Episode notes
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…
This Is So Awkward
by Peoples Media, This Is So Awkward · English · Kids & Family
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,
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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S6 · E8 · 6 Oct 2026 · 49 min
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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