{"podcast":{"title":"Move the City FWD Podcast","slug":"my-city-talks-6298840","podcast_index_feed_id":6298840,"rss_url":"https://feeds.transistor.fm/my-city-my-health","website_url":"http://Podcast.mycity.health","image_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/oj3xSANAT0AVvR9y1WEJGSOFolmwJWN-WHx9JGUczvw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kNDVl/Njc5ZWM2ZGQ0MDRl/YWI2ZjVjNTkzYjc5/OGEyYS5wbmc.jpg","author":"Corey Dion Lewis","episode_count":34,"summary":"Move the City FWD Podcast is where community meets action. Hosted by Corey Dion Lewis, the podcast explores the ideas, people, and systems shaping healthier, stronger communities. Each episode features conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates, public health professionals, elected officials, artists, and everyday changemakers who are building solutions where they live. This isn’t a podcast about problems. It’s about progress. You’ll hear stories about health, economic mobility, housing, education, mental health, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and the connections that make communities thrive. Whether we’re breaking down policy, highlighting grassroots organizations, or sharing lessons from people doing the work, every conversation is rooted in one question: How do we move the city forward? If you believe healthier communities are built together, you’re in the right place.","last_synced_at":"2026-09-21T18:18:49.549941+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/my-city-talks-6298840"},"episode":{"title":"Economic Mobility Starts Early: Emily Westergaard on Education, Opportunity & Health","slug":"economic-mobility-starts-early-emily-westergaard-on-education-opportunity-health","published_at":"2026-09-08T09:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/my-city-talks-6298840/economic-mobility-starts-early-emily-westergaard-on-education-opportunity-health","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/my-city-talks-6298840","url":"https://mycitymyhealth.transistor.fm/33","audio_url":"https://2.gum.fm/op3.dev/e/pdcn.co/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/pdst.fm/e/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/media.transistor.fm/cc5b8244/a91c3fc1.mp3","summary":"What if economic mobility starts in kindergarten? Corey sits down with Emily Westergaard, Executive Director of By Degrees Foundation, to explore how early exposure to education, careers, financial literacy, and trusted mentors can shape a child’s future. Emily shares how By Degrees works alongside Des Moines students and their families from kindergarten through graduation, helping young people see possibilities they may not have known existed. The conversation also explores the connection between education, financial stability, mental and physical health, and why creating healthier communities requires more than healthcare alone. Emily will join the Economic Mobility & Access panel at the 5th Annual My City My Health Conference on November 13, 2026. SHOW NOTES In this episode of the Move the City FWD Podcast, Corey talks with Emily Westergaard, Executive Director of By Degrees Foundation, about what it takes to create real pathways toward economic mobility. Emily explains why By Degrees starts working with students and families in kindergarten rather than waiting until high school to begin conversations about college, careers, trades, apprenticeships, and other opportunities. They discuss: Why conversations about careers and education should start in elementary school How early exposure helps young people imagine new possibilities for themselves Why families must be included in conversations about a child’s future How By Degrees brings college and career experiences directly to students The role of mentors and representation in helping young people see what is possible How 529 education savings accounts can help build both financial resources and hope Why financial aid, FAFSA, scholarships, and college costs need to be explained much earlier How By Degrees has hel…","meta_description":"What if economic mobility starts in kindergarten? Corey sits down with Emily Westergaard, Executive Director of By Degrees Foundation, to explore how earl…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2679,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/my-city-talks-6298840/episodes/economic-mobility-starts-early-emily-westergaard-on-education-opportunity-health/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/my-city-talks-6298840/economic-mobility-starts-early-emily-westergaard-on-education-opportunity-health.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}