1 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, I'm Katie Curic and this is next question. 2 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: Do you ever wonder what your teenage kids might be 3 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: talking about when you're not listening? Scary right? Well, my 4 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: guests today are the host of a very popular gen 5 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: Z podcast called Teenager Therapy, gyel Atour, Kayla Suarez and 6 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: Thomas fam These kids, and I do mean kids, are 7 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: just nineteen years old, but they are wise beyond their 8 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 1: years and you're going to soon hear why they I guess, Gyles, 9 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: since you're more of a flaky person, how do you 10 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: feel when other people flake on you? It's almost as 11 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: soon as I make the decision, I think I regret this. 12 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: If you think you know teens, think again. Their podcast 13 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: is funny, honest, instructive, real, but most of all vulnerable. 14 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: Today we're talking about talks, Bottoms, matthewinity, femininity, and the 15 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: endless pain and struggle of finding yourself when gay. By now, 16 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: we've all heard about the mental health crisis affecting so 17 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: many teenagers. My guest today have become a mirror for 18 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: other teens, and that's helping all of them cope by 19 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 1: making them feel less alone. By the way, if you 20 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: want to get Smarter every morning with a breakdown of 21 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: the news and fascinating takes on health and wellness and 22 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: pop culture. Sign up for our daily newsletter, Wake Up 23 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: Call by going to katiecurreic dot com. Very high tech 24 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: operation here I can see. So. One of the things 25 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: I love about teenager therapy is it's really not therapy, 26 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: and you're not therapists. You're some friends sitting around talking 27 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: about a lot of different things. So tell me how 28 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 1: that in and of itself is therapeutic to listen to, guy, 29 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: I want it. You start well. Actually, I think at 30 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: first we didn't realize what could make us so interesting 31 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: to listen to. That was one of our biggest words, 32 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,679 Speaker 1: and I think we still feel that insecurity of we're 33 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: not doing anything special. We really are just sitting down 34 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: and saying, Hey, what do we want to talk about today? 35 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: And then we talk about it pretty messily. Sometimes we 36 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: go off track, or we go back, or we go 37 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: all over the place, And I realize, I think what 38 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 1: makes us sell therapeutic for our listeners is that we 39 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 1: have universal issues. At the end of the day, I 40 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: think the emotions are the same. We all have that 41 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: shared humanity in that aspect and I think there's so 42 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: much comfort in knowing that, Okay, they're going through that 43 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: as well, they're talking about it, they're dealing with it. 44 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 1: It's just comforting. And how do you all decide, Kaylea, 45 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 1: what you all are going to talk about? It's usually 46 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: just based on what's going on in our lives. Well, 47 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: you all have done something like two thirty episodes, right 48 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 1: What started as kind of a fun exercise has now 49 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: turned into a really, you know, a big deal, a 50 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,640 Speaker 1: podcast that gets a lot of downloads. I think the 51 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: topics that our audience loves the most is whenever we 52 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: talk about relationships, friend group drama and what else is 53 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,519 Speaker 1: a good one? Guys, sex, drugs and rock and roll 54 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: minus the rock and roll. But we did just talk 55 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: about drugs, and I think our listeners are really good 56 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: enjoy it. It's kind of interesting how because we grow up, 57 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: we have new experience, it's more to talk about. But 58 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: also there's just always some little tiny switch in the 59 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: emotion we feel or the way we approached it that's 60 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: different from the way we would have even just a 61 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: year ago. So documenting that sometimes means even if we 62 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: cover the same topic, it's a totally new perspective, right, 63 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 1: and it feels like the world is changing so quickly late, 64 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: you know, I imagine you all must talk a lot 65 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: about social media and the pressures that come from seeing 66 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: people quote unquote live their best life. As Oprah would say, 67 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: I think with that, I know that I try to 68 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 1: limit myself. I mean, even with the podcast, you know, 69 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: episodes air or things are posted on TikTok, I just 70 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: don't like to look at it. I actively appoint it. Actually, 71 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: just because social media plays such a huge role now, 72 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 1: and I mean especially TikTok. Even myself I fall into 73 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: the trap of I see these teenagers my age doing 74 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: these big grand things. They're traveling, and I think to myself, like, oh, 75 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 1: I'm just in school right now, you know. But again, 76 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: I'm just reminding myself that not everything is as it 77 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: seems on screen. We'll talk a little more about kind 78 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 1: of gen z and some of their concerns and the 79 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 1: rap they get that might not always be accurate. But 80 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: but let's go back to the kind of logistics of 81 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: doing this podcast. It started with five people, right, take 82 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: me back to the genesis of this, Thomas, how did 83 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:12,479 Speaker 1: it happen? So it was actually Guyle's idea, and he 84 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: was listening to Casey Nisat's Couples Therapy, and he got 85 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 1: really inspired by it because it was a married couple, 86 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 1: yet he was able to relate to them on such 87 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,359 Speaker 1: like a deeper level than he had anticipated. And he 88 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 1: wanted the same thing but for teenagers, and he got 89 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: five of his friends. The idea that I pitched to 90 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 1: them was, I think it'd be interesting to be able 91 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 1: to hear what other teams are going through. And that 92 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: was what year and you were how old? So we 93 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,480 Speaker 1: were fifteen years old. I was fifteen, so was everyone else. 94 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: We were not necessarily all friends with each other, but 95 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: we knew of each other, and you know, the members 96 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 1: were interconnected in different ways. And so I asked my friends, 97 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 1: do you want to be part of it? They say yes? 98 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,719 Speaker 1: And the first episode was published in like September eighteen, 99 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen. And what was the first podcast about? Do 100 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:07,359 Speaker 1: you remember? It was about our friends? We kind of 101 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: It was so funny because all we did was we 102 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 1: just put a camera with a microphone in the middle, 103 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: and then we said, you sit on a bed. We did, 104 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: we did, We sat on a bed and we didn't 105 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: fit and so it was always so hot in the room, 106 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,919 Speaker 1: we were sweating. It was after school. We were also tired. 107 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 1: Pretty low tech tech. Yeah, it's still very low tech, right. 108 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: I mean, that's part of the ethos of the podcast 109 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: is really friends sitting around our being in somebody's bedroom, 110 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: and that's kind of the ritual. And then you all 111 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: have dinner together, I know, after every podcast, which is 112 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: so nice. And and do you think the vibe would 113 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: totally change if it was in a studio like we're 114 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: sitting in right now. I feel like it would definitely. 115 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: I think you'd be a lot cooler, Kayla, in terms 116 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 1: of temperature. The set of the bedroom just let's us 117 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: very intimate, and because it's like a place that it's 118 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:04,840 Speaker 1: just his room, so we are all comforted, so it's 119 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: always your room to room. Yeah. And it's back at 120 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: home too in Anaheim, So it's just it all feels 121 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: very natural. When you were putting together the quote unquote 122 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: cast Guy Elf for the podcast, did you intentionally seek 123 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: people with different life experiences? I'm curious sort of how 124 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: you thought about representation when you were putting it together, right, 125 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: I Mean I was thinking about it at the level 126 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: that a fifteen year old would possibly you'd expect to 127 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: think about it, right, I wasn't going into diversity training. 128 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: I guess I'm expecting a lot from you, But I 129 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: mean I do remember being like, well, we do want 130 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: different perspectives, and Thomas was like, yeah, we should have 131 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: different sexis, like we need a girl perspective. I was like, oh, yeah, 132 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: we should do that, and we were like okay, Like Thomas, 133 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: you and me were gay, we need straight people, we 134 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: need a straight man perspective, and we're like, okay, let's 135 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: get a girl too. And so we just kind of 136 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: naturally assembled into a relatively diverse cast because we all 137 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: actually have pretty different personalities. And I think it's important 138 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: for listeners to kind of hear themselves in various stories 139 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: and in various people you know and life experiences. I'm 140 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: sure that some listeners relate more to Caleb than they 141 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: do to you, or gay listeners relate to you guys, 142 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: and probably have some of the same questions or experiences 143 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: as you two have. And I think another aspect of 144 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: that is because I didn't envision it to