Positive World, Positive People

Think back to the last time you were waiting for something. How long did it take before you checked in with yourself again? We live in a world where almost everything is immediate. You send something, you get a response. You post something, you get feedback. You want something, you can usually get it quickly. That is why, when something doesn’t happen right away, it doesn’t only feel difficult…it feels wrong. Today, we’re not just talking about patience; we’re talking about what it means to stay with something over time in a world that’s constantly pushing you toward what’s next. To help us understand this, I’m so excited to welcome Dr. Kentaro Fujita.

Support the show

I want to start with a moment most of us have had: you’re in a situation where you have to decide something quickly; maybe your friends are watching, maybe emotions are high, and in that moment, the choice feels obvious. Later, though, when everything calms down, you look back and wonder: “Why didn’t I think that through?” Those moments can feel confusing, but they’re also incredibly common during the teenage years. So for today’s episode, I wanted to explore: Why does decision-making feel so different under pressure? To help us understand this, I’m really excited to welcome Dr. Berna Güroğlu.

Support the show

In this series, we spotlight activists, innovators, and leaders who are shaping their communities and the world, often starting with one courageous decision to speak up and take action. Sharing these stories inspires all of us to find our own voices, take meaningful steps, and create positive change. Today’s guest is someone whose work focuses on creating safe spaces for honest conversations and breaking down mental health stigma. Please join me in welcoming Divya Bhatia.

Support the show

I want to start with something that might feel familiar: you replay a conversation in your head, you wonder if you said the wrong thing, or you think about something that happened hours ago, but you can’t seem to move on. That experience of getting stuck in your thoughts is something many teenagers go through, and while it may seem random, it is not. So for today’s episode, I wanted to explore: Why do teens overthink so much? What is rumination? How can young people begin to understand these patterns? To help us understand this, I’m really excited to welcome Dr. Brandon Gibb.

Support the show

When do you feel most like yourself? For a lot of us, the answer isn’t always clear. You might feel one way around friends, another in school, and a completely different version of yourself online. That means, over time, it can get harder to tell which parts of you feel real and which parts are shaped by expectations. That is why, for this episode, I wanted to explore: How do teenagers balance being authentic with the pressure to fit in, socially, academically, and even digitally? To help us explore these questions, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Rebecca Shiner.

Support the show

In this episode, we are talking about something that touches all of us, whether we notice it or not: our harmony and connection to nature. Currently, we hear a lot about mental health resources, coping strategies, and support networks, and while all of those matter, something as ordinary as the environment we live in can play a huge role in how we think, feel, and connect. Some teens feel calmer after a walk in the park. Others feel more grounded near trees or water. But the big question is why? Is it just imagination, or is there truly science behind it? For this episode, we’re going to explore that question through research and real insight by welcoming Dr. Terry Hartig.

Support the show

In this series, we highlight activists, innovators, and leaders who used their voices and actions to create real change, reminding us that you are never too young to make a difference. At its core, this series is about showing that change doesn’t have to start big. Sometimes, it starts with one idea, one passion, and the courage to act on it. Today’s guest is someone who truly embodies what it means to turn passion into action. That is why I’m so excited to welcome Benton Schroeder.

Support the show

The teenage years are full of change. We’re asked to think more seriously about our futures, take on more responsibility, and define who we want to become. But somewhere in the middle of all that, motivation can start to feel unpredictable. You might feel incredibly driven toward one goal, and completely stuck in another area. Instead of assuming that inconsistency means something is wrong, I started wondering: Is fluctuating motivation actually a normal part of adolescent development? What’s happening beneath the surface when our drive shifts? To help us unpack these questions, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Chris Hulleman.

Support the show

As we move through our teenage years, emotions can feel heavier, more complex, and sometimes harder to understand. For some teens, those feelings go beyond stress and become something deeper: something harder to explain, like a lingering sadness or a sense of disconnection. These concepts made me start to wonder: Why do depressive symptoms often increase during adolescence? How do stress and identity development shape the way teens experience depression? To help us explore these questions, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Michael Scheeringa.

Support the show

One thing that comes up again and again in life is how complicated self-esteem can feel. There are moments where you feel confident and secure, and others where your self-worth feels tied to things like grades, friendships, or how you think others perceive you. Because of this, I started to wonder: what truly is self-esteem? And what is connected to make those emotions so severe? To explore these questions, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Ronald D. Siegel to Growing Forward.

-

Dr. Siegel's Book: The Extraordinary Gift of Being Ordinary, Finding Happiness Right Where You Are.

Support the show