Why Didn’t They Tell Us?

Adulting 101 with Heather Redisch

Adulting isn’t something they teach in school, but Heather Redisch is here to help college graduates figure it out.
 
I see it all the time—young professionals landing their first jobs and feeling completely unprepared. Why does the transition from school to career feel so overwhelming? Heather Redisch, founder of The Talent Maven and creator of the Adulting 101 Masterclass, has spent nearly 25 years in recruiting and has noticed a shift. College graduates today struggle with confidence, communication, and the realities of professional life in ways previous generations didn’t. The rise of smartphones, helicopter parenting, and the impact of COVID-19 have all played a role, leaving many feeling unsure of how to step into the working world.
 
In this episode, Heather and I dig into what’s missing and what young professionals can do to set themselves up for success. We talk about work ethic, resilience, and the small, uncomfortable steps that build confidence over time. We also get into the generational disconnect in the workplace, why older employees misinterpret the behaviors of younger colleagues and how both sides can bridge that gap.
 
Success isn’t about having it all figured out on day one. It’s about learning, adapting, and taking action. Heather’s Adulting 101 Masterclass gives college graduates the tools and support they need to step into their careers with confidence.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction 
05:09 Challenges of Transitioning to Adulthood
07:07 The Anxious Generation and Technology
08:02 Helicopter Parenting and Its Effects
10:05 The Role of Confidence in Adulting
11:00 Communication Skills in the Digital Age
13:01 Generational Differences in the Workplace
15:04 Building Resilience and Facing Awkwardness
16:04 Being Comfortable with Uncomfortable
17:09 Misconceptions About Gen Z
18:08 Bridging the Generational Gap
20:22 Skills Can Be Learned: Etiquette and Resilience
21:14 The Role of Mental Health in the Workplace
22:07 Balancing Entitlement and Responsibility
23:08 The Reality of First Jobs
24:06 The Importance of Foundational Skills
26:04 Career Paths Are Not Linear
27:04 Valuable Skills for Graduates
29:10 Practical Tips for Building Confidence
31:10 The Importance of Proactivity
32:28 The Role of Feedback in Growth
33:10 Celebrating Small Wins
34:11 Accepting and Learning from Feedback
35:15 Closing
 
Connect with Heather Redisch:
Learn More About Adulting 101
Adulting 101 on Instagram
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Connect with Heather on LinkedIn
 
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Lessons in Self-Love

Self-love isn’t about spa days or self-indulgence. It’s about the way you speak to yourself, the choices you make, and the belief that you are already worthy.
 
As a self-confidence coach for teenage girls, I’ve seen how the relationship we have with ourselves influences every part of life. But if self-love is so important, why does it feel so hard? Why does doubt always seem louder? I get it. I’ve been there. That’s why I want to break it down for you. Self-love isn’t a fleeting feeling. It’s a quiet, steady presence that takes effort to recognize and strengthen.
 
Confidence doesn’t come from achievement. It starts with self-acceptance. What if the voice in your head spoke to you with kindness instead of criticism? What if you believed you were worthy without changing a thing? In this episode, I’ll share how you can shift your mindset, build a habit of self-love, and start treating yourself with the same compassion you give to others. The way you love yourself sets the tone for everything else in life.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction
01:05 Self-Love Beyond Valentine’s Day
03:22 Self-Love as a Pillar of Confidence
03:34 Definition of Self-Confidence
04:06 Challenges of Learning Self-Love
05:01 Self-Love vs. Bubble Baths and Massages
05:11 Lessons in Self-Love
06:18 Accepting and Embracing Yourself
07:02 Subtlety of Self-Love
08:07 Self-Love vs. Self-Doubt
09:12 Choosing to Listen to Self-Love
10:04 Fear, Anxiety, and Doubt
11:00 Self-Love as a Choice
12:05 Self-Love and Societal Messages
12:58 Self-Love is Not Weak
14:45 Intention in Self-Love
16:11 Final Thoughts
Connect With Leslie:
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Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Tweens, Teens and Critical Conversations with Dr. Lisa Klein

Most parents dread “the talk,” but raising confident, informed teens is less about one big conversation and more about a series of open, shame-free discussions.
 
