In this powerful and deeply reflective episode of Growth Through Friendship, Juliet and Angela unpack the raw themes explored in the hit drama Adolescence, using it as a springboard to explore real-life challenges faced by teenagers, parents, and society as a whole. From knife crime and social media to emotional misattunement and family dynamics, they open up a thoughtful conversation about what’s really going on beneath the surface in adolescent development.

Juliet reflects on her own parenting experiences, particularly around emotional safety, connection, and navigating the complexity of raising teens in a tech-saturated world. Angela offers her insights on trauma, misinterpretation of emotional cues, and how unresolved childhood issues can influence a child’s behaviour and sense of self. Together, they explore the fine line between discipline and emotional disconnection, the importance of creating safe spaces, and how modern parenting often misses the mark due to time, stress, and societal expectations.

They also critically examine the show’s depiction of working-class family dynamics, school environments, and whether programs like this should be shown in schools. Conversations around masculinity, “toughening up,” social media regulation, bullying, and the deep psychological impact of feeling misunderstood make this episode a must-listen for any parent, educator, or anyone reflecting on their own teenage years.

In this incredibly insightful and personal episode of Growth Through Friendship, Juliet opens up about her real-life journey with home education, shedding light on the motivations, challenges, and everyday realities of choosing a non-traditional path for her children’s learning. Angela takes on the role of the curious friend, asking the questions many parents wonder but rarely get honest answers to.

Juliet walks us through how she transitioned away from mainstream schooling—not as a rebellious stance, but as a response to her children’s emotional needs and learning styles. From village hall learning hubs to forest-based education and forming mini learning communities with other parents, she shares how her family created a hybrid approach that prioritizes emotional safety, individuality, and freedom over conformity.

Together, they explore key themes like socialisation, the myths about home-educated children, the financial and emotional tolls, and the importance of trusting your instincts as a parent—even when it means going against societal expectations. They also discuss how home education affects sibling dynamics, mental health, and the parent-child relationship.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone questioning the mainstream education system, considering alternative routes, or simply curious about what “home education” looks like in the real world.

In this episode of Growth Through Friendship, Juliet and Angela tackle a controversial and complex topic: should governments penalise people for unhealthy lifestyle choices? With their signature blend of humour, reflection, and depth, they dig into the social, ethical, and emotional layers of what a "health tax" could mean—if such a thing existed.

They explore how health, personal responsibility, and privilege intersect, questioning whether taxing people based on their choices is a fair or feasible idea. From sleep deprivation and food intolerances to smoking, screen time, and exercise habits, nothing is off-limits. They debate how far such a policy could go—would it include caffeine, desserts, or late nights? Who decides what’s "healthy"? And are we in danger of turning wellness into a moral scoreboard?

Drawing from personal stories, health trends, conspiracy theories, and a fair amount of cacao-fuelled philosophical questioning, Juliet and Angela reflect on how values, education, genetics, and access shape our relationship with health. They also explore the dangers of judgment, the role of compassion, and how internal motivation often beats government policy when it comes to meaningful change.

This episode will challenge your assumptions, make you laugh, and get you thinking twice about everything from your breakfast to your bedtime scroll.