Childhood obesity, social media literacy and education policy. This week on Growing Up in America: The Way It Is, our guest hosts Bri Derry, Director of Media Activism (CHILDREN AT RISK) and Owala Maima, Producer on Growing Up in America, explore the policies and systems shaping children’s health and learning in Texas. Featuring Dr. Jaimie Davis (Acting Director of the School of Human Ecology at UT Austin) on nutrition and obesity, Jane Kim (Educator and Founder of KindEd) on social media literacy and AI and the Houston Chronicle's Senior Education reporter Megan Menchaca on local education trends. Together, we examine how policy, community, and lived experience intersect to support child welfare and opportunity.

Mid-terms elections, AI in education, the Superbowl and bold predictions for the new year! This week on Growing Up in America: The Way It Is, host Dr. Bob Sanborn (CHILDREN AT RISK) is joined by Dr. Chris Kulesza (Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University) for a special look ahead at 2026.

Together with a panel of national and Texas-based experts, this episode explores pediatric health and vaccination trends, AI integration, major cultural moments in sports and entertainment, and what lies ahead for Texas and national politics. Guests include Dr. Michael L. Chang, pediatric infectious disease expert at McGovern Medical School and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital; Dr. Arturo Brito, President and CEO of Children’s Health Fund; Jason Sabo, Founder of Frontera Strategy; Megan Menchaca, Senior Education Reporter at the Houston Chronicle; Nadia Salibi, Chief Impact Officer (CHILDREN AT RISK) and Mandi Kimball, Vice President & Chief Government Affairs Officer (CHILDREN AT RISK).

Immigration policy, public education, and childcare stability take center stage this week on Growing Up in America: The Way It Is. Hosts Dr. Bob Sanborn (CHILDREN AT RISK) and Holly Durham (Texas A+ Challenge, CHILDREN AT RISK) start off the new year with a conversation on how Texas laws, education systems, and early childhood infrastructure are shaping the lives of children and families across the state.

This episode features Krystal Gomez, Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Legal Council, Senior education reporter Megan Menchaca of The Houston Chronicle and Lyn Lucas, Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education at CHILDREN AT RISK.

Plus, tune in for Hip Speak with our guest Gen Z culture expert Anya Osundwa!