Growing Up In America: The Way It Is

Hosted by Dr. Robert Sanborn

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177

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Growing Up in America is a production of Children at Risk: The Voice of Texas’ Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to research, public policy, law and collaborative action on behalf of Texas’ Youth. Each episode, we aim to fill these same 60 minutes with lively discussion on the children of Texas with experts on the quality of life for our children.

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November 4, 202655 min

Melanoma Vaccine, the Election & Our Kids, Houston's Food Scene

On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn , President and CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK, and co-host Owala Maima explore medical advances, the mid term election’s potential impact on children and families, and the people shaping Houston’s food scene. Melanoma Vaccine & Public Health: Dr. Michael Chang, Professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, discusses promising research on personalized mRNA vaccines for melanoma. He also shares an update on measles outbreaks and public health concerns. The Election & Our Kids: Jason Sabo, Founder of Frontera Strategy and Mandi Kimball, Vice President & Chief Government Affairs Officer at CHILDREN AT RISK, examine the election results and what they could mean for policies and funding affecting children and families. They discuss upcoming priorities in the Texas legislature, the potential for bipartisan collaboration, and how parents, educators, and advocates can stay engaged. Houston’s Food Scene: Shawn Singh, aka Shawn the Food Sheep, influencer and Houston food curator, shares how he uses social media to spotlight local restaurants, small businesses, and the diverse cultures behind Houston’s culinary scene. Plus, hear Hip Speak with Lyn Lucas and Data of the Day with Sarosh Nandwani. Tune in every Wednesday from 9–10 am CT on 90.1 KPFT in Houston, and listen to new podcast episodes each Thursday morning!

October 28, 202658 min

Teen Birth Rate Decline, Voting & Immigrant Communities, AI in HISD Schools

On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn , President and CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK, and co-host Brian Greene, President and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, explore teen pregnancy prevention, voter engagement, and the issues shaping Texas public education. Teen Birth Rates: Dr. Jeff Temple , psychologist, professor at UTHealth Houston, and Director of the Texas Violence and Injury Prevention Research Center, discusses the record-low U.S. teen birth rate, factors contributing to long-term declines, disparities across communities, and the importance of reproductive health education, healthy relationships, and access to care. Voting & Immigrant Communities: Vy Pham , Organizing and Policy Director and Interim Executive Director at Woori Juntos, shares perspectives on voter engagement among immigrant communities, the issues affecting immigrant families, and how grassroots organizers help eligible voters navigate the voting process. Texas Education Updates: Megan Menchaca , K-12 Education Reporter at The Texas Tribune, examines the Texas State Board of Education elections, recent curriculum decisions, and HISD’s planned expansion of its Future 2 model, including questions about classroom AI, screen time, enrollment, and funding. Plus, hear Hip Speak with Abby Antoun and Data of the Day with Dr. Michael Chang (UT Health Houston). Tune in every Wednesday from 9–10 am on 90.1 KPFT Houston, and listen to new podcast episodes each Thursday morning! Producers: Owala Maima, Rico Henriquez, Bri Derry

October 23, 202658 min

Home-Based Child Care, Halloween Eye Safety, Immigration and Early Childhood Education

On this episode, Bri Derry and Natalie Gonzalez (CHILDREN AT RISK), explore the challenges facing child care providers, Halloween eye safety, and how immigration policy affects young children and families. Home-Based Child Care: Mieko Carter , home-based child care provider and advocate with the National Association for Family Child Care, discusses the vital role home-based programs play in supporting families, the financial and operational challenges providers face, and how child care closures affect families’ access to care. Halloween Eye Safety: Dr. Stephanie Handal , pediatric optometrist at UTHealth Houston, explains the risks of decorative contact lenses and other costume-related eye hazards. Immigration Policy & Early Childhood Education: Priya Pandey, Policy Analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), examines how immigration policies can affect immigrant families’ access to Head Start, child care assistance, and other early learning services. Plus, Data of the Day with Sarosh Nandwani, highlighting a 75% decrease in the number of parents and children held at the Dilley detention facility from January to February 2026. Tune in every Wednesday from 9–10 a.m. on 90.1 KPFT Houston, and listen to new podcast episodes each Thursday morning!

