In Season 2, Episode 5 of Big Mama’s House Podcast, we examine a phrase well-intentioned adults in your life may use when speaking to teens: “This is the best time of your life.” Just the fact that adults say this at all, proves that they’re not understanding the reality of what you’re dealing with, just on an average day.

Play this episode for the older adults in *your* life who don’t get it (we see you Boomers) and let Big Mama do the explaining. With a mix of truth bombs, jokes, and some jaw-dropping stats, we answer the biggest and challenging questions your generation is facing:

• Why (this generation’s) teens have more pressure than any other generation in history.
• In the United States, teens are the loneliest age group (yep, worse than your grandparents).
• The upside down “attention economy” makes likes and followers feel like currency.

By the end, you’ll know you’re not alone, why your future is gonna get better, and what to keep in mind in the day-to-day. Go to the webpage for this episode and grab all the free downloadable extras to help make it a bit easier.

If you wish you could talk with a friend or family member about some of these issues - share this episode and let Big Mama be your ice-breaker.

If you have a comment, or something to add email us at info@bigmamashousepodcast.com.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your feelings of loneliness - or for ANY other reason - please reach out to one of these organizations - there are people interested in hearing from you. Do it right now.

• In the US - just call or text a message to 988
• In the UK - call 116-123
• In Australia - call 131-1141

Episode Highlights

• 0:00 - “The best time of your life”... or not.
• 1:10 - Big Mama’s story about her husband’s favorite (annoying) saying
• 2:40 - Why your life is going to be SO much better as you get older!
• 3:10 - PSA for Boomers: Here’s why adults can’t compare their teen experience to today’s teens.
• 6:35 - Do teens have it easier than adults? No, they do not.
• 7:15 - First reason why being a teenager now is harder than ever before: Your generation has more pressure than any generation ever.
• 8:00 - The AI problem: what if your future career disappears?
• 8:45 - Second reason why being a teenager now is harder than ever before: Loneliness levels are off the charts, teens have the highest rate of loneliness in history
• 12:00 - How much social media use is too much? How much social media use impacts mental health?
• Shocking stat: Being lonely can hurt your health like smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
• 13:45 - Third reason why being a teenager now is harder than ever before: How the “Attention Economy” messes with self-esteem.
• 14:58 - Self-esteem can only come from self.
• 16:10 - Your entire world will be better as you get older. Here’s why.
• 16:50 - You are enough as you are, right now (Listen to this before you leave for school every day)
• 17:45 - Use the episode to start awkward conversations. Let Big Mama be your ice-breaker.

** Big Mama’s House Podcast - a podcast for teens is written and hosted by Jesse Weinberger (Internet Safety Speaker for Schools)

Teen fans of this podcast are called squids. Together with the entire Squid Squad, this podcast for teens explores the immense amounts of pressure impacting young people including: generational disconnect, digital & social media issues, tech true crime, mental health. Each episode comes with additional resources to help teens navigate difficult life circumstances. Expect to laugh along with the host and guest co-hosts while learning something new.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Big Mama talks about spotting when big organizations (like schools) say one thing but do another—like throwing a school health fair and then bringing in a cupcake truck. She shares funny personal stories (including her own “weird superpower”) and gives real-life examples from schools, colleges, and more. Teens get an easy 3-step plan for teens to speak truth to authority, respectfully and in a way to make change happen. And just to keep it real, she ends by sharing her own biggest contradiction - it’s a story of woe involving hugging cows and eating lunch.

00:00 Big Mama introduces the idea of “institutional hypocrisy” — when an organization says one thing but does another — and shares her “garbage superpower”

02:00 Funny sixth-grade story: a health teacher warns kids about smoking… while sneaking smoke breaks behind the school dumpsters.

3:59 The Health & Wellness Day gig — great activities like cooking classes and goat yoga… but then the principal makes an announcement

7:11 Why the cupcake truck matters: how it works against the school’s own goal of promoting good nutrition.

8:45 Why Big Mama’s House Podcast doesn’t use social media to promote the podcast, even though it’s meant for a teen audience

9:27 Other real-world examples: schools closing libraries, colleges partnering with betting apps, and hospitals stocking vending machines with junk food.

10:46 The social media hypocrisy: schools warning about screen time while using social media to promote events.

