Thoughts from the Health Education classroom, brought to you by Scott Todnem and his middle school students.
Throwback Episode! Season 7 hosts interview Season 3 hosts. Life Is The Future - Video Podcast. Cool concept, right? This is a special opportunity where previous 8th grade podcast hosts return to visit our current middle school hosts. Sree, Samarth, Dhruva, and Kanishk (S7 2024-2025) welcome Naomi, Tami, and David (S3 2020-2021) to reminisce about the last 4+ years.The 8th graders ask the graduating seniors all about life after middle school. Focus points include life balance, sports, academics, stress, friendships, extracurricular activities, emotional maturation, working through COVID, and recommendations for surviving and thriving through teen years.What did you think of this conversation? We'd love to hear feedback. Did the group miss any main points about middle or high school?Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes as we conclude the 2024-2025 school year and Season 7 of the Life Is The Future podcast!RESOURCES"Middle School Issues Commonly Faced By Kids"https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/academics/fixes-for-7-common-middle-school-problems/"What is High School Really Like?"https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/starting-high-school.html"Advice for High School Freshmen from Departing Seniors"https://www.wgu.edu/heyteach/article/advice-for-high-school-freshmen-from-departing-seniors1808.html BOOKING & CONTACT
We present to you our 7th grade understudies! These students are a part of our Health Class Media Crew and help record raw, unedited footage of our podcast AND live, on-the-spot reflection both during and after each episode.Watch the behind-the-scenes of “How Do Teens Relax in a Fast-Paced World?” - Life Is The Future Podcast - S7 E12.BACKGROUNDThis video series provides the public with a look into our recording ins-and-outs while simultaneously allowing younger students to learn from our 8th grade hosts. Imperfections are part of the learning process! We are witnessing the development of adolescents as they practice life skills and navigate the ever-growing internet world— all with a positive lens.
How do middle schoolers find down time to relax, especially during summer months? Video Podcast - Life Is The Future - Season 7, Episode 12 This week's 8th grade hosts, Dhruva and Kanishk, partner up to interview classmates Arnav and Aaron. The group of teens take on the topic of life balance-- relaxation, down time with friends, healthy habits, weekly routines, social media favorites, high school preparation, summer plans, and more.What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode?Tune in soon as all four hosts wrap up Season 7 of our podcast. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date as we finish our episodes for the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
We present to you our 7th grade understudies! These students are a part of our Health Class Media Crew and help record raw, unedited footage of our podcast AND live, on-the-spot reflection both during and after each episode.Watch the behind-the-scenes of “Teen Accountability: Mindset & Motivation” - Life Is The Future Podcast - S7 E11.BACKGROUNDThis video series provides the public with a look into our recording ins-and-outs while simultaneously allowing younger students to learn from our 8th grade hosts. Imperfections are part of the learning process! We are witnessing the development of adolescents as they practice life skills and navigate the ever-growing internet world— all with a positive lens.
Ending the School Year? Lock In to Finish Strong Video Podcast - Life Is The Future - Season 7, Episode 11Middle schoolers give insight on motivation and mindset in finishing the school year strong.This week's 8th grade hosts, Sree and Samarth, partner up to interview classmates Gabriel and Sathvik. The group of teens take on the topic of motivation to finish the school year, focusing on academics, social life, focus and attention, mindset, upcoming summer plans, and more.What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode?Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Dhruva and Kanishk, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes as we finish the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
We present to you our 7th grade understudies! These students are a part of our Health Class Media Crew and help record raw, unedited footage of our podcast AND live, on-the-spot reflection both during and after each episode.Watch the behind-the-scenes of “Learning Outside of School” - Life Is The Future Podcast - S7 E10.BACKGROUNDThis video series provides the public with a look into our recording ins-and-outs while simultaneously allowing younger students to learn from our 8th grade hosts. Imperfections are part of the learning process! We are witnessing the development of adolescents as they practice life skills and navigate the ever-growing internet world— all with a positive lens.
