to know about trends in childcare...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/04/20

Send us Fan Mail If we want to improve the economy, if we want to make the population healthier, or even if we want to reduce the deficit, leading economists tell us that we should invest in early childhood development. Unfortunately, the opposite is happening, and, as new research from National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) reveals, childcare providers are feeling pinched. My guest to discuss NAEYC’s most recent Early Childhood Education (ECE) Workforce Survey is NA...

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38:52

How to redefine childcare practices with Antoinette...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/04/13

Send us Fan Mail When it comes to programs and services for children and families, researchers and practitioners should work hand-in-hand: research should guide practice and, in turn, study what is working to inform the rest of the field. By all accounts, All Our Children Elite Childcare Academy, the beloved program founded by Antoinette Elliott, exemplifies this relationship. Antoinette incorporated best practices and input from expert consultants in the design of the academy, but, as you wi...

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40:05

Why independent tutoring and assessment might benefit...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/04/06

Send us Fan Mail The research is conclusive: strong public education systems benefit individuals, communities, and, ultimately, society in myriad ways. Unfortunately, public education systems across the U.S.A. are facing pressures that, some believe, impede them from providing all the services that kids, and neurodivergent kids in particular, need. My guest this episode, Kait Feriante, supports public education, but she has seen too many kids with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia fall th...

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47:15

Why early reading interventions are important with...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/03/30

Send us Fan Mail Faye Bankler Casell wants your child to read, and she is doing all she can to make that happen. Faye is a Special Educator, Certified Academic Language Therapist, and Dyslexia Therapist; she has a master’s degree from the Teachers College at Columbia University; she hosts the “Teach My Child to Read” YouTube Channel; and she is the founder of HomeReadingCoach.com. As you will hear, Faye is concerned that not everyone in our kids’ lives is as committed to helping them re...

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34:44

How to bring dignity and hope to youth in foster care...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/03/23

Send us Fan Mail The black garbage bag. You may or may not know its significance in the foster care system. Either way, my guest this episode will inspire you. Among other things, Rob Scheer is the author of A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time and the founder of Comfort Cases, a nonprofit with the #BAGBUSTERS rallying cry and the mission to “inspire communities to bring dignity and hope to youth in foster care.” My hope is that you will never look at a black garbage bag the...

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38:34

How to know when you need an attorney to advocate for...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/03/16

Send a text As we have discussed in previous episodes, trained advocates can help protect the rights of kids in IEP meetings and other legal proceedings. Unfortunately, there are times when additional help is required, times when a lawyer is needed. My guest this episode is Paula Yost. Paula is an attorney who is committed to, what she calls, “legal social work,” which is advocating for kids at the intersection of law and education or social service. Paula and I discuss her role, what you can...

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41:30

What you need to know about the IEP process with...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/03/09

Send a text Do you have questions about the IEP process or even what an IEP is? You are not alone. Thankfully, my guest this episode can help. Vicki Christensen is an experienced, certified IEP advocate. As she describes in her forthcoming book – Uniquely, Fully, Enough: The Neurodivergent Parenting Journey, a Memoir and Handbook – Vicki has seen it all as a parent and as a professional. She and I discuss some of what she has learned and how you can apply the lessons to the kids in your life....

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37:14

How to help neurodivergent kids succeed in college...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/03/02

Send a text The challenges of transitioning from high school to college are difficult for everyone. For neurodivergent kids, these challenges can be overwhelming. My guest this episode is Tara Williams, owner and founder of Innovative Collegiate Consultants. As you will hear, Tara believes that by selecting the right school, connecting with the right services, and getting the right executive function coaching, neurodivergent students can do more than survive the transition: they can thr...

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35:41

What you can learn from summer camps to benefit the...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/02/23

Send a text There are summer camp fanatics, individuals who attribute their best qualities to the counselors they had, the songs they sang, the skits they performed, and the friendships they made in mosquito-infested cabins in the woods near a lake. My guest this episode, Matthew Kaufman, is one such individual. Matt attended summer camp, was a counselor, and, eventually, became a camp director. But he did not stop there. Matt sought to understand the science behind the positive experiences t...

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36:15

How a positive financial mindset benefits kids with...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/02/16

Send a text Darla Bishop likes to talk about a family’s relationship with money, like money is a person. The more I listened to her and thought about it, the more I recognized the parallels. A negative relationship with money, like negative interpersonal relationships, creates anxiety and fear, but a positive relationship is associated with health and longevity. In this episode, Darla and I discuss this and her ideas for improving kids’ relationships with money. More information about Darla i...

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23:29

How communities can promote child oral health with...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/02/09

Send us a text The guest for Talking About Kids’ second episode of National Children’s Dental Health Month is Shelly Buckholz. Shelly is the Sealant Program Manager for the Arizona Department of Health Services, and she is going to describe what Arizona is doing to promote children’s oral health. Similar programs are available throughout the United States and in other countries. More information about Shelly and the Cavity Free AZ program is at talkingaboutkids.com.

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43:21

Why children’s oral health is a public health concern...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/02/02

Send us a text February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. To kick it off, I asked David Krol on the podcast to provide an overview of children’s oral health. David is former Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Oral Health; the lead author of AAP's clinical report, Maintaining and Improving the Oral Health of Young Children; and an eloquent and passionate advocate for children’s oral health. In other words, the ideal Talking About Kids guest. More information about...

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42:26

How grandparents play a crucial role in supporting...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/01/26

Send us a text Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that it is a defined by a variety of conditions that, themselves, may exist on continuums. This can make it difficult…and anxiety provoking…for parents of kids with autism spectrum disorder and their care teams to find the optimal combination of interventions. Thankfully, there are sources like, Theresa Lyons’s Navigating AWEtism websites, that critically review the latest research, unpack jargon, and debunk the myths and fad treatments. I...

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4:00

Holiday Break Episode 5: What the poetry of Audre...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/01/19

Send us a text In honor of Audre Lorde’s 1985 essay, "Poetry Is Not a Luxury," I devoted the mini Holiday Break episodes of Talking About Kids to poetry about the holiday season and issues related to kids. For this final mini episode, I read a poem by Lorde, titled “Hanging Fire,” which is an honest and moving portrayal of adolescence. A link to the poem is at talkingaboutkids.com.

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3:45

Holiday Break Episode 4: What the poetry of Robert...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/01/12

Send us a text I am devoting the mini Holiday Break episodes of Talking About Kids to poetry about the holiday season and issues related to kids. In this fourth mini episode, I read a classic: “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost. I am sure it is familiar to you, but, as you listen, please consider whether the narrator is finding emotional regulation in the moment being described. A link to the poem is at talkingaboutkids.com.

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5:03

Holiday Break Episode 3: What the poetry of Joy Harjo...

Talking About Kids ·

2026/01/05

Send us a text I am devoting the mini Holiday Break episodes of Talking About Kids to poetry about the holiday season and issues related to kids. In this third mini episode, I will read “Perhaps the World Ends Here” by Joy Harjo. It is a poem about the table around which a family gathers. A link to the poem is at talkingaboutkids.com.

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242 results

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