go to 145 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,319 Speaker 1: where we are now, right, Were you surprised Klein when 146 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: it really took off. I mean, you guys had you know, 147 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 1: it grew pretty quickly. Now you have how many downloads 148 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 1: do you get per episode? I'm kind of jealous, actually, 149 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: around like forty five thousand dollars per episode. Yeah, it's 150 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: like the podcast I've told over the last four years, 151 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,959 Speaker 1: I've gotten like over like twelve million starts, and it's 152 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: been wild. How big it is? I bet it's kind 153 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: of shocking, right, Yeah. I think it's kind of surprises 154 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 1: people because if you go to our YouTube channel that 155 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: we don't use very much, it has maybe like a 156 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: couple thousand subscribers, and people like, oh, that's a little podcast. 157 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:09,959 Speaker 1: Because podcasts it's all behind the scenes. So where I 158 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,559 Speaker 1: told them, like how big it actually is, I think 159 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: it catches people off guard. How has the podcast evolved? 160 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 1: Because it's gone from five hosts to three hosts. You 161 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: all are now twenty, right, or almost five years ago, 162 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: so you've matured and grown, and I'm curious how you've 163 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: seen it evolved through the years. I feel that it's 164 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: very much the same tone, but it's just us who's 165 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 1: changing in us giving more mature opinions. Sometimes I think 166 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: back to when we first started and the opinions that 167 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: we were just spitting out when we were fifteen years old. 168 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: It just it pains me to know that it's out 169 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: there because I don't know what I was saying, and 170 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 1: it probably was not great advice or anything. But I 171 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: think that's kind of what is so beautiful about this 172 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: podcast is that it kind of represents and shows how 173 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:06,959 Speaker 1: much we have grown throughout the years, and it really 174 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: is a coming of age story told in real time. 175 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 1: Where are you in school? Again? Usc? Both of you 176 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: go Trojans? So how do you do it if you're 177 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: both in college? I mean, how do you find this 178 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: regular time? And do you still do it in your bedroom? Thomas? Yes, 179 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: I think going home just made sense for us. My 180 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: bedroom has already been set up for that way. Yeah. 181 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: I think the college thing was not as big of 182 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,319 Speaker 1: an obstacle as we expected it to be, and we 183 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: have just been able to share so much about the 184 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: whole transition from high school to college and our college experiences. Guyelle, 185 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: why aren't you in school? Yeah? So, how's a big decision? 186 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: I suppose? I mean I decided not to go to college, Whine, 187 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:58,319 Speaker 1: So it was a smart guy, I can tell. And also, 188 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 1: this really good for your college applet it was. It 189 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: really did a lot for my application because it's so 190 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: funny because my plan was when I was in high school, 191 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: I was like, I want to create something that's a 192 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: really big deal, so I don't have to focus on 193 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:13,959 Speaker 1: grades as much and I could just let the work 194 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: speak for myself and hopefully colleges will see that. So 195 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 1: I wanted to go to college, and when college decisions 196 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 1: came around, the college that I was accepted to was 197 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: UC Berkeley, which is in the Bay Area. Right, that's 198 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:28,719 Speaker 1: a damn good school. It is. It is hard to 199 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: get into, it isn't it. Yeah, it's pretty hard to 200 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: get into. So I was surprised. I mean, the plan 201 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: works because my grades were not like Berkeley standards. I 202 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: wasn't four point I was like three point three, three 203 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:40,319 Speaker 1: point five bees regular classes. But I guess they loved 204 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,559 Speaker 1: the work that I was doing. And at the time, 205 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 1: I was just thinking, well, if I go to school, 206 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: how am I going to manage? Am I going to 207 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:50,079 Speaker 1: be handling that well? And so I thought maybe I 208 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 1: just should not go because there's a momentum happening with 209 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: the podcast. It was growing really quickly, and I thought 210 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: do I really want to go to school for four years, 211 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,439 Speaker 1: possibly pause the podcast to slow it down to focus 212 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 1: on school, and then come back and have to restart 213 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,199 Speaker 1: this momentum. And so I made the decision. I think 214 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: I just want to focus on doing what I already do. 215 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: I I was going to go to school for marketing 216 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: and business, and I'm like, I already got the hang 217 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 1: of it somewhat. I mean, the work speaks for itself. 