This Teenage Life: Recent Episodes
This Teenage Life
This Teenage Life is a podcast made by teens about their ideas, stories, and unique perspectives in the middle of their own growth as humans. Please feel free to reach out to us at team@thisteenagelife.org, we love hearing from listeners.
As a young person, it is okay to not know what you want to do. There is a lot of pressure placed on teenagers to know what they want their careers to look like, but how does one know what they want to do, and how they want to do it?
In this episode of This Teenage Life, Stella, Jayden and Lydia explore questions around meaningful work. What does "meaningful work" mean? How does one balance financial responsibility, familial and societal pressure in chosen career paths? Is it realistic to find joy in one's work in this day and age?
Through conversations with the current teens on TTL, friends and family, and established people in her career of interest, Stella, the college student on This Teenage Life reflects on her own journey in finding a career path that feels meaningful to her.
In this re-released 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
In this re-released episode, the teens chat with Aleeza and Fonzo, the hosts of The Moth's teen podcast, Grown — here on Apple podcasts and Spotify.
They discuss their daydreams, hopes, and anxieties about growing up and becoming people they want to be.
This week, we're re-releasing an episode about a trans young man and his mom navigating his coming out and transition. Together, they demonstrate the power of love and communication between a parent and a child.
This week, we have another thrownack episode for you: All 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.
This week, we're re-releasing our 2022 interview with author and naturalist Sy Montgomery. 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. On Earth Day 2022, we spoke with Montgomery about forming deep relationships with animals and how getting to know animals can change us.
Today, we're throwing it back to a Season 1 of This Teenage Life with a re-release of the episode "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, crushes, etc. In this episode, we talk about moments when we began to discover that parents are, in fact, people too.
In this episode of This Teenage Life, teens discuss what independence means to them: how they discover it, the challenges of balancing freedom with still being a "kid," and how their sense of independence evolves from high school to college.
It can be challenging to navigate between being yourself and trying to fit in. It can feel vulnerable to express enthusiasm yet nonchalence can get in the way of making true friendships.
How do we create honest and authentic friendships with other people? What has worked or not worked for us in the past? In the spirit of starting off 2026 with some reflection, hope, and desire for increasing authenticity, we share this episode on friendship. Happy New Year!
To share your episode ideas or just say hi, email us at team@thisteenagelife.org.
Josie Kim is a teenager, a hockey player, and great sports photographer. In high school, she learned to use a camera to engage with her love of sports in new ways that allow her to connect with people and even get paying jobs.
In this episode you'll hear an interview with Josie and learn about her journey. We hope this can help more teens to think about how to engage with interests in new ways that help cultivate meaning, community, and a sense of purpose.
Check out Josie's work at her Instagram: @jkimphotography17
"Why can't I get this?! I feel so dumb! Am I behind? Why is everyone else understanding this when I'm not?"
These are common questions all of us at This Teenage Life have felt at some point, especially after taking certain tests. In this episode, we talk about situations—mostly academic—where we experience self-doubt, compare ourselves to others, or spiral about grades. We discuss how these moments feel and how we reframe these moments and feelings.
In this episode of This Teenage Life, the teens open up about their experiences with negative thoughts, anxiety, and stress spirals. Through conversations about their inner struggles, they share coping strategies and practices that help them move out of negative headspaces.
In this episode of This Teenage Life, we hear from teens who have published their stories with Novelly, a platform amplifying teen voices. We hear about what it means to be a writer, and the powerful possibilities of storytelling.
If you're interested in reading awesome teen authors or becoming a teen author yourself, check out Novelly at:
https://www.novelly.org/
Welcome to the first episode of Season 8 of This Teenage Life!
The teens discuss their relationships with exercise: Where are the lines between healthy and unhealthy habits? How can an accountability buddy make it easier to find practices you enjoy? We also hear from Kristin Hoffner, a kinesiology professor at Arizona State University, who shares insights on the science of movement and its connection to mental health.
