Health's Up: An Ideastream Public Media Podcast

When it comes to health, it isn’t always easy for kids and families to navigate the facts. That’s why we created “Health’s Up,” a new podcast that explores healthy choices through kids’ voices.

We know that kids, parents and teachers are dealing with a lot of stress during this pandemic. Everything in the world is upside down, and navigating learning online is difficult for everyone. 

So, this new series of episodes is all about stress, the different kinds of stress and easy ways to cope. The podcast is hosted by pediatric nurse practitioner Kristi Westphaln.  Teachers - find lesson plans  here !   

Speaking of learning virtually, Kristi Zoomed in with some Cleveland middle schoolers in the Circle Scholars after-school program to record these special podcast episodes. You can listen to the first episode of this series now!

In episode one, the kids, who attend Mary McCleod Bethune School, also spend time with a special guest, Cleveland mental health counselor Robyn Hill. Robyn explains that not all stress is bad and that there are three main types: good, tolerable and toxic.

In the second episode, it’s time to feel better! The kids learn different ways to cope with stress, from watching TV to going outside and getting active. Plus, we hear about an easy meditation exercise, and the students discuss their favorite ways to de-stress. One student, De’Naria, says she likes to sit down, close her eyes, and imagine something good. This episode will be released on Feb. 23.

Finally, in the third episode on stress, the focus is on a virtual source of stress: social media. Have you ever heard of Internet catfishing? Well, the kids learn all about it, as well as how to stay safe on social media. They also discuss how to build a community of support both online and in real life. Stay tuned for that episode on Mar. 2.

Feel free to also check out our previous episodes about healthy breathing, sleeping, eating and exercise. We worked with Marion-Sterling Elementary School in Cleveland for these episodes, which aired in Feb. 2020.

Each episode includes helpful information from pediatric and mental health experts in the Cleveland area and resources for teachers to use.  

Just click on the orange play button below to start listening! You can select individual episodes from the colorful buttons above, or just leave the player running to hear all episodes back-to-back. Also, be sure to check out additional resources for your family or classroom down below. 

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