Raising Joy Podcast: Season 5

Season 5 of the Raising Joy podcast offers a diverse range of episodes tackling vital topics such as mental health, parenting strategies, and community support. From exploring the impact of anxiety and trauma on children to addressing the shortage of child psychiatrists, each episode provides valuable insights. Highlights include discussions on empowering families through programs like Parent Café, the benefits of neuropsychological testing, and the transformative power of nature, art, and summer camps. The season also features conversations with experts and community leaders on issues like childhood obesity, social media's influence, and fostering resilience in young athletes.

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Season 5 episodes:

Episode 118: Empowering Kids Regulation and Healing Process After Traumatic Events

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Dr. Kristen Pyrc discuss how to define trauma and the mental and physical responses adolescents have with Joy Hoffman, Psy.D., a psychologist at Cook Children’s Pediatrics in Hurst, Texas.

Episode 117: Letting Your Child Make Mistakes with Dr. Kim Mangham

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Kristen Pyrc, M.D., analyze the positive effects of giving your child independence from an early age with Kim Mangham, M.D., a pediatrician from Cook Children’s Pediatrics - Keller Parkway. Dr. Mangham details the strengths your child will develop if you let them make their own mistakes starting as early as the toddler years

Episode 116: Unlocking Your Child's Brain: A Look into Neuropsychological Testing

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Dr. Kristen Pyrc dive deep into the fascinating world of neuropsychological testing with special guest Tahnae Allen, Ph.D., a pediatric neuropsychologist from Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper. Dr. Allen breaks down neuropsychological testing and dispels common misconceptions.

Episode 115: The Magic of Summer Camp with Brian Miller

On this episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Kristen Pyrc sits down with Brian Miller, President and CEO of Camp Fire First Texas to explore the transformative power of camps for kids.  We learn why unplugging from technology and spending time outdoors is so good for young brains, especially when it comes to skills like teamwork and communication.

Episode 114: Revitalizing Fort Worth: A Deep Dive into the Las Vegas Trail Community with Councilman Michael Crain

In this episode of Raising Joy, join Wini King and Dr. Kristin Pyrc as they welcome Fort Worth Councilman Michael Crain to discuss the revitalization of the Las Vegas Trail community. Councilman Crain, who represents District 3, shares the rich history of this West Fort Worth area and the exciting additions to the community that will open in the coming months.

Episode 113: Cultivating Community, Health and Joy Through Gardening with Afro Green'd

In this episode of Raising Joy, join Wini King and Dr. Kristin Pyrc as they welcome Diamond Moss, founder of Afro Green'd. What starts with Kristin's newfound love for hydrangeas quickly blossoms into a fascinating conversation about the power of urban gardening for children and communities.

Episode 112: Empowering Fort Worth Families with Mayor Mattie Parker

In this episode of Raising Joy, hosts Dr. Kristin Pyrc and Wini King welcome a very special guest: Mattie Parker, Mayor of Fort Worth and Chief of Staff at Cook Children’s Health Care System! Mayor Parker joins us to share her experiences leading a large and growing city while raising a family of her own. She offers a relatable perspective on the challenges of balancing a career with the demands of navigating family life, providing insights on the beautiful chaos of it all. Mayor Parker also discusses mental health in Fort Worth and empowers families to find support through readily available community resources.

Episode 111: Kids and Video Games with Elizabeth Brown, LPC-S

In this episode of Raising Joy, hosts Wini King and Dr. Kristin Pyrc delve into the complex relationship between video games and mental health with Elizabeth Brown, LPC-S, Family Therapist and Clinical Team Lead at Lena Pope Counseling Services. They explore the potential benefits of gaming, such as developing mastery, autonomy, and social skills. However, they also address the serious drawbacks, including the addictive nature of games and potential safety concerns.

Episode 110: Expression through Art with Courtney Barnard, Ed.D. and Lisa Elliott, Ph.D.

Join Dr. Kristen Pyrc and Wini as they delve into a powerful initiative at Cook Children's Center for Community Health: "Children's Feelings Are a Work of Art." This eye-opening project uses creativity to help young minds understand and express their emotions, fostering mental well-being and reducing stigma.

