This Is So Awkward

Latest Episodes:

Setting Boundaries with Other Adults Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

Setting boundaries takes practice: kids need to learn this skill and most adults need to evolve it.Practically speaking, boundary-setting starts with drawing lines on our kids’ behalf. In doing so, we show (more than tell) what is (and isn’t!) okay for strangers, family, and friends to do and say — from comments about body changes or clothing choices to judgments about life paths. The trick is to set boundaries while still encouraging connection, because we want kids to learn about limits without walling themselves off.

Show Notes:

Join our LESS AWKWARD ESSENTIALS

Get your Alloy prescription today. Visit https://myalloy.com/SOAWKWARD today for $20 off your first order!

Head to http://lumen.me/AWKWARD for 10% off your purchase.

Go to Quince.com/AWKWARD for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

Go to everyplate.com/podcast and use code AWKWARD199 to get started.

Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, at BollAndBranch.com/AWKWARD

Head to phyla.com and use code PUBERTY for 25% off your first order

Download the FREE Playbook for Getting Your Kid to Talk

Order our book This Is So Awkward

Check out all our speaking and curriculum at www.lessawkward.com and our super comfy products at www.myoomla.com

To bring us to your school or community email operations@lessawkward.com

To submit listener questions email podcast@lessawkward.com

Watch the full episode on Youtube!

Produced by Peoples Media

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deep Dive on Periods Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Hina Talib, adolescent medicine specialist, joins us for a deep dive on periods. We discuss menstruation as a vital sign, what’s considered normal for teen menstruation and what’s not, when to worry and when to seek advice from medical providers. We’ll cover everything from mittelschmerz (WHAT?!!!) to endometriosis, so tune in for accessible expert advice on all things periods!

Show Notes:

Join our LESS AWKWARD ESSENTIALS

Get your Alloy prescription today. Visit https://myalloy.com/SOAWKWARD today for $20 off your first order!

Head to http://lumen.me/AWKWARD for 10% off your purchase.

Go to Quince.com/AWKWARD for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

Go to everyplate.com/podcast and use code AWKWARD199 to get started.

Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, at BollAndBranch.com/AWKWARD

Head to phyla.com and use code PUBERTY for 25% off your first order

Download the FREE Playbook for Getting Your Kid to Talk

Order our book This Is So Awkward

Check out all our speaking and curriculum at www.lessawkward.com and our super comfy products at www.myoomla.com

To bring us to your school or community email operations@lessawkward.com

To submit listener questions email podcast@lessawkward.com

Watch the full episode on Youtube!

Produced by Peoples Media

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How to be a Friend Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Human connection is critical to wellbeing for people of all ages. But it's also a skill that can be taught and honed. We’re big believers in not glossing over conversations with kids about how to be a friend. How can you approach this conversation that feels all at once very basic and also can be very charged? Start by appreciating the cultural myths about friendship, then move into some of the more obvious tenets of being a friend (that aren’t always obvious to kids!), and finally, get well-versed in the friendship-challenges kids face.

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How to Respond When Kids Treat Us Like Crap Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

We’re rereleasing this episode because a heartfelt listener question offered up a common parenting challenge: My teen daughter treats me so badly that I just want to pull away from her. Our advice starts with the science behind adolescent mood swings and then moves into setting limits in the heat of the moment and beyond.

Show Notes:

Join our LESS AWKWARD ESSENTIALS

Get your Alloy prescription today. Visit https://myalloy.com/SOAWKWARD today for $20 off your first order!

Head to http://lumen.me/AWKWARD for 10% off your purchase.

Go to Quince.com/AWKWARD for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

Go to everyplate.com/podcast and use code AWKWARD199 to get started.

Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, at BollAndBranch.com/AWKWARD

Head to phyla.com and use code PUBERTY for 25% off your first order

Download the FREE Playbook for Getting Your Kid to Talk

Order our book This Is So Awkward

Check out all our speaking and curriculum at www.lessawkward.com and our super comfy products at www.myoomla.com

To bring us to your school or community email operations@lessawkward.com

To submit listener questions email podcast@lessawkward.com

Watch the full episode on Youtube!

Produced by Peoples Media

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How to Give Information in a Way Kids Can Hear It Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Successfully imparting information to kids is more art than science. Often it’s as much about tone and approach as it is about the content itself. Plus, there are so many variables that can impact how things go like temperament, personality, mood, stress and so on. We offer some of our favorite tenets that can help steer conversations to a place kids can hear what we’re saying, maybe even engage with us, and leave the door open to further discussions.

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The Gambling Talk Jul 04, 2025

Show notes

We’re rereleasing this episode because it’s gotten even more important since we first recorded it. Move over sex and drugs, there’s a new hot topic to add to the list of the zillion talks you’ll have with the kids in your life: gambling. It’s time to start conversations about everything from online gambling sites to gaming platforms to fantasy sports leagues. Plus add the fact that kid-targeted phone-based apps offer lots of entry points into the world of wagering.

Show Notes:

Join our LESS AWKWARD ESSENTIALS

Get your Alloy prescription today. Visit https://myalloy.com/SOAWKWARD today for $20 off your first order!

Head to http://lumen.me/AWKWARD for 10% off your purchase.

