Jelani talks with Sam Rapoport and Becca Gitlitz-Rapoport. Ever wanted to know what a power couple looks like? It looks like Sam and Becca. 

Sam is an  executive at the National Football League. Yep. The NFL. She just so happens to be an out and proud employee working in football, where she's a 21 year veteran. 

Her wife, Becca, is an Emmy-winning producer, director, and filmmaker currently creating films at Time Studios. 

They also happen to have two little amazing children at four and nine months old. 

The conversation gets into all about how they met, started a family, and learned both have incredibly high profile careers while raising their kiddos. Sam and Becca talk about the stigma they face as a gay couple and what society feels is and isn't acceptable for them in raising their children. 

Jelani shares that Sam and Becca are good friends, allies, and two of the best parentshe knows. Enjoy this conversation and all the wisdom they share.

Check out Sam and Becca’s book, A Kids Book About Allyship, by visiting ​​akidsco.com/products/a-kids-book-about-allyship. 

Contact us by emailing us at listen@akidsco.com.

Explore our collection of over 80 books made to empower, by visiting akidsco.com. 

Jelani talks with Matthew Winner, a podcast producer, host, and school librarian.

Matthew is the former host of The Children’s Book Podcast. He's kind of a veteran in the kid's podcast space. In fact, he produces all of the shows on our A Kids Co. podcast network. He also spent 15 plus years as an educator and librarian. 

Matthew believes kids have an extraordinary potential and don't quite get enough credit for it, for how absolutely brilliant they are. One of his superpowers is creating safety for kids. We touch on the needs of kids and grownups, and what the rest of us parents can learn from just listening to our kids.

Matthew is a friend, colleague, and simply an all-around amazing human being. And we’re pleased to get to share this conversation with you.

Learn more about Matthew at his site, ​​matthewcwinner.com. 

Contact us by emailing us at listen@akidsco.com.

Explore our collection of over 80 books made to empower, by visiting akidsco.com. 

Jelani talks with Joy Cho, creative director, designer, author, Thai American, and mother.  

Joy is the founder of Oh Joy! and has collaborated with brands like Target, Band-Aid, Petco, and so many more.  She’s done 40 licensing partnerships to date, creating colorful, and incredibly designed products.  Joy also happens to hold the record for the most followers of any influencer on Pinterest at 15+ million.

Here’s the thing about Joy though: just like Jelani and many others, she’s an introvert.  She doesn’t recharge when there’s a bunch of people around her, but rather in those quiet moments by herself.  The child of immigrants, this conversation gets into how Joy’s learned to keep the good things she got from her parents while evolving to fit with her family today.

Jelani and Joy talk about how the key to parenting might just be flexibility. Flexibility with how you think things are supposed to go and how they actually go. Flexibility with the different stages of your kids' lives.  And flexibility to balance work, home, life, and everything else.  

Joy has this parenting thing figured out, and we’re so excited to share this conversation with you.

Learn more about Joy at her site, ​​ohjoy.com. 

Contact us by emailing us at listen@akidsco.com.

Explore our collection of over 80 books made to empower, by visiting akidsco.com.