And that’s a wrap! In this Season 5 rewind Carol shares some of the highlights of the season and reveals some parenting principles–practical, helpful, parenting concepts–that came out of these conversations. Tune in for a sampling of some of the great stories, advice and resources Carol and her guests shared this season. And stay tuned for more parenting conversations about the joy and the real work of parenting Black children in our next season, coming soon!

Known for her stellar performances in film and TV hits including Antwone Fisher, I Am Legend, and Eureka, Salli Richardson-Whitfield is more than just a celebrated actress. As an award-winning director of shows like Queen Sugar, Blackish, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, and The Gilded Age, she's also a behind-the-camera force in the entertainment industry. And in this captivating conversation with Carol, Salli reveals a side seldom publicly seen: that of a wise and compassionate mother of two. Salli shares her invaluable parenting insights in this episode, emphasizing the importance of honesty in acknowledging our parenting strengths and limitations. Through candid anecdotes and reflections, she tells us how she has maintained the delicate balance between her thriving career and active family life. Tune in for a lively exchange filled with relatable stories and a healthy dose of wisdom that will resonate with parents everywhere.

Carol welcomes art curator Stephanie Sparling Williams for an engaging conversation about how she and her husband are navigating the complexities and joys of raising the two children they adopted at ages 12 and 14. Stephanie, who was raised by her African-American mother and white father, shares why she and her husband opted to adopt older children, how they found their (also biracial) children and prepared to bring them into their home. Carol and Stephanie discuss the journey of establishing trust and building connections, addressing past traumas and creating a new family dynamic, and the challenges and rewards along the way. Stephanie offers profound insights into the world of parenting older adopted children, and what it takes to establish a loving forever home. Through Stephanie’s story we gain valuable insights into the transformative power of chosen family.

Carol talks about how we can break the stigma surrounding mental health in Black communities with David R. McGhee, the Executive Director of The Steve Fund, a pioneering organization dedicated to advancing mental health support for young people of color. Carol and David discuss how poverty, the pandemic, and the media all impact the mental health of our children, and how we can prioritize and support their mental and emotional well-being. Tune in to their engaging exchange as they focus on nurturing wellness in children, parents and partners, and erasing the stigma attached to this important topic.

In this powerful episode, author and community advocate Ruth Horry talks with Carol about parenting through a child's mental health crisis. Ruth bravely shares her journey from surviving childhood abuse to supporting a child contemplating suicide. Carol and Ruth address mental health stigma and stress the need for open conversations on this topic. Ruth offers valuable advice to parents on seeking professional help, finding resources, and building a support network. This episode sheds light on the often-taboo topic of mental health in families, and provides guidance and reassurance to parents facing similar challenges.

Carol welcomes noted scholar Dr. Karida L. Brown and award-winning artist Charly Palmer to the podcast to give us a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at their creation of The New Brownies’ Book: A Love Letter to Black Families. This book is their contemporary reimagining of W.E.B. Du Bois’ art and literary magazine, which he created for children in 1920 to share Black history and celebrate their identities. The New Brownies’ Book is a collection of contemporary essays, poems, photographs, paintings, and short stories reflecting on the joy and depth of the Black experience. Carol talks with Karida and Charly about the making of this book and how it continues the legacy of presenting Black art and culture for all to share and enjoy. For families, as well as Black art and culture enthusiasts everywhere, this is a must-listen episode about a must-have book!

Carol welcomes Crystal back to the podcast to talk about “Game Up”, the app she and her son Cole Anthony created to help parents navigate the world of youth basketball. Crystal shares how her experiences raising three basketball-playing children (including Cole, now a rising star in the NBA) led her to create this app to offer valuable resources for parents seeking the best training opportunities for their aspiring basketball stars. Crystal talks with Carol about the challenges parents face as they try to support their children’s hoop dreams and the solutions the app offers to make the journey smoother. Whether you're a parent navigating youth sports, a basketball enthusiast or simply curious about the intersection of technology and athletics, this episode is a slam dunk you won't want to miss!

How did your favorite teacher impact your life? Award winning journalist Deborah Roberts returns to the podcast to talk with Carol about the transformative power of great teachers, the topic of Deborah's latest book, “Lessons Learned and Cherished: The Teacher Who Changed My Life”, a collection of essays from Deborah and some of her well-known friends and colleagues. In this episode Deborah and Carol offer valuable insights about the ways in which great teachers influence their students and how parents can actively support and champion teachers' efforts and results. This is an engaging and thought-provoking conversation that you won’t want to miss.

