Open conversations about gender and identity are more pervasive than ever. Policies impacting gender identity and transgender youth dominate the headlines and ballots. How can parents really guide our kids through big questions about who they are and who others are, with openness instead of fear?

Democracy works best when the kids in our lives know their voices matter. Elise Hu talks with educator and author Sharon McMahon about helping families understand civic life beyond the ballot box. Learn how to discuss political differences with respect, introduce local government, and give kids concrete ways to participate in their communities. From writing letters to elected officials to joining neighborhood projects, you’ll find practical steps to raise informed, compassionate citizens who stay engaged long after election day.

Sibling relationships can be some of the most loving — and challenging — connections kids can experience. Sue Dominus, award winning New York Times journalist and author of The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success, joins Elise Hu to explore how parents can best support multiple kids. Dominus shares tangible advice to creating safe and supportive homes by listening to our kids, intentionally creating space for them as individuals, and encouraging passions without pressure.

Immigration is in the news, in our communities, and sometimes in our own families. But how do we explain it to kids without scaring them? Elise Hu talks with comedian and writer Negin Farsad about what her daughter has noticed, and what Negin chooses to share. Children’s author Duncan Tonatiuh joins to share how his book Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote helps kids understand the dangers and resilience behind migration stories. From undocumented families to family separation headlines, this conversation shows parents how to talk about immigration as part of our shared story, while giving children hope, safety, and practical ways to understand their world.

Banned books are sparking debates in schools and libraries across the country. But what do book bans really mean for the kids in your life? And how can families respond in ways that build understanding instead of fear? In this episode, bestselling author Jason Reynolds (All American Boys, Long Way Down) talks about what it feels like to see his work pulled from classrooms, and scholar Dr. Emily Knox (Book Banning in the 21st Century) explains how censorship takes shape today and why it matters for all of us. They highlight practical ways to guide the kids in your life through tough topics on the page without shutting the door on important stories.

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere — from ChatGPT to TikTok algorithms, AI is transforming childhood, parenting, and everything about how we live today. Creator and co-host of podcast "Life With Machines" Baratunde Thurston chats with Elise Hu about the ways we can help kids and ourselves navigate this new technology with curiosity and care. Learn how kids are engaging with AI today, and why adults and grownups need to learn alongside kids rather than just supervise them. By approaching an understanding with humility and setting practical and healthy boundaries with AI, parents can confidently help navigate using AI as a tool, instead of something to stay away from. Key takeaways for parents: Compare how kids of different ages use tech, and tailor your guidance to their stage. Ask your child how information moves among friends, and practice checking before sharing. Point out where AI shows up in daily life, and invite the child in your life's perspective on it. Admit what you don’t know, and show curiosity so kids learn alongside you. Break down AI as a tool, a platform, or a concept, so kids can see its different roles.

What does it really mean to raise kids who see every brain as worthy of belonging? In this episode, Elise Hu talks with actress, director, and author Lake Bell about her daughter’s journey with epilepsy and how that shaped her own understanding of neurodiversity. Later, ADHD advocate and creator of How to ADHD Jessica McCabe shares practical ways parents can explain neurodivergence, involve kids in their own care, and shift the conversation from “fixing” to thriving. From ADHD to epilepsy to dyslexia, we explore how to talk about brain differences in ways that build empathy and confidence at home. Key Takeaways: Validate your child’s experience, even when others may dismiss it Talk openly about your own brain differences to reduce shame Involve kids in decisions about their own treatment and support Normalize differences as part of the human condition, not something to “fix”

