Summary: In this final episode of Season 4, "The Real School Life", our co-hosts explored the most controversial location of all, the school cafeteria!

Our Hosts: Season 4 is hosted by Amy Neugebauer, Executive Director of The Giving Square. In this episode Amy is joined by our 11-15 year old hosts Alona, Jayden, Aofie, Kivaan, and TGS Intern (and high school student) Aleena.

The Podcast: "Kids are Philanthropists, Too!" demonstrates that we can all come together to talk about issues that matter to us, no matter our age. This is designed to help us (kids and adults) become more philanthropic in our daily lives. Like the podcast? Spread the word! Get involved, follow and support The Giving Square.

If you believe in this work, please make a donation as The Giving Square depends on individual donations, like yours!

Summary: In this episode of Season 4, "The Real School Life", we are in conversation with Brenton Meade & Samira Ibhrahim, two high-school leadership students from Anne Arundel County. We discuss what the Student Government Association is, how to get involved within student government, and the value of different leadership styles that amplify you as a person!

Our Hosts: Season 4 is hosted by Amy Neugebauer, Executive Director of The Giving Square. In this episode Amy is joined by our 11-15 year old hosts Alona, Jayden, Aofie, Ibrahim, and TGS Intern (and high school student) Aleena.

Discussion Prompts (for kids and adults alike):

1: Why did our guests run for office? What do they do in those roles?

2: What is something you learned about student government from this conversation? What surprised you?

3. How would you like to express yourself (running for an office, writing letters, having conversations about things that matter? What is your personality? What comes easy for you? What came easy for Brenton? What about Amira?

3: Why is it important to advocate, share your opinions, talk to community leaders, and get involved?

The Podcast: "Kids are Philanthropists, Too!" demonstrates that we can all come together to talk about issues that matter to us, no matter our age. This is designed to help us (kids and adults) become more philanthropic in our daily lives. Like the podcast? Spread the word! Get involved, follow and support The Giving Square.

If you believe in this work, please make a donation as The Giving Square depends on individual donations, like yours!

Summary: In this episode of Season 4, "The Real School Life", we are in conversation with Caitlin Keegun, a high school health teacher in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. We explore the importance of health class, the health challenges kids and teens face, and how to talk about sensitive topics within the classroom.

Our Hosts: Season 4 is hosted by Amy Neugebauer, Executive Director of The Giving Square. In this episode Amy is joined by our 11-15 year old hosts Kivaan, Jayden, Aofie, and TGS Intern (and high school student) Aleena.

Discussion Prompts (for kids and adults alike):

1: What are some ways you can create a comfortable environment to talk about sensitive topics - at school, at home, between friends?

2: What health challenges do you see that kids and teenagers are facing?

3: Do you agree with Mrs. Keegun that social media has contributed to the increase in mental health issues for kids/students?

4: What are some ways we can be better listeners to our peers when they bring up health/social concerns? (listen to how this is answered )

The Podcast: "Kids are Philanthropists, Too!" demonstrates that we can all come together to talk about issues that matter to us, no matter our age. This is designed to help us (kids and adults) become more philanthropic in our daily lives. Like the podcast? Spread the word! Get involved, follow and support The Giving Square.

If you believe in this work, please make a donation as The Giving Square depends on individual donations, like yours!

Summary: In this episode of Season 4, "The Real School Life", we are in conversation with Liz McCollum-Lord, an Applied Behavior Analyist from Louisiana. We discuss the importance of accommodating learning in schools, how we can be equitable in the classroom, and how kids can help support the needs of their classmates.

Our Hosts: Season 4 is hosted by Amy Neugebauer, Executive Director of The Giving Square. In this episode Amy is joined by our 11-15 year old hosts Leo, Alona, Jayden, Aofie, and TGS Intern (and high school student) Aleena.

Discussion Prompts (for kids and adults alike):

1: What are some of your difficulties/challenges at school (or in your everyday life)?

2: How do adults help accomodate those challenges?

3. What would you do if a teacher or boss wasn't accommodating to your needs? How would you approach that conversation or action?

4: How can kids support classmates who have a specific challenge?

The Podcast: "Kids are Philanthropists, Too!" demonstrates that we can all come together to talk about issues that matter to us, no matter our age. This is designed to help us (kids and adults) become more philanthropic in our daily lives. Like the podcast? Spread the word! Get involved, follow and support The Giving Square.

If you believe in this work, please make a donation as The Giving Square depends on individual donations, like yours!

Summary: In this episode of Season 4, "The Real School Life", we are in conversation with Maryann Peschel, an experienced teacher from Connecticut. We start with kids’ perceptions and questions about the teachers perspective. We go on to cover everything from safety, to teacher-student conflicts, to teacher concerns, to phones.

