Conversations With Sydney is a solutions-oriented podcast series exploring effective ways for parents, teens, schools, and communities to respond to the ongoing crises of teen mental health and suicide. Each episode is framed as an intimate conversation between a father (Micah) and his non-binary teenager (Sydney) as they search for real-world solutions by speaking with parents, doctors, and national leaders in the field of teen suicide prevention. Some of the questions raised include: Should parents talk to their kids about suicide? How can parents begin to talk about mental health and suicide with their kids?
What do we know about the signs of suicide and how can it be prevented? What is self-injury and how can parents help their kids find healthier ways to cope with their feelings? What role can schools and teachers play in addressing this unfolding national crisis? What role can teens play?
Micah and Sydney's hope is that these intimate and open-ended conversations will engage everyone who has a stake in helping young people lead healthy, happier lives—and encourage them to discuss these issues within their own families, schools, and communities.
To support educators and parents in engaging with the podcast and its themes, the Pulitzer Center Education team has developed a listening guide resource for each episode. Access the listening guide and listen to the podcast series:
The program is distributed by WBGO Studios, the podcasting arm of WBGO, the public radio station in Newark, New Jersey, and is available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app, Amazon Music, and Overcast.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat on 988lifeline.org
