Let's Talk Kids

Lets Talk Kids @ ACNJ
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Conversations with influential legislators, officials, experts, educators, entrepreneurs, parents, attorneys, and others who want to help give every child a chance to grow up safe, healthy, and educated. Anticipated Coverage: Education: Early Childhood Education (ECE); Early Child Care (Daycare); Special Education; School Environment; Education for Children in Foster Care; and Automation in Childhood EducationProtection and Welfare: Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention; Child Welfare Systems; Juvenile Justice; and Positive Youth Development. Health and Hunger: Health Insurance Access; Mental Health Services; Nutrition and Food Security; and Maternal and Infant Health.Family Supports and Economic Stability: Economic Mobility; Support for Kin Caregivers; and Affordable HousingSpecial Needs: Developmental Services and System Navigation.Values Based Families: Building Values Based Families; and Religious Institutions, Clerics and Child Advocacy. 

  1. 3d ago

    Music was BANNED in his house as a child… Now they teach HUNDREDS of kids to play!

    How do you turn a love of music into a lifelong passion, and maybe even a career? In this episode of Let’s Talk, Kids, we sit down with EJ Gaub, founder and program director of Inspiration Audio, and Liz Robbins, its executive director and board president. EJ shares how a drum set pulled from the trash and hidden in his attic changed his life, and how his music school, RMC Studios, grew to hundreds of students. Together they explain how Inspiration Audio gives young artists mentorship, hands-on audio engineering experience, and a community before they take on college debt. We also talk about how music supports confidence, emotional health, and brain development, why school music programs keep getting cut, what AI means for musicians, and the need for more places in New Jersey to play live original music. Learn more about Inspiration Audio below! Inspiration Audio - https://www.inspirationaudio.org/ RMC Studios - https://www.rmcstudios.com/ OUTLINE 08:47 - How did EJ and Liz meet? 10:22 - What sparked the idea for Inspiration Audio? 18:21 - The purpose of learning music and RMC Studios 21:06 - The variety of music career possibilities kids don’t see at first 23:31 - How does music impact youth’s brains emotionally & intellectually? 36:36 - Why schools need to revise how they approach arts curriculums and career counseling 43:49 - The Inspiration Audio experience - Enrollment, Community, Guidance, Discovery 52:59 - Sports career vs. Music career & Defending Music in schools 55:28 - The threat of AI Music on careers 1:00:05 - Live Music in New Jersey and the United States 1:06:18 - If EJ and Liz could speak with their 10 year old self, what would they say? 1:08:09 - Advice for parents of kids who are interested in music? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you so much for watching. See below for more information on Let’s Talk Kids and ACNJ. SOCIAL & WEB LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnj Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) Official Website - acnj.org ACNJ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acnjforkids/ACNJ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/advocates-for-children-of-new-jersey/ACNJ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ACNJforKids/PODCAST LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnjCONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let’s Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJvjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Editor of Let’s Talk Kids | Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ

  2. Oct 26

    “I Got an Unsatisfactory”: How a Teacher’s Failure Changed Everything

    What does it take to become a great teacher, and why does failure matter so much? In this episode of Let’s Talk Kids, we sit down with Tahina Perez, Executive Director of Teach For America New Jersey. Tahina shares her family’s journey from Haiti, the unsatisfactory first observation that changed how she teaches, and why she believes “practice makes progress.” We also dig into how Teach For America works in New Jersey, how the alternate route to certification helps new teachers, why the cohort model supports teachers, and what it will take to get more NJ kids reading and doing math on grade level. Learn more about Teach For America below! Teach For America - https://www.teachforamerica.org/ Teach For America NJ - https://www.teachforamerica.org/new-jersey VIDEO OUTLINE 00:00 - Tahina’s Immigration from Haiti and how it connects to TFA 05:03 - How did Teach For America start? What do they do? 10:53 - How does Teach For America recruit and assist new Teachers? 19:47 - Dominique Lee and the importance of foundational education 27:15 - Tahina’s career as a teacher and lessons learned 33:44 - How do schools get picked for TFA’s programming? 36:42 - The Reinvention Lab, Ignite Fellowship, and COVID-19 42:27 - How many Teach For America teachers in a school? 45:04 - Teach For America’s impact and case-by-case approach to improvement 52:16 - Teach For America’s incredible Alumni network  56:19 - Tahina’s thoughts on the timeline of Educational Transformation 1:02:03 - How is Teach For America funded & supported? 1:04:56 - Teach For America’s education policymaking efforts  1:09:14 - What is the future of Teach For America and American Education? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you so much for watching. See below for more information on Let’s Talk Kids and ACNJ. SOCIAL & WEB LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnj Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) Official Website - acnj.org ACNJ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acnjforkids/ACNJ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/advocates-for-children-of-new-jersey/ACNJ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ACNJforKids/PODCAST LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnjCONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let’s Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJvjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Editor of Let’s Talk Kids | Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ

  3. Oct 20

    Inside a Crisis Hotline: Can One Conversation Really Prevent Suicide?

    What do you do when someone you love is struggling, and how do you know what to say? In this episode of Let’s Talk Kids, we sit down with Mary-Claire Givelber, Executive Director of Caring Contact, a New Jersey crisis and warm line that answers calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Mary-Claire explains what actually happens when you call, how trained volunteer “listeners” support people through their hardest moments, and why asking someone directly about suicide does not plant the idea. We also talk about the loneliness epidemic, how parents can listen instead of rushing to fix, how Caring Contact grew from 3,000 to over 15,000 lifeline calls a year, and how you can volunteer, with training offered twice a year. Learn more about Caring Contact below! Caring Contact - https://caringcontact.org/ LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast for more! VIDEO OUTLINE 00:00 - What is Caring Contact? How did Mary end up working there? 05:44 - What are Caring Contact’s Volunteers’ methods for handling calls? 14:08 - Who are the volunteers at Caring Contact and how are they trained? 17:29 - How much has the frequency of calls grown and what does that say about our society? 23:08 - Who answers calls that can’t be taken? Can people text? 26:10 - How to become a volunteer at Caring Contact 30:33 - Funding and Donating 32:34 - The challenges of hiring Full Time at Caring Contact and handling busy times? 36:50 - How to help people in crisis & Caring Contact’s community involvement ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you so much for watching. See below for more information on Let’s Talk Kids and ACNJ. SOCIAL & WEB LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnj Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) Official Website - acnj.org ACNJ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acnjforkids/ACNJ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/advocates-for-children-of-new-jersey/ACNJ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ACNJforKids/PODCAST LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnjCONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let’s Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJvjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Editor of Let’s Talk Kids | Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ

  4. Oct 6

    Why Pediatricians Say They Can't Do Their Jobs Without This Program

    In this episode of Let's Talk Kids, we sit down with Pamela Winkler-Tew, licensed social worker and Senior Sustainability Manager for HealthySteps, a program of Zero to Three. Pamela explains how HealthySteps places a child development specialist right in the pediatric practice to support babies and toddlers (ages 0-3) and their caregivers, from developmental concerns and parental mental health to food and housing needs. We dig into "serve and return" interactions, how New Jersey Family Care is helping fund the model, what the evidence shows (higher well-child visit attendance, better immunization rates, happier pediatricians), and the goal of reaching 65,000 New Jersey children over the next five years. Learn more about HealthySteps below! HealthySteps - https://www.healthysteps.org/ Zero to Three - https://www.zerotothree.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you so much for watching. See below for more information on Let’s Talk Kids and ACNJ. SOCIAL & WEB LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnj Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) Official Website - acnj.org ACNJ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acnjforkids/ACNJ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/advocates-for-children-of-new-jersey/ACNJ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ACNJforKids/PODCAST LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnjCONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let’s Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJvjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Editor of Let’s Talk Kids | Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ

  5. Sep 28

    Grief Doesn't Look the Same for Everyone (Here's Why That Matters)

    Lindsay Schambach, Executive Director of ImagineNJ, a center for coping and loss, describes how being a principal and experiencing impactful losses throughout her life led to her discovering her purpose as an advocate of family bereavement. She digs deep into grief and death: why processing it is so important, how different people process differently, how our society overlooks the process, and how Imagine is making a positive impact in all of these aspects! Learn more about ImagineNJ below! Imagine Official Website - https://imaginenj.org/ Broreavement - https://broreavement.org/ OUTLINE 00:00 - Lindsay’s loss + joining ImagineNJ 03:49 - The fear of discussing death and loss 04:39 - What is Imagine’s main purpose and service? 09:02 - The History of Imagine & Family Bereavement Centers 13:13 - Data on why processing Grief is important 18:39 - How men grieve differently than women 24:12 - How different age groups grieve differently 29:52 - How are people discovering Imagine? 32:16 - How Imagine helps schools and students deal with grief 37:47 - Parents & why grief education should be ingrained in society 39:30 - Imagine’s Volunteers & How to Volunteer 44:50 - Why making light of loss is not always progressive 52:08 - A retrospective on funeral practices 54:57 - Why peer-to-peer grief support is so effective 57:22 - How Imagine is Funded & How it’s evolving 1:00:19 - Generational grief & Dated beliefs 1:03:54 - Episode Wrap Up ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you so much for watching. See below for more information on Let’s Talk Kids and ACNJ. SOCIAL & WEB LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnj Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) Official Website - acnj.org ACNJ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acnjforkids/ACNJ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/advocates-for-children-of-new-jersey/ACNJ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ACNJforKids/PODCAST LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnjCONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let’s Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJvjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Editor of Let’s Talk Kids | Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ

  6. Sep 21

    Newark is Growing and so are its Kids! Here’s how parents and schools can help them succeed…

    Kaleena Berryman, Executive Director of Newark Youth Career Pathways, shares how her organization helps young adults and teens across Newark, NJ gain the confidence and skills necessary to have a thriving career. She also shares insights on how parents and students should tap into the power of their voices to make improvements in their school community and legislatively. “Newark is poppin’!” Learn more about Newark Youth Career Pathways and Future Policymakers below! Newark Youth Career Pathways - https://mynycp.org/ ACNJ 2026 Future Policymakers - https://acnj.org/newark-future-policymakers-advocacy-training-class-of-2026-fellows/ OUTLINE 00:00 - Kaleena’s history of child advocacy and social justice 04:12 - The Legacy of Abbott Leadership Institute 07:41 - What is Newark Youth Career Pathways (NYCP)? 12:16 - How NYCP instills must-have soft skills in Newark Youth 14:54 - Who are NYCP’s Employer Partners? Who are the students? 20:05 - Can Young Adults afford to start their career in Newark? 22:27 - How Kaleena is developing the next generation of policymakers 25:12 - Why aren’t children as engaged in academics? 30:44 - Kaleena’s definition of an “Advocate” 33:22 - How can parents work collaboratively with schools? 36:47 - Are schools empowering students enough to advocate for themselves? 40:03 - Should all youth go to college? How can they better understand their options? 45:44 - What should policymakers learn from youth? 52:45 - The Guaranteed Income Pilot and Cost of Living in Newark ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you so much for watching. See below for more information on Let’s Talk Kids and ACNJ. SOCIAL & WEB LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnj Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) Official Website - acnj.org ACNJ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acnjforkids/ACNJ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/advocates-for-children-of-new-jersey/ACNJ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ACNJforKids/PODCAST LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnjCONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let’s Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJvjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Editor of Let’s Talk Kids | Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ

  7. Aug 24

    Why the Y? - How YMCAs Evolved from a Shelter for Young Men into a Community for Everyone!

