Podcast · Kids & Family

This Is So Awkward

by Peoples Media, This Is So Awkward · English · Kids & Family

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 55 min
Latest: 6 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026 · 49 minNew

The Insidious Ranking Lists of Middle + High School

Kids have ranked other kids according to attractiveness, popularity, and sexual appeal for decades. But today’s tech platforms –– from social media to group chats to AI –– can amplify this old-school cruelty. Ranking lists reach many more people, with implications that can be extremely hard for kids to escape. This episode is dedicated to the hidden culture behind these lists: why they fuel humiliation and exclusion, how emerging AI tools fan their flames, what parents should watch for, and what schools and communities can do when an inevitable list emerges. Show Notes: Watch the full…

Play episode WhatsApp Download

Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S6 · E7 · 3 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 20 min

Sexual Assault and Consent

The story of the “Cornell 7” gang rape has sent shockwaves across the country. As details emerge, a parade of issues have follow, from disturbing legal loopholes to the impact of media on young people’s behavior to the responsibilities of bystanders. We are joined by Dr. Debby Herbenick, professor and researcher on young people’s sexual behavior, to discuss a way forward. The Cornell case is not singular –– how do we guide young people to ultimately prevent assaults from happening in the first place? Show Notes: Yes, Your Kid by Debby Herbenick RAINN Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join…
S6 · E6 · 29 Sep 2026 · 52 min

The Childhood Wounds We Bring to Parenting

Our childhoods may be long ago, but they don’t always stay in the past. The hurts and patterns we experienced can shape relationships with adults and our kids, especially during the complicated adolescent years. In this episode, psychoanalyst and author Dr. Galit Atlas explores the conscious and unconscious ways childhood wounds can influence our parenting and pathways for understanding our past without letting it dictate our future. Show Notes: Come Closer by Dr. Galit Atlas Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Protect your loved ones without spying on…
S6 · E5 · 22 Sep 2026 · 45 min

Growing Up in the Age of Deepfake Nudes

AI makes it easy to create fake sexual content — changing what a person is wearing, the pose they are striking, or generating a video of them engaging in sexual acts. Teens regularly encounter these images on social media and in their group chats. The result: complex social, emotional, and legal ramifications. We’re joined by Dr. Supreet Mann, author of a new report about AI and deepfake nudes from Common Sense Media. She explains how AI-generated sexual content is affecting young people; the role social media plays in its spread; and what parents, platforms, schools, and policymakers can do…
S6 · E4 · 15 Sep 2026 · 55 min

The Puberty Update: Timing, Trends, and What We Still Don't Know

Just like the kids going through it, puberty data is constantly growing and changing. In this episode, we update listeners with the latest research about puberty: when it begins, what influences its timing, and how long it actually lasts (feels like forever sometimes!). ICYMI we fill you in on new findings about first periods and environmental impacts on hormone shifts, too. And we share at least one thing we’ve gotten wrong about puberty, even though we’re deep in the data every day! For anyone looking for evidence-based counterpoints to today’s click bait headlines, this episode is for…
S6 · E3 · 8 Sep 2026 · 50 min

Does AI Help Raise Kids?

AI impacts all of us at every age – down to the youngest kids. But how, exactly, does it change things like brain development, language acquisition, and interpersonal relationships? Pediatric surgeon and early childhood expert Dr. Dana Suskind explains. This episode is a must listen for anyone who wants to understand how to balance AI’s utility with the essential messiness of human interaction. Kids need some friction in order to learn, connect, and thrive. Show Notes: Human Raised Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Protect your loved ones without spying…
S6 · E2 · 1 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 2 min

Senior Year of High School, Unfiltered

Senior year of high school looms large – not just in the minds of teens, but their parents, too – for all its stresses and tribulations. In this episode, we hear straight from Vanessa’s daughter about her experience navigating senior year of high school: what she did to prepare the summer leading up to it, her approach to the college application process, how she attempted to find balance during such an intense time, and the role her parents played. Remaining sane during the college process is an age-old challenge… teenagers have opinions about what helpful parent support actually looks like!…
S6 · E1 · 25 Aug 2026 · 49 min

The Science of Real Optimism

The term optimism doesn’t just refer to blind positivity. It’s also the acknowledgement of challenges that lay ahead, plus the belief we have the skills and tools to face them. Dr. Deepika Chopra is a psychologist and optimism expert. She joins us to explain optimism, sharing science-based strategies that really work to cultivate resilience and hope, even in the darkest moments. Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who…
S5 · E53 · 18 Aug 2026 · 55 min

Can Middle School Be Wonderful?

