All Episodes
Don’t Do THIS During Black History Month
In case you haven’t noticed yet, I’m passionate about Black History Month. I did not enjoy learning about Black history growing up. It felt more like grieving than celebrating for…
Let’s Celebrate Black History Month!
Can you believe February is right around the corner?! And with it comes BLACK HISTORY MONTH!! Celebrating Black History Month is so important for ALL kids, not just Black children,…
Work With Me: First Name Basis at Your School
We’re wrapping up Season 8 with this episode, and it’s got me thinking all about our evolution over the years. From beginning as a tiny Instagram account to starting the…
We Are Anti-Racist and Anti-Genocide
Like so many of you, I have been all consumed the last few weeks by the events going on in Gaza and the genocide that is being carried out against…
Black and Brown Emojis Are Not a Punch Line
This episode can be summarized with one sentence: Please stop using Black and Brown emojis if you are not Black or Brown. Skin color is something that should be celebrated,…
Invisible Lynching and What It Says About the Fight for Justice
Trigger warning: Before you continue reading these show notes or listening to this episode, please be aware that it discusses lynching and white supremacist violence. Lynching is a reality both…
Raising Multiracial Children with Dr. Jennifer Noble
Growing up as a multiracial child, I often felt my racial identity shifting and developing — heck, even as an adult I do! Navigating what it means to be multiracial…
3 Things I’ve Learned On My Anti-Racist Journey
This episode is a bit of a role reversal with someone I admire SO MUCH. I have been a longtime fan of Rachel Nielson’s podcast 3 in 30: Takeaways for…
Let’s Talk Language: Under-Resourced
Language is always evolving and we need to evolve with it. Reflecting on the words we’re using and recognizing opportunities to grow and change is a natural (and necessary) part…
Teaching Children About Disabilities
July 26, 2023, is the 33rd anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act. If you’re doing the math in your head, let me give you a shortcut: That means the…
My Journey: Resisting White Supremacy Culture and Finding Joy
Y’all, I’m gettin’ REAL in this episode. We always talk about how anti-racism is a journey not a destination, and it’s so important to take time to reflect on that…
All Children Need “The Talk”
Parents of Black children are all too familiar with “The Talk.” “The Talk” where they teach their kids not to have their hands in their pockets at a store. “The…
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 bursting in air” as a prisoner on a British warship…
The Story of the First Openly Gay MLB Player: Glenn Burke
Happy Pride my friends, especially to the LGBTQ+ members in our community! To celebrate Pride, I wanted to share an episode from my Bite-Sized Black History program that features a…
Motherhood: An Unexpected Act of Resistance
This episode is a special one to me, one dedicated to all of the Black and Brown moms out there. A lot of my Black and Brown friends who are…
What is Coded Language?
I’ve been thinking a lot about coded language lately. If you’re unfamiliar with that term, coded language is when someone is talking negatively about a marginalized group without explicitly saying…
Bite-Sized Black History
Bite-sized Black History is a podcast just for kids that empowers you to teach the little ones you love about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history…
An Update on Our Cross Country Move
It’s been a few months since we moved across the country from Arizona to Maryland, and I’ve gotten questions from so many of you wondering how we like our new…
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 because he was from the Middle East. If that’s the…
Your School Has a Diversity Statement. Now What?
