Thursday Apr 17, 2025
'Adolescence': A Global Wake-Up Call
In this episode, hosts Ellen Bintz and Clive Johnson explore the powerful impact of the Netflix series Adolescence and its timely themes of teenage violence, online misogyny, and radicalization. As the series sparks global discussions, Ellen and Clive dive into the portrayal of the challenges faced by teenage boys in today's digital age. It's not necessary to have watched the series in order to tune in with this episode, and we don't make that assumption!
Set against the backdrop of a British psychological crime drama, the hosts examine the major issues raised by the series, including the influence of toxic online spaces known as the manosphere, the pressures of social media, and the struggles of young boys navigating masculinity, mental health, and societal expectations.
Amidst alarming statistics and international concern, the episode highlights efforts to educate and guide young minds, engage parents and care givers, and foster meaningful conversations on how to address these critical issues. Join the discussion on what you can do to help counter harmful narratives and support a more empathetic and understanding approach to youth in crisis, and join with us in offering prayers and holding intention for what is among the most critical social crises of our age.
Prayers and intentions start at 28 minutes.
Find out about the series at the Netflix site, https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/adolescence-cast-release-date-photos-news
Suggested Intention Focus for this week
This week, as we contemplate the massive pressures and dangers faced by teenage boys and the response of their care givers in the wake of the Adolescence drama series, we suggest holding as our main intention:
We will that all who have influence in schools and on social media to recognise and be guided in their actions to foster a cultural change that aimed at addressing the harmful conditioning of young boys who are exposed to the manosphere.
Please join us in holding this.
Support Resources
The following are among resources and sources of help available to support parents and others guide boys through adolescence.
Previous episode, focusing on the need for and ways of developing grit, ‘GRIT: When you Walk Through a Storm in a Chaotic World (Global Healing Response)’
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-gt23v-1876ba6 .
Previous episode, ‘Confronting Gang Rape Against Women: A Global Perspective’ https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-kncnw-1852043 .
RESOURCES for parents and caregivers:
Young Minds: Offers extensive resources on improving the mental health and emotional well-being of children and teenagers, including a confidential parents' helpline. https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
Resources published by the Portuguese Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) to help parents understand the hidden meanings of emojis commonly used by teenagers (in Portuguese): https://www.instagram.com/p/DHlrGCFNcJV/?utm_source=ig_embed&img_index=4
ReachOut Parents (Australia): Provides free expert advice, one-on-one coaching, and practical tips. https://parents.au.reachout.com/
Triple P Positive Parenting Program (Australia): Offers strategies to prevent behavioral and emotional difficulties in children and teens. https://aifs.gov.au/resources/policy-and-practice-papers/parenting-teens-and-tweens-resources-policy-and-practice
Essentials for Parenting Teens (CDC): This free online resource provides evidence-based tools to help parents build positive relationships with their teenage sons. Topics include managing emotions, encouraging independence, and improving communication. https://www.cdc.gov/parenting-teens/about/index.html
Newport Academy Guide: Offers practical advice on dealing with teenage boys' behaviors, including risk-taking, anger, and emotional withdrawal. It emphasizes the importance of open communication and setting clear boundaries. https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/restoring-families/how-to-deal-with-your-teenage-son/
PEPS: Includes guidance on navigating social relationships, technology use, and conversations about sexuality with teens. https://www.peps.org/ParentResources/by-topic/resources-for-parents-of-adolescents-teens
Family Lives: A charity offering parenting advice through a confidential helpline and forums. https://www.familylives.org.uk/
Relate: Provides relationship advice and counselling services for families navigating challenges during adolescence. https://www.relate.org.uk/
RESOURCES for teachers:
https://www.intofilm.org/news-and-views/articles/adolescence-joins-into-film-plus
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/challenges-adolescence-parents-educators-mark-phillips
RESOURCES for schools, colleges and those offering events to support child and teenage engagement in meditation and labyrinth walking offered by the Australian Labyrinth Network: https://aln.org.au/wldes-resources
Chapter markers:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:02 The Impact of Adolescence
00:03:52 Exploring Teenage Challenges
00:05:31 Global Conversations on Masculinity
00:07:28 Key Issues of the Series
00:12:22 The Unique Struggles of Adolescents
00:15:34 Generational Differences in Challenges
00:17:52 Supporting Boys Through Adolescence
00:23:11 Resources for Parents and Caregivers
00:27:26 Holding Intentions for Change
00:31:17 Cultural Change and Responsibility
00:32:33 Closing Thoughts and Connections
Sources referenced in this episode:
https://tikitoro.com/blogs/teens-corner/what-are-the-current-challenges-that-teenagers-face
https://www.qustodio.com/en/blog/what-is-the-manosphere/
https://humanrights.ca/story/online-misogyny-manosphere
https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/a64270220/adolescence-netflix-true-story-explained/
https://www.dw.com/en/netflixs-adolescence-teen-minds-on-screen/a-72129827
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/arts/television/adolescence-netflix-smartphones.html
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/04/adolescence-digital-safety-online-harm/
https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/a64270220/adolescence-netflix-true-story-explained/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7674583/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878929324000562
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9387868/ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/07/feature-neuroscience-teen-brain
https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2011-apr-11-la-he-the-md-teens-friends-20110411-story.html
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/13/health/teen-gender-data-wellness/index.html
https://dpswarangal.in/blogs/what-are-some-of-the-issues-teens-are-facing-today/
Join us in person for intention holding:
https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls
https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention holding with Clive on Insight Timer.
Our websites:
www.heartfulimpact.com/ Our show website.
https://globalhealingresponse.com/ Global Healing Response ~ Offers a wealth of prayers, suggested practices and prompts in response to environmental catastrophe, conflict, and other world events.
https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/ Legacy Labyrinth Project ~ Creating global energetic connections through the labyrinth; inspiring active intention sending using the labyrinth via labyrinth activism.
https://www.clivejohnsonministry.com/ Clive Johnson Ministry ~ Events and offerings aimed at building beloved community, including weekly energy holding vigils and Power of Eight group.
https://insighttimer.com/cliverj ~ Daily intention holding.
Impact! Is presented by Ellen Bintz and Clive Johnson. It is produced by Impact Productions.
Our show content is hosted by Podbean and available from all major podcast platforms.
Our theme music is by Chris Collins. indiemusicbox.com.
Our logo artwork is by AltoClassic (Getty Images/istock).
Contact us via Facebook Messenger from the Impact! Facebook group, or using any of the contact methods mentioned on our websites.
Impact! www.heartfulimpact.com.
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