Welcome to Season 6 of the WE GOT US NOW PodcastHosted by Ebony UnderwoodMental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken RealitiesEPISODE 7 of 7:  Isolation & LonelinessIn our final episode of this season, Ebony and Dr. Ron-Li Liaw explore the lasting impact of isolation and loneliness on children impacted by parental incarceration. They discuss how separation, stigma, and silence can create chronic stress that affects a child’s emotional and physical well-being over time.Loneliness is not just a feeling. It is a public health issue linked to serious long-term risks, including mental health challenges, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. For children carrying the weight of parental incarceration, this conversation is a call to recognize loneliness early, build meaningful connection, and ensure no child has to navigate this experience alone.##########Our annual WE GOT US NOW Podcast takes a thematic twist this year with the launch of our SPECIAL EDITION: Mental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken Realities. This season, Ebony is joined by Dr. Ron-Li Liaw, Children’s Hospital Colorado’s inaugural Mental Health-In-Chief, Chair of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute, and a nationally recognized child and adolescent psychiatrist whose work advances mental health integration, family engagement, clinician well-being, design innovation, and systems-level transformation in youth mental health.POWERED by: Chicago Beyond ,rwjfTo learn more, go to: WEGOTUSNOW.org#WellnessTools #HealingCentered #TraumaInformed #DrRonLiLiaw #7UnspokenRealities #EbonyUnderwood #WeGotUsNowPodcast #CYAIPI #WEGOTUSNOW

Welcome to Season 6 of the WE GOT US NOW PodcastHosted by Ebony UnderwoodMental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken RealitiesEPISODE 6 of 7:  Cost of ConnectionThis week, Ebony and Dr. Ron-Li Liaw discuss the toll of the cost of connection on children impacted by parental incarceration. For many children, staying connected to an incarcerated parent depends on what their family can afford.A phone call. A video visit. Transportation to a facility.These costs are not just financial. They can deepen isolation, strain attachment, and make separation even harder for children who are already carrying so much.The episode also explores the policy landscape, what exploitative communication systems cost children emotionally, and how WE GOT US NOW is working to help change it. Connection should not be a privilege. It is part of a child’s emotional well-being.##########Our annual WE GOT US NOW Podcast takes a thematic twist this year with the launch of our SPECIAL EDITION: Mental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken Realities. This season, Ebony is joined by Dr. Ron-Li Liaw, Children’s Hospital Colorado’s inaugural Mental Health-In-Chief, Chair of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute, and a nationally recognized child and adolescent psychiatrist whose work advances mental health integration, family engagement, clinician well-being, design innovation, and systems-level transformation in youth mental health.POWERED by: NBA Foundation, Sony MusicTo learn more, go to: WEGOTUSNOW.org⁠#CostOfConnection⁠ #7UnspokenRealities ⁠#WellBeing #FamilyConnection⁠ #DrRonLiLiaw #EbonyUnderwood #WeGotUsNowPodcast #CYAIPI #WEGOTUSNOW

Welcome to Season 6 of the WE GOT US NOW PodcastHosted by Ebony UnderwoodMental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken RealitiesEPISODE 5 of 7:  Caring Adults In this episode, Ebony and Dr. Ron-Li Liaw explore the powerful role caring adults can play in the lives of children impacted by parental incarceration. They discuss the importance of attuned, trusted adults who can recognize a child’s pain, nurture their potential, and help them imagine a future beyond what they are carrying.##########Our annual WE GOT US NOW Podcast takes a thematic twist this year with the launch of our SPECIAL EDITION: Mental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken Realities. This season, Ebony is joined by Dr. Ron-Li Liaw, Children’s Hospital Colorado’s inaugural Mental Health-In-Chief, Chair of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute, and a nationally recognized child and adolescent psychiatrist whose work advances mental health integration, family engagement, clinician well-being, design innovation, and systems-level transformation in youth mental health.POWERED by: Chicago Beyond ,rwjfTo learn more, go to: WEGOTUSNOW.org#WellnessTools #HealingCentered #TraumaInformed #DrRonLiLiaw #7UnspokenRealities #EbonyUnderwood #WeGotUsNowPodcast #CYAIPI #WEGOTUSNOW