Our Hosts: Season 4 is hosted by Amy Neugebauer, Executive Director of The Giving Square. In this episode Amy is joined by our 11-15 year old hosts Alona, Jayden, Aofie, Kivaan, and TGS Intern (and high school student) Aleena.

Discussion Prompts (for kids and adults alike):

1: What part of this episode’s conversation stuck out to you?

2: What questions would you have about what it is like to be a teacher? What would you have asked Maryann?

3: What influence have your teachers had on your life?

4: Are teachers philanthropists, ”givers of themselves for the good of humanity”?

5: What ideas do you have for teachers or students about how to make the phone situation better at school?

The Podcast: "Kids are Philanthropists, Too!" demonstrates that we can all come together to talk about issues that matter to us, no matter our age. This is designed to help us (kids and adults) become more philanthropic in our daily lives. Like the podcast? Spread the word! Get involved, follow and support The Giving Square.

If you believe in this work, please make a donation as The Giving Square depends on individual donations, like yours!

Full Transcript Here

Summary: We kick off Season 4, "The Real School Life", with this episode about all the drama and challenges that take place in school bathrooms. Our co-hosts share their memorable bathroom experiences (from elementary to high school). We then welcome Principal Elliot Alter (Rockville, Maryland) to share his perspective about what goes on and what changes behavior. This is a lively conversation you do not want to miss!

Our Hosts: Season 4 is hosted by Amy Neugebauer, Executive Director of The Giving Square. In this episode Amy is joinined by our returning 11-15 year old hosts Alona, Jayden, Ismahil, Aofie, Kivaan, and TGS Intern (and high school student) Aleena.

Discussion Prompts:

1: Make sure to listen to the crazy stories our own hosts have about their own experiences associated with school bathrooms. What stories would you tell?

2: During the podcast Aleena introduces the idea of the Bystander Effect. When have you been the bystander? When should you have spoken up?

3. We also touched on the desire to be cool generating a lot of questionable behaviors. When have you done questionable things in order to fit in? Adults - this question is for you too!

The Podcast: "Kids are Philanthropists, Too!" demonstrates that we can all come together to talk about issues that matter to us, no matter our age. This is designed to help us (kids and adults) become more philanthropic in our daily lives. Like the podcast? Spread the word! Get involved, follow and support The Giving Square.

If you believe in this work, please make a donation. The Giving Square depends on individual donations, like yours!

Full transcript here.

In this episode we interview Andrea Hernandez Rodriguez, Ph.D about how she has applied the principles of "psychological first aid" to address the immediate needs of the people affected by the wildfires in Maui. To learn more about Andrea and her work, please check out Global Giving.

Our Hosts: Season 3 is hosted by Amy Neugebauer, Executive Director of The Giving Square. This episode is co-hosted with Aleena and our returning 12-13 year old hosts Kivaan, Alona, and Ismahil & Ibrahim.

Looking for resources for how you can help people affected by the fires? Support organizations such as the Maui food bank, Pacific Birth Collective , and the Maui Strong Fund.

The series: "Kids are Philanthropists, Too!" demonstrates that we can all come together and talk about personal, complicated things, no matter our age. Like the podcast? Spread the word! Get involved, follow and support The Giving Square.

Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, The Serimus Foundation!

Summary: In this Episode we interview Devin W. Moore, a UMD sophomore who is the Founder of #RaceToSpeakUp - an anti-bullying organization and the author of Devin Speaks Up, a book about Devin's experience with bullying. This episode explores what bullying is and what we can do about it. 

Our Hosts: Season 3 is hosted by Amy Neugebauer, Executive Director of The Giving Square. Episode 25 is co-hosted by 11-14 year old hosts Leo, Aofie, Ismahil and Ibrahim and TGS’s high school intern Aleena.

Sponsors: Today's episode is sponsored by the Do Good Institute at the University of Maryland. The entire season is hosted by The Serimus Foundation. 

Tips: Want more resources and ideas for how you can combat bullying and to be an upstander! 

1:  Learn more about bullying. Find out about the anti-bullying policies at your school. Read Devin Speaks Up, a book to learn about how to help yourself and others.

2. Report it. Record and report whenever you experience or see bullying and tell a trusted adult.

3. Get loud! Listen towards the end of the episode for some advice on how you can get someone to help with your voice!

The series: "Kids are Philanthropists, Too!" demonstrates that we can all come together and talk about personal, complicated things, no matter our age. Like the podcast? Spread the word! Get involved, follow and support The Giving Square.