218 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: And so decided not to go to school focus on 219 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: the podcast. And so that's been my full time job 220 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:26,959 Speaker 1: until now until now, meaning well now I also am 221 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: like working on funny enough. The next step for me 222 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:33,199 Speaker 1: is creating a podcast network, my own startup along with Kayla. 223 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: So now I guess I just fell into the career podcasting, 224 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: and so I started with teenager Therapy, but now I 225 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 1: want to make even more and kind of give birth 226 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: to a lot of baby podcasts that and do you 227 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: want them all to be targeted to teenagers or are 228 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: you open to other things? So it's called Astro Studios, 229 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: and it's a gen z podcast network that's focused on 230 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: developing and producing podcasts for young people that are mostly 231 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: focused around self help and helping teams answer the question 232 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: what are others going through? It's the same thesis of 233 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 1: teenage of therapy that if you share the experiences of 234 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 1: real people, real people want to listen. And that's all 235 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: really what podcasts can be. And so it's those comforting 236 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: conversations that we really want to capture. Well, when we 237 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: come back, we're going to talk about gen z of 238 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: which you are apart and try to figure out what's 239 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: going on with them. That's right after this. I never 240 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: do that, but I just thought it was a good segue, 241 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:37,680 Speaker 1: and usually segues don't present themselves point starting. I'm just 242 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: starting the college process, but like there's a lot of 243 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:43,559 Speaker 1: like stigma and about like the acceptance rates and the 244 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,439 Speaker 1: extracurriculars needed, and it's like I almost don't want to 245 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: tell people where I'm applying because there's like all this judgment. 246 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: I'm a couple of friends of mine who don't see 247 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: like colleges are right fit for them, and they will 248 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,080 Speaker 1: like to go to trade school. But there's certain people 249 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 1: that will always get you because you know, they'll think 250 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: that the cause that they are going to is this 251 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 1: better than yours? More? After the break, are you or 252 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: a loved one battling cancer. I'm passionate about raising awareness 253 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: about the importance of early detection and for patients and 254 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: their caregivers to fully understand all available treatment options, especially 255 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 1: those that have meaningful impact to extending survival and improving 256 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: quality of life. You know, too often the length of treatment, 257 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: recovery period, and debilitating side effects can be difficult to 258 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: cope with. 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Like the fact that 268 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 1: we had whole years and a half of not seeing 269 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: anyone or doing anything, and how we're supposed to like 270 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: We're expected to be fully like social and not so 271 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: awkward after and I feel like unfair I guess okay, 272 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: so we are back with the hosts of Teenager Therapy. 273 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: Let's talk about the generation that's listening to this podcast. 274 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people are really worried about teenagers. 275 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: It's hard to be a teenager today. What are some 276 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: of the things that teas are really struggling with. Well, 277 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: I mean, you've heard the US search in general sound 278 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: the alarm on the youth mental health crisis, and it 279 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: seems like, for one, teams are lonely. You know, people 280 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: are trying to figure out why. What could be the causes? 281 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: It's smartphones? Is that the apps on the smartphones? What 282 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: isn't I mean, if you look at the data, there's 283 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 1: clearly an issue. And I think what we see just 284 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: from a personal experience is there's this disconnect from communities. 285 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: But I think something that's a little bit more interesting 286 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 1: to me is there's a lot more pressure to be 287 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:36,920 Speaker 1: this perfect person. And I think it's really weighing heavily 288 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: on a lot of young adults because you have things 289 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 1: like cancel Culture or Twitter, and you know, these media 290 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: storms when you make any sort of mistake that I 291 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: think a lot of young people are feeling a lot 292 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: of pressure to do as much as possible be a 293 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: perfect activist or a perfect citizen, a perfect human, perfect student, 294 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: exactly a perfect student, and it's just not possible, right, 295 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: And so I think a big problem that I see 296 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 1: is we all need to give ourselves a little bit 297 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: more grace and a little bit more forgiveness and learned 298 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: that we're all going through these issues and we're figuring 299 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:12,719 Speaker 1: out a little by little. And so when you go 300 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 1: on social media and see people being attacked for different 301 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,400 Speaker 1: aspects that you might have not known, judge, it puts 302 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 1: a lot of pressure. And it also seems, Kayla, like 303 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 1: there's so much built in competition. I mean, the world 304 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:30,880 Speaker 1: is competitive place already, but when you have these very 305 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 1: concrete ways to weigh your quote unquote popularity through likes 306 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: and through follows and things like that, is that part 307 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: of it or what do you think is bugging gen Z? 308 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: I would say it's a part of it. I mean, 309 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:51,159 Speaker 1: it depends on the person that you're talking to. But 310 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:54,159 Speaker 1: I think it's just because the growing popularity of social media. 311 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 1: You know, I feel like an ab normal amount of 312 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: teams are now online, starting as young from like thirteen, 313 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: maybe even twelve or ten, which is so crazy to 314 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: think about. But you just initially start social media for 315 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: the fun of it, but then you quickly realize that, oh, 316 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 1: a lot of people are getting likes doing this, or 317 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: they're getting a lot of likes doing that, and so 318 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: it's just following trends in a way to gain popularity 319 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: or likes or anything like that. And they're also being 320 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: exposed to so much so young. Exactly, it's really scary. 321 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 1: And I think that goes for a lot of things 322 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: where teenagers just don't know who to go to for 323 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: their problems. You know. Of course there's the classic answer 324 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,679 Speaker 1: of you know, see a therapist or go to a doctor, 325 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: but a lot of the times that's just not accessible 326 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 1: or it's not a conversation that you just casually bring 327 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 1: up with your parents, and a lot of people honestly 328 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: can't afford it. Exactly. Yeah, one other issue. So the 329 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 1: answer isn't as simple as just quot to therapy. That's right, right, 330 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 1: it starts. I mean it's such a fundamental issue that 331 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,360 Speaker 1: one of loneliness, and there's one we're lacking community. I mean, 332 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 1: you have these big giant cities that feel empty, you 333 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: feel devoid of community, and genuine interaction. You have dating 334 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,920 Speaker 1: apps that encourage people to only talk to people online, 335 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:08,919 Speaker 1: and you see people be more and more opposed to 336 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 1: spontaneous in person connection and conversation. Also, there's something about 337 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: it where swipe swipe, swipe swipe, It makes people feel 338 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: so disposable, right, And there's something about that mentality that 339 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 1: I think can then seep into real life. When you're 340 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: on those dating apps, you're constantly looking for the next 341 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 1: best thing, right. You know, you can never settle on 342 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: just one person, because you're like, what if a few 343 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:41,159 Speaker 1: more swipes and I meet somebody even prettier or you know, 344 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:44,360 Speaker 1: somebody even better. And it's always that mindset that then 345 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:47,919 Speaker 1: translates into your real life where you just aren't happy 346 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: with what you're seeing in person, you never satisfy. The 347 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:56,679 Speaker 1: thing of a quality that gen Z doesn't and my 348 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:01,120 Speaker 1: eyes feels lacking, is the ability to work on more 349 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: relationships and not throw them away so easily. I think 350 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,159 Speaker 1: you know, at times the wrong advice can get passed 351 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 1: around of protecting your peace and not letting anyone disturb 352 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: in anyone that doesn't serve you, you kind of disregard them. 353 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 1: But I think a lot of the fulfilling relationships do 354 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: come from putting in the work to talk about the issues, 355 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:21,120 Speaker 1: which I think is why our message resonates, because we 356 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: just really want to show people vulnerability and talking about 357 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 1: your issues openly is what creates meaningful connections. They're not 358 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 1: just this instant chemistry tied with that work. I mean, 359 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: it takes work. What have you noticed, Thomas that you're 360 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: quiet over there about. Yeah, Well, it's hard to ever 361 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 1: feel satisfied and happy with your life if you see 362 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 1: people your age already doing the things you want to 363 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: and it makes you feel bad. It makes you feel 364 