Welcome to Season 6 of the WE GOT US NOW PodcastHosted by Ebony UnderwoodMental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken RealitiesEPISODE 4 of 7:  Wellness & Healing ToolsIn this episode, Ebony and Dr. Ron-Li Liaw explore journaling as a powerful wellness tool for children impacted by parental incarceration. They discuss how writing can help children give language to feelings they may not yet know how to say out loud, and how creative expression can open a safe path toward healing. Not every child has the words in the moment. Journaling gives them space to name their pain, process grief, ask questions, and begin making sense of what they are carrying. When introduced early and without shame, it can become more than a coping tool. It can become a quiet practice of self-connection, resilience, and emotional safety.##########Our annual WE GOT US NOW Podcast takes a thematic twist this year with the launch of our SPECIAL EDITION: Mental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken Realities. This season, Ebony is joined by Dr. Ron-Li Liaw, Children’s Hospital Colorado’s inaugural Mental Health-In-Chief, Chair of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute, and a nationally recognized child and adolescent psychiatrist whose work advances mental health integration, family engagement, clinician well-being, design innovation, and systems-level transformation in youth mental health.POWERED by: NBA Foundation, Sony MusicTo learn more, go to: WEGOTUSNOW.org#WellnessTools #HealingCentered #TraumaInformed #DrRonLiLiaw #7UnspokenRealities #EbonyUnderwood #WeGotUsNowPodcast #CYAIPI #WEGOTUSNOW

Welcome to Season 6 of the WE GOT US NOW PodcastHosted by Ebony UnderwoodMental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken RealitiesEPISODE 3 of 7:  Child ParentificationIn this episode, Ebony and Dr. Ron-Li Liaw explore what happens developmentally when children are pushed into adult roles long before they’re ready. They discuss the profound loss that occurs when childhood is replaced by survival, and the quiet, often invisible weight these children carry.No child should have to grow up that fast. Many lose the safety, play, and emotional space they need to simply be kids. The impact can ripple through their sense of self, relationships, and well-being for years to come.##########Our annual WE GOT US NOW Podcast takes a thematic twist this year with the launch of our SPECIAL EDITION: Mental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken Realities. This season, Ebony is joined by Dr. Ron-Li Liaw, Children’s Hospital Colorado’s inaugural Mental Health-In-Chief, Chair of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute, and a nationally recognized child and adolescent psychiatrist whose work advances mental health integration, family engagement, clinician well-being, design innovation, and systems-level transformation in youth mental health.POWERED by: Chicago Beyond, RWJFTo learn more, go to: WEGOTUSNOW.org#BreakTheStigma #MentalHealthStigma #ChildMentalHealth #TraumaInformed #DrRonLiLiaw #EbonyUnderwood #WeGotUsNowPodcast #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #CYAIPI #WEGOTUSNOW

Welcome to Season 6 of the WE GOT US NOW Podcast.Hosted by Ebony Underwood.Mental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken RealitiesEPISODE 2 of 7:  Impact of Stigma: In this episode, Dr. Ron-Li Liaw & Ebony explore the fear of judgment and stigma that stops children from seeking help, and what it actually means to normalize mental health support for young people.##########Our annual WE GOT US NOW Podcast takes a thematic twist this year with the launch of our SPECIAL EDITION: Mental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken RealitiesThis season, Ebony is joined by Dr. Ron-Li Liaw, Children’s Hospital Colorado’s inaugural Mental Health-In-Chief, Chair of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute, and a nationally recognized child and adolescent psychiatrist whose work advances mental health integration, family engagement, clinician well-being, design innovation, and systems-level transformation in youth mental health.POWERED by: NBA Foundation, Sony MusicTo learn more, go to: WEGOTUSNOW.org#BreakTheStigma #MentalHealthStigma #ChildMentalHealth #TraumaInformed #DrRonLiLiaw #EbonyUnderwood #WeGotUsNowPodcast #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #CYAIPI #WEGOTUSNOW