Dr. Lisa Klein, pediatrician and co-founder of Turning Teen, joins Leslie Randolph to break down what kids really need when it comes to talking about puberty. Is there a right time to start? How do you make it less awkward? What happens if you feel totally unprepared? Dr. Klein shares practical ways to approach these conversations early and often, making sure tweens get accurate, age-appropriate information without fear or shame.
 
Dr. Klein and Leslie dig into the emotional side of growing up, from body image to social media influences. With so much misinformation online, how can parents become the go-to resource instead? Dr. Klein offers real-world advice to help parents navigate these tricky years with honesty, confidence, and a little humor.
 
Quotes
“The talk, I want everyone to remember, is never just one talk. So don’t feel stressed that it has to be the talk. I think that that is a little bit like the old school way of thinking. And unfortunately, it’s still how it’s kind of presented in school.” (06:16 | Dr. Lisa Klein) 
“Shame-free, you know, it’s a big word, a big message I like to share. Shame-free, science-based, open and honest.” (11:16 | Dr. Lisa Klein) 
“Be the person your tween or teen turns to. Be their resource, because if you’re not, the internet will be.” (23:24 | Dr. Lisa Klein)
“Communicate, be vulnerable, admit your mistakes, admit your flaws, admit what you’re working on. Say, ‘I don’t know the answer. I love your question. Let’s talk about it more. Let’s find someone to help us both.’ Communicate because if you don’t have that communication and openness, why in the world would they use you as their resource?” (37:47 | Dr. Lisa Klein)
 
Connect with Dr. Lisa Klein:
Learn More About Turning Teen
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Help Your Teen Cultivate Confidence
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Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Confident Goal Setting

“Setting a goal is a way of saying to yourself, ‘I want you to have what you desire, and I believe in your ability to create it.’” Leslie Randolph brings this idea to life as she talks about how self-confidence and intentions intersect with goal-setting in this episode of Why Didn’t They Tell Us?
 
Why do so many of us hesitate to set goals? Leslie tackles this question head-on as she reflects on how fear of failure and self-doubt often hold people back. She offers a perspective on goals, not as rigid achievements, but as tools to align with what truly matters in the moment. 
 
Through personal stories, Leslie shares how to create intentions that fit your life right now, rather than chasing external expectations. She reminds us that setting a goal is less about perfection and more about self-love. 
 
Leslie’s first episode for 2025 will inspire you to take that first step, trust yourself, and embrace growth on your own terms. It is an invitation to rethink your relationship with goals and see them as an expression of self-confidence and belief in your potential. What will you aim for when you give yourself permission to begin?
 
Quotes
“Here’s the thing about goals: They are a playground for cultivating self-confidence. Setting a goal is a way of saying to yourself, ‘I want you to have what you desire, and I believe in your ability to create it.’ Setting a goal is the ultimate act of self-love.” (06:19 | Leslie Randolph)
“Start there. Shoot, even if you’re unconvinced from this episode about the power and the reason for goal-setting or resolution-setting or intention-setting, I hope you will make the choice to simply believe in yourself this year, to make a habit of it, to tell yourself every day, either in the mirror or on a piece of paper, or just quietly in your mind, ‘I believe in you.’” (14:57 | Leslie Randolph)
“There is no perfect time to start, there is no ‘too late.’ Just believe and begin. Come back to your reason why and keep going. With that, there is nothing you can’t do, be, or achieve.” (17:38 | Leslie Randolph)
Connect With Leslie:
Help Your Teen Cultivate Confidence
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Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Teen and Tween Social Struggles with Abby Gagerman

“A lot of what our girls are experiencing today feels straight out of ‘Mean Girls,’” says Abby Gagerman, licensed social worker with her own private psychotherapy practice. Abby joins host Leslie Randolph to talk about the phenomenon of being “dropped” from friend groups. Social media, technology and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 lockdown have merely exacerbated the age-old phenomenon whereby middle schoolers form cliques which inevitably leave certain kids out. Too often, says Abby, moms of tweens and teens  try to socially engineer their children’s friend groups—often to exorcise their own childhood trauma--and instill in their teens the belief that their own comfort should be sacrificed for other people—including people who aren’t good for them. 
 
On this episode of Why Didn’t They Tell Us?, Abby will explain how you can prepare yourself for this tricky time in your teen’s life, and teach them resilience and self-regulation. She’ll explain the very specific language that will help you to validate your teen, listen to their feelings and stop placing your own comfort at the center of their decision-making. You’ll learn how to stop controlling and teach your teen to make values-based decisions so that they can attract quality people into their lives. 
 
