The People We Meet

What happens when your favorite brands are built on exploitation — and you already know it? In this episode of The People We Meet, we talk with Alisha Rumani, a junior at Pinewood, sharing her perspective as a teen navigating the overwhelming world of fast fashion. We dive into the messy, often uncomfortable truth about how micro-trends, social media, and billion-dollar brands are shaping the way...

What happens when dating “preferences” cross the line into prejudice? In this episode of The People We Meet , we talk with Annika , a junior at Mountain View High School, sharing her experience as a teen of color and navigating the dating scene at school. We dive into the messy, often uncomfortable truth about how race shapes teen attraction. We talk about the comments and assumptions that influen...

What does it really feel like to live with ADHD as a teenager? In this episode of The People We Meet , hosts Lara and Anoushka explore the complexities, misconceptions, and daily realities of ADHD. We start with Kylie Quinn , a junior her personal experience navigating school, social life, and the constant whirlwind of thoughts that come with ADHD. Then, we sit down with Dylan Kersh , a Licensed C...

As a teenager, it can feel like there’s never enough time — between school, sports, homework, and everything in between. But why do so many of us still end up procrastinating? In this episode, we talk with junior Aya, who balances AP classes and water polo, and licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Holly Seerly about what really drives time management struggles. From late-night study sessions t...

High school can feel like everyone’s in love—except you. In this episode, we dive into the pressures of teen dating, the loneliness that comes with comparing yourself to others, and the question so many teens ask: Am I enough? You’ll hear from Audrey, a college freshman reflecting on her high school experiences, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Gwen Chiramonte, who shares practical advice on bu...

As a teenager, it can feel almost impossible to put your phone down. But why is that? Is something wrong — or just part of growing up today? In this episode, we sit down with junior Nishka, who, like most of us, grew up in a digital era where nearly every aspect of life connects back to a phone — from friendships and social media to shopping and schoolwork. We dive into the pull of notifications,...

Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt like what you saw wasn’t enough? In this episode of The People We Meet , Lara and Anoushka dive into the messy reality of body image for adolescents today. Through conversations with teens and insight from a psychologist, we unpack how social media, beauty standards, and perfectionism shape the way we see ourselves. If you’ve ever felt alone in these str...