Welcome to Season 6 of the WE GOT US NOW Podcast.Hosted by Ebony Underwood.Our annual WE GOT US NOW Podcast takes a thematic twist this year with the launch of our SPECIAL EDITION: Mental Health Awareness Series: 7 Unspoken RealitiesThis season, Ebony is joined by Dr. Ron-Li Liaw, Children’s Hospital Colorado’s inaugural Mental Health-In-Chief, Chair of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute, and a nationally recognized child and adolescent psychiatrist whose work advances mental health integration, family engagement, clinician well-being, design innovation, and systems-level transformation in youth mental health.Together, Ebony and Dr. Liaw engage in a weekly conversation exploring important realities that shape the lives of children separated from a parent by incarceration — from the trauma of witnessing a parent’s arrest to the impact of separation on the body, nervous system, and developing mind.Over the next seven weeks, Ebony guides a powerful conversation rooted in lived experience, leadership, and a deep commitment to centering children and young adults impacted by parental incarceration, with Dr. Liaw bringing clinical expertise and systems-level insight to help illuminate each reality.This series invites us to listen more deeply, understand more fully, and respond more compassionately to one of America’s most invisible populations.Season 6 begins now. Episode One is live.POWERED by: Chicago Beyond, RWJFTo learn more, go to: WEGOTUSNOW.org#ChildMentalHealth #TraumaInformed #DrRonLiLiaw #ParentalIncarceration #EbonyUnderwood #WeGotUsNowPodcast #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #CYAIPI #WEGOTUSNOW

WELCOME to Season 5 of the ⁠⁠WE GOT US NOW Podcast⁠⁠ series POWERED by NBA Foundation⁠HOSTED by ⁠⁠Ebony Underwood⁠⁠For our 7th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day, WE spotlight voices from our community, and uplift our allies working across the field to create a just and equitable society that seeks to keep justice-impacted families connected.  HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!S5 | EP6: JOEL AUSTIN ~ Educating & Equipping the World with Tools for Engaged, Informed and Empowered FatherhoodJoel Austin is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of DADDY UNIVERSITY, INC.® and Vice President of nonprofit,  School of Parent Education (SPE) . At these organizations, Mr. Austin has uplifted fathers, transformed families, and rewritten what parent education can and should look like.  As a father of four, his passion for this work is both personal and professional. He serves as a strong, force pushing male parenting and positive fatherhood to the forefront of family and community conversations, and is deeply committed to educating—and re-educating—the world about the importance of engaged, informed and empowered fatherhood. For the past 21 years, his leadership has grown Daddy University Inc. into a nationally recognized authority on fatherhood education, training, and support. In this episode, Joel breaks down the science, research & data on fatherhood and gives insights & expertise from his 21 years of experience training Dads inside and outside of prison. He believes, "Every father deserves the tools to succeed, and every family deserves the benefit of his success." So many educational gems & lessons in this episode!FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: ⁠⁠⁠WEGOTUSNOW.org⁠⁠ ⁠|⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠ LISTEN to the WE GOT US NOW Podcast on ⁠ ApplePodcasts⁠ , ⁠Spotify⁠ and all podcasts platforms.                      #WEGOTUSNOW  #FathersDay #DaddyUniversity #JoelAustin #Dad #Daddy #Father #Family #Children #Daughter #Son #Boy #Girl #Fatherhood #GirlDad #ParentEducation  #PaternalHealth #MaternalHealth #MensMentalHealth  #FamilyEducation #KeepFamiliesConnected #WeGotUsNowCommunity

