Insights Into Teens: Recent Episodes
Madison and Joseph Whalen
A father and daughter discussion about the everyday struggles of teens in today's high tech, high pressure world and the parents who are helping them cope with it. We have honest discussions about everything from the mundane to the life changing and we try to sort through the issues together in as painless a manner as possible.
What if experiencing jet lag and cultural shock could be transformed into an exhilarating adventure? Join us as we recount Maddie’s vibrant journey from Philadelphia to the heart of Japan, where she navigates the challenges of long flights, jet lag, and the bustling streets of Dantenbori Canal Street. From mastering Japanese through Duolingo to packing wisely for a lengthy trip, Maddie’s meticulous preparation helps her transition smoothly into a new cultural landscape.
Get a taste of Japan’s rich and diverse heritage as Maddie takes us through her explorations of Nara’s serene Shinto and Buddhist shrines, Kyoto’s enchanting Bamboo Forest, and the historic Nijo Castle. Experience her awe at the grandeur of the Nara Great Buddha and the sacred deer that roam freely. Despite moments of anxiety and panic attacks triggered by crowded spaces, Maddie’s journey is marked by personal growth, supported by the kindness of friends and locals.
Wrap up our adventure with Maddie’s thrilling ride on the Shinkansen, a visit to the stunning Golden Pavilion, and a deep dive into the cultural nuances of Japan’s food and modern attractions. Discover the charm of Tokyo’s Joypolis and the convenience of ubiquitous vending machines. From historical landmarks to the technological marvel of Japanese bidets, Maddie’s journey is a fascinating blend of tradition and contemporary wonders, offering a unique perspective on the land of the rising sun.
No Credits Rolled, where we play the games you love but rarely finish them!
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An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
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Ever felt overwhelmed by the pressures of teenage life and the transition into adulthood? Join us as Madison and I share an honest conversation about the growing pains of high school. From the challenge of navigating prom as someone who prefers quieter settings to the triumph of academic excellence—Madison scoring straight A's and ranking third in her class—this episode captures the highs and lows of her senior year journey. We also hint at upcoming interactive features like a call-in line, ready to bring you even closer to our discussions.
Curious about balancing creativity with academics? Discover Madison's unique artistic pursuits, including a custom piece that made it to Svengoolie. We delve into her interest in video editing, particularly her creative Mother's Day videos that blend audio and visuals in a captivating way. Alongside these passions, we touch on her relief at leaving history classes behind and focusing on her beloved engineering studies. Madison's story is both inspiring and relatable, offering a glimpse into managing multiple interests while excelling academically.
Our episode also takes a dramatic turn with a personal medical scare involving a kidney stone, and the emotional roller coaster it brought. We contrast this with the excitement of an upcoming trip to Japan, brimming with plans to explore cities like Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Plus, we recount a thrilling gaming convention visit, where meeting voice actors from Boulders Gate 3 such as Maggie Robertson and Neil Newbon brought our favorite characters to life. This episode is a heartfelt narrative of growth, creativity, and memorable experiences, promising a blend of insight, inspiration, and entertainment.
No Credits Rolled, where we play the games you love but rarely finish them!
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An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Podcast: Space Vacation, The Musical
Space Vacation, the Musical, the sci-fi musical comedy for the whole family
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Feeling chained to your gadgetry in an endless scroll of apps and alerts? You're not alone, as Madison and I dissect the phenomenon of teen technology addiction, drawing parallels to the compulsive nature of drug dependence. This eye-opening discussion traverses the landscape of mental health, revealing the alarmingly similar effects of tech obsession on young brains to those wrought by controlled substances. We'll share our stories of digital dependency, mine as a self-professed tech addict, and Madison's as someone who finds solace in the virtual world when navigating the social sphere. Our conversation is a wake-up call to the reality that over half of our teens feel a visceral tether to their devices, illuminating a path of reflection and understanding for families grappling with this modern challenge.
As we peel back the layers of our attachment to technology, I recount the palpable sense of loss when cut off from the digital pulse, akin to the distress substance users experience during withdrawal. We explore how devices become emotional crutches, providing comfort during stressful moments but potentially perpetuating a cycle of avoidance and dependence. Our chat is not all gloom, though; we recognize the therapeutic promise within creative digital environments and the restorative power of tech as an emotional recharge tool. It's a nuanced look at how managing our relationship with technology is critical for maintaining our well-being and preventing it from morphing into a problematic crutch.
Rounding off our journey, we tackle the intersection of technology with emotional coping strategies, delving into how the digital world can serve as both a haven and a hindrance for young minds. We emphasize the constructive aspects of online communities for youths facing personal challenges and the essential role of parents in guiding their children through the virtual maze. When discussing the delicate dance of depression and technology addiction, we highlight resources like "Glow Kids" that provide insight into the factors fostering tech dependence. Ultimately, we advocate for balance, encouraging digital detoxes and professional support to ensure that our relationship with technology remains healthy and harmonious. Join us for this crucial conversation that's not just about identifying problems but also about arming ourselves and our loved ones with strategies for a healthier digital life.
No Credits Rolled, where we play the games you love but rarely finish them!
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An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Travel Love Legacy
A podcast where we elevate the voices of Black & Brown Family Travelers
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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As the corridors of high school fall silent after the final bell, the hushed sound of solitude becomes the hidden chorus of adolescence. My co-host Madison Whalen and I navigate the silent storm of teenage isolation, probing the depths of self-imposed solitude and its profound effects on young minds and bodies. We unravel the tangled emotions behind the intense fear of social rejection, likening it to the sting of physical pain, and shine a light on the crucial role of parents in fostering healthy, real-world connections for their teens.
Adolescents today are treading the tightrope between digital comfort zones and the uncharted waters of in-person socialization. We reflect on our own post-pandemic social anxieties and the peculiar sense of crowd-induced claustrophobia. Madison and I dissect the allure and limitations of social media havens, and the delicate dance between nurturing online friendships and breaking out of their confines to expand social circles in the flesh.
In the final beats of our episode, we scrutinize the shifting dynamics of teenage social life in an increasingly digital world, leaning on insights from the Pew Research Center and a CNN study to highlight the decline of face-to-face interactions. We share personal anecdotes and ponder strategies to reel back from avoidance behavior that feeds isolation. Wrapping up, we steer you towards our various online platforms, where you can continue the conversation and dive into our extended podcast family, Insights into Entertainment and Insights Into Tomorrow. With a heartfelt goodbye, we invite you to explore our books and join us again as we seek to understand and aid the solitary hearts of today's youth.
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Wild Interest
Wild Interest is an audio magazine created by kids for curious minds of all ages....
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The LYLAS Podcast
If you know what LYLAS stands for, then this podcast is for you! Two besties since...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Ever wonder what's going on inside the mind of a teenager as they toggle between safety and thrill-seeking? Unlock the mysteries of adolescent development in our latest episode, where we dissect the compelling allure of challenges and risks for growing teens. Together with experts in psychology and teen behavior, we share insights into how these experiences are not just acts of rebellion, but crucial steps toward maturity.
Join us for a heart-to-heart on personal growth as we reflect on personal anecdotes and the surprising benefits of well-chosen challenges. From the satisfaction of creating art to the continuous learning within the tech industry, we reveal how facing the right kind of challenges can lead to lower rates of depression and foster fulfillment. Learn how to guide teenagers in embracing these opportunities for growth, steering them away from unhealthy risks and towards constructive endeavors.
Finally, we tackle the tough topic of unhealthy teen challenges and how parents can play a pivotal role in navigating this terrain. Discover effective strategies to channel your teen's energy into positive experiences, from outdoor adventures to creative arts, and understand the impact of parental support on their journey. This episode offers a heartfelt guide for anyone looking to help teens emerge as well-rounded, confident adults, while also shedding light on the value of challenges in our own lives.
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Wild Interest
Wild Interest is an audio magazine created by kids for curious minds of all ages....
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The LYLAS Podcast
If you know what LYLAS stands for, then this podcast is for you! Two besties since...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Discovering the right balance of personal boundaries can be a daunting journey, one that my daughter Madison and I know all too well. As we reunite in this episode of Insights Into Teens, we delve into the intricate world of boundaries—those unseen yet pivotal lines that protect our well-being. We navigate through the emotional landscapes of adolescents, discussing how vital it is to establish physical, emotional, and mental boundaries while also recognizing the challenges and profound impact relational trauma can have on their formation. Our candid conversation serves as a guide for young individuals striving to reclaim their power in setting boundaries and the necessity of building relationships founded on mutual respect and understanding.
Our personal experiences become the canvas as we paint the picture of struggles with boundaries that are either too permeable or overly rigid. I recount times when my own defenses were so weak that I became susceptible to external influences, as well as moments when fortifying my walls too fiercely led to isolation. Madison and I reflect on the dangers of creating impenetrable boundaries, which may result in disconnection and hinder genuine human connections. We stress the significance of maneuvering the delicate balance between allowing ourselves to be vulnerable to meaningful experiences while also guarding against potential risks, recognizing that it is an ongoing process with room for improvement.
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Wild Interest
Wild Interest is an audio magazine created by kids for curious minds of all ages....
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The LYLAS Podcast
If you know what LYLAS stands for, then this podcast is for you! Two besties since...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Positivity: a beacon of hope or a burden in disguise?" Get ready for a captivating journey as we, Joseph and Madison Whalen, untangle the complex web of 'toxic positivity' and its implications on teenagers' emotional health. Understanding the emotional landscape of teenagers is a nuanced affair and we're here to show you why. We share personal anecdotes and profound insights that shed light on the harmful effects of suppressing emotions and the importance of emotional agility.
Emotions are the language of our inner world, they provide us with invaluable insights into our needs and values. But what happens when we categorize them as 'negative' or 'positive'? We challenge this oversimplification and show you how engaging with a broad spectrum of emotions can nourish self-awareness and bolster effective communication. We promise you an enlightening discussion that will change the way you perceive emotions.
As we navigate through the treacherous realm of toxic positivity, we bring to light the therapeutic power of art and the role of supportive social circles in managing complex emotions. We share the perils of toxic positivity and emphasize the importance of art, music, and dance in processing intense emotions in a nonverbal way. Our aim is to equip teenagers with the right tools to traverse their emotional landscapes with resilience and authenticity. Join us for this riveting discussion - you don't want to miss it!
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Wild Interest
Wild Interest is an audio magazine created by kids for curious minds of all ages....
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The LYLAS Podcast
If you know what LYLAS stands for, then this podcast is for you! Two besties since...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Ever wondered why you feel an undeniable pull to check social media, only to feel unsatisfied, disconnected, and like you're missing out? Our teenage years are already full of challenges, and this digital age has added a whole new layer of complexity. Join us, Joseph and Madison Whalen, as we strip back the glossy veneer of social media and dive into the phenomenon of FOMO, or the fear of missing out, which is having a profound impact on teenagers today.
Not only do we share the unsettling ways FOMO influences teens' mental health, causing anxiety, depression, and disrupted sleep patterns, but we also guide you through strategies to fight it. From limiting social media usage to maintaining a gratitude journal, volunteering, spending time outdoors, and seeking professional help when needed, we reveal tools that could potentially help teens navigate these treacherous waters. The digital world is here to stay, but with awareness and action, we can help our teens turn the tide on FOMO and steer towards healthier, happier lives. Tune in to explore this critical issue and gain some valuable insights.
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Wild Interest
Wild Interest is an audio magazine created by kids for curious minds of all ages....
