Conversation Balloons

Aging-care mavens Kim and Mike Barnes partake in an informative and heartwarming discussion about how to help our parents in the last stages of their lives.  

Additional resources:

--ParentingAgingParents.com

--The …

Linda Shrewsbury--Harvard graduate, entrepreneur, educator, and dear friend of Leah--explains why handwriting is important, and recounts her …

A father describes the hardship of raising kids in a region where his religion is harshly persecuted.  His teenage daughter speaks up about how she …

Parenting coach and communication expert Julie King gets specific and practical on effective talking with squirming, distracted, disgruntled young …

What's it like to raise kids in a persecuting culture?  We interview a charming and courageous couple in North Africa and then reap keen insights …

Physician Julia Mason describes the medical steps of gender transition for children, explaining to your astonished host why she opposes each one.  …

A day (and evening) in the life of a school principal
and insights into how to relate to your child's principal. Teachers
too will benefit from this …

Jeremy Tate of the Classic Learning Test expounds upon the virtues of classical education and the new college entrance exam that is shouldering out …

When you get a young philosopher on your show to talk about education, you just might discuss Rousseau, TV advertising, the panopticon effect, Nazis, Aristotle, and tech lash.  

Additional resources: 

…

Equine therapy for kids is having a moment, and Katie Rogers of Boston Mountain Youth Ranch is especially clear on how and why she facilitates these amazing connections.
Additional resources:
Bostonmountainyouthranch.org

Our kids and grandkids will be shaped by urban plans. What will their cities and neighborhoods look like?  Who will decide?  Are 15-minute cities and smart cities brilliant and humane, or the latest form of corporate …

Leah talks heart-to-heart with speech and language pathologist Brian Farish in this chat about nurturing the elderly and those recovering from brain …

Anxiety in children and teens: Here's a compassionate and practical dialogue about it with Beth Mishkind Roth, a mother and expert in child and …

Lauren Williams, a certified professional organizer, sorts it all out for Leah: how hoarding relates to OCD, depression, and dementia, how it begins, and how declutterers help hoarders and their families.  She even …

13 is the new 30 (years old) in Juvie. Hear a juvenile detention nurse depict the emotional and physical needs of her city's toughest kids over the …

It's time we discuss how boys are stigmatized, ignored, and villainized in schools and workplaces.Michael Gurian heads the Gurian Institute, writes …

Parenting coach and author Ruchi Koval expounds on fostering character in youngsters, while Leah eggs her on.  They discuss the deep principles of ancient Jewish wisdom as applied to kids having tantrums, saying …

Help for women facing unwanted pregnancy is a hot political topic; some nonprofits combating abortion have been the focus of criticism and …

Tim Elmore, expert on Millennials and Gen Z, founder and CEO of Growing Leaders, who has appeared in media such as CNN, Washington Post, Wall Street …

One of the nation's foremost experts, Dr. David Gozal, describes sleep, and common challenges to a good night's rest, in all stages of adulthood.  …

Best-selling author Dr. Robert Petterson describes his daughter's faith journey, from Peace Corps to Presbyterian, and Leah suggests that asking for grace from others is the key in fraught relationships.  Both have more …

16-year-old Jordan Davidson got wisdom beyond his years the hard way: fighting his marijuana addiction. Now age 22, Legislative Affairs and Youth …

Our guest began activism with fighting abortion--now he confronts root causes such as poverty, "marriage deserts," and housing problems.  Colin …

Are walkable cities ableist utopias?  What about strollers on subways, baby seats in Ubers, and Grandma's walker on the bus?  …

This episode can be found on YouTube in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc_RFQ2x6vE

Our Yuletide surprise is a poignant short …

Sleep expert Dr. David Gozal gives us a good-natured look at sleep in the stages of infancy, childhood, and adolescence.  He enlightens us on topics …

How can grandparents stay close and connected to grandchildren who are being raised with different values?  Legacy Imperative, headed by Dr. Robert Petterson,

inspires and guides grandparents in maintaining warm …

Tom Lutz hangs with Leah to talk about Millennials in the workplace, why people of no faith should listen to him, burnout and vision, why Pope John …

Medical marijuana and recreational cannabis are big business, and they want your kids to consume.  Ken Finn, MD, a board-certified pain management …

It's estimated that $4 trillion of church real estate will be distressed in the next 40 years.  About 70 churches close every week. But Blake Schwarz, a former Presbyterian church staffer, sees rich opportunity to …

A megachurch pastor shares practical wisdom about visiting the elderly and ill, deriving joy and benefit from times that many people find uncomfortable.  Skills for such times with the aging, infirm, or dying can be …

Dr. Peirong Lin is Deputy Secretary General for the World Evangelical Alliance.  Fortunately for our show, she's also a humble and wise conversationalist.  Peirong talks about her upbringing in Buddhism, her view of …

Award-winning national culinary consultant Callie Fowler Farish talks about the many factors that combine to make a school lunch what it is. In …

Three 10 to 11-year-olds reveal what they think about bad teachers, getting scared at night, forgiveness, Greek mythology, graphic novels, Kindles, …

Tami Peterson evolved from high school guidance counselor to a life architect.  From her deep experience in charting college plans and beyond, Tami …

Lennell Haley recounts a life story that includes molestation and assault, but also hope and beauty.  If you want to hear what a Black woman's heart …

An award-winning chef and kitchen designer gets personal with Leah about food, family, and table manners.  In this episode, Callie Fowler Farish of …

Fighting the trafficking and sexual exploitation of our precious children: this is Kristin Weis's mission at the Demand Project.  She and Leah talk …

Professor of Jewish Studies Ilana Horwitz's recent book God, Grades, and Graduation looks at whether students do better in school when they believe …

What do the state of Michigan, ESPN, Indian tribes, LSU's sports program, and Caesar's in Las Vegas have in common?  According to Les Bernal of StopPredatoryGambling.org, they want you and your kids to gamble.  He …

Pastor of a Methodist megachurch, Jessica tells stories about and muses upon the elders among her congregation.  Leah asks how older Christians are …

Leah picks the lively brain of Tim Elmore, founder and CEO of Growing Leaders, an Atlanta organization taking leadership principles to the next generation.  We get vivid portrayals of Gen Z, Millennials, and Boomers: …

Diane Beals, PhD, a specialist in childhood language acquisition, and Leah reminisce about studying emerging adulthood--whether males age 18-21 feel …

Josh Lewis, host of Saving Elephants podcast, which connects Millennials to conservative ideas, joins Conversation Balloons to bring us up to speed on conservatism's younger adherents--and why there are not enough of …