The LiiNK Project

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The LiiNK Project

We aim to bridge the gap between academics and the social, emotional and healthy well-being of children through unstructured play and character development

The two aims of this study (recess and character development) are already showing some positive results in grades K & 1 through some pilot work being done in the private schools. We have known for a few years now that we should be engaging in more recess. More of the same (sitting in desks and doing more school work) will not change the results being seen in schools. This study will aid the admini

strators and teachers in their quest for stronger academics in children by bringing the fun back to learning, increasing the ability to focus/concentrate, and increase social responsibility (respect for self & others, honesty, etc).

09/02/2026

New episode out now! Former TCU All-American kicker, Jaden Oberkrom, set multiple records while kicking for TCU from 2012-2015. He was drafted into the NFL and had his professional sports career set, but something didn’t feel right. Jaden walked away from a contract with the Cleveland Browns when he realized his true passion was helping kids achieve their dreams through sport development. Dr. Rhea sits down with Jaden to share his story about how he got started and what his goals were for youth sport development. His passion to work with youth who wanted to develop their kicking skills led to the creation of the Oberkrom Kicking Academy. The incredible part of this podcast is how much he understands his training and the success of his students are about far more than just kicking. Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or here: https://open.spotify.com/show/37ODYouA77h0Y5HU5JofFD?si=DtTQ8vnvR_S45TYphPKhrg

08/26/2026

New episode out now! Optimizing athletic ability as an adolescent while avoiding injury is often the goal across all sports. While in children who aspire to be athletes, what should that really look like if we want the best for our children, both physically and emotionally? Dr. Rhea brings back Dr. Sophia Ulman to discuss how her Movement Science Lab at Scottish Rite Hospital in Frisco uses motion capture technology and neurocognitive testing to indicate deficits in motor skills in order to reduce injury risk in youth athletes. Dr. Ulman focuses on physical literacy, gender and sport differences for the movement patterns required to prevent injuries. She also highlights why coaches and parents should realize each child and adolescent athlete has different movement/physical activity/training needs to support a strong brain and body while limiting injury risk. Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or here: https://open.spotify.com/show/37ODYouA77h0Y5HU5JofFD?si=DtTQ8vnvR_S45TYphPKhrg

08/19/2026

New episode out now! We're kicking off this sport readiness series with a bang! Becoming a star athlete is intriguing to most kids and parents, sometimes to the detriment of the child’s future physical and mental health. Research shows that children need to play many different sports as children and well into adolescents to decrease risk of injury and athlete burnout. Sadly, the culture around youth sports in the U.S. has led to a professionalization of youth sports that is unrealistic and unhealthy for most athletes. Dr. Rhea brings on a biomedical engineer focused on biomechanics research, Dr. Sophia Ulman, to explore pressures young athletes face and discuss the complex physical and psychological hurdles of sport readiness and injury. Dr. Ulman reminds us that youth sports, especially with children, should really be about what is fun and developmentally appropriate not the outcome. Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or here: https://open.spotify.com/show/37ODYouA77h0Y5HU5JofFD?si=DtTQ8vnvR_S45TYphPKhrg

08/12/2026

We're excited to announce our 2026 Fall Sport Readiness Series! Kicking off next week, we will be hosting a variety of professionals including national researchers, coaching experts, physicians, and physical therapy professionals who will discuss the impact of sport on children and adolescents. This series will focus on the whole child and why sport is not in and of itself the best developmental physical or cognitive approach for introducing physical activity and movement to children. Listen now for a sneak peek of some of the exciting guests we will be featuring!

https://open.spotify.com/show/37ODYouA77h0Y5HU5JofFD?si=DtTQ8vnvR_S45TYphPKhrg

07/29/2026

New episode out now! In this deep-dive follow-up episode and season finale, we explore the groundbreaking work being done by Dr. Sajita Setia and her educational company, Digital Wellbeing International, to fix our fractured relationship with technology. Dr. Setia believes that true digital literacy must begin long before children are handed their first iPads or smartphones and shares the details of her innovative 10-week curriculum. Tune in to hear her tips for transitioning your household away from digital reliance, reminding us that the ultimate defense against the grip of the digital world is to discover purpose in developing healthy physical relationships. This is the 2nd episode with Dr. Setia on digital wellbeing, and the final episode of our summer medical series. Listen to all episodes NOW on Spotify, Apple, or here: https://open.spotify.com/show/37ODYouA77h0Y5HU5JofFD?si=DtTQ8vnvR_S45TYphPKhrg

07/28/2026

Dr. Rhea joined IPA-USA again for a Porch Play Chat! This time, they discussed involving all sectors in the conversation of play and advocating for play from all angles from schools, after-school programs, and healthcare professionals. Listen to the episode below!

07/22/2026

New episode out now! As our relationship and dependence on technology grows in the ever-evolving digital world, so does the difficulty of creating healthy boundaries within that world for our children and ourselves. With words like “phubbing” and “doomscrolling” originating in the last 15 years, we are reminded of the toxic connection between screens and social media consumption, and our mental wellbeing. We may know the harm, but how do we do better? Dr. Rhea sits down with physician and evidence-based educator, Dr. Sajita Setia, to share her personal journey of navigating this question for her own family post-COVID, unpacking the hidden physical, psychological, and social costs of our tech-saturated world. Listen as Dr. Setia shares tips on how to transform your child’s digital relationship and rediscover purpose within the physical world. This is part 1 of a 2-part series with Dr. Setia. Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or here: https://open.spotify.com/show/37ODYouA77h0Y5HU5JofFD?si=DtTQ8vnvR_S45TYphPKhrg

07/15/2026

New episode out now! From farm to table, we are all stakeholders in the foods we eat and should be part of the conversations around sustainability and accessibility in diet. Dr. Rhea brings back Dr. Jaclyn Albin, Inaugural Director of UT Southwestern’s Culinary Medicine Program, to dive into the fairly new field of culinary medicine and discuss how we can shift away from prescriptions by increasing culinary literacy programs, focusing on regenerative farming, and allowing everyone a seat at the table to improve the health of our nation. Let’s bring the joy and color back to our foods! This is part 2 of a 2-part series with Dr. Albin, and the 7th episode of our Summer Series focused on whole health prevention and evidence-based treatment approaches to healthcare. Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or or here: https://open.spotify.com/show/37ODYouA77h0Y5HU5JofFD?si=DtTQ8vnvR_S45TYphPKhrg

07/09/2026

New episode out now! Food is more than just fuel - it’s culture, a social event, comfort or even discomfort. Food is a daily essential to our existence, so why does it often feel so hard to navigate what we “should” and “shouldn’t” eat? Dr. Rhea brings on Dr. Jaclyn Albin, Inaugural Director of UT Southwestern’s Culinary Medicine Program, to discuss the nuance in nutrition that makes it impossible to have one perfect diet for all, and share how she has used the kitchen as a classroom for her physician residents to help treat and sustain the life-long health of their patients. This is part 1 of a 2-part series with Dr. Albin, and the 6th episode of our Summer Series focused on whole health prevention and evidence-based treatment approaches to healthcare. Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or here: https://open.spotify.com/show/37ODYouA77h0Y5HU5JofFD?si=DtTQ8vnvR_S45TYphPKhrg

Address

Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX

Telephone

+18172577685

Website

http://liinkproject.tcu.edu/

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