Positive World, Positive People

In this series, we highlight activists, innovators, and leaders who prove that meaningful change often begins with a single idea and the courage to act on it. These stories are meant to inspire you, because no matter how small your beginnings seem, your voice and actions can ripple outward and create real impact. Today’s guest is someone whose story truly embodies this idea through multiple components of her life. Without further ado, I’m thrilled to welcome Sagarika Sriram.

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Something I notice constantly, in my friends and in myself, is how unpredictable motivation can feel during the teenage years. Unfortunately, motivation is not something adolescents can ignore as it shapes our academic performance, ambitions, friendships, and even self-confidence. So, in this episode, I wanted to explore questions like: What actually causes motivation to fluctuate so much during adolescence? What helps young people stay engaged and persistent, especially when things get difficult? And how can teens better understand the internal and external forces that influence their drive? To guide us through these questions, I’m excited to welcome Dr. Kaplan.

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As we grow into our teenage years, life becomes fuller and more complicated. School and hobbies get harder. Expectations rise. Social dynamics shift. And sometimes, the small, natural acts of kindness that once felt easy begin to feel harder to prioritize. It’s not that we stop caring; it’s that life feels louder. In all, that made me wonder: Why does kindness sometimes feel more difficult during adolescence? And how can teenagers continue growing their compassion, even during stressful years? To help us explore these thoughts on a scientific level, I’m delighted to welcome Dr. Daniel Fessler.

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Today’s episode feels especially grounding, literally. When we think about teen well-being, we usually address topics such as friendships, school stress, social media, or family dynamics. But we don’t always think about something much quieter, and maybe much more powerful: our connection to nature. What does it mean to feel connected to the natural world? How does time outdoors shape mental health, resilience, or even identity? And what happens when access to nature isn’t equal for everyone? For this episode, I wanted to explore how the spaces around us influence who we are becoming during adolescence, and to help us explore just that, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Caroline Harvey.

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In this series, I highlight young activists, innovators, and leaders who are already shaping a more just and equitable future through their voices, values, and actions. These interviews show that meaningful change doesn’t require waiting for the future; it starts when young people decide to step up, speak out, and lead with intention. With that said, I’m incredibly excited to introduce today’s guest: Juliet Zakaryan.

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One question that comes up a LOT is: Why does motivation sometimes feel like a wave, strong one day and completely gone the next? Why does it feel easy to care about something at one moment and impossible the next, especially during school or goal-focused work? For this episode, I really wanted to dig into the science behind motivation during adolescence. What drives teens to engage and persist? Why do motivation patterns shift so much in these years? Finally, and most importantly, how can teens better understand their own motivation so they can navigate school, goals, and life with more confidence and clarity? To help us explore these big questions, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Allan Wigfield.

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If you’ve ever looked at your phone and realized you don’t talk to someone the way you used to, or felt like a friendship quietly changed without a clear reason, you’re not alone. One of the strangest parts of growing up is watching relationships evolve while you’re still trying to figure out who you are. For today’s episode, we are discussing why friendships change during the teenage years and how we can move through those changes without blaming ourselves or feeling like we’ve lost our sense of belonging. To help guide this conversation, welcome Dr. William Bukowski.

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Today’s episode focuses on something many young people experience but don’t acknowledge: loneliness. Even though we’re constantly connected through social media, texting, and school, lots of teens still feel isolated, unseen, or emotionally alone. Loneliness doesn’t always mean being physically alone —sometimes it shows up even when you’re surrounded by people. This experience can be confusing and difficult to navigate, so I wanted to understand why loneliness is so common among teens and how genuine connection can be rebuilt in healthy, meaningful ways. With that in mind, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Robert J. Coplan to Growing Forward.

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Today’s episode is part of our “Change Starts Small” series, where young activists, innovators, and leaders who are proving that age is never a limitation to creating meaningful change join our podcast. This series is rooted in the belief that finding your voice and choosing to use it often is the very first step toward making an impact. By sharing these stories, we hope to inspire others to lead with purpose, curiosity, and courage. With that in mind, I’m thrilled to welcome today’s youth activist: Lily Niederhofer.

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The teenage years come with moments that test us. Whether it’s pressure, loss, failure, or uncertainty, difficult experiences can make us feel disconnected from ourselves and others. However, doing simple things, such as staying open-minded, kind, and maintaining personal identity, can relieve these pressures, but it is easier said than done. With that in mind, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Tyrone C. Howard to the podcast to investigate these prompts.

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