11:22 Why this kind of hypocrisy is dangerous — how people either don’t notice at all or notice and lose trust in the organization.

13:00 Big Mama’s 3-step method for respectfully pointing out contradictions.

14:12 Her personal confession: Penelope the Cow

15:30 Send in your examples of organizational hypocrisy and what you did about it to info@bigmamashousepodcast.com.

Remember: “Eat more dirt and avoid moist dudes in basements.”

Do you think you might have body dysmorphia? Take the quiz from the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation.

https://bddfoundation.org/

Another resource just for teens - it’s from the International OCD Foundation.

https://bdd.iocdf.org/teens-young-adults/

** Big Mama’s House Podcast - a podcast for teens is written and hosted by Jesse Weinberger (Internet Safety Speaker for Schools)

Teen fans of this podcast are called squids. Together with the entire Squid Squad, this podcast for teens explores the immense amounts of pressure impacting young people including: generational disconnect, digital & social media issues, tech true crime, mental health. Each episode comes with additional resources to help teens navigate difficult life circumstances. Expect to laugh along with the host and guest co-hosts while learning something new.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Squids - get the free download here print it, and give it to your parents as a reminder that YOU CAN'T PAUSE A LIVE GAME!!!!

In today’s episode, I’m going to help the Squid Squad teach their parents why you cannot, in fact, pause a live game. So Squids, make sure you’ve grabbed mom or dad to listen, and make them put their phones down in the other room. Moms and dads, if you’re listening - thanks for being here - and buckle in because the squad has a bunch of things they want you to know.

• Why our kid fans are called Squids
• Grab the free download (see below)
• Explaining to parents how live games work, because they're LIVE
• Using Fortnite as an example of an unpause-able MPG
• Explaining Battle Royale
• Helping parents imagine how it feels to be yanked out of their world - like by a Magic Claw
• NOTE: Hey mom, don't be your kid's Magic Claw
• Explaining loot, game rank, what AFK means
• Reminder that gaming is *way* better for the brain than social media (moist dudes in basement notwithstanding)
• Explaining the social aspect of MPGs
• Explanation of the downloadable flowchart plus two other solutions/strategies

Grab a copy of the digital flowchart for parents of gamers. (https://www.overnightgeekuniversity.com/download-no-mom-i-cant-pause-a-live-game/) It’s a literal step-by-step decision flowchart for parents to decide whether or not they should talk to you while you’re gaming.

• FREE – We’ll email you a black & white 8.5″ x 11″ copy of the poster that you can print out at home (and leave all over the house so that your parents won't forget.
• BUY - the full-color, glossy, lovely 11" x 17" version - maybe for Mother's Day? (https://www.overnightgeekuniversity.com/stickers-posters/big-mamas-house-podcast-posters/poster-should-i-ask-my-squid-to-pause-a-video-game/)

Hire Jesse Weinberger - Internet Safety Speaker for Students -(https://www.overnightgeekuniversity.com/who-is-the-best-internet-safety-speaker-for-schools/) to come and speak at your school or organization

Find us at BigMamasHousePodcast.com - a Podcast for Teens (https://www.bigmamashousepodcast.com)

** Big Mama’s House Podcast - a podcast for teens is written and hosted by Jesse Weinberger (Internet Safety Speaker for Schools)

Teen fans of this podcast are called squids. Together with the entire Squid Squad, this podcast for teens explores the immense amounts of pressure impacting young people including: generational disconnect, digital & social media issues, tech true crime, mental health. Each episode comes with additional resources to help teens navigate difficult life circumstances. Expect to laugh along with the host and guest co-hosts while learning something new.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can we ALL do to reduce device time? (Parents too!) Strategies to reduce phone pickups via using Do Not Disturb and using gamification (kids v parents) to see who can use their devices for the least amount of time. We also debate the usefulness of Apple Watches (Big Mama is NOT convinced).

