This Teenage Life
Episodes
Hobbies
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hobbies and passion projects are not only fun, they're powerful. They can restore us and serve as outlets for stress relief and creative expression. I...
One year, one word.
28 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, we reflect on the past year, using one word to sum it up — a great idea from one of the teens. Then, we set intentions for our next...
"Theater Kids"
21 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, some of the teens share about their adventures in the theater. We discuss what it feels like to perform onstage, different lessons le...
Academic Pressure
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about our experiences of academic pressure and academic validation and how it makes us feel. This episode is sponsored by t...
Finding Your Style
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode that (inspired by a listener), we discuss what it has meant to us to find our style — how it can be connected with self expression a...
Overthinking & Intrusive Thoughts Part 1
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Thoughts are just thoughts. They're not "real." But the meaning we make of them and power we give them can cause them to feel much bigger and more pow...
Overthinking & Intrusive Thoughts Part 2
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we talk to licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Naomi Dambreville, about how to think about and understand overthinking and intrusive though...
Taylor Swift
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For many of us here at This Teenage Life, Taylor Swift's music puts words to our emotions and helps us feel less alone in the universe. Right before h...
Self Care
11 Oct 2022
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...
Making Friends
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do you make and keep good friends? Many of us deeply value friendship. Great friends can help us be who we want to be. Yet making real, lasting fr...
Dealing with transitions...like starting school.
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Like many transitions, starting a new school year can be stressful. In this episode, we talk about our experiences and the coping strategies we use to...
Sibling Dynamics
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Several months ago we received an email from a listener requesting an episode on sibling dynamics. Here, we discuss just that — our experiences of b...
Therapy
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, some of the teens share about their experiences with therapy and we interview a professional psychologist, Dr. Malika Bhowmik, to exp...
Grappling With Acne
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Learning to live with pimples isn't easy, especially when society, friends, and family members give us advice how to have clear skin. The reality is, ...
Throwback Episode!
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The world is feeling pretty heavy right now so on this episode we bring you some levity: our never-before-published, first two episodes: the first is ...
Coming Out Story
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is about how a trans young man and his mom navigated his coming out and transition. Together, they demonstrate the power of love and comm...
Hidden Disability
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our outsides and our insides aren't always aligned. Sometimes we look happy and feel sad. Sometimes we look fine but are struggling with our health. I...
How the Pandemic Has Changed Us
16 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The COVID-19 pandemic has been and continues to be a tragedy with millions of lives lost. It also bas had a big social and emotional impact on us, esp...
Self at Home vs. School
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us are very different at home vs. school or when we're with people or by ourselves. In this shorter episode, we hear many perspectives on the ...
Friend Problems
30 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Friendships during middle and high school are tough. As we change, often our friendships do too. It's easy to think that we are the only ones who feel...
Real Learning vs. School Learning
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In classes at school, students are often expected to learn the same thing at the same time. An emphasis on information transmission and uniformity can...
Grappling With Loss — Finding Meaning & Resilience
08 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Stella shares her experiences processing the loss of her Dad. She explores societal expectations of closure and how they diverge from...
We Are Not Alone: Connecting with Animals & Ourselves
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Life can feel especially lonely if you think humans are the only creatures on this planet. Getting close to animals and the natural world can help us ...
Feeling Seen By Teachers
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How can teachers connect with teens not just as students, but as whole humans and unique individuals? How does this help them learn? In this episode, ...
Invisible Friends & Fictional Crushes
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When we're bored, feeling lonely, or just engaging in our imaginations, many of us give life to fabricated scenarios, invisible friends, and fictional...
Burn Out & Productivity Culture
19 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is the idea of productivity helpful? Harmful? How does it affect our mental health and well-being? In this episode, we talk about the idea of producti...
Black History Month Continues
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Black History Month might be coming to an end, but that doesn't mean we should stop thinking about Black history. In this announcement, we reflect on ...
Poems for the Ukraine
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our hearts are broken for the people of Ukraine. Some of us wrote poems to express our grief and let the people of Ukraine know that we stand with the...
Asking Questions
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In school, in friendships, amongst family members — it can be challenging to ask questions due to invisible social rules, fear of judgement, or a fe...
Existential Anxiety, Meaning, and Joy
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the face of existential anxieties, it's hard to know what to do. They feel so big and overwhelming that it can be hard to come back to the physical...
Puberty
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The experience of going through puberty is always unique and difficult, but in pandemic times, can feel even more isolating. In this week's episode of...
This Teenage Life Behind the Scenes
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Who makes This Teenage Life? How did they reach out and get involved? How does our work affect them? In this episode of This Teenage Life, we go behin...
Microaggressions
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Small comments can really hurt, especially when they’re rooted in racism, misogyny, or other identity-based biases. In this episode, two teens discu...
