Parents, especially moms, may hurt longer and deeper than they expected when they waved goodby to their college student kids. Jodi Silverman guides empty nesters out of sadness or worries over their young adult children launching into college or moving out of the home.

Additional Resources:

Jodisilverman.com

Moms Who Dare Facebook community

Beyond Empty Nest podcast

Marilyn Raichle compares notes with Leah on the benefits to kids of acting lessons and theater projects. Marilyn has been one of America's most successful children's theater producers, while never being an actor and not having children of her own. Find out how she created "an explosion of good will, an explosion of happiness" for kids onstage.

Youth advocate Emma Lembke returns to the show, digging into how and why big tech creates addicts of kids who use social media. Technology, she says, dumbs down Gen Z while it consumes their mental health and privacy. Co-founder of the Log Off Movement, Emma discusses how legislation and lawsuits could protect children from the predatory tactics of Big Tech.

Additional resources:

Episode 59, "Media Mirage" on Conversation Balloons https://open.spotify.com/episode/0jw8ky4z4YGSk6EZcS8NEO

Log Off Movement, logoffmovement.org

Design It for Us, designitforus.org

Tech(nically) Politics, technicallypolitics.org

Socialmediasafety.org

Scrolling2death.com

DeMarco Taylor, Dean of Students at an all-boy school in a predominantly Black neighborhood, outlines their manhood program. How does it avoid teaching toxic masculinity, and how does it give boys what gang life offers?

Additional resources:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/conversationballoons/episodes/61--Rites-of-Passage-Into-Manhood--Part-1-e2mia8r

Crossoverprep.org

Crossing Over into Manhood--
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=8fa3744389&attid=0.0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1802051357277744999&th=19022c29698cef67&view=att&disp=inline
Let's Save our Sons--Conversation Balloons Episode 29-- https://open.spotify.com/episode/5cMzsrVq0dZWTW5VrLUCXQ Innovative Schools in a Struggling Neighborhood--Conversation Balloons Episode 52-- https://open.spotify.com/episode/2OWRkTmpeEeIbmPw7lGlc6Niobe Way, "The Crisis of Connection for Adolescent Boys" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ScAvJ0KiyU

Aussie Darren Lewis describes his fatherhood adventure program in Australia--its importance for maturing boys and why creature comforts, ceremony, and grandfathers are important in rites of passage.

Additional resources:

Fatheringadventures.com

Fatheringadventures.com.au/blog

Milestone to Manhood by Steven Arms and David Arms

Connection is more important than communication, and relationship expert Steven Stosny outlines how and why. Long-married Leah personally endorses the insights in this bracing conversation. #Stevenstosny #marriage #relationshipadvice Additional Resources: compassionpower.com https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/steven-stosny-phd

Youth activist Emma Lembke confides how teen social media addiction led her to disordered eating, sleeplessness, and anxiety, resulting in an unusual kind of rebellion. Now she has founded the Logoff Movement and Design It for Us to reform tech for young people--and we're all better for it.

Additional resources:

Logoffmovement.org

Designitforus.org

Conversation Balloons Episode 51: Kids on Social Media: Positivity or Poison? with Laura Tierney

Jonathanhaidt.com

How to choose a college, how to "design your life," and why dorms with long hallways are a good thing: consultant Elliot Felix equips parents and students with ways to ensure a great return on your college tuition investment.

Additional resources--

Elliot Felix's book: How to Get the Most Out of College: 127 Ways to Make Connections, Make It Work for You, and Make a Difference

Interview with Tami Peterson--Conversation Balloons podcast, Episode 10--

The Give and Take by Adam Grant

Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam

The Cost of Inclusion by Blake Silver