Voices For Their Future

Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed joins us for a candid conversation about what it takes to truly prioritize children’s health in today’s dangerous political climate. We explore the fight for COVID vaccine access as federal policies shift, how to challenge “health freedom” rhetoric that ultimately harms kids, and what practical steps parents and local advocates can take when nation...

Dr. Wendy Sohn, executive director at Moderna and pediatrician, joins us to unpack urgent updates on COVID vaccine access for children, upcoming FDA decisions, and what Moderna is doing to protect kids in the seasons ahead. We also explore the company’s broader pipeline—from a game-changing CMV vaccine to breakthrough therapies for rare childhood diseases. A must-listen for parents, advocates, and...

How do Black families navigate pregnancy, parenting, and mental health in systems that too often fail them? In this conversation, researcher and advocate Nadia Mbonde explores the double pandemic of COVID-19 and systemic racism, the gaps in maternal mental health care, and how community care models are reshaping what support can—and should—look like. Together, we examine not only the systemic fail...

What happens when the structures that support our most vulnerable children suddenly collapse? In this powerful conversation, Alexandra Freidus discusses her chapter "High-Stakes Schooling: Risk, Protection, and the Education of Disabled Children in a Pandemic" from the book How to Be Disabled in a Pandemic . Drawing from both research and personal experience, Alex offers a deeply moving...

What happens when children with disabilities age out of the systems meant to support them? And what can families do to ensure their futures are protected? In this episode, anthropologists and authors Faye Ginsburg and Rayna Rapp explore the often-overlooked experiences of disabled caregivers and families navigating complex systems during and beyond the pandemic. We talk about how policy falls shor...

How do you cut through the noise and find reliable health information when official channels go quiet? In this episode, journalist Melody Schreiber breaks down what you really need to know about the recent measles outbreaks—including who should consider an MMR booster. We also unpack the growing information void from federal agencies and how to stay informed when the government isn’t stepping up—e...

How is public health shifting under this administration, and what does it mean for children and families? In this episode of Voices for Their Future , Dr. Kavita Patel, a physician, policy expert, and former White House health advisor, breaks down the current threats to public health and the real-world changes parents might see—from funding cuts to misinformation creeping into pediatrician visits....

CMV affects 1 in 200 babies, and 20% of them experience serious health complications. But a breakthrough is on the horizon—a CMV vaccine. Join us as we speak with Dr. Sallie Permar, a leading researcher in the fight against CMV.