This Teenage Life

Throwback Episode: We Are Not Alone: Connecting with Animals & Ourselves

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're re-releasing our 2022 interview with author and naturalist Sy Montgomery. Life can feel especially lonely if you think humans are the...

Throwback Episode: Parents Are People Too

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're throwing it back to a Season 1 of This Teenage Life with a re-release of the episode "Parents Are People Too." As kids, it's often hard t...

Independence

31 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of This Teenage Life, teens discuss what independence means to them: how they discover it, the challenges of balancing freedom with st...

Creating Authentic Friendships

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It can be challenging to navigate between being yourself and trying to fit in. It can feel vulnerable to express enthusiasm yet nonchalence can get in...

Turning Interests into Community, Work, and Purpose

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Josie Kim is a teenager, a hockey player, and great sports photographer. In high school, she learned to use a camera to engage with her love of sports...

Feeling Stupid

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"Why can't I get this?! I feel so dumb! Am I behind? Why is everyone else understanding this when I'm not?" These are common questions all of us at Th...

Negative Thoughts

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of This Teenage Life, the teens open up about their experiences with negative thoughts, anxiety, and stress spirals. Through conversat...

Teen Authors and Publishing

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of This Teenage Life, we hear from teens who have published their stories with Novelly, a platform amplifying teen voices. We hear abo...

Movement and Mental Health

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the first episode of Season 8 of This Teenage Life! The teens discuss their relationships with exercise: Where are the lines between health...

Best Friendships: Ups, Downs, and More

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us spend a lot of time worrying, thinking about, and navigating expectations about our friendships. Wondering "How close are we really? Do we ...

Grappling with Life's Nonlinearity

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the biggest pressures of getting older is the idea of having to “figure things out” by yourself. How do we navigate the pressure to “know...

Coding the Future

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Looking for a free, youth-run summer opportunity? Check out Coding the Future, a free, virtual, personalized program run by teens that helps other you...

Throwback Episode — Periods 2.0

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Throwback episode on a popular topic...periods! In this episodes, teens share stories and reflections on getting their periods for the first time, nav...

Throwback Episode — Self Care

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we reflect on the idea of self care and the many ways we take care of ourselves without expensive products and "glow ups." We compare...

Posttraumatic Growth

26 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Grief, adversity, and trauma are common, formative human experiences that people move through and grow from. Yet, we often avoid talking about this pr...

Moving Past Diet Culture & Towards Real Nutrition

12 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How does diet culture negatively affect us? How does what we see on social media impact how we feel about what we eat? How do we move past diet cultur...

Throwback Episode — Body + Beauty Insecurities

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Clear skin, "feminine features," "snatched bodies," — we’re often taught to associate our self worth with how we line up with societal expectation...

Throwback Episode — Parents Are People Too

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As kids, it’s often hard to see that parents are not just parents. They’re human beings who have their own needs, emotions, styles, fragilities, c...

Music Nostalgia

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As we evolve as people, so does our relationship to music. In this episode, the teens discuss their own musical journeys - how their taste has changed...

Throwback Episode — Academic Pressure

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this throwback episode, we talk about our experiences of academic pressure and academic validation and how it makes us feel.

Teeth

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode requested by listeners, the teens chat all about teeth! What its like to get braces, teeth insecurities, dentist stories, interesting ...

Connecting With Nature

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Connecting with the natural world can bring about a spectrum of feelings, especially after spending most of the day inside at school or work. Even tho...

Apply to the National Contribution Project!

07 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We are excited to announce that for folks age 14-25 living in the United States, you are eligible to participate in this next round of the National Co...

Friend Breakups 2

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this "part 2" of our episodes on friend breakups, the teens explore the emotional dimensions of losing friends. How does it feel to be distant from...

Throwback Episode — Too Muchness

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Here at This Teenage Life, we’ve uncovered a phenomenon called “too muchness.” It’s a fear of being “too much” that can lead to self polic...

Throwback Episode — Comfort

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's a tough time. Fires. Political turmoil. When we're at home and feeling sad, angry, or anxious, what are some strategies we use to comfort ourselv...

Processing Embarrassment

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Even though we all experience it, embarrassment is not a fun feeling. For some folks, they just want to disappear. For others, the embarrassment conti...

To Our Friends Affected by the LA Wildfires

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sending our support to our friends affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles. We are here for you.

Moving On

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Navigating College Applications

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For folks applying to college in the United States, applications are almost due! This time can feel incredibly stressful and overwhelming, but having ...

"Boy" Culture and Friendship

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cultivating friendships and authentic connection can serve as an antidote to loneliness and mental health challenges. How can we harness these skills...

Exploring Masculinity and Mental Health

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mental health stigma remains a major issue in combating loneliness and the mental health crisis, and research shows that men are significantly less li...

