Parenting with a Purpose, Bronies, Paying Off Debt, Talking to Strangers, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Making Good

Parenting with a Purpose (0:00:00) Raising kids in today’s society can be daunting. Wrong is called right, smartphones replace human interaction, families are fractured, and children aren’t maturing as quickly as they used to. In our ever-changing culture, parenting can sometimes feel like a losing battle, especially for those who are just starting their life as parents. To get some tips for parenting the right way, we’re joined by speaker and author Arlene Pellicane. Bronies (0:15:42) Have you ever watched really great show and thought—wait isn’t this for kids? You’re not alone. Many of you will remember scratching your head when "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" TV series first aired in 2010 and a group of fans emerged who looked a little different than the target audience. Referring to themselves as “bronies,” teen and adult males were really drawn to the show. Now, almost a decade later, with the show going into its ninth and final season, the craze has died down a bit, and the last BronyCon just happened last August. So what was driving this unprecedented cultural phenomena? What is the psychology behind fandoms? Here to tell us more is Dr. Daniel Chadborn, phycologist and researcher of fandoms and fanship. Staying Motivated to Pay Off Debt (0:33:28) There is something nearly every American has in common, and unfortunately, that’s debt. We live in a spending culture and the average American has about 38 thousand dollaars fo debt, not including their mortgage. How do we get the motivation to even start digging ourselves out of this hole? Jen Smith, founder of Modern Frugality, understands this feeling all too well. She and her husband looked at paying off $78,000 of debt. Jen joins us to share how she and her husband found motivation to pay off their debt in under two years, and how that motivation is attainable for you. Talking to Strangers (0:50:41) They tell you as a kid not to talk to strangers, but what are you missing out on by listening to that advice? A recent study showed that when commuters in Chicago strike up a conversation with a stranger, they actually enjoyed their commute more. Are there other benefits to talking to strangers? What are we missing out on when we stay quiet? Here to teach us how to connect with strangers is Nicholas Boothman, expert in communication and author of "How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less." Challenged Athletes Foundation (1:05:14) Have you ever been inspired by the Paralympics or anathlete with a prosthetic limb or a debilitating injury? There are so many touching stories about these athletes that motivate people around the globe, but what goes on behind the scenes? Who helps pay for the costs of specially engineered devices? Who helps acquire prosthetics? Who mentors and empathizes with these every day heroes? Today, we have the Bob Babbit, co-founder of Challenged Althetes Foundation, who is one of the behind the scenes advocates that helps take care of all of those little details that go in to giving disabled athletes the opportunity to live their best lives. Making Good (1:24:17) Watching the news or scrolling through your feed can often lead you to feel depressed or overwhelmed with the state of the world. Amidst all of the turmoil, do you ever wonder where the good people are, and how you can be one of them? Actor and musician Kirby Heyborne joins us today to talk about his new show, Making Good, that features hardworking, kind people all across America that do their part to add joy and relief to the world.