Kansas City MomCast Kansas City Mom Collective

How safe is your home for your family? Meg McCollister, regional administrator for the EPA Region 7, join us to discuss environmental home safety concerns including radon, lead, water, air quality, and more.







Thank you to our episode sponsor



Thank you to our episode sponsor, the AdventHealth Cancer Institute. The AdventHealth Cancer Institute is opening new doors in the future of cancer care. Everything patients need all in one place. KC’s most precise radiation treatments. A world class diagnostic breast center. We’re built to care and driven to cure.







Additional EPA Resources for Families



EPA Region 7

EPA Region 7 Children’s Health

Tips to protect children from environmental risks

Children Are Not Little Adults!

 Information about Radon Testing

Get air quality data where you live with Air Now.

Explore water quality in your community.









Meet Meg McCollister





In December 2021, President Biden appointed Meg McCollister to the role of regional administrator for EPA Region 7. Meg oversees a staff of more than 650 public servants who provide environmental protections throughout Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and nine tribal nations. Working with local, state, and federal leaders, Meg advances environmental justice and climate initiatives to ensure clean air, water, and land across all Heartland communities.



Prior to joining EPA, Meg spent nearly two decades as an advisor, communicator, and strategic thinker serving nonprofits, candidates for public office, and public policy campaigns. Born in Kansas and raised in both Kansas and Missouri, she received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas before attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate with an emphasis in urban, land use and environmental law.

This episode is sponsored by Children's Mercy.

What does anxiety look like in kids, and how it differs from other disorders? What are just normal nervous behaviors and what deserves more attention? We talked with Dr. Haley Killian, pediatric psychologist at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, about how to talk to your kids about their worries and when to seek extra mental health support. 







Meet Dr. Haley Killian





Dr. Haley Killian currently provides outpatient psychotherapy and consultations within pediatric subspeciality medical clinics. Dr. Haley has a variety of clinical experience including integrated behavioral health in primary care, collaboration and consultation within medical subspeciality clinics, and evaluation of developmental, behavioral, and emotional concerns in children. She has specialized training in autism evaluation and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Her research interests include parent and family factors that contribute to quality of life, physical health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents. 







Connect with Megan and Sarah



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Social media influencer culture has permeated fashion, food and even parenting. Aside from the “highlight reel” cliche we hear about often, our discussion in this episode touches on the effects social media has on moms, both in our parenting style and own mental health. We also discuss on loneliness, the potential to spread misinformation, and the rise of affiliate marketing.



Join us as we talk with Dr. Jeffrey Hall, Professor of Communication Studies, Associate Chair, and Director of the Relationships and Technology Lab at KU, about social media's effect on our parenting.







Meet Dr. Jeffrey Hall





Jeffrey A. Hall (PhD University of Southern California) is a Professor of Communication Studies, Associate Chair, and Director of the Relationships and Technology Lab. He is a past Chair of the Human Communication and Technology Division of the National Communication Association, and the founder and editor of the journal Human Communication & Technology. Dr. Hall is the current Chair of the Interpersonal Communication Division of the International Communication Association. He was awarded the Early Career Award from the Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association in 2015. His award-winning book Relating Through Technology was published by Cambridge University Press in 2020. He has written for the Wall Street Journal and been interviewed by the New York Times, National Public Radio, Washington Post, Financial Times, USA Today, The Atlantic, US News and World Report, and CNN, and has appeared on the Steve Harvey Show and It’s Personal with Amy Hoggart.







What We’re Loving In Kansas City

Turkey Creek Festival

Megan and her family loved the Turkey Creek Festival in Merriam last year and is excited to check it out again this Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. You can park at the Antioch Park parking lot or head to Nations Holding (9001 W 67th St. (formerly Lee Jeans) and catch the free shuttle. There are food trucks, concerts, a pie eating contest (ages 6 and up!), balloon artists, inflatables, fishing, Home Depot projects and more!

Volunteer with Heart to Heart International

Sarah and two of her kids volunteered in putting together hygiene kits to send overseas. Kids need to be age 8 and up, but check the website for more opportunities. The two-hour time slot was fast paced and fun for the kids to get to see the progress as the boxes stacked higher and higher. She's looking forward to doing this again!







