Middle school is a strange developmental moment. Kids become more interesting almost overnight. They can weigh ideas, consider other perspectives, and hold real conversations. At the same time, emotions spike, social dynamics intensify, and stability disappears. In this episode we look at what's actually happening in the adolescent brain and why these years can feel exhilarating and exhausting at the same time.

If you want to read more about the adolescent brain, Laurence Steinberg's Age of Opportunity and Sarah-Jayne Blakemore's Inventing Ourselves are two excellent places to start.