Ground Control Parenting with Carol Sutton Lewis

Carol digs back into the archives for this poignant conversation with author and filmmaker Suzanne Kay, daughter of actress Diahann Carroll. Suzanne, who is biracial, pulls back the curtain on her life with her superstar mom to reveal the challenges of being raised by parents who did not talk with her about race or her racial identity when she was young.  Suzanne shares her journey to racial aware...

Carol sits down with world traveler and art historian Cheryl Finley to talk about a topic they both know well—traveling with children. Cheryl began taking her daughter on the road when she was just a few weeks old and is a reliable resource for how best to enjoy traveling with kids on work trips, family visits, and vacations. Cheryl and Carol debunk the myth that parents should wait until kids are...

Carol welcomes back pediatric stress expert Dr. Victor Carrión to help families handle the stress that can arise during the Holiday season. The holidays are a time for traditions,  reunions, love, and gratitude. But for many, anxiety can build due to the financial and emotional burdens that can accompany celebrations—gifting, organizing extended family gatherings, childcare for the extended holida...

In 2013, while Burrell Ellis was serving his second term as the CEO of DeKalb County, Georgia, he was accused by the DeKalb County District Attorney of illegally soliciting campaign contributions from a county contractor.  Insisting that these charges were false and politically motivated, Burrell refused to resign as CEO and was suspended from his position.  After an initial mistrial, in 2015 Burr...

As the holiday season approaches, the New York Times best-selling author Nancy Redd returns to catch us up on what’s going on in her life. When Nancy last joined Carol on the podcast, her bestselling children’s book Bedtime Bonnet was taking off and she was helping her son August and her daughter Rupali manage school and extracurriculars online. Now, Nancy has a new book out, The Real Santa, which...

Naima Keith returns to the podcast for the second part of her conversation with Carol; this time to talk about parents posting their kids on social media, and the nuanced complications that can arise. Naima is the VP of Education and Public Programs at LACMA and is the mother of two young children. She grapples with a relatable parenting struggle: enjoying regularly posting about her kids online,...

Carol talks with Naima Keith, Vice President of Education and Public Programs at the Los Angeles Museum of Art (LACMA), about how to introduce children to the wonderful world of art and art museums. Naima shares practical tips for parents on how to encourage their kids to appreciate art from an early age and how to get the most out of a museum experience, even if all the little ones want to do is...

This week Carol talks with Kristina Joye Lyles about a small but mighty group of educational leaders: Black men who teach in public schools. Kristina is the Vice President of Equity and Impact for DonorsChoose, a national nonprofit organization that enables public school teachers to share wishlists for their classrooms to interested donors around the country. In the course of this work Kristina ha...

Carol sits down with Harvard Law School professor and author Randall Kennedy to talk about his journey as a single father. Randall raised his three (now young adult) children after losing his beloved wife Dr. Yvedt Matory when their children were young.  Randall shares with Carol how he and his family coped with the grief and how vital their community was in getting them through their toughest tim...

Helena Andrews-Dyer, author of The Mamas: What I Learned about Kids, Class and Race from Moms Not Like Me joins Carol to talk about the complexities of raising her Black children in their gentrifying D.C neighborhood, and how parent groups (including one in which she was the only Black mom) fueled her parenting and personal growth.  Carol and Helena discuss the unique anxieties of Black motherhood...

It’s a Hayes family affair! Carol invites actress Laya DeLeon Hayes, her father Kevin Hayes, and her mother Gina DeLeon Hayes to talk about how their family has nurtured and supported Laya’s acting career. At 18, Laya is a series regular on CBS’s The Equalizer, playing the daughter of Queen Latifah’s character Robyn McCall. Laya attributes much of her success to her parents’ unwavering support and...

This week Carol sits down with Petrushka Bazin Larsen to discuss the benefits of having a strong and supportive community, especially as a new parent. Petrushka is the co-founder of a Harlem-based family ice cream shop, an arts educator, life coach, parenting advisor and the mom of three young children. In 2018 she founded a mom’s group aimed at helping new moms navigate the first few months with...

