All Season 1-4 Episodes
Anti-Racism is a Both/And Situation
When I first started learning about anti-racism, before I ever started First Name Basis, I remember thinking, “I wish I…
Listen to This Before Your Holiday Dinner
The holiday season can be a beautiful time of celebration, but if we’re being honest, it can also be extremely…
How to Center Indigenous Peoples During Thanksgiving
I made my “Untold Story of Thanksgiving” episode to help me — and hopefully you — understand the true, accurate…
3 Things I Wish White Moms Knew About Black Motherhood
Every mother experiences motherhood differently — no two journeys are the same. And there are some things that Black mothers…
Our Kiddos Are Going to Change the World
In many ways, Emi Kim is what you might consider a typical 9-year-old. When she grows up, she wants to…
The Memory That I Can’t Shake: The Why Behind Ally Elementary
ALLY ELEMENTARY IS HEEEEERE! Pop all of the confetti cannons in the world because I am so dang excited to…
Is Reverse Racism Real?
Have you ever heard a white person claim that they’ve experienced “reverse racism”? I sure have! Let’s break this down…
Can We Talk About White Privilege?
But really, can we? I know y’all are seeing it too. You’ve shared with me that once you know what…
The Untold Story of Christopher Columbus
We need to stop celebrating Columbus Day — immediately. The story that we learned about Christopher Columbus could not be…
How to Respond to Stereotypes Against Asians
Books are such a powerful teaching tool because they give us glimpses into experiences beyond our own — which is…
Culture is Not a Costume: Cultural Appropriation and Halloween
I know some of you super-prepared parents out there are already getting costumes put together for your kiddos, and you…
Oh No! My Child Said Something Racist
Your kiddo just said something racist. Trust me, as a parent myself, I can feel your pain, hear your groans…
Black Lives Matter and the Family, Part 2: Over-Policing and Mass Incarceration
Debunking the myth that Black Lives Matter is trying to destroy families is such an important topic, we’re spending our…
Black Lives Matter and the Family, Part 1: Enslavement
The summer of 2020 was difficult and emotionally taxing for So. Many. Reasons. But one of the hardest things for…
(Not So Micro) Aggressions
Microaggression may have “micro” in its name, but that doesn’t mean these assaults are small. Two women I admire so…
Critical Race Theory in Schools
It’s basically impossible to open your news app without seeing a headline about Critical Race Theory, but what is it?…
A Real-Life Anti-Bias Teachable Moment
In this episode I walk you through the anti-bias approach that I took when my daughter came up against something…
Anti-Racist Education at Home and in the Classroom
We want our children to embrace anti-racist education both at school and at home, but what does that actually look…
What is Juneteenth and How Can I Celebrate?
Juneteenth is the oldest celebration of the abolition of slavery here in the United States. Every year on June 19th…
Your Loving Day Stories
54 years ago today Richard and Mildred Loving won their landmark Civil Rights case against the state of Virginia. Because…
The Loving Story
Richard and Mildred Loving never expected to be Civil Rights icons, they simply wanted to love one another and grow…
One Year After the Murder of George Floyd
Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 marks one year since George Floyd was brutally murdered by the police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here…
The Danger of Gaslighting
I think we can all agree that gaslighting is the wooooorst. When you share a vulnerable or tough experience with…
How to Teach Media Literacy to Children
Okay y’all, I know I’m not the only one seeing these headlines that are absolutely bananas! Sometimes I read something…
5 Tips for Talking to Children About the News
Current events are always tough, and it seems like they’ve been especially brutal and heart-breaking lately. Here are 5 tips…
How You Can Help Stop Voter Suppression
Are you fed up with voter suppression? Me too. This episode not only breaks down what’s going on with voter…
For Those of Us Who Need A Little Bit of Hope
Things have felt heavy lately and I thought we all might need a little hope. This is the audio from…
Ask Dr. Leslie Telfer, AKA My Mom
Last time I had my mom, Dr. Leslie Telfer, on the podcast you had SO MANY great questions for her!…
PSA: Women’s History Isn’t Just for Women
This should go without saying, but I’m gonna say (shout) it anyway: WOMEN’S HISTORY ISN’T JUST FOR WOMEN. n this…
A Survival Guide for Women in Male-Dominated Spaces