Middle schoolers give insight on family time and social development outside of the classroom.Video Podcast - Life Is The Future - Season 7, Episode 10 This week's 8th grade hosts, Dhurva and Kanishk, partner up to interview classmates Rishaan and Jaynish. The group of teens take on the topic of learning outside of school, focusing on social life with family, travel and vacations, sibling interaction, school trips, screen time, game nights, extended family, holiday celebrations, and more.What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode?Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Sree and Samarth, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
Motivation through Animation! Check out this audio blog-- just having fun and continuing a new series using Adobe Character Animator and other creative tools.What do you think? Feedback welcome :)Read the full blog post here: https://lifeisthefuture.com/teaching-blog/train-your-brainReticular Activating System (RAS) = a network of neurons located in the brainstem that plays a crucial role in regulating wakefulness, arousal, and the sleep-wake cycle. It filters sensory information by deciding which stimuli to bring to our conscious attention. The RAS is essentially a "gatekeeper" for the brain to determine what is important to focus on at any given time.Listen in for details."The High 5 Habit," "Mindset," and more books & resources:https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottampersandBOOKING & CONTACT
We present to you our 7th grade understudies! These students are a part of our Health Class Media Crew and help record raw, unedited footage of our podcast AND live, on-the-spot reflection both during and after each episode.Watch the behind-the-scenes of “Mood & Motivation” - Life Is The Future Podcast - S7 E9.BACKGROUNDThis video series provides the public with a look into our recording ins-and-outs while simultaneously allowing younger students to learn from our 8th grade hosts. Imperfections are part of the learning process! We are witnessing the development of adolescents as they practice life skills and navigate the ever-growing internet world— all with a positive lens.
Are adolescents self-aware of their shifts in mood? Video Podcast - Life Is The Future - Season 7, Episode 9 This week's 8th grade hosts, Sree and Samarth, partner up to interview classmates Meghna and Indira. The group of teens take on the topic of mood and its affect on motivation, particularly during certain seasons of the year. The group focuses on things like friendship, social media, brain rot, doomscrolling, consumerism, social comparison, finding positivity, and recommendations for getting through the yearly "blahs."What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode?Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Dhruva and Kanishk, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
Motivation through Animation! Check out this audio blog-- just having fun and trying out a new series using Adobe Character Animator and other creative tools.What do you think? Feedback welcome :)Read the full blog post here: https://lifeisthefuture.com/teaching-blog/habits-that-stick Habit = frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance. In other words, any action that is repeated, almost without thinking.Listen in for details. BOOKING & CONTACT
We present to you our 7th grade understudies! These students are a part of our Health Class Media Crew and help record raw, unedited footage of our podcast AND live, on-the-spot reflection both during and after each episode. Watch the behind-the-scenes of “Mental Health in Middle School” - Life Is The Future Podcast - S7 E8. BACKGROUND This video series provides the public with a look into our recording ins-and-outs while simultaneously allowing younger students to learn from our 8th grade hosts. Imperfections are part of the learning process! We are witnessing the development of adolescents as they practice life skills and navigate the ever-growing internet world— all with a positive lens. The official podcast release can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3c79gaCpXEXMXq35JnIEYe?si=PgkwQUroSTG-4EWfLoVlOw Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZgkYK4roekA DETAILS This week's 8th grade hosts take on the topic of mental health, discussing things like positive self-care routines and the impact of academics, sleep, sports and exercise, self-talk, screen time, friends and social relationships, meditation, gratitude, and many other items that impact emotional well-being for teens. This week's 7th grade understudies, Deyaan and Niko, offer their own opinions on important quotes, meaningful takeaways, and additions or corrections to their slightly older peers. REFLECTION Chime in: How did everyone do? What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode? Tune in soon as our other two 8th grade hosts, Sree and Samarth, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests while our other two 7th grade understudies, Meera and Ahana, provide a sneak peek into the podcast and reflections of their own. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our work throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
Are adolescents mindful of their mental-emotional well-being? Middle schoolers give insight on mental health during teenage years. This week's 8th grade hosts, Dhurva and Kanishk, partner up to interview classmates Aryan and Monish. The group of teens take on the topic of mental health, discussing things like positive self-care routines and the impact of academics, sleep, sports and exercise, self-talk, screen time, friends and social relationships, meditation, gratitude, and many other items that impact emotional well-being for teens. What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode? Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Sree and Samarth, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
Motivation Through Animation! Check out this audio blog-- just having fun and trying out a new series using Adobe Character Animator and other creative tools. What do you think? Feedback welcome :) Read the full blog post here: https://lifeisthefuture.com/teaching-blog/personal-agency Personal agency = the ability to make decisions, to act independently, and to use one's actions towards achieving goals to create a future of competence. Listen in for details. BOOKING & CONTACT
We present to you our 7th grade understudies! These students are a part of our Health Class Media Crew and help record raw, unedited footage of our podcast AND live, on-the-spot reflection both during and after each episode. Watch the behind-the-scenes of “Fueling Athletic Success” - Life Is The Future Podcast - S7 E6. BACKGROUND This video series provides the public with a look into our recording ins-and-outs while simultaneously allowing younger students to learn from our 8th grade hosts. Imperfections are part of the learning process! We are witnessing the development of adolescents as they practice life skills and navigate the ever-growing internet world— all with a positive lens.
Are adolescents mindful of their daily experiences? Middle schoolers give insight on self-care in teenage life. This week's 8th grade hosts, Sree and Samarth, partner up to interview classmates Shriya and Lokesh. The group of teens take on the topic of self-management, discussing things like work and rest balance, time spent in weekly activities, sleep schedules, study habits, stress and coping techniques, handling pressure, attention development, and other self-care routines for teens. What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode? Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Dhruva and Kanishk, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
Are teens interested in healthy eating and active lifestyles? This week's 8th grade hosts, Dhruva and Kanishk, partner up to interview classmates Aayan and Matthew. The teens take on the topics of diet and exercise, especially as it relates to academic and athletic performance. They talk about food choices, water intake, favorite sports, training discipline, sleep habits, teamwork, leadership, and other related social-emotional benefits of overall health and wellness. What other related concepts should the students have mentioned in this episode? Tune in soon as our other two Season 7 hosts, Sree and Samarth, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
We present to you our 7th grade understudies! These students are a part of our Health Class Media Crew and help record raw, unedited footage of our podcast AND live, on-the-spot reflection both during and after each episode. Watch the behind-the-scenes of “Dealing with Discrimination” - Life Is The Future Podcast - S7 E5. BACKGROUND This video series provides the public with a look into our recording ins-and-outs while simultaneously allowing younger students to learn from our 8th grade hosts. Imperfections are part of the learning process! We are witnessing the development of adolescents as they practice life skills and navigate the ever-growing internet world— all with a positive lens. The official podcast release can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0nbMOW9gyhyyKkNR3QmIIj Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bUPoge0oxTg DETAILS This week's 8th grade hosts, Sree and Samarth, partner up to interview classmates Amna and Saathvik. The teens take on the topic of cursing and word choice in teenage life. They discuss influences on language, respecting others, growing up hearing curse words, if there's a time and place for swearing, common insults, and even prejudice and discriminating speech they come across week to week. This week's 7th grade understudies, Aahil and Ednit, offer their own opinions on important quotes, meaningful takeaways, and additions or corrections to their slightly older peers. REFLECTION Chime in: How did everyone do? What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode? Tune in soon as our other two 8th grade hosts, Dhruva and Kanishk, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests while our other two 7th grade understudies, Meera and Aahana, provide a sneak peek into the podcast and reflections of their own. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our work throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
Do adolescents experience stereotypes and prejudice? This week's 8th grade hosts, Sree and Samarth, partner up to interview classmates Amna and Satthvik. The group of teens take on the serious topic of discrimination, in particular hate speech and other prejudice in their world today. They give their honest thoughts about racist jokes, about hurtful judgement and comments, about students with special needs, and about religion, neighborhoods, life experience, and more. What does it mean to be labeled with a slur? And what do our teenagers have to deal with growing up within that stereotype group they get placed into? What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode? Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Dhruva and Kanishk, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
We present to you our 7th grade understudies! These students are a part of our Health Class Media Crew and help record raw, unedited footage of our podcast AND live, on-the-spot reflection both during and after each episode. Watch and listen to the behind-the-scenes of “Surviving Middle School” - Life Is The Future Podcast - S7 E4. BACKGROUND This video series provides the public with a look and listen into our recording ins-and-outs while simultaneously allowing younger students to learn from our 8th grade hosts. Imperfections are part of the learning process! Witness the development of adolescents as they practice life skills and navigate the ever-growing internet world— all with a positive lens. The official podcast release can be found here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/GoHBfAUnhOb Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QJTjIpBfkUE DETAILS This week's 8th grade hosts, Dhruva and Kanishk, partner up to interview classmates Raunit and Vihari. The teens take on a wide variety of topics as they start their final grade of middle school. They discuss school work, extracurriculars, friendships, social media, and other hopes and wishes for the future. This week's 7th grade understudies, Aahana and Meera, offer their own opinions on important quotes, meaningful takeaways, and additions or corrections to their slightly older peers. REFLECTION Chime in: How did everyone do? What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode? Tune in soon as our other two 8th grade hosts, Sree and Samarth, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests while our other two 7th grade understudies, Aahil and Ednit, provide a sneak peek into the podcast and reflections of their own. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our work throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
