Living & Thriving with Autism

In this episode, we talked about how parents and caregivers can help children with autism live AND thrive. The National Institutes of Health describes autism as follows:  

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. 

The Centers for Disease Control reports that autism affects an estimated 1 in 59 children in the United States today.  This reflects an increase from nearly 20 years ago when about 1 in 110 children were diagnosed with autism or autism spectrum disorder.  Joining me for this enlightening conversation on this topic are Morgan Jones, Behavioral Therapist and author, and Deneisha Pratt, mother of a child with Autism and entrepreneur.  For more information, see resources listed below. (Air date: March 8, 2019)

Guests:

Morgan Jones, Behavioral Therapist and Author http://www.authormorganjones.com

Deneisha Pratt, Parent and Co-Founder of Dream a Little Slumber Parties http://www.dreamalittleslumberparties.com

RESOURCES

www.autismspeaks.org

www.researchautism.org

www.autismparentingmagazine.com/signs-of-autism-in-girls

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd/index.shtml

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/autism-it-s-different-in-girls/

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/01/25/seeing-the-spectrum

https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-autism-study-researchers-test-play-based-treatment-1543248000

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323741.php

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Authors’ Roundtable: Her Journey

Today's guests share inspiring life stories as chronicled in their engaging literary works. In CEO of My Soul, by Nicole Cober, Esq., you will follow her rise as a corporate attorney, her courageous launch of an upscale spa and salon and her transition back to corporate law and advocacy for small business owners. Marilyn Thornton's Letters from Edgar's Trunk takes us back to rural Virginia and provides a vivid account of an African American family's everyday life and their treasured connections against the backdrop of World War I and the evolution of race relations, at home and abroad. (Original Air Date: April 14, 2017)

Guests:

Nicole Cober Esq., Author of CEO of My Soul: The Self-Love Journey of a Small Business Owner and Principal Managing Partner, Cober, Johnson & Romney. http://www.niccober.com 

Marilyn Thornton, Educator, Historian, and Author of Letters from Edgar's Trunk: Tell Them All To Write.

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A Look at Spanking & Its Effects

To spank or not to spank….

That still is the question for some parents, though there are signs that parents of younger children, age 0 – 5, are increasingly opting for a no-spanking approach to discipline. This sounds like a good trend as we learn more and more about the long-term effects of this practice . Here to talk with me about it in this episode is clinical psychologist Dr. Linda McGhee of McGhee & Associates. We discuss the recent policy statement on spanking written by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Academy reiterated its stance from 20 years ago that it does not recommend spanking on the grounds that it makes children more aggressive and increases the risk of mental health issues in both the short- and long-term. I hope you'll listen and, please, share your thoughts below! (Air date: January 11, 2019)

Guest: Dr. Linda Fleming McGhee, Clinical Psychologist, McGhee & Associates/http://www.mcgheeandassociates.com

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Can We Really Be Alright? Overcoming Child Abuse & Trauma

I can still recall the days when I took my sons to see our pediatrician and there on her wall was the poem, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum. It is an excerpt from his book of the same name, a collection of his favorite observations about everyday occurrences. This is a simplistic, yet enlightening validation that, in fact a very important foundation is laid in childhood that affects us in a myriad of ways — physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually, and spiritually, just to name a few. Disruption or dysfunction in these areas, when unchecked, can have a profound impact over the course of a person's life. Emotional and psychological security are nurtured through healthy relationships. We are at a profound disadvantage without these stakes in our lives. In this episode, we talk about how abuse and trauma disrupted one man's healthy childhood development and how he found healing even as an adult. (Air Date: April 13, 2018)

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Who’s Minding The Store? Raising Entrepreneurs & Change-Makers


Have a little one in your house who rules the roost? Leaders may be born, but they must also be bred. What better way to channel that thirst for power and cultivate leadership in children than to encourage them to build their own enterprises. Sounds overwhelming, but when you start with their interests and passions, the sky's the limit. Today's guests have great ideas about how you can help your budding entrepreneur get started. (Air Date: March 30, 2018)

Guests:

Tameka Montgomery, Founder & Host of Raising Entrepreneurs Podcast and CEO of Core Strategy Partners,www.tamekamontgomery.com

Marcella Mollon-Williams, Wealth Strategist at Lifetyme Financial LLC, Co-Founder of Legacy Builder Group, COO of Jewelz of Jordan, Co-Founder, Excel Youth Mentorship Institute, www.legacybuilder.net, www.jewelzofjordan.com, and http://www.excelyouthmentoring.com.

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Looking Ahead: The Future of Girls & Women in STEAM

There is a drive to encourage more girls to pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math in order to fill the pipeline with women prepared to fill critical positions across various STEM-based fields in the future.  To some degree, there has been success.  We are seeing more women  pursuing degrees in the sciences and launching successful careers; however, their numbers still fall a good bit behind that of males.  In this episode, I talk with two highly regarded professionals who have built successful STEM careers and have ideas about how we might be able to bring more women into the fold.  (Air Date: March 9, 2018)

Guests:  

Stephanie Espy, STEM education advocate, author, entrepreneur with engineering degrees from MIT and UC-Berkeley, along with an MBA.   

