Say That With Love

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 deny Black children their innocence, and the healing power of affirmation. From hip hop and mental health to radical care and cultural connection, this conversation reminds us that seeing Black children as children is not symbolic—it’s lifesaving. Produced by Mike Brown in partnership with ABF Creative. Poetry performed by Ariana Santiago.

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 communities are reclaiming their right to breathe, to thrive, and to imagine new futures. From climate justice to civic action, this episode invites us to understand environmental justice not only as resistance, but as love in action. Produced by Mike Brown in partnership with ABF Creative. Poetry performed by Ariana Santiago.

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 themselves. Together, they explore how design and storytelling can affirm Black brilliance, why representation matters in early learning, and what it looks like to create a future where every Black child is seen, celebrated, and inspired. Produced by Mike Brown in partnership with ABF Creative. Poetry performed by Ariana Santiago.

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 how we ensure Black children can thrive—not just survive—in digital spaces. Together, they unpack the challenges and possibilities of internet access, digital literacy, and emerging tech like AI, all while grounding the conversation in joy, creativity, and Black brilliance. Produced by Mike Brown in partnership with ABF Creative. Poetry performed by Ariana Santiago.

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 to shape Black children’s access to healthy food—and why nourishment is a matter of dignity, love, and liberation. From lived experience to systems-level change, this episode reframes food as culture, care, and collective responsibility, calling listeners to imagine and build futures where Black children are nourished in body, mind, and spirit. Produced by Mike Brown in partnership with ABF Creative. Poetry performed by Ariana Santiago.

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 possibility for Black children—especially in the earliest years. Dr. Johns reflects on his own childhood, the educators who affirmed him, and what it takes to build learning environments rooted in love, curiosity, and cultural truth. This episode challenges us to see schools as sites of worldbuilding, where affirmation fuels learning and freedom becomes possible. Produced by Mike Brown in partnership with ABF Creative. Poetry performed by Ariana Santiago.

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.

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 children deserve. From personal stories to historical insight, this episode invites listeners to reimagine what’s possible when we center Black children in systems designed for liberation—not compliance. Dr. Austin also shares reflections on NBCDI’s Afrofuturist Systems Design Process and calls us into collective action: to dream, design, and build with intention. “Let it be known—we are shaping a new world order for Black children to be. Just be.”