Co-host: Big Mama's cousin George

• How to reduce phone pickups
• Stupid trivia activity usage stats
• Apple Watch - yes or no
• How George's children became vicious CandyLand players. What's up, Princess Frosty Face?
• Create a competition between kids and parents on device usage (spoiler alert - kids will probably win)
• Board games George and his family love
• Why just the term Do Not Disturb triggers anxiety & marital strife in George's house
• Why Big Mama isn't a fan of Apple Watches
• Why parents shouldn't be texting kids during the school day
• Kids are already under immense pressure - added pings and notifications make life more dramatic and complicated
• Using dumb/flip phones as a partial solution
• George catches himself getting distracted by the SILENCE coming from his phone.
• Getting stuck in a reward loop
• Putting your phone, in a different room

Links to products mentioned:

• BOARD GAME: WingSpan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wingspan
• BOARD GAME: Ticket To Ride" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ticket to Ride
• BOARD GAME: Hues and Cues" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hues & Cues

** Big Mama’s House Podcast - a podcast for teens is written and hosted by Jesse Weinberger (Internet Safety Speaker for Schools)

Teen fans of this podcast are called squids. Together with the entire Squid Squad, this podcast for teens explores the immense amounts of pressure impacting young people including: generational disconnect, digital & social media issues, tech true crime, mental health. Each episode comes with additional resources to help teens navigate difficult life circumstances. Expect to laugh along with the host and guest co-hosts while learning something new.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you're sick of getting yelled at about your phone use, but your parents are doing the same things, this episode will give you some strategies in how you can confront your parents (in a good way) about your THEIR device overuse. Also: download the Teen Family Contract to give to your parents.

Co-host: Big Mama's cousin George

We know that most adults are just as addicted to their devices as their children. The rule at the dinner table is no phones - but somehow dad or mom have theirs because they're "working." The idea that only kids are making mistakes with technology is absurd. George reveals his 3.5 day usage on his phone showed that he "picked-up" his phone 469 times. Why? His son, Luke, confronted him about his device usage in a way that stopped George in his tracks and made him more aware of his phone usage.

Download:

Big Mama put together a family contract written from a teen's perspective which kids can use to confront their parents in a positive way. It includes items like: I can't pause a live game, and please ask me before posting pictures of me on your social media. You can download the teen family contract here.

** Big Mama’s House Podcast - a podcast for teens is written and hosted by Jesse Weinberger (Internet Safety Speaker for Schools)

Teen fans of this podcast are called squids. Together with the entire Squid Squad, this podcast for teens explores the immense amounts of pressure impacting young people including: generational disconnect, digital & social media issues, tech true crime, mental health. Each episode comes with additional resources to help teens navigate difficult life circumstances. Expect to laugh along with the host and guest co-hosts while learning something new.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new season, a new beginning. Too many parents either don't engage or don't believe that their teens (and elementary school kids) are suffering. That’s why Season 2 of my podcast, and all future seasons will be focused directly to the students - to teenagers. If we’re going to make even the slightest dent in digital safety we need help from a population who doesn’t need to be “convinced” that there’s a problem in the first place.

Kids - make your parents listen to this episode. Here's what they'll hear:

• Your children want YOU, they want you to spend more time with them.
• Your children want for you to SEE them, to care about what’s going on in their lives.
• They want you to use YOUR phone less, to listen when they’re trying to talk to you.
• They want you to STOP posting about THEM on your social media.
• They want you to STOP asking them to pause a LIVE GAME
• They’ll do almost anything to avoid “getting in trouble” including giving in to an online predator’s threats.
• They want you to know that they’re under immense mental health pressure.
• They want to stop being used as the world’s scapegoat - the nonsensical idea that kids are the only ones struggling with device usage. As if parents aren’t just as addicted - because they are.

And as always -

** Big Mama’s House Podcast - a podcast for teens is written and hosted by Jesse Weinberger (Internet Safety Speaker for Schools)

Teen fans of this podcast are called squids. Together with the entire Squid Squad, this podcast for teens explores the immense amounts of pressure impacting young people including: generational disconnect, digital & social media issues, tech true crime, mental health. Each episode comes with additional resources to help teens navigate difficult life circumstances. Expect to laugh along with the host and guest co-hosts while learning something new.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

** Big Mama’s House Podcast - a podcast for teens is written and hosted by Jesse Weinberger (Internet Safety Speaker for Schools)

Teen fans of this podcast are called squids. Together with the entire Squid Squad, this podcast for teens explores the immense amounts of pressure impacting young people including: generational disconnect, digital & social media issues, tech true crime, mental health. Each episode comes with additional resources to help teens navigate difficult life circumstances. Expect to laugh along with the host and guest co-hosts while learning something new.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.