'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: 

NHS (UK): https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/cope-with-your-teenager/

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://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/adolescence-tv-drama-exposes-global-issue-teenage-violence-2025-04-07/

https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-makes-adolescence-available-to-all-secondary-schools-across-the-uk

https://aspe.hhs.gov/what-challenges-are-boys-facing-what-opportunities-exist-address-those-challenges

https://tikitoro.com/blogs/teens-corner/what-are-the-current-challenges-that-teenagers-face

https://boysinstitute.com/why-parents-and-caregivers-are-afraid-to-talk-about-puberty-and-sex-with-their-kids-and-teens/

https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/blogs/academic-expertise/how-the-manosphere-spreads-through-online-gaming-influencers-and-algorithms

https://www.qustodio.com/en/blog/what-is-the-manosphere/

https://humanrights.ca/story/online-misogyny-manosphere

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/culture-news/a64275636/adolescence-netflix-behind-the-scenes/

https://www.fenews.co.uk/education/netflixs-adolescence-has-been-a-wake-up-call-for-everyone-says-leading-pastoral-deputy-head/

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://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/0CA7E5685972651C9675723362A912F6/S0954579422000967a.pdf/susceptibility-to-peer-influence-in-adolescents-associations-between-psychophysiology-and-behavior.pdf

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.