Friendship is one of the most important relationships during childhood and teenage years. Yet many young people struggle to understand the difference between real friends and people who only stay around for convenience, popularity, or peer pressure.

In this episode of Let The Children Speak, youth ages 12–17 share what makes them want to befriend someone, how they recognize trust and kindness, and how they notice when a friendship becomes unhealthy. We talk about loyalty, respect, fitting in, and the courage it takes to walk away from friendships that make you feel small.

This conversation helps young listeners understand emotional safety, boundaries, and self-worth while reminding them they are not alone in what they experience socially.

The People’s Podcast — we’re the ears that will listen, where your opinion matters.

Let’s have a good conversation.

In today’s digital world, online games connect millions of teens instantly. But sometimes, online friendships can feel real even though the other person is a stranger.

The recent case of Thomas Medlin — a teen who went missing after a planned meetup from a Roblox connection — reminds us that curiosity and excitement should never outweigh safety.

This isn’t about fear; it’s about understanding that online trust is different from real-world trust, and knowing how to protect yourself while still enjoying games and social platforms.

Online safety isn’t a limitation; it’s a superpower that keeps you in control of your world.

Identity is not something you figure out overnight. It grows, shifts, and evolves as we learn more about ourselves and the world around us. In this episode of Let The Children Speak, youth ages 12–17 share what identity means to them, how labels affect their self-worth, and why it is okay to still be figuring things out. This is a safe space where voices are respected, curiosity is welcomed, and every story matters.

“Drawn From the Inside Out” explores how art becomes a voice when words feel too heavy or unsafe. For many children and teens, drawing, painting, music, and creativity are ways to release emotions they do not yet know how to explain. This episode creates a safe space for young voices to share how art helps them express feelings, process experiences, and show the world who they truly are—without pressure, labels, or judgment.

Tonight on Let The Children Speak, we open a conversation about reading and how books influence the way children think, feel, imagine, and understand the world. Reading is not just about school or grades. It is about finding yourself in stories, discovering new perspectives, and realizing your voice matters. This is a safe space for kids ages 12–17 to share how reading shows up in their lives, whether they love books, struggle with them, or are still figuring out their relationship with words.

Tonight on Let The Children Speak Adults talk about kids every day. Tonight, kids speak for themselves. How hard is it to grow up with screens, expectations, and constant comparison? Video games are part of everyday life for kids growing up in 2020. They are places of creativity, challenge, competition, teamwork, and escape. For many young people, gaming is more than entertainment — it shapes how they think, learn, connect, and grow. In this episode of Let The Children Speak, Children share their real experiences with video games. We explore how gaming helps develop problem-solving skills, emotional regulation, social connection, confidence, and resilience. We also talk about balance, time management, and how gaming affects focus, relationships, and self-expression. This conversation centers youth voices without judgment or dismissal. Because when children are heard, understanding grows. Tonight 8 PM EST Children Ages 12-17 Join us

On Let The Children Speak, we talk about how words hurt — not only the ones spoken to us, yet the ones we repeat inside our own minds. This episode explores how children learn to speak to themselves through correction, criticism, teasing, and silence. Over time, those words become habits. We begin using the same language on ourselves that once made us feel small. We look at how self-talk shapes confidence, identity, and emotional safety. We also talk about how changing our words can change how we grow. Because words stay. And the ones we say to ourselves may be the loudest.

Words can feel small, yet they carry weight. On this episode of Let The Children Speak, we talk openly about name calling—when it feels like joking, when it turns harmful, and how it impacts confidence, friendships, and mental health. Young voices share their experiences with teasing at school, online, and at home. We explore how tone, intent, repetition, and power change the meaning of words, and why something that feels fun to one person can hurt another deeply. This conversation creates space for honesty, empathy, and learning how to speak without causing harm.