Rereleasing this gem pushing back on the tired trope that middle school is a phase to endure not enjoy. But according to educator, principal, and author Chris Balme, these years may be some of the most fascinating and important in a child's life. We talk about identity, belonging, growth, and the incredible transformation happening beneath the surface during these often-misunderstood years. Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health…
S5 · E52 · 11 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 6 min

Understanding the Kids Who Challenge Us Most

Rerelease of one of our all time most eye-opening episodes about the kids who act out, push boundaries, or seem impossible to reach. In this episode, Psychologist, educator, and author Doug Bolton helps us understand that these kids need more connection not more punishment. He shares a compassionate new framework for understanding struggling kids. Drawing on decades of experience and insights from his book Untethered, he explores how belonging, community, and relationships can help children move through dysregulation and toward growth. Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the…
S5 · E51 · 4 Aug 2026 · 58 min

Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders, Explained

Rerelease of an important episode on eating disorders. Eating disorders and disordered eating can show up in many different ways—and often aren't easy to recognize. In this episode, clinical psychologist and eating disorder specialist, Dr. Kelly Bhatnagar helps us break down the language, the warning signs, and the realities behind these increasingly common struggles. We explore everything from binge eating, purging, orthorexia, and bigorexia to the social, emotional, and biological factors that can put young people at risk. Along the way, we discuss why these challenges are often…
S5 · E50 · 28 Jul 2026 · 53 min

Migraines, Hormones, and Teens

Rerelease! When kids struggle with frequent headaches, are they stress-related? Hormonal? Something more serious? In this episode, pediatric neurologist and headache medicine specialist Daniel Noam Lax helps us make sense of one of the most common—and often misunderstood—health challenges. We explore what causes headaches and migraines, why adolescent girls are especially susceptible, and what families can do to support kids living with them. Show Notes: American Headache Society American Migraine Foundation Daniel N. Lax, MD Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD…
S5 · E49 · 21 Jul 2026 · 54 min

Can Resilience Be Taught?

A rerelease on the eternal question: Is resilience a skill kids can develop over time? Psychologist and child development expert Tovah Klein unpacks what resilience really means and how trusted adults help kids build it. From managing frustration and failure to building confidence and coping skills, we explore how to support tweens + teens without overprotecting them. Show Notes: Raising Resilience Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts…
S5 · E48 · 14 Jul 2026 · 57 min

ADHD and the Social Scene: Friendships, Dating, and Growing Up

We’re rereleasing our incredibly popular episode that tackles how ADHD can shape tweens' and teens' friendships, romantic relationships, and sexual decision-making. In this candid conversation, psychologist and ADHD expert Ari Tuckman draws on 25 years of experience working with young people with ADHD to explain how attention, impulsivity, emotional intensity, and social dynamics can influence relationships. Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and…
S5 · E47 · 7 Jul 2026 · 54 min

When Autism Meets Puberty

Rerelease! What happens when puberty’s changes intersect with autism? Neuropsychologist Donna Henderson shares expert insights on helping autistic youth navigate this unpredictable life stage with knowledge and dignity. The conversation focuses on how families can support autistic youth through this transition using clear communication, individualized strategies, and an understanding of neurodiversity. Show Notes: Is This Autism? A guide for clinicians and everyone else Is This Autism? A companion guide for diagnosing Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB…
S5 · E46 · 30 Jun 2026 · 55 min

