Stress Management —
How do we stay resilient in the face of procrastination shame and test anxiety? When our bodies are in fight and flight and our brains are not thinking straight, what should we do?
In this episode, the teens teams up with Arizona State University professor Jamie Valderrama, who teaches various stress management courses, to learn about the neurophysiology of stress and techniques they can use to self-regulate and be resilient in the face of stress flare ups.
Group Chats —
In this episode, the teens discuss their experiences on group chats — sharing stories about social dynamics and feelings of inclusion and exclusion.
This episode features the amazing work of Emily Weinstein and Carrie James at the Center for Digital Thriving (CDT). Their research inspired this episode. Learn abotu their work at:
Grown Daydreams —
In this episode, the teens chat with Aleeza and Fonzo, the hosts of The Moth’s teen podcast, Grown — here on Apple podcasts and Spotify.
We discuss our daydreams and anxieties about growing up and becoming people we want to be.
Reflecting: 4 years into the pandemic —
In this episode, TTL participants reflect on their varied experiences throughout the pandemic, from its beginning to what things are like now. The teens discuss anxiety, social changes, and dealing with complex grief. Some of the participants featured in this episode helped create a Teen Vogue article about high schooler's experiences during the pandemic, which you can read here: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/the-class-of-2024-didnt-know-high-school-without-covid
Eco-Anxiety and Optimism—
This week's episode is about climate and eco-anxiety. The teens discuss their grief about the climate emergency and other environmental crises. They then talk about transforming their feelings into shared action.
Thank you to UNICEF USA and Anya Kamenetz. Look out for a future episode about young climate innovators and their inspiring solutions.
Hidden Disability—
Inspired by one of This Teenage Life's newest members, this episode is about one young person's experience navigating identity development and middle social dynamics while also grappling with her experience of autism.
If you are interested in sharing a story or want to request an episode — email us at team@thisteenagelife.org.
Crushes2.0—
Yesterday was Valentines Day in the U.S. and so it feels apt to revisit a topic from a previous episodes: crushes.
In this episode, we share our thoughts on having crushes (or not), what it feels like, how and with whom to talk about our crushes, and much more.
This episode was made in collaboration with PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs' podcast On Our Minds."
I'm Confident That I'm Insecure—
In this episode, TTL participants explore their own insecurities and interview siblings Gracie and Clyde Lawrence from the amazing band, Lawrence— here on Youtube + Spotify — about how music can serve as an outlet for reframing past and present insecurities.
This episode was made in collaboration with PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs' podcast On Our Minds."
Dealing with Being Bullied —
This is an episode about two teens who have experienced being bullied and who are working to overcome it. Being bullied can take a toll on self esteem and mental health. It can feel like you're the only one going through it and it will never end.
Even though it does end, there is still more we could do to stop bullying and to support people being bullied. At TTL, we are all about destigmatizing speaking out and making sure people don't feel alone. Listen to our episode to hear our stories but in case you're experiencing bullying, here are some more resources:
Thank You Next: Overcoming Bullying, a previous TTL episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
What Poetry Means to Me. —
In this episode, Rani, one of the teen contributors to This Teenage Life, shares about her relationship with poetry. She describes how it became an important outlet for creative and emotional expression. Overcoming criticisms, she has stuck with writing, and it continues to be a faithful friend. Check out Rani's work on Instagram @a_brokencorwn.
New Year, New You? —
For many folks, January is a theoretically a time of goal setting and self-improvement aspirations. Of course, many of us want to grow and change, but do we have to do it in a particular way in a particular way? In this episode, teens from This Teenage Life discuss their fraught relationship with the idea of New Year's driven goals/resolutions and share ways that better help them become the people they want to be.
Learning from Animals —
In the fast-paced, tech-driven world we live in, it can be easy to become self- centered...specifically human-centered. In this episode, we hear from the teens about animal-friends who keep them grounded and inspired. We also hear from the prolific naturalist and author Sy Montgomery (Molly's hero) and illustrator Matt Patterson, creators of Of Time and Turtles, a gorgeous book about healing, time, and learning from other creatures.
Thank you to Sy, Matt, and their turtle community! Check out Matt's beautiful drawings here!
Overthinking and Self Talk
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For many of us here at This Teenage Life, how we talk to ourselves influences how we connect with others. In this episode, teens and experts share about their experiences and understandings of self talk, along with strategies for shifting thoughts that undermine us into thoughts that are more supportive.
Below are some resources to learn more about strategies for more positive self talk.
School Stress Rx: Healing Our Relationships with Learning
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From tests, to essays, to the constant pressure to be productive...many teens at This Teenage Life are expressing how academic stress is overpowering their love of learning.
How can teachers and students come together to change this — to foster wonder, joy, and help heal our relationships with learning. In this episode we explore all kinds of strategies including totally shifting the way we teach and learn math.
This Teenage Life is sponsored by the XQ Institute, the leading organization dedicated to rethinking the U.S. high school experience so that every student graduates ready to succeed in college, career, and life. If you’re a student who wishes to drive change in your high school community, check out XQ’s Youth Voice toolkit. It’s full of resources to develop, advocate, and execute a plan to improve your high school. Go to YouthVoice.xqsuperschool.org to learn more. Follow XQ America on TikTok and on Instagram to share your experience as a student and change what learning looks like.
Religious & LGBTQ+ —
Here we’re responding to listener emails requesting an episode on how to navigate being queer while also living in religious communities where it’s stigmatized to be LGBTQ+. To explore this tension, we interview LGBTQ+ activist, Chaim Levin, who speaks about his experience being gay, coming out, and ultimately closing the conversion therapy center used amongst his religious community.
This episode was made via a conversation between teens and Chaim, but teen voices have been re-recorded with adult ones to preserve their anonymity.
Many folks who work on TTL identify publically as LGBTQ+ and we’ve made previous episodes on the topic including Coming Out Story and Queerness. If you're looking for more resources, check out The Trevor Project's Resource Center.
Friend Breakups —
Whether it be drifting apart from old friends, having a friend move to a new place or school, or severing ties with toxic friends, losing touch with people can be difficult and painful. In this episode, we're talking about the many different kinds of friend "breakups," as TTL participants share their experiences and advice.
Just checking in. —
When teenagers feel seen and heard as whole people by teachers, it makes a huge difference in their experience at school. In this episode, we hear from teens and educators from across the U.S. about how teachers can foster strong connections with teens and build the trust needed for authentic check ins.
This Teenage Life is sponsored by the XQ Institute, the leading organization dedicated to rethinking the U.S. high school experience so that every student graduates ready to succeed in college, career, and life. If you’re a student who wishes to drive change in your high school community, check out XQ’s Youth Voice toolkit. It’s full of resources to develop, advocate, and execute a plan to improve your high school. Go to YouthVoice.xqsuperschool.org to learn more. Follow XQ America on TikTok and on Instagram to share your experience as a student and change what learning looks like.
Compassion to Action —
The world is heavy right now. The wars unfolding are tragic and many of us feel devastated and helpless.
In this moment, what are some small things we can do to cultivate compassion and kindness in ourselves? How can we be the peace we want to be with the people and animals around us? In this episode, teens share how they practice compassion and reach out to connect with others to feel less alone and overwhelmed in the world.
Here is the organization, the Yellow Tulip Project, described by its Outreach Director, Danielle Whyte, towards the end of this episode.
Seeds of Peace: Meeting the Other Side —
This summer, Molly—the adult who works on This Teenage Life—visited Seeds of Peace's International Camp. She spoke with from youth from the Middle East and South Asia who had taken the leap to meet folks "the other side." Many of them defied the opinions of their political leaders and communities, traveling thousands of miles to speak with teenagers on the opposite side of their national conflict.
In this episode, teens from Seeds of Peace shared their experience doing what they think is right in order to hear from their neighbors and nominal enemies. Then teens from TTL share their own experiences of connecting with folks from another side in their daily lives.
Periods2.0 —
It's been a while since our last episode on the topic, so after many requests, we're making another episode on periods. In this one, teens share stories and reflections on getting their periods for the first time, navigating the logistics and their feelings about periods, and working to destigmatize menstruation.
At the end of the episode, we speak with the inspiring Jordana Kier, co-founder of LOLA, a comapany that makes great mensturation products for people who get their periods.
To hear our first episode on periods, check it out here on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Tranistioning Back to School: Feelings & Strategies —
Social and academic dynamics are especially complex during the transition back to school. Some students are entering new schools for the first time while others are reuniting with friends they haven’t seen in months.
In this episode, the teens discuss their back-to-school emotions, strategies for entering a new school year, and tips teachers can use to make the beginning more welcoming.
This episode is sponsored by the XQ Institute. Check them out at xqsuperschool.org. If you're a student, or a teacher who may be listening to better understand your students, you can join the conversation at XQ America on social media.
Processing Parental Absence —
In this episode, one of the amazing teens who works on the show shares her story about how she's navigating and processing the absence of her mom in her life — the ways she has struggled and grown, and how she has strengthened other connections that support her.
Making Friends in College
Universities in the U.S. are starting up again. For many students, espeically freshmen, there's a lot of feelings around making friends. How do I connect with people? Are the people I'm meeting the first week going to be my foregver friends? How do I expand beyond my comfort zone and meet new kinds of people? In this episode, Carson, one of the college students who works on the show, and her friends explore how to cultivate friendships in college.
Barbies, Toys, & Childhood Nostalgia
With the new Barbie movie recently released, we're feeling nostalgic for childhood. On this episode, we're discussing our favorite toys, what they mean to us, what we think about letting them go (or not), and how each of us keeps our inner child alive.
Loneliness 2.0
We need sleep to stay healthy, and grown-ups often talk about how we should sleep more. But falling asleep can be hard. Between smart phones, overthinking, and FOMO, there’s a lot that can get in the way. In this episode, we share our experiences surrounding sleep.