Women are tasked with navigating male-dominated spaces each and every day. As an electrical engineer my sister, Nina Clarke-Telfer, knows…
The Untold Story of Fried Chicken
We’re all familiar with the stereotype that Black people love fried chicken. It has been used to degrade, dehumanize, and…
Bringing Chinese Culture Into Our Homes
Since the start of the pandemic the Asian-American community has faced heightened discrimination, racism, and violence. In this episode I…
How to Celebrate Black History Month
Are you feeling a little overwhelmed when it comes to celebrating Black History Month? In this episode I share the…
The One Thing I Wish You Knew About Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Unfortunately, Dr. King’s dream has not yet come true. In this episode I explain the second phase of his dream,…
The Untold Story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This month we have the opportunity to celebrate one of America’s greatest heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today we’ll…
Racism 101
If someone asked you “what is racism” how would you respond? Would you be able to help them understand the…
Jesus Had Brown Skin
When we really take a moment to step back and think it’s easy to agree that Jesus had brown skin…
Service, Not Saviorism
Are you serving or trying to save? In this episode I unpack white saviorism and the detrimental effect that it…
Our Thoughts on President Oaks’ and Elder Cook’s Conference Talks
In the most recent General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LDS Church leaders began to…
Anti-Racism in the Wild
You know that feeling you get when you’re surrounded by pine trees, breathing the crisp mountain air, and feeling the…
The Untold Story of Christopher Columbus
The story that we learned about Christopher Columbus could not be further from the truth. He was a colonizer, enslaver,…
The Untold Story of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means that us parents are faced with the question of what to…
Real Talk: Cultural Appropriation and White Supremacy
On the surface cultural appropriation might not seem very harmful, but when you peel back the layers it is clear…
Your Top 5 Cultural Appropriation Questions Answered
Cultural appropriation can be so confusing. We all want to learn about and celebrate other cultures while making sure we…
How to Become an Informed Voter
I have heard from so many of you that this election season has left you feeling confused and overwhelmed. That…
Holly’s Birth Story
Our little Holly Jane was born on August 14th and in this episode we share her birth story! It was…
My Working Mom: Chasing Her Dreams
Now more than ever women and girls are being encouraged to share their gifts, talents, and intelligence with the world…
The Power of Representation with Mijha Godfrey from Jambo Book Club
Representation is critical for all children in all spaces. Children can’t be what they can’t see, so they all need…
Cancel Culture Pt. 3: Removing Statues
Our country is in the midst of a social revolution. People everywhere are standing up and fighting for racial equity…
Cancel Culture Pt. 2: What Is Cancel Culture And What Do We Do About It?
Cancel culture is difficult to define and widely viewed in a negative light. It could be defined as a modern…
Cancel Culture Pt. 1: Calling Out, Calling In & Tone Policing
In this first episode of our three-part cancel culture series, we lay a foundation for the conversation by getting clear…
How You Can Support Anti-racist Educators
Anti-racism work is critical to creating the community that we all want, and those of us who have been called…
The Untold Story of the Star Spangled Banner
You probably learned in school all about the story of Francis Scott Key watching the “rockets red glare” and “bombs…
The Danger of Spiritual Bypassing
There have been many different types of reactions to the calls for racial justice that are going on in our…
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is the oldest celebration of the abolition of slavery here in the United States. Every year on June 19th…
Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd: Unpacking Racism
Right now our country is reeling from the murders of our Black brothers and sisters. You may be confused by…
How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation
Celebrating the people around us and their unique cultures can be exciting and incredibly enriching! But where is that fine…
Diversity and Inclusion in LDS Art
Recently The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints published an announcement that they are going to regulate the…
What Is Privilege And What Do I Do With It?