Support for this episode comes from ASU Learning Enterprise. We invite you to explore the Online Health and Wellness Universal Learner Course. Designed for learners at any stage, this course covers a wide variety of health-related topics to improve your personal health and well-being. It even offers an option to earn college credit. Visit the link to learn more: https://courses.ulc.asu.edu/introduction-to-health-and-wellness-hep-100/
Many of us spend a lot of time worrying, thinking about, and navigating expectations about our friendships. Wondering "How close are we really? Do we call ourselves "best friends" yet?" Do we need to have a "best friend" to have meaningful relationships, anyway?
In this episode, we explore the idea of best friends, how we relate to this idea, stories about changing relationships, navigating changing relationships, and reflect on our feelings about friendships and how they affect us.
One of the biggest pressures of getting older is the idea of having to “figure things out” by yourself. How do we navigate the pressure to “know what we’re doing” while also being flexible and open to new things? How do we process the reality that life might turn out differently from our childhood dreams? How do we process that life is less linear than we imagined?
In this episode of This Teenage Life, the teens talk about the anticipation of moving from high school to college and beyond. They grapple with expectations to figure out who they are and what they want to be “when they grow up," even while also recognizing that there is no end to growing up, and that all of life is a process of growing.
Looking for a free, youth-run summer opportunity? Check out Coding the Future, a free, virtual, personalized program run by teens that helps other young people learn how to code. You can also email them at codingthefuture101@gmail.com
This Teenage Life will also be running some fun and creative clubs and workshops this summer. If you're interested in learning more, email us at team@thisteenagelife.org.
Throwback episode on a popular topic...periods!
In this episodes, 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.
To hear our first episode on periods, check it out here on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
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 during this Mental Health Month:)
Please spread the love and share the show, subscribe, and, if you like the show, give us a 5-star review!
Grief, adversity, and trauma are common, formative human experiences that people move through and grow from. Yet, we often avoid talking about this process, making it harder to understand how people make meaning from grief.
Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) offers us a paradigm for how to make sense of hard experiences and move forward in ways that deepen our connections with ourselves and each other.
In this episode, teens share their stories and we hear from Dr. Taryn Greene, a research psychologist who works with the Boulder Crest Foundation to study PTG. Check out Boulder Crest's PTG story challenge, with opportunities to win funding to share your story.
To learn more about posttraumatic growth, check out the resources below. And as always, if you want to reach out, email us at team@thisteenagelife.org.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/struggle-well/202303/how-to-use-grief-to-grow
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/struggle-well/202305/navigating-trauma-is-not-easy-expert-companions-can-help
https://bouldercrest.org/research-resources/what-is-posttraumatic-growth-ptg/
How does diet culture negatively affect us? How does what we see on social media impact how we feel about what we eat? How do we move past diet culture towards more healthy relationships with food? In this episode, we develop more holistic framings of nutrition. Teens describe their negative experiences of diet culture and then share how they've worked to develop more positive associations with food and shared meals. In conversation with registered dietitian and program manager of ASU's Health Literacy Initiative, Natasha Burrell, we learn how to think more comprehensively about diet and health. This episode is sponsored by ASU's Learning Enterprise. To learn more about ASU and This Teenage Life's partnership, go to https://info.learning.asu.edu/this-teenage-life.
Clear skin, "feminine features," "snatched bodies," — we’re often taught to associate our self worth with how we line up with societal expectations about beauty.
In this throwback episode, we speak openly and honestly about our body insecurities, where they come from, and how we are working on them.
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, crushes, etc. In this re-release of one of our favorite episodes, we talk about moments when we began to discover that parents are, in fact, people too.
As we evolve as people, so does our relationship to music. In this episode, the teens discuss their own musical journeys - how their taste has changed, live music they've experienced, favorite songs, and how music helps build connection.
To check out what our community is listening to these days, take a listen to our playlist on Spotify: This Teenage Life: Music We Love
In this throwback episode, we talk about our experiences of academic pressure and academic validation and how it makes us feel.
