**THIS IS A REPRISE OF EPISODE #6 ON 5.18.22**

Professor of Jewish Studies Ilana Horwitz's recent book God, Grades, and Graduation looks at whether students do better in school when they believe in God and belong to a community of faith. Leah explores with this sociologist such factors as parental influence, compliance with school rules, and socioeconomic inequality. "Leah's Quadrant" is revealed, both women discuss atheist kids, and Dr. Horwitz tells us how religious kids fare in college admissions and qualities like empathy, happiness and self-restraint.

Additional resources:

God, Grades, and Graduation, by Ilana M. Horwitz, Oxford University Press, 2022

Veteran homeschooler of five kids and media entrepreneur Felice Gerwitz discusses how homeschooling has changed over the decades, and how to avoid burnout. Podcast swap!: Felice interviewed Leah in this episode of Vintage Homeschool Moms podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmIiG7BAwhc

Additional resources:

Mediaangels.com (founded by Felice Gerwitz)--a publishing company featuring curriculum, science resources, podcasts, and inspirational books

Ultimate Christian Podcast Network--including Felice's own-https://ultimatechristianpodcastnetwork.com/

Herb Bernstein, acomposer, producer, and arranger for hits in many genres, reflects on his memories of stars such as Laura Nyro, Johnny Carson, Julie Budd, and John Denver, all on his 94th birthday. His humility, optimism, and humor give us a wonderful perspective on growing older. We thank him and artist Julie Budd for sharing their song, "Looking Back," found on her CD at https://www.discogs.com/master/3770922-Julie-Budd-Julie-Budd

Additional resources:

Look for Herb's upcoming book, Born at Ninety, coming soon!

Actors Fund, 155 W Hudson Ave., Englewood, NJ, 07631

**THIS IS A REPRISE OF EPISODE #56 ON 5.22.24**

Former Army Ranger and West Point psychology professor Dave Grossman describes the mayhem violent video games are inflicting upon teens. We discuss mass murder, sleeplessness, and sheepdogs. Granted, it's not an episode for the faint of heart (most kids should not listen), but we end on a surprisingly sweet note.

Additional resources:

Books by Dave Grossman--

Assassination Generation: Video Games, Aggression, and the Psychology of Killing

On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society"

On Combat

(For youngsters)--Sheepdogs: Meet our Nation's Warriors

What to do when Communists take over your country? If you're Kim Parker's dad, you build a boat, learn to navigate, and get the family out of there. After that harrowing escape, Kim grew up in the U.S., only to confront social changes that called her to be a leader in her profession, and her faith.

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzIenh7QbNU

Additional resources:

Association of Christians in Health and Human Services, achhs.org

Sunday, September 7, is National Grandparents' Day! Grandparents by the hundreds of thousands are raising their grandchildren, with the parents out of the picture due to addiction, incarceration, or other traumatizing events. How are we supporting older folks and kin who step up to this challenge? An expert on "grandfamilies" and kinship families, Jamarl Clark, with Generations United in Washington, D.C., compassionately discusses the all-too-large landscape. Leah pipes up with micro-ideas.

Additional resources:
Generations United -- gu.org

Treatment for transgender kids is a topic as fluid as the gender identity of Gen Z. Adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Miriam Grossman describes the rarely-publicized risks of sex identity changes--medical and psychological--and ways that parents should respond to their trans kids.

Warning: some graphic, but professional, discussion of this sensitive topic.

News update: Since our interview, the U.S. v. Skrmetti case referenced in our show was decided. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld, by a vote of 6 to 3, a state ban on certain pharmaceutical and surgical treatments for transgender minors. The Tennessee law in question was Prohibition on Medical Procedures Performed on Minors Related to Sexual Identity, Senate Bill 1 (SB1).

Additional Resources:

MiriamGrossmanmd.com

Donoharm.org

Tradition or Transition? Episode 39, Conversation Balloons Podcast, https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WIX9f5i5wdAbanECrQ5D6

Books by Dr. Miriam Grossman:

Lost in Trans Nation: A Child Psychiatrists' Guide Out of the Madness

You're Teaching My Child What? A Physician Exposes the Lies of Sex Education and How They Harm Your Children

Jean Burk, founder of College Prep Genius, dishes on the tactics about scoring high on standardized tests like the SAT, gap years, teacher recommendations, and whether to guess on multiple choice. Did you know there are no full-ride scholarships for soccer? And that some kids are starting to prepare for college admissions in 6th grade? Before you break out in a cold sweat, listen to this whole episode and share today with a high schooler in your life.

Additional resources:

Collegeprepgenius.com

info@collegeprepgenius.com
Our episodes:

#65--"When the Empty Nest Hurts"

#58--"How to Get the Most out of College"

#37--"Classical Learning for a Change"