And that’s a wrap for Season 4—and what a season it has been! This season was packed with helpful ideas, thoughtful reflections, and trustworthy advice across all stages of child development, helping parents to fully realize their potential for parenting with effectiveness and joy.  In this episode Carol talks about some of the  memorable moments of the season and shares clips from some of the amazing guests–experts in education, healthcare, and the arts.  Tune in for an overview of some of the advice, stories and resources Carol and her guests shared this season.  Be sure to catch up on any shows you’ve missed, and stay tuned for Season 5!

Carol hones in on the critically important parent-teacher relationship this week. She talks with expert educator and Co-CEO of Excellence Community Schools, Dr. Charlene Reid, about how teachers have fared over the past few years of educational tumult, and what teachers want parents to know to help children recover from the pandemic slide. They discuss the importance of having educators who represent, affirm, and uplift Black students, and the need to teach children not to view any low grades in school as an indication of their abilities, but as just useful information as they strive to master the material.   Charlene draws upon her own experience as a teacher, principal, and mom to offer insights on how parents can strengthen the parent teacher relationship in order for all to work together for the best interests of the students.

Carol brings back this archived episode of her conversation with Deval Patrick, the former Massachusetts Governor and 2020 Presidential candidate. He and Carol discuss how his journey—growing up in the South Side of Chicago and making his way to the corridors of power—influenced his parenting methods and goals for his family. Deval shares his efforts to raise resilient and socially conscious children and tells Carol what it took to do this as a public figure, He and Carol discuss how his life lessons have helped him support his children unconditionally, and how he’s managed the challenges when private family matters have had to play out on a public stage.

Carol sits down with author and historian Rita Roberts to talk about the importance of preserving African-American history and passing it on to future generations. Rita shares insights from her latest book, "I Can't Wait to Call You My Wife: African-American Letters of Love and Family in the Civil War Era", which tells the stories of Black men and women through letters written in the mid-1800’s. She details the courage and resilience of enslaved Black people as they defied unjust laws to create families and stay close to loved ones. Rita and Carol focus on the critical role parents, teachers, and adults play in teaching children about their heritage, and provide advice on how we all can work to ensure that a full and accurate account of African-American history is preserved and passed on for generations to come.

Carol talks with Director of the Mount Sinai Addiction Institute Dr. Yasmin Hurd about the complex landscape of drug use today. With marijuana available recreationally and medically in most states and new synthetic drugs regularly hitting the market, parents need to know when and how to incorporate discussions about drug use into their important conversations with their children.  Dr. Hurd shares her insights on two drugs currently making headlines: cannabis and fentanyl. She walks Carol through the benefits and potential risks of cannabis and talks about why fentanyl use is rising and the toll it is taking on its users. Carol and Dr. Hurd answer listener questions and offer advice on how to create a non-judgmental environment where kids can honestly discuss their experiences and questions relating to drugs. 

How can we help our children develop a moral compass to guide them through life? In this insightful episode from the archives, minister, professor, author and former President of Morehouse College Dr. Robert M. Franklin, Jr. explains the importance of helping children think about faith and morality, and offers a framework for starting these discussions at an early age. Dr. Franklin shares his own personal stories and memories of witnessing the courage and leadership his grandmother so naturally embodied. He guides Carol through the stages of faith development which parents can follow to help children find meaning and purpose in their lives. Robert also candidly speaks to the challenges and opportunities he faced while helping young men at Morehouse College center their moral compasses in a changing world.  

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Carol continues the conversation with mother-son duo Angelique and Sage about parenting Black LGBTQ youth with love and support. They discuss the difference between gender and sexuality, and why this distinction is so important to make and understand. They also talk about the use of non-gendered pronouns, the need for grace when it comes to unlearning gender-specific language, and the need to work towards an inclusive, nonjudgmental, and respectful society. This concluding conversation brings even more valuable advice for parents, neighbors, and community members to better understand, support and advocate for the LGBTQ community.

How did the first Black female CEO of a Fortune 500 company manage to balance her skyrocketing career and her growing family? In this refreshingly candid and thought-provoking episode from the archives, Ursula Burns, former CEO of Xerox Corporation, tells Carol why this is the wrong question for young parents to ask, and explains how and why work-life balance issues should be reframed and analyzed. She shares the lessons and perspectives that helped her stay true to herself and her parenting goals during her rise to the top and takes us on a deep dive into how parents should redefine their parenting goals and practices. Ursula begins by sharing a loving recounting of her single mother’s masterful parenting, explaining how her wise counsel and great instincts guided Ursula’s own parenting journey.