We all know that 2020 was a wake-up call for a lot of people. It was a time of reflection, a time of change (hopefully), and a time where schools…
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 history. As I think about the episode, I think it…
Teaching Our Children About Unfamiliar Accents
Have y’all ever driven down the East Coast? I don’t mean to spoil the magic for you but I gotta say, it’s basically a straight shot through a wall of…
The Importance of Black and Asian Solidarity with Joanna Ho
To say I’m obsessed with New York Times bestselling author Joanna Ho’s novel “The Silence That Binds Us” is an understatement. Yes, it’s a book technically written for young adults,…
Real Quick: Black Voting Power
If you’ve been around a while, you’ve heard me say it hundreds of times: Race is a social construct. Race was created and has always been manipulated to make sure…
Real Quick: Politicians Need Experience
Politicians need experience to do their job. This may fall under the “unpopular opinion” category to some people, but it’s something I feel strongly about and have been thinking about…
The Scariest Costume: An Untold Story of Appropriation
When the team here at First Name Basis was doing the research for our recent episode “Alcatraz: An Untold Story of Indigenous Resistance,” we came across the story of the…
Children of Color in Schools: the Stories Behind the Statistics
One of the biggest messages we’re trying to get across with First Name Basis is that learning a person’s story and getting to know them as an individual is the…
Culture is Not a Costume: Cultural Appropriation and Halloween
Can you believe that Halloween is just around the corner? I know some of you super-prepared parents out there are already getting costumes put together for your kiddos, and you…
Alcatraz: An Untold Story of Indigenous Resistance
Alcatraz. What comes to your mind when you hear the name of that little island off the coast of San Francisco? For me, I heard “Alcatraz” and I pictured that…
Age Appropriate Anti-Racism
My dear friends, we have been on this anti-racism journey together for 3 years, and it’s AMAZING to think about the growth we’ve gone through together. Over the course of…
Oh No! I Talked About Racism and Made Things Worse
I’ve heard from so many parents who have been listening to the First Name Basis Podcast and other anti-racist educators, have tried to implement the suggestions they learn as they…
Where Did Student Loans Come From and Why Is College So Expensive?
The fact that there is a need for student loan forgiveness really paints a picture of just how complicated education funding has become. So how did we get to this…
Real Talk: You Should Support Student Loan Forgiveness
It’s been a few weeks since the White House announced a plan for student loan forgiveness, and in that time, you’ve likely seen all sorts of articles and social media…
Ways to Make Immigration About People, Not Status
Immigration is about so much more than debates, laws and policies — it’s about people. Every person who has interacted with the immigration system has their own story that goes…
You Are Not Meant to Do This Alone: The Power of Anti-Racist Community
Anti-racism is meant to be done in community. It makes sense, right? This work is SO important and we need to be sharing it with others in order for change…
How Can I Help My Kiddos Grapple With Hard History?
You know what would really help us all out? If we realized that historical figures are more than the heroes/villains that we often reduce them to. Although past presidents and…
How Can I Show Up on Social Media When I Don’t Have All of the Answers?
Social media feels like a double-edged sword: It can be a great way to keep in touch with family and friends and learn new things, but it can also be…
Environmental Justice: What in the World Are Carbon Credits?
“Carbon credit” is a trendy term you might have heard being used by businesses, government officials and the news media, but what exactly is it? We’re answering that in this…
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 like? We’re talking about anti-racism in the classroom for the…
Creating Change in the Classroom
Classrooms should be places of growth, discovery and change, and as parents and caregivers we need to support teachers in fostering a positive environment for students. And Patrick Harris II…
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 bursting in air” as a prisoner on a British warship…
We Are Moving Across the Country
We’re packing our boxes and leaving the dry Arizona heat for the suburbs of Washington, D.C.! This move has been in the works for two years now, and I can’t…
3 Things Children Need to Know About Slavery
As a Black bi-racial person, learning about slavery growing up was so hard for me for so many reasons — it was traumatizing and heartbreaking to think about the conditions…
Your Loving Day Stories 2
I’ve always thought Mildred and Richard Loving’s last name was kismet: Mildred was a Black woman and Richard was a white man who loved each other and just wanted to…
Say This, Not That When Someone Comes Out to You
When a family member or friend chooses to come out to you, it is an extremely vulnerable moment for them, and how you respond is so important. You may find…
Racism is Built on a Big Fat Lie, Part 2: Uncle Tom and Other Myths
If you’ve been here for a while, you’ve probably heard me say about a million times that race is a completely made up social construct — with no basis in…
Thoughts, Prayers and Actions: We Need Stricter Gun Laws
As a former teacher and a mom, I have a recurring nightmare that I’m sure many of you share: a constant, ever-present fear of my children — and any other…
Racism is Built on a Big Fat Lie Pt. 1: Blood Quantum and the One Drop Rule
Think back to when you were a kid. Remember when you’d be playing a game and you were about to make an epic power move or even win the game,…
What Do I Do When My Child’s School Says to Leave Anti-Racism at Home?