Loneliness 2.0
One of our most popular episodes is our first episode on Loneliness. But many of our episodes center around this feeling, and This Teenage Life basically exists so that we can authentically connect with ourselves, each other, and the natural world in service to feel less alone in the universe.
In this episode, the teens reflect on what loneliness feels like for them and how they deal with it. We explore this topic with science journalist and Radiolab senior correspondent, Molly Webster. Molly just published a children's book that touches on this topic called Little Black Hole, which you can order here!
Summer Reading
Over the summer, we have the opportunity to dig into books that reflect our tastes, interests, and which transport us to other worlds. In this episode, we explore how we choose summer reading books, what we like to read over the summer, how this reading can be different from assigned reading, and how reading for pleasure can change us.
This episode is sponsored by the XQ Institute. Check them out at xqsuperschool.org. If you're a student, or even a teacher who may be listening to better understand your students, you can join the conversation at XQ America on social media.
The College Process
Applying to college in the U.S. is an multi-step, often emotional process. It can be challenging to write personal essays that construct neat narratives. And while we often try our best to get accepted to universities we like and can afford, for many of us, the college application process involves our first explicit experience of rejection and reframing of back-up options as opportunities.
In this episode, teens from This Teenage Life talk about their experiences of the college application process, and contributors in college talk about their transition from high school to college.
This episode is sponsored by the XQ institute. Check them out at xqsuperschool.org. If you're a student, or even a teacher who may be listening to better understand your students, you can join the conversation at XQ America on social.
Social Anxiety
Many of us struggle with social awkwardness and anxiety about social interactions. In this episode, inspired by listener emails, we discuss our relationship to social anxiety and how we deal with it.
Nostalgia
Growing up can be confusing. It's easy to look to the past or future and fantasize about "when we all had it figured out." But for many of us, looking back can feel bittersweet, especially when we think of the "simplicity" of being a kid.
In this episode of This Teeange Life, we talk about our nuanced relationships with nostalgia.
Where the boyz at?!
This Teenage Life currently has four dialogue groups. This May we want to start a group specifically focusing on teens (ages 13-19) who identify as boys since most people in our other groups identify as girls. We’ll be running it with actor Sullivan (Matt) Jones. If you want to join, email us at team@thisteenagelife.org
FYI, we're starting a new dialogue group for everyone this summer. So if you're interested, just reach out:)
Writing Part 1: Journaling—
For many of us, writing is an outlet — a way to create and access other worlds or express our feelings. On this episode, we're exploring our relationships to journaling and how it helps us be ourselves.
Popularity and Cliques—
This Teenage Life has teen contributors from dozens of countries. While we may have different languages and cultures, we've all had the experience of feeling excluded. In this episode, teens from across the world share their reflections on navigating cliques and popularity.
This Teenage Life's Playlist —
After many emails from listeners requesting an episode on music, we've finally made one about the songs we're listening to and what they mean to us. The episode shares our reflections. Here is link to the playlist with the tunes:)
Dress Code —
When you're in middle or high school, dress code can be a big part of your life. It can free you from thinking about what you have to wear, or it can make you incredibly self-conscious about your body. In this week's episode, we talk about our experiences of dealing with dress codes and how they make us feel.
How Teachers Can Make Us Feel Safe —
Many of us have or want adult in our lives who make us feel safe, seen, and heard. When teachers take the time to get to know us, they often transcend their role as subject guides and become more like life mentors. In this epsiode, we discuss how teachers can be open and make us feel safe while also being professional.
This episode is sponsored by the XQ institute. Check them out at xqsuperschool.org. If you're a student, or even a teacher who may be listening to better understand your students, you can join the conversation at XQ America on social.
Hobbies —
Hobbies and passion projects are not only fun, they're powerful. They can restore us and serve as outlets for stress relief and creative expression.
In this episode of This Teenage Life we share our diversity of hobbies and how they help us.
One Year, One Word —
On this episode, we reflect on the past year, using one word to sum it up — a great idea from one of the teens. Then, we set intentions for our next revolution around the sun together:)
We are so grateful to have you as a listener and, as always, love hearing from you. Feel free to reach out and say hi or share your ideas for episodes at team@thisteenagelife.org.
"Theater Kids" —
In this episode, some of the teens share about their adventures in the theater. We discuss what it feels like to perform onstage, different lessons learned from theater, and what makes the theater community so special. We also chat with professional actor, Sullivan Jones, about his experience working in the industry.
Academic Pressure —
In this episode we talk about our experiences of academic pressure and academic validation and how it makes us feel.
This episode is sponsored by the XQ Institute. Check out their journalism challenge for 13-18 year olds based in the U.S.
Finding Your Style —
In this episode that (inspired by a listener), we discuss what it has meant to us to find our style — how it can be connected with self expression and our own relationship to our values and our identities.
Overthinking & Intrusive Thoughts Part 1 —
Thoughts are just thoughts. They're not "real." But the meaning we make of them and power we give them can cause them to feel much bigger and more powerful than "just thoughts." In this episode, we talk about our own experiences of overthinking and intrusive thoughts, and how we can change our interpretations of them to give them less power.
Here are some resources on overthinking & intrusive thoughts
Overthinking & Intrusive Thoughts Part 2 —
This week, we talk to licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Naomi Dambreville, about how to think about and understand overthinking and intrusive thoughts.
Taylor Swift—
For many of us here at This Teenage Life, Taylor Swift's music puts words to our emotions and helps us feel less alone in the universe. Right before her next big album release, we publish this tribute to how Taylor Swift's songs have changed us.
Self Care
In this episode, we reflect on the idea of self care and the many ways we take care of ourselves without expensive products and "glow ups." We compare fancy routines and performances of self care on the internet with everyday actions we take to feel well-regulated and whole.
We hope this episode brings you some joy and self-kindness on this World Mental Health Day:) Please spread the love and share the show!
Making Friends
How do you make and keep good friends? Many of us deeply value friendship. Great friends can help us be who we want to be. Yet making real, lasting friends is also something we frequently struggle with. In this episode, we discuss what we do to connect with others and how our frienships have changed over time.
This episode is sponsored by the XQ Institute. Check out the student journalism challenge they're sponsoring at studentjournalismchallenge.org.
Dealing with transitions...like starting school.—
We have exciting episodes and a newsletter coming out this season. Feel free to make requests for topics or just reach out at team@thisteenagelife.org.
This episode is sponsored by the XQ Institute. Check out the student journalism challenge they're sponsoring at studentjournalismchallenge.org.
Sibling Dynamics
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Several months ago we received an email from a listener requesting an episode on sibling dynamics. Here, we discuss just that — our experiences of bickering with our siblings, sharing and not sharing, taking care of them, feeling responsible, and more. From all over the world we have older siblings, younger siblings, middle siblings, twins, and only children, each weighing in on what its like to have (and not have) siblings.
Therapy
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In this episode, some of the teens share about their experiences with therapy and we interview a professional psychologist, Dr. Malika Bhowmik, to explore questions related to therapy, mental health care, and stigmas associated with mental health. We at This Teenage Life are not mental health professionals (we're mostly teens) but below is one resources we think is particularly helpful.
https://childmind.org/healthyminds/students/
Grappling With Acne
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Learning to live with pimples isn't easy, especially when society, friends, and family members give us advice how to have clear skin. The reality is, breakouts are natural and mostly out of our control. In this episode of This Teenage Life, we're talking about how we relate to our acne. Big shout out to our new dialogue group who contributed to this episode!
Throwback Episode!
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The world is feeling pretty heavy right now so on this episode we bring you some levity: our never-before-published, first two episodes: the first is on superstitions and the other is on what we miss about childhood.
Coming Out Story
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This episode is about how a trans young man and his mom navigated his coming out and transition. Together, they demonstrate the power of love and communication between a parent and a child. We are grateful to be releasing this episode during LGBTQIA+ pride month.
Hidden Disability
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Our outsides and our insides aren't always aligned. Sometimes we look happy and feel sad. Sometimes we look fine but are struggling with our health. In this episode, we hear from two young people with similar hidden disabilities and how they've managed and remained resilient in the face of their health struggles.
How the Pandemic Has Changed Us
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The COVID-19 pandemic has been and continues to be a tragedy with millions of lives lost. It also bas had a big social and emotional impact on us, especially for teens transitioning from middle school to high school or high school to college. As many of us finish up the first full school year back in person, we reflect on how our experiences of the pandemic have affected how we think, feel, and act.
Self at Home vs. School
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Many of us are very different at home vs. school or when we're with people or by ourselves. In this shorter episode, we hear many perspectives on the differences between our home selves and our school selves.
Friend Problems
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Friendships during middle and high school are tough. As we change, often our friendships do too. It's easy to think that we are the only ones who feel alone, when the truth is, everyone is trying to figure out who they are and who they connect with. In this episode, we talk about friendship fluctuations — losing friends, making new friends, and how to feel comfortable with ourselves.
Real Learning vs. School Learning
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In classes at school, all young people are often expected to learn the same thing at the same time. An emphasis on information transmission and uniformity can lead to disengagement for students. What would it look like if school learning felt more engaging, meaningful, relevant, and authentic? What and how would young people want to learn? In this episode, we're hearing from teens about how and what they wish they learned in school.
This episode is sponsored by the XQ institute, the nation's leading organization dedicated to rethinking the high school experience so that every student graduates ready to succeed in college, career, and life. Check them out at xqsuperschool.org
Grappling With Loss — Finding Meaning & Resilience
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In this episode, Stella shares her experiences processing the loss of her Dad. She explores societal expectations of closure and how they diverge from her own understandings of loss and ambiguity.
Trigger warning— this episode references suicide. If you or anyone you know is struggling with this, here are some resources:
US National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
Resources in India: http://www.aasra.info/helpline.html
We Are Not Alone: Connecting with Animals & Ourselves
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Life can feel especially lonely if you think humans are the only creatures on this planet. Getting close to animals and the natural world can help us connect with ourselves and each other. It can help us feel less alone in the world. On Earth Day 2022, we spoke with author and naturalist Sy Montgomery about forming deep relationships with animals and how getting to know animals can change us.
Feeling Seen
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How can teachers connect with teens not just as students, but as whole humans and unique individuals? How does this help them learn? In this episode, we talk about what teachers can do to build trust and authentic relationships with students.
This episode is sponsored by the XQ institute, the nation's leading organization dedicated to rethinking the high school experience so that every student graduates ready to succeed in college, career, and life. Check them out at xqsuperschool.org
Invisible Friends & Fictional Crushes
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When we're bored, feeling lonely, or just engaging in our imaginations, many of us give life to fabricated scenarios, invisible friends, and fictional crushes. In this episode, we're talking about the invisible people in our invisible worlds who might not be real to outsiders but who can be very helpful to us.
Burn Out & Productivity Culture
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Is the idea of productivity helpful? Harmful? How does it affect our mental health and well-being? In this episode, we talk about the idea of productivity and how it affects our inner monologues.
Black History Month Continues
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Black History Month might be coming to an end, but that doesn't mean we should stop thinking about Black history. In this announcement, we reflect on the end of this month and how we carry the Black History Month with us every month.
Poems for the Ukraine
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Our hearts are broken for the people of Ukraine. Some of us wrote poems to express our grief and let the people of Ukraine know that we stand with them.
Asking Questions
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In school, in friendships, amongst family members — it can be challenging to ask questions due to invisible social rules, fear of judgement, or a fear of being direct and making someone else uncomfortable.
In this episode of This Teenage Life we talk about asking questions in different contexts, fears that can bubble up around them, and how we push through and are learning to communicate more effectively.
Existential Anxiety, Meaning, and Joy
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In the face of existential anxieties, it's hard to know what to do. They feel so big and overwhelming that it can be hard to come back to the physical world and ground in the present when we're pondering the meaning of life. In this episode, we're talking about the things we do to feel well-regulated in the face of existential questions — the specific actions we take to feel connected to meaning and joy. Inspired by Melissa Bernstein from Lifelines, we're talking about our "meaning and play sparks."
Puberty
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The experience of going through puberty is always unique and difficult, but in pandemic times, can feel even more isolating. In this week's episode of This Teenage Life, we're talking about our experiences with puberty, body image, and outsider's perspectives.
TTL Behind the Scenes
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Who makes This Teenage Life? How did they reach out and get involved? How does our work affect them? In this episode of This Teenage Life, we go behind the scenes to talk about how we make the show and how it impacts us.
Microaggressions
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Small comments can really hurt, especially when they’re rooted in racism, misogyny, or other identity-based biases. In this episode, two teens discuss microaggressions, focusing, in particular, on actions and comments they’ve experienced about their hair.
Crushes
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Crushes can be fun, horrible, nerve-wracking, day-dreamy... they combine all the feelings and they're different for everyone. In this episode, we talk about how crushes make us feel, how we feel about them, and some cultural differences when it comes to talking about crushes.
Pandemic Isolation & Depression (A Personal Story)
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In addition to being a medical issue, the pandemic has also led to a mental health crisis. In this episode, one member of This Teenage Life shares her personal story of isolation and depression during quarantine.
No one at This Teenage Life is a mental health professional, but here are some resources in case you or someone you know is experiencing depression:
Overview of Depression and depression specifically in teens from the Child Mind Institute, Depression Treatment.
In case you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm: here is a Help-Line in India and a Help-Line in the United States.
Anxiety
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At This Teenage Life, we all experience anxiety in different ways — feelings in our chest, sweat on our palms, repetitive thoughts. On this episode, we talk about our experiences of anxiety and the various strategies and coping mechanisms we've developed to manage it.
Snapchat, Instagram, & TikTok Filters and How They Make Us Feel
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They might make us look “better,” but they don’t always make us feel better about who we are and what we look like. In this episode of This Teenage Life, we’re hearing people’s perspectives and experiences with photo filters — like the ones we use (or choose not to use) on Instagram, Snapchat and Tik Tok.
Thanks to Raya, Sophia, Jayden, and Tori for inspiring this episode.
Feelings of Inadequacy
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A lot of folks in This Teenage Life are going through post-high school changes right now, and with that, comes a lot of feelings of inadequacy. These feelings seem to always be present regardless of what we're doing, and in today's episode, we explore them and start to figure out how to reframe and move past them.
Book Magic
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Join us as we delve into the ways books transport and transform us.
This episode is extra special not only because of the topic, but because you'll hear from our new This Teenage Life chapter — listeners from an ocean away who reached out to come together and share their stories.
Transitions to Life After High School
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Here in the U.S., we're transitioning from summer to fall, from vacation to back-to-school. This Teenage Life is starting it's fourth season and the original crew members are starting new chapters in their lives now that high school is finished and new jobs and colleges await. At the same time, folks from younger groups are going through a big transition themselves: in-person high school for the first time.
In this episode of This Teenage Life, we're talking through our anxieties and hopes for our next chapter as we launch our fourth season.
Food for Thought: Talking Back to My Eating Disorder
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This episode is a narrative piece by Cloe Moreno, the artist for This Teenage Life, and centers around her relationship to body image. Through her own reflections and a conversation with her mom, she tells her story about grappling with an eating disorder— how it started for her and how she is overcoming it.
Warning: This episode might be triggering for some. If that's the case, just switch to another great episode of This Teenage Life:)
Friendship: How We Make, Keep, and Deal with Friends — Over the years, we've received a lot of emails from listeners about friendship — how to make friends, keep them, and how to processing friend breakups. In this episode of This Teenage Life, we're talking about friendship and some of the messiness that comes with being a human trying to connect with others.
Body Image —
With all their hip dips, pimples, stretch marks, and fat, bodies are cool and beautiful because of everything they do for us. How can we learn to love them despite societal critiques and unrealistic standards?
In this episode, we talk about specific insecurities, the comments and comparisons that have helped foster them, and the practices we've developed to love our bodies just the way they are.
Processing Divorce —
In this episode, inspired and hosted by listener-turned-contributer Lydia, we process feelings around parents' divorces. Check out Lydia's independent work at wildflowerszine.com
Exploring Femininity — For better or for worse, how feminine or unfeminine we are can define how we're treated in the world — and how we think about ourselves. In this episode, Olivia discusses her relationship with femininity.
Juneteenth — President Biden signed into lawthat Juneteenth is now recognized as a national holiday in the United States. This Teenage Life contributors shared their feelings about Juneteenth and it's importance to them, especially in the context of black history being recogized as U.S. history.
Thank you, Next: Overcoming Bullying & Becoming my Best Self — I felt invisible and was bullied in high school and now I'm moving on. This is my story.
Getting Vaccinated —
Access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world is still unequal and that needs to change. But in the US, despite the spread of some misinformation, vaccination has continued. Excitingly, sometime this week, 12-15 year-olds are set to be approved to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
In this episode, we explore our feelings about differences in vaccination status between already-vaccinated older teens vs. younger ones and we interview biologist, Dr. Lillian Cohn to answer some questions we have about COVID-19 and the vaccine.
Here are some RESOURCES if you want to learn more about COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines.
What do you want to be when you grow up? — In this episode, we explore the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?", and share the anxieties it evokes in us.
A Year in Quarantine — It has been just over a year since our quarantining and social distancing began on March 13th, 2020. We have experienced feelings of grief, loss, isolation, and now — with vaccines coming out — some hope. In this episode, we combine conversations from over the past few months with journal entries to reflect on our first year experiencing a global pandemic.
Morning Routines — Because of the pandemic, we're no longer waking up and getting ready to go to school in the same way. What do we do instead? In this episode of This Teenage Life, which was inspired by a listener from Missouri, we talk about our morning routines.
Text Etiquette — There are all these weird implicit social rules while texting. Should I add an exclamation mark? What does their “ha” mean? In this episode of This Teenage Life, we explain some of the norms we abide by while texting.
Maintaining Friendship During Quarantine (...or trying to) — Casual interactions are harder to come by in COVID. In this conversation, we talk about struggling to maintain friendships and struggling with ways to reach out to other people.
Hair Reflections — Hair can be a huge part of our cultural identities and sense of ourselves. However, as authentic, inner confidence grows, it can also become less important to us. In this episode, Cami and her mom reflect on hair loss and the connection between hair, race, and culture. Their conversation, while ostensibly about hair, also reveals a lot about the admiration and love between a mother and a daughter.
Hair and Identity Expression — There's so much tied up in hair - cultural significance, identity expression, and more. On this week's episode of This Teenage Life, we're talking about our experiences with our hair.
Quarantine Daydreams — We might be stuck inside during a global pandemic, but in our heads, we’re going places. We're rockstars, comedians, novelists, and boxers. In this episode of this Teenage Life, we discuss feelings of burn out and where we go to escape those feelings: into our daydreams.
Feeling Disconnected & Hoping to Reconnect — We cherish connection but in the pandemic, we’re struggling to foster the kind of closeness that comes from casual interactions with people. In this episode, we talk about our feelings of disconnection and how we’re trying to reach out and reconnect.
Our Fragile Democracy —
Today was a historically jarring and upsetting day — a mob raided and vandalized the U.S. Capitol.
This isn't a normal episode. We made it in the last few hours and it's several of us processing our feelings and the surreal nature of today, trying to make sense of it all.
Loneliness — It's a particularly weird holiday season. A lot of us are feeling particularly isolated right now. In this episode, we talk about our feelings of loneliness — when we feel lonely and what we do when we get these feelings.
Body Insecurities —
Clear skin, slim thick bodies...we’re often taught to associate our self worth with how we line up with societal expectations about beauty. In this episode, we speak openly and honestly about our body insecurities, where they come from, and how we are working on them. Below are awesome resources that help to cultivate more self-love. Here's:
Pretend Adulting — It can happen when you're filling out a form or checking out at the grocery store: an imposter-syndrome feeling that occurs when you're doing something "adult, while inside, you're still feeling like a total child. On this episode of This Teenage Life, we talk about feeling like awkward "pretend adults."
Civil Tea: Engaging in Dialogue Amidst Conflict — What does it mean to reach across the aisle and try to understand "the other side?" In this post-2020 election episode, we hear from two young people who founded a company called Civil Tea that's working to bring young people together to engage in dialogue.
Election Anxiety — We’re on edge. It’s a historic election, an extremely divisive moment in US history, there’s a pandemic and a climate emergency. We have all kinds of feelings as election day approaches. On this episode of This Teenage Life, we talk about our feelings about the 2020 presidential election.
Allyship —
Structural oppression is just that: structural. So without structural change, can our actions make a difference? In this episode, we discuss individual approaches to allyship and how these practices connect with our desires for a more just society.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode and here are the civic self portraits we made inspired by this conversation.
Snacks — Trader Joe’s meatballs in marinara sauce. Frozen grapes. Jalapeno chips. In this episode, we take a break from heaviness and talk about our favorite snacks.
Climate Grief — Climate change is the biggest issue facing our world today, and has a special significance for young people as the generations most in need of change yet often without the opportunities to make change. In today’s episode, Molly and Olivia discuss climate change from a young person’s perspective.
Too Muchness — Here at This Teenage Life, we’ve uncovered a phenomenon called “too muchness.” It’s a fear of being “too much” that can lead to self policing that holds us back from being our authentic selves. In this episode, we talk about our fears and critiques of “too muchness,” how it feels, and where we think it comes from.
Comfort — It's a tough time. Fires. A pandemic. Political turmoil. When we're at home and feeling sad, angry, or anxious, what are some strategies we use to comfort ourselves? In this episode of This Teenage Life, we discuss what we do to make ourselves feel better.
Remote Learning — Right now, many students and teachers are going "back to school," which looks very different this year. Many people will be experiencing school remotely, including us here at This Teenage Life. In this episode, we discuss our thoughts about remote learning, and explore our ideal scenarios for remote projects.
From Kabul & California: Talking Back
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This episode was made in collaboration with a group of teens in Kabul, Afghanistan. Together teens in Kabul and California talk about times when they’ve “talked back,” and stood up for what they believe.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations about stories and ideas related to the concept of "talking back."
From Kabul & California: Ideas of Beauty
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This episode was made in collaboration with a group of teens in Kabul, Afghanistan. Together teens in Kabul and California talk about beauty standards and moments when they feel empowered and beautiful.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations about beauty and beauty standards.
From Kabul & California: Resilience in the Face of Adversity
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This episode was made in collaboration with a group of teens in Kabul, Afghanistan. Together teens in Kabul and California talk about perseverance and times when they overcame societal expectations that got in the way of their goals.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations about resilience.
No Shame. Period. —
Periods can be a sensitive subject. But at This Teenage Life we approach periods, and hopefully all things, with openness and curiosity. On this episode, we talk about our experiences of menstruation and our perception of periods.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations.
Cancel Culture —
In this episode of This Teenage Life, we talk about the phenomena of cancel culture on the internet and share our critiques and reflections.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations about cancel culture.
Communicating in Quarantine —
It’s hard to replicate real life behind a screen. In quarantine, we’ve been trying to be ourselves and stay in touch with friends, but it’s challenging. As we end school and move into summer vacation, we’ve been learning a lot about ourselves, the things we’re struggling with, and the things we miss. In this episode, we give an update on our experiences being quarantined.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations about communications throughout the pandemic.
Black Lives Matter —
After 400 years of oppression and the brutal murder of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement has swept the nation bringing people to demand an end to racist policing. In this episode, we share our feelings on the recent events and how they have impacted us. To all our black listeners: We stand with you and we love you.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations about Black Lives Matter, identity, and moving away from bias.
Pets —
Not all of us have a fur baby to cuddle up next to, but for those who do or have had one, I think we can say with certainty that they cause immense joy. During these times where we are spending more time at home, we get to be with them for a lot longer. Sometimes they love that, but some of them might get annoyed. In this episode we take a dive into our relationships with our pets from the past and present and how they are like a family member, vital to our changing realities.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations about pets and the animals you know and love.
Personal Story: Mother and Daughter During a Pandemic — During these times, many teenagers are stuck at home with their parents, for better or for worse. In today’s episode, Olivia has a conversation with her mom about their relationship, motherhood, and what it means to be a mom during this pandemic.
13 —
Adolescence can be messy. 13 is a particularly challenging time — friend groups can be tricky, puberty can be disorienting, and in general, at 13, a lot of people seem to feel insecure about belonging. In this episode, we talk about our experiences being 13.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations about adolescence and being thirteen.
Our Inner Monologues —
We only know the voices in our own heads. But most people have some kind of inner monologue. Sometimes our inner monologue can go in circles or be negative, especially when we're alone. And we're alone a lot more these days. In this episode, we share what our inner monologues sound like, and what we do when we want to shift from being negative to having a more positive outlook on the world.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations with your students, friends, or families about inner monologues.
Beautiful Boredom —
As the routines of our lives shift and we confront the reality of spending weeks, if not months, at home, we talk about how we grapple with and experience boredom and how we use it to start new hobbies and develop new creative projects.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations about boredom and how to use it an inspirational force!
Small Acts of Kindness — Kindness matters, especially during this dark time, even if what you're doing doesn’t seem like a big deal. In this episode, we talk about small acts of kindness that we’ve noticed recently and how they’ve affected us.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations and spread some kindness!
TTL + The Virus So Far — COVID-19 is a global pandemic. We're grateful to be healthy, and are also grappling with staying at home, without school or social interaction with friends. In this episode, we video-chatted to talk about how our thoughts and experiences of COVID-19 have unfolded thus far.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations with your students, friends, or families about your experiences of the pandemic.
Teenage Reflections — Have you ever wondered what you'll think of yourself when you look back on your teenage years? In this episode, we hear stories from young(ish) adults in their 30s reflecting on their teenage lives.
Moving, Part 3 — Moving from one country to another can be especially difficult. It can be hard to grasp the nuances of a new culture and you’re often misunderstood. In our final episode of our moving series, we hear stories of international moves.
Moving, Part 2 — In this episode of our moving series, we hear stories about how people have adjusted or are currently coming to terms with living in a new place.
Moving, Part 1 — This is the first episode in our multi-part series about moving. In Part 1, a young woman shares her story of choosing her own path, moving 300 miles away from her home.
Impressions — Sometimes we’re overly self-conscious about how we’re seen by other people. In this episode, we explore how we change our behavior when we want other people to like us.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations with your students, friends, or families about the impressions you're afraid of making and the ones you want to make.
Queerness — In high school, exploring your gender identity and sexual orientation can be a part of constructing your identity. In this episode, we discuss our experiences with queerness.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations with your students, friends, or families about issues related to queerness and the idea of "coming out" in general.
Love in High School — Do you believe in love? Have you ever been in love? How do you feel about having a romantic relationship in high school? In this episode of This Teenage Life, we talk about love.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations and to engage in fun activities related to ideas about love and portrayals of teen relationships.
Lies Parents Told Us — Sometimes parents make stuff up. This is especially the case when we're little. From Santa to where babies come from, in this episode, we share stories about the lies parents told us as kids.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations and engage in some fun activities about lies parents told us or misconcepts we had as kids.
Fears about Adhulthood — What is adulthood? The idea of becoming an adult is exciting, but also scary. On this episode of This Teenage Life, we discuss our fears about adulthood.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations and engage in some really thoughtful activities about fears related to growing up.
Dreams — When we're awake, we may not be aware of the strange and surreal worlds in our minds. When we're asleep, they come alive. In this episode, we share stories of odd dreams that continue to haunt us.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations with your students, friends, or families about dreams.
Parents are people too— As kids, it’s often hard to see that parents are not just parents. They’re human beings who have their own needs, emotions, styles, fragilities, etc. In this episode, we talk about moments when we began to discover that parents are, in fact, people too.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations with your students, friends, or families about when you realized your parent(s)/guardian(s) are human beings.
Feelings of Power — There are times when you feel powerful, and times when you feel like you've lost your power. This episode is about small moments experienced by a group of teenage women; times when they felt like badasses, and others when they felt just the opposite.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations about feelings of empowerment.
Middle School — Middle school can be rough. You’re trying to figure out who you are, while constantly paying attention to the opinions of those around you. In this episode, we share experiences from middle school that are still influencing us today.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations with your students, friends, or families about middle school.
Self-Doubt — This episode is about things we tell ourselves, our ideas about how others perceive us, and how these thoughts get in the way of saying or doing something that might actually be worth it.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations with your students, friends, or families about self-doubt.
Teaser — Get a feel for Season One of This Teenage Life — who we are, some topics we discuss, and what's to come.
Death — is hard to wrap your head around. When we're kids, we tended to obsess about it. Now we're thinking about it less, but it's still there, obviously. In this episode, we talk about our existential feelings about mortality.
This episode was made a long time ago before we had an official podcast but here is the link to it on vimeo.
Missing Childhood —
the lack of responsibility, the ignorant bliss. In this episode, we talk about when things weren't so serious. We talk about what we miss about childhood.
This episode was made a long time ago before we had an official podcast but here is the link to it on vimeo.
Here is our conversation and activity guide inspired by this episode. Use it to have your own meaningful conversations about childhood and what we miss about it as we're growing up.
Superstitions — is an episode about weird habits that we do but don't usually admit to doing, even to ourselves.
This episode was made a long time ago before we had an official podcast but here is the link to it on vimeo.