MindShift Podcast

This season we explore the ecosystems of support that shape student success. At a time when schools are facing staffing shortages, disruptions to the Department of Education, and shifting public trust, this season asks: who sustains the people responsible for sustaining students? Across six episodes, we'll move from teacher support and relationship-centered learning to technology, workforce preparation, and postsecondary pathways. Follow MindShift wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/mindshift Subscribe to receive new episodes starting July 14.

Do you remember the sting of not being invited to a birthday party or watching your friend sit at a different lunch table? Most adults can recall a falling out with a friend—also known as a friendship breakup. While romantic relationships and their endings get plenty of attention, friendship breakups are often overlooked, despite being just as painful and impactful. For adolescents, whose brains are wired for social connection, these rifts can feel world-ending. Parents and counselors play a crucial role in helping students navigate these experiences while also teaching them what it takes to build healthy, reciprocal friendships. In this episode, MindShift explores the science of friendship with journalist Lydia Denworth and hears from students, parents, and counselors about their experiences in the messy, meaningful world of adolescent friendships.

When you think of debate, you might picture presidential candidates interrupting each other, pointing fingers, and undermining their opponents. It often feels like a reflection of today’s fractured and tense civic discourse. But in high school debate clubs, students are learning a different approach. These clubs provide a rare space where young people can engage with current events, articulate their ideas, and—perhaps most importantly—practice active listening. At a time when algorithms often reinforce a single perspective and fewer young people engage with the news, that’s no small thing. A 2022 RAND report found that only 37% of schools have debate clubs. What are these clubs doing right, and should that number be higher?

Mindshift returns with Season 10. We’re exploring how to help kids find their voice, balance their identity, and just be kids. Hear practical tips and expert insights on how to better show up for young people in the classroom and beyond. Follow Mindshift wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/mindshift .

Host Nimah Gobir moderates the MindShift KQED: Can Better Conversations Improve Media Literacy Among Students? panel at the 2025 SXSW EDU conference.

KQED's Nimah Gobir talks to educator and language therapist, Dr. Nancy Cushen White about why handwriting is such a powerful tool for literacy learning.

Ruth Whippman, author of "Boy Mom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity" talks to KQED's Nimah Gobir about the biggest challenges facing boys today, and actionable steps parents and educators can take to make a difference for the boys in their lives.

Journalist Rose Horowitch and Author Danielle Bayard Jackson join KQED's Nimah Gobir in conversation to explore the problem of reading stamina in college students.