Puberty can feel awkward, confusing, and even scary for kids (and parents!). Pediatrician and bestselling author Dr. Cara Natterson shares how to turn those hard moments into honest, supportive conversations that help kids feel confident about their changing bodies. Puberty today starts earlier and lasts longer. From growth spurts and acne to mood swings and silence, kids need language that reduces shame and builds trust. Parents can provide it, even when it feels uncomfortable. With the right words and presence, parents can make it a time of learning, resilience, and connection. Key takeaways for parents: Talk about body changes, periods, erections, and hormones early, and keep talking. Explain the science behind mood swings so tweens and teens know it’s normal. Use everyday moments (car rides, dinner, bedtime) to open conversations. Teach correct anatomical terms to reduce shame and improve safety. Model openness, humor, and persistence. Puberty is a marathon, not a sprint. Raising Us is hosted by Elise Hu, an award-winning journalist and mom of three, known for her warm, candid approach to tough conversations. Each week, she breaks down big questions families are facing, with help from expert voices and real-life stories.

How do you talk to your kids about the political violence that’s unfolded this week, and over the past couple of years? And how much do you say? In this mini episode, we share a part of a conversation between Elise Hu and educator and author Sharon McMahon to help families talk about political differences with compassion, even when emotions run high. The full conversation about how to talk to your kids about democracy arrives later this season.

This is the first episode of Raising Us, a new podcast from A Kids Co. about the questions our kids are already asking...and how we answer them. What do kids learn when they hear “fat” used like an insult? And what do we say when they turn that word on themselves? In this episode, we talk about how to name fatphobia, challenge it, and model true body respect at any size. Back-to-school season often brings comments about weight, growth, and how bodies “should” look. For parents of tweens and teens, it’s a critical time to talk about body image, confidence, and how kids feel in their own skin. Model and body activist Tess Holliday shares what it was like growing up in the South, taking up space, and parenting through shame. Later, author and journalist Virginia Sole-Smith offers practical ways to push back on harmful beauty standards and make space for more honest conversations at home. Whether you're unpacking what you grew up hearing or just trying to find the right words, this conversation is a place to begin. Raising Us is hosted by Elise Hu, an award-winning journalist and mom of three, known for her warm, candid approach to tough conversations. Each week, she breaks down big questions families are facing, with help from expert voices and real-life stories. Key Takeaways: “Fat is just another way to have a body.” Reclaiming the word fat helps kids build respect, not shame. “Perfection isn’t the goal. Showing up is.” Modeling body acceptance starts with honesty. “If we don’t talk about fatphobia, kids will believe the dominant story.” Silence reinforces bias. Conversation builds empathy.

Award-winning journalist Elise Hu (TED Talks Daily, Forever35) hosts Raising Us, a parenting podcast for grownups raising Big-Question Kids. From puberty and identity to tech and body image, each episode gives you tools to spark real conversations with the kids in your life. Created by A Kids Co. (a family media company) the show blends expert-backed insights with real, lived experiences featuring trusted doctors, educators and purpose-driven public figures sharing age-appropriate advice so you don’t have to wing the hard stuff.

Parenting isn’t just about raising kids, it’s about raising ourselves, too. From “kids are resilient” to “toughen up,” journalist and mom of three Elise Hu unpacks the cultural scripts families pass down and reframes them with reporting, expert voices, and real-life stories.

Harold Hughes, author of A Kids Book About Blockchain, talks about fostering curiosity and conceptual discussion of an evolving technology called blockchain.

Rachel Burger, author of A Kids Book About School, talks about what school is, why we go, and why it’s so important!

AJ Thomas, author of A Kids Book About Teams, and daughter Ava Thomas talk about how teams are everywhere, and you’ll be a part of so many throughout your life!

Maeve Clinton, author of A Kids Book About Chemotherapy, talks about something that can be a scary thing to talk about—take a breath, play the episode, open the book, and bravely start that conversation.

Kali Thorne Ladd, author of A Kids Book About Hope, talks about an irreplaceable, never-ending thing which exists in and around all of us.

Dr. Heather Chow, author of A Kids Book About Puberty, talks about how every person experiences these changes in their own way, and the more we talk about them, the less scary they seem.

Neha Shulka, author of A Kids Book About Sleep, talks about AI and its powerful potential.