    Dr. Julie Gallanty, CEO of the NJ YMCA State Alliance, discusses the history of the YMCA, all that YMCA's offer, and how they have become an incredible community. Learn more about the NJ YMCA State Alliance below! NJ YMCA State Alliance - https://www.njymca.org/ VIDEO OUTLINE 00:00 - Intro & What led Dr. Gallanty to the YMCA? 00:55 - What’s the YMCA’s mission and what’s the NJ YMCA State Alliance? 02:26 - YMCA Offerings & How the YMCA helps children 06:31 - How the YMCA remedies the current mental health crisis in Kids 08:17 - Model UN and how it gives children invaluable life skills 12:51 - What it’s like working at the YMCA & Qualities of Staff 14:19 - Urban YMCA’s vs Rural YMCA’s 15:49 - What Parents should know about the YMCA 18:21 - How is the YMCA funded? 19:51 - Helping Children navigate their “Big Feelings” 23:47 - YMCA Community Assistance for illnesses like Parkinson's and Cancer 27:19 - YMCA State Alliance Partnerships with Other Organizations 29:23 - Volunteering at the YMCA + Other YMCA Offerings such as Housing 31:55 - The History of the YMCA and YWCA 35:51 - What has the government’s impact been on low income YMCA community members? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you so much for watching. See below for more information on Let’s Talk Kids and ACNJ. SOCIAL & WEB LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnj Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) Official Website - acnj.org ACNJ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acnjforkids/ACNJ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/advocates-for-children-of-new-jersey/ACNJ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ACNJforKids/PODCAST LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnjCONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let’s Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJvjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Editor of Let’s Talk Kids | Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ

  8. Aug 18

    Helping Parents Help Each Other to Help Their Children Grow | Let’s Talk Kids

    Andrea Breitwieser, Assistant Director of the NJ Division of Family Development, Office of Child Care, explains the purpose of New Jersey Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies.  Learn more about Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies below! CCR&R Official Website - https://www.childcarenj.gov/CCRR Grow NJ Kids Official Website - https://www.childcarenj.gov/GrowNJKids VIDEO OUTLINE 00:00 - Intro & How did Andrea end up at the Department of Human Services? 03:15 - What are NJ Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&R)? 07:15 - What are “Family, Friend or Neighbor” or “Family Child Care Provider” designations? 10:03 - What is Grow NJ Kids? 11:23 - What if I cannot afford these programs? What if I move counties? 15:31 - CCR&R Programs for older children 17:19 - What if I decide to become a Family Child Care Provider? 18:40 - CCR&R resources - From Professional Support to Parent Cafes 21:47 - CCR&R support for Family Child Care Providers? 26:11 - How many CCR&R Agencies are there in NJ? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you so much for watching. See below for more information on Let’s Talk Kids and ACNJ. SOCIAL & WEB LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnj Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) Official Website - acnj.org ACNJ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acnjforkids/ACNJ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/advocates-for-children-of-new-jersey/ACNJ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ACNJforKids/PODCAST LINKS LTK Linktree - linktr.ee/ltkacnjCONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let’s Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJvjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Editor of Let’s Talk Kids | Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ

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About

Conversations with influential legislators, officials, experts, educators, entrepreneurs, parents, attorneys, and others who want to help give every child a chance to grow up safe, healthy, and educated. Anticipated Coverage: Education: Early Childhood Education (ECE); Early Child Care (Daycare); Special Education; School Environment; Education for Children in Foster Care; and Automation in Childhood EducationProtection and Welfare: Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention; Child Welfare Systems; Juvenile Justice; and Positive Youth Development. Health and Hunger: Health Insurance Access; Mental Health Services; Nutrition and Food Security; and Maternal and Infant Health.Family Supports and Economic Stability: Economic Mobility; Support for Kin Caregivers; and Affordable HousingSpecial Needs: Developmental Services and System Navigation.Values Based Families: Building Values Based Families; and Religious Institutions, Clerics and Child Advocacy. 

Information

  • Creator
    Lets Talk Kids @ ACNJ
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Let's Talk Kids
  • Show Website
    Let's Talk Kids