Crushes
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Crushes can be fun, horrible, nerve-wracking, day-dreamy... they combine all the feelings and they're different for everyone. In this episode, we talk...
Pandemic Isolation & Depression — A Personal Story
05 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In addition to being a medical issue, the pandemic has also led to a mental health crisis. In this episode, one member of This Teenage Life shares her...
Anxiety
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At This Teenage Life, we all experience anxiety in different ways — feelings in our chest, sweat on our palms, repetitive thoughts. On this episode,...
Snapchat, Instagram, & TikTok Filters and How They Make Us Feel
28 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
They might make us look “better,” but they don’t always make us feel better about who we are and what we look like. In this episode of This Teen...
Feelings of Inadequacy
03 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of folks in This Teenage Life are going through post-high school changes right now, and with that, comes a lot of feelings of inadequacy. These ...
Book Magic
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we delve into the ways books transport and transform us. This episode is extra special not only because of the topic, but because you'll he...
Transitions to Life After High School
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Here in the U.S., we're transitioning from summer to fall, from vacation to back-to-school. This Teenage Life is starting it's fourth season and the o...
A Message for Our Friends in Kabul
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our hearts break for Kabul today as the Taliban take over the city. We stand with our friends there. Shame on world leaders for this tragedy.
Food for Thought — Talking Back to My Eating Disorder
12 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a narrative piece by Cloe Moreno, the artist for This Teenage Life, and centers around her relationship to body image. Through her own...
Friendship: How We Make, Keep, and Deal with Friends
05 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Over the years, we've received a lot of emails from listeners about friendship — how to make friends, keep them, and how to processing friend breaku...
Body Image
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With all their hip dips, pimples, stretch marks, and fat, bodies are cool and beautiful because of everything they do for us. How can we learn to love...
Processing Divorce
03 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, inspired and hosted by a listener-turned-contributer named Lydia, we process feelings around parents' divorces. Check out Lydia's ind...
Exploring Femininity
26 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For better or for worse, how feminine or unfeminine we are can define how we’re treated in the world — and how we think about ourselves. In this e...
Juneteenth
19 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
President Biden signed into law that Juneteenth is now recognized as a national holiday. This Teenage Life contributors shared their feelings about Ju...
Thank You, Next: Overcoming Bullying
12 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I felt invisible and was bullied in high school and now I'm moving on. This is my story.
Getting Vaccinated
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world is still unequal and that needs to change. But in the US, despite the spread of some misinformation, vacc...
A Message to Our Friends in India
29 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sending our support to our listeners in India, given the dire Covid-19 situation there.
What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?
25 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?", and share the anxieties it evokes in us.
A Year in Quarantine
03 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It has been just over a year since our quarantining and social distancing began on March 13th, 2020. We have experienced feelings of grief, loss, isol...
Morning Routines
07 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Because of the pandemic, we're no longer waking up and getting ready to go to school in the same way. What do we do instead? In this episode of This T...
Text Etiquette
21 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There are all these weird implicit social rules while texting. Should I add an exclamation mark? What does their “ha” mean? In this episode of Thi...
Maintaining Friendships During Quarantine (...or trying to)
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Casual interactions are harder to come by in COVID. In this conversation, we talk about struggling to maintain friendships and struggling with ways to...
Hair Reflections
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hair can be a huge part of our cultural identities and sense of ourselves. However, as authentic, inner confidence grows, it can also become less impo...
Hair and Identity Expression
30 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There's so much tied up in hair - cultural significance, identity expression, and more. On this week's episode of This Teenage Life, we're talking abo...
Quarantine Daydreams
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We might be stuck inside during a global pandemic, but in our heads, we’re going places. We're rockstars, comedians, novelists, and boxers. In this ...
Feeling Disconnected & Hoping to Reconnect
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We cherish connection but in the pandemic, we’re struggling to foster the kind of closeness that comes from casual interactions with people. In this...
Our Fragile Democracy
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today was a historically jarring and upsetting day — a mob raided and vandalized the U.S. Capitol. This isn't a normal episode. We made it in the la...
Loneliness
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's a particularly weird holiday season. A lot of us are feeling particularly isolated right now. In this episode, we talk about our feelings of lone...
Body Insecurities
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Clear skin, slim thick bodies — we’re often taught to associate our self worth with how we line up with societal expectations about beauty. In thi...
Pretend Adulting
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It can happen when you're filling out a form or checking out at the grocery store: an imposter-syndrome feeling that occurs when you're doing somethin...
Civil Tea: Engaging in Dialogue Amidst Conflict
22 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to reach across the aisle and try to understand "the other side?" In this post-2020 election episode, we hear from two young people ...
Election Anxiety
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re on edge. It’s a historic election, an extremely divisive moment in US history, there’s a pandemic and a climate emergency. We have all kin...
Allyship
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Structural oppression is just that: structural. So without structural change, can our actions make a difference? In this episode, we discuss individua...
