John kicks things off by admitting he is a dad of three boys with zero personal experience in this territory, counting entirely on Susan to carry him through. Page opens up about crying at a dog food commercial, feeling hurt by a best friend's totally normal joke, and spending a midnight Google spiral wondering if something was actually wrong with her. Susan breaks down what hormones do to the teenage brain, why the adults around you sometimes make it worse without meaning to, and how one teen named Mia used a simple daily journal to go from feeling like an emotional mess to finally understanding her own patterns.

By the end of this episode, you will understand why your brain reacts the way it does and have a simple tool to start making sense of your own patterns.

In this episode:

• Why hormones make emotions feel bigger and harder to control for both guys and girls
• What estrogen actually does to the teenage brain
• Why "calm down" is the worst thing you can say to someone in that moment
• How one teen used a 30-second daily journal to stop feeling like an emotional mess
• What parents can do to actually help instead of making things worse

This week's challenge: For the next seven days take 30 seconds at the end of each day and write down how your emotional energy felt and one thing that helped or made things harder. That is it.

The Hormonal Journal Prompts Worksheet download it and follow along at your own pace. 

Based on the book series by Agnes Blake:

Anger Management for Teens: Mad to Calm

Want to go deeper?

Teens Emotional Wellness Workbook

Susan explains what triggers actually are, why they sneak up on you, and how "stacked triggers" can turn a small moment into a big reaction. Brayden gets real about his own patterns, from getting called out at basketball practice to firing off messages in group chats, and walks through Susan's five-step Trigger Tracking Worksheet live on air.

By the end of the episode, you'll know how to spot your triggers, read your body's early warning signals, and build a simple plan that actually works.

In this episode:

• What triggers are and why everyone has them
• How your "emotional battery" changes the way you react
• The five-step Trigger Tracking Worksheet
• Why making the gap between trigger and reaction even slightly bigger rewires your brain over time

This week's challenge: Pick one trigger, run it through the five steps, and write it down at least once. That's it.

The Trigger Tracking Worksheet is attached to this episode — download it and follow along with the five steps at your own pace. 

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Based on the book series by Agnes Blake, including Anger Management for Teens: Mad to Calm and the Teens Emotional Wellness Workbook.

Anger Management For Teens - Mad to Calm

Teens Emotional Regulation

Teens Self Esteem and Emotional Strength

Teens Emotional Wellness Workbook

Ever said something in anger and immediately thought, "Why did I just do that?" You're not alone.

In this episode, host Chris and teen guest Peyton get real about those moments when anger takes over — the snaps, the text spirals, the blowups that seem to come out of nowhere. With expert Susan breaking down the science, we unpack why anger is rarely just anger, and what's really going on underneath.

We cover:

• Why your brain "hijacks" you before you can think
• How to identify the real emotions hiding behind anger (hint: it's usually fear, shame, or feeling left out)
• A step-by-step Emotional Check-In you can use before a tough conversation, a test, or a stressful social situation
• How teen hormones make all of this louder — and why that doesn't make you "too much"

🎯 Free Worksheet — Episode 2 Stress & Anger Checklist Follow along with the episode using the free downloadable worksheet! It walks you through the same Emotional Check-In Chris and Peyton use in real time — so you can map your own triggers, body signals, and patterns.  Decode Teen Emotions: Worksheet Episode 2

Whether you're a teen who's ever exploded over something that felt bigger than it looked, or a parent trying to understand what's going on, this episode gives you real tools — not just "calm down."

Inspired by Anger Management for Teens: Mad to Calm by Agnes Blake

In this first episode of Decode Teen Emotions, we break down what anger really is, why it shows up so fast, and what it’s trying to tell you.

Instead of feeling out of control, you’ll start to understand what’s happening inside — and how to respond in a healthier, more confident way.

📝 Grab your companion worksheet here: Episode 1 Worksheet

This worksheet will help you: ✔ Identify your personal anger triggers ✔ Recognize emotional and physical warning signs ✔ Reflect on how you typically react ✔ Start building calmer responses

Welcome back to the John & Susan Podcast — your go-to space for real conversations that help families and teens grow, connect, and thrive.

In this intro episode, we’re reintroducing ourselves and sharing what’s new. You’ll hear from teens and special guests, including experts who work directly with them, bringing real perspectives and meaningful conversations to every episode.

Each episode now includes a companion worksheet designed to help you apply what you learn. These worksheets are inspired by the Wellness Workbook and our teen-focused books, giving you practical tools you can use right away.

Hit subscribe and join us as we build stronger communication, healthier habits, and more confident voices—one episode at a time.