Some days feel heavier than others. Whether it’s a personal heartbreak or a tragedy in the news, the weight of the world can be a lot to carry. And if you’re someone who feels deeply, it’s not always clear how to keep moving forward.

In this episode, Leslie Randolph offers a thoughtful perspective on what it means to live with sadness, anger, and grief without letting them take over. She shares how self-confidence plays a role even in the hardest moments, not as a way to power through or shut emotions down, but as the quiet willingness to feel it all. What if confidence isn’t about being fearless or upbeat, but about staying present when things are messy? What happens when we let go of the idea that we’re supposed to be happy all the time?

Leslie invites us to stop “shoulding” ourselves into silence or shame. There’s no timeline for healing and no perfect way to process pain. Whether you’re a teenager building confidence for the first time or a grown woman learning how to trust yourself again, this episode will meet you where you are with compassion, clarity, and a few tools to help you keep going.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Why We Need Tools for the Hard Days 01:17 Accepting That Sadness Is Part of Life 03:03 Why Asking “Why” Doesn’t Always Help 05:12 You Have to Feel It to Heal It 06:48 The Pressure to Be Happy All the Time 08:12 Confidence Means Feeling the Hard Stuff Too 10:04 Avoiding Discomfort Isn’t the Same as Staying Safe 11:28 Compassion Over Comparison During Grief 13:18 How to Stay Connected When Everything Feels Heavy 14:56 Big Feelings Don’t Last Forever Even When It Feels Like They Might

Connect With Leslie:

Help Your Teen Cultivate Confidence

Website

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Facebook

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

At every age and stage, we long to belong. But too often, that desire comes at the cost of abandoning parts of ourselves. True friendship isn’t about fitting in - it’s about finding your people: the ones you like, and the ones you feel good being around.

Leslie Randolph is joined by friendship expert and advice columnist Nina Badzin for a conversation about friendship and friend groups, especially during the tween and teen years. But the truths they explore reach well beyond middle school. How do we recognize a real friend versus someone we’re just trying to impress? Why do so many of us stay in groups that drain us? And how can we help kids build friendships that reflect who they are, not who they think they’re supposed to be?

Nina shares what she’s learned from years of listening to people wrestle with connection, exclusion, and the pressure to belong. Together, Leslie and Nine unpack the difference between fitting in and finding true friendship, the quiet harm of chasing the “right” group, and the role adults play, often unintentionally, in keeping those patterns alive. They also talk about the value of community and how spaces like family dinners, extracurriculars, and youth groups can offer kids a sense of belonging that isn’t dependent on social status.

This episode is a gentle reminder that strong friendships aren’t built on proximity or history alone. They’re built on trust, emotional safety, and mutual effort. And that’s true at any age.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Friendship and Confidence

03:04 Meet Nina Badzin: Friendship Columnist and Expert

05:00 The Myth of the Perfect Friend Group

08:09 Fitting In vs. Authentic Friendship

11:12 How Parents Shape Social Pressure

15:04 What Makes a Friendship Real

20:10 Trust, Safety, and Showing Up as Yourself

24:05 Building Social Confidence Through Multiple Buckets

28:02 Where to Find Belonging Beyond School

30:12 Friendship vs. Community: Why Both Matter

38:09 Practical Advice for Building Real Friendships

41:00 Letting Go and Moving On with Openness

Connect with Nina Badzin:

See Nina in Highland Park

Listen to Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship

Subscribe to the Dear Nina newsletter

Join the Facebook Group

Follow on IG

Connect With Leslie:

Help Your Teen Cultivate Confidence

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Heading to summer camp? Confidence is the most important thing you can pack. Leslie Randolph speaks directly to girls (and their moms) navigating the nerves that come with starting something new, whether it’s sleepaway camp or a big life transition. Some girls are counting down the days with excitement. Others feel anxious, unsure, or like they’re heading off against their will. All of that is normal, Leslie says, and it’s exactly why building self-confidence matters.

Leslie breaks down how self-confidence isn’t about having zero fear. It’s about moving forward with the fear and choosing how you want to show up anyway. She offers mindset shifts to help girls challenge worst-case-scenario thinking and reframe those “what if” worries. Confidence starts by recognizing that you can’t control who likes you, but you can decide how you show up, how you treat others, and what kind of camper you want to be.

From embracing your interests (even if no one else is into archery!) to staying open to new friendships and new experiences, this episode is a permission slip to be yourself bravely, and without apology. Whether your daughter’s headed to camp, starting high school, or trying something new for the first time, Leslie offers a confidence care package for the road ahead!

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Welcome to Why Didn’t They Tell Us

01:49 Why Camp Brings Up Big Feelings

03:45 How to Normalize Nerves and Build Confidence

05:01 Stop the Spiral: Rethinking Worst-Case Thinking

08:12 Confidence Starts with Knowing Yourself

13:24 Be Open to New Things (Even If You’re Bad at First)

15:12 Confidence Is a Skill, Not a Trait

Connect With Leslie:

Help Your Teen Cultivate Confidence

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm