A few months ago, our host, Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, was one of several experts asked by The Atlantic magazine to share nominations for "best picture books for children", from the past 100 years. Dr. Navsaria and guest Emma Sarappo, a senior editor at The Atlantic, break down the process, which books made their list, and why.

Language shapes all aspects of our lives, including how we connect with our family. Often, the more "insider" that language is, the stronger the family bonds are. Cynthia Gordon, a professor in the linguistics department at Georgetown University and the author of "Making Meanings, Creating Family", joins us to talk about "familect" — a unique dialect particular to each and every family — and why it matters.

In early November 2025, nearly 300 people from the Reach Out and Read and Nurture Connection worlds — comprising clinicians, staff, community leaders, funders, and parents — gathered in Washington, DC for the National Summit. This event convened a coalition of innovative organizations representing the nation's early childhood community, child health systems, and networks of public and private investments to share progress, ideas, hopes, and dreams.

Voices heard in this episode include:

00:00: Mark Del Monte

02:06: Dr. Lynette Fraga

07:11: Dr. Robert Needleman

07:30: Dr. Mary Ann Woodruff

07:43: Molly Fields

09:16: Dr. Lee Beers

10:31: Mark Del Monte

14:13: Katherine Beckmann and Ira Hillman

25:29: Stephanie Smiley and Dr. John Duby

35:45: Dr. David Willis