Nearly 30 million U.S. children and teens participate in some form of organized sports. While sports have physical health benefits for kids, they can also benefit their mental, emotional, and social health.

How can sports help kids heal, grow, and thrive? Why is it essential to provide kids with high-quality, healing sports? And what can parents and schools do to ensure a healthy sports environment for their students?

In this episode, Megan Bartlett joins Kevin to share how sports can help kids heal, grow, and thrive.

Meet Megan:

Megan Bartlett is the founder of The Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport, a national nonprofit working to ensure more young people and athletes have access to sports experiences that are healing-centered, inclusive, and address issues of systemic injustice.

This is, What I Want to Know.

Revisit this episode on whether college is the best path for students to have successful careers with Mark C. Perna.

For the past few decades, there’s been a significant push for students to enroll in a four-year university immediately after high school. But according to a recent survey, almost 70 percent of parents would support their children entering the workforce right after high school.

What’s causing parents to accept and seek alternative routes for their children? What skills do students need to thrive in today’s careers? And is college the right fit for all students?

Meet Mark:

Mark C. Perna is a speaker, best-selling author, and Forbes contributor. He considers himself a champion of the younger generations, devoting his career to understanding their untapped potential.

This is, What I Want to Know.

Public charter schools currently serve more than 3.7 million students. In fact, according to a report by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, enrollment in public charter schools grew by more than 300,000 students between 2019 and 2023.

What are charter schools? What are the benefits of the charter school model? And how can charter schools create opportunities for our students?

In this episode, Cheryl Stahle joins Kevin to discuss how charter schools can create opportunities for students.

Meet Cheryl

Cheryl Stahle is the academic advisor at West Virginia Virtual Academy.

She is the recipient of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools annual Changemaker Award. The award honors individuals who are advocates for public education and creating more high-quality public education options for families.

This is, What I Want to Know.

As the school year ends and summer begins, many parents and teachers worry about the “summer slide.” The summer slide is the tendency for students to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the previous school year.

To combat this learning loss, many districts are focusing on providing additional opportunities for students to learn over the summer.

How can we combat the summer slide? Are summer learning programs the answer? And how can we ensure all students have access to these programs?

In this episode, Aaron Dworkin joins Kevin to discuss if summer learning programs can combat the summer slide.

Meet Aaron

Aaron Dworkin is the CEO of the National Summer Learning Association, which works to ensure all young people in America, especially the most vulnerable, can access and afford a high-quality summer learning experience every year.

This is, What I Want to Know.

In response to pandemic learning loss, many school districts across the country turned to intensive tutoring.

And studies have shown that methods like high-impact tutoring can increase a student’s learning and be more effective than standard methods.

Can tutoring help students overcome pandemic learning loss? What works and doesn’t work when it comes to tutoring? And why is it important for all students to have access to effective tutoring methods?

In this episode, Dr. Susanna Loeb shares why access to tutoring is important for students.

Meet Susanna

Dr. Susanna Loeb is the founder and executive director of the National Student Support Accelerator, an organization aiming to expand access to high impact tutoring to address inequities in educational opportunities.

This is, What I Want to Know.

More than 7.5 million students in the United States have disabilities that qualify them for individual education plans. However, teachers trained in special education are in short supply.

In fact, a survey found that 65% of public schools report being understaffed in special education.

What is causing this shortage? How is this affecting teachers and students across the country? And what can we do to combat the shortage of special education teachers?

In this episode, Kimber Wilkerson shares how we can combat the shortage of special education teachers.

Meet Kimber

Kimber Wilkerson is a professor of special education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She has broad expertise in preparing teachers to provide instruction to students with disabilities and improve their long-term outcomes.

This is, What I Want to Know.

Revisit our episode on digital safety featuring Titania Jordan, chief marketing officer and chief parent officer of Bark Technologies.

Technology can open up doors to more information and content than ever before. That can be good – and bad – for kids. How can we teach kids healthy tech habits? What are the risks of cyberbullying, access to predators, image distortion, or self-harm? And how should personal devices be managed in the classroom?

In this episode, Kevin discusses healthy digital use with tech parenting expert Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies.

To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, revisit our episode on promoting mental health with Anne Brown, President and CEO of the Cook Center for Human Connection.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nearly 20 percent of youth in the United States age 6 to 17 experience a mental health disorder and suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10- to 14-year-olds. With so many youth struggling today, most parents are left feeling helpless and concerned. In fact, a report found that mental health is the greatest concern among parents.

How can parents help their children who are struggling? Where can parents turn for support?And how can schools and parents work together to foster positive mental health in their students?

In this episode, Anne Brown joins Kevin to discuss how parents and caregivers play a crucial role in children’s mental health.

This is, What I Want to Know.