In this new chapter of Human Glitch, River confronts the pain of his mother’s absence and a father who won’t step in. As tensions rise at home, River begins to question what family really means.

We also open the episode with a reflection on the pressure to justify our choices after high school and what it takes to stand firm in them.

Share your thoughts on Chapter Five: ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@youthresearchbox.org⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this chapter of Human Glitch, River wrestles with belonging, loyalty, and the courage to stand up for what’s right. As summer unfolds in Los Angeles, River finds himself caught between two worlds, his modest life with his father and the privileged halls of Harriet’s Prep.

When he learns that a new policy will strip scholarships from student athletes like his best friend Caleb, River must decide whether to risk his own future to fight for fairness.

To share your thoughts on Chapter Four, email: ⁠⁠⁠podcast@youthresearchbox.org⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we continue the Human Glitch series with Chapter III, told through the eyes of Caleb, a 16-year-old football standout in South Central L.A. Balancing school, sports, and caring for his younger siblings after his father's death, Caleb faces mounting pressure to hold everything together.

With help from his best friend River and the ever-reliable Mama Dee, Caleb fights to stay focused on his dreams—while wrestling with the fear of losing everything.

To share your thoughts on Chapter Three, email: ⁠⁠podcast@youthresearchbox.org⁠⁠.

We’re back with Chapter Two of Human Glitch, a new coming-of-age novel from the YRV team, featured on the Thought-Partner Podcast. This serialized story follows a group of teens as they navigate identity, belonging, and the pressures of growing up in a fractured world.

In this chapter, we shift perspectives to Quinn—a restless teen filmmaker growing up in the shadow of his famous director father.

To share your thoughts on Chapter Two, email: ⁠podcast@youthresearchbox.org⁠.

Get an exclusive first listen to Human Glitch, a new coming-of-age novel from the YRV team. Set in Los Angeles, the story follows a group of teens as they navigate identity, loneliness, and belonging in a fractured world. In Chapter One, River—a high-achieving scholarship student—begins therapy with the renowned Dr. Han, convinced he doesn’t belong there. What unfolds is an unexpected, deeply human connection.

To share your thoughts on Chapter One, email: podcast@youthresearchbox.org.

In this episode of the YRV Thought Partner Podcast, host Joyce Coffey discusses emotional loneliness with guest Diana Aleksanyan, a sophomore at NYU Abu Dhabi. They explore how young people often feel isolated despite being socially active, especially during major life transitions.

For further insights, Harvard University has addressed this issue in their talk series, "Confronting Our Epidemic of Loneliness." You can watch the discussion here: Confronting Our Epidemic of Loneliness | Education Now

Loneliness is a growing crisis among young people, deeply tied to mental health challenges like depression and anxiety. But what type of loneliness affects them most? In this episode, youth from around the world share their experiences, revealing that emotional loneliness—feeling unseen and unheard—is the most pervasive.

📢 To ensure the protection of youth participants and maximize anonymity, all youth voices in this episode are AI-generated.

Join the conversation at podcast@youthresearchvox.org.

Welcome to the first Thought-Partner episode of 2025! As we step into a brand-new year, we explore one of the most profound aspects of human connection: friendship. Anchored by a touching poem, What Is a Friend?, this episode invites listeners to reflect on the timeless essence of friendship.

Do you have a question you’d like us to answer with a poem? Send your questions to podcast@youthresearchvox.org. We look forward to featuring your question in a future episode!