Bringing Laughter to the Darkest Places: An Inside Look at Clowns Without Borders
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Release Date: 09/05/2024
Unleash Your Inner Lego Master
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Get ready to explore the amazing world of LEGO and STEM with our guest, the one and only Jennifer Swanson - the Dean of all things STEM and STEAM! In this fun-filled episode, Jennifer shares the scoop on her new book, "LEGO Amazing Earth," which lets kids design their own ecosystems using everyone's favorite building blocks. We also hear from Sasha Gooray, the driving force behind the Joyful Learning Center. Sasha shares her passion for helping K-8 learners turn challenges into joyful success through personalized tutoring and a focus on developing life skills. She discusses the importance of...
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Live At The Writer's Loft
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
What a fun time I had at the Writer's Loft holiday book festival in Hudson, MA! It was great to meet so many talented children's book authors and learn about their latest projects. Janet Costa Bates was there celebrating her picture book "Time for Bed, Old House" - a sweet story about a grandpa who helps his grandson settle down for a sleepover. Janet shared how meaningful it was when a mom told her that her biracial son saw himself represented in the book's main character. Representation in kids' books is so important, and it's awesome to see more diversity. I also chatted with Helen...
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Bringing Humor, Magic & Heart To Children's Books
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Get ready for an inspiring episode filled with heartwarming stories from children's book authors! We're chatting with Tammy Gerhard, Ria Agawall, and Russell J. Fellows, each bringing their unique perspectives and passion for creating engaging, meaningful books for young readers. First up, we meet Tammy, the author of "Cocoa Hugs and Coffee Mugs" and the upcoming "I Love My Community Activity Book." Tammy shares the powerful message behind her books - that we can disagree with others, yet still show them love and kindness. As the owner of Silk City Coffee Shop, Tammy has created a warm,...
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A Very Hot Chocolatey Christmas
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Alright folks, buckle up because we've got one wild Christmas tale for you! It all starts with the youth group from a local parish getting together to plan their annual holiday service project. But when they decide to visit the nursing home, things take an unexpected turn. Cal's grandma goes missing from the home, and the whole gang springs into action to try and find her. Meanwhile, a crazy accident happens on a nearby bridge, with a school bus ending up partially submerged in the river. Cal and his friend Michaela jump in to help, and soon find themselves in a harrowing situation...
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Empowering Stories Of Adoption
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Get ready to be inspired! In this episode of Reading with Your Kids, we dive into the powerful world of adoption, hearing from two incredible guests who are using their personal experiences to make a difference. First up, we welcome Lorri Antosz Benson, an author who has an incredible adoption story of her own. Lorri shares the heartbreaking yet ultimately joyful journey of placing her child for adoption decades ago. But this wasn't just any adoption - Lorri's daughter later reached out to reconnect, and the two families have formed an unbreakable bond. Lorri's books, including her...
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Navigating College Choices
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this insightful episode, Jed Doherty sits down with Dr. Pamela Ellis, the founder of Compass College Advisory, to discuss the ins and outs of helping kids make the best college choices. As a passionate educator, Dr. Ellis shares her expertise on fostering financial literacy from an early age and the importance of having open conversations about college costs and goals. Jed and Dr. Ellis dive into the challenges many families face, like the lack of information provided to parents about the college application process. They emphasize the value of campus visits that focus on academics, not...
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The King And The Monster
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Join us for a captivating conversation with authors Kathi Lockwood and Dominika Dvorzhak as they share their inspiring journeys in creating children's books that address complex issues like addiction and the experience of being an only child. First, we meet Kathi, the author of "The King and the Monster," a picture book that uses metaphors and adventure to help kids understand the impact of addiction on families. Kathi shares how the book was born out of her own family's struggles, and how she worked to craft a story that separates the person from the disease, encouraging compassion and...
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Unleashing Imagination & Strengthening Family Bonds
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast, host Jed Doherty chats with a trio of talented children's authors who are inspiring families to embrace the wonder of the world around them. First up is Madeline Claire Weiss, author of "What's Your Story?". Madeline shares her personal journey, including the loss of her father at a young age, and how that experience led her to help busy parents find more balance and mindfulness in their lives. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging emotions, both for parents and children, and provides practical tips for using breathing exercises...
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Jeff McBride Celebrates The Magic Of Stories
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Get ready to be enchanted! In this episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast, we had the pleasure of chatting with the acclaimed magician, Jeff McBride. Jeff shared his incredible journey into the world of magic and how it all started with a simple "pick a card" trick that changed the course of his life. Jeff's passion for magic is truly infectious. He explained how a deck of cards is a treasure trove of stories, with each suit and number representing different elements of the natural world. From the 52 cards symbolizing the weeks of the year to the four suits mirroring the seasons, Jeff...
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Celebrating Creativity, Compassion, and the Power of Picture Books
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast, host Jed Doherty had a delightful conversation with two talented authors - Lisa Jacovsky and Laura Gale. First up, Lisa Jacovsky joined the show to celebrate her new book "Mischievous Cat Brothers." Lisa shared how this book is a fun, silly story narrated by her younger cat, with incredible illustrations created by a team that employs individuals with autism. She spoke passionately about her mission to promote understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity, especially when it comes to autism. Jed and Lisa dove deep into the...
info_outlineIn this special episode of the "Reading with Your Kids" podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with Tim Cunningham, the Interim Executive Director of Clowns Without Borders, to discuss the organization's mission of bringing laughter and joy to children and families experiencing adversity around the world.
Cunningham explains how Clowns Without Borders sends professional performers - including clowns, actors, acrobats, and magicians - to war-torn regions, refugee camps, and areas impacted by natural disasters to provide a much-needed respite for children. He emphasizes the importance of allowing children to simply be kids, even in the midst of profound hardship. Doherty and Cunningham explore the challenges and impact of this work, highlighting research that shows the healing power of laughter and play.
The conversation delves into the organization's efforts to bring clowning back home to the United States, focusing on vulnerable communities in cities like New York, Boston, and Chicago. Cunningham stresses the need to address the root causes of forced migration and provide laughter as a form of relief. Doherty underscores the positive impact of clowning on children, allowing them to experience joy and simply be kids.
The episode also features an interview with author Katie Lockwood, who shares the inspiration behind her children's book "Everyone's Invited" and its focus on representing different disabilities. Lockwood discusses the importance of inclusive representation, the need for more disability-focused children's books, and her upcoming projects that aim to celebrate diversity and spread awareness.
Throughout the episode, listeners are encouraged to support the work of Clowns Without Borders and Katie Lockwood's mission through donations and volunteering. The discussion emphasizes the power of laughter, play, and representation in fostering empathy, understanding, and healing for children and families facing adversity.
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