Decode Teen Emotions Podcast

Ever feel like your relationships take more actual work than anything else in your life right now? Welcome back to Decode Teen Emotions. I'm John, here with Susan, and Page is back with us for an episode about strengthening relationships, listening, saying what you mean, trust, boundaries, and repairing things when they go sideways. This one's for every teen, guy or girl, navigating friendships, f...

What do you actually do the second anger hits, not an hour later? Welcome back to Decode Teen Emotions. I'm John, here with Susan, and Braydon is sticking around for round two of the toolbox. This episode is less about talking through feelings and more about what to actually do with them in the moment, whether you're a guy or girl who just needs something that works right now. In this episode, Sus...

Ever answer "I'm fine" when you're really anything but? Welcome back to Decode Teen Emotions. I'm John, here with Susan, and today Braydon is back with us for an episode about something that trips up teens and adults alike: actually naming what you feel instead of rounding everything down to mad, sad, or fine. This one's for every teen, guy or girl, who's ever said "I'm fine" when they weren't. In...

It's 7am and you're already comparing yourself to people who look like they have more going on, more followers, and a better life than you. Sound familiar? In this episode, John and therapist Susan get into what social media actually does to your emotional health, and why comparing your insides to everyone else's carefully curated outsides is never a fair fight. Page shares what it was like to exp...

Maya hid her love of astronomy for two whole years after one uncomfortable moment in sixth grade. It made sense at the time. The problem is when hiding becomes so automatic you stop knowing what you're hiding anymore. In this episode, John and therapist Susan get into the emotional cost of performing a version of yourself all day, and what it actually takes to start being real. Maya shares what it...

Have you ever agreed with someone just to avoid the awkward silence? Changed how you talk, what you laugh at, or what you admit to liking depending on who's in the room? In this episode, John and therapist Susan break down what peer pressure actually is, why your brain is wired to feel social rejection like physical pain, and what it costs you when you keep saying yes to things that aren't really...

Why do you keep ending up in the same arguments? Why do certain friendships hit a wall every time? Why do some reactions feel way bigger than the moment seems to call for? In this episode, John and therapist Susan get into what actually happens when you don't face the hard stuff from your past, and what it looks like when you finally do. Teen guests Page and Maya share what it's like to start trac...

Home is supposed to be a safe place. But what happens when it isn't? In this episode, John and therapist Susan tackle the harder side of home life: sibling rivalry, financial stress, and parental conflict, and what it actually does to you emotionally when the place you're supposed to feel safe doesn't feel that way. Susan and teen guest Braydon get into what it's like to carry tension you can sens...

Do you ever feel like you're carrying an invisible scorecard at home, constantly being measured against expectations you never agreed to? In this episode, John and therapist Susan unpack where family pressure actually comes from (hint: it's usually love and anxiety, not criticism), and teen guest Braydon shares what it's like to carry that low-level hum every day. Susan and Braydon explore the dif...

Have you ever reacted to something and wondered why it hit so hard? In this episode, host John sits down with teen emotional wellness expert Susan and teen guest Page to answer one of the most searched questions teens type into Google at midnight, "Why am I like this?" and what your past actually has to do with how you feel right now. Page opens up about going disproportionately hurt every time so...

Ever walked into your own house and felt your whole body tense up for no reason you can explain? In this episode, host John sits down with teen emotional wellness expert Susan and teen guest Braydon to unpack one of the most overlooked sources of teen stress, the home environment itself, and why it hits differently for both guys and girls. John gets real about life with three teenage boys and admi...

Ever wondered why some days feel completely impossible for no clear reason? In this episode, host John sits down with teen emotional wellness expert Susan and teen guest Page to get into the real science behind hormonal mood shifts during puberty, and what they mean for both guys and girls. John kicks things off by admitting he is a dad of three boys with zero personal experience in this territory...

Ever explode over something small and wonder why it hit so hard? In this episode, host John sits down with teen emotional wellness expert Susan and 16-year-old guest Brayden to break down one of the most powerful tools for managing your emotions: understanding your triggers. Susan explains what triggers actually are, why they sneak up on you, and how "stacked triggers" can turn a small moment into...

Decode Teen Emotions | Episode 2: The Soccer Game Snap — When Anger Gets Loud Ever said something in anger and immediately thought, "Why did I just do that?" You're not alone. In this episode, host Chris and teen guest Peyton get real about those moments when anger takes over — the snaps, the text spirals, the blowups that seem to come out of nowhere. With expert Susan breaking down the science, w...

When anger hits, it can feel overwhelming — like a storm you didn’t see coming. In this first episode of Decode Teen Emotions, we break down what anger really is, why it shows up so fast, and what it’s trying to tell you. Instead of feeling out of control, you’ll start to understand what’s happening inside — and how to respond in a healthier, more confident way. 📝 Grab your companion worksheet he...

New format. Real teens. Expert voices. Welcome back to the John & Susan Podcast — your go-to space for real conversations that help families and teens grow, connect, and thrive. In this intro episode, we’re reintroducing ourselves and sharing what’s new. You’ll hear from teens and special guests, including experts who work directly with them, bringing real perspectives and meaningful conversat...