Unfiltered - The Teens Talk Podcast Antara Pandit

Self-esteem is how much people value themselves and how important they believe they are in their world. We always emphasise on the importance of self-esteem in kids, and “positive self-esteem” in particular. But what exactly is it? And why does it matter so much?

My guest on Episode 07 of Unfiltered is 15-year-old Vishakha, artist & teen entrepreneur. Through her thriving online business Vish Upon a Star, Vishaka spreads her love of art by curating creative clothing and accessories, featuring her artwork. She launched her business during the COVID lockdown, as a way to help her navigate the changing world. She discovered her deep passion for art and converted her hobby into purpose!

Vishaka believes that her role as a teen entrepreneur has played an incredibly pivotal part in raising her own self-esteem, among other things. Capitalising on her strengths and not focusing on weakness led to a healthy level of self-compassion which in turn made her resilient. What are some of the daily habits we can follow to cultivate positive self esteem? She will also talk about what factors could possibly contribute to low self esteem - like toxic friends, negative school environment etc….and her own journey in managing self-esteem.

The creative process has always been a tricky one. Whether you are a writer, dancer, artist, blogger, photographer, architect, teacher, designer etc, there are phases you go through filled with self-doubt, fear, and a severe lack of motivation. You feel blocked. For every one step forward, you end up taking ten steps back. But everyone has their own way of refocusing, and different ways to spark creativity. 

16-year-old Naissha Bindal is a passionate and aspiring song writer & artist. She is also someone who has human welfare at the very core of who she is. She actively seeks out ways to help create change through her creative work. 

Join us in Episode 06 of Unfiltered, as we dive into the rollercoaster of emotions you can experience when you have an art block, what is the process she follows to start re-creating, the fear of failure and constant validation that all often feel we need, hurdles in experiencing growth, the effects of social media and more!

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Instagram: @unfiltered.teenstalk

There has always been a social stigma surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community in India. While there have been small strides made into integrating them into mainstream society, there is still a very long way to go. We tend to participate in conversations advocating and supporting their rights and freedom of choice, but when it comes to tangible action, there is hesitation. Controversies take over. While barriers have been broken over the last few years, acceptance is still a work in progress. How can we play an active role in including the LGBTQIA+ community in to mainstream society? What do they want everyone to know? How can we do better and BE better?

Swaminathan, Athreya, Vivaswath, Shreya, Prathik & Aishwarya, are 6 students from @beyond8_in school, who have taken a very powerful step in the right direction. Their book “There’s room for everyone: A handbook for better integration of the LGBTQIA+ community into mainstream society” is creating waves.

Join us as we chat about their book, the legal landscape, diversity & inclusion, catalysts for change in families, educational institutions and the workplace, terminology, what the LGBTQIA+ community wants everyone to know, mental health and a lot more!

You can grab your copy of their book by visiting their Instagram page @beyond8_in

In Episode 4 of Unfiltered, 14-year-old Diya Arun dives into the challenges surrounding the de-stigmatization of mental health, and what teens today are doing to help open up conversations. She presents some very refreshing and radical perspectives while sharing personal experiences, and she also gives us a glimpse into her inspiring and impact-making work in the teen mental health space. COVID-19 has only magnified the obstacles being faced by people around the world, and this is no different when it comes to children and adults facing mental health challenges. Diya highlights how she along with other teens have been impacted during the pandemic, along with some empowering tools to incorporate into daily life. There are also some pearls of wisdom directed towards parents and all adults from Diya, so don't miss this episode!

Digital safety has always been and continues to be a growing concern for parents, especially over the last 1.5 years after being thrust into the virtual world. There have been several instances of bullying and trolling reported worldwide across varying age groups, and this hits close to home for many of us.

16-year-old Vivaan Turakhia has been determined to spread awareness on taking action to prevent and control trolling - either through his profound words and writing or by taking direct action himself.

In this episode, Vivaan and I chat about a few instances of trolling and bullying he has witnessed within communities and social circles around him, what he believes are the root causes of trolling, and what collective role parents, students, educators, and victims can play in putting a stop to hate speech.

Gender stereotyping has been stitched into the fabric of many cultures for decades and women everywhere are faced with extreme gender biases in their daily lives. This has not gone unnoticed among the youth of today who are determined to address & combat issues that contribute to a world characterized by inequality its all its various forms.  
14-year-old Diya Suriya who is a passionate advocate of women's rights joins me in this episode to talk about the stereotypes & biases women face that she feels have impacted the emotional & physical safety of teenagers today, and the various ways social media is amplifying this issue.