Episode 109: Nature Rx: The Healing Power of Nature with Morgan Jansing, Ph.D.

In this episode of Raising Joy, we’re joined by Morgan Jansing, Ph.D., Director of School Programs at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, to explore the powerful connection between nature and well-being. She introduces the Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s Nature Rx pilot program, explaining its unique partnerships to "prescribe" nature education, and discusses the impactful programs offered to schoolchildren in the Fort Worth area.

Episode 108: Exploring Brain Health with Jennifer Zientz, MS, CCC-SLP

Today on Raising Joy, episode 108, we dive into brain health, an often-overlooked aspect of overall well-being. Co-hosts Wini and Dr. Pyrc speak with Jennifer Zientz, MS, CCC-SLP, Director of Programs at The Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas, who defines brain health as more than just the absence of disease.

Episode 107: Hope in Our Community: A Conversation with Dr. Ashley Elgin of Lena Pope

In this inspiring episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Pyrc sits down with Dr. Ashley Elgin, CEO of Lena Pope, a Fort Worth organization with a remarkable 95-year legacy of service to Tarrant County children and families. Lena Pope uses evidence-based, research-tested programs focused on prevention and early intervention services that support child development and improve the behavioral and mental health of children.

Episode 106: Combating the Fentanyl Crisis: A Conversation with Ed Ternan from Song For Charlie

Dr. Pyrc and Ed delve into the alarming rise of fentanyl-related deaths, particularly among young people, and discuss how Song for Charlie is making a difference. 

Episode 105: Raising Kids in the Era of TikTok, AI, and Beyond with Dr. Austin Greenhaw

In this episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Pyrc and Wini dive deep into the profound impact of the digital world on our children's psychological development. With YouTube, TikTok, and AI tools like ChatGPT at their fingertips, kids today face a landscape of information – and misinformation – unlike any generation before.  

Episode 104: Building a Brighter Future with Center for Transforming Lives’ Carol Klocek

Join us as we welcome back Carol Klocek, CEO of the Center for Transforming Lives, to discuss their monumental new Riverside Campus. This state-of-the-art facility in Southeast Fort Worth will revolutionize how the Center for Transforming Lives serves mothers and children experiencing poverty and homelessness.

Episode 103: Empowering Learners: The Unique Approach of The Key School and Training Center

Today on Raising Joy, we're diving into the world of learning differences and exploring how to best support kids who learn differently.  

Episode 102: Exploring the Missing Stage of Grief with Claire Bidwell Smith

Grief is a complex journey, and often, one crucial stage is overlooked: anxiety. On this episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Pyrc and Wini interview Claire Bidwell Smith, author of "Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief," about this often-unspoken aspect of loss.

Episode 101: Social Media and Mental Health: A Conversation with Karrie Curry, Ph.D.

This week on Raising Joy, we dive into the complex world of social media's impact on kids with Karrie Curry, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor at UNT Health Science Center.

Episode 100: 100 Episodes Later: A Raising Joy Retrospective

What began as a six-article campaign in response to rising rates of youth suicide has blossomed into a thriving podcast reaching nearly 24,000 listeners in 60 countries.   

Episode 99: Supporting Children's Mental Health in Tarrant County

This episode of Raising Joy shines a light on the critical work being done to increase access to mental health services for families living in poverty and/or lacking health insurance in Tarrant County. Our guests, Kelly Rand and Dayo Jolayemi, are two exceptional Licensed Clinical Social Workers dedicated to Cook Children's Neighborhood Health Centers.

Episode 98: Tackling Childhood Obesity: A Conversation on Bariatric Surgery at Cook Children's

In this episode of Raising Joy, we delve into the critical issue of childhood obesity and explore a new bariatric surgery program at Cook Children's. Joining us is Kanika Bowen-Jallow, M.D., the medical director of the program at Cook Children’s Medical Center - Prosper.

