With the passing of icon Dolly Parton, Mama B is contemplating the nuggets of wisdom we can share with our kids from Dolly's example. As is often the case on Mama Mentors, character trumps accomplishments. So, we share about generosity, pursuing Big Dreams even as children, having the persistence and patience to achieve excellence in any endeavor, being unapologetically yourself, and the importance of humility, relationships, and a love of life.

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In this Mama Mentors episode, Mama Betsy unpacks how to raise selfless kids in a culture that often rewards self-focus. We explore the building blocks of selflessness—kindness, empathy, and compassion—and why every child must learn these skills over time. You’ll hear the single most important thing parents can do to encourage selflessness, how to create a home culture that models and rewards service, and practical ways even very young children can contribute to the family. We also cover finding family service opportunities everyone can join, spotting your child’s unique passions to channel into service, and using positive reinforcement to make character growth stick. Finally, we talk about elevating character over accomplishment so our kids measure success by who they are, not just what they do.

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Dr. Michael Myers dives deep into vaccine timing and safety, explaining why spreading out shots increases infection risk and doesn’t reduce infant stress (cortisol data) while potentially fueling needle phobia and added preservative exposure. He unpacks combination vaccines, the measles resurgence, and the science on preservatives like thimerosal and aluminum—why amounts in vaccines are far below everyday environmental exposure. Dr. Myers reviews COVID-era lessons, including rare Johnson & Johnson clotting events, long COVID, messaging missteps, and current gaps in pandemic preparedness (WHO withdrawal, mRNA funding cuts, airport screening). We discuss universal vs. risk‑based recommendations, why he supports hepatitis B at birth, and when shared clinical decision-making fits. Plus, practical ways to bolster kids’ immune health beyond vaccines—normal germ exposure, pets, play, diet—without fear. He also addresses vaccine industry concentration, the role of FDA/CDC oversight, and how to stay informed.

Hear about his new book, The Vaccine Bible, and where to find him: drmikemyers.com.