You’ve probably seen the INs and OUTs trend videos, so to kick off this year’s episodes, I’m gonna share my 2025 INs and OUTs for teen and tween girls. We’ve got the whole year ahead of us, and I hope that these ideas help you look forward to it.

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To help you, I created a "2025 INs + OUTs" list. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 117 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

That’s a wrap on 2024. As you reflect on the past year, what might stick out in your mind are negative memories, what you didn’t get to do, and things you had a hard time with, failed at, or gave up.

The past year may have knocked you down a few times. But you got back up, and–you’re still standing. You’re still here. Even if you’re hanging on by a thread, keep holding on. Let's help you stand steadier.
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To help you, I created a "2024 Year Reflection" worksheet. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 116 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com. 

There’s a saying that goes, “Boys will be boys.” But I think it's time we rephrase that. This is a tough topic, but because there are boys your age who are being taught certain beliefs and behaviors, I think it’s important that you learn about this so you can recognize it.
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To help you, I also shared books that explore this topic in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 115 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

We just celebrated Thanksgiving in the US, and we've already discussed gratitude in episodes 003, 049, and 079--could there possibly be even more to say about gratitude? Actually, yes. The reason I keep revisiting this topic is because practicing it can have a profound impact on your life.

Recognizing and appreciating the tiny glimmers around us can actually make a huge difference in our life.
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To help you, I created a "Glimmers List." Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 114 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

Sometimes you’ll set goals and reach them, and sometimes you won’t. So then what do you do?
 
You may remember, a few months ago I made a big hairy audacious goal to reach ONE MILLION podcast downloads by my birthday at the end of September. Did I get there by then? Actually, no. But I want to tell you what happened–and listen til the end for an update.
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To help you, I created a "When You Don't Reach a Goal" worksheet. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 113 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

I’ve had multiple requests for an episode on ADHD. This topic is personal to me because I was diagnosed with ADHD 3.5 years ago, a few months after I started this podcast. I will preface this by reminding you–I am not a healthcare professional, I am not offering medical advice or a diagnosis. I still want to share my experience because I feel it’s important to talk about ADHD to spread awareness. Whether you have it too or know someone who does, understanding it better will help your relationships with others.

A full transcript of this episode is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 112 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

I also recommend revisiting these episodes:
104 Procrastination
87 Organization + Cleaning
31 Being Too Busy (time management)

Media literacy is absolutely crucial for people to develop because we live in a digital world. And if you haven’t heard yet–you can’t believe everything you read OR see OR hear on the internet. So I want to cover some essential tools that will help you navigate news media in your digital life.
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To help you, I created a "News Media Literacy" poster. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 111 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

Building Trust in relationships is like building a bridge; it takes effort from both sides–mutual trust between you and the other person. And similar to a bridge, Trust is built on pillars, like Honesty, Integrity, and Consistency. Our actions can either strengthen or weaken the bridge of Trust, and at times our actions can even damage the bridge to the point that it needs major repair. So let’s examine those Trust pillars.
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To help you, I created a "Building Trust" poster. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 110 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

I’m eager to share my interview with Nisha Glenn--an author and the founder of Educated Girls Rock!

Nisha utilizes the knowledge she gained from not only her education, but also her life experience, to connect with and encourage girls to get an education. We discussed why education is important, what obstacles prevent girls from graduating high school, and how her nonprofit Educated Girls Rock helps girls overcome these hurdles so they can pursue their potential.

Connect with Nisha Glenn on social media @educatedgirlsrock and learn more about Educated Girls Rock programs at educatedgirlsrock.org.

A full transcript of our conversation is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 109 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

Even if it’s the middle of the school year when you listen to this, I want to share my best advice  that can help you all year long.

It all stems off these two words: Own It. This was inspired by my dear friends and fellow girl empowerers, Jill and Mary at Girls Mentorship. I was able to tag along for a week of their Pursue More Summer Camps in Arizona–which were truly transformative BTW. One of the days we focused on Ownership, which is being accountable for your responsibilities, your choices, and your behavior. Let’s explore Own It together.
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To help you, I created a "Own It" worksheet. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 108 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

I’m thrilled to share my interview with Lexie Polevoi--an advocate for girls in STEM.

Lexie empowers girls to develop their STEM skills through after-school enrichment programs and workshops. We discussed the need for girls in STEM, what prevents girls from pursuing STEM interests, and what can help girls overcome those hurdles.

Connect with Lexie Polevoi at @learnwithmslexie and learn more about her programs at https://www.learnwithmslexie.com/

A full transcript of our conversation is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 107 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

Have you watched any of this Summer’s Olympic Games? Oh my goodness it’s been unbelievable watching the very top athletes from all over the world compete at their sport. On social media I’ve seen a joke saying each Olympic event should have an average person compete so we can see just how skilled these athletes are compared to the rest of us. While we might not ever make it to the Olympics, there are plenty of lessons we can learn from those who have been to the Olympics.
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To help you, I created a "Lessons from Olympics." Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 106 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com. 

There’s a lot going in the world right now and a ton of opinions about it all. It seems like every day there’s another massive news headline which in-turn brings a flood of people’s opinions both online and in real life.

Two years ago I had Sharon McMahon, America’s Government Teacher, on as a guest. And we talked about how, even when we may disagree with people, we can turn confrontations into conversations. Sharon offered incredible wisdom everyone needs to hear (and she has even more wisdom in her upcoming book, “The Small and the Mighty”) so I’m going to replay our interview, and I really hope it helps.
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Whether over current events or typical friendship fires, you may experience tension as you encounter different beliefs and strong opinions. In this special extended episode, I talk with Sharon McMahon @sharonsaysso about how to turn confrontations into conversations.

