Kathy Chats

It’s no secret that Kathy O’Connell likes to talk
--- whether or not there’s anybody else there. 

Since 1988, Kathy has been talking with generations of kids from around the region and around the world! Deep into our third decade of producing Kids Corner, we recognize that the 'first wave' of Kids Corner kids are now full-grown adults, many with kids of their own. These episodes of Kathy Chats are dedicated to those 'big kids' as Kathy chats about a slew of things that interest her, and hopefully will interest you as well.

If you have an idea/guest for a future Kathy Chats, you can email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

As we all know, a family comes together in many ways. Kathy’s longtime friend Nathen Wurzel is an early childhood educator and a harm reduction advocate. Kathy has known Nathen just about forever and considers him part of her family. In this first of a series of conversations, Kathy and Nathen explore being trans in 2022. We hope our chats will encourage dialogue in your family as well, no matter how it comes together.

Acclaimed oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle chats with Kathy about her decades exploring and preserving our oceans and ocean life. 

Leila Cartier –Executive Director of CraftNOW Philadelphia - works to showcase Philadelphia as a national center of craft and making and chats on the importance of crafting.

Donna Jo Napoli believes that traditional stories are about passing on wisdom that can help us move through our daily lives. Her new collection 'Treasury of Magical Tales from Around the World' showcases some of her favorites - available now on National Geographic press. DonnaJoNapoli.com

Lou Harry has been playing board games since he was a kid. Now he loves writing about them for magazines and websites, including an annual “Best Games of Gen Con” piece featuring great new games from the world’s largest tabletop gaming convention. louharry.com

Kathy Chats with Gari Julius Weilbacher who has made a career helping others dig out - both physically and emotionally - from all the stuff they've collected. wildbrookcoaching.com

Kathy Chats with Faust Ruggiero, published research author, clinical trainer, and therapist who has developed the Process Way of Life counseling program, and now explores it in his new Fix Yourself Handbookfaustruggiero.com

Kathy continues her chat with Dr. Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon who offers background, understanding and ideas on how to begin a conversation with your family about race, racism and privilege - Part Two

Kathy chats with Dr. Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon who offers background, understanding and ideas on how to begin a conversation with your family about race, racism and privilege - Part One