How to Talk to Teens

What if parenting, teaching, or just hanging out with teens could be easier and less stressful. What if we adults could adopt a few simple techniques to help kids make good decisions, free up their own authentic wisdom, AND build closer relationships. 

This week, we’re talking with Adam Young. Adam spent 10 years as a classroom teacher and nearly as long as a mentor and program director for Boys to Men Mentoring. (The nonprofit org I used to head)
At Boys to Men, Adam was key to the expansion of our school circles - we talk about “circles” a lot in this episode. They are simply hour-long support groups consisting of 8-10 boys and 3-4 adults. At our peak, BTM was conducting 16 weekly circles in half a dozen schools. This model is in use in schools all around the country and the world.

These days, Adam is one of the principals of a new consulting and training program called Circle Dynamics Group. The Circle Dynamics Group works with schools to train teachers and education leaders to quickly build interpersonal connections that encourage trust and deeper conversation with students. They have an open set of workshops coming up July 21st - 30th.
You might want to strap in a little more tightly than normal this week. Some of the ways that Adam works with teens - the radical trust, the abandonment of adult privilege and power - might rock your world and your assumptions a bit.

SHOW NOTES
References:

• Circle Dynamics Group
• Boys to Men Mentoring
• Niobe Way - Deep Secrets: Boys' Friendships and the Crisis of Connection
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People 

 Resources:

• Validate in Place TEDx Talk
• Episode 28, How to Vote for Your Best Self with Stasia Rivera
• Episode 15 Better Together: Teens, Community, and Activism
• Redefining Strength Facebook Group
• RocketFeather Community Lab Facebook Group

 Music Credits: Music provided by Audio Library Plus