In our interview, Sharon discusses:

• How to approach conflict by asking questions with curiosity
• Why tone matters and in-person conversations are preferred
• Whether the fight is worth having
• The importance of listening to understand
• "You cannot lose what you do not play"
• The benefits of having friends with different beliefs
• What boundaries really mean

A full transcript of our conversation is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 105 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

Are you a procrastinator? I am, too. Sometimes we procrastinate because we underestimated how much time something would take, or we got distracted, or we had multiple things to do, or we avoided doing something.

But honestly, procrastination isn't working for us. Let’s discuss some strategies that can help you prevent procrastination and get more time back.
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To help you, I created my design of "Covey’s Time Management Matrix." Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 104 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com. 

You've grown up learning about safety, and I want to add to your safety tool box. I know what it’s like to be in an unsafe situation and NOT know what to do--that can feel scary. My hope is that by talking about these other safety tips, you can feel more capable because you’ll have learned what to do. Remember: your safety is THE most important thing. In this episode we'll talk about Code Words and Tricky People.
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A full transcript of this episode is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 103 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

I’m thrilled to share my interview with Gitanjali Rao--inventor, social activist, STEM advocate, and author of  “A Young Innovators Guide to Planning for Success.”

Gitanjali wrote this how-to book to help high school students stress less and feel more prepared applying for colleges. As someone who just went through this process, she shares her unique and fresh perspective along with advice for struggling girls.

Connect with Gitanjali Rao at @gitanjaliarao and check out her book “A Young Innovators Guide to Planning for Success.”

A full transcript of our conversation is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 102 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

Make room for new emotions! Let's discuss the movie “Inside Out 2”!

The first “Inside Out” movie came out nine years ago, introduced us to the main character–an 11 year old girl named Riley–and her emotions–Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust–and showed us how they all interacted and adapted to change after her family moved across the country. “Inside Out 2” continues Riley’s story as a now 13 year old adjusting to puberty and new emotions that come with it–Envy, Embarrassment, Enuui (like boredom), and Anxiety.

The movie explores a lot of things we talk about on the podcast, like belief systems and developing a sense of self, as well as stress and anxiety and how they can fuel shame and negative self-talk. So I want to share with you 7 themes I got from “Inside Out 2.”
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A full transcript of this episode is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 101 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

Can you believe we reached 100 episodes?! I’m beyond excited, I’m still pinching myself, but I’m also so incredibly proud of what we’ve created and accomplished together. Let's look back at our favorite episodes, the most-requested topics, and what's ahead for this podcast--like my goal to reach 1 MILLION downloads!
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A full transcript and links to episodes I mentioned is in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 100 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

 Some people want to box you girls up to be someone you’re not. They do this by ...

• Stereotyping girls
• Labeling girls differently than boys
• Telling girls they can’t be good at or even do certain things
• Saying girls can’t pursue their dreams because they think girls should be something else
• Objecting to girls being two things at once

Girls, don’t get in the box.
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To help you, I created a "Don't Get In The Box" poster. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 099 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com. 

There’s a topic that I’ve touched on multiple times, yet it keeps getting requested. So let’s do a whole episode on body image. We'll discuss how to shift from wanting to change our bodies to accepting our bodies. This can be a sensitive topic for some, and the last thing I want to do is make you feel worse. So when you feel ready to listen, I’ll be here.
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To help you I put together a list of resources and related episodes in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 098 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com. 

I’m thrilled to share my interview with Jen Swetzoff and Keeley McNamara, the editors of Anyway Magazine!

Jen and Keeley share how they created this magazine especially for tweens and teens, featuring articles by both experts and kids about teen culture, style, relationships, community, creativity, health, and wellbeing. Their greatest hope is that Anyway Magazine can help kids feel normal and understood as they grow up.

A full transcript of our conversation is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 097 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

Connect with Anyway Magazine @AnywayMag, subscribe at AnywayMag.com (use code ANYWAY-15 for 15% off!)
email: hello@anywaymag.com

 If you’ve ever had an embarrassing moment, you’re in good company. They happen to everyone, so let’s help you learn how to get through them.
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To help you, I created an "I Survived My Embarrassing Moments" poster. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 096 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com. 

In case it’s hard to remember or believe sometimes, I wanted to remind you: You Are Still Enough.

Every day you get a barrage of negative messages from external sources that say, "You are NOT enough." In this episode, I want to help you grow a strong sense of self so you can withstand these messages and keep believing that You Are Still Enough.
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Nearly three and a half years ago I launched this podcast, and the very first message I shared with you was You Are Enough. That episode 001 just reached an incredible milestone, thanks to you girls. More than 100,000 times, a girl has heard that message, You Are Enough. And that’s amazing.

I’ve received a lot of feedback on that episode, and I can tell that girls really need to hear this message especially. So I’m excited to tell you, I’m now speaking to youth groups and at middle and high schools to keep spreading this message: You Are Enough.
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To help you, I created a "You Are Still Enough" poster. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 095 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com. 

I’ll be exploring relationship red flags in this episode, and while this topic is sensitive and can get heavy, I think it’s really important to talk about so you girls can recognize the signs and get help sooner.
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A full transcript of this episode is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 094 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.

Whenever you feel lonely, I hope you’ll listen to this episode. Because you are not alone.
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To help you, I created a "You Are Not Alone" poster and worksheet. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 093 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.