13 episodes

Taking risks. Falling in love. Figuring out who we are. Adolescents are constantly learning and adapting—in ways that are often misunderstood. Host Dr. Ron Dahl, Director of the Institute of Human Development at UC Berkeley, and his guests explore the science of adolescence on Adaptivity, a podcast by the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent.

Adaptivity: The Science of Adolescence UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent

    • Kids & Family
    • 4.8 • 25 Ratings

Taking risks. Falling in love. Figuring out who we are. Adolescents are constantly learning and adapting—in ways that are often misunderstood. Host Dr. Ron Dahl, Director of the Institute of Human Development at UC Berkeley, and his guests explore the science of adolescence on Adaptivity, a podcast by the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent.

    How Facing Big Feelings Can Help Build Mental Health

    How Facing Big Feelings Can Help Build Mental Health

    In this episode, Ron talks with psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Lisa Damour about how strong emotions during adolescence–good and bad–can be opportunities for youth to build positive coping strategies that can help them thrive as adults.
     

    • 52 min
    Social Adaptivity: Developing Positive Relationship Skills in a Rapidly Changing World

    Social Adaptivity: Developing Positive Relationship Skills in a Rapidly Changing World

    Host Ron Dahl talks with guests Thao Ha, Gustavo Carlo, and Yalda Uhls about how emotionally charged relationships during adolescence can help us learn to navigate personal relationships, find our role in our communities, and handle intense emotions throughout our lives.

    • 43 min
    Our Youth’s Perspective, part 3: Developing Values, Goals, and Identity

    Our Youth’s Perspective, part 3: Developing Values, Goals, and Identity

    In the third and last episode of “Our Youth’s Perspective,” a three-part miniseries of the Adaptivity podcast, YNSCA member Tomi Dugbo talks with Prof. Joanna Williams, Co-Director of the National Scientific Council on Adolescence, about developing our own values, goals, and identities separate from our parents and families.

    • 17 min
    Our Youth's Perspectives part 2: Exploration and Risk Taking

    Our Youth's Perspectives part 2: Exploration and Risk Taking

    In the second episode of “Our Youth’s Perspective,” a three-part miniseries of the Adaptivity podcast, YNSCA member Michael Nguyen talks with Adaptivity host and CDA founding director Dr. Ron Dahl about the importance of trying new things and taking risks during our adolescent years.

    • 18 min
    Our Youth's Perspectives part 1: Decision Making and Emotional Regulation

    Our Youth's Perspectives part 1: Decision Making and Emotional Regulation

    In the first episode of “Our Youth’s Perspective,” a three-part miniseries of the Adaptivity podcast, YNSCA member Mahisa Mannan talks with UCLA CDA Co-Executive Director Adriana Galván about learning to make difficult decisions and regulate our emotions during our adolescent years.
     

    • 19 min
    Epic Journeys: What we can learn from adolescence across species

    Epic Journeys: What we can learn from adolescence across species

    Host Ron Dahl talks with best-selling author and evolutionary biologist Barbara Natterson Horowitz and anthropologist Rachna Reddy about adolescence across the animal kingdom–and how a cross-species perspective can help us better understand, and support, the human journey from childhood to adolescence.

    • 52 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
25 Ratings

25 Ratings

Els_Mag ,

Building resilience

As a mother of a middle schooler, I thought this was interesting and relevant. I also found myself thinking back on my own experiences. I try not to shield or step in based on my own experiences growing up - I try to let my kids navigate their own journeys. I want to understand how I can support my kids as they navigate their own challenges so I love to hear other insights. Our family is also huge Reina fans.

MadalynB26 ,

Podcast Review

I truly did enjoy this podcast. Hearing about the stories that people went through during those years of their life and seeing the similarities that I had with the speakers. After hearing this podcast I started searching for social aspects in middle and high school podcasts. From there I would hear tips and ways to help students get more involved in school, help gain friends, and overall hear stories that changed a person's life from life to death situations due to anxiety in the younger ages.

A Permanent Teen ,

Navigating Uncertainty

As a middle-aged person trying to have another adolescence, I found these episodes fascinating. Now more than ever we need to be paying real attention to how our adolescents are developing! Our post-pandemic future depends on their ability to take risks, move forward, strike out, and generally navigate an increasingly uncertain landscape.

I developed hyper vigilance as a teen and the resulting insomnia severely impacted the course of my entire life. I’m so interested in hearing about the development of the adolescent brain and would tune in to future episodes of this podcast. As a bonus, Dr. Ron has a very soothing voice that makes you want to keep listening and learning!

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