Teens transitioning from middle school to high school -- what should we know? This week's 8th grade hosts, Dhruva and Kanishk, partner up to interview classmates Raunit and Vihari. The teens take on a wide variety of topics as they start their final grade of middle school. They discuss school work, extracurriculars, friendships, social media, and other hopes and wishes for the future. What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode? Tune in soon as our other two Season 7 hosts, Sree and Samarth, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
We present to you our 7th grade understudies! These students are a part of our Health Class Media Crew and help record raw, unedited footage of our podcast AND live, on-the-spot reflection both during and after each episode. Watch and listen to the behind-the-scenes of “Swearing in School” - Life Is The Future Podcast - S7 E3. This video series provides the public with a look and listen into our recording ins-and-outs while simultaneously allowing younger students to learn from our 8th grade hosts. Imperfections are part of the learning process! Witness the development of adolescents as they practice life skills and navigate the ever-growing internet world— all with a positive lens. The official podcast release can be found here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/cgCk34VMUNb Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QJTjIpBfkUE DETAILS This week's 8th grade hosts, Sree and Samarth, partner up to interview classmates Evan and Srishti. The teens take on the topic of cursing and word choice in teenage life. They discuss influences on language, respecting others, growing up hearing curse words, if there's a time and place for swearing, common insults, and even prejudice and discriminating speech they come across week to week. This week's 7th grade understudies, Aahil and Ednit, offer their own opinions on important quotes, meaningful takeaways, and additions or corrections to their slightly older peers. REFLECTION Chime in: How did everyone do? What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode? Tune in soon as our other two 8th grade hosts, Dhruva and Kanishk, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests while our other two 7th grade understudies, Meera and Aahana, provide a sneak peek into the podcast and reflections of their own. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our work throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
Teens and profanity -- what should we know? This week's 8th grade hosts, Sree and Samarth, partner up to interview classmates Evan and Srishti. The teens take on the topic of cursing and word choice in teenage life. They talk discuss influences on language, respecting others, growing up hearing curse words, if there's a time and place for swearing, common insults, and even prejudice and discriminating speech they come across week to week. What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode? Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Dhruva and Kanishk, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
Passing the torch to our new leaders! We meet two of our Season 7 podcast hosts, Dhruva and Kanishk. They will take control of the mic in our new school year, and join two other students to be our 8th grade leaders. We hear about the 8th graders” hobbies and interests, how the school year has started, being in a leadership role, managing time to balance priorities, and a bit on the whole process of practicing Health Ed life skills to create debates and discussions. Make sure to check out Part 1 when we met the other two hosts for our new season, Sree and Samarth. Subscribe and tune in to catch all of our episodes as the 2024-2025 school year begins! BOOKING & CONTACT
Say hello to our new leaders! We meet two of our Season 7 podcast hosts, Sree and Samarth. They will take control of the mic in our new school year, and join two other students to be our 8th grade leaders. We hear about the 8th graders hobbies and interests, how the school year has started in comparison to previous grades, potential topics and guests, and a bit on the whole process of practicing Health Ed life skills to create debates and discussions. Make sure to check in on Part 2 as we meet the other two hosts for our new season, Dhruva and Kanishk. Subscribe and tune in to catch all of our episodes as the 2024-2025 school year begins! BOOKING & CONTACT
High School Seniors react to their old 8th Grade podcast! Previous Life Is The Future hosts, Rhys and Lauren (S1 2019-2020), return to break down one of the episodes they recorded back in middle school. Cool concept, right? We are fortunate these alumni were still in the area to analyze their prior opinions on life as teenagers. Focus points include stress, sports, academics, friendships, and family life all as they relate to social media. Do you agree with their opinions? Which were “good takes” and which were “bad takes” from four years ago? How has the world changed in the meantime? Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes as we begin the 2024-2025 school year and Season SEVEN of the Life Is The Future podcast! RESOURCES "Middle School Issues Commonly Faced By Kids" https://www.verywellfamily.com/common-middle-school-problems-kids-encounter-3288140 "What is High School Really Like?" https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/starting-high-school.html "Advice for High School Freshmen from Departing Seniors" https://www.wgu.edu/heyteach/article/advice-for-high-school-freshmen-from-departing-seniors1808.html BOOKING & CONTACT
