Parents' Guide to Live to Lead

Live to Lead TV show: poster

Common Sense Media Review

Stephanie Morgan By Stephanie Morgan , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 11+

Cinematic docuseries on change makers covers mature topics.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 11+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

Produced by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, LIVE TO LEAD is a docuseries that features direct-to-camera interviews and historical background on a different inspirational leader in each episode. The majority of those featured are women and/or people of color and the topics covered include institutional racism and sexism, government and police oppression, drug abuse, and the death penalty.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Impactful and surprisingly personal, the latest docuseries produced by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will grip viewers from the very beginning whether they're fans of the couple or not. That's because Live to Lead barely features them, focusing instead on telling the stories of some of the world's most inspirational leaders. The series illustrates the impact that one person can have while also highlighting the vital support their loved ones provided on the journey. It's beautifully shot and contains the perfect mix of archival footage and modern interviews to draw the viewer into the story, doing an excellent job of providing context for the subjects' accomplishments and showing the challenges that they had to overcome along the way.

The score further helps to give the show an impressively cinematic feel and there are many inspiring messages throughout, including the importance of using one's talents to make the world a better place for those who are less fortunate. Even the most stoic of viewers may be surprised to find themselves succumbing to goosebumps as they watch. And when parents do watch, make sure to include the kids, as Live to Lead offers example after example of the importance of working toward a more equal and just world.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how setbacks and perseverance are present in every one of the stories presented in Live to Lead. Can you think of a time when you persevered through a setback to accomplish something big? How did it feel? Was it worth it?

  • Each of the people featured also displayed an impressive mix of not only courage and integrity, but also curiosity. Why are each of these three things essential when working to be a change-making leader? How does curiosity, especially, play a role?

  • How are do the people featured in each episode display empathy and compassion? Why are these such important character traits in a functional society? What would happen if no one was capable of experiencing either?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Live to Lead TV show: poster

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