Building Brave: A Conversation About Young People, Anxiety, and Resilience

April 10, 2025

Moira Kelly, EXPLO's president, and Meredith Elkins, Ph.D., Co-Program Director of the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program (MAMP) at McLean Hospital and faculty at Harvard Medical School, discussed practical knowledge and strategies for parents and educators to help young people manage anxiety and develop lasting emotional strength.

Middle School Matters: Cultivating Passions as the Roadmap to High School, College, and Future Success

February 6, 2025

Moira Kelly, EXPLO’s president, and college counseling expert, Peter Olrich, chair of McMillan Education’s college counseling practice, discuss why the middle school years often set the stage for high school, college, and beyond. Increasingly colleges, including the most elite, are recognizing that the traditional metrics of academic success—high test scores, perfect GPAs, and a laundry list of extracurricular activities—are insufficient predictors of potential and success. Instead, they are placing more emphasis on curiosity, creativity, and genuine passion. Moira and Peter examine why middle school is such an important time for young people to explore interests, extend themselves into the unknown, and how parents can support their children in finding their spark.

Beyond Happiness: Discovering the Power of "The Interesting"

January 15, 2025

Dr. Lorraine Besser and EXPLO President Moira Kelly held a lively conversation that challenged how we think about preparing young people for fulfilling lives. While schools focus on academic achievement and traditional measures of success, emerging research reveals a critical missing piece: psychological richness.

Drawing from her groundbreaking book, The Art of the Interesting, Dr. Besser—a founding investigator in this emerging field—reveals why traditional markers of success, happiness practices, and the pursuit of purpose aren't enough. She shows how experiences that captivate and engage our minds do more than entertain; they stimulate new thoughts and emotions, transform our perspectives, and fundamentally reshape how we engage with the world.