Go to Quince.com/AWKWARD for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

Go to everyplate.com/podcast and use code AWKWARD199 to get started.

Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, at BollAndBranch.com/AWKWARD

Head to phyla.com and use code PUBERTY for 25% off your first order

Download the FREE Playbook for Getting Your Kid to Talk

Order our book This Is So Awkward

Check out all our speaking and curriculum at www.lessawkward.com and our super comfy products at www.myoomla.com

To bring us to your school or community email operations@lessawkward.com

To submit listener questions email podcast@lessawkward.com

Watch the full episode on Youtube!

Produced by Peoples Media

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What it Means to be Body Literate Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

There’s knowing your body parts and then there’s body literacy. It turns out, both are key to health and safety. If knowing your body parts is like having a map, being body literate is like being able to read a compass. We’re joined by Konika Ray Wong, a health educator and author of body books for kids down to age 4. She covers concepts like interoception and attunement (yes, big words!), central concepts for people who want to understand their body’s cues.

Show Notes:

Join our LESS AWKWARD ESSENTIALS

Get your Alloy prescription today. Visit https://myalloy.com/SOAWKWARD today for $20 off your first order!

Head to http://lumen.me/AWKWARD for 10% off your purchase.

Go to Quince.com/AWKWARD for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

Go to everyplate.com/podcast and use code AWKWARD199 to get started.

Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, at BollAndBranch.com/AWKWARD

Head to phyla.com and use code PUBERTY for 25% off your first order

Download the FREE Playbook for Getting Your Kid to Talk

Order our book This Is So Awkward

Check out all our speaking and curriculum at www.lessawkward.com and our super comfy products at www.myoomla.com

To bring us to your school or community email operations@lessawkward.com

To submit listener questions email podcast@lessawkward.com

Watch the full episode on Youtube!

Produced by Peoples Media

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rerelease: 4 Summer Must-Have Conversations Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

Rereleasing this gem as part of our summer series. If you’re sending a kid away for part of the summer – or even if you’re just sending them off for the day – there are certain key conversations to have before getting too far into summer. We cover everything from body changes and clothing choices to tech use and trusted adults.

Show Notes:

Join our LESS AWKWARD ESSENTIALS

Get your Alloy prescription today. Visit https://myalloy.com/SOAWKWARD today for $20 off your first order!

Head to http://lumen.me/AWKWARD for 10% off your purchase.

Go to Quince.com/AWKWARD for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

Go to everyplate.com/podcast and use code AWKWARD199 to get started.

Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, at BollAndBranch.com/AWKWARD

Head to phyla.com and use code PUBERTY for 25% off your first order

Download the FREE Playbook for Getting Your Kid to Talk

Order our book This Is So Awkward

Check out all our speaking and curriculum at www.lessawkward.com and our super comfy products at www.myoomla.com

To bring us to your school or community email operations@lessawkward.com

To submit listener questions email podcast@lessawkward.com

Watch the full episode on Youtube!

Produced by Peoples Media

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TMI! Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

The fine line between informing and oversharing is tricky to navigate, especially when it comes to topics like puberty, sex, and drugs. On the one hand, kids need information; on the other, we must take into account things like personality, communication style, and desire for privacy, not to mention set boundaries according to their developmental stage. So when does sharing information cross over into too much information? This episode has the answer and so much more.

Show Notes:

Join our LESS AWKWARD ESSENTIALS

Get your Alloy prescription today. Visit https://myalloy.com/SOAWKWARD today for $20 off your first order!

Head to http://lumen.me/AWKWARD for 10% off your purchase.

Go to Quince.com/AWKWARD for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

Go to everyplate.com/podcast and use code AWKWARD199 to get started.

Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, at BollAndBranch.com/AWKWARD

Head to phyla.com and use code PUBERTY for 25% off your first order

Download the FREE Playbook for Getting Your Kid to Talk

Order our book This Is So Awkward

Check out all our speaking and curriculum at www.lessawkward.com and our super comfy products at www.myoomla.com

To bring us to your school or community email operations@lessawkward.com

To submit listener questions email podcast@lessawkward.com

Watch the full episode on Youtube!

Produced by Peoples Media

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Body Hair and Puberty Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

We’re rereleasing this episode ahead of the summer months when body hair becomes a hairy issue ;) We cover everything you ever wanted to know: when and where hair grows as kids’ bodies change, the social and emotional implications of sprouting on different parts of the body, and how to handle conversations about keeping vs. getting rid of all this new hair.

Show Notes:

Join our LESS AWKWARD ESSENTIALS

Get your Alloy prescription today. Visit https://myalloy.com/SOAWKWARD today for $20 off your first order!

Head to http://lumen.me/AWKWARD for 10% off your purchase.

Go to Quince.com/AWKWARD for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

Go to everyplate.com/podcast and use code AWKWARD199 to get started.

Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, at BollAndBranch.com/AWKWARD

Head to phyla.com and use code PUBERTY for 25% off your first order

Download the FREE Playbook for Getting Your Kid to Talk

Order our book This Is So Awkward

Check out all our speaking and curriculum at www.lessawkward.com and our super comfy products at www.myoomla.com

To bring us to your school or community email operations@lessawkward.com