Dr. Diana Burley who holds degrees from Catholic University and Carnegie Mellon University, and now serves as Executive Director and Chair of the Institute for Information Infrastructure Protection (I3P), Interim Associate Dean for Research and External Relations, and Professor of Human & Organizational Learning at the George Washington University.

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Raising Black Boys, Part II: Playing the Hand You’re Dealt


Each year, more than 250,000 children are placed into foster care.  African American children make up about 20% of that population.  More than 23,000 children will age out of the foster care system (age 18), every year and 25% of those will suffer from direct effects of PTSD.  While about  7 out of every 10 foster kids indicates they would like to attend college one day, only about 6% of those who age out of the system will attend college and only 50% of that group will actually graduate with a degree. Our guest, Rodney J. Walker beat those odds.  The account of his journey, A New Day One: Trauma and Grace and a Young Man’s Journey from Foster Care to Yale is sure to inspire.  You will admire the resilience, determination and courage Mr. Walker demonstrated on his journey through foster care from, age 5 to 17, and throughout his academic pursuits in the upper echelons of higher education as well as his professional endeavors as a speaker and entrepreneur.  (Air Date: December 14, 2018)

Guest:  Rodney J. Walker, Founder of Forever Life Productions, Speaker and Advocate, Author of A New Day One: Trauma and Grace and a Young Man’s Journey from Foster Care to Yale. www.anewdayone.org

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Raising Black Boys, Part I: Lessons from a Wayward Journey

Today, I was joined by Kevin Shird, Speaker, National Youth Advocate, and Author.   I asked him to recount his journey to redemption where his quest to escape the perils of poverty and his father's addiction led to drug dealing and violence on the mean streets of Baltimore.  There was no question he was unwilling to answer and he owned his mistakes as he offered sobering lessons for young boys today and the parents who are raising them.  Callers also chimed in with astute observations.

These parent tips came out of our discussion:

  1. Be present.
  2. Emphasize education.
  3. Provide security and stability.
  4. Encourage reading.

Here are five key lessons Mr. Shird wanted to leave with black teen boys:

  1. Pursue, and excel in, education.
  2. Create a vision for your life.
  3. Believe in yourself.
  4. Find your passion and develop the skills needed to pursue it.
  5. Connect with good people.

We appreciate the contributions from listeners though we couldn't take call of the calls that came in.  If you have anything to add, please leave your comments. (Air Date:  November 30, 2018)

Guest:  Kevin Shird, Speaker, National Youth Advocate, and Author of Lessons of Redemption:  A Story of Drugs, Guns, Violence, and Prison and Colored Waiting Room:  Empowering the Original and the New Civil Rights Movements:  Conversations an MLK Jr. Confidant and a Modern-Day Activist

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The Evolution of Mom

I enjoyed this conversation about the challenges busy moms face as they juggle the many roles and responsibilities in their lives. Whether you are a woman entrepreneur, mom in corporate America or stay-at-home Mom, working inside or outside the home,  I think you'll hear something that will encourage you on the journey. (Air Date:  November 9, 2018)

Guest:  Bernadette Carroll, Founder of the Power Up Women's Conference and “Your Life Matters, Too”

http://www.powerupwomensconference.com

http://www.yourlifematterstoo.com

REFERENCES

https://thegreatdoover.com/top-success-strategies-women-entrepreneurs/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipcollective/2018/10/23/work-life-balance-is-a-myth-here-are-11-ways-to-view-life-instead/#53cf92165578

https://www.forbes.com/sites/hvmacarthur/2018/11/02/what-you-actually-need-to-focus-on-when-tackling-work-life-balance/#700188c152a4

https://www.business.com/articles/work-life-balance-tips/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/karlynborysenko/2018/10/30/how-to-take-control-of-your-work-life-balance/#2fd10b597689

https://www.forbes.com/sites/hvmacarthur/2018/11/02/what-you-actually-need-to-focus-on-when-tackling-work-life-balance/#1235043852a4

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Fit for Life: Taking Care of You From the Inside Out

In today's fast-paced world, we don't always make time to take proper care of ourselves.  We're on the go, pursuing big dreams.  We have people to see and places to go.  BUT, how can we do all of that if we don't invest in the vessel that's going to take us there?  Our guests today offer REAL tips for REAL people on the go.  (Air Date:  October 12, 2018)

Guests

  • Taryn Mitchell also known as Coach T of Anywhere & Everywhere Fitness/www.coachtaryn.com
  • Cynthia Anderson, known to her clients as Chef Cynthia of My Intimate Sentiments/www.myintimatesentiments.com
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