WELCOME to Season 5 of the ⁠⁠WE GOT US NOW Podcast⁠⁠ series POWERED by ⁠⁠Chicago Beyond ⁠HOSTED by ⁠⁠Ebony Underwood⁠⁠For our 7th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day, WE spotlight voices from our community, and uplift our allies working across the field to create a just and equitable society that seeks to keep justice-impacted families connected.  S5 | EP5: MIKO UNDERWOOD ~ Fashion as a Bridge: Catalyzing Healing, Sustainability & Creative ExpressionMiko Underwood  is the award-winning  Founder / Designer of OAK & ACORN ~ Only for the Rebelles, the first sustainable brand in Harlem, NY.  A denim expert and innovator, with nearly twenty years of wash, product and brand development, Miko has become a leading voice in the sustainable denim space. She is committed to propelling the fashion industry into a more sustainable era where empowerment, cultural responsibility & accountability are at the forefront. She is passionate in telling a more inclusive American Denim story by shining a light on the UNTOLD HISTORY of the Indigenous American and the enslaved Africans contributions that have shaped American manufacturing and American Denim. Miko noticed firsthand the devastating environmental effects of manufacturing denim, inspiring her to research and innovate sustainable alternatives.Her work in Denim has won her industry accolades including a feature in VOGUE  & other global recognition. The CEO of Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), Stephen Kolb, recommended Miko as WGSN Future Designer 2021.  And she was voted as one of the most influential people in denim for the Rivet 50 2021, an annual index of the most influential people in denim globally.  Miko is also the 2021 WINNER of RIVET + PROJECT AWARDS: Best Men Collection. She garnered support from fashion organizations like Harlem's Fashion Row, RAISEfashion & is a CFDA/Bethann Hardison Designer Hub Grant Recipient and Designer Hub Founding Member. OAK & ACORN was one of 6 brands featured in Nordstrom NYC’s Black Founders x Center Stage Pop-Up in February 2020. The brand made history in Nordstrom as the first Black Designer Brand on the Designer 4th Floor in their New York City Flagship. OAK & ACORN ~ Only for the Rebelles has been listed as “Label to Watch” by The SPINOFF, HIGHSNOBIETY, HYPEBAE and most recently was highly recommended by Essence Magazine's, EssenceGu "Look to Shop" for BEYONCE's Cowboy Carter Tour. In this episode, Miko takes us along her personal journey and shares who and what sparked fashion and denim design for her. She gives insights into the creative process of fashion design, the importance of sustainability, and how her passion for art & design has been a healing catalyst for spiritual, transformation and creative expression.This insightful episode is deeply introspective and inspiring!FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: ⁠⁠WEGOTUSNOW.org⁠ ⁠|⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ LISTEN to the WE GOT US NOW Podcast on ApplePodcasts , Spotify and all podcasts platforms.#WEGOTUSNOW #Fashion #Artist #Sustainability #Denim #History #OakandAcorn #OnlyFortheRebelles #ArtistisTheHealer #Designer #MikoUnderwood #Craftsmanship #Creative #CreativeExpression #Incarceration #Daughter #Father #Mother #Family #WeGotUsNowCommunity

WELCOME to Season 5 of the ⁠⁠WE GOT US NOW Podcast⁠⁠ series POWERED by Libra Foundation⁠⁠ HOSTED by ⁠⁠⁠Ebony Underwood⁠⁠For our 7th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day, WE spotlight voices from our community, and uplift our allies working across the field to create a just and equitable society that seeks to keep justice-impacted families connected.  S5| EP4:  J. MARK EDDY ~ Bridging Interdisciplinary Perspectives to Inform Research on the Issue of Children with Incarcerated ParentsDr. J. Mark Eddy is a Senior Scientist and Licensed Psychologist. He is also a professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education within the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin. As a prevention scientist, he develops and rigorously tests prevention and intervention programs intended to benefit children and families, and particularly those who are living in stressful circumstances.  His recent work centers on the conduct of randomized controlled trials of multimodal interventions in partnership with school systems, the juvenile justice system, the adult corrections system, the child welfare system, and the military, as well as with nonprofits that work with these and related systems. His research has focused on communities in the U.S. and in Central AmericaIn this episode, Dr.Eddy shares insights into his career journey, from his initial inspirations to his fundamental research. He discusses his work developing family-centered interventions and the crucial role of interdisciplinary approaches in shaping research. This conversation highlights Ebony Underwood's collaboration as a co-author of a chapter in the Handbook on Children with Incarcerated Parents: Research, Policy, and Practice, Second Edition, and Dr. Eddy provides important historical context and clarity on the harmful and persistent myth surrounding children with incarcerated parents. This important discussion offers a glimpse into Dr. Eddy's scholarly leadership, personal reflections, and his anticipated future contributions. A very informative episode NOT to be MISSED!FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: ⁠⁠WEGOTUSNOW.org⁠ ⁠|⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ LISTEN to the WE GOT US NOW Podcast on SPOTIFY, ApplePodcasts and all podcasts platforms.#WEGOTUSNOW #Family #Children #ParentsBehindBars#IncarceratedParents #Incarceration#JMarkEddy #Psychology #Science #Research #WellBeing #WeGotUsNowCommunity