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Award-winning journalist and co-host of CBS Saturday Morning Michelle Miller returns to talk with Carol about her memoir Belonging: A Daughter's Search for Identity Through Loss and Love,  the story of how she was raised by family and friends after her mother abandoned her at birth. Michelle shares with Carol how she coped with growing up as "her mother’s secret", and how her feelings towards her mother have shifted during different phases of her life. Carol and Michelle discuss the valuable parenting lessons Michelle learned from the village that helped raise her, and how she used them to create her own village to help care for her children. Michelle speaks openly and honestly about her decades-long search for belonging in this compelling episode.

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Author Kala Allen Omeiza joins Carol to talk about neurodiversity advocacy and her journey to being diagnosed with autism at 24. Kala shares with Carol how race and disability intersect in her life as a Black autistic woman, and how she poured her life experiences into her young adult novel, Afrotistic.   Kala felt out of place and socially uncomfortable as a young Black girl growing up in predominantly white communities.  She talks with Carol about how feeling so different for so many reasons impacted her childhood and may even have complicated the discovery of her neurological issues.   She describes the journey to her autism diagnosis and how her family supported her along the way. In this captivating episode, Kala offers valuable advice about how parents and caretakers in the Black community can be more patient, perceptive and proactive when caring for their neurodiverse children.

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Harriette Cole joins Carol to talk about the positive and affirming ways that Black parents can share their morals and values with their children. Harriette, the former lifestyle editor and fashion director at Essence Magazine, is also an author, a nationally syndicated advice columnist, a multimedia producer, and host of the radio show DreamLeapers and podcast DreamLeapers Inspiration. Harriette was raised by parents who believed “excellence was the only option”. She tells Carol that when it comes to her own parenting style, excellence is not a demand but remains an expectation, and describes how she passes on the best of her parent's beliefs to her daughter as well as to the audiences who follow her trusted advice. Carol and Harriette also connect over the realities of becoming a mom after having a career in full bloom, and the challenges of navigating motherhood with a demanding professional life.

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Carol joins forces with poet and author Amena Brown, host of the podcast HER with Amena Brown, to talk about their journeys as Black women in the world of podcasting. In this poignant, revealing, hilarious joint interview, they talk about the power of being raised by Black moms, how to parent artistic kids, the perils of performing, the importance of “play aunties” and the need for self-destructing journals. And that is just a taste of this delightful convo. Tune in for new and surprising insights on Carol and to meet the amazing Amena! 

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Black children in America are in a reading crisis, and it’s getting worse.  In a 2022 national reading assessment, only 33% of all U.S. 4th and 8th graders tested scored at a competent reading level, and for Black students, that competency score dropped to 17%. These scores are lower than the last national reading assessment in 2019.   In the face of this crisis, how do we ensure our children can beat the odds and become good readers? 

Carol dives into this important topic with early literacy expert Maya Smart. Maya’s new book, Reading for Our Lives: A Literary Action Plan from Birth to Six, is a practical guide to raising confident, skilled readers. In this episode Maya talks with Carol about how and why parents need to focus on reading from day one.   She explains the impact of engaging even the youngest children in conversation, and offers a detailed action plan to help young children get reading ready.  She and Carol also talk about the importance of proper parent-teacher communication about your child’s reading progress, and steps to take if your child is falling behind. Listen to their conversation to gain the skills you need to raise strong readers. 

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Carol’s focus on college admissions continues with a favorite from the archives: her convo with Eric Furda and Jacques Steinberg, authors of The College Conversation. Eric, the former Dean of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, and Jacques Steinberg, an award-winning education journalist, share their expert advice on how your teen should be applying to college from start to finish, and how you can engage and offer support. They break down “The C’s” that students should look for as they research colleges: Culture, Curriculum, Community, Conclusions, and Cost. Carol’s expansive conversation with Jacques and Eric also covers best practices for freshman success, and even what to do if your child wants to transfer. Listen to lessen the stress as your family moves through a new chapter of your teen’s life. Follow @GroundControlParenting and visit www.groundcontrolparenting.com

College Board CEO and Ground Control Parenting fav David Coleman returns to the podcast to talk about learning from failure, the illusion of what it takes to be successful, and the toxic side of striving for perfection. David is a thoughtful, intriguing guest who seamlessly wraps life lessons into his expert insider knowledge on how high school kids today can turn their struggles into triumphs. He shares how children should be taught that greatness comes from trying but not succeeding, and then trying again. David fills us in on the College Board’s latest work to help high school students’ learning journeys become more joyous and less fraught. Parents of high schoolers who worry that their children are never going to make it through the college application process, high schoolers themselves, and all who want to hear a deeply interesting conversation, tune into this engaging episode designed to reduce stress and reinvigorate your belief in education.