In this episode requested by listeners, the teens chat all about teeth! What its like to get braces, teeth insecurities, dentist stories, interesting rituals, and more. Even though we all have teeth, there are a variety of different experiences that come with that!
Connecting with the natural world can bring about a spectrum of feelings, especially after spending most of the day inside at school or work. Even though it can be such a grounding and energizing experience, many of us struggle to find time to get outside. In this episode, the teens chat about how where they live impacts the way they connect with the natural world, how it feels when they do, and the impact of using nature to disconnect from the day to day grind.
We are excited to announce that for folks age 14-25 living in the United States, you are eligible to participate in this next round of the National Contribution Project. Learn more and apply at www.contributionproject.org/national. Applications are due February 21st.
In this "part 2" of our episodes on friend breakups, the teens explore the emotional dimensions of losing friends. How does it feel to be distant from someone you used to be so close to? What can we do to get closure at the end of a relationship? How can we heal emotionally?
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 re-release of one of our favorite episodes, we talk about our fears and critiques of “too muchness,” how it feels, and where we think it comes from.
If you are looking to join a community that will embrace you for who you are, please consider joining one of our new dialogue groups! We would love to get to know you and provide a warm, supportive environment to connect with other young people. Send us an email at team@thisteenagelife.org
It's a tough time. Fires. Political turmoil. When we're at home and feeling sad, angry, or anxious, what are some strategies we use to comfort ourselves? In this re-release of one of our favorite episodes of This Teenage Life, we discuss what we do to make ourselves feel better.
If you are looking to add comfort to your life, please consider joining one of our new dialogue groups! We would love to get to know you and provide a warm, supportive environment to connect with other young people. Send us an email at team@thisteenagelife.org
Even though we all experience it, embarrassment is not a fun feeling. For some folks, they just want to disappear. For others, the embarrassment continues long after the moment is over, as they relive the event in their heads.
In this episode, the teens discuss how they deal with being embarrassed and share their favorite stories. What does it feel like? What about those painfully awkward moments? How can we move on?
Sending our support to our friends affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles. We are here for you.
As a teenager, it can feel like you are constantly moving on from things - hobbies, friends, schools, ways of thinking, and more. This can be exciting, but also sad or confusing. In this episode, the teens discuss things they've had to move on from and the emotional dimensions of the process.
For folks applying to college in the United States, applications are almost due! This time can feel incredibly stressful and overwhelming, but having conversations with peers going through the same thing can help. In today's episode, the teens discuss various aspects of college applications - financial aid, social comparison, finding support, and advice that helped them.
Cultivating friendships and authentic connection can serve as an antidote to loneliness and mental health challenges. How can we harness these skills in a society that prioritizes independence and rising to the top? In this episode, sponsored by Learning Enterprise at Arizona State University, we talk with young men about masculinity, vulnerability, and close relationships. We also interview Dr. Niobe Way, a developmental psychologist and author, about her research into "boy culture," friendship, and building connection.
To learn more about ASU and This Teenage Life's partnership, go to https://info.learning.asu.edu/this-teenage-life
To learn more about Dr. Way's research and read her work, visit https://www.niobe-way.com
Mental health stigma remains a major issue in combating loneliness and the mental health crisis, and research shows that men are significantly less likely to seek help. In this episode, sponsored by Learning Enterprise at Arizona State University, we talk with young men about mental health and masculinity. We also interview Dr. Ben Harris, a clinical psychologist, about his experiences working with adolescent boys and how he fosters connection through group therapy. We hope this episode works to normalize vulnerability and checking in with those close to you, in spite of societal norms and pressures. To learn more about ASU and This Teenage Life's partnership, go to https://info.learning.asu.edu/this-teenage-life
Mental health resources:
The Suicide Lifeline: call 988 (available 24/7, and available in Spanish, Russian, Tagalong, French, and Mandarin)
Befrienders: confidential support for those in emotional crisis or distress
Cooking, baking, and consuming delicious meals can be incredibly fulfilling acitvities, especially when they are shared with loved ones. To celebrate Thanksgiving next week in the United States, this episode is all about food. Our teen participants discuss their relationships to cooking or baking, kitchen disasters, holiday traditions, and meals that bring comfort. We are also joined by Sarah Clapp, a producer from Milk Street Radio, who discusses what its like having a career in the culinary arts.
