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...
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Hooves, Hearts & Heroism
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Gather round, friends, because we've got a real treat for you today! We had the pleasure of chatting with two incredible authors who are using their books to spread messages of love, acceptance, and the power of the arts. First up, we met Laura Meredith, the author of the delightful children's book "Christopher's New Home." Laura shared the heartwarming story of how she adopted a tiny, sickly lamb named Christopher and gave him a loving forever home on her little farm in Scotland. With her passion for animals and her own experiences of feeling like an outsider, Laura wove an uplifting...
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From Hollywood Villain to Teddy Bear Pal: Jed Bernard Shares the Heartwarming Story Behind “Jeddy’s Teddy”
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
If you're looking for a delightful new children's book to add to your little one's collection, you'll want to check out "Jeddy's Teddy" by actor-turned-author Jed Bernard. In this fun and insightful conversation, Jed chats with host Jed Doherty about his journey from the screen to the page, and the special bond between a boy and his beloved teddy bear. Jed shares the true story behind "Jeddy's Teddy," which he wrote this past July and released in October. As a child, Jed was quite attached to his teddy bear, Tommy, who became his best friend during a time when Jed struggled with a speech...
info_outlineIf you're passionate about education and supporting underserved communities, you'll love this episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast. Jed Doherty sits down with Summer Schneider, the head of school at Legacy College Prep, a charter school in the South Bronx that's making a big difference in the lives of its students.
Summer shares the inspiring mission of Legacy College Prep - to ensure all students have access to opportunities after high school, whether that's college or other paths like trade schools or the military. She explains the unique autonomy and flexibility that charter schools have, which allows them to tailor their curriculum and approach to best serve their students.
One of the biggest challenges facing Legacy College Prep is the high number of students who are performing two or more grade levels behind when they enroll. But Summer and her team are laser-focused on building reading habits and providing extra support to help these students catch up and thrive.
Beyond academics, Summer also discusses the importance of rebuilding the partnership between schools and families, especially after the pandemic disrupted in-person interactions. She shares how Legacy College Prep is working to bring parents back into the school community.
Jed and Summer also touch on the nationwide teacher shortage and Legacy College Prep's efforts to ensure they're fully staffed and able to provide the best possible education.
But the real heart of this episode lies in Legacy College Prep's commitment to college preparation and making higher education accessible and affordable for their students. Summer explains the school's partnerships with universities and their focus on guiding families through the financial aid process. The episode takes an exciting turn when Jed welcomes back Antony Kolenc and Leslea Wahl, from the Catholic Teen Authors group. They discuss their latest anthology, "Shadows, Visible and Invisible," which explores the Catholic traditions surrounding All Hallows' Eve, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day. Tony and Leslea share the collaborative process of creating these anthologies and the importance of preserving and sharing these rich cultural and faith-based stories with young readers. They encourage listeners to check out the Catholic Teen Books website to discover more inspiring, wholesome books for teens, and to support local independent bookstores by requesting the anthology. It's clear that the Catholic Teen Authors are on a mission to provide teens with literature that nourishes both the mind and the spirit.
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