Episode 97: Understanding Medical Child Abuse with Andrea Dunlop, Host of "Nobody Should Believe Me"

In this episode of Raising Joy, we welcome Andrea Dunlop, author and host of the true crime podcast "Nobody Should Believe Me," which investigates medical child abuse (MCA), formerly known as Munchausen by Proxy. Andrea shares her personal connection to the topic, stemming from a family experience, and explains what MCA is: a parent or caregiver, most often the mother, inducing, exaggerating, or fabricating a child's medical illness for attention and sympathy.

Episode 96: Managing Mental Health through Chronic Pain in Children

This episode of Raising Joy focuses on a sensitive yet crucial topic: understanding and managing chronic pain in children. We're joined by Matthew Reed, LCSW, BCB, a pain clinical therapist at Cook Children's who specializes in providing clinical therapy for children, adolescents, and families affected by chronic pain. Whether it’s headaches or other pain, Matthews shares how mental health can be impacted and what parents can do to help their children.

Episode 95: Supporting Kids with Dyslexia and Other Learning Disorders

This episode of Raising Joy tackles the important topic of supporting children with learning disorders, specifically focusing on dyslexia. We're joined by Emily Jimenez, Ph.D., NCSP, a licensed clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist at The Jane and John Institute for Mind Health here at Cook Children’s. In this insightful discussion, Dr. Jimenez will share valuable insights and practical strategies for parents and educators on how to effectively support children facing learning challenges.

Episode 94: The Hidden Impact of Skin Conditions on Mental Health

In this episode of Raising Joy, we delve into the intersection of dermatology and mental health with Dr. Heather Volkman. Join us as Dr. Volkman shares her unexpected journey from aspiring gynecologist to a pediatric dermatologist, driven by the unmet needs she witnessed during her medical rotations.

Episode 93: Jordan Walker Ross on Resilience, Disability, and Finding Strength in Vulnerability

In this episode we sit down with actor Jordan Walker Ross, beloved for his role as Little James in the hit series "The Chosen." Born two months premature, Jordan lives with cerebral palsy, scoliosis, and severe asthma, enduring numerous surgeries and bullying. Jordan shares his inspiring journey of self-acceptance, the impact of a supportive family, and how embracing vulnerability has turned his challenges into strengths.

Episode 92: Raising Joy Book Club: A Conversation with Dr. Peg Dawson

In this episode, discover practical strategies to help your child develop essential executive function skills like planning, organization, and time management. Empower your child to reach their full potential.

Episode 91: Beyond the Game: Two Mothers Fight for Change After Daughters’ Suicides

In this episode, we join two mothers united by an unimaginable tragedy. Their daughters, both promising Division I collegiate athletes, died by suicide within six weeks of each other. The two mothers share their daughters' stories, shedding light on the immense pressure and mental health struggles that often go unnoticed in the world of athletes on every level. They discuss the importance of open conversations, seeking help, and fostering a culture of support within the athletic community.

Episode 90: The Pressure to Perform: Dr. Zach Davis on Mental Wellness for Young Athletes

This episode of Raising Joy discusses the pressures young athletes face—from the high expectations set by parents and society to the intense demands of single-sport specialization. These factors impact mental health, contributing to burnout, anxiety and injury risks.

Episode 89: The Future of Pediatric Obesity Treatment: Dr. Lily Han on Lifestyle, Medicine and Mental Health

This episode of Raising Joy discusses childhood obesity and the growing field of adolescent obesity medicine. Dr. Han shares insights into her journey, driven by her commitment to addressing underlying causes of obesity rather than just treating symptoms.

Episode 88: Navigating the Perinatal Period with Nichelle Haynes, DO

This episode gives insights into the unique challenges and mental health concerns that often arise during pregnancy, postpartum, and in the face of infertility and loss.

Episode 87: Understanding ARFID with Akemi Watkins, M.D.

In this episode of Raising Joy, Cook Children’s psychiatrist Akemi Watkins, M.D., returns to talk about Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).

86: A Season of Growth and Discovery with Wini King and Kristen Pyrc, M.D.

In this episode,Wini King and Kristen Pyrc, M.D. discuss topics related to children and teens across the U.S. struggling with stress, depression and anxiety.