Carol turns to Alexis McGill Johnson, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America for guidance about how to have healthy, honest, and sometimes uncomfortable talks with our children about sexual health. Carol and Alexis discuss Planned Parenthood’s role in a post Roe v. Wade world, and Alexis offers valuable advice on how to discuss the future of reproductive rights with our children. A...

Wondering how to take a modern approach to parenting while retaining the values you grew up with? Want to learn new ways to help your children understand their history, develop resilience, and develop the ability to chart their paths in this brave new world? Carol sources great advice on how to parent with an open mind while holding your morals and values close in this energizing conversation with...

This week Carol welcomes Anna Malaika Tubbs, author of The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation.   Join them for this great discussion about the power of motherhood, its impact on society, and how understanding this power will help mothers (and fathers) become stronger parents.   Anna and Carol discuss the historical mistreatment of...

Author of “The Bold World” and LGBTQIA+ advocate Jodie Patterson joins Carol to share her enlightening perspectives on gender, identity and parenting her five children, including her transgender son Penel. Carol and Jodie discuss how parents today can feel overwhelmed, confused and unprepared when it comes to discussing gender, sexuality and identity with their children. Jodie explains how she wor...

Producer, director and author Tonya Lewis Lee returns to the podcast for the first time since our very first episode! She joins Carol to talk about wellness, childbirth and maternal health for Black women. Tonya reflects on what motivates her to empower Black women to focus on their health, and offers advice on how to meet some of the challenges of doing so.  Tonya is the co-producer and director...

Many Black mothers tend to put the health care needs of their loved ones ahead of their own. And when they finally get to the doctor, they don’t always get all of the answers they seek. Carol sits down with Dr. Sharon Malone, one of the nation's leading OB GYNs, to talk about women’s health issues and how to change how Black women experience health care.  Dr. Malone is on a mission to help women k...

Carol talks with Tony and Emmy award-winning actress LaChanze about her most rewarding and challenging role yet—being the mother to her two daughters, who are now young adults. LaChanze raised her two girls on her own after losing her husband Calvin Gooding in the September 11, 2001 attacks.  She made this sudden parenting pivot with a steady focus on creating a bright future for her daughters and...

The back-to-school season has begun: are your kids ready for a new school year? When our children hit academic bumps in the road (and they will), it’s hard for parents to figure out the best ways to help redirect them toward success.  This week Carol sits down with Windy Lopez-Aflitto, the VP of Content and Partnerships at Learning Heroes, a national organization which helps parents support their...

Carol sits down with the mother-daughter duo Edith Cooper and Jordan Taylor to explore how they manage their relationship while creating a business together. Medley is a membership-based coaching service that harnesses the power of small groups to help people grow personally and professionally. And as you listen in, you’ll understand how personally aligned Edith and Jordan are with their company’s...

Lorraine Toussaint, star of The Equalizer and Orange is the New Black, joins Carol to talk about the benefits and challenges of being open and vulnerable with your children.  Lorraine and Carol discuss how to practice healthy and honest communication with your kids in an age appropriate way that meets them at their own emotional level. They talk about the best ways to get your point across while c...

Carol sits down with power CEO and mom Roz Brewer to talk about how to do your best work at the office and at home. As the CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Roz truly understands the challenges of excelling at work while maintaining an active role in her family’s life. Roz and Carol talk about the expectations levied on mothers in the workforce to do it all, and Roz offers valuable advice on how to...

Former Mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms joins Carol to push prioritizing wellness for parents to the forefront. Keisha and Carol talk about the challenges she faced raising her children while simultaneously running a major city. Keisha shares her best parenting practices as well as how she learned to prioritize her own mental health and wellness to show up daily as an active and present mothe...

Welcome to the latest season of Ground Control Parenting!  Each week host Carol Sutton Lewis brings you stories, tips and advice from parents and parenting experts about raising smart and confident Black children.  Join us!!     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.