Before You Email the Principal: Let's Talk Health Class

Parents have a lot to say about health and sex education in schools, which is fair. In fact, it’s the reason we named our own health + sex ed curriculum That Health Class (insert wink, wink) because of the baggage those words carry. If adults received this education at all, their memories of health + sex ed induce giggles, queasiness, a cold sweat or all three! So why is health + sex ed so important? What should it cover? What are the biggest objections parents have and do they actually hold up? The answers might surprise you. Show Notes: THAT HEALTH CLASS Watch the full episode on Youtube!…
S5 · E45 · 23 Jun 2026 · 57 min

Dr. Mary Claire Haver on The New Perimenopause

Menopause is a moment in time. But perimenopause can last a decade or more – just like puberty! Dr. Mary Claire Haver returns to the podcast to talk about what’s happening inside the body and brain during perimenopause, why it’s so important to identify the start of the stage of life, and preventive steps you can take to optimize your bones, your muscles, your sex drive, and your sanity. Show Notes: The New Perimenopause Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and…
S5 · E44 · 16 Jun 2026 · 58 min

Empty Nesting

When kids leave home it’s one of the biggest transitional moments of parenting. Feelings range from grief to excitement to loneliness to adventure, for many a mashup of all of these, and that’s just in the first week! This episode covers how we can prepare ourselves (and our kids) for this new era, by setting boundaries, expressing expectations, finding our people, and tons of communication with everyone involved. Sprinkled throughout are some major lessons learned by Cara and Vanessa–oof!–and advice for those soon to embark on this phase. Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join…
S5 · E43 · 9 Jun 2026 · 58 min

The 5 ingredients to keep off kids’ skin

As the obsession with expensive, make-me-look-younger skin care products rages on, the public deserves to know why some of these products are concerning. There are real medical reasons for young people to avoid these products. We explain which ingredients should be avoided in the tween and teen years, and which ingredients actually help (yep, there are some good ones out there!). This episode isn’t about the bananas nature of already young people seeking younger-looking skin, but rather the potential risks that can come from slathering this stuff all over themselves. Show Notes: Bright Girl…
S5 · E42 · 2 Jun 2026 · 52 min

The Holderness Family on Letting Go (Kind Of)

In this hilarious and heartfelt episode, we’re joined by the dynamic duo Kim and Penn Holderness who share how they handled their daughter's college departure. We cover it all: from overpacking to the medical preparation needed before sending a kid off to the chaos on move-in day, and ultimately, to the pride of watching a kid grow into their own person. Show Notes: Talk to your teen’s doctor about meningitis risk and vaccination. Learn more at www.Ask2BSure.com Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using…
S5 · E41 · 26 May 2026 · 1 hr 4 min

Understanding GLP 1’s

Seemingly everywhere we turn we encounter the class of drugs known as GLP 1’s and the debate over their impact on health and weight. It’s so difficult to separate fact from fiction on this clickbaity topic. So we turned to one of our trusted endocrinologists, Gillian Goddard, author of The Hormone Loop to: provide the history of these medications, untangle the relationship between weight, diabetes, and genetics, and explain the metabolic changes during midlife. The conversation also explores GLP-1 drugs and prescribing them to tweens, teens, and young adults. Show Notes: Watch the full…
S5 · E40 · 19 May 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

When Your Kid’s Friends Worry You

Friendship choices are a huge part of growing up and can shape kids in great (and challenging ways.) When parents are concerned about friends it’s hard to know if another kid is a “bad influence” or just part of a normal part of the trial and error of relationships. Figuring out how to handle our concerns can be the trickiest part so this episode focuses on how to constructively address kids’ friendships, addressing as kids age up, the critical aspects of safety, and knowing when to watch from the sidelines. Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB…
S5 · E39 · 16 May 2026 · 50 min

The Creativity Advantage

In our achievement driven culture, creativity often gets billed as a talent bestowed on the chosen few. But in fact, creativity can be a habit part of anyone’s life, offering big picture benefits like better emotional and cognitive wellbeing. Joining us to explore how to incorporate daily creativity into family life are Blythe Harris and Mallory May, authors of the new book Daily Creative. Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health…
S5 · E38 · 12 May 2026 · 59 min

You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong!