Throwback Episode! Season 6 hosts interview Season 2 hosts. Cool concept, right? This is a special opportunity where previous 8th grade podcast hosts return to visit our current middle school hosts. Ayla and Alexis (S6 2023-2024) welcome Lauren and Rhys (S2 2019-2020) to reminisce about the last 4+ years. The 8th graders ask the graduating seniors all about life after middle school. Focus points include life balance, sports, academics, stress, friendships, extracurricular activities, emotional maturation, working through COVID, and recommendations for surviving and thriving through teen years. What did you think of this conversation? We'd love to hear feedback. Did the group miss any main points about middle or high school? Check out the same type of interview with our other set of hosts from Season 2, Salil and Shauna, as interviewed by Season 6 hosts, John and Roshann. That episode can be found here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifeisthefuture/episodes/What-to-Expect-in-High-School---8th-Graders-Interview-Seniors-2024-e2jo7df Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes as we conclude the 2023-2024 school year and Season 6 of the Life Is The Future podcast! RESOURCES Middle School Issues Commonly Faced By Kids - Very Well What is High School Really Like? - Nemours TeensHealth Advice for High School Freshmen from Departing Seniors - WGU.edu BOOKING & CONTACT
Throwback Episode! Season 6 hosts interview Season 2 hosts. Cool concept, right? This is a special opportunity where previous 8th grade podcast hosts return to visit our current middle school hosts. John and Roshann (S6 2023-2024) welcome Salil and Shauna (S2 2019-2020) to reminisce about the last 4+ years. The 8th graders ask the graduating seniors all about life after middle school. Focus points include time management, sports, academics, stress, friendships, extracurricular activities, motivation, working through COVID, and recommendations for surviving and thriving through teen years. What did you think of this conversation? We'd love to hear feedback. Did the group miss any main points about middle or high school? Check out the same type of interview with our other set of hosts from Season 2, Lauren and Rhys, as interviewed by Season 6 hosts, Ayla and Alexis. That episode will be released in the next few days! Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes as we conclude the 2023-2024 school year and Season 6 of the Life Is The Future podcast! RESOURCES Middle School Issues Commonly Faced By Kids - Very Well What is High School Really Like? - Nemours TeensHealth Advice for High School Freshmen from Departing Seniors - WGU.edu BOOKING & CONTACT
What is occurring with stereotypes during adolescence? Middle schoolers give insight on social life in the 21st century. This week's 8th graders, Ayla, Alexis, John, and Roshann bring in classmates Addison and Amare. The group of teens take on the serious topic of social health stereotypes, in particular racism and other prejudice in their world today. They give their honest thoughts about racist jokes, about hurtful judgement and comments, about food, music, clothing, academics, sports, religion, income, neighborhood, life experience, and more. What does it mean to be “Black” or “White” or “Asian” or “Latino” or other labels and terminology? And what do our teenagers have to deal with growing up within that racial group they get placed into? How did the students do? What are your thoughts on the impact of racial stereotypes on teenage life and beyond? BOOKING & CONTACT
What is on the adolescent mind? Middle schoolers give insight on teen life in the 21st century. This week's 8th graders, Ayla, Alexis, John, and Roshann bring in classmates Keara and Sam. The group of teens take a short break from the serious topics from recent episodes to have a game/discussion… “Overrated or Underrated?” They give their candid thoughts about fame, technology and social media, fast food and snacks, clothing brands, sports, music, and more! How did the students do? What are your thoughts on the impact of pop culture and other related influences on teenage life? Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2023-2024 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT
Drugs and teens... is it inevitable the two will meet? This week's 8th graders, Ayla, Alexis, Addison, John, and Roshann talk about substance use among young people. The group of teens take on the impact and influences on illegal drug use, focusing on family life, social media, fitting in, social image, education, coping strategies, sales to underage kids, recommendations for handling peer pressure, and more! What did the students miss? What are your thoughts on the influences on drug and other substance abuse as related to teenage life? Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2023-2024 school year! RESOURCES Youth Risk Behavior Survey https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data... CDC - E-Cigarettes https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/infograph... Tobacco Free Kids https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/what-... Stanford Tobacco Toolkit https://med.stanford.edu/tobaccopreve... NIH - Underage Drinking https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/underage-dr... Illinois Policy - Marijuana Legalization https://www.illinoispolicy.org/what-y... BOOKING & CONTACT
How are young people handling current influences on life? This week's 8th graders, Ayla, Alexis, John, and Roshann bring in classmates Keara and Tori. The group of teens take on the topic of pop culture and outside influences on middle school life. They talk social media, clothing, sports, peer pressure, online comments, judgmental classmates, maintaining a healthy identity, effects on social image, and more! What did the students miss? What are your thoughts on the impact of pop culture and other related influences on teenage life? Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2023-2024 school year! RESOURCES Pew Research Study - "Teens & Social Media" The Live Wire - Are Society's New Expectations of Teens Too Much? Lowell Sun Opinion - We Are the Ones Failing Our Teens, Not Social Media BOOKING & CONTACT
Teens look ahead to the new year -- what will 2024 bring? This week's 8th graders, Alexis, Ayla, John and Roshann, approach the New Year by reflecting on middle school life and looking ahead at what's in store. The teens talk about finishing middle school and all the expectations of high school-- friends and different schools, sports and motivation, classes and grades, and the independence and maturity of growing up. Tune in for the new year as our hosts take on new topics and bring in new guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2023-2024 school year! RESOURCES Students: MindBe Education - 30 Mindfulness Activities for Teens Parents: Parent Learning Center - Expectations That Your Teen Will Appreciate In The Future Teachers: Time - Teen Depression and Anxiety: Why the Kids Are Not Alright Chicago Tribune - 'No worse fate than failure': How pressure to keep up is overwhelming students BOOKING & CONTACT