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The LYLAS Podcast
If you know what LYLAS stands for, then this podcast is for you! Two besties since...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Are you struggling to comprehend your teenager's sudden bursts of anger? Do you feel like you're walking on eggshells, not knowing when the next emotional explosion might occur? We understand that parenting a teenager is like navigating through a stormy sea, and we’re here to help. I'm Joseph Whalen, and along with my daughter Madison, we delve into the intricate world of teen anger management. We offer a fresh perspective on the importance of healthy anger expression and the debilitating signs of unmanaged anger.
As we paddle deeper into the vast ocean of adolescent emotional health, you will gain valuable insights from our personal experiences. We discuss the multiple factors contributing to teen anger, from hormones to mental health disorders, and the significance of professional intervention. Looking through the lens of our own experiences, we provide proactive strategies and supportive systems to help your teen navigate through their emotional storms. Particularly, we spotlight the unique challenges faced by teenage boys, for whom societal norms often create barriers in expressing their emotions.
Finally, we invite you to join our growing community where we continually share our experiences and insights. Stay connected with us via email, social media, our official website, and more. With two more exciting episodes lined up, be sure not to miss out on our journey to understand, manage, and transform teen anger into a positive force. So, if you're ready to transform your understanding of teen anger and create a more peaceful home environment, join us on this enlightening journey.
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Wild Interest
Wild Interest is an audio magazine created by kids for curious minds of all ages....
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The LYLAS Podcast
If you know what LYLAS stands for, then this podcast is for you! Two besties since...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Have you ever wondered why teenagers seem drawn to challenging authority and eager to transform the world? This episode is an enlightening journey into adolescent idealism, a pivotal phase where young minds begin to form their own values, champion their unique perspectives and discover the power of their voice. We expose the reality behind the fiery debates and passionate expressions of idealism that are often misunderstood by adults, leading to friction and discord.
The episode takes a deep look at the correlation between adolescent idealism and mental health, an aspect rarely explored in mainstream discussions. We shine a light on the transformative journey of these promising minds as they fervently yearn for a brighter future and how they grapple with a society that may not always prioritize or appreciate their innovative ideas. As adults, we have a pivotal role in understanding, validating and connecting with these spirited young adults. Their energy, if harnessed correctly, can lead to lasting positive changes.
Finally, we impart practical strategies to help navigate the challenges of adolescent idealism. We underscore the importance of empathetic listening, validating their experiences, and sharing our own stories of challenging norms to bridge gaps in understanding. We also discuss how introducing them to diverse perspectives through various media can broaden their world view. Expect some thoughtful insights on finding common ground and leveraging their passion to make meaningful contributions to society. Join us for this enlightening episode and discover the powerful potential of adolescent idealism.
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Wild Interest
Wild Interest is an audio magazine created by kids for curious minds of all ages....
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The LYLAS Podcast
If you know what LYLAS stands for, then this podcast is for you! Two besties since...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Do you know what a toxic friendship looks like? Can you tell if your teen is caught up in one? Join us as we delve into this complex issue that's become a common teen drama affecting their mental health. In a world where acceptance and social connections are everything, teens often overlook the toxicity in their friendships. We discuss how these relationships, built on manipulation, exclusion, and criticism, impact personal growth and well-being. We stress the importance of understanding that sometimes these toxic behaviors are the result of underlying, unspoken challenges like trauma or mental health issues.
Throughout this episode, we explore the influence of peers on personal growth. We all know that friends can make or break our high school experience. But what happens when these friendships turn toxic? How do we help our teens navigate this rough terrain without overstepping? We're here to provide insights, sharing dos and don'ts of intervening, emphasizing the importance of open communication and transparency between parents and teens.
Finally, we dive into some actionable advice for dealing with toxic friendships. How can we create a space where our teens feel safe to share their experiences? How can we guide them without being judgmental? Listen in as we offer some practical tools and tips to support your teen in managing toxic friendships and building healthier connections. So, grab your headphones, hit subscribe, and let's get the conversation started!
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Wild Interest
Wild Interest is an audio magazine created by kids for curious minds of all ages....
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The LYLAS Podcast
If you know what LYLAS stands for, then this podcast is for you! Two besties since...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Are you ready to crack the code of parenting and master the art of socializing your children? We've got an episode packed with insights and practical tips that will help you navigate this journey. Your hosts, Joseph and Madison Whalen, together with our special guest and seasoned parent, Michelle Whalen, invite you to join us as we shed light on how parents can effectively encourage their kids to socialize while respecting their comfort zones. We explore the positive and negative effects that a parent's involvement can have on a child's social behavior and the importance of setting a good example.
How can parents instill the important values of honesty, hard work, and respect in their children? We discuss this in depth, emphasizing the critical role of parents in shaping a child's character. Not only do we touch on this, but also the significance of attending to your children's educational needs. We believe that a parent's influence doesn't stop at the confines of the home but extends to their child's educational journey.
But what about the schools? What role do they play in a child's upbringing? We compare the roles of parents and schools and stress the necessity of preparing our children for real-world experiences that go beyond academics. It's time to look at education more holistically and explore the benefits of different career paths while considering happiness in the equation. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let's dive into a conversation that promises to be as enlightening as it is engaging!
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Wild Interest
Wild Interest is an audio magazine created by kids for curious minds of all ages....
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The LYLAS Podcast
If you know what LYLAS stands for, then this podcast is for you! Two besties since...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Have you ever wondered about the surging tide of school violence, its damage, and the steps we can take to mitigate it? Brace yourself for a compelling episode of Insights into Teens as we pull back the curtain on this alarming issue, armed with fresh data from the CDC's youth risk behavior survey. The figures tell a grim tale of bullying, hostility, and threats. We also touch upon the zero tolerance policy and its evolution in schools over time.
As we peel back the layers, we unravel the lasting impacts of school violence on its victims and bystanders. We're talking about distressing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and fear that can linger into adulthood. We also discuss how violence disrupts the sense of safety in school environments, complicating a child's ability to deal with life's challenges.
Not just identifying the problem, we pivot towards solutions. We're joined by Madison, a brave high school student who shares her experiences and observations. We champion proactive strategies such as recognizing and reaching out to students who display signs of distress or aggression. We also stress the need for a unified front comprising teachers, administrators, parents, and community members all working together. Open channels of communication with trusted adults can make a massive difference, and this episode reminds us all of the crucial need to stay vigilant and responsive to potential threats. Come join the conversation, and let's work together to make our schools safer.
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Are you fully informed of the risks and consequences of sexting? We did the deep dive so you don't have to. Join Madison and I, Joseph, as we unpack the complicated world of teenage sexting, prompted by a recent heart-rending incident. We strip down the layers to reveal what sexting truly is, the variegated motivations behind it, and the potentially lifelong hazards associated with this practice. Consent isn't just a buzzword; it's a crucial pillar in any interaction, and we illuminate its importance in this context, alongside legal implications and coping strategies for any ensuing fallout. We sincerely hope that this dialogue can help avert any future tragedies.
But the risks don't end there. We tackle the less-mentioned, yet equally grave repercussions on mental health, relationships, and future opportunities. Legal penalties for sending explicit content can be severe, and we help you understand the implications. Should you ever find yourself on the precipice of sending a sext, we urge you to pause and reflect on the potential ramifications. We emphasize the fundamental right to say ‘no’ when pressured or uncomfortable, a sentiment we believe needs to be echoed louder in today's digital age.
Our exploration doesn't stop at individual actions; we also scrutinize the broader digital landscape and how it can amplify the dangers of sexting. Given the ease of content duplication and distribution, we discuss how young people potentially find themselves exposed to online predators. The judicial consequences of sexting, particularly for minors, can be grave, with victims often bearing the same weight as those who engage in it. As we conclude our conversation, we encourage audience feedback and provide resources for further exploration. Let's navigate this digital minefield together, to ensure the safety of our impressionable youth.
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Ever wondered how your unconscious mind could be steering your decisions, actions, and perceptions? Welcome to another enlightening episode of Insights into Teens, where we, Joseph and Madison, will guide you through the labyrinth of the human mind to uncover the subtle yet pervasive phenomena of unconscious biases. We unravel how these hidden prejudices shape our everyday lives and potentially impact workforce diversity.
Join us as we delve into the different types of unconscious biases, including affinity bias—our inherent inclination towards those who share similarities with us, and the halo effect— our tendency to overgeneralize a positive first impression. We'll shed light on these biases using personal anecdotes and observations, to help you recognize how these biases might quietly exist even within your closest relations.
But we won't stop at just recognizing these biases; we're committed to helping you overcome them. Learn from us how becoming more aware of our prejudices can lead us to more reflective and conscious thinking and action. We'll explore techniques to interrupt these biases and enact positive change in our attitudes. We also highlight the role of positive influences in our lives in helping us identify and correct our prejudices. So, buckle up and get ready to challenge your perceptions and become a better version of yourself today.
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
Are your parental rights being hijacked for a political agenda? Brace yourselves as we unravel the increasingly controversial issue of Parental Rights in Education. We're going to tear apart the initiatives that are drastically transforming the history and culture of our nation under the guise of parental rights, and scrutinize the politically influenced ideologies that could be damaging our children's futures.
In the first half, we're going to expose how the concept of parental rights is being distorted to control what's taught in classrooms, what books are accessible to students, and to challenge the professional authority of our educators. We'll also take you back to the roots of this ideological shift in the parental rights movement with Michael P Ferris, and examine the crafty switch in tactics to lobby for laws that favor their agenda. But that's not all, we'll also delve into the growing influence of organizations like parentalrights.org and the new Parents' Bill of Rights laws in Florida and Georgia.
Fasten your seatbelts for the latter half as we explore the implications of these fear-driven laws and underscore the significance of open communication with your child. We'll walk you through Florida's ongoing battle over AP Psychology and the political nuances of parental rights in the state. We'll shine a light on the hypocrisy and potential impacts of these laws, and wrap up by highlighting the importance of subscribing to and providing feedback for podcasts like ours - 'Insights Into Teens', 'Insights & Entertainment', and 'Insights Into Tomorrow'. You won't want to miss this!
An original podcast by a husband and wife team of self professed pop-culture geeks. It is a discussion about all things entertainment from movies and music to television and pop culture. We examine some of the more obscure aspects of the entertainment industry.
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Have you ever found yourself falling down a negative spiral where it feels as if your brain won't shut off?
This is what overthinking can feel like.
Many of us get in our own way by overthinking.
This can look like:
- worrying about things you can't control
- delaying decisions to keep researching options
- dwelling on your shortcomings
- or maybe trying to predict other people's feelings or actions.
Sound familiar? Don't worry, in this episode of Insights Into teens we’ll discuss the tools, strategies, and activities to help you let go of overthinking so you can become calmer, happier, and overall more productive.
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What do you do if you need mental health help but you can’t get it. Maybe it’s too costly. Maybe you don’t have insurance that covers it. Maybe you’re not conveniently located to meet with a therapist.
On this Episode of Insights Into Teens we’re going to look at some options you have that are low cost, easy access and things you can do on your own to help your mental health.
Cancel culture seems to dominate social media, the news and society in general. But what is it? What impact does it have? Can it be used for constructive purposes? And what effect does it have on teens
That’ what we’re discussing on this episode of Insights Into Teens
“Woke”. It’s one of the most divisive and misused terms in society today. A term that’s been used to define political philosophies, stifle the education of certain topics, explain away business philosophies and put down people you disagree with.
In today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll talk about what Woke is, what it really means and why it’s so misused as a word.
