Decode Teen Emotions Podcast

Ever walked into your own house and felt your whole body tense up for no reason you can explain? In this episode, host John sits down with teen emotional wellness expert Susan and teen guest Braydon to unpack one of the most overlooked sources of teen stress, the home environment itself, and why it hits differently for both guys and girls.
John gets real about life with three teenage boys and admits he has not always gotten it right. Braydon opens up about walking through the front door and instantly knowing something is off, absorbing stress that nobody is talking about, and becoming the "human mood detector nobody asked to be." Susan breaks down why home hits on a deeper level than anywhere else, what different parenting styles do to teen emotions, and how one teen named Jalen went from constant explosions to actually feeling heard by making one simple change.
By the end of this episode, you will have real tools to start saying what you feel at home in a way that opens doors instead of slamming them.
In this episode:
Why tension at home follows you everywhere, even when nobody says a word
The difference between parenting styles and how they shape your emotions
How Jalen went from acting out to feeling heard with one small shift
The "I feel" formula and how to use it in a real conversation
What parents can do to stay curious instead of reactive
This week's challenge: Try the "I feel" formula at least once in a real conversation at home this week. It does not have to be a big moment. Just practice putting your feeling into words instead of letting it come out sideways. Notice what happens.
📄 Free worksheet: My Family, My Voice Worksheet, download it and follow along at your own pace.
📚 Based on the book series by Agnes Blake: Anger Management for Teens: Mad to Calm
Want to go deeper? Teens Emotional Wellness Workbook
💚 If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). In an emergency, call 911.

Ever wondered why some days feel completely impossible for no clear reason? In this episode, host John sits down with teen emotional wellness expert Susan and teen guest Page to get into the real science behind hormonal mood shifts during puberty, and what they mean for both guys and girls.
John kicks things off by admitting he is a dad of three boys with zero personal experience in this territory, counting entirely on Susan to carry him through. Page opens up about crying at a dog food commercial, feeling hurt by a best friend's totally normal joke, and spending a midnight Google spiral wondering if something was actually wrong with her. Susan breaks down what hormones do to the teenage brain, why the adults around you sometimes make it worse without meaning to, and how one teen named Mia used a simple daily journal to go from feeling like an emotional mess to finally understanding her own patterns.
By the end of this episode, you will understand why your brain reacts the way it does and have a simple tool to start making sense of your own patterns.
In this episode:
Why hormones make emotions feel bigger and harder to control for both guys and girls
What estrogen actually does to the teenage brain
Why "calm down" is the worst thing you can say to someone in that moment
How one teen used a 30-second daily journal to stop feeling like an emotional mess
What parents can do to actually help instead of making things worse
This week's challenge: For the next seven days take 30 seconds at the end of each day and write down how your emotional energy felt and one thing that helped or made things harder. That is it.
📄 Free worksheet: The Hormonal Journal Prompts Worksheet, download it and follow along at your own pace.
📚 Based on the book series by Agnes Blake: Anger Management for Teens: Mad to Calm
Want to go deeper? Teens Emotional Wellness Workbook
💚 If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). In an emergency, call 911.

Ever explode over something small and wonder why it hit so hard? In this episode, host John sits down with teen emotional wellness expert Susan and 16-year-old guest Brayden to break down one of the most powerful tools for managing your emotions: understanding your triggers.
Susan explains what triggers actually are, why they sneak up on you, and how "stacked triggers" can turn a small moment into a big reaction. Brayden gets real about his own patterns, from getting called out at basketball practice to firing off messages in group chats, and walks through Susan's five-step Trigger Tracking Worksheet live on air.
By the end of the episode, you'll know how to spot your triggers, read your body's early warning signals, and build a simple plan that actually works.
In this episode:
What triggers are and why everyone has them
How your "emotional battery" changes the way you react
The five-step Trigger Tracking Worksheet
Why making the gap between trigger and reaction even slightly bigger rewires your brain over time
This week's challenge: Pick one trigger, run it through the five steps, and write it down at least once. That's it.

Ever said something in anger and immediately thought, "Why did I just do that?" You're not alone.
In this episode, host Chris and teen guest Peyton get real about those moments when anger takes over — the snaps, the text spirals, the blowups that seem to come out of nowhere. With expert Susan breaking down the science, we unpack why anger is rarely just anger, and what's really going on underneath.
We cover:
Why your brain "hijacks" you before you can think
How to identify the real emotions hiding behind anger (hint: it's usually fear, shame, or feeling left out)
A step-by-step Emotional Check-In you can use before a tough conversation, a test, or a stressful social situation
How teen hormones make all of this louder — and why that doesn't make you "too much"
Whether you're a teen who's ever exploded over something that felt bigger than it looked, or a parent trying to understand what's going on, this episode gives you real tools — not just "calm down."
📄 Free worksheet: Episode 2 Stress & Anger Checklist, download it and follow along at your own pace.
📚 Based on the book series by Agnes Blake: Anger Management for Teens: Mad to Calm
Want to go deeper? Teens Emotional Wellness Workbook
💚 If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). In an emergency, call 911.

When anger hits, it can feel overwhelming — like a storm you didn’t see coming.
In this first episode of Decode Teen Emotions, we break down what anger really is, why it shows up so fast, and what it’s trying to tell you.
Instead of feeling out of control, you’ll start to understand what’s happening inside — and how to respond in a healthier, more confident way.
This worksheet will help you:✔ Identify your personal anger triggers✔ Recognize emotional and physical warning signs✔ Reflect on how you typically react✔ Start building calmer responses
📄 Free worksheet: Episode 1 Worksheet, download it and follow along at your own pace.
📚 Based on the book series by Agnes Blake: Anger Management for Teens: Mad to Calm
Want to go deeper? Teens Emotional Wellness Workbook
💚 If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). In an emergency, call 911.

New format. Real teens. Expert voices.
Welcome to Decode Teen Emotions — your go-to space for real conversations that help families and teens grow, connect, and thrive.
In this intro episode, we’re reintroducing ourselves and sharing what’s new. You’ll hear from teens and special guests, including experts who work directly with them, bringing real perspectives and meaningful conversations to every episode.
Each episode now includes a companion worksheet designed to help you apply what you learn. These worksheets are inspired by the Wellness Workbook and our teen-focused books, giving you practical tools you can use right away.
Hit subscribe and join us as we build stronger communication, healthier habits, and more confident voices—one episode at a time.
📚 Based on the book series by Agnes Blake: Anger Management for Teens: Mad to Calm
Want to go deeper? Teens Emotional Wellness Workbook
💚 If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). In an emergency, call 911.