As a teenager, it can feel like you are constantly moving on from things - hobbies, friends, schools, ways of thinking, and more. This can be exciting, but also sad or confusing. In this episode, the teens discuss things they've had to move on from and the emotional dimensions of the process. 

For folks applying to college in the United States, applications are almost due! This time can feel incredibly stressful and overwhelming, but having conversations with peers going through the same thing can help. In today's episode, the teens discuss various aspects of college applications - financial aid, social comparison, finding support, and advice that helped them. 

Cultivating friendships and authentic connection can serve as an antidote to loneliness and mental health challenges. How can we harness these skills in a society that prioritizes independence and rising to the top? In this episode, sponsored by Learning Enterprise at Arizona State University, we talk with young men about masculinity, vulnerability, and close relationships. We also interview Dr. Niobe Way, a developmental psychologist and author, about her research into "boy culture," friendship, and building connection. 

To learn more about ASU and This Teenage Life's partnership, go to https://info.learning.asu.edu/this-teenage-life

To learn more about Dr. Way's research and read her work, visit https://www.niobe-way.com

To learn more about ASU and This Teenage Life's partnership, go to https://info.learning.asu.edu/this-teenage-life

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Mental health resources:

The Suicide Lifeline: call 988 (available 24/7, and available in Spanish, Russian, Tagalong, French, and Mandarin)

Befrienders: confidential support for those in emotional crisis or distress 

Cooking, baking, and consuming delicious meals can be incredibly fulfilling acitvities, especially when they are shared with loved ones. To celebrate Thanksgiving next week in the United States, this episode is all about food. Our teen participants discuss their relationships to cooking or baking, kitchen disasters, holiday traditions, and meals that bring comfort. We are also joined by Sarah Clapp, a producer from Milk Street Radio, who discusses what its like having a career in the culinary arts. 

To listen and learn more about Milk Street Radio, you can visit their website: https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=milkstreet+radio&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Everyone experiences failure at some point in their life, but it can be difficult to talk about. Failure can make a person feel uncomfortable, or angry, or full of self-doubt. In this episode, This Teenage Life participants discuss what they think failure is, share stories of times they have "failed," and explore how they cultivate resilience in their lives. 

In this new series, we chat with individual TTL participants about their life as a teenager in this exact moment. This episode features Jacquie, a teen in Zimbabwe, as she discusses new advocacy opportunities, difficult situations at school, public speaking and more. 

To learn more about this research, check out the report and the Center for Digital Thriving’s website.