logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2023
43m 42s

How can I be a kid if I’m stuck with adu...

LEMONADA MEDIA
About this episode

16-year-old Alex lost his dad, Ted, to suicide when he was 11. While grieving and dealing with his own mental health struggles, Alex felt like he had to step up and help his mom, Tricia. Today, he’s asking her: how am I supposed to be a kid when you put the weight of adult responsibilities on me?


Looking for resources? Visit ineedtoaskyousomething.org for info on how to strengthen relationships, deal with traumatic events, and get help. 

Dr. Monica Band is the host of this show and consultant with the Jed Foundation. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Giulia Hjort and Rachel Lightner are our producers. Andi Kristindottir is our engineer. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Mixing and original music by Bobby Woody. Additional music by Andi Kristinsdottir. Special thanks to Kelsey Henderson. Jackie Danziger is our VP of Narrative Content. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs.

This series was created with The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Find ways to manage your emotional health, cope with challenges, and support the people in your life at jedfoundation.org. 

This series is presented by Hopelab, a social innovation lab and impact investor supporting the mental health of adolescents, ages 10-25, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more at hopelab.org

This series is also presented by the Stupski Foundation, returning resources to the communities it calls home in Hawaiʻi and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2029 to support just and resilient food, health, and higher education systems for all. Learn more at stupski.org. 

This series is also presented by the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Learn more at luminafoundation.org.

Follow I Need to Ask You Something wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership.

You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts. 

Follow Dr. Monica Band on Instagram at @the.mindful_healer. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.

Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.  

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Jun 2024
Listen Now: Pop Culture Debate Club with Aminatou Sow
We’re excited to drop in your feed today to tell you about a new series from Lemonada Media and the BBC: Pop Culture Debate Club with Aminatou Sow. Being a pop culture fan naturally comes with a lot of opinions. You’ve got your favorites and you’re ready to defend your picks at a ... Show More
7m 59s
Jun 2024
Listen Now: The Pink House with Sam Smith
We’re excited to drop in your feed today to tell you about a new Lemonada Media series called The Pink House with Sam Smith. Hosted by five-time Grammy winner Sam Smith, The Pink House is about the people and places that make us who we are. One of those places was Sam’s childhood ... Show More
6m 18s
Jun 2024
Listen Now: Pack One Bag featuring Stanley Tucci
We are dropping in your feed today to share a new series that we know you will enjoy. Pack One Bag is epic true story of an Italian family, split apart by love, fascism and war. Through shocking discoveries - and Stanley Tucci’s artistry - an enthralling personal history comes to ... Show More
7m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2022
Call For Help: Someone to Call, Someone to Come, Somewhere to Go
Last week, we saw what happens when a mental health emergency falls into the wrong hands. So what happens when a comprehensive system, run by well-trained mental health staff, is in place? Today, Stephanie visits a state that exemplifies the gold standard of crisis response: Ariz ... Show More
41m 8s
Mar 2024
Call Declined: Bonus Episode – The Parents
Many wonderful people helped make and inform the Call Declined podcast. In this special bonus episode, we hear from three people who are very important in the stories of Aimee’s and Kamisha’s lives–their parents. Through our conversations across generations we hear echoes of trau ... Show More
35m 6s
Apr 2021
Jessica Lahey on Preventing Substance Abuse in Kids
How do we equip kids with the tools they need to avoid substance abuse? How can we identify a teen who is at risk? And what can be done to prevent our young ones from developing dependency issues?Every parent is haunted by these questions, myself included. To get answers, I did w ... Show More
2h 15m
Dec 2022
Costa Rica: By Boat, By Horse, By Bicycle
This week, we head to Costa Rica, the final destination on our maternal health “world tour,” where we explore the country’s unique community-based model of care. We’ll travel into the mountains with a community health worker to check up on a pregnant woman, and then head to the w ... Show More
43m 50s
Jan 2024
I’ve Been Lying About Going to College
On this episode, we hear about:- A man wondering if he should tell his parents the truth- A woman reeling after learning about her ex’s secret sex addiction- A wife unsure of how to handle her husband’s extreme anger Lyrics of the Day: "Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson  To buy ... Show More
1 h
May 2023
Talking to Teens About Mental Health with The Jed Foundation (JED)
Most parents (and other adults) want to be able to talk to teenagers and young adults about mental health and mental illness. But, uncertainty and awkwardness often stop well-intentioned people from broaching the subject. In this episode, we discuss how to have these conversation ... Show More
28m 3s
Jun 2022
The Hidden Life Skills in Simon Says
There are so many skills young kids need to learn, but what can parents and caregivers do to teach them? First, Gloria learns about the seven essential life skills every child needs with the researcher who developed them: Ellen Galinsky, Chief Science Officer at the Bezos Family ... Show More
53m 10s
Oct 2020
Teen Suicide, ADHD, & Blaming Others vs. Taking Responsibility
The Dr. John Delony Show is a caller-driven show that gives you real talk on life, relationships and mental health challenges. Through humor, grace and grit, John gives you the tools you need to cut through the chaos of anxiety, depression and disconnection. You can own your pres ... Show More
49m 29s
Oct 2022
89: How Do I Get My Teen To Take Charge of Her Life?
How do we help teens take ownership of their lives, especially if they are feeling overwhelmed by all that adults are asking of them? Dr. Lisa explains how parents can move from nagging teens to seeing themselves as teachers who help teens become increasingly independent. The con ... Show More
31m 22s
May 2021
The Balance Between Hospitality & Healthy Boundaries
The Dr. John Delony Show is a caller-driven show that offers real people a chance to be heard as they struggle with relationship issues and mental health challenges. John will give you practical advice on how to connect with people, how to take the next right step when you feel f ... Show More
44m 20s