"Never Have I Ever..." This week, our 8th graders take a little break from their typical interview routine. They've been through some important topics already this school year and decided to have a little fun before Thanksgiving break. Listen in as they debate some great questions and laugh through random scenarios together. It's an entertaining episode and lets the teens speak candidly for a bit. Continue to tune as our hosts, Ayla, Alexis, and John, continue Season 6 with new topics and new guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2023-2024 school year! RESOURCES Edutopia - Students' input and expertise can help shape their own learning and growth. VCU - Student Voice: A growing movement within education that benefits students and teachers. Education Week - Raising Student 'Voice and Choice' Is the Mantra. But Is It a Good Idea? BOOKING & CONTACT
Teens and athletic involvement-- what should we know? This week's 8th grade hosts, John and Jaymes partner up to interview classmates Max and Roshann. The teens take on the topic of athletics in middle school life. They talk about balancing sports and academics, developing friendships and camaraderie with teammates, the pressure to perform and succeed, athletic impact on sleep and emotions, developing a positive social image, recommendations for time management while in sports, and more! Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Ayla and Alexis, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2023-2024 school year! RESOURCES The Benefits of Youth Sports - Health.govParticipation in Sports Helps Adolescent Development - NIH Library of MedicineAdolescents Who Aren't Active Put Future At Risk - World Health Organization BOOKING & CONTACT
Teens and social media-- what should we know? This week's 8th grade hosts, Ayla and Alexis partner up to interview classmates Ava and Tori. The teens take on the topic of social media in middle school life. They talk popular social media platforms, time on and off screens, the impact of media on young kids, parent involvement, growing up and maturing with media, consuming versus creating, adolescent life before social media, recommendations for parents/guardians, and more! Tune in soon as our other two hosts, John and Jaymes, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2023-2024 school year! RESOURCES Pew Research Study: "Teens & Social Media" Common Sense Media: "US Surgeon General's Warning About Social Media" Adam Alter: "Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology" BOOKING & CONTACT
Passing the torch to our new leaders! We meet two of our Season 6 podcast hosts, John and Jaymes. They will take control of the mic in our new school year, and join two other students to be our 8th grade leaders. We hear about the 8th graders” hobbies and interests, how the school year has started, finding tme to hang out with friends, stress over this new endeavor, and a bit on the whole process of practicing Health Ed life skills to create debates and discussions. Make sure to check out Part 1 when we met the other two hosts for our new season, Ayla and Alexis. Subscribe and tune in to catch all of our episodes as the 2023-2024 school year begins! BOOKING & CONTACT
Say hello to our new leaders! We meet two of our Season 6 podcast hosts, Ayla and Alexis. They will take control of the mic in our new school year, and join two other students to be our 8th grade leaders. We hear about the 8th graders hobbies and interests, how the school year has started in comparison to previous grades, potential topics and guests, and a bit on the whole process of practicing Health Ed life skills to create debates and discussions. Make sure to check in on Part 2 as we meet the other two hosts for our new season, John and Jaymes. Subscribe and tune in to catch all of our episodes as the 2023-2024 school year begins! BOOKING & CONTACT
High School Seniors react to their old 8th Grade podcast! Previous Life Is The Future hosts, Luke and Tadiwa (S1 2018-2019), return to break down one of their first episodes they recorded back in middle school. Cool concept, right? We are fortunate these alumni were still in the area to analyze their prior opinions on life as teenagers. Focus points include gender differences as related to social media, stress, friendships, physical attraction, school dress codes, societal expectations, and more. Do you agree with their opinions? Which were “good takes” and which were “bad takes” from four years ago? How has the world changed in the meantime? Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes as we begin the 2023-2024 school year and Season SIX of the Life Is The Future podcast! RESOURCES "Middle School Issues Commonly Faced By Kids" https://www.verywellfamily.com/common-middle-school-problems-kids-encounter-3288140 "What is High School Really Like?" https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/starting-high-school.html "Advice for High School Freshmen from Departing Seniors" https://www.wgu.edu/heyteach/article/advice-for-high-school-freshmen-from-departing-seniors1808.html BOOKING & CONTACT
Throwback Episode! Season 5 hosts interview Season 1 hosts. Cool concept, right? This is a special opportunity where previous 8th grade podcast hosts return to visit our current middle school hosts. Julius and Saif (S5 2022-2023) welcome Luke and Tadiwa (S1 2018-2019) to reminisce about the last 4+ years. The 8th graders ask the graduating seniors all about life after middle school. Focus points include time management, sports, academics, stress, friendships, extracurricular activities, personality changes, moving schools, recommendations for surviving and thriving through teen years. What did you think of this conversation? We'd love to hear feedback. Did the group miss any main points about middle or high school? Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes as we begin the 2023-2024 school year and Season SIX of the Life Is The Future podcast! RESOURCES Middle School Issues Commonly Faced By Kids - Very Well What is High School Really Like? - Nemours TeensHealth Advice for High School Freshmen from Departing Seniors - WGU.edu BOOKING & CONTACT