Cooking, Baking, & Beyond

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cooking, baking, and consuming delicious meals can be incredibly fulfilling acitvities, especially when they are shared with loved ones. To celebrate ...

Grappling With Failure

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 angr...

Engaging In Purposeful Projects

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we chat with folks who have recently engaged in The National Contribution Project, a nationwide initiative where young people affili...

TTL Talks: Jacquie

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 tee...

Interfaith Club

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With unfolding conflicts throughout the world and increasing polarization throughout the U.S., questions of how to engage in dialogue and connect acro...

Grind Culture: Productivity Pressures, Social Media, and Burnout

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this World Mental Health Day, a groundbreaking study has been published about how social media intersects with various pressures teens feel (e.g. t...

Cultivating A Sense of Purpose

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, the teens describe moments when they feel purposeful and their understandings of the idea of purpose. We speak with Dr. Tony Burrow, ...

Thoughts On Creative Careers

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a world with so much pressure to excel academically, make family proud, and maintain financial stabiliity, it can feel difficult to pursue creative...

Teenage Bucket List

20 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us grew up consuming tv, movies, or social media that portrayed teenagehood in a very specific way - parties, sweet 16 birthdays, first kisses...

TTL Talks: Saniya

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this new series, we chat with individual TTL participants about their life as a teenager in this exact moment. This episode features Saniya, a 16 y...

Adulting After High School

07 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Graduating from high school is an exciting milestone to celebrate, but it can also be overwhelming! No matter what path you take, there are so many ne...

"Bird Nerd"

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Finding your thing, your passion, your hobby — it's something so many teens and adults seek. Ellie, a teen based in New York City, was drawn to bir...

Comment Sections and Connections: Tech for Humans with Maith

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The internet is often seen as a chaotic and scary platform, but is it still possible to find genuine connections on it? In this episode, one of our co...

U.S. Schools and Gun Violence

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s episode, led by 15-year-old TTL contributor, Lydia, is about gun violence in U.S. schools and gun control. Teens based in the U.S. talk ...

Applying To College

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Summer break is wrapping up in the US and college application season is on the horizon for many high school seniors. This time can bring about immense...

Comics and Calligraphy: Introducing TTL's Online Workshops

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join This Teenage Life participants for our first creative workshops in partnership with Culture Therapy! If you have ever wanted to learn how to make...

Birthday Weirdness

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Birthdays can be a special time to celebrate the love and joy that comes with being alive. They can also be kind of...weird. Between planning parties,...

How Art Helps Us

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In times of stress, sadness, or loneliness, many of us turn to art to find solace and belonging. Whether it's a visual art practice, a musical experie...

Gaming and Social Connection: Minecraft and Roblox

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For several of us at TTL, games like Minecraft and Roblox offer expansive digital universes in which we can make our own worlds and find other people ...

Navigating School Drama and Rumors

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For many young people, it can be hard to avoid the gossip, drama, and rumors that pass through the halls at school. While engaging in these behaviors ...

Queerness and Community: Celebrating Self-Described "Misfit-ery"!

15 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It can be isolating and lonely to feel different from your peers, whether that's because of your identity, social and political beliefs, or simply ...

You're Not Alone In Feeling Lonely

09 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The media is filled with stories about the global teen loneliness crisis. Yet, we rarely hear from teens themselves. In this episode, sponsored by Le...

Transitioning from High School to College

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

High school seniors are about to graduate, and many will head to college. Starting college can come with a whole set of uknowns and distorted expect...

Mental Gymnastics

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Grown-ups can often talk about teens and social media in a way that fails to capture real teens' experiences.The directors of the Center For Digital T...

Youth Climate Innovation: Symbrosia

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In celebration of Earth Day, we made this episode about a person who, in the face of climate change, chose to take a risk and make something new. In...

5 Years of This Teenage Life!

14 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This past March, TTL celebrated its 5th birthday! In this episode, the teens share stories of how they joined TTL and what the community has meant for...

Stress Management

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do we stay resilient in the face of procrastination shame and test anxiety? When our bodies are in fight and flight and our brains are not thinkin...

Group Chats

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, the teens discuss their experiences on group chats — sharing stories about social dynamics and feelings of inclusion and exclusion....

Grown Daydreams

23 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, the teens chat with Aleeza and Fonzo, the hosts of The Moth’s teen podcast, Grown — here on Apple podcasts and Spotify. We discu...

Reflecting: 4 Years into the Pandemic

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, TTL participants reflect on their varied experiences throughout the pandemic, from its beginning to what things are like now. The tee...

Eco-Anxiety & Optimism

09 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week's episode is about climate and eco-anxiety. The teens discuss their grief about the climate emergency and other environmental crises. They t...

Hidden Disability 2

03 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by one of This Teenage Life's newest members, this episode is about one young person's experience navigating identity development and middle ...

