Becoming - A podcast for teens

In this episode, Tawni is joined by her husband, Dan, to talk about the importance of the small decisions in our lives.  There are a handful of large, 'life' decisions we make over the course of our time here on Earth - but thousands of smaller, everyday decisions that can build up over time and potentially determine our happiness (or misery!).  We talk about the importance of understanding how little decisions can have a big impact, and discuss examples that illustrate this truth.  

Complimenting might not seem like something that is hard to do...but to do it correctly is something that takes practice. We tend to get into habits that can take away from what we are really trying to express to those who we want to show admiration to. We also tend to not accept compliments because we might feel awkward, not confident, or frustrated with our weaknesses. Listen to this episode to hear some tips on how to give and receive compliments more effectively. Our hope is that by doing so you'll be able to connect with others around you more deeply and learn to love what others love about you!

How are we supposed to know when our feelings of depression are just a situational issue or if we might be struggling with clinical depression?  Tawni interviews Lee Young, a clinical social worker, who gives us wonderful information on depicting the difference between the two.  He teaches us great tips on learning how to cope with these feelings, as well as understanding when it is the right time to seek medical attention and visit a counselor or therapist.  We touch on suicide and how important it is to make a commitment to yourself to never let that be an option and what to do when you or a friend may be struggling with these feelings. Here at Becoming we are passionate about de-stigmatizing the mental health conversation. We are striving to create a space where we can discuss and learn about the things that are hard to talk about. We hope that through this episode you will understand that there are so many people who love you and places that you can turn to for help. You are not alone!

In this episode of Becoming you will understand that sneaky little pride is what may be causing you to not be as happy and fulfilled as you might like to be.  It messes with our ability to learn, adapt, to be flexible, and to build relationships.  Pride leads us to arrogance and away from humility and connection; but don't worry, we will also give you the antidote to pride and will teach you how to overcome it. Stay tuned because Tawni will tell you all about how pride caused her to get into a fight with an old man at McDonalds.  You won't want to miss hearing about what she learned and how she grew from this experience.  

Having real fun is a great way to connect with yourself, your family, and your friends. Join us as we give you some great ideas on fun activities, and how to always have a resource to draw great ideas from. Hear from our guest Garrett Kerr as he shares his many experiences of creating, and having fun. 

Becoming who we are truly meant to be can be severely diminished if we allow the influence of substances to come into and take over our lives. Join us as we interview AJ Packard share his story of finding a renewed passion in life. Cutting out the influence of drugs and alcohol sent him into a surprisingly alternative positivity he never knew he was missing out on.

Thresholds are our ability to withstand joining in on what others around us are doing, especially when it comes to right and wrong. Hear some great examples of people who have low thresholds, high thresholds, and a threshold of zero. We can choose to do what we know to be right for us, no matter how many around us might not be joining in, simply because we are brave enough to be who we are.

A lighthearted episode where you will get to meet Erica Peterson, a regular contributor to the podcast.  You will find out how Tawni and Erica met and grew a meaningful relationship.  We will then discuss what advice we'd give to our high school selves and our hope and goal for this podcast. 

Gratitude is one of the most life changing attributes we can obtain. Host, Tawni Beardall shares some of the research that she has discovered about the importance of practicing gratitude in our lives.  This episode will help us understand that no matter what your circumstance, happiness is within your reach. Gratitude helps us feel full and complete, and gives us the realization that we have everything we need. You will be challenged to look outside yourself, find things to be grateful for, and to create mental sunshine within your life. One of Tawni's favorite stories will be shared about how showing our gratitude to others can change lives.

This is the last of a 3 part series. Through listening to this episode we will be able to realize that a lack of authenticity and connection can often show itself by numbing.  When we don't want to confront hard and uncomfortable feelings, we can find ourselves in a dangerous cycle of using substances, social media, entertainment, busy schedules, and more to avoid life and numb out.  We will discuss the dangers in this behavior, and learn other healthy methods of coping. 

The 2nd episode of a 3 part series. Through listening to this episode you will be able to gain an understanding of how important connection is; to ourselves and to others.  We will hear from guest Briana Dumas and how she found that being truly authentic to herself was the way to real connection and lasting friendships.  Another valuable takeaway in this episode is realizing how vital vulnerability is to create the connections that we all desire- the connections that give us a real sense of belonging. 

This episode is the 1st in a 3 part series. We discover why understanding who you are, and being true to that is so important.  We will learn that we cannot control other peoples opinions about us.  This episode will help us find the freedom to create who we want to be by letting go of the fear of what others think about us. We will learn to become more self-aware and find a genuine love for ourselves. 

Welcome to Becoming! A place for teens and young adults - where they can learn to become more than they are, and who they were always meant to be. As I've struggled through life's disappointments, heartbreaks, and traumas - all of these lessons have helped me discover who I am, who I want to be, and who God is encouraging me to continue to become. These lessons left me wishing that I would have known these things when I was younger! In this episode I share how my passion and love for teens evolved into producing this podcast.