White privilege is one of the strongest pillars that upholds racism. In her article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”…
Teaching Our Children About Immigration
Immigration is one of those things that we really struggle to agree on as a country. No matter your feelings…
How to Talk to Your Children About Racism
Racism is a topic that can be hard to know where to start when talking to your kids about it….
Cinco de Mayo is Not Mexican Independence Day
It seems like we need to shout it from the rooftops because most Americans are pretty convinced that Cinco de…
Let’s Talk Language: Black or African-American?
This episode answers the number one question I’ve been asked since starting First Name Basis: How do I know whether…
How to be a Liberator
We had an amazing conversation on Instagram and I really didn’t want you to miss it! I shared a post…
How The Coronavirus Pandemic Unmasks Inequality In Our Society
I’m sure you’ve seen the headlines: The Black community has been hit the hardest by the coronavirus. Infection rates in…
The Untold Story of Rosa Parks
What did you learn about Rosa Parks growing up? You may have learned, like I did, that she was a…
The Untold Story of Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss books are some of the most popular books across the globe, but should it stay that way? In…
A Conversation With My Dad About Black History Month
In this episode my dad and I dig deep about the importance of Black History Month. This is one of…
3 Steps To A More Inclusive Bookshelf
The books that we have in our bookshelves speak volumes about who and what we value. In this episode I…
Bringing Chinese Culture Into Our Homes
Lunar New Year is right around the corner. What are you doing to teach your children about the traditions and…
3 Ways to Celebrate Martin Luther King Day That Honor His Legacy
If creating a society that is just and inclusive is our goal, we need to do more than post a…
The Untold Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We have the opportunity to celebrate one of America’s greatest heroes this month, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During the…
Native American Voices Pt. 2
Michael Bennet is a husband, father of two, and an attorney for the Navajo Nation. In this episode he shares:…
Native American Voices Pt. 1
In this episode we interview Ryan Kamper. Ryan is from the Diné (Navajo) Nation. He is of the Folded arms…
How to Teach Your Children About Thanksgiving
So now that you know the untold story of Thanksgiving, how in the world do you teach your children about…
The Untold Story of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means that us parents are faced with the question of what to…
The Face of DACA
In this episode we interview Ivan Aragon, a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient. Ivan is from Chihuahua, Mexico…
How to Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos
In this episode we interview Catrina Gandara, a fellow podcaster who was born and raised in Mexico. Catrina grew up…
Teaching Our Children About the Deaf Community
In this episode we interview Chad Kennedy, a Deaf ASL Professor at BYU and UVU. Chad teaches us the following:…
Small Wins: Teaching 3rd Graders About Melanin, Race, and Civil Rights
In this episode, we share stories of how we’ve used the lessons we learn through First Name Basis in real…
Deaf History & Culture: Why You Shouldn’t Ask a Deaf Person if They Can Lipread
In this episode we get a brief overview of Deaf history and culture, including the history of American Sign Language….
Down Syndrome Awareness and Acceptance
This episode is a treat! We talk with Carter’s little brother, Parker, who has Down syndrome. Parker shares some details…
Speaking Respectfully About People Who Have Disabilities
This episode is the first in a series called “Let’s talk language.” Here, we’ll discuss how language can be used…
Family History Dinner
In this episode you will hear about “Family History Dinner,” an activity we developed to appreciate and learn about our…
Using Your Culture to Build Your Child’s Sense of Self
Did you know that teaching your children about their heritage can actually build their sense of self? Find out why…
Talking to Your Children About Slavery
Although slavery is a dark part of our nation’s history, it is important that we don’t turn our backs on…
Talking To Older Children About Race
You know that it’s time to talk to your older child about race but you haven’t had a minute to…
Talking to Young Kids About Race
Some parents have the mistaken idea that their young children are “color-blind” but research shows that this is not the…