June is Pride Month and across the world there are celebrations and commemorations to recognize all who identify as LGBTQ and their allies. While the rainbows and glitter may catch your eye, at the heart of Pride Month is a call for greater unity, visibility and equality for the LGBTQ community, as well as a time to reflect on the milestones of the past 50 years.
In this episode, we're going to answer some of the biggest questions about Pride Month, including why it's celebrated in June and how the rainbow flag came to be a universal symbol of solidarity.
We mostly address issues teens deal with on this podcast. But there are challenges to parenting that are worth taking a look at as well. Our Perspectives On Parenting topics are aimed at looking at these issues to help teens understand some of the difficulties parents face to hopefully put things on a more even playing field. This episode's Perspective on Parenting will look at some of the top challenges parents face in nurturing their kids.
We all want to be happy. But we sometimes think of happiness as a thing that happens to us — something we have no control over. It's easy to link the idea of happiness with the situation we're in. We might tell ourselves, "If only things were different, then I'd be happy."
But that's not really how happiness works. Research shows that just a small portion of happiness (only about 10%) depends on a person's situation. So where does most of our happiness come from? That’s what we’re talking about on today’s episode of Insights Into Teens
Compassion is the cornerstone of human interaction. Being compassionate makes us better people. But to be compassionate we need to be able to better understand and relate to people’s emotions and feelings. On today’s episode of Insights Into Teens that’s exactly what we’ll be talking about.
Optimism and pessimism are states of mind that can have a profound impact on how we interact with the world. They can impact our physical and mental health and even our long term outlook on life. In today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’re going to take a look at the importance of Optimism, it’s impact on us and how we can improve our lives by training ourselves to think more optimistically.
Moods have an important influence on how we handle the world around us. We all have external trigger points that can alter our moods. But did you know you can control your own mood? On today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’re going to take a look at the importance of our moods and how we can choose what mood we want to experience.
Assertiveness is about communication and confidence. Being able to convey your needs, thoughts and desires in a way that is constructive and acceptable is a key part of any interaction with other people. On today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll take a look at what it means to be assertive, the benefits that come from it and techniques to help you be more assertive.
Are negative emotions bad?
Are positive emotions good?
Each serves their purpose, and striking the right balance between the two is the challenge we all face.
In today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll take a look at how both positive and negative emotions help us in different ways and how we can balance the two for a healthy emotional lifestyle.
But before we get to that I’d like to invite our listening and viewing audience to subscribe to the podcast.
Emotions are complex and at times can be overwhelming. Emotions help us deal with the world around us and to handle our experiences. On today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’re going to take a look at how emotions help us, we’ll discuss some basic rules about emotions and we’ll look at tips on building emotional awareness.
Managing our emotional reactions is vital to learning how to control our emotions instead of letting our emotions control us. On today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll take a look at learning how to react well to emotions, understanding those emotions, and how to control those emotions.
Similar to IQ, your “intellectual quotient” your emotional intelligence is a measure of how capable you are in handling your emotions. The difference between the two is that you can improve your emotional intelligence as you get older.
Today on Insights Into Teens we’re going to take a look at what Emotional Intelligence is, why it’s important and how to improve it.
We mostly address issues teens deal with on this podcast. But there are challenges to parenting that are worth taking a look at as well. Our Perspectives On Parenting topics are aimed at looking at these issues to help teens understand some of the difficulties parents face to hopefully put things on a more even playing field. Today’s Perspective on Parenting will look at some of the top challenges of parenting today.
Social Phobia is something most of us experience at one time or another and at varying degrees of severity. It’s that nervous feeling you get if you speak in front of a group. That shy feeling you experience around others who aren’t in your inner circle. Or the self-consciousness you may experience out in public for any number or reasons.
But Social Phobia that is uncontrolled and severe can be crippling and lead to other issues.
On today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’re going to take a look at what Social Phobia is, what causes it, how it can affect your life, and ultimately how to deal with it.
Some people welcome new experiences and new people. They look forward to any opportunity to socialize. They're often the first to introduce themselves and they jump into a conversation easily. Other people are quiet and shy, and prefer to warm up slowly to new people or situations. In today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll talk about what Shyness is, why people are shy and how to cope with shyness.
After a long break from the show we're back catching up on what's been happening with us. We'll talk about how the Marching Band season ended, surviving our bout with COVID and much more.
Teens today are often described as being the most materialistic generation in history.
Whether this is accurate or not, it’s hard to argue that many teens today do exhibit materialistic tendencies.
On this episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll explore teen materialism, we’ll take a look at the contributing factors, and we’ll look at how to help teens cope with materialism.
Last week we gave some analysis on the more popular rides in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World.
This week we’re going to take a deep dive into the popular rides at both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT
Fresh from our week in Disney and thanks to the creative thinking afforded by a 16 hour drive we decided to take a little departure from some of the hard hitting topics we’ve been talking about for a little fun. We’re going to take the next couple of episodes to dive into our reviews of some of the more popular rides and attractions in Disney World. On this week’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’re going to examine the Magic Kingdom.
Beauty is subjective and perceptive. Every day many people look into the mirror, thinking that they’d change so many things if they really could. They use beauty products to hide what they naturally have and what they don’t like. But when they try to fit into someone else’s definition of beauty, do they truly understand what beauty really is? On this episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll explore what beauty is, how it differs from culture to culture and the impact it has on us both physically and psychologically
Communication is the cornerstone to any successful relationship. Whether it’s between a parent and a child, spouses, fellow students, teachers or even in the work place the ability and willingness to effectively communicate often times is the different between success and failure at many levels. This podcast is a shining example of a method and desire to communicate, but there are many other less elaborate methods. On today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll discuss these methods and much more to hopefully help our audience become better communicators.
Expectations we place on our children are important. They help set the future, keep them focused and guide them through their formative years. But expectations must be realistic and achievable otherwise they risk having a detrimental effect on our kids. In today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll discuss the nature and importance of expectations and how to manage those expectations and keep them realistic.
The English language is a funny thing. While words and phrases can have different meanings in different cultures, there are other things that might affect the meaning or even the relevance of a word or phrase.
Sometimes the things that once had meaning in the past are no longer relevant because of changes in society. This can sometimes conjure misconceptions and misunderstandings. Other times a phrase changes so much that the true meaning of it is lost.
While still other phrases are often misheard, misunderstood or just murder the English language kind of like when you hear the wrong lyrics of a song (which may well become a podcast in the future for us.)
On today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’re going to take a look at a few of the phrases that stand out to us. We’ll shed some light on them, alleviate some misconceptions and maybe even entertain you along the way.
Competition is part of human nature. There is competition in getting jobs, sports, video games, politics, and in pretty much every activity in between. Sometimes it can seem like this much competition is bad, but there are also good benefits of competition as long as it is done in the right way. Today on Insights Into Teens we’ll take a look at the pro’s and con’s of competition and how to make the most from competitive activities.
Many of our podcasts often conclude with the suggestion to seek professional help if the techniques we discuss on the show aren’t effective for you. The actual act of getting that level of help can in itself be a challenge. There has long been a stigma surrounding mental health, both in teens and adults. Thankfully that has gotten significantly better over the years, but taking that first step to seek help is challenging and that’s what we’ll be discussing on this week’s episode of Insights Into Teens.
Popular culture has left us with the idea that “failure is not an option”. While no one likes to fail, the reality of the situation is failure happens. On this episode of Insights Into Teens we’re going to talk about what failure is and how to turn failures into positive and constructive experiences.
For many teens their social world is everything to them. Who they hang out with, the kids they relate to, and the extracurricular activities they participate in all help the teenager to define a sense of self.
Loneliness and social isolation are real issues for teens even without having to live through a pandemic. But add the required isolation associated with a pandemic on top of the normal sense of loneliness teens can feel and it quickly becomes overwhelming.
In today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’re going to take a look at what causes loneliness and social isolation, the physical and mental health impacts on our teens and techniques to help combat these issues.
Teenagers often face significant pressure to meet strict, unrealistic and harmful ideals around beauty, weight, and shape. The quest for a "perfect" body or appearance can take a heavy toll on a teenager's confidence as well as their physical and mental health. In today’s episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll talk about what you can do to help your child develop and maintain a healthy body image and self-esteem.
Having crushes can be a wonderful, scary, fun, and heartbreaking experience. When you get your first crush, you may feel confused about what's happening. You may have never had these feelings before. On today’s episode of Insights Into Teen’s we’ll talk about what crushes are, the risks associated with them, the importance they play in adolescent development and ultimately how to help your teen handle rejection associated with them.
Almost every teenager goes through wild periods of self-expression that will typically include clothing and musical choices that are borderline offensive to their parents. However, it’s important not to stifle your teen while they experiment with different versions of self-expression. After all, as long as they are not hurting themselves or anyone around them, there is really nothing wrong with their actions. In this episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll explore how self-expression allows teenagers to discover who they are and helps form their adult personalities.
What is your health pyramid? Why is it important? How can we maintain our health pyramid? We’ll answer these questions and much more as we talk about balancing key aspects of our lives on this episode of Insights Into Teens
Families can be a pretty complicated thing. What makes up a family? What are its functions? What type of family units are there? How do families help you? In this episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll continue our deeper look at relationships and dig deeper into what it means to be a family.
What if you are told that you are not perfect? Most people should know that already, but it can still sting to be reminded. Criticism of any kind can be hard to swallow, especially when it comes to something you spent time and energy on. Inherently, we all want to do a good job. But criticism is just as important as praise, if not more so. Good, constructive feedback can help you improve and guide you towards new heights you might not have achieved otherwise.
That isn’t to say giving and taking constructive criticism is easy. But when you know how to take criticism, you become a better person On today’s episode of Insights Into Teens, we’ll cover what you need to know about constructive criticism, including how to identify, give, and take constructive criticism.
Relationships come in all shapes and sizes. But regardless of whether the relationship is platonic, romantic, or familial, it should nourish and support us. Having healthy relationships can make a huge difference in our mental health and well-being. But, creating healthy relationships takes time and effort. On this episode of Insights Into Teens we’ll take a look at what you can do to create and maintain healthy relationships in your life.
This week we’re continuing our little debate on some controversial topics. Last week we had a series of categories and in the interest of time only got through a few questions in each category. This week we’re going to pick up where we left off and see if we can get through the remaining questions.
This week we’re changing things up a little bit as we get a little controversial. Instead of focusing on a single topic of discussion to dissect and help folks with, I wanted to get your perspective on a number of controversial topics with a series of debate questions. Just a general word of caution to our audience, we will be discussing some topics that might not be appropriate for a younger audience members but we will endeavor to keep it as mature and age appropriate as we always do.
What is teen stereotyping, what are some of the common stereotypes and what are some of the downfalls to stereotyping? We’ll discuss this and more on this week’s episode of Insights Into Teens.
What does it mean to be a class clown, and why do kids play the class clown? What can parents do if they’re kids are labeled as class clowns? And how should other students deal with class clowns? That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s episode of Insights Into Teens.
What is identity theft? Why do teens have to worry about identity theft? What are some of the red flags of identity theft? How to stay safe from teen identity theft? What do you do if you think you were a victim of teen identity theft?
What is a digital footprint? How is it created? What impact can it have on our lives? How can we control it? We’ll answer these questions and give you some hints on what you can and can’t do to protect your digital footprint on this episode of Insights Into Teens.
