The Ultimate Guide to Friendship, Self-Esteem, & Anxiety W/ My 18 Year Old Son | Mel Robbins Podcast

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — Lately, I’ve been getting a ton of questions from listeners about how to best support high schoolers and 20-somethings. There are lots of questions about #anxiety, #peerpressure, and getting young adults to open up. So, in this episode, I have a pile of your questions in front of me as my son, Oakley, and I go through them rapid-fire style, so you get both of our perspectives on the topics everyone worries about but is too afraid to talk about. I have to say, Oakley really showed up for this conversation for you. He has hilarious and heartfelt thoughts on topics he has firsthand experience with. We cover it all. From academic pressure to body image to bullying, this conversation is full of tools and strategies and is raw, unfiltered, and filled with relatable stories (and only a few f-bombs). You will learn: - What #teens and 20-somethings really need (and don’t need) from their parents (if you only get one thing from this episode, make this it) How to encourage the young men in your life to open up - The ONLY thing you need to do when your young adults come home in a bad mood - How to get unhooked from toxic popularity and cliques and find your people in school or in life - 3 smart strategies to use when your child is getting bullied that will strengthen your bond with your kid - An 18-year-old's surprising take on when to give your kid a cellphone - The must-use hacks for introverts who want to be more confident in school - How to get your kid to do chores (and still like you) - Strategies for handling your kid’s anxiety without yelling or freaking out - The best way to navigate curfews and late-night parties with your teen I can’t wait for you to hear this. I loved the questions and the advice. And as a mom, I couldn’t be more proud of Oak for how much wisdom he shared. I’d love for you to listen with your teenagers and 20-somethings. In fact, Oakley gives specific advice (including exactly what to say) to get your kids to listen to this episode at the very end of it. Xo, Mel In this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:27 Why is it so hard to get my teen to open up to me? 07:39 Here’s what to say to start a conversation with your child. 13:37 How can you tell who "your" people are? 18:40 What teens need (and don’t need) from their parents. 24:42 At what age do you think your teen should have a phone? 28:54 Two best hacks for introverted teens everywhere. 32:33 How can you help your kids find their friends? 37:07 My teen is a senior in high school, but he still has chores at home. 40:48 Oakley gives you a peek into his own anxiety to help your anxious teen. 45:38 How do you reassure your kid when he’s dyslexic? 50:31 The two qualities I think of first when it comes to curfews. 52:15 Here was my #1 desire for my Vermont home when it came to my kids. 55:57 I literally sat Oakley’s friends down and laid down two rules for hanging out. 59:28 So how do you get your teen to listen to this interview? #backtoschool #teenagers — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com​ — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins​?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah