In this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn is joined by co-host Natalie González, Development Coordinator at CHILDREN AT RISK. Between swapping stories about the evolving world of education and investigating the soft v. hard “looksmaxxing'' trend on social media, we’re diving into:

Empowering Educators in 2026: Jessica Dirks, Partnership Director at K12 Coalition, brings her unique background in law and teaching to the conversation, unpacking the biggest challenges facing educators today, from burnout and retention to AI technology.

Texas Charter School Growth: Dr. David DeMatthews, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at UT Austin, breaks down new research on charter school expansion across Texas and the consequences for special education services, funding and lower income students.

Plyler v. Doe & Children of Immigrants: Krystal Gomez, Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council, explains why this landmark Supreme Court decision is back in the spotlight, what’s at stake for children of immigrants, and how shifting policies around deportation and family separation is affecting families.

Connect with CHILDREN AT RISK on social media and support community radio by donating to KPFT Houston at kpft.org.

In this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn and guest host Dr. Erica Hattery cover some of the most pressing issues in Houston and across Texas, from the future of artificial intelligence to major changes in public education and youth policy.

• How AI companies are making AI safer: AI safety expert and Houston City Council District C candidate Patrick Oathout joins to break down how AI systems are tested, the risks they pose, and why this matters at the local level.
• HISD Closes 12 schools: Senior education reporter at the Houston Chronicle Megan Menchaca discusses the recent decision by Houston ISD to close 12 campuses, including the impact on students, families, and educators.
• Empowering Opportunity Youth: Shannon Epner, Project Coordinator at CHILDREN AT RISK explains the Texas Sunset Review process and highlights policy recommendations aimed at improving outcomes for “Opportunity Youth” across the state.

Tune in for expert insights on technology, education, and the future of Texas communities.

In this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn is joined by our newest co-host, Natalie González, former DJ and current CHILDREN AT RISK Development Coordinator. Between debating the gender-coded nuances of being “delulu” and Natalie’s uncanny resemblance to the lead singer of The Marías (check our IG and TikTok for the receipts!), we’re diving into:

• AI in the Classroom: Adrienne Williams, Research Fellow at the Distributed AI Research Institute, goes beyond the hype and breaks down the real risks that AI poses to children.
• Texas Primary Debrief: Jason Sabo, Founder at Frontera Strategy spills all the tea on the primary results and drops his predictions for the general election, plus his take on a "President Talarico."
• "Stay Woke" & DEI: Cherry Steinwender, Executive Director of the Center for the Healing of Racism, unpacks the truth behind the word "woke" and examines the uncertainty facing children and educators in the Anti-DEI era.

Don’t be delulu! Connect with us on social media for exclusive studio content! And if you love what we do, support community radio by donating to KPFT Houston at kpft.org.

Special thank you to Lily, the newest intern at KPFT Houston and our Hip Speak Correspondent for this episode!

Hosts Dr. Bob Sanborn and Dr. Erica Hattery explore the intersection of social media, youth mental health, and child care policy.

In this episode:

• Social Media Literacy: How do families, educators and policy makers combat social media addiction in K-12 students?
• Child Care Advocacy: How are advocates and organizers making child care more affordable in Austin-- Texas most expensive city for child care?
• Houston’s Child Care Deserts: Are Houston families facing a child care crisis?

Featured Guests:

• Jane Kim, Founder of KindEd
• Cathy McHorse, Early Childhood Consultant
• Santrice Jones, Director of Strong Start at CHILDREN AT RISK

Produced by CHILDREN AT RISK on 90.1 KPFT Houston. Support community radio at kpft.org.

This week, guest hosts Megan Menchaca and Elizabeth Sander, education reporters at the Houston Chronicle, dive deep into the controversial Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) voucher program. Going beyond the political headlines, they explore:

• The Data: Do voucher programs truly expand high-quality options for lower-income families?
• The Systemic Changes: How will this shift impact funding and enrollment in public schools?
• The Real Stories: How are families navigating their choice options to find the best fit for their children?

Special thanks to our guests, Dr. David DeMatthews, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at UT Austin, Amanda Bigbee, Division Director of Policy Services at TASB, and Deanna Sheaffer, Director of Business Development at Families Empowered.

Resources:

Houston School Finder: The Houston Chronicle's custom tool for exploring and comparing public, private and charter schools in Houston.

Produced by: Owala Maima, Rico Henriquez, Briauna Derry

This episode of Growing Up in America tackles the urgent issues impacting Texas children, from the fallout of the federal government shutdown on immigration services to the shifting landscape of DEI and racial healing following the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson. Dr. Bob Sanborn and Nely Sanchez host expert guests to discuss why 4,000 immigrant students have left HISD, the current satisfaction levels with K-12 education, and new findings from the "Paving the Way for Quality" child care report. Tune in for a deep dive into public policy, community advocacy, and the fight for the quality of life for every child.

Featuring Krystal Gomez, Managing Attorney at Texas Immigration Law Council, Cherry Steinwender, Executive Director at the Center for the Healing of Racism and Kim Kofron, Director of Early Childhood Education for CHILDREN AT RISK.

Support community radio at the KPFT Donation Page.

Read the latest research at CHILDREN AT RISK.

Hosts Dr. Bob Sanborn (CHILDREN AT RISK) and Owala Maima (CHILDREN AT RISK) reflect on Bad Bunny's historic performance before diving into how public health, immigration systems, and environmental policies affect children and families in Texas.

This episode features Dr. John Higgins, Cardiologist and Professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Senior education reporter Megan Menchaca of The Houston Chronicle and Deyadira Arellano, Community Organizer at Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services.

Plus, tune in for Hip Speak with our Media Culture Correspondent Anya Osundwa!

In this episode of Growing Up in America: The Way it Is, our hosts Dr. Bob Sanborn, President and CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK, and Brian Greene, President and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, discuss the rapid evolution of public policy and what it means for civic engagement.

Dr. Michael Chang, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases at McGovern Medical School, examines current vaccination recommendations and how decreased vaccination rates are leading to higher rates of infectious disease. Krystal Gomez, Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council, addresses the implications of changing immigration enforcement practices for children and families. And former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, now a candidate for Harris County Judge, reflects on the policy issues shaping the future of the county.