Continuing our annual holiday tradition the Insights Into Things hosts bring you our 2021 Holiday Special: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
This retelling of the Dr. Seuss classic is told through the voices of our shows hosts. If you're lucky enough to catch the video version of this performance you'll also get to see original artwork for the production done by our own Madison Whalen.
Sit back, relax and immerse yourself in the holiday spirit with this classic tale told by the voices your familiar with.
This week we’re taking a break from some of the harder hitting topics and having a little fun with our last episode before the holiday break. We’re going to do a little Holiday Q&A and some holiday trivia to take us into our break. Then we’ll be back after the New Year with more great topics to help teens, parents and everyone else.
Complaining has a negative connotation, and is viewed as a bad thing by most people. But is there anything to be said for making your opinion on a given situation heard by the person causing it? Can doing so actually improve a relationship you have with someone? Is there an art to complaining in a way that actually brings about a positive result? We’ll discuss these things and how to help your teen who might have a negative outlook on life.
In today’s episode we’re going to take a look at Marching Band. We’ll explore what’s involved as far as time and commitment. We’ll talk about what skills are honed in marching band, not all of which are musical. We’ll also take a look at some of the less obvious benefits teens gain that will stay with them for a lifetime.
This week we’re talking about Feminism. We’ll take a look at what feminism is today and what it has been over it’s more than 170 years of history. We’ll explore the four waves of feminism and talk about the advances each brought and their differences. Then we’ll explore some of the problems with modern feminism before we finish up with suggestions on ways to promote feminism.
What is procrastination and what are some of the downfalls of it? What causes procrastination in teens? We’ll discuss all of this and how parents can help their teens overcome procrastination.
This week we’re talking about perfectionism and the malicious cycle it can lead us into. We’ll talk about how we determine if someone is a perfectionist and the signs to look for. We then evaluate the causes of perfectionism and some of the negative consequences of it. And finally we’ll look at how to address perfectionism and what parents can do to help.
This week we’re going to talk about a term that is used a lot in the media but often misunderstood, Gaslighting. It’s thrown around a lot but most people don’t know that it really refers to a form of mental abuse that is far too widespread in today’s society. We’ll talk about what Gaslighting is, the origins of the term, signs that it’s happening and steps to stop it if it’s happening to you or a loved one.
This week we’re talking about teens and accountability. We’ll define what accountability is and how to hold teens accountable. Then we’ll talk about setting goals and how to help our teens realize those goals. Finally we’ll look at ways to help instill accountability in teens and help them make themselves successful.
On this week's episode we're talking Teens and Entitlement. We'll talk about what is the mentality of entitlement and it's clinical definition. We explore how entitlement mentality affects relationships. Then we'll look at signs of an entitled teenager and methods to fix entitled behavior before we wrap up with three tools for battling entitlement.
This week we go off script a bit to deal with some issues. First we talk about a series of deadly tornados that blew through our area and actually our town in the wake of hurricane Ida. We'll talk a bit about how scary that was and the lingering anxiety of the experience. We'll also talk about the disruption the storms caused to everyone's life in the area last week which prevented us from recording our show during our regularly schedule time last week.
Then we'll talk about some of the stress and anxiety of going back to school. We'll address the underlying anxiety and fear for our safety about in person learning during the ongoing pandemic. We'll look at some of the stress issues about having so many advanced courses and so little time to ourselves with Marching Band.
Finally we'll talk about concerns and unresolved issues that are causing some stress and anxiety. We'll look at ways to tackle some of the problems, cope with those we can solve and look at what the near future holds for us and hopefully resolve some of the tensions and anxieties from the last two weeks.
It’s about that time for the kids to head back to school. We thought that COVID would just be a bad memory by now, but it seems it’s here to stay for a little while. So how do your kids feel about going back to school in the time of COVID. How do you as a parent feel and how can we make the most of the situation while still trying to keep our families safe and mitigate any anxiety we might have under the current climate?
Situations, emotions and hormones often combine in our teens to make them feel like a burden on those around them. We’ll explore why this happens, some of the things that can cause this and finally we’ll look at ways to help our teens combat this.
This week we’re talking about disappointment and how to deal with it. We’ll discuss what disappointment is and what causes us to feel disappointed. We’ll explore signs to look for that indicate our teens are disappointed and some common things that can cause disappointment. We’ll finish up with some tips on how to help teens deal with disappointment.
Today we’re talking about teens and acceptance. We’ll explore what acceptance is and why it’s important. Then we’ll talk a little bit about understanding teen development and how that plays into acceptance. Finally we’ll explore tips on improving teen acceptance.
This week we’re talking about helping teens handle rejection. We’ll look at how rejection is different in teens and things parents need to keep in mind when helping their teens get through it. We’ll talk about some typical coping mechanisms to help teens when they face rejection. Finally we’ll talk about methods that can help our teens heal, recover and come back stronger than ever from rejection.
In today’s episode we’re going to discuss one of the most basic things we can impart on our teens, common courtesy. It’s a topic that’s often overlooked and taken for granted but one that can have a profound impact on our lives at just about every age. We’ll discuss how common courtesy has slipped during the digital age. Then we’ll look at some of the most basic forms of courtesy, most of which are very easy to follow and have long lasting benefits. Finally we’ll discuss how to encourage your teens to practice common courtesy into the future.
This week we are talking about the importance of teen individuality and identity development. We’ll talk about what teen identity development is, why it’s important and some of the consequences of underdeveloped teen identities. Then we’ll explore some of the ways that teens display their self identity issues before we finish up with some tips on how parents can help their teens for a positive self-identity.
What are morals, ethics and integrity and why are they important in life? We’ll take a look at some of the ethical dilemmas facing our teens and discuss ways to train our teens to be more morally centered and ethical in how they conduct themselves. Finally we’ll do some role playing and pose questions you can ask teens to help lead your discussion on morals and ethics to better illustrate their decision and the consequences associated with them.
This week we’ll understand what forgiveness truly is, the three major forms of forgiveness and why forgiveness is so important for our adolescents and teens. Then we’ll take a look at some of the challenges that teens face when it comes to forgiveness before we finish up by looking at the health benefits of forgiveness and how you can help your teen be a more forgiving person.
This week we’re talking about jealousy and teens. We’ll talk a little about the nature of jealousy. We’ll explore how we can turn jealousy into a constructive inspiration and grow from it as an individual. Then we’ll explore the common types of jealousy most teens might face. And finally we’ll talk about tips on how to deal with jealousy.
In today’s episode we’re discussing the challenges involved in motivating and keeping teens motivated. We’ll look at some of the challenges of motivation for teens and we’ll talk about some of the long term implications of a lack of motivation. Then we’ll take a look at a few motivational strategies that might prove effective in inspiring your teen. Finally we’ll talk about the 7 secrets to motivating teens before we hear Madison’s closing remarks on the subject.
This week we’re talking about the challenges our teens face when transitioning to highschool. We’ll take a look at some of the differences between middle school and highschool. We’ll talk about the higher expectations placed on our kids academically, socially and personally. We’ll look at a few specific areas to be aware of including time management and study skills, self advocacy and the all important school/life balance. Finally we’ll discuss some suggestions on how to make the transition and their time in high school a success.
This week we are talking about Cultural Appropriation. We will help you understand what cultural appropriation is by looking at the meanings associated with the phrase and other vocabulary associated with cultural appropriation. We’ll take a look at some real world examples of cultural appropriation and why they are considered cultural appropriation. And finally we’ll look at ways to know if something is cultural appropriation and how to avoid cultural appropriation in our everyday lives.
This week we are discussing insecurities. What is does it mean to be insecure? What type of insecurities are there? What are the signs of insecurity? We'll discuss all this and take a look at how to deal with insecurity this week on Insights Into Teens
Today we’re talking about what it’s like to live in a single child home or what it’s like to be an only child. We’ll talk about the advantages of being an only child as well as the disadvantages. Then we’ll get some insights about being in a single child home from Madison and how it’s affected her life.
I part two of our "Perspectives" series we're asking Madison's thoughts on another set of interesting questions. This week we'll talk about parenting, relationships and technology related questions.
In our first segment we'll get her perspectives on fathers taking paternity leave, should companies market to children, whether or not there's too much of an attitude of entitlement in today's youth and more.
Our second segment will find out of age matters in relationships, is it ok for girls to ask out boys, can you just be friends after breaking up with someone, whether it's ok to date the ex-partner of you friend and more.
We'll wrap up with technology when we find out if we're too dependent on computers, are cell phones dangerous, is technology a convenience or a burden, is technology a threat to privacy and more.
This week the podcast goes back to it's roots to ask a series of questions to Madison and get the perspective of a teenager on a number of topics. First we talk academics and find teen perspectives on how much emphasis colleges place on standardized test scores to whether or not the cost of college tuition is too high.
Then we'll delve into the realm of politics. We'll find out if our election process is fair, is our tax system fair, should the government provide free healthcare, should there be term limits on all political offices, do campaign contributions distort our political system and much more.
Finally we'll address some "Big Picture" questions like is global climate change man-made, is the death penalty effective, should smoking be banned, do we have a throw-away society, are professional athletes paid to much and more.
This week we're talking about the benefits of the creative entertainment efforts that go into playing Dungeons and Dragons Role Playing. From sparking creative and imagination to learning about problem solving the fun of Role Playing games can have real benefits to the development of the teenage mind.
We'll also discuss our most recent D&D sessions, what they were like, how we interacted in them and what some of our character development efforts were like. We'll relive some of the most entertaining moments of our role playing sessions and give a little taste of how much fun you can have while taking advantage of so many of the benefits from such a creative activity as role playing.
Finally we'll take a look at what the future of role playing looks like for us. We'll discuss the new campaign which we just recently started, talk about some of the efforts that go in to building a dungeons and dragon campaign and take a look behind the scenes at some of the tools and tricks we use to make a successful and immersive gaming session.
This week's topic was a viewer suggestion from www.ivypanda.com regarding why it's important to have a good Grade Point Average. We'll talk about what a GPA is and how it's calculated. We'll discus why it's important to have a high GPA and then we'll dig into some of the key benefits to having a high GPA and the downfall of not having a high GPA. Finally we'll talk about some tips and tricks to get your GPA where it need to be and how to keep it there.
In this week's episode we'll take a look at the creative art of movie making. We'll look at some of the benefits that teens gain from making movies. From expanded vocabulary to stress relief and from learning other languages to improving overall creativity there are a number of benefits for teens when it comes to movie making.
Then we'll talk to Madison about her early movie making efforts. We'll learn how she was when she first started making movies, what get her interested in movie making and some of her favorite movie making projects and what her process for movie making is.
Finally we'll look at what the future of movie making might hold for Madison. We'll talk about what tools she uses to make her movies, how her style of movies has changed, what she enjoys most about movie making and what possible career options might await her in her movie making career.
We’ll take a look at some of the benefits that creative writing offers to our teenagers.
Then we’ll talk to Madison about how she’s developed her creative writing skills over the years and what she personally gets from writing
Then we’ll take a look at where Madison is with her writing now, what her future in creative writing might look like and get some tips and advice for teens who might be interested in getting into creative writing.
This week we'll discuss why art is important to the normal development of teens. We'll look at why art is important and some of the key therapeutic and development benefits art offers teens.
Then we'll take a deep dive in the Madison and her passion for art. We'll discover how her journey into art started, her preferred medium for artistic expression, where she draws inspiration from and how she developed her own unique style of art.
Finally we'll talk about the steps she took to pursue her passion. When did she first learn to draw, how COVID has affected her creativity, how does she motivate herself to create, how important parental and peer encouragement is and what kind of advice she can offer to others looking to pursue a passion in art.
