In this month's episode, our teen host speaks with Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, who is serving the residents of the Pittsburgh's 8th District and is also the first woman elected to this seat! Through her journey of community involvement, advocacy and staffing other political leaders, Erika speaks of how she reached her current position. She talks about the highs and the lows of having a public presence, and how she copes with the harder days. With a unique peak into her life outside of her job, hearing from Erika will give you interesting insight into the life of a political figure. She gives important and helpful advice for any young people who are looking to become active in their communities and make change around issues they are passionate about- something that Friendship Circle hopes to empower teens to take part in! Thank you Erika for your insight and honesty, and to Ursula for hosting this impactful conversation!

Find our Wellness Playlist, put together by our Teen Wellness Committee, on spotify or apple music!

Follow us on Instagram for our latest updates! https://www.instagram.com/friendsonairpodcast/

Watch this conversation on Youtube, for a better and more accessible experience!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4vZGhXgfo

We are also having a major sale on all FC Wellness Merchandise throughout the winter season! Visit our merch store and get 40% off of all items with the code "SpreadLight"!

In this month's episode, our teen hosts dive into a deep and meaningful conversation with the co-director of our very own organization, Rivkee Rudolph! We explore important topics while hearing about Rivkee's experience of founding an organization at 23 years old, and the way Friendship Circle has evolved since it's start in 2006. Rivkee shares how she manages to juggle the various parts of her life while still making time to show up presently for herself. Throughout this discussion, listeners will learn about the importance of friendships and connections, and the way that communities we belong to impact our overall wellbeing. Thank you Rivkee, for sharing your personal story with us all, and giving us a peek at what goes on behind the scenes. Thank you Chloe and Maya for leading this inspiring conversation, and sharing your own valuable insight and wisdom with us all.

Find our Wellness Playlist, put together by our Teen Wellness Committee, on spotify or apple music!

Follow us on Instagram for our latest updates! https://www.instagram.com/friendsonairpodcast/

Watch this conversation on Youtube, for a better and more accessible experience!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVP5_Y1K-Vg

We are also having a major sale on all FC Wellness Merchandise throughout the winter season! Visit our merch store and get 40% off of all items with the code "SpreadLight"!

In this episode, our teen hosts discuss the importance of creating safe and supportive communities with guest speaker Maggie Feinstein, the director of the 10/27 Healing Partnership located in Squirrel Hill. Following the tragedy that occurred at the Tree Of Life Synagogue on October 27th, 2018, Maggie, along with various community members, gathered together to create an organization that would help the Pittsburgh community heal; on an individual level, but also as one whole. In this episode we learn about what healing as a community can look like, as well as the need to address trauma and mental health in a way that keeps every person and their unique circumstances in mind. Thank you Maggie for sharing your experience, and our teen hosts, Marley and Rivka, for guiding and contributing to this meaningful conversation.

Please note, this episode may contain trauma cues. A topic that is discussed, although not in heavy detail, includes the Tree Of Life shooting. If you feel that this conversation is too heavy for you, or makes you feel uncomfortable in anyway, please reach out to your personal mental health professional, or a mental health resource near you.

Follow us on Instagram for our latest updates! https://www.instagram.com/friendsonairpodcast/

Watch this conversation on Youtube, for a better and more accessible experience! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cilKa7VbIgs

In the first episode of season 2, Friendship Circle staff introduce the teen hosts for this season. Each host shares a bit about who they are and why mental health matters to them. Join us in a fun discussion about struggle, healing, and the importance of connection. Tune in to future episodes to hear more from these powerful teen leaders!

“Having an anchor”: Kierra and Nic talk about familial and generational trauma, safe spaces that places like Brookline Teen Outreach Center (BTO) and Compassionate Counseling Center can offer, and the social and emotional learning that they aim to provide to teens in this community based outreach. They importantly talk about understanding that things aren't “wrong with you”, and have instead “happened to you” and need to be processed from that perspective. 

In this month's episode, Heather shares her story and experience as an up and coming social media influencer, and the way that online connections have impacted her life. Hear about the nuances of social media and the communities can be created through online platforms. In light of SMA Awareness month, Heather speaks about what it is like to live with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and why representation of individuals with disabilities online is so important. Thank you so much Heather for being with us and Chaya for hosting this beautiful conversation!

In this month's episode, we speak with Cara, a cherished FC Staff member, who shares her mental health journey and experience with our audience. As someone who discovered some of her mental health challenges through the Covid-19 pandemic, Cara spreads a message that is relatable to many and teaches us some of the tools that helped her through tougher times. We hope that this episode will leave you feeling uplifted and hopeful- we're all in this together! Thank you Cara for sharing your story, and to Madison for being an excellent host!

In this month's episode we invite Michelle Thomas from the Mentoring Partnership to share her insight on the role that relationships play in a person's wellbeing. She spoke about her personal, as well as work, experience and why this topic is something she is so passionate about. Tune in to this episode to hear about the many mentors in our lives who have made us who we are! Thank you Katie for hosting this episode and Michelle for sharing with us!

In this month's episode we speak with teen advocates Connor and Luna, along with their mentor, Sarah about advocacy regarding teen mental health in the Pittsburgh area and beyond! We discuss getting started in advocacy; how having passion and a vision is just as important (or more!) as having “experience” and “training”, and how you can make a difference–just as you are! Little changes make big differences, and we discuss ways of having your voice heard at any age. If it matters to you, we discuss how you can begin to advocate for it! Join us in this important discussion in acknowledgement of Mental Health Awareness Month!

In honor of April being “National Autism Awareness” month, we discuss the personal stories  of our amazing Friendship Circle members Heather and Elana!  They share their experience living with autism, their triumphs and struggles, and teach us that everyone deserves to be seen for their true potential. Heather and Elana teach us that people with autism aren't looking to be “fixed” and that there is no such thing as normal! Being a friend and supporting others, and looking at individuals as more than their diagnosis is so important, as is advocating for our friends and creating a world where everyone is accepted, embraced and loved, just as they are!  

Thank you Heather and Elana for sharing with us, and thank you Carly for hosting this episode!