Say That With Love

What does it take to build a world where Black children truly thrive? Hosted by Dr. Leah Austin, Say That With Love is a podcast from the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) that explores the Eight Essential Outcomes for Black Child Development through the voices of those closest to the work: educators, parents, artists, healers, and community leaders building liberated futures for Black children and families. Rooted in Afrofuturism, early childhood development, and systems thinking, each episode weaves storytelling, expert insight, and community wisdom to ignite hope and drive action. From joyful learning to economic security, we're reimagining what's possible for our youngest generation. This is more than a podcast. It's a movement to nurture Black brilliance, protect Black joy, and center Black children in systems designed for them to flourish. Produced by Mike Brown in partnership with ABF Creative. Poetry performed by Ariana Santiago.

Episodes

Lives and Plays in a Safe Community with Rev. Dr. Cheryl Cook-Posley

May 18, 2026 • 47 mins

Safety isn’t just the absence of harm. It’s the presence of joy, belonging, and the freedom to dream. In this episode of Say That With Love, Dr. Leah Austin is joined by Reverend Dr. Cheryl Cook-Posley, National Director of Movement Building at the Children’s Defense Fund. Together, they explore what it truly means for Black children to live and play in safe communities—where care is a collective responsibility, and safety include...

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Is Seen As A Child with Dr. Byron Young

May 4, 2026 • 49 mins

What does it mean for Black children to be seen as children—not miniature adults, not threats, not burdens, but whole human beings deserving of joy, tenderness, and care? In this powerful episode of Say That With Love, Dr. Leah Austin is joined by Dr. Byron Young, child and adolescent psychiatrist, community healer, and founder of DoingItWell. Together, they explore the emotional cost of adultification, the systemic forces that de...

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Breathes Clean Air and Drinks Clean Water with Binta Dixon

April 20, 2026 • 36 mins

Air is breath. Water is life. And yet, too many Black children are denied both. In this episode of Say That With Love, Dr. Leah Austin is joined by Binta Dixon—Afrofuturist writer, community facilitator, and environmental justice advocate—for a powerful conversation on clean air, safe water, and the fight for environmental equity. Together, they explore how pollution and policy choices have shaped Black childhood—and how communiti...

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Has Toys and Books That Reflect Them with James Howard

April 6, 2026 • 38 mins

Representation is more than a buzzword—it’s a building block of identity, belonging, and imagination. In this episode of Say That With Love, Dr. Leah Austin is joined by James Howard, Executive Director of the Black Inventors Hall of Fame and STEM Learning Center. As an inventor, designer, and educator, James brings powerful insight into how toys, books, and everyday learning tools shape what Black children believe is possible for...

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Hangs Out on a Safe and Appropriate Internet with Dr. Criscillia Benford

March 16, 2026 • 61 mins

In a world increasingly shaped by screens, algorithms, and AI, what does it mean for Black children to be safe, seen, and sovereign online? In this episode of Say That With Love, Dr. Leah Austin is joined by Criscillia Benford, to explore digital equity, online safety, and the role technology plays in shaping Black childhood. From leading Project 10Million to decades of educational leadership, Dr. King brings powerful insight into...

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Enjoys Meals With Vegetables with Parker Gilkesson Davis

March 2, 2026 • 37 mins

What does it mean for Black children to enjoy meals with vegetables in a world shaped by food insecurity and food apartheid? In this episode of Say That With Love, Dr. Leah Austin is joined by Parker Gilkesson Davis, Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy, writer, and mother, for a conversation on food justice, nutrition, and child wellness. Together, they explore how policy, culture, and community intersect...

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Attends a School That Affirms and Expands Them with Dr. David Johns

February 16, 2026 • 42 mins

What does it truly mean for a school to affirm who Black children are and expand who they can become? In this episode of Say That With Love, Dr. Leah Austin is joined by Dr. David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Collective and longtime education justice advocate, for a powerful conversation about affirming schools, identity, and imagination. Together, they explore how classrooms shape belonging, joy, and ...

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Born at a Healthy Weight with Leah Hairston

February 2, 2026 • 31 mins

What does it really mean for a Black child to be born at a healthy weight? In this episode, Dr. Leah Austin is joined by doula and educator Leah Hairston to explore birth justice, Black maternal health, and the systems that shape the earliest moments of life. Together, they reimagine a world where Black babies are born into dignity, care, and love—and where Black mothers are heard, believed, and protected.

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Afrofuturism & Systems Change with Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead

January 19, 2026 • 61 mins

What if joy was the metric? What if data affirmed Black brilliance instead of policing it? In this powerful opening episode of Say That With Love, host Dr. Leah Austin sits down with Dr. Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead—award-winning scholar, storyteller, and “Black Mommy Activist”—to explore Afrofuturism as a visionary tool for systems change. Together, they unpack how memory, motherhood, and imagination shape the futures Black chi...

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