Healthy Teen Life

Are you fueling your body enough to actually perform your best? In this episode of Healthy Teen Life, Leslie sits down with Michele Pettinger, a nutrition expert and lifelong runner who started running at 12 and now runs ultra marathons, to talk about what teen athletes need to eat to train well, recover faster, and protect their long term health.

Have you ever felt like the sport you once loved has started to feel more like a job? In this episode of Healthy Teen Life, Leslie sits down with Harvey Araton, a 25-year New York Times columnist and author of The Goal of the Game, to talk about what youth sports pressure is doing to young athletes and how you can start playing for yourself again.

If you have ever stayed in a spor...

If you've ever felt anxious around food, guilty after eating, or like your thoughts about your b...

If you have ever felt like you're not good enough, not confident enough, or that one bad moment defines who you are, this episode is for you. Leslie sits down with Laura Ollinger, Teen & Parent Well-Being Coach, speaker, and certified Parent-Child Whisperer™, to get into the hidden ways self-doubt shows up in everyday teen life and, more importantl...

Stress and anxiety can feel unavoidable in your teen and college years — from school pressure and exams to friendships and expectations. But what if there was an easy way to manage it?

In this episode, Leslie sits down talks with Ariel Balfour to break down why stress feels so intense and how stress isn’t something to fear — it’s a signal.

We explore simple, Ariel's powerful 4-step reset you can use anywhere to calm your nervous sy...

Teen stress, emotional regulation, and mental health are deeply connected to how the brain works. When teens and college students are under pressure, the emotional brain can override logic, leading to overwhelm, impulsive reactions, and feeling out of control. This isn’t a willpower problem — it’s a stress response in the brain.

In this episode, Leslie talks with psychologist Dr. Laurel Mellin, founder of Emotional Brain Training (...

Stop waiting to “feel motivated.” Learn how to actually build motivation to eat healthy, move your body, and stick with it — even on low-energy days.

We often think we just need to “get motivated” to eat better, work out, or finally stick to healthy habits. Think again. In this episode, we break down why motivation isn’t what you think it is — and why waiting to feel motivated keeps you stuck.

You’ll learn how motivation actually w...

Feeling exhausted, anxious, bloated, foggy, or just not yourself—even though doctor visits end in more questions than answers, and your labs come back “normal”?

Having health concerns as a teen or college student can be concerning when you're not sure what's going on. But not getting clear answers can be even more stressful, frustrating and sometimes, feel hopeless.

In this chat with functional medicine practitioner Hali Laricey we...

AI filters, photo editing, and social media beauty standards are changing the way teens and college-age young adults see themselves — often without them even realizing it. In this episode, Leslie talks with artist and researcher Gretchen Andrew about how AI-driven images are shaping self-perception, setting unrealistic expectations, fueling comparison, and quietly impact mental health.

Discover:

• How AI filters distort reality ...

Tired of obsessing over calories or feeling confused about what you're actually eating? You're not alone. Most of us have been taught to judge food by numbers on a label or trendy health claims — and honestly, it just makes eating more stressful.

In this episode, nutritio...

What does a safe relationship really look like — at home, at school, or while dating? In this powerful episode, Leslie talks with Sabrina Osso, founder of Osso Safe and survivor-advocate, about why respect must be the foundation of every relationship and how teens can recognize warning signs before things escalate.

This conversation covers:

• The difference between discipline vs. abuse

• Why home safety impacts confidence, ment...

Loneliness is a big challenge teens face today — and it’s far more common (and more normal) than most teens recognize. In this episode, Leslie talks with licensed psychologist and author Dr. Kathy Wu about why so many teens feel disconnected, what loneliness does to the teen brain, and how it affects self-confidence, motivation, and mental health.

What you'll hear:

On the outside, some teens can look like they “have it all together” but on the inside, they're carrying something much heavier behind the scenes: hidden depression. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Margaret Rutherford—clinical psychologist and author of Perfectly Hidden Depression—breaks down why some teens suppress emotions, strive to seem perfect, and quietly carry stress, pressure, or loneliness without telling anyone.

This i...

This episode breaks down mindful eating in a way teens and young adults can use in their everyday lives — and during the holidays when stress, emotions, and food are everywhere. Dr. Michelle May joins Leslie to explain why typical “outside-in” rules (counting, restricting, avoiding “bad” foods) actually fuel guilt, cravings, and feeling out of control, and what to do instead.

You’ll learn: • How to use the Mindful Eating Cycle (the...

Dr. Angela Casey, double-boarded dermatologist and creator of Bright Girl, breaks down straightforward, science-backed skincare for tweens and teens.

Learn why a pH-balanced cleanser, good moisturizer, and mineral sunscreen are the foundation, which trendy ingredients to avoid, and how sleep, diet, and stress affect acne and skin health.

This episode includes easy morning/night routines, acne prevention tips, plus an exclusive Brig...

If you've ever struggled with math you've probably had thoughts that you're dumb, not good at it, or will never "get it". Too many students struggle and give up when they begin to fall behind or miss out on a section that leaves a gap in the building blocks of math. And sometimes parents believe their student isn't trying hard enough or isn't as smart as the other kids. In today's episode Beth Bowen joins Coach Leslie to bust those...

Vaping is everywhere — and it can feel like it’s the cool thing to do. But what’s actually happening in your brain and body when you vape? In this episode, respiratory therapist and certified tobacco educator Jessica Stewart breaks down why vaping is so addictive, how it affects teen mood, focus, and stress, and what to do if you want to quit but don’t know where to start. No shame. No scare tactics. Just real talk about what’s goi...

Most people think of personal branding as an adult or career-focused exercise but the reality is that doing the work in your teens years is the most ideal time. In this episode Suzanne Tulien, a Brand Clarity Catalyst, joins Leslie to share what a personal brand is, how it's relevant for teens, and why teens need it more than ever. Find out how you as a teen or college student can tap into your personal values and attributes to dev...

Leveraging proven key principles of achievement and paths to success Barry Garapedian expertly guides young people to meet their highest potentials in all aspects of life.

Listen in as Barry shares a practical playbook for high school and college students to build confidence, develop high-performance habits, and focus on high-leverage activities that move them toward their goals.

This episode covers achievable routines (win the mor...