S2E1 | The Four Foundational Harms | The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt | The Messy Podcast

This podcast explores how the transition from childhood to adulthood has changed, particularly in the context of modern society. It delves into the brain development during puberty, noting the rapid rewiring that occurs. The podcast will discuss how pruning and myelination impact the brain's plasticity and vulnerability.

It will also address the concept of "safetyism" and smartphones as "experience blockers" that reduce children's access to necessary real-world experiences. The podcast will analyze how the lack of these experiences impacts development, contrasting them with the traditional rites of passage that many cultures have used to mark the transition to adulthood.

The podcast will further examine the disappearance of these rites in modern, secular societies and the impact of the digital world on this transition, noting how the internet has removed age-related milestones. The podcast proposes a structured approach to milestones based on even-year birthdays, with new freedoms, responsibilities, and significant increases in allowance for children ages 6 to 18. The podcast aims to provide an insightful look into how we can better support children and adolescents on their path to becoming healthy and competent adults.