To listen and learn more about Milk Street Radio, you can visit their website: https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=milkstreet+radio&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Everyone experiences failure at some point in their life, but it can be difficult to talk about. Failure can make a person feel uncomfortable, or angry, or full of self-doubt. In this episode, This Teenage Life participants discuss what they think failure is, share stories of times they have "failed," and explore how they cultivate resilience in their lives.
In this episode, we chat with folks who have recently engaged in The National Contribution Project, a nationwide initiative where young people affiliated with partner organizations get funded to pursue projects that matter to them. We learn about the projects people chose, how they felt along the way, and why contribution matters. Thank you to the Purpose Commons, a project incubated by Hopelab, for sponsoring this episode. The Purpose Commons is a dynamic learning network where collaborators across the youth development ecosystem work together on projects that put the science of purpose to work for young people. Their vision is to create a world in which every young person has the opportunity to cultivate their sense of purpose, and change their worlds for the better.
In this new series, we chat with individual TTL participants about their life as a teenager in this exact moment. This episode features Jacquie, a teen in Zimbabwe, as she discusses new advocacy opportunities, difficult situations at school, public speaking and more.
With unfolding conflicts throughout the world and increasing polarization throughout the U.S., questions of how to engage in dialogue and connect across differences, become increasingly important. In this episode, you hear from two teens, Easha and Daniel, who have forged a deep friendship and co-created an interfaith club at their school, which centers dialogue, storytelling, and empathy. Thank you to Easha and Daniel for you're work, and to Facing History and Ourselves for your support.
On this World Mental Health Day, a groundbreaking study has been published about how social media intersects with various pressures teens feel (e.g. the pressure to have a game plan, to achieve, to be good friends, to look certain ways, etc.). In this episode, we hear from teens themselves about their experiences of these pressures, and then we hear from researchers from the Center for Digital Thriving, Common Sense Media, and Indiana University about teen feelings of pressure and burnout on a national scale. To learn more about this research, check out the report and the Center for Digital Thriving’s website.
In this episode, the teens describe moments when they feel purposeful and their understandings of the idea of purpose. We speak with Dr. Tony Burrow, a professor who studies purpose and researches the health benefits of purpose. Through his research, Dr. Burrow helps us reframe and examine the many benefits of cultivating senses of purpose. You can learn more about Dr. Burrows work here.
Thank you to the Purpose Commons, a project of Hopelab, for sponsoring this episode. The Purpose Commons is a dynamic learning network where collaborators across the youth development ecosystem work together on projects that put the science of purpose to work for young people.
In a world with so much pressure to excel academically, make family proud, and maintain financial stabiliity, it can feel difficult to pursue creative passions. These passions often get pushed aside as school and career planning takes over. But what if creativity is part of your job?
In this episode, the teens share their thoughts on favorite creative practices, how that's changed as they've gotten older, and whether or not they plan to pursue their creative passions in the future. We also chat with Peter Ha, a graphic designer in Canada, about what its like to pursue a creative career. He shares his journey of getting into the design field, thoughts on external pressures, and advice for young creatives.
For more information on Peter, visit his personal website and Equal Parts Studio.
Many of us grew up consuming tv, movies, or social media that portrayed teenagehood in a very specific way - parties, sweet 16 birthdays, first kisses, drivers licenses, sleepovers, and more! There can be pressure to do all these things while still a teenager, but is this realistic? In this episode, the teens discuss how they approach the typical "teenage bucket list," grapple with stress to be a certain way, and live authentically in the present.
In this new series, we chat with individual TTL participants about their life as a teenager in this exact moment. This episode features Saniya, a 16 year old from Canada, as she discusses familial pressures, starting her junior year of high school, racial dynamics in her city, pursuing soccer, and more.
Graduating from high school is an exciting milestone to celebrate, but it can also be overwhelming! No matter what path you take, there are so many new unique challenges to face like homesickness, “adulting” tasks, and building new relationships. In this episode, some of our participants in India share their experiences being out of high school and taking on the adult world.
Finding your thing, your passion, your hobby — it's something so many teens and adults seek. Ellie, a teen based in New York City, was drawn to birds from a young age. Her interest has since blossomed into a much greater pursuit. In this episode of TTL, we dive with Ellie into her bird world. We reflect on how to translate what resonates with us into actions that connect us with ourselves, each other, and the natural world.
The internet is often seen as a chaotic and scary platform, but is it still possible to find genuine connections on it? In this episode, one of our contributers, Maith, shares how a humble attempt to create a blog (www.maithworld.blogspot.com) turned into a treasure trove of friendships.
This is the first episode in Tech for Humans with Maith, a new series where she explores the complicated relationship teens have with technology to facilitate more dialogues on the topic.
This week’s episode, led by 15-year-old TTL contributor, Lydia, is about gun violence in U.S. schools and gun control. Teens based in the U.S. talk about their experiences with lock downs, lock down drills, and what they think needs to change in order to make our schools safer.
Check out March for Our lives to see how you can join a movement to make our schools safer. https://marchforourlives.org/
Summer break is wrapping up in the US and college application season is on the horizon for many high school seniors. This time can bring about immense pressure, stress, and self-doubt. It can also be very exciting. This episode documents the emotional dimensions of the application process for two college-bound TTL participants as they reflect on this past year.
Join This Teenage Life participants for our first creative workshops in partnership with Culture Therapy! If you have ever wanted to learn how to make comics, write calligraphy, or meet and hang out with our team, please fill out this interest form.
In this episode, you will get to know our first workshop leaders, Kashika and Cloe, and learn about their experiences with their respective art forms, how creating has helped them, and why you should join us for their workshops!
Birthdays can be a special time to celebrate the love and joy that comes with being alive. They can also be kind of...weird. Between planning parties, finding the perfect gift, navigating social media posts, being the center of attention, and a general expectation that it needs to be the best day ever, birthdays can often lead to stress or disappointment.
In this episode, we hear from the teens about their experiences with memorable birthdays, party planning, gift-giving, and more. We hope this episode normalizes all the feelings, good and bad, that come with birthdays.
In times of stress, sadness, or loneliness, many of us turn to art to find solace and belonging. Whether it's a visual art practice, a musical experience, or a new hobby, creative pursuits can connect us to ourselves and others, supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health. In this episode, the teens share how they use art in their lives. Our friends from culture therapy also share their experiences. If you're interested in being part of art and creativity centered online workshops, fill out this form. Also, check out culture therapy's Substack, along with TTL's new Substack!
For several of us at TTL, games like Minecraft and Roblox offer expansive digital universes in which we can make our own worlds and find other people with shared interests.
In this episode, we hear from TTL participants along with members of the ExperienceCraft community, who use Minecraft as way to connect in the face of grief. Check out ExperienceCraft and their parent organization, Connected Camps if you're looking for awesome ways to connect with teens interested in digital worlds and gaming!
For many young people, it can be hard to avoid the gossip, drama, and rumors that pass through the halls at school. While engaging in these behaviors can sometimes bring excitement, drama often leads to misunderstandings, hurt, and feelings of isolation. In this episode the teens discuss their thoughts on gossip, stories about rumors they have dealt with, and how to avoid school drama.