I recently received a question from a parent in our First Name Basis fam that boiled down to: what do I do when my child’s school says to leave anti-racism…
Teaching Children About Ramadan and Islamophobia
If you are not Muslim, perhaps you’ve seen Ramadan listed as holiday on your calendar but don’t really know what it’s all about. Well, here at First Name Basis, we…
Age Appropriate Anti-Racism
My dear friends, we have been on this anti-racism journey together for 2.4 years, and it’s AMAZING to think about the growth we’ve gone through together. Over the course of…
Say “No” to White Feminism and “Yes” to Intersectionality
Sometimes when white women are at the start of their feminist journey they can get tunnel vision and make choices that ultimately harm Women of Color. Today on First Name…
Let’s Have a Policy Party!
Y’all, I am sooooo excited that I can finally share this with you! It’s something that we’ve had in the works for a while now and something that I’ve been…
White Passing: What Does That Mean?
“White passing” and “white presenting” are terms you’ve probably heard before when people are talking about being multi-racial, but what do they even mean? And where did they come from?…
Anti-Racism: Where Do I Start?
This episode answers one of the most common questions I receive: Where do I start? Press play if you’re taking your first step on your anti-racist journey or if you’ve…
Love in A Time of Crisis: Parenting and Activism
There’s a phrase I’ve seen pop up over and over again among influencers (specifically white people on social media who consider themselves parenting experts) that makes me want to lose…
Redefining Relationships After Racism
Racism is traumatizing no matter what, but when it manifests itself in your personal relationships, it is crushing. Dr. Lucretia Berry, an anti-racist educator, author, scholar and mother to three…
Don’t Wait Until Something Bad Happens to Talk to Your Kids About Race
It’s obvious that there is a need to talk about race with our kiddos when big events are in the news. But if that’s the only time we’re talking to…
White Children and Uncomfortable History: What Do We Do?
Since the push for anti-racism has become more mainstream some white children (and adults) are learning about the true history of the United States for the very first time. This…
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 tired seamstress on her way home from work and when…
Raising Multi-Racial Children
Growing up as a multi-racial child, I often felt my racial identity shifting and developing — heck, even as an adult I do! Navigating what it means to be multi-racial…
Black Lives Matter: How Will You Respond?
In the summer of 2020, author Veronica Chambers had what she calls an “aha moment.” Born in Panama and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Veronica’s Afro-Latina heritage has always been…
Stop Using MLK to Justify Racism
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is less than a week away, and I couldn’t let this important day pass without another episode. This is actually my THIRD episode about Martin…
Rich People Commit Crimes, Too
This past week we’ve had some deep and meaningful conversations about responding to the myth of “Black on Black crime.” As our conversations unfolded I realized that I left out…
What About Black-on-Black Crime?
When a white person murders a Black person and we try to call it like it is — RACISM — there’s a response that, without fail, will crop up. The…
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 could just turn it off sometimes and enjoy things.” That…
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 stressful — especially when it comes to spending time with…
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 history. As I think about the episode, I think it…
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 experience that mothers who hold white privilege don’t fully understand….
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 be a scientist or president of the United States, but…
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 together because I’ve heard from many of you that you’re…
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 to look for you’ve started to see it all over…
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 further from the truth. He was a colonizer, enslaver, and…
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 something children’s book author Andrea Wang is an expert at….
