Episodes

  • In Maryland, Tenants Are Fighting for Their Right to Clean Air

    In Maryland, Tenants Are Fighting for Their Right to Clean Air
    Jun 2 2026
    Most people think of pollution as something outside, like smog and exhaust. But gas stoves, ovens, furnaces, and water heaters can actually release nitrogen dioxide directly into your home. For renters, that's a problem without easy solutions: unlike homeowners, they can't simply swap in safer, cleaner energy sources, and landlords and policymakers have been slow to act. In this episode, host Gloria Riviera speaks with Adama Moussa Harouna and Tanushree Dutta Isaacman, organizers at Action in Montgomery, about their work pushing for safer living conditions, lower toxic emissions, and a more sustainable energy future for renters. This episode was made in partnership with Action in Montgomery. To learn more about their work, visit actioninmontgomery.org
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    35 mins
  • Bright Spots: The Landmark Win Giving NICU Families More Paid Leave

    Bright Spots: The Landmark Win Giving NICU Families More Paid Leave
    May 26 2026
    What would your life look like if you could actually take paid time off when you needed it most? The reality is, millions of Americans can’t – not for illness, a family emergency, or even a new baby. For parents with an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), this is especially challenging: they use up whatever leave they have while their baby is in the hospital, with nothing left for when they come home. But one state is changing that: Colorado. Starting in January 2026, qualifying workers with a baby in the NICU can access additional paid leave on top of what the state already offers. In this episode, host Gloria Riviera sits down with Jared Make, Vice President at A Better Balance, the legal advocacy nonprofit behind this landmark win, to explore how Colorado is leading the way for working families. This episode is created in partnership with Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Learn more about A Better Balance work by visiting abetterbalance.org
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    35 mins
  • Bright Spots: A Global Jewish Movement Led by Teens, for Teens

    Bright Spots: A Global Jewish Movement Led by Teens, for Teens
    May 12 2026
    What if we recognized the importance of teens as leaders today, and not just in the future? That's exactly what BBYO, the global Jewish teen movement, has been doing for over a century: bringing young Jewish people together and empowering them to lead in the organization, their communities and beyond. In this episode, host Gloria Riviera sits down with BBYO's current teen presidents, Logan Reich and Mercedes Benzaquen, to hear about their leadership, experience managing elections at BBYO’s International Convention this year, and what the record-breaking number of teen candidates says about young people's motivation to engage today. Together, they show us what meaningful youth leadership looks like, why participating in real democratic processes is so powerful, and what other organizations can learn from a movement that trusts teens to lead. This episode is created in partnership with Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Learn how your teen can get involved in BBYO and be inspired by the role teen voices can play in shaping your community at bbyo.org/get-involved
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    31 mins
  • Thrive: Why Childcare is a Basic Need for Young Parents

    Thrive: Why Childcare is a Basic Need for Young Parents
    May 5 2026
    Every young person deserves access to high-quality education and career opportunities. But for young parents, none of that is possible without first solving for the basic need of childcare. In the sixth episode of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's series on what young people need to thrive, host Gloria Riviera talks with Bella Agee, a 21-year-old student, worker, and mom, and Quanic Fullard, Senior Associate of Family and Youth Financial Stability at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, about why access to childcare sets young parents up for success – and benefits the collective good. This episode was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization that develops solutions to build a brighter future for children, youth, families and communities. Learn more at aecf.org.
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    36 mins
  • Thrive: The Power of Youth Apprenticeship

    Thrive: The Power of Youth Apprenticeship
    Apr 28 2026
    What if young people could earn a paycheck, build real skills, and start a career – all before finishing school? Youth apprenticeships make it possible, but too few young people can access these opportunities. In the fifth episode of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's series on what young people need to thrive, host Gloria Riviera speaks with two guests who are making the case for how apprenticeships can open doors to opportunity, mentorship and high-quality career pathways: Laura Burgher, an Annie E. Casey Foundation program associate, and Chris Grant, who started his CareerWise apprenticeship at Mastercard at 16 and is now a full-time product designer there. This episode was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization that develops solutions to build a brighter future for children, youth, families and communities. Learn more at aecf.org.
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    31 mins
  • Thrive: Helping Youth in Foster Care Build Permanent Connections

    Thrive: Helping Youth in Foster Care Build Permanent Connections
    Apr 21 2026
    Every young person needs lasting relationships with caring adults as they navigate their way to adulthood. Too often,young people in the foster care system go with­out this sup­port. In the fourth episode of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's series on what young people need to thrive, host Gloria Riviera sits down with Sandra Gasca, Vice President of the Center for Systems Innovation at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Together, they explore what's working to help youth in foster care establish and maintain meaningful, lifelong connections. This episode was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization that develops solutions to build a brighter future for children, youth, families and communities. Learn more at aecf.org.
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    33 mins
  • Thrive: Taking Youth Leadership Seriously

    Thrive: Taking Youth Leadership Seriously
    Apr 14 2026
    Young people aren’t just future leaders. They’re already leading in their communities today, as caregivers, workers, and activists. In the third episode of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's series on what young people need to thrive, host Gloria Riviera talks with Jasmine Bernard and Tosca Nance-Jones of BRIDGES, a Memphis-based organization building authentic youth-adult partnerships for social change, and Traci Broady, Senior Associate at the foundation, about what it really looks like to invest in young leaders today. This episode was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization that develops solutions to build a brighter future for children, youth, families and communities. Learn more at aecf.org.
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    37 mins
  • Thrive: Learning to Save and Budget Helps Youth Thrive Into Adulthood

    Thrive: Learning to Save and Budget Helps Youth Thrive Into Adulthood
    Apr 9 2026
    For young people, financial basics like opening a bank account, building credit and saving for the future can be challenging. It’s even harder if you are leaving foster care, and you don’t have a knowledgeable mentor, caregiver or parent to help you learn to manage money. That's where Opportunity Passport® comes in. It’s a program that has helped more than 22,000 young people build financial skills over the past 25 years. In the second episode of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's series on what young people need to thrive, host Gloria Riviera talks with Sandy Wilkie, Senior Fellow at the foundation, and Von Jackson, an Opportunity Passport participant, about how the right education and support can transform a young person's financial future. This episode was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization that develops solutions to build a brighter future for children, youth, families and communities. Learn more and access the free curriculum, The Keys to Your Financial Future at aecf.org.
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    30 mins