Connect with Megan and Sarah



We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!



 







 

This podcast is sponsored by University Health.

Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Much of this is due to a long history of systemic racism and bias. Studies show that when Black women suffer from severe injuries or pregnancy complications or simply ask for assistance, they are often dismissed or ignored in the health care settings that are designed to care for them. Today we talk with Dr. Traci Johnson and Dr. Tiffany Ruffin from University Health about their efforts to improve these outcomes.



Through their program, EleVATE, University Health offers group prenatal care, mental health services, and education for moms-to-be — an initiative that is not only empowering moms but leading to better outcomes.



For more information on the Elevate program or other high-risk services, visit https://www.uhkc.org/bmhw.







Connect with Megan and Sarah



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In this episode of Kansas City MomCast, we are tackling youth sports culture and how it's affecting our kids. We discuss the change in the youth sports culture over time, the potential mental health repercussions of intense competition and expectations, and what we can do as parents sitting in the stands. Discussing this topic with us are Dr. Raelene Knolla, Vice President of Population Health at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, and Donease Smith, Executive Director for Administration at the Urban Youth Academy.



“Not Good Enough," the documentary that was a partnership between the Kansas City Royals and Blue Cross Blue Shield is available to stream for free by clicking here. For additional information, content, and resources, visit shutoutthestigma.com







Meet Donease Smith





Donease Smith is the Executive Director for Administration at the Urban Youth Academy (UYA). She has vast experience in the athletics, administration, and youth development spaces – most recently with La Salle University as Chief of Staff for Intercollegiate Athletics where she helped transform internal operations within the department. Prior to joining La Salle University, Donease served in dual roles at the University of Kansas as the Assistant Athletic Director for Team Operations for Olympic Sports and the Director of Basketball Operations for Women’s Basketball.



At KU, she helped to create a Women’s Mentorship Program – providing female employees a space to learn from, engage and support one another. Previously, Donease worked in Basketball Operations at the University of Memphis, Kansas State University and the Detroit Shock in the WNBA. She also spent time as a high school teacher and coach in the Kansas City area.



At the UYA, Donease will provide leadership, direction and support for the UYA and will be responsible for ensuring operational excellence and implementing the vision, mission and strategy of the Academy. She was a three-year letter winner for the women's basketball team at Central Missouri State University (now called the University of Central Missouri), where she was named honorable mention all-conference three-straight seasons. Donease is originally from Sedalia, Missouri where she was inducted into the Smith-Cotton High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.



Follow Donease on Instagram.

Meet Dr. Raelene Knolla





Dr. Raelene Knolla is the Vice President of Population Health at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC). In this role, she provides leadership of the medical policy, clinical operations with our utilization and care management teams, community health, behavioral health, quality, and accreditation teams. She is responsible for providing physician advice to help manage and improve the health of Blue KC members.



Dr. Knolla also served as the Medical Director for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Kansas Medical Center.  Dr. Knolla received a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration/ Management from Rockhurst University, and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Florida State University. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.



Connect with Dr. Knolla on LinkedIn.







What We’re Loving In Kansas City

This episode is sponsored by HCA Midwest Health.



One of the first of many decisions you’ll have to make once you find out you’re having a baby is choosing a healthcare practitioner. Some women choose an obstetrician, while others opt for a midwife. Today we are chatting with Kim Boote, a Certified Nurse Midwife with Kansas City Women’s Clinic, part of HCA Midwest Health, to learn about the benefits of choosing a midwife.







Meet Kim Boote





Kim Boote, CNM, MSN, C-EFM is a Certified Nurse Midwife with Kansas City Women's Clinic seeing patients in Kansas City, Olathe, and Lansing, KS. She is affiliated with Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Kim is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP). She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Iowa, her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Case Western Reserve University, and her Nurse-Midwifery certificate from Frontier Nursing University. Kim and her family enjoy vacationing in warm climates where they can hike, snorkel, or just enjoy the ocean. She loves learning where all her patients have traveled to update her bucket list for new destinations. Kim has four kids that keep her busy!







Connect with Megan and Sarah



We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!