Pooping is one of the most important – and least discussed – part of the human experience which leads to shame, misinformation and silent suffering. Neurogastroenterologist and author of You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong Dr. Trisha Pasricha is changing the conversation by opening the lid on gut-brain health, constipation, period poops and so much more. Plus, she offers very specific guidance for healthy pooping for tweens, teens, and adults! Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance.…
S5 · E37 · 5 May 2026 · 51 min

Baby Steps to Big Kid Independence

Growing up requires the building blocks of many, many skills over time. From crossing the street to driving a car to working a first job, each new level demands increased self-sufficiency. The hard part for parents is knowing when a kid is ready for each stage and the best ways to let go. This episode offers guidance for the journey that kids (and parents) will travel along the way. Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Download Cash App Today: FAMILY10 #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided…
S5 · E36 · 28 Apr 2026 · 56 min

The Role of Trusted Adults

“Find a trusted adult.” Kids hear this endlessly––you probably do, too, if you’re a frequent listener to this podcast. Why? Because it’s one strategy that’s proven to keep kids safe and healthy. In this episode, we take a deeper dive into trusted adults: who are they? What role can and should they play? How and why should they set boundaries? And how can they support themselves as they support kids? To guide us, we’re joined by Dr. Brooklyn Raney, an educational researcher and practitioner whose entire mission is to help train trusted adults. Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube!…
S5 · E35 · 24 Apr 2026 · 54 min

Countdown to the Bittersweet Send-Off

It’s simultaneously wonderful and worrying to launch a kid. The most common denominator question is a version of this: Are they going to be ok when they leave us? We hope – and wonder – if we’ve taught them enough to be out in the world. Christina Geist spent her oldest child’s senior year of high school compiling those life lessons in Before You Fly Away. Her musings are as heartfelt as they are practical, whether you have a child who is about to fly the nest, one who flew away long ago, or one so young you can hardly imagine that stage of life. Show Notes: Before You Fly Away: Life Lessons…
S5 · E34 · 21 Apr 2026 · 54 min

Can We Make Our Kids Happy? with Laurie Santos

If you ask parents what they want for their kid, 99% say some version of: I just want them to be happy! But happiness––and how we achieve it––is complex and layered. We turned to the happiness guru, Dr. Laurie Santos, founder of the Happiness Lab and professor of Yale’s famous class “Psychology and the Good Life,” for answers and insights. You’ll be so happy you listened! Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Go to Quince.com/AWKWARD for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. Download the FREE Playbook for…
14 Apr 2026 · 46 min

When Teens Date: Where Parents Fit

Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Go to Quince.com/AWKWARD for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. Download the FREE Playbook for Getting Your Kid to Talk Order our book This Is So Awkward Check out all our speaking and curriculum at www.lessawkward.com and our super comfy products at www.myoomla.com To bring us to your school or community email operations@lessawkward.com To submit listener questions email podcast@lessawkward.com Produced by Peoples Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
S5 · E32 · 7 Apr 2026 · 51 min

Our Tech Debate with Jonathan Haidt + Catherine Price

The world around kids’ access to technology is changing at lightning speed – from bell-to-bell school phone bans to the re-emergence of the landline to governmental social media limits for those under 16. No one has been more at the center of these shifts than social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. He joins us along with his The Amazing Generation co-author Catherine Price for a lively conversation about different approaches to navigating tech. Spoiler alert: we don’t always agree! Show Notes: Watch the full episode on Youtube! Join the LESS AWKWARD MEMBERSHIP HUB Go to Quince.com/AWKWARD for…

About This Is So Awkward

Growing up is packed with awkward moments… not just for the kids going through it, but for their adults, too. Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett are here to help, with humor and zero judgment. They explain the science behind all of the physical, emotional, and social changes of the tween, teen, and even early 20-something years. From body changes and big feelings to every imaginable blush-worthy question about friendships, sex, and social media, we cover it all. Trade in your cringe for clarity so it can all be less awkward! Watch the full episodes on Youtube!

This Is So Awkward is a English kids & family podcast from Peoples Media, This Is So Awkward. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Peoples Media, This Is So Awkward
Language: English
Category: Kids & Family
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 55 min
Latest episode: 6 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1576221880
Rights: This Is So Awkward

RSS feed Apple Podcasts

More English kids & family 6

Take it with you

The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.