Extracurriculars = organized student activities connected with school that occur outside of typical school hours. Examples: athletics, performing arts, social clubs, etc. This week's 8th grade hosts, Ava and Dinora partner up to interview classmates Katelyn, Kayla, and Venny. The students take on the topic of extracurricular activities in teenage life. Specific focus points include the benefits from activities outside of the academic day, mental health and personal growth, social health and the impact of coaches and teammates, the usefulness of failure, volunteer work, and transferring skills and life lessons to future endeavors. Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Julius and Saif, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes as we wrap up the 2022-2023 school year! RESOURCES The Impact of Sports on Middle School Students from Livestrong.com Sports and Education Work Well Together from the New York Times Benefits of Extra-Curriculars by High School from Crimson Education Middle Schoolers May Benefit Academically from Extra-Curriculars from New York University BOOKING & CONTACT
Bullying = unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real-- or perceived-- power imbalance. Bullying is ongoing or has the potential to be repeated; it refers the deliberate physical, social, or psychological harm that can occur in person or online through various digital platforms and devices. Bullying might be obvious or it might include hidden behavior. Bullying has the potential for immediate and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. This week's 8th grade hosts, Saif and Julius partner up to interview classmates Peter and Erunosa. The teens take on the topic of bullying, especially in middle school life. The 8th graders give valuable insight on bullying throughout different ages, examples of bullying behavior, how words hurt mentally and emotionally, self-concept and self-esteem, reasons teens might bully others, how bystanders can have secondary effects, the impact of the Internet and social media, acknowledging trauma in people doing the offense, and recommendations for identifying and dealing with bullying. Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Ava and Dinora, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the school year. RESOURCES StopBullying.gov - Identification, prevention, and effective responses. KidsHealth.org - Dealing with bullying. CDC - Examining youth violence and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).HealthyChildren.org - Bullying: It's not ok. BOOKING & CONTACT
Early bird, night owl, neither nor, or somewhere in between? This week's 8th grade hosts, Saif and Julius partner up to interview classmates Etinosa and Arohan. The teens take on the topic of sleep in middle school life. They bring up the average amount of sleep at various ages, the reasons teens might skip or limit sleep, the impact of electronics, thoughts that keep us awake, rebelling against adult recommendations, caffeine instead of sleep, historical trends, stress and coping mechnisms, and advice to listeners for analyzing their own sleep habits during adolescence. Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Ava and Dinora, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the school year. RESOURCES Sleep Tips for Teens - Life Is The Future Sleep or Teenagers - Sleep Foundation How Much is Enough Sleep for Teens? - Johns Hopkins Medicine BOOKING & CONTACT
Dress Code: a set of rules about what clothing may and may not be worn at a school, office, restaurant, etc. This week's 8th grade hosts, Ava and Dinora partner up to interview classmates Morgan and Paxtyn. The teens take on the topic of dress codes in public schools. Specific focus points include middle school rules and consequences, personal expression, gender differences, societal norms, bias against females, normalizing puberty, feeling targeted as girls, home expectations, and more. Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Julius and Saif, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the school year. RESOURCES Pros and Cons of School Dress Codes - Britannica.com Why School Dress Codes Are Often Unfair - US News Do School Dress Codes Discriminate Against Girls? - Education Week BOOKING & CONTACT
Body Positivity: feeling good about your body and the way it looks. Body positivity is rooted in loving yourself and gaining self-confidence. This week's 8th grade hosts, Saif and Julius partner up to interview classmates Logan and Mukund. The teens take on the topic of sports, exercise, and general fitness in middle school life. They bring up life balance with sports and academics, fun vs. competitive participation, the mental benefits of exercise, weightlifting and other fitness basics, and advice to listeners for pursuing fitness in teen years. Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Ava and Dinora, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the school year. RESOURCES The Benefits of Youth Sports - Health.gov Participation in Sports Helps Adolescent Development - NIH Library of Medicine Adolescents Who Aren't Active Put Future At Risk - World Health Organization BOOKING & CONTACT
