Raising Joy

In this powerful final episode, hosts Kristen Pyrc, M.D. and Wini King announce that Raising Joy is going on a hiatus after five successful seasons and over 125 episodes. They celebrate that the mission of the Joy Campaign—to support the mental well-being of children—will absolutely continue at Cook Children's. To close out their run, they welcome back their very first guest: Kathleen Powderly, M....

Kristen Pyrc, M.D. and Wini King welcome a truly inspiring mother-daughter duo to Raising Joy : Emerson Bucci and her mother, Ashlee . In an episode that celebrates the power of the human spirit, they share Emerson's incredible journey of survival and recovery. In August 2024, at just 12 years old, Emerson faced a very rare and life-threatening allergic reaction to the common antibiotic Bactrim. H...

In this heartfelt episode of Raising Joy , Kristen Pyrc, M.D. welcomes Fort Worth author K. Jody Massey to discuss a universal and often difficult topic: parental separation. Inspired by her own life experiences, Jody created her beautiful children's books, Daddy and Me When Daddy Is Away and Mommy and Me When Mommy's Away . Jody shares how these books are designed to be a gentle guide and a cruci...

This week, Kristen Pyrc, M.D. and Wini King are back on Raising Joy and welcoming special guest Alexandra Morales, Project and Partnership Coordinator for the Parent Pass app, to discuss a groundbreaking tool designed to lift the mental load of parenting. Alexandra explains how the free Parent Pass app started in 2021 as a solution to connect parents with the resources and community support they w...

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Kristen Pyrc, M.D., learn all about the Parent Cafe program – which brings education and caregiving skills directly to parents across North Texas.   The guests are Aaron Olivares who oversees the Parent Cafe program for Cook Children's Center for Community Health, and Itzia Osco, a coordinator for the H.E.L.P. Program at Fort Worth ISD, which supports famili...

If you’ve ever tried to schedule a behavioral health appointment for your child, you likely know the wait can be longer than expected – even months. But did you know there’s a major shortage of child psychiatrists nationwide? In fact, there are roughly 850 child psychiatrists in Texas serving seven million children. On this episode of Raising Joy, we’re talking about solutions with Gunit Kahlon, M...

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Kristen Pryc, M.D., learn what resources your child’s school counselors can provide for you and your student with Bridgeport ISD Counselor Liz Cornett. Liz addresses issues like conflict resolution, parental incarceration and self-harm ideation. She emphasizes the importance of early intervention and prevention, using tools like QR codes for check-ins and ch...

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Dr. Kristen Pyrc discuss how to define trauma and the mental and physical responses adolescents have with Joy Hoffman, Psy. D., a psychologist at Cook Children’s Pediatrics in Hurst, Texas.  Dr. Hoffman details how different adolescent age groups respond to trauma and healing. Discover the best practices on how to create a safe space and gain trust to help t...

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Kristen Pyrc, M.D., analyze the positive effects of giving your child independence from an early age with Kim Mangham, M.D., a pediatrician from Cook Children’s Pediatrics - Keller Parkway. Dr. Mangham details the strengths your child will develop if you let them make their own mistakes starting as early as the toddler years. Discover how these mistakes, wit...

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Dr. Kristen Pyrc dive deep into the fascinating world of neuropsychological testing with special guest Tahnae Allen, Ph. D., a pediatric neuropsychologist from Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper. Dr. Allen breaks down neuropsychological testing and dispels common misconceptions. Discover that it's not about electrodes and blinking lights, but rather a...

On this episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Kristen Pyrc sits down with Brian Miller, President and CEO of Camp Fire First Texas to explore the transformative power of camps for kids.  We learn why unplugging from technology and spending time outdoors is so good for young brains, especially when it comes to skills like teamwork and communication. And Dr. Pyrc shares the long-lasting impact camp has had on...

In this episode of Raising Joy, join Wini King and Dr. Kristin Pyrc as they welcome Fort Worth Councilman Michael Crain to discuss the revitalization of the Las Vegas Trail community. Councilman Crain, who represents District 3, shares the rich history of this West Fort Worth area and the exciting additions to the community that will open in the coming months.   The conversation highlights the sig...