It can be isolating and lonely to feel different from your peers, whether that's because of your identity, social and political beliefs, or simply the way you think about the world. Fortunately, there are so many others out there who don't fit within various social norms who ar ealso working to construct community. In this episode, TTL participants team up with hosts from the Future Perfect Project's podcast "I'm Feeling Queer Today" to explore what it means to be a "misfit," the strengths that come with being different, and how to find spaces where you belong. While this episode is a celebration of Pride Month and the beauty of self acceptance, this conversation is for anyone who feels like they bump up against the status quo. Thank you to Celeste, Emma, Lily, and Eric for joining us for this episode. Click the links below to learn more about their incredible work: https://www.thefutureperfectproject.org/podcast https://www.thetrevorproject.org
The media is filled with stories about the global teen loneliness crisis. Yet, we rarely hear from teens themselves. In this episode, sponsored by Learning Enterprise at Arizona State University, we hear from teens around the globe about their experiences of contemporary loneliness, and how they're navigating it. We hope this episode helps to destigmatize loneliness so people realize: while you might feel lonely sometimes, you are not alone in that feeling. To learn more about ASU and This Teenage Life's partnership, go to https://info.learning.asu.edu/this-teenage-life
High school seniors are about to graduate, and many will head to college.
Starting college can come with a whole set of uknowns and distorted expectations of how the transition "should" go. In this episode, This Teenage Life contributor, Ummul, shares voice recordings of herself and her frieends from their freshman year. They share about their experiences navigating the transition to their new academic, residential, and social lives.
Grown-ups can often talk about teens and social media in a way that fails to capture real teens' experiences.The directors of the Center For Digital Thriving (CDT) are different — they get it. In this episode, TTL teens meet with CDT directors Emily and Carrie to discuss the mental gymnastics of navigating our relationships with tech and social media. We hope this episode can inspire more conversations about teens and tech that are grounded in the experiences of teens themselves. For resources check out the Center for Digital Thriving resources page at: https://digitalthriving.gse.harvard.edu/resources/
In celebration of Earth Day, we made this episode about a person who, in the face of climate change, chose to take a risk and make something new.
In partnership with UNICEF USA, This Teenage Life teens speak with Alexia Akbay, founder of Symbrosia, a company that grows seaweed. When fed to cows, Symbrosia's product reduces cows' methane emissions.
To learn more about UNICEF's Innovation30 effort, supporting young climate innovators shaping the future, check out their website.
This past March, TTL celebrated its 5th birthday!
In this episode, the teens share stories of how they joined TTL and what the community has meant for them. All our current participants used to be listeners. If you want to join us too—or reach out and request and episode topic or say hi—feel free to email us at team@thisteenagelife.org
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.
Thank you to Arizona State University's Learning Enterprise for sponsoring this episode! ASU Learning Enterprise’s Foundational Learning Health Literacy Project is empowering learners to actively manage their health and well-being through comprehensive and engaging, open access content that decreases informational gaps. Check out this link to learn more.
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:
- Behind Their Screens, their amazing book
- CDT's website and their resources on thinking traps.
- CDT's new app, which is great to do with family and friends to discuss tech use and values.
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.
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
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.
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.
Yesterday was Valentine's 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.c
In this episode, TTL participants explore their own insecurities and interview 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."
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.
- Cybersmile Help Center
- Child Mind Institute Resources
- The Trevor Project
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.
The holidays are a complicated time for many people. They bring up all kinds of feelings — nostalgia, cozyness, goals for the future, and anxieties about those left behind.
Two days before the commencement of our next cycle around the sun, we share an episode with you that we made exactly a year ago. It's reassuring to hear this and reflect on the cyclical nature of time.
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. Also feel free to check out our own TTL Wrapped 2023.
Happy New Year from the This Teenage Life team and talk to you in 2024!
Is the idea of productivity helpful? Harmful? How does it affect our mental health and well-being? How do the teens relate to productivity culture?
In the midst of New Year's resolutions and goals, we revisit this episode about the pressure to be productive and how it affects us.
We're working on new episodes for 2024. If you have any ideas you'd like to share, email us at team@thisteenagelife.org
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.
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!
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.
Here are some resources to learn more about strategies for more positive self talk.
- Teen Vogue on talking to your younger self
- CMI on how to change negative thinking patterns
- CMI on helping kids who are hard on themselves
Thank you to Arizona State University's Learning Enterprise for sponsoring this episode! ASU Learning Enterprise’s Foundational Learning Health Literacy Project is empowering learners to actively manage their health and well-being through comprehensive and engaging, open access content that decreases informational gaps. Check out this link to learn more.
Shout out to Taina Coleman and Cara Macari from the Child Mind Insitute for their contributions to this episode!
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.
Resources from the Episode:
Check out Sarah Strong's book Dear Math: Why Kids Hate Math and What Teachers Can Do About It
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.
If you have any requests for episode topics or just want to say hi, feel free to reach out to us at team@thisteenagelife.org. Below are some resources for
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.
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.
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.
Our hearts are broken for those affected by the conflict and violence going on in the Middle East right now.
We call to TTL community members to be the peace and humanity the world desparately needs.
This summer, Molly, the adult who works on This Teenage Life, visited the Seeds of Peace Camp, which brings together youth from regions of conflict including teens from Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and the U.S. She spoke with campers 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To hear other episodes on sleep, check our old episode on dreams: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6olXgG65l92SQos4bNPD8y?si=511f0455470c4857
Walking may seem like a simple, everyday activity, but for many TTL participants, it's a way to destress and find inner peace. In this episode, we discuss the important role that walking plays in our mental health.
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.
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.
Teens on the internet — it's a hot topic. At its worse, there's the youth mental health crisis, phone addiction, and cyberbullying. At its best, there's emapthic online friendships, creativity, expanded perspectives, and intentional knowledge seeking. In this episode, we describe our own relationships with the internet, social media, online friends, and more. We discuss the ups and downs of how the internet helps us learn, can provoke FOMO, yet is also the only reason This Teenage Life can exist.
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.
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.
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.
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:)
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.
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.
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. The link below is the playlist with the tunes:)
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2LdkRdV7l4d7dhb91uwRNl?si=256363b25c2b46d9&nd=1
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.
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. And follow XQ America on TikTok and on Instagram to share your experience as a student and change what learning looks like. By signing up, you can also participate in future events and challenges.
What does it mean to be a feminist? How can men support the feminist movement? Can men be feminists?
In this episode, 17-year-old Stella, explores these questions. She interviews three men about their relationship with feminism and masculinity in an effort to investigate and solidify her own relationship with feminism.
Music Attribution: Spleen & Senegal by Le Chaos Entre Deux Chaises via Creative Commons.
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.
If you have any ideas for episodes or just want to reach out and say hi, feel free to email us at team@thisteenagelife.org.
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.
Happy New Year from the This Teenage Life team and talk to you in 2023!
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.
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. at: https://xqsuperschool.org/rethinktogether/2022-student-journalism-challenge/
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.
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.
Some resources on overthinking & intrusive thoughts:
https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-kids-worried-about-bad-thoughts/
https://childmind.org/guide/anxiety-in-children-quick-guide/
This week, we talk to licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Naomi Dambreville, about how to think about and understand overthinking and intrusive thoughts.
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.
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!
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, eligible for teen residents of the U.S at: https://studentjournalismchallenge.org/
Like many transitions, starting a new school year can be stressful. In this episode, we talk about our experiences and the coping strategies we use to feel more comfortable as we go back to 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
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.
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/
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This episode topic was requested by a listener via email. If you have an episode idea, email us at team@thisteenagelife.org and if you could share the show with friends or via social media and whatsapp status we'd appreciate it!
In classes at school, students are often expected to learn the same thing at the same time. An emphasis on information transmission and uniformity can lead to disengagement. What would it look like if school learning felt more engaging, meaningful, relevant, and authentic? What and how would teens want to learn? In this episode, we're hearing from young people about how and what they wish they learned in school.
