Episode 1: Welcome

Episode 3: My Type of Activism

Welcome to Shedding Light on Child Life - a podcast associated with ⁠⁠⁠childlifewithanisha.org (https://www.childlifewithanisha.org/) ⁠⁠ by Anisha S. Reza, MS, CCLS. Find content here presented through the lens of a Person of Color (POC) career changer from medicine to child life, explore the intersection of diversity, student experiences, & psychosocial health and advocacy for children. "I think that's why I come back to the term of intersection because this platform is a very unique mix of what I can offer. And that is being a self-identified Asian American woman, Child Life Specialist, I'm an immigrant kid, so that's what makes me second generation immigrant. And all that feels really important this week with what's going on in America and what could happen and with ongoing changes to legislation and a push back against diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility work. But ultimately, it's often used in a negative limelight, but diversity is ultimately a celebration of differences and the celebration of how we all have different stories, we all have different experiences that make our world more interesting and make us human. And that sounds so sappy now to say it like that, but that's kind of why I'm here." In this episode of "Shedding Light on Child Life", Anisha shares her personal journey by discussing the complexities of identity, intersectionality, and advocacy. She illustrates how diversity is ultimately a celebration of differences and what activism looks like for her. She addresses the challenges faced by immigrant families and the impact of political and social issues on mental health. Anisha emphasizes the need for empathy, advocacy, and education in child life, while also highlighting how sharing and learning from personal experiences shape our understanding of social justice and advocacy. "I'm encouraged that everyone doing their good work will help us to stay steady and know that educating with stories and with our unique abilities and experiences will help to combat any fear-mongering or othering that occurs of these populations that deserve to exist and deserve the space that they occupy and not only deserve to just exist, but also deserve to be fought for and to be advocated for and to be celebrated, not pushed away." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Mission 04:19 Navigating Political and Social Issues 07:00 Intersectionality and Identity 11:44 Allyship and Pushing Dominant Culture 17:48 How Did I Get Here? 21:56 How To Move Forward 25:26 To Disclose or Not 28:39 DEIA Lens in My Work 32:21 Example of Being Seen 33:50 My Intersection for Students 36:03 Empathy and Advocacy with Shedding Light on Child Life Mentioned social media accounts: Matthew and Paul (@matthewandpaul) [https://www.instagram.com/matthewandpaul/] Brittany Packnett Cunningham (@mspackyetti) [https://www.instagram.com/mspackyetti/] Intersection: Podcast by Kimberlé Crenshaw [https://www.instagram.com/intersectionalitymatters/⁠] Short video with Kimberlé Crenshaw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViDtnfQ9FHc&ab_channel=NationalAssociationofIndependentSchools%28NAIS%2] TED talk by Kimberlé Crenshaw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akOe5-UsQ2o&ab_channel=TED⁠] Other Content: Free webinar, “All of Me: The Impact of Intersectionality on Work as a Child Life Specialist” [https://education.childlife.org/products/all-of-me-the-impact-of-intersectionality-on-work-as-a-child-life-specialist] My May 2025 webinar [https://education.childlife.org/products/mental-health-landscape-of-asian-immigrant-youth-and-families-in-the-united-states-2025] What’s in a Name, Part 1 [https://www.childlifewithanisha.org/whats-in-a-name-part-1/⁠] All episodes reflect this author's professional opinion and expertise. Any questions, comments, or requests can be directed via email to childlifewithanisha@gmail.com

Episode 2: It's Tough Being an Immigrant Kid

Welcome to Shedding Light on Child Life - a podcast associated with ⁠⁠⁠childlifewithanisha.org [https://www.childlifewithanisha.org/]⁠⁠ by Anisha S. Reza, MS, CCLS. Find content here presented through the lens of a Person of Color (POC) career changer from medicine to child life, explore the intersection of diversity, student experiences, & psychosocial health and advocacy for children. "Just because I'm better at dealing with it doesn't mean it's any less scary to walk out every day, not sure if someone will unintentionally or intentionally cause me harm. And that's why it's really hard to be your authentic self because you've had experiences where you were your authentic self and you were torn down from that vulnerability. [...] It's just so powerful to think of how I would have had an easier time if someone who looked like me helped me realize that it gets better. " In this episode, Anisha explores the concept of microaggressions, sharing personal experiences and insights on how they affect individuals from marginalized backgrounds. She discusses the importance of understanding cultural identities, the role of child life specialists in promoting diversity and inclusion, and the need for open conversations about bias and empathy in healthcare. Anisha emphasizes the significance of representation and the impact of societal events on personal experiences, advocating for a more inclusive and understanding environment for all. "I really do pride myself in where I've come from and while the experiences I've had were definitely hard and things I wish I didn't have to carry, it does make me who I am today and equips me to be a better clinician, to be more of an advocate [...]" Chapters 00:00 Anisha's Journey Begins 04:25 The Impact of Diversity and Inclusion 09:16 Tough Moments Growing Up 16:26 Navigating Identity and Microaggressions 25:55 The Importance of Representation 30:18 Reflections and Future Aspirations All episodes reflect this author's professional opinion and expertise. Any questions, comments, or requests can be directed via email to childlifewithanisha@gmail.com

Episode 1: Welcome

Welcome to Shedding Light on Child Life - a podcast associated with ⁠⁠childlifewithanisha.org⁠ [childlifewithanisha.org] by Anisha S. Reza, MS, CCLS. Find content here presented through the lens of a Person of Color (POC) career changer from medicine to child life, exploring the intersection of diversity, student experiences, & psychosocial health and advocacy for children. All episodes reflect this author's professional opinion and expertise. Any questions, comments, or requests can be directed via email to childlifewithanisha@gmail.com