In this episode of Raising Joy, join Wini King and Dr. Kristin Pyrc as they welcome Diamond Moss, founder of Afro Green'd. What starts with Kristin's newfound love for hydrangeas quickly blossoms into a fascinating conversation about the power of urban gardening for children and communities.   Diamond shares his personal journey into agriculture, inspired by his grandmother's backyard garden and a...

In this episode of Raising Joy, hosts Dr. Kristin Pyrc and Wini King welcome a very special guest: Mattie Parker, Mayor of Fort Worth and Chief of Staff at Cook Children’s Health Care System! Mayor Parker joins us to share her experiences leading a large and growing city while raising a family of her own. She offers a relatable perspective on the challenges of balancing a career with the demands o...

In this episode of Raising Joy, hosts Wini King and Dr. Kristin Pyrc delve into the complex relationship between video games and mental health with Elizabeth Brown, LPC-S, Family Therapist and Clinical Team Lead at Lena Pope Counseling Services. They explore the potential benefits of gaming, such as developing mastery, autonomy, and social skills. However, they also address the serious drawbacks,...

Join Dr. Kristen Pyrc and Wini as they delve into a powerful initiative at Cook Children's Center for Community Health: "Children's Feelings Are a Work of Art." This eye-opening project uses creativity to help young minds understand and express their emotions, fostering mental well-being and reducing stigma. Hear from Courtney Bernard, Ed. D., Director of the Cook Children's Center for Community H...

Have you ever felt refreshed after taking a walk around a garden? Do you find yourself in a brighter mood after sitting outside on a beautiful day? Research shows that spending time in nature can have real, tangible benefits for your health and well-being.    In this episode of Raising Joy, we’re joined by Morgan Jansing, Ph. D., Director of School Programs at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, to exp...

Today on Raising Joy, we dive into brain health, an often-overlooked aspect of overall well-being.   Co-hosts Wini and Dr. Pyrc speak with Jennifer Zientz, MS, CCC-SLP, Director of Programs at The Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas , who defines brain health as more than just the absence of disease.   Zientz provides valuable insights into: ·         How the Center for Bra...

In this inspiring episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Pyrc sits down with Dr. Ashley Elgin, CEO of Lena Pope, a Fort Worth organization with a remarkable 95-year legacy of service to Tarrant County children and families. Lena Pope uses evidence-based, research-tested programs focused on prevention and early intervention services that support child development and improve the behavioral and mental health o...

In this powerful and informative episode of Raising Joy, we revisit with Ed Ternan, the President and Founder of Song for Charlie, a national, family-run nonprofit charity dedicated to raising awareness about ‘fentapills’ — fake pills made of fentanyl. Ed shares the heartbreaking story of his son Charlie, whose tragic death from a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl inspired him to take action. ...

In this episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Pyrc and Wini dive deep into the profound impact of the digital world on our children's psychological development. With YouTube, TikTok, and AI tools like ChatGPT at their fingertips, kids today face a landscape of information – and misinformation – unlike any generation before.   Join us as we welcome Austin Greenhaw, M.D., a child psychiatrist from Cook Childr...

Join us as we welcome back Carol Klocek, CEO of the Center for Transforming Lives, to discuss their monumental new Riverside Campus. This state-of-the-art facility in Southeast Fort Worth will revolutionize how the Center for Transforming Lives serves mothers and children experiencing poverty and homelessness. Carol details the comprehensive services offered, including expanded childcare, a hub fo...

Today on Raising Joy, we're diving into the world of learning differences and exploring how to best support kids who learn differently.   We're joined by two special guests from The Key School and Training Center in Fort Worth: Lauren Johnston, a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in child and adolescent mental health (and currently training to be an Autism Specialist), and Beth Lamb, MA...

Grief is a complex journey, and often, one crucial stage is overlooked: anxiety. On this episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Pyrc and Wini interview Claire Bidwell Smith, author of "Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief," about this often-unspoken aspect of loss.     Claire shares her personal journey with grief and how it inspired her insightful book. They discuss why anxiety is frequently missed in the gr...

This week on Raising Joy, we dive into the complex world of social media's impact on kids with Karrie Curry, Ph. D., an Assistant Professor at UNT Health Science Center. Dr. Curry  is leading a two-year research study on how social media influences adolescent mental health and substance use. The conversation explores current social media trends, what's being normalized online for teens, and the sp...