You Don't Know Me

12: The Future

The future really is a foreign, unknown country, and none of us have a crystal ball – but want to know the best way to be able to have a good idea about what is coming? Talk to young people! It’s really not a trite cliché that young people ‘are’ the future – but true. Young people are the ones who have to live in the future, so it’s in their best interest to try and shape a future they all want to live in. This episode is a bit of retrospective of the series, where we summarise our findings and predictions, chat to teens we haven’t yet, bring back some of the superstars of the series and think ahead to future episodes. This will make you want to revisit future episodes and have those conversations all over again. Teenagers and all those people who know and care for teenagers want nothing more than the promise of a good, successful future – this episode and revisiting the whole series of You Don’t Know Me can help make that promise a little more certain. If you are affected by any of the issues in this episode you can find information and support on our website Podimo.com/YouDontKnowMe [http://podimo.com/YouDontKnowMe]. You Don't Know Me is a Podimo [https://podimo.com/] podcast series produced by Mermade [https://www.hellomerman.com/].Producer: Rhyanna Coleman. Audio Engineer: Jon Scott. Podimo is an open podcast platform, currently available in Denmark, Germany, Spain and Latin America which shares revenue with the creators.  If you have a podcast you can claim your podcast now,  just visit podimo.com [http://podimo.com] [http://podimo.com/] for more information.

11: School

School is one of the great social levellers – every young person irrespective of who they are has to go. However, the 2020 pandemic revealed two critical things – firstly, just how unequal the schooling system has become and secondly, just how important good schooling is. In the first episode about the modern school system, we get under the skin of these issues, talking to teenagers about what it’s really like to attend a failing school and the impact this has had on their future. We also examine what role school has in the lives of teenagers, and one of the most devastating teenage paradoxes of all – the fact you rarely see just how valuable school is until you leave the safety and structure of the four walls of school! We also talk to beloved and eminent headteacher of Passmores Academy, Vic Goddard, who is best known for his brilliant leadership but also from the hit TV show, Educating Essex. He chats to us about inequality, poverty, the challenges of modern teaching and schools, and why he is ultimately very hopeful about modern teenagers! If you are affected by any of the issues in this episode you can find information and support on our website Podimo.com/YouDontKnowMe [http://podimo.com/YouDontKnowMe]. You Don't Know Me is a Podimo [https://podimo.com/] podcast series produced by Mermade [https://www.hellomerman.com/].Producer: Rhyanna Coleman. Audio Engineer: Jon Scott. Podimo is an open podcast platform, currently available in Denmark, Germany, Spain and Latin America which shares revenue with the creators.  If you have a podcast you can claim your podcast now,  just visit podimo.com [http://podimo.com] [http://podimo.com/] for more information.

10: Spirituality

What does faith and spirituality mean to teens living in the increasingly secular West, where we tend to worship Apple and celebrities more readily than we worship religious icons? Surprisingly – a lot! In an uncertain and anxious age where there are few answers and little comfort, young people are embracing everything spiritual and religious with gusto, with some turning to more traditional religion and others seeking solace in the more esoteric. Don’t believe us? Check out the more spiritual side of TikTok, where millions of teens showcase their belief systems in all kinds of ways. In this episode, we witness teenagers undergoing this year’s TikTok sensation, Brian Weiss’ past-life regression and we heat from a teenage boy who got addicted to a spiritual advisor after the death of him mother. We hear from a whole host of teenagers about what faith, religion and spirituality means to them, and what its role is, in a modern techy world. We also chat to Reverend Mary Hawes, the Youth Advisor for the Church of England about why she think religion can play an important role in teenagers’ lives. This episode is worth it alone to hear Chloe discussing anal sex with a priest! Thought-provoking, moving and surprising – this is the episode of the series that might surprise you! If you are affected by any of the issues in this episode you can find information and support on our website Podimo.com/YouDontKnowMe [http://podimo.com/YouDontKnowMe]. You Don't Know Me is a Podimo [https://podimo.com/] podcast series produced by Mermade [https://www.hellomerman.com/].Producer: Rhyanna Coleman. Audio Engineer: Jon Scott. Podimo is an open podcast platform, currently available in Denmark, Germany, Spain and Latin America which shares revenue with the creators.  If you have a podcast you can claim your podcast now,  just visit podimo.com [http://podimo.com] [http://podimo.com/] for more information.

9: Feminism

Amazingly, ‘feminism’ – ostensibly a movement about equality for women has become one of the most controversial – and often maligned – labels in modern discourse. Loads of teenage women – and lots of teenage men – are inspired and empowered by the movement and find real strength in modern feminist icons, books and TED talks. Feminism has been the fuel for the #metoo movement, helped young people challenge the notions of power and language and helped a new generation fight for greater gender equality. However, others argue that feminism is a destructive force that turns girls into ‘Feminazis’ and insists young men become passive and weak – and worse – paints all men as potential aggressors or abusers. So, what do modern teenagers really think of feminism? We talk to some who love it, some who hate it, and some who just aren’t really sure what it means. With amazing stories from teenagers we dissect what it means to be a young, modern feminist and I discover exactly what a ‘Pick Me Girl’ is! We also have an amazing discussions with young feminist illustrator, activist, and author of ‘Women Don’t Owe You Pretty’, Florence Given. If you are affected by any of the issues in this episode you can find information and support on our website Podimo.com/YouDontKnowMe [http://podimo.com/YouDontKnowMe]. You Don't Know Me is a Podimo [https://podimo.com/] podcast series produced by Mermade [https://www.hellomerman.com/].Producer: Rhyanna Coleman. Audio Engineer: Jon Scott. Podimo is an open podcast platform, currently available in Denmark, Germany, Spain and Latin America which shares revenue with the creators.  If you have a podcast you can claim your podcast now,  just visit podimo.com [http://podimo.com] [http://podimo.com/] for more information.

8: Masculinity

Being a teenage boy in the ‘20’s is challenging – you are either accused of possessing massive privilege or there is well-founded concern about how you are doing, with rates of depression, suicide, risky behaviour and body dysmorphia rising sharply in young men. In this episode we get real with teenage boys about what it’s like living the ‘20’s and the very real consequences of being pressured to be Alpha, what they think of girls, sexual politics, social media, role models, feminism and much more! We hear a shocking story about an assault at high school and how a teenage boy responded to that – when his closest male friends were involved. Most discussions about young masculinity dart around the edges – this gets to the heart of the matter. We also chat to author of ‘The Problem with Men’, podcaster and comedian, Richard Herring about young men, masculinity and his infamous campaign on International Women’s Day. If you are affected by any of the issues in this episode you can find information and support on our website Podimo.com/YouDontKnowMe [http://podimo.com/YouDontKnowMe]. You Don't Know Me is a Podimo [https://podimo.com/] podcast series produced by Mermade [https://www.hellomerman.com/].Producer: Rhyanna Coleman. Audio Engineer: Jon Scott. Podimo is an open podcast platform, currently available in Denmark, Germany, Spain and Latin America which shares revenue with the creators.  If you have a podcast you can claim your podcast now,  just visit podimo.com [http://podimo.com] [http://podimo.com/] for more information.