Healthy Teen Life

142: The Freedom to Be You: How to Fit In While Standing Out

Why is it so hard just to be yourself as a teen?If you’ve ever felt like you had to hide parts of who you are to fit in, this episode is for you. We’re talking about personal freedom and how honoring your true self yields better results than conforming to a "norm" that leaves you feeling empty and lost. You’ll get two simple yet highly effective tools to help you feel more secure in your individuality and show up as the real you.
Parents: This is a message so many young people could use right now. Share it with your teen
Like this episode? Take a second to click follow and leave a review -- it helps this podcast reach more teens and young adults seeking health and wellness information.
Parents: schedule a free Clarity Call with me here to help your teen/YA resolve weight concerns and unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
Plus: Grab a copy of my FREE Parent Guide: 20 Ways to Help Increase Confidence in Your Teen

141: Teen Anxiety…Or Just Stress? How to Spot It —and Support It with Monica Crnogorac

In this episode, I'm joined by Monica Crnogorac a Certified Life & Wellness Coach who helps teens manage anxiety and overwhelm that interferes with their daily lives. We unpack what anxiety really looks like in teens—especially the kind that hides behind perfectionism, procrastination, or “I’m fine.” We talk through how to spot the signs (even the ones you can’t see), common myths parents believe, and what you can do to help your teen manage anxiety without turning into their full-time therapist.
You’ll walk away with clear tools you can use today—from calming an anxious moment to helping your teen shift their inner critic into their inner coach. Plus, how to talk to your teen in a way that helps them open up—rather than shut down.
Monica’s Website: www.consciouscoach.bizHer podcast: Parenting Anxious Teens
Like this episode? Take a second to click follow and leave a review -- it helps this podcast reach more teens and young adults seeking health and wellness information.
Parents: schedule a free Clarity Call with me here to help your teen/YA resolve weight & unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
Plus: Grab a copy of my FREE Parent Guide: 20 Ways to Help Increase Confidence in Your Teen
 
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140: Rethinking Teen Mental Health: Real Talk with Ross Szabo

In this episode, I sit down with Ross Szabo—mental health advocate, author, and Wellness Director at Geffen Academy at UCLA—to explore how vital it is that we rethink our approach to mental health. We discuss the difference between emotions and mental health disorders, why using the right mental health vocabulary matters, and what families can do to normalize mental health the way we do physical health. If you've ever wondered whether your teen is struggling or just going through “a phase,” this episode offers a fresh, practical perspective—and some much-needed support.
🎙️ Topics include:
What mental health really means (and why most of us define it wrong)
Why Gen Z still struggles to ask for help
The difference between healthy coping and harmful numbing
How parents can model emotional regulation and build trust
When to act, what to say, and how to know if it’s serious
Whether you're a parent, a teen, or an educator, this episode offers practical advice on taking proactive steps to improve mental well-being and developing a framework for understanding mental health.
🔗 For more on the summer program for Educators: Geffen Academy Mental Health Education Institute
Like this episode? Take a second to click follow and leave a review -- it helps this podcast reach more teens and young adults seeking health and wellness information.
Parents: schedule a free Clarity Call with me here to help your teen/YA resolve weight & unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.

139: Wait—Do You Know What You're Eating? (How to Read a Nutrition Label Without Getting Obsessed)

Teens often hear what to eat, but you rarely are taught the nuances of how to make your own smart choices. (at least not in a way that's healthy, realistic and reasonable). In this episode, we break down nutrition labels in a no-pressure, non-diety way—so you can stop guessing and start fueling yourself with confidence.
You’ll learn:
What food labels actually tell you (and what’s just marketing fluff)
The 3 things to check before choosing a snack or meal
What NOT to stress over (hint: calories aren’t the enemy)
A simple mindset shift to stop the guilt and start feeling good about food
Whether you're a confused teen or a supportive parent, this episode empowers you to read labels effectively, fostering a balanced relationship with food and boosting self-esteem and overall happiness. Tune in for truthful insights into food ingredients and nutrient values, ensuring you nourish your body with knowledge and confidence.
🎯 Action step included at the end to help you leverage label-reading right away (without getting obsessed).
🧠 Leave a comment and let us know what surprised you or was most helpful.
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Parents: Schedule a free Clarity Call with me here to help your teen/YA resolve weight & unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
 

138: Body Truce: How to Stop Fighting the Skin You're In

Most of us struggle with body image inside our head. As a teen or college student, most people probably aren't aware of how much thought and energy goes into body image because it's not something you want to share or admit -- until it starts to take over. If you're feeling like your body is a problem to be fixed, this episode cuts through the noise of toxic body culture and gives you practical tools to make peace with your physical self.
You'll learn why you're NOT broken for struggling with body image (looking at you, billion-dollar industries profiting off our insecurities!), and discover actionable strategies to stop body anxiety from holding you back from the things you actually want to do in life. Whether you're avoiding dating, the beach with friends, or just looking in the mirror, this episode shows you how to build genuine body confidence that doesn't depend on changing how you look.
Like this episode? Take a second to click follow, and leave a review -- it helps this podcast reach more teens and young adults (and parents, too) seeking relevant health and wellness information.
Parents: Schedule a free Clarity Call with me here to help your teen/YA resolve weight & unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
Parents: Grab a copy of our FREE Parent Guide: 20 Ways to Help Increase Confidence in Your Teen.
 
