Season 12 • Episode 949

949 - A Roadmap for Helping Adolescents Thrive

Sep 22, 2025

15:35

Episode Description

About this episode:

Teenagers get a bad rap. They're seen as defiant and disrespectful, when, in reality, they're navigating a critical development period that teaches them how to regulate emotions, take responsibility, and build relationships. In this episode: Lisa Lawson debunks common misconceptions about adolescence and offers her recommendations for creating conditions that allow young people to thrive.

Guest:

Lisa Lawson, JD, is the president and chief executive officer of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a philanthropy creating better outcomes for children. She is also the author of the new book, "Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children".

Host:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.

Show links and related content:

Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children—The New Press
Lisa Lawson explores the neuroscience of adolescence in 'Thrive'—PBS News Hour
New Book Shows Why Equipping Adolescents to Thrive Is Key to a Brighter Future—Annie E. Casey Foundation

Transcript information:

Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.

Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website.