This week we mark our 100th episode with a special guest. Dan Wirth joins us virtually to discuss fun and games and the important role they play in the lives of teens. We'll discuss the finer points of what makes a good game, why challenges in games help us to build character and learn how to interact with others. We'll also talk about how games and play an educational role with their subject matter.
We'll also talk about collecting and the benefits that having a passion for building and curating a collection. We'll learn how it helps teens to learn focus, manage their money and learn responsibility that will benefit them later in life.
This week we discuss the importance of teens having hobbies and activities to occupy their free time. We'll look at an interesting study from the Department of Health and Human Services that details how teens spend their time throughout the day. We'll look at some of the potential pitfalls of misspent free time by teens and we'll talk about what productive downtime is and how it helps teens. We'll also detail 10 significant benefits that teens gain through hobbies before finally taking a look at some of the hobbies and activities that Madison tends to enjoy.
This week we talk about Body Anxiety. We'll talk about what it is and some of the leading causes of Body Anxiety. We'll look at physical appearance concerns in teens in general, how fashion plays a role in Body Anxiety, what physical self evaluation is and the difficulties in combating social expectations that lead to Body Anxiety. Finally we'll look at some of the ways that parents can help with adolescents deal with Body Anxiety, promote a positive self image and better understand the challenges teens face regarding this topic.
With the COVID-19 Pandemic surpassing the one year mark and no apparent end in sight of the restrictions we take a look at how these unusual conditions are affecting our youth. Firsst we'll look at adverse effects of COVID in general on everyone. Then we'll talk about specific challenges facing teens under these difficult circumstances. Finally we'll look at suggestions on coping with the challenges we're all facing. Citing sources from the CDC and United Nations we offer a fact filled podcast designed to help teens and adults cope with the challenges of COVID-19.
Today we’ll talk about what Mindfulness Meditation is. We’ll explore why teenagers should explore mindfulness meditation. Then we’ll look at the benefits of mindfulness. We will show you how to teach your teens mindfulness meditation. And finally we’ll show you a few simple anxiety exercises and mindfulness activities for teens. Then we’ll finish up with your closing remarks and shoutouts.
This week we're talking about Sleep Anxiety and the stress that cause it and can be caused by it. We'll get a better understanding of how sleep works and the five stages of sleep and how they effect us physically and mentally. Then we'll take a look at why teens often have trouble sleeping and some of the common problems everyone may experience that disrupt sleep. Then we'll take a look at the benefits of deep sleep and how to increase the amount of deep sleep you get.
This week we address the difficult topic of the January 6th protest turned insurrection at the United States Capitol Building. It was a dark and scary time for our country to see what was thought to be peaceful protestors supporting President Trump's claim of victory in the 2020 United States Presidential election March on the Capitol, lay siege to a joint session of congress and breach the building all for the purpose of disrupting the final stage in certifying the election.
We'll discuss what happened and the progression from protest, to riot to insurrection. We'll layout the timeline of events as we know at this moment. We'll talk about some of the crimes committed and the assault on the building itself and what led up to it.
We'll also talk about the outcome. What was the ultimate result of the insurrection. What happened to the people who participated. What consequences the president and his party face as a result. What the future might hold after this unprecedented event. And finally we'll have an open discussion about how to talk to your kids about events like this so they can understand what is going on, feel safe with day to day life and can cope with the fear and anxiety unexpected events like this can bring on.
After a few weeks of hiatus over the holiday's we ease back into the swing of things with a little review of the holidays. We'll discuss how we spent Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years and some of the fun activities we were able to do despite the lockdowns still being in place.
We'll also talk a little about some of the work we did in the studio and some of the upgrades and changes we made. We get our geek on a bit talking about our new Dungeons and Dragons series that we're doing offline and we'll also talk about some of the fun new board games we played over the holiday break.
Finally we'll take a look at the struggles we all had getting back into our regular routines after such a long break. Balancing our sleep schedules, ramping up efforts with school and work and just shaking off the general grogginess and cob webs of a long break.
We'll end with a look ahead, our views on New Years Resolutions and both what we are looking forward to in the coming year and what we might have some concerns about in the near future. In all we've got a positive outlook for 2021 and we hope to get back into our regular swing of things and back on topic moving forward.
This week's episode is all about the holidays. First we'll talk about holiday traditions that we do as a family and ones that we've done over the years. Then we'll have some fun with a little holiday trivia and learn some things about the holidays we didn't know before. And finally we'll finish up with another fun segment of "Would you rather...Holiday Edition". We figured we'd wrap up another great year of podcasting with some fun as we take a few weeks off for the holidays. We'll be back broadcasting live again after the first of the year.
Have a safe and happy holiday to all our viewers, listeners and fans.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was first published in London in 1843 and recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.
Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol during a period when the British were exploring and re-evaluating past Christmas traditions, including carols, and newer customs such as Christmas trees. He was influenced by the experiences of his own youth and by the Christmas stories of other authors, including Washington Irving.
Dickens was inspired following a visit to the Field Lane Ragged School, one of several establishments for London's street children. The treatment of the poor and the ability of a selfish man to redeem himself by transforming into a more sympathetic character are the key themes of the story.
Published on December 19th, the first edition sold out by Christmas Eve. By the end of 1844 thirteen editions had been released. In 1849 Dickens began public readings of the story, which proved so successful he undertook 127 further performances until 1870, the year of his death. A Christmas Carol has never been out of print and has been translated into several languages. The story has been adapted many times for film, stage, opera and other media.
A Christmas Carol captured the zeitgeist of the mid-Victorian revival of the Christmas holiday. Dickens had acknowledged the influence of the modern Western observance of Christmas and later inspired several aspects of Christmas, including family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games and a festive generosity of spirit.
The Insights Into Things Hosts now present to you for your enjoyment, our abridged and slightly altered version of this holiday classic, A Christmas Carol.
This week we're talking about conflict resolution. We'll look at some of the common causes of conflict, how conflicts aren't necessarily a bad thing and how we can learn from them. We'll talk about the ten commandments of conflicts and how to handle conflicts with love ones, friends and others. We'll show you the skills you need to cope with conflict, how to avoid turning it into a negative experience and finally we'll discuss the steps to take to reach a conflict resolution.
Much of what we talk about in this weeks episode applies not only to teens but to any situation where two or more people find themselves in conflict or on opposite sides of a given issue. We'll teach you how to compromise, how to reason, and how to see a given issue from both sides you can better understand all points of view and argue your points from an informed perspective.
This week is a cute kitten episode. We showcase the newest addition to our family, our little kitten Pumpkin. We'll discuss the circumstances of why we decided to expand our family after feeling the loss of one of our beloved elder cats. We'll talk about where we found pumpkin, who we were lucky enough to get her from and the details of the adoption process.
The second half of the show is dedicated to Pumpkin herself. The diva of a kitten makes an early and unexpected appearance early on in the show but is kind enough to come back to close out the show with us. We'll talk about some of the fun little things we've discovered about her so far, explore her interesting personality, detail how she's gotten along with the rest of the family and share some fun stories we've got from her in just the last couple of weeks.
Stick around until the end of the show with a special bonus montage of some of our favorite photo's that we've snapped of the cute little kitten, including her holiday outfit!
This week we tackle a common problem in adolescents, acne. Specifically we're talking about teen acne. We'll take a look at exactly what acne is from a clinical standpoint and what some of the most common causes of teen acne are.
Then we'll take a look at the psychosocial impact of acne on teens. We'll look at how it can trigger depression, low self-esteem and social withdraw. This can lead to negative impact on education and professional work if left unchecked.
Finally we'll explore twelve simple but helpful ways to help manage acne. From simple face washing, to weather or not to use facial scrubs, how often you should shower and whether or not too much sunlight can make things worse.
In this episode we pick up with our little personality game of "Would You Rather" from our previous podcast. This week we ask Madison questions about "Grossed Out", "Future Self", "Extracurricular Activities" and "Dating".
We get some very well thought out and some very interesting answers in this weeks edition. We learn that Madison is far more likely to indulge in the performing arts than in sports. We also some interesting reasons why she's not a fan of flying.
We decided to change things up a bit for our Halloween episode and have some fun. We decorated the studio set, threw on our costumes and decided to play a game of "Would You Rather".
In this episode we ask Madison a serious of questions on topics such as Technology, Pop Culture, Family, School, Food and Fantasy. We give Madison two choices and she needs to pick which one she would rather go with. It's a fun and interesting little game of personality questions that we play at home from time to time. This time we're asking the questions on the podcast and getting the answers on the fly.
This week is another in depth Question and Answers session on topics like philosophy, politics and more. We ask a number of heavy hitting philosophical questions this week such as how would Madison explain love, is there such thing as free will and can we understand happiness without sadness.
Following up to our "Running for President" podcast from last week we ask Madison a number of politically motivated questions such as why does politics matter to you, does she think too much money is spent on political campaigns and what does she think are the qualities of a good political leader.
We wrap up with a shortened set of miscellaneous questions such as what do you wish you were more motivated to do, what's something kids understand but adults don't and if you could give every person a gift in the world what would it be?
It's an insightful look at how teens think about today's issue and we get some very enlightening answers.
In this episode we take a look at the Presidential Election. We'll explore what the requirements are to run for president and what the process of a presidential election looks like. We'll explain complicated things like the Electoral College in a simple and easy to understand way. Then we'll look at some of the reasons people run for president and some of the drawbacks to being president. Finally we put Madison on the spot as our fictional candidate and ask her some of the real questions that our presidential candidates are asked. Some of the answers are very interesting.
This week to dive back into our Questions and Answers series and get to know Madison a bit more. We're talking topics ranging from Money and Professions to Family and Friends and Education.
We'll learn this week if Madison would rather be a boss or an employee, whether she believes money can buy happiness, how she defines success and more when it comes to money and professions.
In our Family and Friends segment we'll find out what Madison thinks it is that makes our family amazing, what it takes to make a happy family, and which friends she thinks I like best of hers and much more.
We'll close out the podcast with a series of questions on Education. We'll find out what she's learned in school that she thinks is most useful, what her easiest and hardest classes are,, and what the most important part of school is along with a bunch of other questions.
In the latest of our "revisited" series we take a deeper look into Self-Esteem, a podcast we did back in episode 5. This time we dig deeper into how to manage self esteem. We'll explore the six pillars of Self-Esteem and go into details regarding how these guiding principles combined with the tips and tricks we talked about in our original podcast can help you improve and manage your self esteem.
We'll also recap what we had talked about in Episode 5. We review the signs of high-self esteem as well as the warning signs of low self-esteem. Madison will explore which of each characteristic she exhibits today as opposed to when we first discussed this topic in Episode 5. Then we'll do a quick review of where Madison was at the start of the podcast series and where she is today complete with a rating of each time period.
The podcast finishes with some helpful advice from Madison on how others who faced self-esteem issues can pick themselves up and improve their overall estimation of themselves and their outlook on life in general.
This week we look at the complicated nature of trust when it comes to our teens. We'll explore the benefits of building a trusting relationship with your teen, how it can help prepare them for adulthood and how it can help with your relationship. We'll talk about ways to build and maintain that trust, some of the dangers that threaten that trust and the pitfalls to try to stay away from.
Trust is one of the most important things for teens and adults. It's something that carries you through life and defines the type of person you are. Trust, like respect is difficult to earn by easy to squander just like money. Learning how to build trust and how to avoid habits and actions that can erode that trust are important lessons for maturing teenagers.