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 may be wondering about cultural appropriation as you’re looking through…
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 of embarrassment and sense your anxiety. But what do you…
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 second week in a row talking about it. If you…
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 me was hearing white parents say that they could not…
(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 much for their anti-racism work explain it like this: “There’s…
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? Could you explain it to a friend if they asked…
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 in one of her library books that didn’t align with…
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 like? In this episode I interview Alexandria Scott, Founder and…
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 families come together to celebrate the resilience of our ancestors…
Your Loving Day Stories
54 years ago today Richard and Mildred Loving won their landmark Civil Rights case against the state of Virginia. Because of the Lovings states were no longer permitted to create…
The Loving Story
Richard and Mildred Loving never expected to be Civil Rights icons, they simply wanted to love one another and grow their beautiful family. Listen in to hear how the Lovings…
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 are 3 things you can do to show solidarity for…
The Danger of Gaslighting
I think we can all agree that gaslighting is the wooooorst. When you share a vulnerable or tough experience with someone and they respond in a way that makes you…
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 and think “how is it possible that people actually believe…
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 for talking to children about the hard things going on…
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 suppression but also gives action steps for what we need…
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 an IG live that I shared last week. Take some…
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! After she shared about her 30 year career as a…
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 episode I interview Ashley Aikele and Elyse Beard, the founders…
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 how frustrating it can be to fight for the respect…
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 uphold racism. But where does this stereotype come from? 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 give concrete examples of what it looks like to stand…
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 key to a meaningful Black History Month celebration. If you’re…
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, one that we are still working on today. Bite-Sized Black…
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 learn about and understand the untold story of Dr. King….
Racism 101
If someone asked you “what is racism” how would you respond? Would you be able to help them understand the different ways that racism rears its ugly head in our…
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 because he was from the Middle East. If that’s the…
Service, Not Saviorism
Are you serving or trying to save? In this episode I unpack white saviorism and the detrimental effect that it has on communities in our backyard and across the globe….
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 speak more directly about racism, unity, and inclusion. Carter and…
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 stresses of everyday life slowly melt away? Well, unfortunately that…
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, and sex trafficker who committed genocide against Indigenous Peoples. Don’t…
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 tell our children about this (somewhat controversial) holiday. You probably…
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 that cultural appropriation is a function of racism and perpetuates…
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 don’t cross any lines or embrace stereotypes and caricatures. In…
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 in spectacular ways! So what does it look like to…
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 to see and experience people of many different backgrounds leading…
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 form of protest or boycott and therefore it has an…
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 about the difference between calling someone out and calling someone…
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 to lead this movement are carrying a heavy load. In…
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 bursting in air” as a prisoner on a British warship…
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 country right now. If your social media looks anything like…
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is the oldest celebration of the abolition of slavery here in the United States. Every year on June 19th families come together to celebrate the resilience of our ancestors…
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 all of the uprising and rebellion, but you need to…
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 line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation? When we take…
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 artwork that is displayed in our meeting houses. This was…
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” Peggy McIntosh describes white privilege as: “An invisible package of…
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 or political leanings, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity…
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. It’s important to be honest about it, but how can…
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 Mayo is Mexican Independence Day, and that is just not…
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 to say ”Black” or “African-American”? I went straight to the…
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 about resisting the temptation to be seen as a savior…
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 Black counties are 3 times that of 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 tired seamstress on her way home from work and when…
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 my favorite conversations I’ve ever had on the podcast because…
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 share the 3 steps to making your child’s bookshelf more…
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 history of this holiday? Listen in to my conversation with…
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 quote and a photo on social media on Martin Luther…
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 month of January we will learn about the untold story…
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: The importance of looking outside yourself to learn about the…
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 people born for the Anglo-Saxon people, his maternal grandfather is…
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 it? Don’t worry one bit friend, I have 4 concrete…
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 tell our children about this (somewhat controversial) holiday. You probably…
The Face of DACA
In this episode we interview Ivan Aragon, a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient. Ivan is from Chihuahua, Mexico and came to the United States with his family when…
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 celebrating Dia De Los Muertos and has carried on those…
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: His experience at a hearing school vs. a Deaf school…
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 life. Jasmine tells the story of how she was taught…
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. Carter begins the episode discussing his background and how he…
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 of his life and what he wants us to know…
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 thoughtfully to communicate respect. We’ll explain the importance of “people…
Family History Dinner
In this episode you will hear about “Family History Dinner,” an activity we developed to appreciate and learn about our own ancestors. This was a special opportunity to connect with…
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 and learn the vocabulary you need to teach your children…
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 the truth. This episode identifies some common missteps that parents…
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 sit down and a take dive deep — and let’s…
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 case. The Life Kit for Parents podcast states, “Kids are…