Brains On Universe Presents….Puberty! (The Podcast)

In our first bonus episode of the Puberty! (The Podcast) we dive into some of your most pressing questions about pimples, crushes, hormones and timing. Like… why does puberty happen when it does?!

To get the best answers, we talked to some amazing puberty experts: pediatrician Dr. Cara Natterson from Less Awkward, pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Jonathan Steinman, skin doctor Dr. Jenna Lester and psychologist Dr. Chris Miller.

If you haven’t listened to the whole series yet, we encourage you to go back and listen! And if you’ve got more puberty questions you’d like answered, send them to us at brainson.org/contact. We’ve got more bonus episodes on the way.

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

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Butterflies in your stomach. Blushing when someone walks into the room. Thinking about one person all the time. Sound familiar? That’s a crush — and there’s real science behind why it feels so intense.

In this episode, we’re exploring why crushes make our bodies react the way they do, what it means to set boundaries, and how to ask for — and give — consent in all kinds of situations, not just romantic ones. Pediatrician Dr. Krupa Playforth helps us understand how to be assertive, respect other people’s limits, and speak up when something doesn’t feel right. Whether you’ve had a million crushes or none at all, this episode has something for you. Because when it comes to puberty… No two people go through it exactly the same way. There is no one normal!

Want to support the show? ⁠Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Smarty Pass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

Click ⁠here⁠ for a transcript of this episode.

During puberty, friendships can start to feel way more intense. A compliment from a friend might give you a rush. A fight with a friend might sting like a cut. And worrying about fitting in can feel like a full-time job. But why?

In this episode, we’re exploring why social stuff gets so complicated during puberty — from the brain chemicals that make us crave connection to the reasons peer pressure feels so hard to resist. We’re tackling three big social challenges: FOMO, peer pressure, and self-consciousness, with practical advice for handling each one. Author and brain expert Erin Walsh from Spark & Stitch Institute is here to help. Think of puberty as Relationship Bootcamp — it’s your chance to practice and get good at the friendship skills you’ll use for the rest of your life.

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Click here for a transcript of this episode.

It's not just your body that changes during puberty — your brain is going through some major renovations, too. And you might notice those changes in your emotions and moods. One minute you're happy, the next you're sad, and sometimes you don't even know why!

In this episode, we're digging into the science behind mood swings, finding out why your brain's emotional headquarters develops faster than its center for self-control and learning how hormones can act like amplifiers for your feelings. Plus, therapist Tim McLeod shares tips for handling big emotions — and how to know when it might be time to talk to a trusted adult.

But don't worry — puberty isn't all overwhelming feelings. It's also your portal into a whole new world of independence, freedom and figuring out who you are.

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Click here for a transcript of this episode.

Periods. Menstruation. "That time of the month." Whatever you call it, periods are a big part of puberty for people with ovaries — and it's important for everyone to understand how they work. But what exactly is happening inside your body when you get a period? And how can you prepare for your first one?

In this episode, we're following an egg on its journey from the ovaries to the uterus, learning why period blood looks different from the blood you'd see when you get a scrape, and getting practical tips — like how to build a period kit so you're ready whenever it shows up. Plus, sex educator Nora Gelperin from Advocates for Youth answers common questions about cramps, PMS, and more.

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Click here for a transcript of this episode.

Ovaries and testicles are like hormone factories — and they also make the cells needed to create new humans! But what exactly do these body parts do? And how do they work?

In this episode, we're getting to know the reproductive organs: ovaries and testicles (because understanding your body gives you the confidence to take care of it!). Pediatrician Dr. Cara Natterson and health educator Chris Pepper are here to help us break it all down.

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Click here for a transcript of this episode

In this episode we're getting into how hormones kickstart all types of growth, during puberty. We answer kids' questions like: what's the deal with growing pains, why and how do our voices change and why do we get breasts. Short answer... it's hormones. Listen to hear how human growth hormone, and estrogen, progesterone and testosterone activate and change our bodies.

This episode's word of the day will both put you to sleep AND wake you up! Tune in to find out.

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

In this episode, we’re talking about some of the first body changes you might notice when you go through puberty. We’re answering a lot of listener questions in this episode including: Why do grownups have hair where kids don’t? Why do armpits get stinkier during puberty? Why do zits happen? Why do you get oilier when you’re a teen?

Dr. Cara Natterson, author of The Care and Keeping of You and host of the podcast This is So Awkward, joins us again to help us navigate tricky issues dealing with your skin, sweat and hair.

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

Kids grow a lot during puberty, and they also go through changes that make it possible for them to eventually have kids of their own. But it’s not just your body that changes during puberty. Your brain goes through changes, too, as it rewires to become more like an adult brain!

It’s like your whole body is under construction. So it’s no wonder that our listeners have lots of questions about this period in life.

In this episode we’re covering the basics. What is puberty? What’s kicking off these changes? And when can you expect them to happen? Dr. Cara Natterson from Less Awkward is here to help us answer.

And remember: No two people go through puberty exactly the same way. It’s different for everyone!

Want to support the show? Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Smarty Pass⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

Puberty! It’s a lot. There are the awkward conversations and the questions we’re too nervous to ask and the sometimes uncomfortable experience of living in a body that’s changing fast (and publicly!).

This podcast is here to help. Hosted by Molly Bloom, of the award-winning science podcast Brains On, and co-hosted by high schoolers who've just been through it, Puberty! (The podcast) is for everybody — and every body

Designed for kids 7-12, the show will cover everything from brain chemicals to consent, in a straight-forward and digestible package. This is a safe space for young people to understand their bodies and their brains, and it’s a resource for parents to tackle otherwise difficult topics.

Experts, including Dr. Cara Natterson (Less Awkward), Chris Pepper (Talk to Your Boys), Nora Gelperin (Advocates for Youth), and Erin Walsh (Spark & Stitch Institute), provide science-filled explanations and answer listener questions.

This series is a great tool for parents to start conversations with their kids about puberty. The series is thoroughly researched, fact-checked and driven by questions from the Brains On Universe audience. If you have a question you’d like to hear answered on a future episode you can submit them brainson.org/contact

And if you’re a parent who lives in Los Angeles, we’re hosting a live conversation at LAist with Dr. Cara Natterson and Dr. Christopher Miller about how to navigate this time in your kid’s life. You can RSVP here: https://laist.com/events/brains-on-universe-presents-puberty-the-podcast