Snacks
25 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Trader Joe’s meatballs in marinara sauce. Frozen grapes. Jalapeno chips. In this episode, we take a break from heaviness and talk about our favorite...
Climate Grief
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change is the biggest issue facing our world today, and has a special significance for young people as the generations most in need of change ...
Too Muchness
05 Oct 2020
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...
Comfort
04 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's a tough time. Fires. A pandemic. Political turmoil. When we're at home and feeling sad, angry, or anxious, what are some strategies we use to com...
Remote Learning
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Right now, many students and teachers are going "back to school," which looks very different this year. Many people will be experiencing school remote...
10 for a Tee Challenge
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This Teenage Life is excited to announce our 10 for a Tee Challenge! If you can get 10 people to rate and subscribe to TTL, then we'll send you a limi...
From Kabul & California: Talking Back
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was made in collaboration with a group of teens in Kabul, Afghanistan. Together teens in Kabul and California talk about times when they’...
From Kabul & California: Ideas of Beauty
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was made in collaboration with a group of teens in Kabul, Afghanistan. Together teens in Kabul and California talk about beauty standards...
From Kabul & California: Resilience in the Face of Adversity
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was made in collaboration with a group of teens in Kabul, Afghanistan. Together teens in Kabul and California talk about perseverance and...
No Shame. Period.
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Periods can be a sensitive subject. But at This Teenage Life we approach periods, and hopefully all things, with openness and curiosity. In this episo...
Cancel Culture
08 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of This Teenage Life, we talk about the phenomena of cancel culture on the internet and share our critiques and reflections.
Communicating in Quarantine
22 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s hard to replicate real life behind a screen. In quarantine, we’ve been trying to be ourselves and stay in touch with friends, but it’s chal...
Black Lives Matter
03 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After 400 years of oppression and the brutal murder of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement has swept the nation bringing people to demand an...
Pets
23 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Not all of us have a fur baby to cuddle up next to, but for those who do or have had one, I think we can say with certainty that they cause immense jo...
Personal Story: Mother and Daughter During a Pandemic
10 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
During these times, many teenagers are stuck at home with their parents — for better or for worse. In today’s episode, Olivia has a conversation w...
13
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Adolescence can be messy. 13 is a particularly challenging time — friend groups can be tricky, puberty can be disorienting, and in general, at 13, a...
Our Inner Monologues
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We only know the voices in our own heads. But most people have some kind of inner monologue. Sometimes our inner monologue can go in circles or be neg...
Beautiful Boredom
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the routines of our lives shift and we confront the reality of spending weeks, if not months, at home, we talk about how we grapple with and experi...
Small Acts of Kindness
30 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kindness matters, especially during this dark time, even if what you're doing doesn’t seem like a big deal. In this episode, we talk about small act...
TTL + The Virus So Far
26 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
COVID-19 is a global pandemic. We're grateful to be healthy, and are also grappling with staying at home, without school or social interaction with...
Teenage Reflections
21 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered what you'll think of yourself when you look back on your teenage years? In this episode, we hear stories from young(ish) adults...
Moving, Part 3
24 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Moving from one country to another can be especially difficult. It can be hard to grasp the nuances of a new culture and you’re often misunderstood....
Moving, Part 2
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of our moving series, we hear stories about how people have adjusted or are currently coming to terms with living in a new place.
Moving, Part 1
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first episode in our multi-part series about moving. In Part 1, a young woman shares her story of choosing her own path, moving 300 miles ...
Impressions
30 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes we’re overly self-conscious about how we’re seen by other people. In this episode, we explore how we change our behavior when we want ot...
Queerness
24 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In high school, exploring your gender identity and sexual orientation can be a part of constructing your identity. In this episode, we discuss our exp...
Love in High School
03 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you believe in love? Have you ever been in love? How do you feel about having a romantic relationship in high school? In this episode of This Teena...
Lies Parents Told Us
05 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes parents make stuff up. This is especially the case when we're little. From Santa to where babies come from, in this episode, we share storie...
Fears about Adulthood
19 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What is adulthood? The idea of becoming an adult is exciting, but also scary. On this episode of This Teenage Life, we discuss our fears about adultho...
Dreams
02 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When we're awake, we may not be aware of the strange and surreal worlds in our minds. When we're asleep, they come alive. In this episode, we share st...
Parents Are People Too
24 Apr 2019
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...
Feelings of Power
19 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There are times when you feel powerful, and times when you feel like you've lost your power. This episode is about small moments experienced by a grou...
Middle School
11 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Middle school can be rough. You’re trying to figure out who you are, while constantly paying attention to the opinions of those around you. In this ...
Self-Doubt
20 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is about things we tell ourselves, our ideas about how others perceive us, and how these thoughts get in the way of saying or doing somet...