In this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn is joined by co-host Brian Greene, President and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, to discuss some of the most urgent issues impacting children and families in Texas and across the US.

We’re diving into:

• State of Immigrant Families: Krystal Gomez, Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council, discusses the growing emotional and mental health toll immigration enforcement is having on children, mixed-status families, and DACA recipients across Texas.
• The Learning Recession: Christine Thomas, Director of the Center for Social Measurement and Evaluation at CHILDREN AT RISK, breaks down alarming new data showing long-term declines in student achievement across the US.
• Texas School Voucher Update: Dr. David DeMatthews, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at UT Austin, examines how Texas’ expanding voucher program is affecting public schools, special education services, and low-income families.

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In this special episode, Dr. Chris Kulesza (aka "Dr. Data") is joined by co-host Owala Maima, Media Communications Coordinator at CHILDREN AT RISK, to dive into the massive opportunities and challenges surrounding children’s wellbeing in the age of rapid technological change and Artificial Intelligence. We’re diving into:

• HB 1481 & School Cell Phone Bans: Texas House Representative Caroline Fairly (District 87) discusses the breadth of the new law, student and parent reactions, and its intended impact on academic success and student health.
• AI & Precision Policies: Dr. Suresh Bhavnani, Professor of Biostatistics & Data Science at UTMB, explains how interpretable AI methods can be used to create more precise policy design that directly benefits and protects American families.
• Thriving in the Age of Gen AI: Miguel Guhlin, Director of Professional Development at the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA), breaks down why outright banning ChatGPT is a missed opportunity. We discuss the SOLO Taxonomy, critical thinking skills, and how using new frameworks helps learners thrive.
• Human-First Higher Ed AI: Austin Community College Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart details ACC’s new human-centered AI initiative, supporting at-risk students and empowering small businesses in Central Texas.

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In this episode, Owala is joined by co-host Natalie Gonzalez, Development Coordinator at CHILDREN AT RISK, to discuss the latest issues impacting children from the global stage to local neighborhoods. We’re diving into:

• Growing Up Around the World: Dr. Bob Sanborn, President and CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK, calls in from Europe to discuss the Iranian crisis, the impact of the Trump administration on global politics, and what Americans can learn from how children are treated abroad.
• ELQN & Home-Based Child Care: Martha Gonzales, Associate Director of the Early Learning Quality Network, breaks down how home-based providers are helping solve the child care crisis in Harris County and why this model is trending in Texas.
• Nostalgia Core & Y2K: Media Culture Correspondent Anya Osundwa unpacks why Gen Z is obsessed with the late 90s/early 2000s and what this cultural obsession says about modern technology and anxiety.

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