October 14, 202657 min

Texas State Takeovers, Services for Immigrant Children, & Kid Centered Urban Planning

On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn and Owala Maima explore public education, support for immigrant children, and how communities can create safer, more welcoming spaces for children and families. Texas Education Updates: Megan Menchaca , K-12 Education Reporter at The Texas Tribune, discusses proposed changes to Texas school takeovers, including greater community involvement and limits on state-appointed leadership. She also examines the rise in STAAR reading test rescoring requests, the role of automated scoring, and how revised scores can affect school accountability ratings. Wraparound Services for Immigrant Children: Krystal Gomez , Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council, explains why immigrant children and families may need coordinated legal, educational, health, and social services. She discusses how schools and communities can help families access support and ensure children feel welcomed and included. Parks & Urban Planning for Children: Jay Blazek Crossley , Executive Director of Farm&City, explores how parks, sidewalks, safer streets, and accessible recreational spaces can improve children’s everyday lives. He discusses how Houston can plan and invest in neighborhoods with the needs of children and families in mind. Plus, hear Hip Speak with Natalie Gonzalez (Children At Risk) and Data of the Day with Dr. Jeff Temple (UT Health Houston). Tune in every Wednesday from 9–10 a.m. on 90.1 KPFT Houston and kpft.org , and listen to new podcast episodes each Thursday morning!

October 7, 202656 min

Halloween & Pedestrian Safety, School Vouchers and Public Schools, & Building Quality Early Learning

On this episode, Owala Maima and co-host Dr. Erica Hattery explore pedestrian safety, school vouchers, and early learning quality across Houston and Texas. Halloween & Pedestrian Safety: Dr. Zoabe Hafeez , pediatrician and Associate Professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, shares practical tips for keeping children safe while walking, trick-or-treating, and navigating neighborhoods on Halloween. School Vouchers & Public Schools: Elizabeth Sander , Education Reporter at the Houston Chronicle, discusses reporting that Houston-area school districts could lose an estimated $68 million in funding this school year as more than 8,100 students leave public schools through Texas’ school voucher program. Building Quality Early Learning: Mike Nguyen , Executive Director of VN TeamWork, discusses the Early Learning Quality Network, a Harris County initiative designed to strengthen early learning and child care through community-led planning and input from families, providers, and local organizations. Tune in every Wednesday from 9–10 a.m. on 90.1 KPFT Houston and kpft.org , and listen to new podcast episodes each Thursday morning!

October 1, 202656 min

Immigrant Motherhood, ICE in Austin, & Community Storytelling

On this episode, Owala Maima and co-host Brian Greene , President and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, explore immigrant family health, immigration enforcement, and the power of community storytelling. Immigrant Mothers & Family Health: Dr. Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba , Executive Director of Children’s HealthWatch and Research Associate Professor at Boston University School of Public Health, discusses her research on immigrant mothers, structural vulnerability, immigration status as a social determinant of health, and how these experiences can affect children and families. Immigration Updates: Krystal Gomez , Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council, provides an update on recent immigration enforcement in Texas, including the ICE shooting in Austin, community arrests, and what families should know about Texas’ SB 4 law. Community Storytelling: Laura Gomez , Communications Manager at Woori Juntos, shares how the organization is amplifying stories from Houston’s immigrant communities and what these personal experiences can teach us about immigration, family, and community. Tune in every Wednesday from 9–10 a.m. on 90.1 KPFT Houston, and listen to new podcast episodes each Thursday morning!

September 24, 202657 min

State of Public Education, Hispanic Heritage Month, & Food Insecurity in Harris County

On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn and co-host Mandi Kimball , Vice President & Chief Government Affairs Officer at CHILDREN AT RISK, explore public education, Hispanic heritage, and food insecurity affecting children and families across Houston and Texas. Public Education: Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora , Superintendent of Tomball ISD, discusses the district’s seventh consecutive A rating, how schools measure success beyond state accountability, changes to Texas’ education system, and what families expect from public schools. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: Patricia Gaitán , Executive Director of the Institute for Hispanic Culture in Houston, explores what Hispanic Heritage Month means for Houston families and young people, the meaning of Hispanic and Latino identities, and ways communities can celebrate and stay connected to their heritage. Food Insecurity in Harris County: Dr. Luz Garcini , Director of the Center for Community and Public Health at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, discusses new research showing that half of Harris County households with children experienced food insecurity. Tune in every Wednesday from 9–10 a.m. on 90.1 KPFT Houston, and listen to new podcast episodes each Thursday morning!

September 17, 202656 min

Texas Education & the Governor’s Race, HISD Takeover & School Closures, Preventative Care for Men

On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn and co-host Dr. Erica Hattery , physician and Executive Strategy Consultant, explore education, health, and issues affecting children and families across Texas. Texas Education & the Governor’s Race: Megan Menchaca, K-12 Education Reporter at the Texas Tribune, breaks down the education priorities of the candidates for Texas governor, including STAAR and accountability ratings and school takeovers. HISD Updates: Claire Partain, HISD Reporter at the Houston Chronicle, discusses declining enrollment, school closures and consolidations, and the end of the state takeover. Men’s Health: Texas State Representative Senfronia Thompson discusses men’s physical and mental health, access to care, preventative health, and how fathers’ and caregivers’ health can affect children and families. Plus, hear Hip Speak with Natalie Gonzalez and Data of the Day with Sarosh Nandwani. Tune in every Wednesday from 9–10 a.m. on 90.1 KPFT Houston, and listen to new podcast episodes each Thursday morning!

September 9, 202657 min

Teen Dating & Pregnancy, Mobilizing Immigrant and Young Voters, Early Childhood, Kids & Energy Drinks

On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn and co-host Brian Greene , President and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, explore issues affecting children, families, and communities across America. Teen Dating & Pregnancy: Dr. Jeff Temple , Director of the Texas Violence and Injury Prevention Research Center, explores trends in teen dating, healthy and unhealthy relationships, pregnancy, and how parents can talk with teens about sex, consent, and pregnancy prevention. Immigrant & Young Voters: Vy Pham , Organizing and Policy Director and Interim Executive Director at Woori Juntos, discusses voter engagement among Asian and Latine immigrant communities, the impact of immigration enforcement on civic participation, and what young people should know about getting involved and voting. Early Learning Quality: Martha Gonzales , Associate Director, Early Quality Learning Network at CHILDREN AT RISK provides an update on the Early Learning Quality Network (ELQN), reflecting on the project’s key issues and lessons learned, and what’s next for the initiative. Kids & Energy Drinks: Dr. John P. Higgins , cardiologist at UT McGovern Medical School, explains the risks energy drinks may pose for children and teens, how they affect the heart and body, and safer ways for young people to stay energized. Thank you for joining us on the air! Join us next Wednesday on 90.1 KPFT Houston or kpft.org .

September 4, 202657 min

Sustainable Texas Cities, COVID Updates, & Children in Immigration Detention

On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn and co-host Rusty Bienvenue, Executive Director of AIA Houston, explore: Sustainable Texas Cities: Jay Blazek Crossley, Executive Director of Farm&City, discusses how Houston and other Texas cities can become more walkable, affordable, sustainable, and accessible. COVID Updates: Dr. Michael Chang, Pediatric Infectious Disease Physician and Professor at McGovern Medical School at UT Health, provides an update on rising COVID activity, wastewater monitoring, school precautions, and other viruses to watch as children return to school. Children in Immigration Detention: Krystal Gomez, Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council, discusses reports of children being held for extended periods at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center and the potential effects of prolonged detention on children's health, development, education, and well-being. Thank you for joining us on the air! Join us next Wednesday on 90.1 KPFT Houston or kpft.org .