For many people, middle school is the worst time of their lives, but with Abby’s help, you can maximize this time of learning to help your teen develop a healthy value system that will carry them forward on their journey. 
 
Quotes
“Our job is not to control them; our job is to teach them.” (9:17 | Abby Gagerman)
“So, the dropping—the problem isn’t the dropping itself. The problem is how we got there, but the phenomenon is here to stay. So, the question becomes, ‘What do we as mothers do about it?’” (20:53 | Abby Gagerman)
“Rules are an articulation of our expectations which are an articulation of our values. So, if we’re making rules out of our own discomfort, then what are we saying we’re valuing? ‘My comfort is more important than yours.’ What is comfortable for me is more important than you being authentic and figuring out your life. So, I’ll say to a parent, ‘It’s OK to set a limit on your kid if you don’t want them sleeping at somebody’s house. Of course, you’re the parent. If there’s something about it that you don’t like, it’s OK to set that limit. Don’t use the language, ‘It makes me uncomfortable.’” (23:00 | Abby Gagerman)
“Our job isn’t to fix their social life. Our life is to teach them how to manage their emotions and how to manage their emotions and how to act in line with their values.That is our job. So, in that moment we need to do this: we need to help our child regulate. We need to help them see that just because you were rejected doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to live, or you don’t deserve happiness or you’re not worthy.” (27:59 | Abby Gagerman)
“Accept the lack of control you have over the situation. You can’t control your kid.” (41:21 | Abby Gagerman)
Connect with Abby Gagerman
 
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Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

The Gift of Gratitude for Teens with Meredith Rivkin

“It really shifts your thinking to things you wouldn’t give a second thought to,” says today’s guest Meredith Rivkin about the power of practicing gratitude. A junior in high school, Meredith serves as the president of the teen board at Gratitude Generation—g2—a nonprofit organization on a mission to instill gratitude in future generations through education and service. Meredith joins Why Didn’t They Tell Us to talk with host Leslie Randolph about what volunteering with the organization from such a young age has taught her about gratitude—as both an act and a feeling - and how giving back can instill confidence in teenagers living in an increasingly high-pressure world. 
 
Meredith discusses how she’s learned to communicate effectively with peers and adults alike, to market herself and to successfully run and execute an event. She’ll explain how gratitude affects teens’ mental health and what it means to GLOW. 
 
Gratitude offers teens what they want more than anything else: to feel seen and to feel like they matter. Join today’s episode to learn more about how to practice gratitude in your everyday life. 
 
Quotes
“I didn’t really realize it then but my mom and the other moms were really creating something that would become so significant and now as I’ve grown up with the Gratitude Generation, I realize how important it is.” (5:09 | Meredith Rivkin)
“Gratitude Generation really taught me to be grateful for the small things and what I already had, not just what I continued to get.” (6:48 | Meredith Rivkin)
“As a teen it definitely improves your mental health and you just feel like the things that seem so big in your life aren’t that big anymore. Also, one of the G2 coined terms is the GLOW—it stands for Gratitude Lights Our World and I really think that’s what demonstrates the feeling and the act of gratitude. You really get the GLOW when you’re done doing a service project or you really just feel grateful for everything that you have.” (15:08 | Meredith Rivkin)
“I think the act itself is about giving your time and giving your energy to do something for yourself that will make you feel good but also for somebody else in the community. So, I think it really makes you selfless and it really creates that feeling of gratitude for what you have and what you can do to help others. And then when you feel that gratitude, you’re more likely to help others in the future. It’s healthy for you, it’s healthy for your family, your relationships, and literally everybody around you. Especially when there’s so much negativity and down energy in the world, the feeling of gratitude helps compensate for the other heavy emotions that teenagers and adults have every day.” (21:23 | Meredith Rivkin)
Learn More About Gratitude Generation
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Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

What is Self-Confidence?

“I don’t want it to be a best-kept secret. I want everyone to know,” says Leslie Randolph on this solo episode where she announces an upcoming series she is launching in honor of her successful TEDx Talk being released to YouTube. The series of short-and-sweet episodes will be dedicated to unpacking the secrets of self-confidence and show you how to cultivate it. In this first episode of the self-confidence series, Leslie shares that it is a choice and a skill that must be practiced daily. 
 
