Life Is The Future

Throwback Episode! Season 6 hosts interview Season 2 hosts. Cool concept, right? This is a special opportunity where previous 8th grade podcast hosts return to visit our current middle school hosts. Ayla and Alexis (S6 2023-2024) welcome Lauren and Rhys (S2 2019-2020) to reminisce about the last 4+ years. The 8th graders ask the graduating seniors all about life after middle school. Focus points i...

Throwback Episode! Season 6 hosts interview Season 2 hosts. Cool concept, right? This is a special opportunity where previous 8th grade podcast hosts return to visit our current middle school hosts. John and Roshann (S6 2023-2024) welcome Salil and Shauna (S2 2019-2020) to reminisce about the last 4+ years. The 8th graders ask the graduating seniors all about life after middle school. Focus points...

What is occurring with stereotypes during adolescence? Middle schoolers give insight on social life in the 21st century. This week's 8th graders, Ayla, Alexis, John, and Roshann bring in classmates Addison and Amare. The group of teens take on the serious topic of social health stereotypes, in particular racism and other prejudice in their world today. They give their honest thoughts about rac...

What is on the adolescent mind? Middle schoolers give insight on teen life in the 21st century. This week's 8th graders, Ayla, Alexis, John, and Roshann bring in classmates Keara and Sam. The group of teens take a short break from the serious topics from recent episodes to have a game/discussion… “Overrated or Underrated?” They give their candid thoughts about fame, technology and social media...

Drugs and teens... is it inevitable the two will meet? This week's 8th graders, Ayla, Alexis, Addison, John, and Roshann talk about substance use among young people. The group of teens take on the impact and influences on illegal drug use, focusing on family life, social media, fitting in, social image, education, coping strategies, sales to underage kids, recommendations for handling peer pre...

How are young people handling current influences on life? This week's 8th graders, Ayla, Alexis, John, and Roshann bring in classmates Keara and Tori. The group of teens take on the topic of pop culture and outside influences on middle school life. They talk social media, clothing, sports, peer pressure, online comments, judgmental classmates, maintaining a healthy identity, effects on social...

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...

"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 c...

Teens and athletic involvement-- what should we know? This week's 8th grade hosts, John and Jaymes partner up to interview classmates Max and Roshann. The teens take on the topic of athletics in middle school life. They talk about balancing sports and academics, developing friendships and camaraderie with teammates, the pressure to perform and succeed, athletic impact on sleep and emotions, de...

Teens and social media-- what should we know? This week's 8th grade hosts, Ayla and Alexis partner up to interview classmates Ava and Tori. The teens take on the topic of social media in middle school life. They talk popular social media platforms, time on and off screens, the impact of media on young kids, parent involvement, growing up and maturing with media, consuming versus creating, adol...

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...

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 He...

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...

Throwback Episode! Season 5 hosts interview Season 1 hosts. Cool concept, right? This is a special opportunity where previous 8th grade podcast hosts return to visit our current middle school hosts. Julius and Saif (S5 2022-2023) welcome Luke and Tadiwa (S1 2018-2019) to reminisce about the last 4+ years. The 8th graders ask the graduating seniors all about life after middle school. Focus points i...

Extracurriculars = organized student activities connected with school that occur outside of typical school hours. Examples: athletics, performing arts, social clubs, etc. This week's 8th grade hosts, Ava and Dinora partner up to interview classmates Katelyn, Kayla, and Venny. The students take on the topic of extracurricular activities in teenage life. Specific focus points include the benefit...

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 immedi...

Early bird, night owl, neither nor, or somewhere in between?  This week's 8th grade hosts, Saif and Julius partner up to interview classmates Etinosa and Arohan. The teens take on the topic of sleep in middle school life. They bring up the average amount of sleep at various ages, the reasons teens might skip or limit sleep, the impact of electronics, thoughts that keep us awake, rebelling agai...

Dress Code: a set of rules about what clothing may and may not be worn at a school, office, restaurant, etc.  This week's 8th grade hosts, Ava and Dinora partner up to interview classmates Morgan and Paxtyn. The teens take on the topic of dress codes in public schools. Specific focus points include middle school rules and consequences, personal expression, gender differences, societal norms, b...

Body Positivity: feeling good about your body and the way it looks. Body positivity is rooted in loving yourself and gaining self-confidence. This week's 8th grade hosts, Saif and Julius partner up to interview classmates Logan and Mukund. The teens take on the topic of sports, exercise, and general fitness in middle school life. They bring up life balance with sports and academics, fun vs. co...

Stress Management: techniques aimed at controlling a person's level of distress to improve everyday functioning.    This week's 8th grade hosts, Saif and Julius partner up to interview classmates Liam and Jason. The teens take on the topic of stress in middle school life. They bring up academic stressors and the challenges of advanced classes, athletics and the pressures involved with spor...

Gender stereotypes: attitudes, attributes, and actions imposed on men and women based on binary gender .  This week's 8th grade hosts, Ava and Dinora, partner up to interview classmates Julia and Madeline. The teens take on the topic of gender stereotypes for teen girls, including a focus on the impact on female health habits. Specifics include body image, athletic demands, sexist expectations...

Stress: The body's response to change. Distress is a negative pressure or threat; the "bad" stress. Eustress is beneficial challenge; the "good" stress.  This week's 8th grade hosts, Ava and Dinora partner up to interview classmates Zach and Aiden. The teens take on the topic of stress in middle school and in life. This is another recurring conversation year-to-year, an...

Stereotypes: generalizations based on a group in which a person belongs. (Ex: race, age, gender, income, neighborhood, etc.)  This week's 8th grade hosts, Saif and Julius partner up to interview classmates Aidan, Gareth, and Tytus. The five teens take on the topic of stereotypes in middle school and in life. This is always a recurring conversation year-to-year, and for good reason. They bring...

Back in action and getting started with our new hosts! We hear a quick informal check-in from our Season 5 podcast hosts, Julius, Ava, Dinora, and Saif! These 8th grade students will take the lead in weekly interviews with classmates. By recording in this format, the students will put Health Education life skills into practice-- communication, decision making, and advocacy will help them create di...

The end of another era! We meet two of our Season 5 podcast hosts, Ava and Julius! They will take the lead in our new school year, and join two other students to be our 8th grade leaders. We hear from Season 4 hosts, Connor and Sparsh, as they pass on recommendations on topics and guests-- what worked well, how to get people talking, and the whole process of practicing Health Ed life skills to cre...