The Anxious Generation with social psych...

Hello from Team Simon! We’ll be back next week—January 27, 2026—with brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism. We’re excited to bring you new guests, conversations, and opportunities to learn.Until then, we’re diving back into the archives to revisit one of our favorite episodes f ... Show More

Team Simon here! We’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes from 2025. But we'll be back in just two weeks with brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism on January 27, 2026. We think you’re going to love them!Today, we’re going back to January of last year when Dr. Becky Kenne ... Show More

Happy New Year from Team Simon! We’re so excited to bring you more new episodes of A Bit of Optimism when we return on January 27, 2026. With your support, we’ll make 2026 an incredible year together. In the meantime, we’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes from last year. ... Show More

Today’s episode is about a topic that I am truly passionate about - the introduction of social media and smartphones into all aspects of our lives - and what impact this is having on us individually, collectively and, perhaps most urgently, what impact is this having on our child ... Show More

<p>How are smartphones linked to anxiety?</p> <p>What mental health issues are linked to excessive social media use?</p> <p>Today, let's welcome Jonathan Haidt is a renowned social psychologist, professor at New York University&rsquo;s Stern School of Business, and a widely publi ... Show More

Anxiety is on the rise among both youth and adults with a full 32% of teens struggling with some level of anxiety, 9% having an anxiety diagnosis, and 20% of adults having an anxiety-related diagnosis. What tools can we teach to our kids early and all the way through childhood to ... Show More

Suicides. Self harm. Depression and anxiety. The toll of a social media-addicted, phone-based childhood has never been more stark. It can be easy for teens, parents and schools to feel like they’re trapped by it all. But in this conversation with Tristan Harris, author and social ... Show More

We are in the midst of a teen mental health crisis. Since 2011, the rate of U.S. hospitalizations for preteen girls who have self-harmed is up 189 percent, and with older teen girls, it’s up 62 percent. Tragically, the numbers on suicides are similar — 151 percent higher for pret ... Show More

<p>If you experience feelings of overwhelming anxiety, existential dread, panic sweats and heart palpitations… welcome to the anxious girlies club. But seriously, we’re finally learning that while occasional stress and worry is normal, if those feelings start to impact our day-to ... Show More

This week, I am joined by Jonathan Haidt, an NYU professor and best-selling author, to discuss the significant negative impact of technology and social media on young people’s mental health and well-being. This phenomenon was catalyzed between 2010 and 2015 when smartphones were ... Show More

Rainn Wilson chats with social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt ('The Anxious Generation', 'The Coddling of the American Mind') about the profound impacts of digital technology on society and mental health. They delve into the anxiety, challenges and transformations faced b ... Show More

Every kid on the planet is told to, “Eat your veggies – they’re good for you!” Yet, as a parent, you probably shouldn’t say that to your kids. This episode begins with some fascinating research about what to tell kids about healthy foods and what not to tell them. https://www.ctv ... Show More

Today—a closer critical look at the relationship between smartphones and mental health. One of the themes we’ve touched on more than any other on this show is that American teenagers—especially girls—appear to be “engulfed” in historic rates of anxiety and sadness. The numbers ar ... Show More