Tune in to hear Leslie’s definition of what self-confidence actually is, as well as two critical truths about it. She’ll explain how your self-image is yours to shape and how you can get started right away. 
 
Join Leslie to hear the genuine joy she feels in sharing this message with those who need to hear it. 
 
Quotes
“I’m on a mission to spread self-confidence like confetti,” say host Leslie Randolph, “so that the next generation of girls forever knows that they can choose to love, trust and believe in themselves.” (1:20 | Leslie Randolph)
“It’s never too late to start loving, trusting and believing in you.” (1:42 | Leslie Randolph)
“I don’t want what I know and have the privilege of sharing with my clients to be the best-kept secret. I want everyone to know. I want you to know it, and to use it, and then to take into your world.” (2:07 | Leslie Randolph)
“Self-confidence is a feeling which means it comes from your thinking. And not just any brand of thinking will do if you want to cultivate self-confidence. It has to be thinking that is rooted in loving, trusting, and believing in you. It is thinking that focuses more on your gifts and goodness than your faults and past failures. It is thinking that shines a light on your strengths versus your shortcomings. It is thinking that says, ‘I know you can figure this out. And I have your back through it all. So, if you want to cultivate that feeling of self-confidence you have to take the time to look for this within you. You will always find what you choose to focus on. Choose to focus on all that is amazing about you. There is so much to find if you look for it.” (4:38 | Leslie Randolph) 
“The thoughts you think about you are a choice you make. Which means that feeling of self-confidence is a choice. Choose it!” (7:42 | Leslie Randolph)
Links
Leslie's TEDx Talk, The Secret to Self-Confidence
 
Connect With Leslie:
Help Your Teen Cultivate Confidence
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The Power of Positivity & Community with The Pink Agenda's Samantha Golkin-Nigliazzo

“I didn’t slump over and start crying. I felt I had power,” says Samantha Golkin-Nigliazzo, an 11-year breast cancer survivor about receiving her diagnosis early thanks to vigilant screening and self-advocacy. More than a decade after her diagnosis, she now empowers others by serving as the vice president of The Pink Agenda and co-chair of the organization's Education Committee. The Pink Agenda is a nonprofit organization committed to raising money for breast cancer research and care, as well as awareness of the disease among young professionals. 
 
On this episode of Why Didn’t They Tell Us? Samantha speaks to host Leslie Randolph about the importance of positive thinking and reframing, the necessity for a supportive community, and how to serve as a compassionate caretaker when someone you love is facing a diagnosis. 
 
Samantha discusses the elements of what psychologist Martin Seligman called PERMA, the positive psychology acronym which lists the five elements of well-being and why she gravitates toward Jordyn Feingold’s adapted approach of REVAMP which encompasses relationships, engagement, vitality, accomplishment, meaning, and positive emotion. She explains the toll “scan-xiety” can have on those awaiting a result and why caretakers should take their cues, day-by-day, from those they love. 
 
Join today’s episode to hear Samantha’s message of hope and the power of positive thinking and community. 
 
Quotes
“Breast cancer is terrible. Breast cancer sucks. There’s no other word for it, but knowing that you’re called back and called back, the anxiety, ‘Is it something? Is it nothing? It could be a calcification. It could be a cyst. It could be benign. It could be this; it could be that.’ That’s what dissuades people from being on top of their health and getting their screening.” (9:11 | Samantha Golkin-Nigliazzo)
“I realized all those things that I had lived were things that have science-based research as to why they give you a life of elevated well-being, an elevated quality of life. I thought to myself, ‘Does that aid in risk? Does that aid in ultimate prognosis? The answer is, ‘Yes.’ ” (13:39 | Samantha Golkin-Nigliazzo)
“One of the things that I love about having community, being around people who have shared experiences—especially in the breast cancer world—is that it gives you hope. It gives you this perspective that the people around you are living and thriving and doing good things with their lives.” (38:55 | Samantha Golkin-Nigliazzo)
“There’s hope in community.” (40:00 | Samantha Golkin-Nigliazzo)
 
Links:
Learn More About The Pink Agenda
Follow The Pink Agenda on IG
Follow The Pink Agenda on Facebook
Connect with The Pink Agenda on LinkedIn
 
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How to Heal

“Compassion is the simplest solution to the world’s most complex problems,” says host Leslie Randolph on today’s episode of Why Didn’t They Tell Us. October is dedicated to breast cancer awareness, bullying prevention and marks one year since the tragic events of October 7 in Israel, and today Leslie focuses on healing ourselves and by extension, healing the world as a whole. This starts with feeling our feelings fully, while remaining in control of them, so that we can focus on loving, laughing, going and growing. 
 