This episode is sponsored by the XQ institute. Check them out at XQ Super School and follow XQ America on TikTok and on Instagram to share your experience as a student and change what learning looks like.
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
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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 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.
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:
Materials from the Child Mind Institute:
Overview of Depression: https://childmind.org/guide/depression-in-kids-quick-guide/
Depression in Teenagers: https://childmind.org/article/what-are-the-symptoms-of-depression-in-teenagers/
Depression Treatment: https://childmind.org/article/treatment-for-depression/
In case you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm:
Help-Line in India:
India http://www.aasra.info/helpline.html
Help-Line in the United States:
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Our hearts break for Kabul today as the Taliban take over the city. We stand with our friends there. Shame on world leaders for this tragedy.
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:)
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.
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.
This episode contains some audio clips from a previous episode about body insecurities — we'll actually be adding some new clips soon as well but wanted to get something out this week:)
In this episode, inspired and hosted by a listener-turned-contributer named Lydia, we process feelings around parents' divorces. Check out Lydia's independent work at wildflowerszine.com.
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.
President Biden signed into law that Juneteenth is now recognized as a national holiday. This Teenage Life contributors shared their feelings about Juneteenth and its importance to them, especially in the context of Black history being recognized as US history.
Music credit: Molly Zucchet normally makes all our music but this episode sampled from Lobo Loco on Creative Commons.
I felt invisible and was bullied in high school and now I'm moving on. This is my story.
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.
Links to Articles:
- Articles from KidsHealth
- FAQ from the CDC
- Myths and Facts about the vaccine from the CDC
Some explanatory videos:
- How COVID-19 makes you sick
- What is a vaccine — a broad overview
- COVID-19 Vaccine Explained by VOX
Sending our support to our listeners in India, given the dire Covid-19 situation there.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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: our daydreams.
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.
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.
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.
Also, we'd love to expand creative communities like ours. We're thinking of starting a listener-based This Teenage Life club. Email us at team@thisteenagelife.org if you're interested in joining:)
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:
- A video and article about what body positivity is.
- An incredible video by Dove that shows how the beauty industry sets completely unrealistic expectations about bodies.
- A This Teenage Life blog post about acne and an article about acne positivity.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
This Teenage Life is excited to announce our 10 for a Tee Challenge! If you can get 10 people to rate and subscribe to TTL, then we'll send you a limited edition This Teenage Life T-Shirt (or sticker, if you live internationally). In this episode, you'll hear all the details of the challenge. Thank you so much for listening to This Teenage Life, your support means a lot to us.
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.
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.
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.
Periods can be a sensitive subject. But at This Teenage Life we approach periods, and hopefully all things, with openness and curiosity. In this episode, we talk about our experiences of menstruation and our perception of periods.
In this episode of This Teenage Life, we talk about the phenomena of cancel culture on the internet and share our critiques and reflections.
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.
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.
Antiracism Resources:
- bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES
Books related to antiracism:
- White Fragility, link by Robin Diangelo, Michael Eric DysonMe and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
- How to be an Antiracist, link by Ibram X. Kendi
- Bad Feminist, link by Roxane Gay
Related petitions you can sign (takes less than a minute):
- https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd
- https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor
- https://www.change.org/p/glynn-county-distric-attorney-justice-for-ahmaud-arbery
A youtube video that has ~1 hr of music and art from black creators — the ads (don’t skip them!) generate revenue and are donated to a variety of different organizations. it’s a great way to donate money if you don’t have money: https://youtu.be/bCgLa25fDHM
Black-owned Businesses: Some can be found at https://nymag.com/strategist/article/black-owned-businesses-support-shop.html
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, crushes, etc. In this episode, we talk about moments when we began to discover that parents are, in fact, people too.
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.
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.
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.
Get a feel for Season One of This Teenage Life — who we are, some topics we discuss, and what's to come.