Stress Management: techniques aimed at controlling a person's level of distress to improve everyday functioning. This week's 8th grade hosts, Saif and Julius partner up to interview classmates Liam and Jason. The teens take on the topic of stress in middle school life. They bring up academic stressors and the challenges of advanced classes, athletics and the pressures involved with sports, the carryover of e-learning struggles, future expectations, career foreshadowing, social health and friendships, procrastination, learning disabilities, sympathy for others, the role teachers and parents can play in stress management for teens, and advice to listeners for balancing stress in teen years. RESOURCES Students: Kids Health - Simple definitions and concepts for young people. Teens Talk About Stress - A resource specifically aimed at teen health. Parents: Stress Management & Teens - Facts and guidelines for families. Managing Stress in Teens - Clarity and quick tips for parents. Teachers: SHAPE America - SEL - Social-Emotional Learning resources. Health.Moves.Minds. - An SEL program from SHAPE America. Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Ava and Dinora, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the school year. Teaching insight, blog posts, and more from the Health Education classroom: LifeIsTheFuture.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lifeisthefuture/support
Gender stereotypes: attitudes, attributes, and actions imposed on men and women based on binary gender. This week's 8th grade hosts, Ava and Dinora, partner up to interview classmates Julia and Madeline. The teens take on the topic of gender stereotypes for teen girls, including a focus on the impact on female health habits. Specifics include body image, athletic demands, sexist expectations, middle school pressures, mean boys, mental health, eating and sleep habits, the influence of parents and siblings, and more. RESOURCES The Pressures on Adolescent Girls For Teenage Girls, Pressure to be Perfect Carries Heavy Mental Health Toll Teen Girls Open Up About the 'Constant Pressure' of Social Media Most Teens See Anxiety and Depression as a Major Problem Among Peers Tune in soon as our other two hosts, Saif and Julius, take on a new topic with a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the school year. Teaching insight, blog posts, and more from the Health Education classroom: LifeIsTheFuture.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lifeisthefuture/support
Stress: The body's response to change. Distress is a negative pressure or threat; the "bad" stress. Eustress is beneficial challenge; the "good" stress. This week's 8th grade hosts, Ava and Dinora partner up to interview classmates Zach and Aiden. The teens take on the topic of stress in middle school and in life. This is another recurring conversation year-to-year, and for good reason. Specifics this week include academic expectations and standardized tests, high school on the horizon, anxiety and depression, peer pressure, athletics and extracurriculars, body image, COVID restrictions, maintaining friendships, coping strategies, and more. RESOURCES Students Kids Health - Simple definitions and concepts for young people. Teens Talk About Stress - A resource specifically aimed at teen health. Parents: Stress Management & Teens - Facts and guidelines for families. Managing Stress in Teens - Clarity and quick tips for parents. Teachers: SHAPE America - SEL - Social-Emotional Learning resources. Health.Moves.Minds. - An SEL program from SHAPE America. Tune in next week as our other two hosts, Saif and Julius, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the school year. Teaching insight, blog posts, and more from the Health Education classroom: LifeIsTheFuture.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lifeisthefuture/support
Stereotypes: generalizations based on a group in which a person belongs. (Ex: race, age, gender, income, neighborhood, etc.) This week's 8th grade hosts, Saif and Julius partner up to interview classmates Aidan, Gareth, and Tytus. The five teens take on the topic of stereotypes in middle school and in life. This is always a recurring conversation year-to-year, and for good reason. They bring up age, race, and gender norms, talking through peer pressure, drug use, older generations, and perceptions vs. reality of people with mental-emotional issues like ADHD and depression. RESOURCES: Gender Stereotypes from Teaching Tolerance Racial Stereotypes from Simply Psychology Breaking Stereotypes from National Women's Law Center How Middle School Kids Reject Stereotypes from MiddleWeb Talking About Race & Stereotypes in School from Edutopia Tune in next week as our other two hosts, Ava and Dinora, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the school year. Teaching insight, blog posts, and more from the Health Education classroom: LifeIsTheFuture.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lifeisthefuture/support
Back in action and getting started with our new hosts! We hear a quick informal check-in from our Season 5 podcast hosts, Julius, Ava, Dinora, and Saif! These 8th grade students will take the lead in weekly interviews with classmates. By recording in this format, the students will put Health Education life skills into practice-- communication, decision making, and advocacy will help them create discussions and debates on the multitude of timely topics for today's teen. Check it out and make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the school year. Teaching insight, blog posts, and more from the Health Education classroom: LifeIsTheFuture.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lifeisthefuture/support
The end of another era! We meet two of our Season 5 podcast hosts, Ava and Julius! They will take the lead in our new school year, and join two other students to be our 8th grade leaders. We hear from Season 4 hosts, Connor and Sparsh, as they pass on recommendations on topics and guests-- what worked well, how to get people talking, and the whole process of practicing Health Ed life skills to create debates and discussions. Make sure to check in on Part 1 as we met the other two hosts for our new season, Saif and Dinora. Subscribe and tune in to catch all of our episodes as the 2022-2023 school year begins! Teaching insight, blog posts, and more from the Health Education classroom: LifeIsTheFuture.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lifeisthefuture/support
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