Leslie cites the work of psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Siegel who coined the phrase “name it to tame it” as a way to manage emotions, and she explains how she would further expand on that concept with a phrase of her own. She also explains how compassion, kindness, courage and self-confidence work together to help us confront bullying—by allowing us to stand on our own when we need to, stand up for others or just be more considerate in our everyday lives. 
 
Join today’s discussion to learn more about the power of each person acting individually to create change collectively. 
 
Quotes
“Please do not ‘should’ yourself out of those emotions. They are your privilege as a human with breath in your body. I know they don’t feel good—I know—and that’s OK. Allow yourself to feel them and take care of yourself through them.” (6:27 | Leslie Randolph) 
“You can give your emotions the attention they want but you cannot give them all of you.” (7:16 | Leslie Randolph)
“Compassion is critical when we think about creating the collective change our world so desperately needs.” (10:49 | Leslie Randolph)
“Compassion is the simplest solution to the world’s most complex suffering.” (13:32 | Leslie Randolph) 
 
Links
BEtween Us Event Registration
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Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Emotional Resilience with Leah Davidson

“The nervous system is the behind-the-scenes to your mindset—the-behind-the scenes to everything—it fuels everything and is probably the most important investment you can make, ” says today’s guest Leah Davidson. A registered speech language pathologist and certified life coach—among a plethora of other certifications—Leah saw early on the role brain neuroplasticity and positive mindset played in a patient’s ability to heal and improve their conditions—even traumatic brain injuries. Today, she joins the Why Didn’t They Tell Us podcast to explain how the nervous system affects every aspect of our lives— from our outlook, mood, energy and the way we interpret information—as well as how we can develop a new positive mindset and increase our resilience. 
 
The process starts with developing an awareness of our own unique nervous systems and how they react to everything going on in our lives both internally and externally. Regulating our nervous systems is not only life-changing for us but for our teenage children who are watching our every move for cues as to how to react to their own worlds while their brains continue to mature. Leah explains how we can model positive nervous system regulation and emotional regulation for our kids.
 
Join today’s discussion to learn how you can tune into this most powerful internal system, work with it to develop a more positive mindset, and ultimately, change your life. 
Quotes
“The nervous system is the behind-the-scenes to your mindset. It’s the behind-the-scenes to everything that you do and it is probably the most valuable investment you can make—into your nervous system—because it fuels everything.” (6:13 | Leah Davidson)
“I believe you can’t really access your mindset without really understanding your nervous system. You can’t take full advantage of the benefits of working on your mindset without looking deeper at what your nervous system is because it’s sort of like the mindset…the tip of the iceberg that we work on but the nervous system is down below. So, we want to be accessing it all.” (13:08 | Leah Davidson)
“Your worth is in being and not doing.” (22:56 | Leah Davidson)
“Teens are also super unique because their brains are developing, their CEO is on its way to develop. Their CEO isn’t fully developed until they’re in their mid-twenties, so they are reading and relying a lot on the—hopefully—regulated adults around them, meaning they’re relying on their parents, their coaches, their teachers to not just serve as a cognitive example but to serve as a nervous system. We call it co-regulation—when they are in your presence, are they feeding off of a frenetic, hyper energy, or are they feeding off of a confident, calm energy?” (22:58 | Leah Davidson)
“We first learn about our nervous system through our caregivers and that is the importance of—when people say, ‘What can I do with my teen? What can I do with my children?’ Nothing, per se, to your children, it is your work to do. And if you do your work, that will spill over into every single relationship you have, especially the relationship with your kids.” (24:28 | Leah Davidson) 
Connect with Leah Davidson:
Leah's Instagram
Leah’s Podcast: Building Resilience
Leah's Coaching Community
 
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Help Your Teen Cultivate Confidence
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Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm