10 for Teens + Tweens
Self-Improvement
About
This is 10 for Teens + Tweens, a 10-ish minute podcast by Empowerful Girls that helps you grow curiosity, compassion, and confidence so you can take on the world! Host Stephanie Valdez discusses positive themes and tackles tough topics, teaching girls how to handle them. She shares guidance on personal development, physical and mental health, relationships, and media literacy. She hopes every girl listening will accept and embrace herself (strengths and weaknesses), make stronger connections with friends and family, and be mindful with media. More than anything, Stephanie wants girls to know for themselves that they are enough. Stephanie Valdez is the fou...
Episodes
- 147. Study Strategies
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens discusses multiple study strategies. The host shares various approaches to studying smarter, allowing listeners to choose what works best for them.
- 146. Girls Changing the World pt. 2
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens features young women who are making a difference. It includes stories of inventors, athletes, and activists like Shanya Gill, Catherine Drysdale, and Madhvi Chittoor.
- 145. International Women's Day
This episode discusses the 115th International Women's Day and highlights the ongoing need for equality, rights, and support for women. The host shares her hopes for future progress.
- 144. When it's hard to Love Yourself
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens focuses on making self-love easier for young listeners. Strategies and guidance are provided to help teens and tweens with self-acceptance.
- 143. What Is Happening
Episode 143 addresses the many troubling things happening in the world and offers validation, comfort, and guidance to teens feeling worried or weighed down.
- 142. New Year, New View
This episode discusses the high failure rate of New Year's Resolutions and offers a new approach to help listeners keep them. A free '2025 Year Reflection' worksheet is available in the show notes.
- 141. It's Giving Service
Episode 141 discusses the benefits of volunteering for teens and tweens. It highlights how giving service not only helps organizations but also provides personal rewards to those who volunteer.
- 140. Visualization + Goals
This episode discusses visualization, a mental practice that can help you achieve your goals. The podcast celebrates its 5th birthday and thanks listeners for their support.
- 139. Spilling the Tea on Secrets
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens explores the distinction between secrets and confidences, addressing what types of information should not be kept private and the repercussions of breaching trust.
- 138. My Birthday Breakup
The host of 10 for Teens + Tweens discusses receiving the worst birthday gift imaginable 20 years ago on their birthday. This episode shares the story and offers a lesson learned from the experience.
- 137. Get Outside + Connect
This episode discusses the benefits of nature and the importance of reconnecting with it amidst a noisy world. A free printable poster, 'Get Outside + Connect Your Energy,' is available in the show notes.
- 136. Health Setbacks
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens discusses how to deal with health setbacks, such as sports injuries, food allergies, or chronic illnesses. The speaker emphasizes that they are not a healthcare professional and not offering medical ad…
- 135. Your Energy
Episode 135 discusses managing your energy as a valuable resource and the importance of selectively choosing who to give it to. It references wisdom shared by Taylor Swift and offers a printable poster available in the show notes.
- 134. My Best Advice for 2025-26 School Year
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens offers advice for the 2025-26 school year, applicable anytime. The host shares personal goals for practicing presence and overcoming self-imposed challenges, encouraging listeners to join her in growth…
- 133. The Cost of Beauty
Episode 133 of 10 for Teens + Tweens, "The Cost of Beauty," discusses the significant time, money, and energy beauty standards demand. The host shares a perspective aimed at helping younger listeners grasp this sooner in life. A full trans…
- 132. Get Ready With Me Redos
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens revisits the 'Get Ready With Me' trend. The host shares her 'Get Ready With Me Redos,' reflecting on her own teen beauty routines from the 90s and early 2000s and what she would change knowing what she…
- 131. Surround Yourself With
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens discusses the significant impact of friendships during teen years. It focuses on the importance of choosing who you surround yourself with and offers a printable poster available in the show notes.
- 130. My Experience with Anxiety
The host shares personal experiences with anxiety, emphasizing that this is not medical advice. The episode aims to make listeners more comfortable discussing anxiety and understanding those who experience it.
- 129. Less Awkward with Dr. Cara Natterson
Dr. Cara Natterson joined 10 for Teens + Tweens to discuss puberty, a frequently requested topic. She and Vanessa Kroll Bennett created resources for teens, tweens, and parents to address puberty concerns and improve communication.
- 128. Peer Pressure
Episode 128 of 10 for Teens + Tweens discusses peer pressure, explaining how it can lead to actions misaligned with personal values. The episode explores common scenarios and offers strategies for navigating these situations.
- 127. Do It Anyway
Episode 127 of 10 for Teens + Tweens discusses the feeling of not being able to win and encourages listeners to 'Do It Anyway.' A printable poster is available in the show notes.
- 126. You Matter
Episode 126, "You Matter," of the 10 for Teens + Tweens podcast draws connections between Australian wildlife like cassowaries, giant clams, and parrot fish, and the host's recent feelings. A printable "You Matter" poster is available in t…
- 125. Women's History: Inventions
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens highlights women inventors who made significant impacts but were often denied credit or omitted from historical records, concluding Women's History Month.
- 124. Women's History: Rights
This episode discusses the progress of women's rights over the past two centuries in honor of Women's History Month, noting that while much has been accomplished, there is still work to be done.
