Why Didn’t They Tell Us?

At every age and stage, we long to belong. But too often, that desire comes at the cost of abandoning parts of ourselves. True friendship isn’t about fitting in - it’s about finding your people: the ones you like, and the ones you feel good being around.

Leslie Randolph is joined by friendship expert and advice columnist Nina Badzin for a conversation about friendship and friend groups, especially during the tween and teen years....

Heading to summer camp? Confidence is the most important thing you can pack. Leslie Randolph speaks directly to girls (and their moms) navigating the nerves that come with starting something new, whether it’s sleepaway camp or a big life transition. Some girls are counting down the days with excitement. Others feel anxious, unsure, or like they’re heading off against their will. All of that is normal, Leslie says, and it’s exactly ...

Most people wait for a crisis to start living with intention. This episode is your invitation to stop waiting.

After attending a funeral for someone who lived with “no wasted days,” Leslie Randolph reflects on how easily moms can slip into autopilot – checking boxes, managing schedules, and losing sight of their own joy. She shares how the loss of her father during the height of COVID became a turning point, waking her up to the ...

Your daughter’s self-confidence starts with yours because she’s watching more than she’s listening.

If you’re a mom raising teens, especially confident girls, in a world that constantly tells them they’re not enough, I recorded this episode for you. I want to help you see how your words, your actions, and even the way you talk to yourself can shape how your daughter sees herself.

I share what I’ve learned through coaching, pare...

When my calendar’s overflowing and I still feel like I’m coming up short, I know it’s time to take a hard look at what self-care actually means in my life. And if you’re a mom who’s feeling burned out, even when you love the people and work you’ve said yes to, you’re not alone.

In this episode, I’m joined by Whitney Baker, the founder of Electric Ideas and a self-connection coach who helps women step out of autopilot and reconnec...

Self-confidence isn’t something you wait to earn. It’s a choice you make before there’s any proof you’ll succeed. But I know that choice isn’t always easy.

I used to believe confidence came from accomplishments, but I’ve learned that self-confidence is different. It’s believing in yourself even when you have no evidence to back it up. That belief fuels every risk you take, every dream you chase, and every time you show up for you...

Adulting isn’t something they teach in school, but Heather Redisch is here to help college graduates figure it out.

I see it all the time—young professionals landing their first jobs and feeling completely unprepared. Why does the transition from school to career feel so overwhelming? Heather Redisch, founder of The Talent Maven and creator of the Adulting 101 Masterclass, has spent nearly 25 years in recruiting and has noticed a...

Self-love isn’t about spa days or self-indulgence. It’s about the way you speak to yourself, the choices you make, and the belief that you are already worthy.

As a self-confidence coach for teenage girls, I’ve seen how the relationship we have with ourselves influences every part of life. But if self-love is so important, why does it feel so hard? Why does doubt always seem louder? I get it. I’ve been there. That’s why I want to ...

Most parents dread “the talk,” but raising confident, informed teens is less about one big conversation and more about a series of open, shame-free discussions.

Dr. Lisa Klein, pediatrician and co-founder of Turning Teen, joins Leslie Randolph to break down what kids really need when it comes to talking about puberty. Is there a right time to start? How do you make it less awkward? What happens if you feel totally unprepared? Dr....

“Setting a goal is a way of saying to yourself, ‘I want you to have what you desire, and I believe in your ability to create it.’” Leslie Randolph brings this idea to life as she talks about how self-confidence and intentions intersect with goal-setting in this episode of Why Didn’t They Tell Us?

Why do so many of us hesitate to set goals? Leslie tackles this question head-on as she reflects on how fear of failure and self-doubt ...

“A lot of what our girls are experiencing today feels straight out of ‘Mean Girls,’” says Abby Gagerman, licensed social worker with her own private psychotherapy practice. Abby joins host Leslie Randolph to talk about the phenomenon of being “dropped” from friend groups. Social media, technology and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 lockdown have merely exacerbated the age-old phenomenon whereby middle schoolers form cliques w...

“It really shifts your thinking to things you wouldn’t give a second thought to,” says today’s guest Meredith Rivkin about the power of practicing gratitude. A junior in high school, Meredith serves as the president of the teen board at Gratitude Generation—g2—a nonprofit organization on a mission to instill gratitude in future generations through education and service. Meredith joins Why Didn’t They Tell Us to talk with host Lesli...

“I don’t want it to be a best-kept secret. I want everyone to know,” says Leslie Randolph on this solo episode where she announces an upcoming series she is launching in honor of her successful TEDx Talk being released to YouTube. The series of short-and-sweet episodes will be dedicated to unpacking the secrets of self-confidence and show you how to cultivate it. In this first episode of the self-confidence series, Leslie shares th...

“I didn’t slump over and start crying. I felt I had power,” says Samantha Golkin-Nigliazzo, an 11-year breast cancer survivor about receiving her diagnosis early thanks to vigilant screening and self-advocacy. More than a decade after her diagnosis, she now empowers others by serving as the vice president of The Pink Agenda and co-chair of the organization's Education Committee. The Pink Agenda is a nonprofit organization committed...

“Compassion is the simplest solution to the world’s most complex problems,” says host Leslie Randolph on today’s episode of Why Didn’t They Tell Us. October is dedicated to breast cancer awareness, bullying prevention and marks one year since the tragic events of October 7 in Israel, and today Leslie focuses on healing ourselves and by extension, healing the world as a whole. This starts with feeling our feelings fully, while remai...

“The nervous system is the behind-the-scenes to your mindset—the-behind-the scenes to everything—it fuels everything and is probably the most important investment you can make, ” says today’s guest Leah Davidson. A registered speech language pathologist and certified life coach—among a plethora of other certifications—Leah saw early on the role brain neuroplasticity and positive mindset played in a patient’s ability to heal and imp...

“I’m not just talking to new students who are starting this new chapter at college, this is for moms as well,” says host Leslie Randolph who dedicates today’s episode of Why Didn’t They Tell Us to helping teens and their parents build trust and confidence—in themselves and in each other—as those teens embark on this exciting new chapter in their lives. College presents its own unique set of challenges—making new friends, joining ne...

“Everything is hard before you start,” explains Leslie who returns from summer vacation to start a new season talking about, well—getting back into your routine. On today’s episode, she’ll discuss the fear and anxiety that naturally accompanies returning to an old job or skill after a period away, or starting a new endeavor entirely. It is completely normal to feel nervous, doubtful and like you’ve lost your mojo, however, it’s not...

“Nothing changes everything,” says host Leslie Randolph on this summer season finale of Why Didn’t They Tell Us? Today, she draws from her recent experience giving a TEDx Talk—a longtime dream come true—to remind us of some of the most valuable lessons we’ve learned in episodes past. In this era of instant fame and “going viral,” it’s easy to believe that one event can instantly turn our whole worlds around. The true change that oc...