Wish You Knew

In this episode, I, Mendi, had the opportunity to sit down with Chloe as she discusses her journey with friendship and self worth. She discusses the troublesome friendships she experienced in middle school, as well as the depression and suicidal thoughts she battled with at that time. She ventures from then to high school, and talks about how Hope Squad, a group at her school devoted to mental health, helped her through anxiety and self worth. Please enjoy Chloe’s moving story.

In this episode, Maadhav shares his experience with anxiety that began in middle school and the pressure he felt to live up to expectations. He opens up about constantly questioning himself, feeling misunderstood, and struggling to balance his own emotions with the image of success he thought he had to meet. Maadhav reflects on how that pressure began to affect both his mental and physical health, and how, over time, he found ways to cope and reconnect with himself. His story highlights the importance of expressing emotions, finding healthy outlets, and opening up, even when it feels difficult.

This episode mentions suicide and OCD if you need extra support, please make sure to take care of yourself or call 988 for a crisis hotline.

In this episode, Nailea shares her journey through self-isolation, depression, and suicidal thoughts, and how those experiences affected the way she saw herself and the people around her. She talks about the moment she realized that truly wanting to get better was the first step toward healing, and how she began to notice the support that had been there from family and friends all along. Nailea’s story is an honest reminder that choosing to heal is powerful and that connection can exist even when we feel completely alone.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or depression, please call 988 for 24/7 support.

In this episode, I, Mendi, had the opportunity to sit down with Vale as she discusses her battle with cancer and isolation. When she was 13, Vale was diagnosed with cancer and fought all the way through the COVID pandemic. Because of the timing and her condition, she was very isolated from her peers and loved ones, and felt this distanced in a profound way. We invite you to listen to Vale tell her story herself, so please enjoy.

In this episode, Ezra opens up about how his parents’ divorce changed his life and left him feeling distant, overwhelmed, and unsure of how to cope. He shares how staying silent only made things heavier, and how learning to talk about what he was going through became the first step toward healing. Ezra’s story is an honest reminder that opening up can create space for connection, understanding, and support, even when it feels impossible.

In this episode, You Can Be an Advocate Too, Lauren shares how she used humor as her superpower to navigate her mental health journey. Through laughter, honesty, and self-advocacy, she learned that speaking up for herself — and for others — can make a real difference. Her story is a reminder that advocacy doesn’t always look serious or formal; sometimes it starts with finding your own voice, sharing your truth, and using a little humor along the way. Lauren’s journey will leave you inspired to see that you, too, can be an advocate.

In today's episode, I (Ella) was able to sit down with Nora to hear about her mental health journey with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Nora shared how beneficial it is to explore your mental health to better understand and support yourself. I found her story and her advice on learning yourself very inspirational. I hope you enjoy listening!

In this episode, Amelia opens up about her journey of rediscovering herself after a period of struggle and isolation. She shares what it’s like to let go of who you thought you were in the past, and the courage it takes to embrace the person you’re becoming. Her story is an honest reminder that healing and growth often come from the moments we feel most lost.

If you are a teen and you have a story to share, or you know someone who does, please reach out to us using this link: http://fcwi.org/interview. If you enjoyed this episode, please make sure to follow so you get notified whenever another episode drops. thanks for listening, and stay tuned for the next episode!

In this special episode of Wish You Knew, we celebrate the amazing impact of last year’s hosts, Lizzy and Autumn, who bravely opened the door for honest conversations around teen mental health. Now, we’re excited to introduce you to the new voices ready to carry that mission forward: Ella, Mendi, and Juliana!

Get to know this year’s hosts, hear what inspires them, and learn about their vision for breaking stigma and sharing real stories from teens just like you.

Want to share your story? The new hosts are looking for guests! If you’d like to be interviewed, fill out our short form at fcwi.org/interview.

Let’s keep talking. Let’s keep listening. 💙