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What Shapes Us: Strong Foundations, Thriving Futures

by The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

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Latest episodes

  • 20 Years of Impact

    October 7, 2026 · 39 min

    The Center on the Developing Child is excited to relaunch its podcast with a new name and a new season, exploring how understanding of early childhood development continues to evolve and what that means for children, caregivers, and the…

  • Coming Soon: What Shapes Us: Strong Foundations, Thriving Futures

    September 28, 2026 · 1 min

    The Center on the Developing Child is excited to relaunch its podcast with a new name and a new season, exploring how understanding of early childhood development continues to evolve and what that means for children, caregivers, and the…

  • Strengthening Stability: Actionable Strategies to Support Young Children and Caregivers

    August 20, 2026 · 43 min

    In this episode of the Brain Architects, we explore how stability across multiple domains shapes healthy development for young children and their caregivers. Drawing on insights from the latest working paper from the Early Childhood…

  • Why Stability Matters for Early Childhood Development

    May 6, 2026 · 56 min

    In this episode of The Brain Architects, Lindsey Burghardt, MD, MPH, FAAP, moderates a conversation with Nathaniel Harnett, PhD, and Natalie Slopen, ScD, drawing on insights from the new working paper From Resources to Routines: The…

  • Connecting Early Childhood Development to Climate Change

    November 17, 2025 · 40 min

    In this episode of the Brain Architects, Nat Kendall-Taylor, CEO of the FrameWorks Institute, Lindsey Burghardt, our Chief Science Officer; Margot Brown, Senior Vice President of Justice & Equity at the Environmental Defense Fund; and…

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  • Communicating the Relationship Between Place, Racism, and Early Childhood Development

    November 17, 2025 · 37 min

    In this episode of the Brain Architects, Dr. Nat Kendall-Taylor, CEO of the FrameWorks Institute, Dr. Lindsey Burghardt, our Chief Science Officer, and Dr. Leah Austin, President and CEO of the National Black Child Development Institute…

  • Mattering in Early Childhood: Building a Strong Foundation for Life

    November 3, 2025 · 43 min

    In this episode of the Brain Architects, the Center’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Lindsey Burghardt, talked with Jennifer B. Wallace, award-winning journalist, and founder of the Mattering Institute who has written extensively on the topic…

  • Protecting Young Children From the Impacts of Wildfires

    September 29, 2025 · 54 min

    In this episode of the Brain Architects, Lindsey Burghardt, MD, MPH, FAAP, moderates a conversation with Joseph G. Allen, DSc, MPH, associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and director of Harvard’s Healthy…

  • How Air Quality Affects Early Childhood Development and Health

    August 11, 2025 · 53 min

    In this episode of The Brain Architects, Lindsey Burghardt, MD, MPH, FAAP, moderates a conversation with Alison Lee, MD, MS, and Joseph Allen, DSc, MPH, on how air quality during pregnancy and early childhood impacts lifelong health and…

  • Addressing the Impact of Extreme Heat on Young Children

    August 4, 2025 · 55 min

    In this episode of the Brain Architects, Lindsey Burghardt, MD, MPH, FAAP, moderates a conversation with Michelle Kang, CEO of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and Jennifer Vanos, PhD, Associate…

  • Why Sleep Matters in Early Childhood Development

    July 28, 2025 · 35 min

    In this episode of the Brain Architects, Lindsey Burghardt, MD, MPH, FAAP, talks with Rebecca Spencer, PhD, a researcher on the science of sleep, about why sleep is so essential during early childhood. From brain architecture and emotional…

  • Solutions Spotlight: How Communities Are Leading Efforts to Ensure Clean Water Access

    March 31, 2025 · 56 min

    Access to clean water is too often determined by where we live and the political and economic influence we have to demand it. Yet water is a critical part of a child’s environment, and disruptions in its availability and quality can impact…

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About the show

What Shapes Us: Strong Foundations, Thriving Futures is a podcast from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (formerly known as The Brain Architects). This season, we explore how our understanding of early childhood development continues to evolve—and what that means for children, caregivers, and the systems that shape their lives. We take a close look at the relationships, communities, and broader conditions that influence how children live, grow, play, and learn, and share real examples and strategies for how communities and systems can work to create conditions that support children's and caregivers’ health and well-being. Subscribe now to What Shapes Us: Strong Foundations, Thriving Futures.