This week, Dr. Matt Biel speaks with Dr. David Willis, a pediatrician who dedicated his career to understanding how relationships shape child development and wellbeing and putting in places policies and support structures to enable these relationships to flourish.

David brings a unique perspective shaped by his experiences as a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, academic scholar, leader of federal policy in early childhood, and founder of the Nurture Connection Network.

The discussion explores the evolution of pediatric care beyond individual treatment toward a more holistic understanding of children within their relational ecosystems—families, neighborhoods, schools, and communities.

David shares evidence and case studies on how communities across the country are successfully implementing locally-tailored relational health initiatives that honor families' values while addressing isolation and fostering connection - as well as the results these programs deliver including Bridgeport, Connecticut's "Baby Bundle" initiative that has improved developmental outcomes in Head Start by 15% in just four years.

For questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes, please email us at: thrivecenter@georgetown.edu.

In this episode, Dr. Matt Biel speaks with Rob Harris, an expert in early childhood mental health and education. Their conversation explores the critical role of relationships that young children form with the adults in their lives - caregivers, parents, extended family members, and educators.

Rob brings a unique perspective shaped by his experiences as a classroom teacher, mental health counselor, consultant, and father. The discussion challenges conventional thinking about children's behavior, presenting it as a crucial form of communication about their inner experiences and emotional needs.

In this episode, Dr. Matt Biel speaks with Andy Arias, whose work spans policy, advocacy, and program development in disability rights. Their conversation explores what it means to thrive at the intersection of disability, cultural identity, and lived experience. Andy brings perspective as a professional in disability policy, as a member of Latino and LGBTQ+ communities, and as someone who has lived with cerebral palsy since birth.

The discussion challenges conventional thinking about disability, presenting it not as a deficit or tragedy, but as a cultural identity that will touch all of our lives. Andy articulates a vision where self-determination becomes the foundation for authentic thriving.