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!

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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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

No Credits Rolled, where we play the games you love but rarely finish them!

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
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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.

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.

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.