Adaptivity: The Science of Adolescence

Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence members Jeevana Doddi, Kevin Ramirez, and Yonathan Kiflezghie talk with University of Washington professor Lucia Magis-Weinberg about what research says are the real benefits and challenges of social media, and how young people can manage that balance. This is the last of our three-episode 2026 youth-led miniseries of the Adaptivity podcast, hosted by Ron Da...

Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence members Brooke Smith, Danari Golden, Layah Belay Simmons, and Ananshaa Singh who talk with professor Hannah Schacter from Wayne State University in Detroit about how friendships and romantic relationships in adolescence can impact connections throughout our lives. This is the second of our three-episode 2026 youth-led miniseries of the Adaptivity podcast, ho...

Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence members Alex Binaford, Maya Bachi, and Odalis Hernandez talk with University of Oregon professor Jennifer Pfeifer about supporting mental health in the midst of the many transitions during adolescence, to new schools, new experiences, and new friend groups. This is the first of our three-episode 2026 youth-led miniseries of the Adaptivity podcast, hosted by...

In this panel discussion, recorded live at SXSW EDU 2026, Ron talks with researchers Nick Allen, Thao Ha, and Alison Lee, and with app creator and student Elle Liemandt, about the social and emotional experiences young people need—in real life and digital spaces—to become contributing, collaborative, and connected humans in a rapidly changing world.

Ron talks with Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop, authors of The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better , about how we can harness adolescents' natural motivations for agency and connection to spark authentic engagement in education. And how we can ensure that new technologies support healthy engagement, learning, and social development instead of hijacking yout...

Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence members Liam Garcia, Merlot Ghadoushi, and Jaleon Nocentelli talk with UCLA Psychology Professor Ted Robles about the "mind-body connection," and what the research says about how our developmental needs for caring relationships, contributing to others, belonging, and learning to navigate strong emotions can help us thrive emotionally as well as physically. T...

Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence members Abril Rodriguez Martell , Emily Zhu , and Sebastian Gaytan D'Amico talk with UCLA Professor Leanna Hernandez to get answers to their questions about "nature v. nurture," or how genetics and environment interact to affect our development. This is the second of three episodes of "Our Youth's Perspective 2025"—an annual youth-led miniseries of the Adapt...

Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence members Benjamin Olaniyi , Brynn Santos , Madison Cheungsomboune , and Stephany Cartney talk with University of Oregon professor of clinical psychology Nick Allen about how AI is likely to shape education for young people, and why it can be something we embrace… instead of fear. This is the last of three episodes of "Our Youth's Perspective 2025"—an annual y...

Ron talks with researchers Nick Allen and Jacqueline Nesi about how developmental science could help us design social media and other technology to not only decrease risks, but also amplify new opportunities created by the digital world. Guests: Max, a 17-year-old student from the San Francisco Bay Area Nick Allen, PhD, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Oregon and the director...

Former Youth Scientific Council members Dallas Tanner and Becker Chabaan talk with Ron about how they navigate the benefits and risks of social media — and offer their suggestions for improving the online world for younger adolescents.  Guests: Becker Chabaan , a freshman at UC Santa Barbara, and Dallas Tanner , a freshman at UCLA, both former members of the Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence...

Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence members Dallas Tanner, Talya Soffer, and Kobe Wood talk with Professor Leslie Leve about parenting styles, and how we're affected by our relationships with our caregivers during adolescence. This is the second of our three annual "Our Youth's Perspective" episodes — an annual youth-led series of Adaptivity , hosted by Ron Dahl.

In the first of three youth-led episodes of "Our Youth's Perspective," a special miniseries of Adaptivity , Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence members Becker Chaaban, Brandon Molina, and Namrata Poola, who talk with UCLA CDA Co-Executive Director Andrew Fuligni about how our cultural upbringing impacts development during our adolescent years.

The third and final episode of our 2024 "Our Youth's Perspective" miniseries of Adaptivity is about our relationships with our siblings. Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence members Andrea Rodriguez, Faith Veenker, and Kaelyn Morales talk with Professor Kimberly Updegraff about the important role our sisters and brothers play in our development during adolescence.

In this episode, Ron talks with psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Lisa Damour about how strong emotions during adolescence–good and bad–can be opportunities for youth to build positive coping strategies that can help them thrive as adults.  

Host Ron Dahl talks with guests Thao Ha, Gustavo Carlo, and Yalda Uhls about how emotionally charged relationships during adolescence can help us learn to navigate personal relationships, find our role in our communities, and handle intense emotions throughout our lives.

In the third and last episode of "Our Youth's Perspective," a three-part miniseries of the Adaptivity podcast, YNSCA member Tomi Dugbo talks with Prof. Joanna Williams, Co-Director of the National Scientific Council on Adolescence, about developing our own values, goals, and identities separate from our parents and families.

In the second episode of "Our Youth's Perspective," a three-part miniseries of the Adaptivity podcast, YNSCA member Michael Nguyen talks with Adaptivity host and CDA founding director Dr. Ron Dahl about the importance of trying new things and taking risks during our adolescent years.

In the first episode of "Our Youth's Perspective," a three-part miniseries of the Adaptivity podcast, YNSCA member Mahisa Mannan talks with UCLA CDA Co-Executive Director Adriana Galván about learning to make difficult decisions and regulate our emotions during our adolescent years.  

Host Ron Dahl talks with best-selling author and evolutionary biologist Barbara Natterson Horowitz and anthropologist Rachna Reddy about adolescence across the animal kingdom–and how a cross-species perspective can help us better understand, and support, the human journey from childhood to adolescence.

The foster care system in the US is not designed to support what we now know about positive adolescent development. But it could be. Host Ron Dahl talks with experts Sixto Cancel and Leslie Leve about how we could reimagine the system to align with what science tells us youth need to thrive.

We talk with Harvard physics major Jara Wilensky, high school math star Noor Harwell, and Dr. Joanna Lee Williams about being Black women in science and how we form our identities in our adolescent years.

We talk with adolescent climate activist Jayden Foytlin, Cornell Professor Anthony Burrow, and San Francisco youth making a difference for their peers about the hunger to matter during adolescence, and how adults can support youth to develop a sense of purpose that can carry through for a lifetime. This episode of Adaptivity features the following songs: "The Offensive Line" by Alex Gross "Calling...

Experts weigh in on how tech use during COVID-19 is affecting adolescents, and what caretakers and educators can do to support their well-being.

We talk with bestselling graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier about feeling things deeply during adolescence—and why that's so important.

We explore why adolescents need new and risky experiences —   from skateboarding to asking someone out on a date.