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Life Is The Future

Life Is The Future

By Scott Todnem

Thoughts from the Health Education classroom, brought to you by Scott Todnem and his middle school students.
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Drug Use In Teens - What Do Students Think? - S6 E8

Life Is The FutureMar 09, 2024

00:00
22:04
Drug Use In Teens - What Do Students Think? - S6 E8
Mar 09, 202422:04
Are Teens Influenced by Pop Culture? - S6 E7
Feb 09, 202422:01
Are Teens Hopeful or Fearful of High School? - S6 E6

Are Teens Hopeful or Fearful of High School? - S6 E6

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 🗞️ Email Newsletter: ⁠http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter⁠ 🎙️ Partner Program: ⁠http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/Partner-Program⁠ 📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: ⁠http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Dec 29, 202331:28
Social-Emotional Learning with "Never Have I Ever" - S6 E5

Social-Emotional Learning with "Never Have I Ever" - S6 E5

"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 🗞️ Email Newsletter: ⁠http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter⁠ 🎙️ Partner Program: ⁠http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/Partner-Program⁠ 📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: ⁠http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Nov 22, 202318:03
The Power of Teen Sports? - Hint: It's More Than Fitness - S6 E4
Nov 15, 202312:05
Growing Up with Social Media - What Should Teens Know? - S6 E3
Oct 17, 202314:32
Meeting Season 6 Hosts (Part 2: John & Jaymes) - S6 E2

Meeting Season 6 Hosts (Part 2: John & Jaymes) - S6 E2

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 

🗞️ Email Newsletter: ⁠http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter⁠

🎙️ Partner Program: ⁠http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/Partner-Program⁠

📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: ⁠http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Sep 29, 202311:36
Meeting Season 6 Hosts (Part 1: Ayla & Alexis) - S6 E1

Meeting Season 6 Hosts (Part 1: Ayla & Alexis) - S6 E1

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

🗞️ Email Newsletter: ⁠http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter⁠

🎙️ Partner Program: ⁠http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/Partner-Program⁠

📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: ⁠http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Sep 22, 202313:21
Seniors Revisit Middle School - Teens React to Their Younger Selves (2018 to 2023)

Seniors Revisit Middle School - Teens React to Their Younger Selves (2018 to 2023)

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 🗞️ Email Newsletter: ⁠http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter⁠ 🎙️ Partner Program: ⁠http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/Partner-Program⁠ 📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: ⁠http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Aug 31, 202336:34
What to Expect in High School - 8th Graders Interview Seniors
Jun 28, 202333:13
Should Teens Get Involved in Extracurricular Activities? - S5 E10

Should Teens Get Involved in Extracurricular Activities? - S5 E10

Apr 28, 202323:10
Bullying - Inevitable or Avoidable? Teenagers Give Answers - S5 E9

Bullying - Inevitable or Avoidable? Teenagers Give Answers - S5 E9

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
🗞️ Email Newsletter: ⁠http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter⁠

🎙️ Partner Program: ⁠http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/Partner-Program⁠

📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: ⁠http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Mar 29, 202317:24
Sleep Habits in Adolescence - S5 E8
Mar 08, 202321:16
Teens Break Down School Dress Codes - S5 E7
Feb 20, 202323:02
The Benefits of Sports & Fitness in Adolescence - S5 E6
Feb 14, 202327:31
Academic Stress in Middle School - S5 E5

Academic Stress in Middle School - S5 E5

Dec 19, 202215:34
What Social Pressures Impact Teenage Girls? - S5 E4
Dec 08, 202213:33
What is Stressful for Middle Schoolers? - S5 E3
Oct 18, 202216:21
Breaking Teenage Stereotypes - S5 E2
Sep 19, 202215:20
A New School Year! (Starting Season 5) - S5 E1
Sep 09, 202212:04
Meeting Season 5 Hosts (Part 2: Ava & Julius) - S4 E17
Aug 22, 202219:08
Meeting Season 5 Hosts (Part 1: Saif & Dinora) - S4 E16
Aug 22, 202225:25
Teens Chime in on Cancel Culture - S4 E15
Jun 04, 202218:23
Extracurricular Activities for Teens - S4 E14
Jun 02, 202216:12
Social Standards & Stereotypes - S4 E13
May 06, 202219:30
Teens Discuss Toxic Relationships - S4 E12
Apr 19, 202219:53
Round Robin Topics (Technology in Learning, Video Game Violence, Race Relations, Teen Stereotypes) - S4 E11
Mar 07, 202219:42
Round Robin Topics (Voting Age, Protest Violence, Climate Change, Work Conditions, Fast Food) - S4 E10

Round Robin Topics (Voting Age, Protest Violence, Climate Change, Work Conditions, Fast Food) - S4 E10

A fun "spin-off" on our typical episode set-up! Multiple topics, selected at random, get a quick look in a ~2-minute discussion each.