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: kind of hopeless. But I also want to acknowledge that 365 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: social media has done a lot of good for gen 366 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: Z as well. It has, I feel like, made us 367 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: feel very educated on a lot of topics that we 368 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 1: otherwise would not have known, and it's a way for 369 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: us to connect. I mean, even just doing this podcast 370 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:13,880 Speaker 1: that wouldn't have been possible without social media. Yeah. I mean, 371 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: it's the ultimate double edged sword a thing because there 372 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: are so many good things and so many terribly destructive 373 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: things as well that come with it. And I think 374 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 1: the pandemic only exacerbated what was already percolating in terms 375 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: of the lack of community and the social isolation that 376 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: a lot of people are experiencing. You know, it's interesting 377 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:40,160 Speaker 1: they're not having these real life experiences because they're living 378 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: so much of their lives virtually. Yeah. Yeah, I mean 379 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: that's a concern too, because I don't think there are 380 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 1: enough spaces fourteens together and have the sense of community 381 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,440 Speaker 1: that we want to build and encourage, and so that's 382 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:55,719 Speaker 1: a big issue. Something that I actually feel very passionate 383 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: about is creating more third spaces that are in school 384 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:00,920 Speaker 1: or work where as a young adult, as an adolescent, 385 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 1: you could go and hang out with your friends and 386 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:04,640 Speaker 1: not be fine for loitering or for not being where 387 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 1: you're supposed to be. So if your friends don't have houses, 388 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: where do you and your friends go? Maybe you go 389 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 1: to a park, but then it's cold, so you'd rather 390 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 1: just stay inside and interact on we used to go 391 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: you see malls or dad. I mean, there's not much 392 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 1: to do. It just feels like where do you go 393 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: where you just want to feel at peace? Right? Like 394 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: a big dream of mine is where do teenagers go 395 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:26,479 Speaker 1: when they're lonely? I mean, if you don't have people 396 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:30,239 Speaker 1: in your school that you enjoy. If you don't have 397 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: people at home that you enjoy, if you don't have 398 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 1: any spaces that you enjoy, where do you go to 399 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:35,480 Speaker 1: get that sense of connection or even just to feel 400 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: at peace, because how do you escape it all in 401 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:39,399 Speaker 1: a way that is safe? And I would love to 402 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 1: start that with teenager therapy. I think that's a big goal. 403 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 1: It's creating more spaces where people can gather and there's 404 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:46,440 Speaker 1: young people that go, and you know, that's somewhere you 405 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,439 Speaker 1: can meet new people that isn't necessarily dating apps. So 406 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:51,720 Speaker 1: I think gen z is actually on the same wavelength 407 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 1: as you ask. We don't enjoy dating apps. We're tireder 408 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 1: of than we want to meet people in person have 409 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,920 Speaker 1: that interaction. Yeah, I don't know. It's like we say 410 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:02,239 Speaker 1: we want human connection, but then when it's presented to us, 411 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:04,360 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, we're like, actually, it's because we're 412 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: not used to it. Yeah. Yeah, everyone's always at Target. 413 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:11,920 Speaker 1: Once you get your license, like everybody is, there's nowhere 414 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: else to go and it's open till ten, So everyone's 415 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: always at Target. It's crazy, it's actually wild. Yeah, oh yeah, 416 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: it's like, oh that's team currencies. Yeah, I feel cool 417 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: basement and good snacks exactly. That's a big thing. I like, 418 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 1: can you out in person better than you don't? There's nothing, 419 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 1: nothing beats the real thing. When we come back. How 420 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: can parents connect better with their teens? We'll have some 421 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 1: advice for them. I want to be done with teenage times. 422 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,239 Speaker 1: Is everyone's always on top of you for for like 423 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:51,679 Speaker 1: no reason. You look up your parents as a role model, right, 424 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 1: and sometimes you don't think your parents are real people. 