This Teenage Life
By Crystal Stone,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Teen-led pod offers compassion & advice on relatable issues.
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What you will—and won't—find in this podcast.
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Based on 1 parent review
A hidden gem.
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What’s It About?
Promoting communication skills, compassion, and perseverance, THIS TEENAGE LIFE helps teens learn how to process their feelings, thoughts, and experiences while also encouraging them to build connections with others through these shared experiences. The show started as a project created by educator Molly Josephs and her teenage students at San Diego based high school, High Tech High and has since continued. Episodes focus on one central topic like being an ally, divorced parents, climate change, grief, going through puberty, and even why Taylor Swift's music is able to connect with and to so many teens. Episodes are in the format of a roundtable discussion or interviews between several teenagers who share their own personal experiences and thoughts on a subject. Diversity and inclusion is central to each and every story in any given episode and the show is intentional about including a wide-range of cultural perspectives on topics such as mental health, activism, and the highs and lows of high school.
Is It Any Good?
This is an educational and inspiring podcast providing teens with meaningful advice and reassurance that they aren't alone on their complicated adolescent journey. This Teenage Life tells entertaining yet motivational stories that serve as a model for how to live and navigate healthier lives, relationships, and experiences. The focus on diversity enriches each episode, providing each topic with unique twists and turns and a wide range of perspectives. Adult moderator and educator, Molly Josephs, encourages listeners to send in their own stories, questions, or experiences that they believe other teens should hear about or learn, making this podcast inclusive and engaging for its listeners. The educational resources provided on the podcast's website make learning these communication skills and helpful social-emotional tools accessible for teens from all ages and backgrounds, while also helping the adults in their lives navigate difficult topics and discussions.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the emphasis placed on self-care and mental health in many of the episodes of This Teenage Life. What are some ways we can prioritize our mental health and engage in self-care as a family? Can you come up with a list of self-care practices you enjoy?
Many episodes discuss resilience and overcoming adversities through perseverance, what are some adversities in your life you've overcome? What have these challenges taught you?
Episodes focus in on the importance of communication and compassion as it relates to maintaining healthy relationships. What are some new communication and compassion techniques you've learned from the podcast? How might you incorporate these at home, school, or with your friends?
The show makes it clear that it's not a substitution for a mental health professional and if you feel you need help you should talk to a trusted adult. Do you have a trusted adult in your life? Who is that person and do you feel like you can talk to them about anything?
Podcast Details
- Release date: March 20, 2019
- Genre: Mental Health & Wellness
- Average Run Time: 20 minutes
- Website: https://thisteenagelife.org/
- Host: Molly Josephs
- Production Company and Network: Independent
- Pricing structure: Free
- Topics: Activism , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , High School , Middle School
- Character Strengths: Communication , Compassion , Perseverance
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: June 12, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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