Crushes 2.0

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday was Valentine's Day in the U.S. and so it feels apt to revisit a topic from a previous episodes: crushes. In this episode, we share our thou...

I'm Confident that I'm Insecure

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, TTL participants explore their own insecurities and interview Gracie and Clyde Lawrence from the amazing band, Lawrence— here on Yo...

Dealing with Being Bullied.

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is an episode about two teens who have experienced being bullied and who are working to overcome it. Being bullied can take a toll on self estee...

What Poetry Means To Me.

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Rani, one of the teen contributors to This Teenage Life, shares about her relationship with poetry. She describes how it became an im...

Throwback Episode — One Year, One Word

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The holidays are a complicated time for many people. They bring up all kinds of feelings — nostalgia, cozyness, goals for the future, and anxieties ...

Throwback Episode — Productivity Culture

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is the idea of productivity helpful? Harmful? How does it affect our mental health and well-being? How do the teens relate to productivity culture? ...

New Year, New You?

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For many folks, January is a theoretically a time of goal setting and self-improvement aspirations. Of course, many of us want to grow and change, but...

Learning from Animals

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the fast-paced, tech-driven world we live in, it can be easy to become self- centered...specifically human-centered. In this episode, we hear from ...

Overthinking and Self Talk

10 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For many of us here at This Teenage Life, how we talk to ourselves influences how we connect with others. In this episode, teens and experts share abo...

School Stress Rx: Healing Our Relationships with Learning

03 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From tests, to essays, to the constant pressure to be productive...many teens at This Teenage Life are expressing how academic stress is overpowering ...

Religious & LGBTQ+

19 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Here we’re responding to listener emails requesting an episode on how to navigate being queer while also living in religious communities where it’...

Friend Breakups

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Whether it be drifting apart from old friends, having a friend move to a new place or school, or severing ties with toxic friends, losing touch with p...

Just checking in.

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When teenagers feel seen and heard as whole people by teachers, it makes a huge difference in their experience at school. In this episode, we hear fro...

Compassion to Action

27 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The world is heavy right now. The wars unfolding are tragic and many of us feel devastated and helpless. In this moment, what are some small things we...

To Our Friends Affected by the War in the Middle East

21 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our hearts are broken for those affected by the conflict and violence going on in the Middle East right now. We call to TTL community members to be th...

Seeds of Peace: Meeting The Other Side

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This summer, Molly, the adult who works on This Teenage Life, visited the Seeds of Peace Camp, which brings together youth from regions of conflict in...

Periods 2.0

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a while since our last episode on the topic, so after many requests, we're making another episode on periods. In this one, teens share stori...

Transitioning Back to School: Feelings & Strategies

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Social and academic dynamics are especially complex during the transition back to school. Some students are entering new schools for the first time wh...

Processing Parental Absence

26 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, one of the amazing teens who works on the show shares her story about how she's navigating and processing the absence of her mom in h...

Making Friends in College

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Universities in the U.S. are starting up again. For many students, espeically freshmen, there's a lot of feelings around making friends. How do I conn...

Barbies, Toys, & Childhood Nostalgia

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With the new Barbie movie recently released, we're feeling nostalgic for childhood. On this episode, we're discussing our favorite toys, what they mea...

Walking & Mental Health

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Walking may seem like a simple, everyday activity, but for many TTL participants, it's a way to destress and find inner peace. In this episode, we dis...

Sleep

30 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We need sleep to stay healthy, and grown-ups often talk about how we should sleep more. But falling asleep can be hard. Between smart phones, overthin...

Loneliness 2.0

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of our most popular episodes is our first episode on Loneliness. But many of our episodes center around this feeling, and This Teenage Life basica...

Summer Reading

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Over the summer, we have the opportunity to dig into books that reflect our tastes, interests, and which transport us to other worlds. In this episode...

Internet Generation

12 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Teens on the internet — it's a hot topic. At its worse, there's the youth mental health crisis, phone addiction, and cyberbullying. At its best, the...

The College Process

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Applying to college in the U.S. is an multi-step, often emotional process. It can be challenging to write personal essays that construct neat narrativ...

Social Anxiety

07 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us struggle with social awkwardness and anxiety about social interactions. In this episode, inspired by listener emails, we discuss our relati...

Nostalgia

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up can be confusing. It's easy to look to the past or future and fantasize about "when we all had it figured out." But for many of us, looking...

Where the boys at?!

15 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This Teenage Life currently has four dialogue groups. This May we want to start a group specifically focusing on teens (ages 13-19) who identify as bo...

Writing Part 1: Journaling

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For many of us, writing is an outlet — a way to create and access other worlds or express our feelings. On this episode, we're exploring our relati...

Popularity & Cliques

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This Teenage Life has teen contributors from dozens of countries. While we may have different languages and cultures, we've all had the experience of ...