425 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 1: So sometimes they just like open up to you, like 426 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 1: the mistakes you've made in your life. Maybe they think, okay, 427 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: like tag them my parents before and I will say 428 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:05,160 Speaker 1: total outsider if I'm make mistake, just kind of tell 429 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,120 Speaker 1: us about like their high school struggle. So it makes 430 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 1: us feel less alone in ours Thomas, how can parents 431 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 1: do a better job, especially given the loneliness epidemic? You know, 432 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 1: the pressures young people are feeling. How can parents help more? 433 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 1: I think, just like emotional availability, I think the reason 434 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 1: why a lot of kids hide from their parents is 435 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: because they don't literally they really don't give them the 436 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: time or space to be talking about those issues, or 437 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 1: if they do, they feel that there's going to be 438 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 1: a consequence for it. And I think even just seeing 439 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: how gen Z believes that they're going to be the 440 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:46,920 Speaker 1: next generation of parents that are going to do better, 441 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 1: I think the current parents can look at that and 442 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:54,119 Speaker 1: it's not too late to become that parent and be 443 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:57,400 Speaker 1: able to let your children feel comfortable about sharing their 444 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 1: issues with you. I have many parents listen to the show. 445 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 1: Do you think parents are learning from your conversations just 446 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 1: as as your team listeners are. I know that they 447 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 1: have because we've received some comments and like dms about 448 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: them listening, which is negative or positive. Positive, positive because 449 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 1: it helps them understand their child a little bit more, 450 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,239 Speaker 1: which is always nice to hear because it shows that 451 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 1: they're taking some step in the right direction. And I 452 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 1: think that's a huge part two of just we would 453 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: want to see our parents show us that they're also 454 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:31,200 Speaker 1: trying to learn, you know, rather than us always having 455 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:33,640 Speaker 1: to talk about our feelings. Why don't you know? Why 456 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:35,399 Speaker 1: don't you talk about it too? You know? I think 457 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: a big part is also just leading by example, because 458 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: I feel vulnerability in a way as contagious. You know, 459 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: if you see one person talk about their feelings, it 460 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,919 Speaker 1: makes you more inclined to talk about it. Parents just 461 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,199 Speaker 1: like to put up this act of they know what 462 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 1: they're doing, they're always they're fine, they have all the answers, 463 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,639 Speaker 1: which I know is not right at all. So I 464 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 1: think is being honest about that would would go a 465 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:06,720 Speaker 1: long way. What do you think? I agree? I think 466 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,240 Speaker 1: whenever you know, sometimes we will speak of panels, and 467 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 1: one of the questions we get, which is funny, is 468 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 1: just how can I have my children feel more comfortable 469 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 1: opening up to me? I always give them the same 470 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:20,800 Speaker 1: answer that I think vulnerability you can't expect it without 471 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 1: giving it in return. So I think to parents, if 472 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:25,439 Speaker 1: you want your kids to open up, you have to 473 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:27,439 Speaker 1: open up yourself. You have to show when you cry, 474 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 1: when you're feeling her, when you're feeling vulnerable. And that's 475 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: what really gives a message Okay, it's safe, like I 476 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:36,920 Speaker 1: can do this too. You're not just this parent, You're 477 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,479 Speaker 1: this human being. It shows a lot of humanity. I 478 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: wanted to ask you about one thing that I think 479 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: is contributing to the generation gap, and that is the 480 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:53,640 Speaker 1: change in how we view the LGBTQ plus population. Gender 481 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:58,719 Speaker 1: identity and sexual orientation is so much more normalized among 482 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:04,679 Speaker 1: young people and judged or criticized or otherwise in the 483 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 1: way it was when I was growing up. And I 484 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 1: read a statistic recently that said twenty one percent of 485 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 1: gen Z self identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or 486 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 1: something other than heterosexual. So that's nearly twice as many 487 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:26,120 Speaker 1: as millennials, and the gap gets even bigger among older 488 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,920 Speaker 1: generations like mine. I don't know, I'm just very interested 489 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: in your perspective on it. Honestly, it's like, how can 490 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 1: you not be open minded at this point after everything 491 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:40,040 Speaker 1: that's happened. It's almost like we don't really have a 492 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:44,639 Speaker 1: choice but to be ourselves and really speak up when 493 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:47,160 Speaker 1: we can. Because of the platforms we've had. I think 494 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,639 Speaker 1: gen Z just has this openness to change that a 495 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,680 Speaker 1: lot of other generations didn't really have. I mean, it's 496 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:56,199 Speaker 1: also because we have so many more perspectives available at 497 00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:58,840 Speaker 1: all times, so everything becomes normalized so much quicker. But 498 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:01,400 Speaker 1: when you're exposed to something you every day, it's hard 499 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 1: to be shocked or against it because you're like, oh, yeah, 500 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 1: I mean there's more to it, there's more to it. 501 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 1: And so really, when it comes to being LGBT. It's 502 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 1: just what can you do? No one really cares. You 503 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 1: see it everywhere, it's just other people. It's not really 504 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 1: something that's a lot on a lot of people's mind. 505 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 1: I think it makes a lot of older people uncomfortable. 506 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:27,359 Speaker 1: And I'm curious how you view the reaction to the openness. Well, 507 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: I think it's expected that old generations aren't as open 508 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 1: to it. I mean, it's definitely this heartening to see it, 509 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:35,880 Speaker 1: and you see bills like in Florida being passed around, 510 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 1: and it just makes you wonder how we're making so 511 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 1: much progress but backtracking in some of the most important ways. 512 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: I think a lot of our generation is hoping that 513 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:45,840 Speaker 1: as soon as we get into power and these older 514 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 1: generations kind of step off and die die out exactly, 515 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 1: I mean, you'll start to see a big shift. I 516 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:58,120 Speaker 1: mean that's the goal at least. I mean, you're you're 517 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 1: seeing a lot more gen Z being able to actually 518 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 1: be eligible for office, and so their policies are completely 519 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 1: different than the ones that you're seeing in older generations. 520 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:09,680 Speaker 1: And so the backlash is weird because you I think 521 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:13,200 Speaker 1: there's it's just the natural pushback against new things. I mean, 522 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: you're use your old way, so it's you're going to 523 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: stick to it. Well, Thomas, tell me what your hopes 524 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 1: and dreams are for the future. What are you hoping 525 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 1: to do when you graduate from USC and because we 526 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 1: have these two doing astro studios and I'm curious what 527 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 1: you're looking forward to. Well, I'm still very committed to 528 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 1: the overall message of teenager Therapy and it would be 529 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 1: nice to expand this from an American podcast to international podcasts. 530 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:47,840 Speaker 1: So I think teenagers everywhere have the same issues. I 531 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: think it's we are all experiencing very universal problems. But 532 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 1: it would just be cool because everyone can bring in 533 00:29:54,400 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 1: such new perspectives and sometimes I wish that we had 534 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 1: more because it really is just the three of us 535 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,960 Speaker 1: and we've all grown up in the same area. I mean, 536 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 1: there's so many different life experiences for teenagers everywhere. You know, 537 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: it'd be cool to do like a day in the 538 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 1: life of a teenager. I know people have done that before. 539 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:21,640 Speaker 1: They pick a single day and then they give everybody 540 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:25,640 Speaker 1: the same assignment. It would be really interesting. I think 541 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 1: I think that's the vision, right, Yeah, that is the 542 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:33,239 Speaker 1: vision yeah for you. Yeah, Well, I'm really glad that 543 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: I got a chance to talk to you all. You 544 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:38,880 Speaker 1: give me hope for the future, which sounds so cheesy 545 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 1: and cliche, but it's true. You know. No, every every 546 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 1: couple podcast episodes we say a cliche and we're like, 547 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:48,760 Speaker 1: we've accepted it's true. People say it for a reason 548 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 1: they really do. Well. Thank you, Thank you all for 549 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:56,560 Speaker 1: coming in and best of luck with Astro Studios and 550 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 1: with Teenager Therapy and all the exciting things that are 551 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:03,320 Speaker 1: out of you in the future. I'm excited all of 552 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:08,680 Speaker 1: you appreciate it. Thanks for listening everyone. If you have 553 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: a question for me or want to share your thoughts 554 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:14,920 Speaker 1: about how you navigate this crazy world reach out. You 555 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: can leave a short message at six O nine five 556 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 1: one two five five oh five, or you can send 557 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:24,360 Speaker 1: me a DM on Instagram. I would love to hear 558 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 1: from you. Next Question is a production of iHeartMedia and 559 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 1: Katie Currekmedia. The executive producers are Met Katie Curik and 560 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 1: Courtney Litz. Our supervising producer is Marcy Thompson. Our producers 561 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 1: are Adriana Fasio and Catherine Law. Our audio engineer is 562 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 1: Matt Russell, who also composed our theme music. For more 563 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 1: information about today's episode, or to sign up for my 564 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 1: newsletter wake Up Call, go to the description in the 565 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:54,800 Speaker 1: podcast app, or visit us at Katiecurrek dot com. You 566 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:57,640 Speaker 1: can also find me on Instagram and all my social 567 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:02,960 Speaker 1: media channels. 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