This Is So Awkward

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...

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...

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 un...

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 ...

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. ...