Reach Out and Read

Dr. Marny Dunlap, a pediatric professor and medical director at Reach Out and Read Oklahoma, and Callee Boulware, regional director for the Carolinas, discuss groundbreaking findings from their impact study. They reveal how exposure to the program increases caregiver reading frequency and interactive behaviors with children. The conversation highlights surprising outcomes, such as strong clinician commitment and scalable implementation. They also touch on the link between early reading and mitigating toxic stress, emphasizing the need for continued investment in early literacy initiatives.

Everything in a fairy tale has already been lost. The fairy tale is where we go to find it again.” Sabrina Orah Mark, author of the new book “Happily” and an award-winning writer and columnist for The Paris Review, joins us to talk about how fairy tales shape - and reflect - our reality in childhood, and beyond.

Illustrated children’s books capture the imagination of children and adults alike like no other art form. Leonard Marcus, one of the world’s preeminent authorities on children’s books and their creators, joins us to talk about “the special nature of the illustrated children’s book as a cultural enterprise that is at once rewarding art form, a bridge across cultures, and a ladder between generations.“

Nearly everyone can learn to read — if they’re taught correctly. It turns out that one of the primary approaches to teaching reading in schools was proven wrong decades ago. Emily Hanford, the host and investigative journalist behind the explosive “Sold A Story” podcast series, joins us to explain how educators came to believe in something that isn’t true and are now working to undo it.

Jerry Pinkney is one of the most celebrated children’s book illustrators of all time. Having illustrated more than 100 books, Jerry won numerous awards including multiple Caldecott medals and Corretta Scott King Illustrator Awards and Honors before his passing. Gloria Pinkney, Jerry’s wife, creative partner, and best friend for more than 60 years, joins us to talk about Jerry’s life, talent, and his relentless drive to show young readers and those with learning disabilities how he became an artist—against the odds.

"Politics, greed, and mismanagement have made this profession incompatible with physical and mental health."  Who are we talking about?  It’s teachers, and we talk to Alexandra Robbins’, author of the new book “The Teachers: A Year Inside America’s Most Vulnerable, Important Profession.” It’s a great look at the reality of America’s teachers: what’s working, what’s not, and how we can fix it.

New parents are often encouraged to ask for help. But the source of that help, and how we provide it — whether it’s physical or emotional - has changed drastically over the years. Instead of turning to close friends and family, many modern mothers turn to social media – sometimes with unexpectedly harsh results. Jessica Clements and Kari Nixon, co-authors of Optimal Motherhood and Other Lies Facebook Told Us, join us to talk about modern motherhood, how groups meant to support and uplift mothers somehow tear them down — and how we can do better.

“Just be yourself” is often easier said than done. It requires time, contemplation, awareness, and often, bravery. And it’s really difficult to write a children’s book that doesn’t come off as simplistic advice, but is carefully crafted and delivers the message well.  Author Monica Wesolowska joins us to talk about her new children’s books that explore what kids experience when they want to ‘be themselves’, how they can connect with others once they do, and the support they need along the way.

“Clinical burnout” is the phrase often used to describe the number of health care practitioners who feel a loss of joy in their work, a sense of despair, and a feeling of disengagement. But is this an individual problem…or a larger systems problem? Dr. Wendy Dean, CEO and co-founder of The Moral Injury of Healthcare, joins us to talk about how those responsible for treating some of the most vulnerable patients in society are employed by corporations whose explicit goal is to maximize shareholder profit — and that term we should be applying to the consequence of this isn’t burnout — but rather moral injury.

Dr. Lindsey Burghardt, Chief Science Officer at the Center on the Developing Child and a pediatrician, discusses groundbreaking concepts in early childhood development. She introduces 'ECD 2.0', emphasizing the importance of the environment in shaping child health. Dr. Burghardt highlights how factors like neighborhoods and structural disparities influence development, advocating for action based on science. She also shares insights on new research aimed at fostering equity and environmental health for children, pushing the conversation forward in impactful ways.