What does air quality have to do with learning, health, and childhood? And how should families respond as environmental risks grow?

This week, we’re sharing an episode from Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast, hosted by Russ Altman. Originally released in 2025, this episode features Stanford pediatrician Lisa Patel discussing how pollution, wildfire smoke, plastics, and environmental policy are shaping children’s health. Patel explores both the science behind these growing concerns and practical steps families, educators, and communities can take to create healthier environments for kids. She covers several topics, including:

• (02:32) The air we breathe: Protecting young lungs
• (10:02) How to support kids during poor air quality events
• (13:18) Asthma and allergies: Tackling environmental triggers
• (19:11) Confronting climate change: How to’s for healthier homes
• (23:48) Food choices, family health, and environmental impacts
• (28:09) Practical actions for families and schools

Lisa Patel is an associate professor of pediatrics at Stanford University and a physician specializing in children’s environmental health. Her work focuses on how climate change, pollution, and environmental exposures impact children and communities, with an emphasis on practical solutions that support healthier futures. Learn more about her work on her faculty profile.

The Future of Everything explores how technology, science, and medicine are shaping our lives. Host Russ Altman speaks with researchers and innovators working to create the future… of everything. Learn more about this episode on the show’s website.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

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