As 2022 comes to a close, Carol recaps this year’s Ground Control Parenting podcast journey. She looks back on standout topics covered this past season and highlights some of this year’s most interesting and resource-filled conversations. Happy New Year from Ground Control Parenting!

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Carol digs back into the archives for this poignant conversation with author and filmmaker Suzanne Kay, daughter of actress Diahann Carroll. Suzanne, who is biracial, pulls back the curtain on her life with her superstar mom to reveal the challenges of being raised by parents who did not talk with her about race or her racial identity when she was young.  Suzanne shares her journey to racial awareness and discusses how she helps her children connect to their unique identities. She brings a meaningful and relevant perspective to a needed conversation around acceptance, identity, well-being, and belonging.

Carol welcomes back pediatric stress expert Dr. Victor Carrión to help families handle the stress that can arise during the Holiday season. The holidays are a time for traditions, reunions, love, and gratitude. But for many, anxiety can build due to the financial and emotional burdens that can accompany celebrations—gifting, organizing extended family gatherings, childcare for the extended holiday, and more. Dr. Carrión explains how to recognize and analyze the good, bad, and ugly sides of stress. He believes that while stress can be helpful in building resilience, when you don’t introduce de-stressors, it can become overwhelming. He speaks directly to what therapy is, what it does, and quiets concerns about how it can help parents and their children feel better. As families return to pre-Covid traditions, Carol talks with Dr. Carrión about how to approach the holiday season with a plan that will leave everyone less stressed and more prepared to enjoy a wonderful end of year.

In 2013, while Burrell Ellis was serving his second term as the CEO of DeKalb County, Georgia, he was accused by the DeKalb County District Attorney of illegally soliciting campaign contributions from a county contractor. Insisting that these charges were false and politically motivated, Burrell refused to resign as CEO and was suspended from his position. After an initial mistrial, in 2015 Burrell was found guilty of perjury and attempted theft by extortion. He was sentenced to eighteen months in prison, and was taken off to prison immediately after the sentencing. In late 2016, The Georgia Supreme Court reversed his conviction, ruling that he did not receive a fair trial. He was reinstated to his CEO position with back pay, and was reimbursed for his defense costs.

Burrell and his wife Philippa join Carol to talk about how this crisis impacted their family and how they parented their two children through the storm. They describe how they focused on maintaining their strong family unit, prioritizing honesty and openness with their children, relying on their faith and on therapy to help them make it through. They used this family crisis to teach their kids integrity, resilience, and how to advocate for themselves. In this moving and poignant episode, Burrell and Philippa reflect on how their family banded together to fight injustice and stand on the truth.

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As the holiday season approaches, New York Times best-selling author Nancy Redd returns to catch us up on what’s going on in her life. When Nancy last joined Carol on the podcast, her bestselling children’s book Bedtime Bonnet was taking off and she was helping her son August and her daughter Rupali manage school and extracurriculars online. Now, Nancy has a new book out, The Real Santa, which takes readers on an adventure with a young Black boy eager to find out what Santa really looks like, and Rupali has landed a leading role in the Disney+ series The Santa Clauses. Nancy describes how she has supported both of her children’s newfound love for acting while not dimming her own light as a writer, journalist, and host. Her family has a deep love for the Christmas holidays and whether or not you celebrate the season, our conversation will lift your spirits and inspire you to enter the New Year with renewed focus and motivation to achieve whatever you set your sights on.

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Naima Keith returns to the podcast for the second part of her conversation with Carol; this time to talk about parents posting their kids on social media, and the nuanced complications that can arise. Naima is the VP of Education and Public Programs at LACMA and is the mother of two young children. She grapples with a relatable parenting struggle: enjoying regularly posting about her kids online, and worrying about the impact it may have. Social media offers a true sense of community, but it also invites genuine concern around privacy, consent, and the lack thereof. Naima and Carol consider the pros, the cons, and what a balanced approach can look like. Carol calls in social media expert Tali Horowitz from Common Sense Media to talk about the actions parents can take to protect their kids online. Tali offers entry points to navigating conversations of consent with your children from a young age, and helpful information to ease the anxieties that social media and potential oversharing on social media can create.

Carol talks with Naima Keith, Vice President of Education and Public Programs at the Los Angeles Museum of Art (LACMA), about how to introduce children to the wonderful world of art and art museums. Naima shares practical tips for parents on how to encourage their kids to appreciate art from an early age and how to get the most out of a museum experience, even if all the little ones want to do is run around and touch the artwork! In this lively conversation Naima and Carol also dive into the realities of balancing work demands with parenting, and how to combat the pressure to “do it all.