- 123. Girls Mentorship with Jill + Mary
Jill and Mary from Girls Mentorship discuss their programs for empowering girls to become bold leaders and confident friends. The episode covers the importance of mentorship, program messages, and observed transformations in empowered girl…
- 122. Your Online Safety
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens focuses on online safety, providing listeners with tips to navigate digital interactions confidently. The host shares personal experience to help young people feel more capable in unsafe online situati…
- 121. Crushes + Ships pt. 2
This episode, the second part of a popular series, covers selecting a crush, initiating conversation, and handling unreciprocated feelings. A transcript is available.
- 120. Love Yourself
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens, titled "Love Yourself," discusses the challenges of self-love and encourages listeners to practice it. A printable "What I Love About Myself" poster is available in the show notes.
- 119. Imposter Syndrome
Episode 119 discusses imposter syndrome, a feeling of being a fake who doesn't deserve their achievements. The episode explores ways to deal with this common issue and offers a printable poster called "I Deserve It" available in the show n…
- 118. Lessons from Silence
Host shares their experience taking a daily hour of silence, initially thought to be easy but revealing many lessons. The episode aims to help listeners incorporate silence into their own lives. A transcript is available.
- 117. 2025 INs + OUTs
Host shares her 2025 INs and OUTs list for teen and tween girls to help them look forward to the year. A printable list is available in the show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.
- 116. Still Standing
This episode reflects on the challenges of 2024, acknowledging that listeners may have faced difficulties. It emphasizes resilience, encouraging them to hold on even when things are tough, and offers a '2024 Year Reflection' worksheet avai…
- 115. Boys will be ...
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens discusses the common saying "Boys will be boys," encouraging a rephrasing of the concept. It highlights the importance of recognizing certain taught beliefs and behaviors in boys, with recommended book…
- 114. Glimmers + Gratitude
This episode revisits the topic of gratitude, emphasizing how recognizing and appreciating small positive moments, or 'glimmers,' can significantly improve one's life. A printable 'Glimmers List' is available in the show notes.
- 113. When You Don't Reach a Goal
The host discusses not reaching a personal goal of one million podcast downloads by her birthday, sharing what happened and offering a worksheet to help listeners navigate similar situations. An update is provided at the end of the episode.
- 112. My Experience with ADHD
In episode 112, the host discusses their personal journey with ADHD, diagnosed shortly after starting the podcast. They emphasize sharing their experience to raise awareness and improve understanding, clarifying they are not a healthcare p…
- 111. News Media Literacy
This episode covers essential tools for developing media literacy in a digital world, emphasizing the importance of critically evaluating online information. A printable poster is available in the show notes.
- 110. Building Trust
This episode discusses how building trust in relationships is a mutual effort, comparing it to constructing a bridge. It highlights honesty, integrity, and consistency as key pillars of trust, noting that actions can impact its strength.
- 109. Educated Girls Rock with Nisha Glenn
This episode features an interview with author and founder Nisha Glenn of Educated Girls Rock. Nisha shares insights on the importance of education for girls, challenges to high school graduation, and how her organization empowers girls to…
- 108. My Best Advice for 2024-25 School Year
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens shares advice for the school year, centered on the theme 'Own It.' The concept of ownership involves being accountable for responsibilities, choices, and behavior, inspired by Girls Mentorship's summer…
- 107. Girls in STEM with Lexie Polevoi
This episode features an interview with Lexie Polevoi, an advocate for girls in STEM. Polevoi shares insights on empowering girls in STEM through enrichment programs and workshops, discussing the need for female participation and the obsta…
- 106. Lessons from Olympics
Episode 106 of 10 for Teens + Tweens discusses the incredible skill of Olympic athletes and highlights the valuable lessons that can be learned from their dedication and performance. A printable resource is available.
- 105. Turn Confrontations into Conversations with Sharon McMahon Replay
This special extended episode replays an interview with Sharon McMahon, America's Government Teacher, on how to transform confrontations into conversations amidst strong opinions and differing beliefs. Key topics include approaching confli…
- 104. Procrastination
This episode discusses procrastination, its common causes like underestimation of time, distractions, or task avoidance, and offers strategies to overcome it. A printable 'Covey's Time Management Matrix' is available to help listeners get…
- 103. Your Safety
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens focuses on safety, adding to listeners' safety toolboxes. It covers 'Code Words' and 'Tricky People' to help listeners feel more capable and know what to do in unsafe situations, emphasizing that safet…
- 102. Planning for Success with Gitanjali Rao
In episode 102 of 10 for Teens + Tweens, host interviews Gitanjali Rao about her book, "A Young Innovators Guide to Planning for Success." Rao, an inventor and author, shares insights on college applications and provides advice for student…
- 101. Inside Out 2
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens discusses the movie Inside Out 2, focusing on Riley's adjustment to puberty and the introduction of new emotions like Anxiety and Envy. The discussion covers themes relevant to the podcast, such as bel…
- 100. One Hundred Episodes
10 for Teens + Tweens celebrates its 100th episode with a look back at memorable moments and a look ahead to future goals, including reaching one million downloads.
- 099. Don't Get In The Box
Episode 099 of 10 for Teens + Tweens addresses the issue of societal pressure to 'box up' girls through stereotyping and labeling. The episode encourages girls to resist these expectations and pursue their dreams, offering a printable post…
- 098. Body Image
This episode of 10 for Teens + Tweens focuses on body image, discussing how to move from wanting to change one's body to accepting it. Resources and related episodes are available in the show notes.