EPPiC Broadcast

How badly can false reports of abuse and neglect hurt a family? This week, Kathleen Creamer, the Managing Attorney of the Family Advocacy Unit at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, explains the devastating impacts that false, anonymous reports of child abuse can have on families. She and Jim break down the details, from traumatic and invasive investigations to protracted legal nightmares, a...

A special update from Michael as we get ready for our first season finale. Thanks for listening! Support the show

What’s changing in parental rights laws, and how will your family be affected? This week, we recap the good and the bad from this year’s developing parental rights legislation. Both the federal and state legislatures have been busy, so Michael breaks down the new developments in school choice, anonymous child abuse reporting, and more with Dan Beasley of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association. D...

What happens when a judge rules that your kids have a “right” to government-controlled schooling? This week, we cover a developing case in Detroit - what looks like a positive win for school children actually endangers the right of parents to direct and determine their kids’ education. Jim breaks down the case with William Wagner, a former Federal prosecutor and judge, as well as a distinguished p...

What if someone didn’t even have to be related to you to claim legal custody and visitation rights to your child? That’s exactly what happened to Texas dad, Chris, in an ongoing case that could set a dangerous precedent for Texas families. Today, Andrew Brown, a distinguished fellow with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, tells us why this case matters so much, and how the ruling will affect pare...

What’s changing, and what isn’t?  Just like the rest of the country, parental rights are facing some challenges, some changes, and some blessed normalcy. Michael and Shellby discuss the challenges that parents are currently facing, from COVID-19 disruptions to Harvard elitists, to concerns over legislation, to our ongoing efforts to fight back and protect families. Support the show

What should the social services system actually change to get the right job done? Dr. Vivek Sankaran, a clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, discusses his work with families who find themselves faced with the hostile CPS system, and what social services should do to support families rather than attack them. Support the show

What can parents teaching their children at home during COVID-19 learn from the world of Unschooling? This week, Michael talks with Kerry McDonald, author of Unschooled , education policy writer, and Harvard graduate. Hear Kerry's take on a recent Harvard Magazine article attacking homeschooling and parental choice on education, and her thoughts on how the philosophy of Unschooling can help p...

What does it take to fight CPS? And what happens if we fail? In the second part of this two part series, Joyce McMillan is back to share her experience fighting for families in the courtroom, and the devastating impact of children being unjustly taken from their families. Joyce also tells us about some recent successes, and what can be done to reform CPS. Support the show

How is COVID-19 affecting families like yours and mine, and how do you fight CPS?  This week, Michael talks with Joyce McMillan, an advocate for vulnerable families in New York, who shares her experiences fighting the CPS system and how New York families are being affected by the virus. This episode is the first in a two-part series.  Support the show

This week, Jim talks with Dr. Lainna Callentine, pediatrician and former ParentalRights.org board member. Dr. Callentine gives us a doctor’s perspective on COVID-19, plus practical steps on social distancing and encouragement for families who are learning and working together from home.  Support the show

This week, Michael talks with Lenore Skenazy, founder of Let Grow and author of Free-Range Kids . Lenore tells us about the free-range parenting movement, and the importance of giving kids the freedom and responsibility they need to grow into successful adults. Lenore blogs at Free Range Kids.  Support the show

This week, we're talking with Diane Redleaf, author of They Took the Kids Last Night and founder of the Family Defense Center. Diane tells us about her extensive experience defending families in civil rights cases, from dealing with "hidden foster care" system to combating a shocking lack of due process in child abuse registries.  Support the show

What’s happening with foreign parental rights, and why does it matter for you? In the latest episode of the Cory and ShellbyJo Show, we discuss some important cases about foreign parental rights. Hear about the medical, educational, and interpersonal impact of government interference in other countries - and why these cases matter for American families. Support the show

What does it feel like when the doctors you trust to heal your children turn on you, and take them away instead? This week, we’re privileged to speak with the family of Justina Pelletier, the teen abducted by Boston Children’s Hospital in 2013. Justina’s dad Lou, her mom Linda, and her sister Jennifer tell the family’s story from the inside, sharing details from their recent medical malpractice la...

Did you know that in a majority of states the government can take your children from you just because you have a disability, like being blind?  Don't miss out on this episode, where Michael talks with Mark Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind. President Riccobono sheds crucial light on how blind parents are discriminated against, and how they're fighting back to p...

Your children are yours, right? Or are they?  This week, Michael talks with Melissa Moschella, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at The Catholic University of America, about the legal and philosophical underpinnings of parental rights. Melissa also breaks down the arguments of those who want to treat children as property of the government and reduce parents to mere caretakers. Support the show

Are poor parents automatically bad parents? The Cory and Shellby Jo Show is back with our first movie review, exploring parental rights in pop culture. This week, we discuss The Pursuit of Happyness , a movie that highlights a father's resolve to provide for his son, no matter what. For us, this movie raises questions about what is and isn't bad parenting, and when should the government...

What are “child abuse pediatricians” and why should you be concerned? Find out in this episode, as Michael talks with UNC law professor Maxine Eichner. Eichner shares her professional and personal experience with parental rights in the medical world, plus her insight on the Justina Pelletier case from one who's been there. Support the show

This week, Michael talks with attorney Allison Folmar, who led the defense in the nationally publicized 2011 Maryanne Godboldo case. Allison tells us all about the case and the family's story from the inside, and how it impacted the state of parental rights.  Support the show

This week, hear about Senator Mike Lee's new parental rights legislation, which would help keep you informed and involved in your children's medical care. Michael breaks down these bills (and more) with Maggie McKneely, ParentalRights.org's liaison in Washington, DC.  You may hear a tapping sound in the background caused by our equipment - we'll be back to normal next week.  Su...

This week marks the first episode of the Cory & Shellby Jo Show. Once a month, two of our younger employees take over the show and break down some of the cultural issues surrounding parental rights. This week they're joined by father of two and local musician Daniel Heffington, a parental rights advocate from Generation Joshua.  Support the show

Michael and Jim address recent legislative developments in Virginia that seriously threaten parental rights nation-wide. We explain why we're concerned about these bills, and break down how they change the debate on parental rights, what these changes mean for the rest of the country, and what you can do to protect your family.  Visit ParentalRights.org for live updates on the state of parent...

This week, Jim and Michael talk with ParentalRights.org's Florida grassroots coordinator, Patti Sullivan. Patti tells us why she is passionate about the role of parents, and shares some exciting developments from Florida's parental rights movement.   Support the show

In our first episode, our hosts, Jim Mason and Michael Ramey, talk with Mike Farris, founding president of the Parental Rights Foundation. Mike tells us about the status of parental rights in the States, the concept of "generational wins," and his vision for families and parental rights moving forward. Visit our website to learn more and join the growing movement! Support the show