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137: Breaking Free from Food Guilt

This episode is for any teen or young adult who has the food police running loose in their head or find thoughts about food are occupying too much mind space. It's time to stop feeling guilty about every bite! In this episode, we break down why your relationship with food is so complicated (spoiler: it's not your fault) and give you practical ways to make peace with eating. You'll learn how to recognize harmful food rules, quiet that annoying inner critic, and actually enjoy meals again—without the side dish of anxiety, regret or shame. Whether you're tired of the restrict-binge cycle or just exhausted from overthinking everything you eat, this episode gives you the roadmap to food freedom that actually works in real life.
Like this episode? Take a second to click follow and leave a review -- it helps this podcast reach more teens and young adults seeking health and wellness information.
Parents: Schedule a free Clarity Call with me here to help your teen/YA resolve weight & unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
Parents: Grab a copy of my FREE Parent Guide: 6 Common Signs of Disordered Eating (and what to do next).
 
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136: Fixing this ONE Thing Can Switch Your Brain from Blah to Hurrah

Feeling anxious, low-energy, or just not like yourself lately? It’s not all in your head—and it’s not something you have to just deal with. In this episode, we unpack what’s really going on in your body and how an unhealthy metabolism could be causing anxiety, depression, brain fog, low energy, or other physical and mental health struggles… and the one major solution to start fixing it, now. Discover how one major solution can transform your energy, focus and overall health in just six weeks —including clear, simple changes you can make right now to start feeling better. No dieting, no extremes—just the truth and tools for fueling your body and mind -- that actually work.
Like this episode? Take a second to click follow and leave a review -- it helps this podcast reach more teens and young adults seeking health and wellness information.
Parents: schedule a free Clarity Call with me here to help your teen/YA improve weight and nutrition, body image and self-esteem.
Just browsing? Grab a copy of my FREE Parent Guide: 20 Ways to Help Increase Confidence in Your Teen here.
 
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135: Metabolism & Mental Health: How Diet Can Heal the Mind

Ever wondered why traditional mental health treatments often fall short? Despite therapy sessions and prescriptions, are you or a loved one still struggling with anxiety or depression? Well, the answer might be on your plate, not just in your therapist's office.
In this eye-opening episode, Leslie sits down with Dr. Matthew Bernstein, clinical psychiatrist for over 20-years, and a pioneer in metabolic psychiatry, to expose the powerful connection mainstream medicine has overlooked for years: how your metabolism directly impacts your mental health. Until now, we've been missing a fundamental truth—what you eat literally shapes how you think.
Dr. Bernstein shares compelling research showing how optimizing your metabolic health through strategic dietary choices can transform anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, and other mental health challenges. 
Discover why the food-mood connection might be the game-changer you've been searching for, and learn actionable strategies to harness your metabolism for mental wellness—it's potentially the missing piece in your mental health puzzle.
For more on Dr. Matthew Berstein visit:
https://accordmh.com/
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Parents: schedule a free Clarity Call with me here to help your teen/YA resolve weight & unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
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134: Neurohack Your Snack Attack: Rewiring Emotional Eating

Why do teens and college students stress eat during exam time; crave and binge on sweets after scrolling TikTok; or while feeling anxiety from social drama? This episode breaks down the science of how your nervous system contributes to emotional eating, explaining why willpower has nothing to do with stopping it. Discover practical "neurohacks" to recognize when anxiety is triggering your cravings and learn simple techniques to regulate your system before heading to the fridge. Perfect for teens struggling with stress eating, anxiety-induced munchies, or anyone looking to understand the real body-mind connection between emotions and food.
If you want to stop stress and anxiety from hijacking your eating habits and pushing you towards unhealthy choices, listen to the end for simple action steps you can start using immediately.
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Get Support: Schedule a free Clarity Call with Leslie here to help your teen/young adult overcome weight or unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem. Holistic coaching that results in deep and sustainable change.
Parents: Grab a copy of my FREE Parent Guide: 6 Common Signs of Disordered Eating (and what to do next).
 
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133: Exercise That Doesn't Suck: Finding Fitness & Movement You Love

You know you should exercise for your health, you want to start something, anything, yet you're struggling to find your "jam". Or you're exercising but it seems like a struggle to do and stay consistent.
In this episode Leslie challenges conventional fitness narratives and dives into rethinking movement—not as a punishment or obligation, but as a personal journey that inspires joy and longevity. Discover your unique "movement personality," learn how to separate exercise from appearance goals, and explore practical strategies for making physical activity a natural, positive part of your life that enhances you mentally and physically. Featuring actionable steps to transform your relationship with exercise from obligation to celebration. 
Whether you're an athlete, a beginner, or somewhere in between, this episode is filled with actionable advice to help reshape your relationship with physical activity for the better. Embrace fitness as self-care and transform how you live your life!
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Parents: if you’re looking to help your teen/YA resolve weight & unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem, schedule a free consult call with me here.
Parents: Grab a copy of my FREE Parent Guide: 20 Ways to Help Increase Confidence in Your Teen
 
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