This Is So Awkward

Puberty has changed. It starts earlier, lasts longer, and happens with a smartphone in hand, which means the whole experience looks nothing like what previous generations went through. This Is So Awkward, hosted by Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, takes that reality head-on. Natterson is a pediatrician who literally wrote the book on puberty (The Care and Keeping of You), and together the hosts tackle the physical, emotional, and social upheaval of ages 8 through 18 with a mix of expertise and humor. The show is technically aimed at parents, but teenagers themselves get a lot out of it too. Episodes cover executive function development, body changes, consent conversations, fad diets and supplements, sensory integration, and the complicated dynamics of teen friendships and social hierarchies. What makes it work is that the hosts never talk about adolescence as a problem to be solved. They treat it as a real, specific developmental stage with its own logic, and they give listeners scripts, strategies, and frameworks for actually navigating it. New episodes drop weekly, and the show has built a substantial following since its launch. The combination of medical credibility and conversational warmth makes it accessible without being shallow. For teenagers who want to understand what is happening to their brains and bodies, or for parents trying to figure out how to stay connected during the most turbulent years, This Is So Awkward provides evidence-based guidance wrapped in the reassurance that yes, everyone finds this stage of life confusing.