Growing Up In America | The Way It Is | August 20, 2025

Welcome to today’s episode of Growing Up in America, hosted by Dr. Bob Sanborn and Dr. Chris Kulesza—the voice behind our much-anticipated Dr. Data segment. Today’s show took listeners on a powerful journey across safety, justice, healing, and wellness—all with children and families at the center.

We kicked things off with our opening segment, Growing Pains, led by Reagan Schneckenburg, Media Coordinator at CHILDREN AT RISK, who shared thoughtful, practical tips for young adults navigating life’s ups and downs.

From there, Buck Russel, Senior Supervisor of Public Safety for Union Pacific Railroad, spotlighted the importance of train safety and introduced TrackSafe Houston, a vital program to keep our communities safe near railways.

Next, Angela Clark, owner of Beyond Freedom LLC, joined us to discuss human trafficking and shared insights from her latest research. Angela continues to remind us how urgent prevention, awareness, and action are in protecting vulnerable youth.

Then, Cherry Steinwender, Executive Director of the Center for the Healing of Racism, brought a powerful message about racism and the power of listening—urging us all to open our ears and hearts to the lived experiences of others.

Our Data of the Day is 28.8%. Find out what that percentage of data means for you from Dr. Chris Kulesza.

And finally, Shubhra Endley, Director of Mental Health & Wellness at Communities In Schools of Houston, Inc., closed the show with a focus on student mental health, highlighting the support systems schools can create to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.

From safety and justice to healing, equity, and wellness, today’s episode was a reminder that protecting and uplifting children means addressing every layer of the world around them.

This is Growing Up in America—where the issues are real, the data is clear, and the conversations are always centered on kids.