This week's hosts, Connor and Sparsh, invite classmates Alex, Emily, and Arav in for a multi-episode series. The 8th graders take on a slew of topics and give valuable insight on items like voting age, protest violence, a 4 day work week, climate change, fast food, and COVID.

RESOURCES
WhiteHouse.gov - 50th Anniversary of the 26th Amendment
Northeastern.edu - Are Peaceful Protests More Effective Than Violent Ones?
ChangeRecruitmentGroup.com - Pros and Cons of a 4 Day Work Week
ProCon.org - History of Climate Change Debate
Debate.org - Is Fast Food Good For You?

Tune in next week for another round robin episode, including new topics from our same 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

Feb 23, 202217:38
Fast Fashion & The Social Media Influence - S4 E9
Feb 12, 202219:42
Bullying and Cyberbullying in Middle School - S4 E8

Bullying and Cyberbullying in Middle School - S4 E8

Dec 21, 202119:51
Honest Conversations About Teen Mental Health - S4 E7
Dec 10, 202111:49
Self-Conscious Feelings in Middle School - S4 E6
Nov 10, 202116:02
Independence, Interdependence, & Codependency: What's the Difference? - S4 E5

Independence, Interdependence, & Codependency: What's the Difference? - S4 E5

Nov 02, 202112:50
Remote Learning: Hindsight is 2020 - S4 E4

Remote Learning: Hindsight is 2020 - S4 E4

What lessons were learned from a school year at home?
This week's hosts, Connor and Sparsh, talk with classmates Amanda and Miles. The 8th graders look back at remote learning and all the lessons from the at-home school year in 2020.

Specifics include online learning with Zoom and Google Meets, the advantages and downfalls of learning through a screen, and the feelings surrounding the return to in-person education.

RESOURCES
Students:
MindBe Education - 30 Mindfulness Activities for Teens
Health Mind Platter - Essential Brain Activities

Parents:
Parent Learning Center - Expectations That Your Teen Will Appreciate In The Future
World Health Organization (WHO) - Self-Care and Self-Help

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

Tune in next week for 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

Oct 15, 202116:17
Breaking Stereotypes About Depression - S4 E3
Oct 06, 202115:50
Suicide Prevention in Middle School - S4 E2
Sep 24, 202115:32
A New School Year! (Starting Season 4) - S4 E1
Sep 15, 202108:12
Meeting Season 4 Hosts (Part 2: Nonye & Debo) - S3 E21
Aug 19, 202117:30
Meeting Season 4 Hosts (Part 1: Connor & Sparsh) - S3 E20
Aug 19, 202121:01
Farewell to Our Fearless Leaders - S3 E19
May 24, 202123:27
Appearance, Style, & Dress Codes in Teenage Life - S3 E18
Apr 26, 202124:35
The Generation Gap? Teens Interview Teachers - S3 E17
Mar 26, 202129:36
The Impact of Celebrity Status & Media Fame on Teens - S3 E16
Mar 10, 202133:43
Maturing Through Middle School - S3 E15

Maturing Through Middle School - S3 E15

From childhood to teen years!
This week's hosts, Naomi and Zoie interview classmates Julian and Emanuel and all four 8th graders discuss the middle school experience, focusing on lessons learned from 6th to 8th grade. Specifics include elementary worries about recess, lunch, and homework, physical growth and stress management, social circles and true friendships, and excitement for high school.

RESOURCES
Students:
MindBe Education - 30 Mindfulness Activities for Teens

Parents:
Parent Learning Center - Expectations That Your Teen Will Appreciate In The Future

Teachers:
Chicago Tribune - 'No worse fate than failure': How pressure to keep up is overwhelming students

Tune in next week for 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

Feb 19, 202129:38
Rethinking Schoolwork in the Pandemic World - S3 E14
Feb 05, 202122:24
Teens in a Pandemic Check In: Recap of 2020 & Hope for 2021 - S3 E13
Jan 16, 202125:07
Winter Break Fun: "Would You Rather" & "Never Have I Ever" - S3 E12
Dec 21, 202022:46
Mental & Social Health in Middle School - S3 E11
Dec 14, 202026:23
What Do Teens Know About Illegal Drugs? - S3 E10
Dec 07, 202020:34
Introducing the Life Is The Future Podcast
Nov 27, 202001:41