In this third "Getting to Know You" episode we learn more about Madison through a series of questions, some of which we've never asked before and others are a status check on what's changed since our last "Getting to Know You" podcast.
This session was inspired by some back to school questions Madison was answering this week. Her answers as with everything in the world today are colored by the current state of the COVID-19 crisis.
Surprising, despite the bleak outlook on the world today Madison is able to maintain a positive perspective on things. We asked a series of questions from habits and hobbies to family and friends and delve deeper into her personality. We learn a few things that even as her dad I wasn't aware of. It was an eye opening and fun podcast this week. There are some great questions in this episode that I encourage other parents to engage their kids with, you might be pleasantly surprised at the answers you get.
We flash back to our first podcast about braces and take a look at how far Madison has come in her journey. We'll recap what she's already gone through in phase one of her braces. We'll discuss what has happened in phase two since the original podcast in the series. Then we'll take a look at what is yet to come now that's in phase three and the home stretch.
Madison conveys her struggle with some of the challenges of getting braces. She'll talk about the discomfort she's felt at the various points in the process and how she's dealt with it. We will some up with some advice that Madison can share to others who are going through the process or may be getting ready to go through the process.
This week we look at the challenges, concerns and changes to how school will work in the coming weeks amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. What are schools doing to confront early surges in infections, what infrastructure is in place for remote learning, what impact will remote and hybrid learning solutions have on our children and when can we expect a return to some normalcy.
We'll look specifically at what Madison's school is doing. The changing environment, evolving messaging and the recommendations coming down from the Federal Government, CDC and other respected organization. There's a lot of fear, anxiety and uncertainty about the risks of sending our kids back to school under these conditions and we'll talk about all of it this week.
This week we're talking about the various things that Madison did this summer in quarantine. COVID-19 has seen the normal summer vacation time period turned on it's head. With a summer filled with stay at home days it's proven challenging to keep Madison occupied and entertained. Without the usual weekend trips, vacations and outdoor activities to draw on we had to get creative with different projects, virtual camps and other things to keep her challenged, engaged and motivated. We'll discuss all of the things we've done to accomplish exactly that in this weeks episode.
Everyone has or will have to face the prospect of mental, physical or emotional burn out at some point in their lives. With the stress of school and pressures of socializing at an awkward age many teens reach a burn out phase early on. In this episode we'll look at some of the signs and symptoms to keep an eye on. We'll talk about some of the common causes of burn out. We will also look at ways to cope with burn out and how to recover from it while also understanding that burn out and stress, while they may be linked are two different and distinct problems to deal with.
In a twist of roles Madison plays host of this weeks show guiding us through some of the finer points of relationships. We talk about what relationships are, the different types of relationships and what a toxic relationships to look out for. We'll talk about the various types of toxic partners to avoid, what to look for and why you should be careful. We'll also talk about what you can do if you do ever find yourself in a toxic relationship.
After a week off we're back with a discussion on Personal Freedom for Teens. We discuss how the proper balance of freedom and boundaries is important for allowing our teens to grow, mature and take on new responsibilities. We'll look at some of the issues that parents face when granting personal freedoms to teens. We'll also look at some of the temptations and consequences of too much personal freedom in teens.We take a look at how to best balance the need for freedom for teens to explore who they are and who they want to be while still maintaining that layer of protection that all parents feel for their children.
This week we're discussing some of the more common problems that teens face at home with their family. First we'll discuss typical friction points between teens and their parents like teen independence, arguing with your parents, a lack of communication between teens and parents and the need for parents to set boundaries and teens to push those boundaries.
We'll also look at how troubles in the home can cause issues for teens. How do parents who are experiencing interpersonal issues and the arguments that inevitably rise from that affect teens. We'll talk about the academic pressures and the frictions failing in those expectations can cause. We'll explore sibling rivalry and how teens competing against each other can be both a benefit and a hindrance.
Finally we'll talk about ways to combat some of this problems and discuss how to help teens get through these troubling but some times unavoidable scenarios. Learning to negotiate, listen and work as a team are key techniques to solving these problems.
This week we conclude our current Question and Answer Series with questions about friends and family. We learn what it is that Madison looks for in her friends. How she gets along with her friends and what benefits there are to have loyal friends who are interested in taking care of each other.
We'll also delve into some family related questions. We'll talk about Madison's brother and some of the trials and tribulations over the years. We'll also discus how Madison gets along with her parents. Does she respect them? Does she argue with them? Has she ever gotten angry at them. We'll look at the traits she admires most about her parents, which traits she'd like to develop in herself and what traits she's change about her parents.
This week we take a deeper look into Madison's beliefs and religious upbringing. We'll take a look at the religious background of her parents, talk about the religious holidays we celebrate and how we celebrate them. We'll also talk about what religious services we attend and our overall beliefs from a larger picture standpoint.
Our second segment address statistics on religion and teens. How important is religion to different age groups. What benefits people gain from their faith as well as some of the unexpected consequences of religion on peoples lives.
This weeks set of questions get's deep. We talk about hypothetical, existential, philosophical and religious questions. From conversation starters such as "would you rather live at the beach or mountains" to philosophical questions like "is it ever ok to lie" we've got a load of unanswered questions. We'll talk about surviving the Zombie Apocalypse to what would you like to be famous for. We'll ask the difficult questions like "do adults automatically deserve respect" right down to "what do you think is the meaning of life".
It's a fun filled question and answer session that takes down paths we didn't originally expect to go when preparing for the show. Madison reveals surprisingly complex, mature and well reasoned answers to some of the more subject questions that teens and adults alike are asked and find difficult to answer. It's an enjoyable discussion that gives some real insights into the teenage mind.
Anxiety, stress and fear in a teenager can lead to an unwillingness or inability to attend school. This week we discuss what School Refusal is. We'll look at the symptoms and warning signs to look for. We'll investigate some of the common causes of School Refusal. And we will look at some of the ways that parents and guardians can help their children overcome some of these issues.
Teenage years are stressful in nature. Add to that the social awkwardness associated with school, the expectations of performance in school and the random variables of bullies, peer rejection, family conflict and underlying anxiety disorder and you have a perfect storm. Supporting our children and ensuring they have an outlet to work through these issues is key. We'll talk about this and much more in this week's episode.
In another of our question and answer series we talk about school, interests and activities. We'll explore what aspects of school Madison enjoys the most, what classes she's learning the most in, her favorite part of school and much more.
We'll also talk about her hobbies, what video games she's playing, her collecting hobbies, the music she likes to listen to and much more. We were joined this week by a viewer from Estonia who took advantage of the opportunity to pose some of their own questions in a unique two way conversation.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic stretches well beyond the devastating impact of the illness itself. The circumstances of quarantine and isolation have far reaching impacts on every facet of life as we know it.
This week we explore the impact on teens and their ability to excel academically. Madison had a few surprisingly low grades that left her concerned and a bit shaken. Blaming herself for failure she was pretty hard on herself for the grades.
We explore the impact that our current conditions play in our teens academic experiences. We look at how our school systems were ill prepared for a massive home schooling push and how our teachers and administrators have done the best under very difficult circumstances.
We'll also look at just what the impact is to our teens. How having their entire daily routine upset and the stability and focus they derive from a regular schedule can quickly fade away in the less disciplined home schooling situation they've found themselves in.
We will also take a look at how teens can get help under these circumstances and explore options to help keep the grades up and to help keep the learning and knowledge flow moving. Everyone understands these are difficult and unusual times, but we will get through this.
Teens face a deluge of emotions both positive and negative. Balancing those emotions and dealing with them can be a monumental challenge as they tackle all of the other issues associated with being a teenager.
This week we look at five different techniques to help you balance those emotions so you can deal with them, keep them in check and turn them into constructive aspects of your personality. We'll look at how to ride the wave of emotions, discuss meditation and mindfulness techniques, explore how physical exercise can help, discuss the importance of sleep hygiene and look at how creative and being in the "flow" can improve focus.
All of the techniques we'll talk about this week not only help to balance your emotions but have both psychological and physical benefits to them. Instead of resorting to medications to combat some of the more common issues in teens learning to balance your emotions can have the same lasting effects.
In another Q&A sessions we explore emotions, dreams and life events with Madison. We will talk about simple things like what thrills and excites teens and what is the best thing about being a teenager. We will also discuss sleep habits, dreams and nightmares. Then we'll talk about some of Madison's earliest memories, regrets and embarrassing moments and much more.
This week we take a look at some of the nutritional requirements of teens. We'll look at what teens should be eating for healthy growth and some of the more obscure things to avoid as well. Then we'll talk about the importance of the Family Dinner. The benefits go well beyond the nutritional intake and can help emotionally and intellectually and play a major role in a teen's personal growth.
In our last segment we'll talk about the benefits of getting teens into the kitchen and involved in cooking. It provides an opportunity for quality time, teaches self reliance and can build self confidence. We'll also talk about some of the things that Madison likes to cook and show her in action making two different meals.
In this weeks question and answer session we take a look at food, possessions and money. We ask Madison about her favorite foods, favorite desserts, what a typical school lunch entails, what her favorite restaurants are and more.
In our possessions segment we'll find out where Madison typically shops for close, what her style and clothing preferences are, we'll talk about her favorite toys, how neat she keeps her room and some other philosophical questions.
In our money segment we talk about how Madison likes to spend and/or save her money. We'll also throw a few scenarios at her about how she'd spend money under some theoretical circumstances.
This week we take a look at some common goals that teens have for the near and long term future. We'll examine which short term goals are worth exploring and the benefits they offer. We will also look at how to tackle the bigger long term goals and why you want to start making plans in advance for them in order to make them more obtainable.
We will then explore hints and advice on how parents, guardians, friends and loved ones can help their teen to achieve these goals. We'll look at how important it is for teens to pursue goals that are relevant to themselves and not necessarily pursue goals based on other peoples desires. We will also look at how we can help teens achieve their goals and stay on the path to success in the long run.
This week we kick of a Question and Answer series that we'll be doing periodically to get back to the roots of the podcast. This series is intended to get back to our original goal of understanding the challenges and perspectives of teens through interviews and questions. This week we are asking question related to Madison's personality and what her future goals are.
We'll use these Q&A sessions to drive more topical discussions in later podcasts and allow us to focus more directly on certain topics that would be of interest to other teens and hopefully helpful to others as well.
This week we highlight the artistic talents of our co-host Madison. We'll take a look at several outlets for artistic expression that she enjoys from music to writing and illustration to creative construction. We've got a few pre-recorded segments that will allow us to showcase Madison's musical talents on the Trumpet and some spoken word versions of her creative writing exploits.
We also took the time to digitize a selection of her artwork. We'll get a chance to look at how her artistic styles and skills advance from basic custom comics through her own character generation and the evolution of her own unique art style.
Finally we'll look at her creative construction expression through her custom lego creations. We'll take a walk through her unique apartment complex that allowed her to expand beyond just doing instruction based Lego builds to something a bit more complicated and creative.
Art plays an import part to the development of our youth. Encouraging those creative endeavors is key to grown of skills, imagination and expression. If you would like us to feature some of your artwork on a future recap podcast feel free to send some samples over to comments@insightsintothings.com.
In this special interview episode we talk about grandparents, how important they are to our children and the knowledge and experience they pass on to the younger generation. Sadly Madison's biological grandparents are no longer with us. However, she was fortunate enough to acquire an adoptive set of fantastic grandparents thanks to our extended family.
Joining us for this special episode is Madison's adopted grandmother "G-Ma" to share some of her memories and experiences with us. She's been a part of Madison's life since she was born and has shared numerous fantastic memories with us already. This is Madison's chance to get to know a little bit more about her adopted grandmother in this touching and humorous episode.
This week we take time out of a regular podcast schedule to pay tribute to a family member we lost. Last week our beloved cat Dorian encountered some medical issues. After a dire prognosis from the vet we made the difficult decision to put her down rather than to have her suffer. It was a difficult decision but one that was in her best interest.
This week we celebrate the life of Dorian by reminiscing about some of our fondest memories of her. How she adopted us shortly after we moved into the neighborhood. We'll reflect on all the love and joy that she brought into our lives and some of the more colorful memories we have of her. It's a podcast of remembrance and healing to help us get through our time of grief. We invite you all to share in our experiences and enjoy some of the wonderful stories we had about our wonderful member of the family.
It's hard to talk about anything at this point in time without talking about Coronavirus. So we take time out of our regularly scheduled shows to discuss this worldwide event. We talk about what COVID-19 is, how it's transmitted and how to avoid getting it. We'll talk about proper hygiene, what the symptoms are and what warning signs to look for before seeking medical attention.
We'll take a look at a different aspect as well. We'll look at the direct impact that it's having on our kids, family and friends. We'll discuss the changes we're all trying adapt to in these difficult times and how we are coping with the challenges imposed on us with social distancing and other radical approaches to stopping the spread of the disease. We hope that our experience under these unusual circumstances might help others to cope with the challenges as well.
There is more to academic expectations than just getting good grades. Our schools and the incredible teachers who guide and nurture our children do more than just impart knowledge on their students. They help our children grow into adults, learn how to cope with life's challenges and handle the stresses that come with life after school.
This week we look at what the expectations of our students are. We'll talk about some techniques and hints to help our children achieve these academic expectations and show how the seemingly artificial challenges thrown at today's youth are designed to teach kids to cope with life's challenges and not just memorize textbook information.
What is the difference between motivation and inspiration? What does it take to motivate a teenager? How can you inspire your adolescent? We explore these questions and more this week on Insights Into Teens. We'll explore hints and tips on how to both motivate and inspire and we'll give examples of successful methodologies. You're teens can accomplish so much more and been much more successful with the proper motivation. They can even inspire others to greatness through their own actions.
What is Peer Acceptance? Why is it important? What impact does it have on our children? This week we'll address these questions and talk about what exactly peer acceptance is. We'll explore the importance of peer acceptance on the mental, social and moral development of our children. We'll also look at what things affect peer acceptance. Why certain teens find it easier to gain acceptance than others. Why certain groups seem to naturally gather in their own groups and how to handle cliques and the lack of acceptance. We all yearn to be accepted. This week we discuss why, and why it benefits us.
This week we tackle the topic of cheating in school. You might be amazed at just how many kids cheat in school. Some do it deliberately while others may not even realize they are doing it. We'll talk about some of the different ways that students tend to cheat in school and their motivation for cheating. We'll also discuss both the short term and long term consequences of cheating and why ultimately it simply isn't worth the risk or the consequences.
Teens face a variety of problems, issues, challenges and conflicts as they make their way through life. Having the right formula for dealing with problems can make all the difference in the outcome of such events. This week we're taking a look at some common situations where problem solving skills could make a world of difference. We'll talk about the common steps to problem solving and learn the skills needed to help resolve any problem or challenge you face.
We'll also delve into some problems and challenges that Madison has faced and how she was able to cope with them with the proper problem solving skills and how some problems required her to learn those problem solving skills on the fly.
This week we are talking about what it means to be financially responsible, how to save money and how to start thinking about money management even in your teens. We're joined by Dan Fooks of TheFinancialFix.co who started his financial adventures at age sixteen and has seen great success in growing his money.
Dan gives us some hints, tricks and advice on how to make our money work for us. From looking at multiple streams of income to how to wisely invest your money safely we learn how even with a small savings from an allowance or doing chores can get you started with your own portfolio with the help of your parents. It's never too you to start saving money, and it's certainly never too young to have your money start working for you.
This week's episode is inspired by our delay in recording due to a few illnesses in the house. Neither Madison nor dad were feeling well for our regular Friday show so we had to postpone that show and decided to do a podcast on the subject off schedule on Sunday.
We take a look at some of the common injuries and illnesses that teens face. Then we talk about some of the injuries and health issues that Madison has endured in her thirteen years and how she's coped with them. From your typical bumps and bruises to the obscure and scary illness of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) we talk about how we got through some of these common and not so common issues.
In our monumental 50th episode Madison interviews her brother Sam, Co-host of Insights Into Tomorrow on the network. With a curated set of general and personal questions Madison delves deeper into the personality and history of her older brother in an attempt to satisfy her desire to get to know him better. It's a touching interaction between brother and sister who were once very close but who time and circumstance has pulled apart. It's an excellent example of how to rekindle a friendship or relationship with someone you may have grown distant from and is an enjoyable discussion to witness.
What is defiant behavior? Does your teen exhibit symptoms of it? Is there a medical reason for it? We attempt to answer these questions in this weeks episode of the show. We'll also talk about the suspect causes of this type of behavior, the typical risk factors associated with defiant behavior and strategies for dealing with defiant teens and Oppositional Defiant Disorder or ODD.
This week we take a bit of a detour from our regularly scheduled program and talk about the rough week that Maddie had. Encountering some of the typical issues that teens face like school stress, social anxiety, sleep issues, not feeling too well and a few other things we decided it was best to turn this into a bit of a rant and therapy session for Madison.
This was a multi-purpose episode this week. Not only were we trying to console Madison and help her cope with some of the issues that came up. Since what she was encountering was pretty typical of most teens, we thought our audience might benefit from hearing a first hand account of these challenges and possible ways to cope with them to get through weeks that just never seem to end.
Fresh off a two week holiday break your hosts are back discussing our various adventures while away from the studio. We talk about how to keep a teenager occupied on an eleven plus hour drive. What it's like to stay at four different Disney Vacation Club resorts and some of the activities available. Then we'll give you a detailed look at the new Galaxy's Edge world of Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu recently opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park and some of the cool things we were able to do there.
This week we take a break from our more serious topics to celebrate the holidays and explore the nature and origins of Santa Claus. From a 3rd century monk named Saint Nicholas to the familiar depiction given to us by Thomas Nast to the classic portrayal in Clement C. Moore's poem all the way up to the familiar department store Santa's kids line up to talk to every year we look at Santa through the years. We also compare Christmas traditions from around the world and look for similarities that link them all together. Ultimately we address the burning questions of "Is Santa Claus real" and "Do you believe in Santa Claus". We close with a very special creative presentation from all of our hosts for this joyous holiday.
Thank you to all of our viewers over these past 46 episodes. We'll be taking a brief hiatus and will be back after the new year with more great podcasts. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to everyone!
This week we follow up on some of the things we discussed in last weeks Body Image podcast when we discuss Eating Disorders. We highlight two specific disorders, Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. We look at some of the common symptoms and learn the signs to watch out for so that we can help out those who might be suffering from these afflictions.
We also take a look at a typical teen diet, some of the challenges facing teens with meal scheduling and nutrition. We learn that despite what we might consider unhealthy eating habits that each of us is unique in our dietary needs and that we can not look at our eating habits from meal to meal. We have to look at our eating habits as a long term dietary regimen to ensure a healthy lifestyle.
What is body image and what is the significance of negative or positive body image? We'll discuss this as well as the common causes of body image issues, the impact it has on a developing teen and at what age the issue of body image begins to play a part in our children. We'll also look at the warning signs of negative body image, look at some interesting statistics on body image and offer some helpful hints on how to help your teens deal with negative body image.
This week we take a fun look at things to do in the fall and winter season. We'll look at outdoor activities we can do during the cold months as well as indoor activities that we can do. We'll also take a look at activities we can do in the fall and winter that help to teach our children important life skills. Then we'll talk about the fall and winter family traditions that we have, what holidays we celebrate and a little about how we celebrate those holidays.
Respect is like money. It takes time and effort to earn but can be squandered very easily. This week we talk about what respect is, why it is important not only in our youth but all through life. We'll explore the various ways in which we show each other respect and how to build a model of respect for society. Finally we'll explore ways that parents can help build a culture of respect for our children and set the right example, encouraging our children to be respectful not only of others but most importantly respectful of themselves.
This week we take a look at screen violence in the form of video games, television and movies. We look at the different types of violence and the effect it has on today's youth. We'll look at some interesting statistics and several studies that offer insights into both sides of the argument of whether screen violence leads to violence in today's youth. Then we'll take a look at what parents can do to help teens cope with the violence that is so prevalent in our current media and entertainment.
We hit another ten episode milestone so it's time for another Q&A sessions. This time around Madison wanted to get to know mommy a bit more. Asking over thirty questions we take a look at some of the things mommy remembers most fondly about Madison growing up. We take a look at what is still the funniest memory in the form a short home movie, we'll look at what her favorite song was and some of her "firsts". We'll also get a chance to look at our aspiring artists early hand at visual arts.
It's a tear jerking walk down memory lane as we get to learn even more about Madison through the eyes of he mother Michelle Whalen. Another great podcast and surely one to enjoy.
This week we're talking about teens and leadership. We'll look at what leadership is, the traits of a good leader and why leadership skills are so important to teens as the grow up. We'll also take a look at how parents can help teach their kids leadership skills and learn how to cope with the challenges of life both in their youth and as the progress into adulthood.
This week we talk about how to cope with grief and loss. Whether it's the death of a friend or family member, a beloved pet or the loss of a relationship everyone experiences various stages of grief. We discuss these stages of grief, how they manifest themselves and how teens specifically are affected by grief and loss. We'll also discuss ways to help those going through such a painful process to handle what can be an overwhelming amount of emotions.
We celebrate what makes us different in our diversity and how the melding of cultures, religions, ethnicity and preferences makes us stronger. We also look at fear, close minded and an unwillingness to learn are the basis of discrimination. Hatred and intolerance is the root of discrimination and all of the negative effects it has on us and how it holds society back. We'll also look at what we as individuals can to do overcome discrimination, stand strong and celebrate the unity of our diversity.
This week we look at self improvement. Learn the meaning of the concept, the philosophies surrounding it and why it is important. Then we'll take a look at the practical aspects of it and find out some of the best ways to improve ourselves and why we need to. Along the way we'll gain a new found appreciation for ourselves as individuals and allow the experience to shape how to interact with and treat others.
We're talking teen responsibility this week. We learn how gradually increased responsibilities help our teens grow and mature and prepare for life in the real world. We'll look at some of the most common forms of responsibilities that teens face in their formative years and talk about ways to help manage those responsibilities in order to ensure success.
In a rare treat our live streaming audience joins us in an interactive episode and help lend their own perspective to the topic at hand.
In a very special extended edition podcast we explore the complex and evolving concept of gender identity. Our panel of qualified experts help us define what gender identity is, the struggles the non-binary community has faced and the steps enlightened individuals and groups are taking to move society's understanding of gender identity forward.
We cover a broad spectrum of information, uncover valuable insights into the lives of non-binary members of society and gain a deep appreciation for the discrimination that society places on a topic it largely does not understand. We will learn how we can make a difference in increasing the awareness and acceptance of unfamiliar gender identities and we'll learn how education, communication and the ability to thrive in a safe space can help us improve the lives of so many people.
