Bullying used to stop at the school gate. Today it follows kids home in their pockets. In this special conversation, host Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson sits down with her mother—Dr. Shirley Weber, California’s Secretary of State—to talk about raising children in a digital age and why the health of our families is tied to the health of our democracy.

Dr. Weber reflects on intentional parenting: family dinners, showing up at school, and even a cruise with no Wi-Fi where stories—and grandsons—came alive. She urges parents to build a village on purpose—through church, neighbors, and community groups—and to fortify kids with identity, love, and expectation so bullies (or algorithms) don’t define them.

They trace a through-line from home to policy: closing academic achievement gaps requires relentless advocacy from parents and communities, not just legislation. And they connect civic habits to everyday freedoms, debunking claims about California’s voting systems while underscoring why vote-by-mail, early voting, and counting every ballot expand participation without sacrificing security.

It’s also a generational story: a grandmother who is “sometimes Grandma, and sometimes that other powerful lady,” modeling courage and service for the next generation. In uncertain times, Dr. Weber’s prescription is clear—presence, purpose, and persistence.

If this episode moves you, share it with a parent, a teacher, and a neighbor—and then make a plan to vote.

‍