Join us as we welcome two subject matter experts to educate and help us navigate our way through concepts, terminology associated with gender identity. It is an enlightening and educational episode that's sure to deeply touch most of our audience.
This week we're talking about time management and how best to utilize what limited time we have to accomplish the most number of things in the most efficient way. We look at the different types of time management personalities, discuss the advantages of time management and explore different time management techniques and how they can help you with school work, projects and to manage your time more efficiently.
This week we look at some of the stress factors that are freaking our kids out with frenzied Back to School activities. From gathering school supplies to orienting yourself to a new school we discuss many of the things that worry teens during this time of year. We'll talk about concerns fitting in with new students, adjusting your sleep schedule, anxiety over remembering your classes and the general expectations parents, teachers and even students place on themselves.
We finish up our two part question and answer session with four new topics. This week we discuss relationships, the future, family and personal values. We gain new insights into the complicated personality that is our co-host and we get what I consider to be the single best answer to the age old question "What is the meaning of life" that I've ever heard. It's a heart warming, educational and entertaining look into the mind of today's youth.
Another question and answer session where we get to know Madison a little bit more. With questions published by Licensed Clinical Psychologist Doctor Kristi Wolfe we learn more about Madison through forty questions ranging from Personal and School to Social activities and standards. It's a candid look at a typical twelve year old and a great example for conversation starters for parents finding it difficult to communicate with their children. This is part one of a two part series, check back next week for the other half of our question and answer session.
This week we talk about resilience. What it is, how to obtain it and how it can help you through so many of life's challenge. We expand on the concept of dealing with life's changes and challenges from last week and we explore how building up our resilience can lead to self confidence, self respect and the ability to cope with just about anything.
This week we talk about how to handle some of the typical changes that teens face both emotionally and socially. We discuss the what some of these changes are, the tell-tale signs of teens struggling to cope with these changes and techniques to help recognize when teens are struggling and how to help deal with them. We also touch on what we as parents can do proactively to help prepare our children to face these changes and the type of environment we can offer our teens that will allow them the ability to better cope with these situations.
Today's podcast took an unexpectedly tragic turn when we learned of two additional shooting events between the time the podcast was recorded on Saturday morning and it's scheduled release date of Monday morning. Having been scheduled several weeks in advance we were unaware of just how relevant the subject matter would be when we sat down to record it.
In the podcast we define what active shooters are, how to respond if you are in or near a situation of an active shooter and safety tips for how to conduct yourself under such circumstances. We also talk about what preparations the schools are making at this time to help protect our children and how as a last resort you can try to defend yourself in a terrifying and impossible situation of an active shooter.
In this episode we talk about the various forms of peer pressure and why it can be so powerful at times. We'll look at some of the myths about peer pressure and talk about the realities. There are five common social pressures of peer pressure and we'll discuss each of them in depth before talking about ways to detect peer pressure and determine if it is positive or negative peer pressure.
This week we take a look at all forms of social media. How technology has changed how teens interact with the friends and parents. We'll analyze some interest statistics about social media and the impact it has on today's youth. We look at the good and the bad aspects of social media and discuss some common forms of etiquette to keep in mind when using social media. This week is a cautionary tale to both teens and their parents on how social can be a valuable tool in our technology arsenal if used properly.
In a very emotional episode today we discuss the challenges of coping with Traumatic Stress. We look at what Traumatic Stress is, some of the common causes of it and how to cope with the physical and psychological effects that Traumatic Events can have on us. During our discussion we analyze some traumatic events that both Madison and Joe experienced, the long term effects it had on us and how even to this day we are still coping with those effects.
This week we host a special guest as we talk about what friendship is, how important it is to us, the many benefits of friendships and how to cultivate better friendships. Mariyah Ponto, one of Maddies best friends joins us for this discussion and for a touching question and answer session between the two of them.
We learn about the surprising health benefits of friends. We also learn about the support structure that friends form and the social development that comes from having strong friendships. Join us for another great podcast.
This week we talk about how to know yourself and the importance of being yourself. A discuss what it takes to resist peer pressure and what how important trusting your instincts and own judgement are. We learn how to understand who we are, how to accept ourselves for the type of person we are and how to love ourselves for being the unique person that we are. We'll also talk about how to handle yourself in situations where outside influences may try to change the person you are and why it's important to stay true to yourself.
This week we look at an issue all too common in Teens, Social Anxiety. Whether it's the terrifying burden of having to speak in public, socializing with people you don't know at an event, walking into a crowded room or just ordering food the fears and emotions that come from Social Anxiety can be crippling.
In this episode we look at what Social Anxiety is, how to identify the symptoms and we look at where you're most likely to encounter Social Anxiety. Then we'll look at how to treat those afflicted with it, we'll discuss some common techniques to help you cope with it and we'll even give you some pointers on how to prepare yourself for situations you know you'll be in that can cause Social Anxiety.
In the end we learn that while most people have some form of Social Anxiety it's a bit of a spectrum and each of us falls in a different area of that spectrum and how we handle it is situational. We also learn that what we think might be Social Anxiety may only manifest as such and might have a completely different root cause.
This week the tables are turned and Madison is hosting the show. In her debut as show writer, producer and host she grills dad with a series of pointed and revealing questions that lets her get to know dad a little bit better and mark Father's Day with a special episode to all the fathers out there in the audience. Not only do we get to learn a little more about Joe, but also the relationship that Joe and Madison share. It's a touching and heartfelt episode for the holiday.
In part two of our two part special on puberty and periods our subject matter expert leads though a discussion on getting your period for the first time. We talk about what to do to prepare for it, how to handle it and what changes you go through once your menstrual cycle starts.
This is the first part of our two part special on Puberty and Periods. This week Madison and Joe discuss what Puberty is, some basic information on adolescents and puberty. They then take a more detailed look at how Puberty affects our children, when it happens and some of the physical and emotional changes that kids face. Madison gives her first hand account of how she is dealing with Puberty, the challenges she faces personally, with friends and at school and we take a look at some of the physical changes that both kids and parents need to be aware of.
The second part of this subject will deal with the challenges of adolescent girls coping with having their first period, stigmas that often surround it and the difficulties and life style changes that accompany this next stage in sexual maturity. We'll be joined by a guest host to help us through this sensitive subject.
Summer is almost here and the excitement of school letting out and summary activities is all the buzz. This week Madison and Joe talk about what there is to do in the summer, the four common stages of summer vacation and offer some suggestions on what to do for day trips and for those stay at home days to help keep you motivated and make the hot summer months a little more enjoyable.
This week we take our third and final stab at role models. Having two unsuccessful attempts at this subject we redoubled our research efforts to come back with a much more robust discussion on a very important aspect of not only teen lives but everyone in general. We very clearly define what we consider role models, we talk about the traits often embodied in our role models. We then take a look at the positive effects that role models have on us before a brief question and answer session on Madison's views on role models. As always we wrap with Madison's closing remarks and shoutouts.
This week we offer a touching tribute to Mothers Day and all the motherly figures in our lives. We talk about what Mothers Day is, what it means and some interesting history and information related to Mothers Day in the United States. We then look at fifty reasons why our mothers are so wonderful and special and share how we observe Mothers Day in our family before we finish up with Maddie's closing remarks and shout outs. We cap the episode off with a post-credits mothers day movie that is a tradition in our house.
This week we tackle the ever growing problem of Internet Addiction in teens. We look at what exactly Internet Addiction is and some interesting facts about Internet Addiction. Then we explore some of the physical, mental and overall health impacts on teens that Internet Addiction has. We'll look at how other existing conditions can influence and impact or even lead to Internet Addiction. We'll explore the signs and symptoms to look for in teens who might be suffering from Internet Addiction. Then we'll look at some of the more effective treatments for handling internet addiction. Finally we'll wrap with Madison's closing remarks and shoutouts.
This week we explore the wonders, benefits and rewards of the furry, feathered and scaled members of the family folks refer to as our pets. We look at reasons why people keep pets, the benefits teens gain from their pets and the health benefits we all get from our pets. We'll also take a look at some interesting statistics on pets to better understand their impact on us and then we'll introduce you to our pets. Another great podcast!
This week we tackle the difficult task of navigating the Spring holidays in an interfaith family. We look at what it means to be interfaith, what the holidays are that we honor and how we honor those. To help us with this complicated topic we have a very special guest host joining us to offer an expert opinion on the holiday traditions and significance.
Madison and Joe tackle the sensitive subject of fears. We discuss what fear is versus phobia, what the typical symptoms of each area, how such things are useful and we discuss statistics about fears and phobias and find out they aren't nearly as uncommon as you might think. We learn that fear is a healthy natural defensive mechanism of the body and that phobias aren't irrational fears but an over-reaction by a part of the brain that can be overcome with the proper training. We also discuss some commonly effective methods of overcoming your fears and phobias.
Madison and Joe take a break from some of the heart hitting topics to mark their 10th episode with a little fun an levity. Here the audience has a chance to get to know Madison a bit more as she's asked a series of questions ranging from her favorite movies to what historical figures she'd most like to have a dinner party with. We run through questions in the "About me", "Pick List", "Time and Space" and "Friends and Family" categories for a fast paced but in depth look at who Madison is and some of the things that make her tick.
Madison and Joe talk about School Drama, the causes of that drama and how best to deal with it. Drama in school draws on many of the social anxieties that teens face and can be overwhelming in a teenager who is ill-equipped to handle it.
Madison and Joe tackle the ever elusive subject of sleep. We dive into what sleep deprivation is, how it can adversely affect us in different ways, what are the major causes of sleep deprivation in teens and hints on how to improve the amount and quality of sleep you are getting.
Madison and Joe discuss what bullying is and how it manifests itself in schools today. They discuss some interesting statistics, take a deep look at the types of bullying kids face today and conclude with helpful hints on how to deal with bullying if it happens to you or if you're witness to it.
This week we explore what it's like to be left handed. What are some of the challenges faced by left handed people. We discuss some interesting studies that delve into common characteristics share by left handed people. We'll also explore other famous historical people who were left handed.
Joe and Madison explore the sensitive subject of self-esteem. What role it plays in our lives, signs of healthy self esteem, warning signs of low self esteem and what can cause low self esteem. We then take a deeper dive into some of the ways to improve your self esteem and the effect your self esteem has on other aspects of life as a teenager.
Madison and Joe discuss what stress is, some of the common things causing stress with teens today, the signs of stress and some techniques for how to deal with stress. We learn that some of the symptoms of stress also are some of the same signs as depression and how one can lead to the other.
Joe and Madison are on location at Disney's Polynesian Resort for this look at all things Disney World. We discuss some of the great family memories from over 12 years and 18 trips to Disney World. Madison discusses her favorite parks, rides, places to eat and fondest memories of a place she's technically been visiting longer than she's been breathing air. It's a whimsical and nostalgic look at The Happiest Place on Earth from the point of view of a soon to be teen.
Joe and Madison tackle the difficult topic of teen depression. They discuss the factors that cause depression, the symptoms of depression and how to cope with some of the more common sources of depression. It's an emotionally stirring and inspirational discussion that illustrates the strength and emotional maturity our twelve year old host possesses.
Joe and Madison delve into the subject of hobbies. What are teens into these days between technology, toys, social media, music and movies. They also take a look back at what some of the popular hobbies were thirty years ago and how they relate to teens today.
Joe and Madison start their podcast series talking about the challenges and issues with getting braces. We discuss the process, the pain, the complications and dietary restrictions and how Madison was able to cope with all of that to ultimately learn to live with braces.