Join Denise Love Hewett for a powerful conversation with USA Today bestselling author Chelsey Goodan about her groundbreaking book "Underestimated: The Wisdom and Power of Teenage Girls." This episode dives deep into why society labels teenage girls as "too much" and how we can transform that narrative into empowerment. Chelsey, who has spent 16 years as a tutor and mentor to teenage girls, shares profound insights about emotional validation, authentic self-expression, and the critical importance of making young women feel seen and heard during their formative years. What You'll Learn:
Why teenage girls are called "too much," "bossy," and "opinionated" - and how to reframe these labels
The power of witnessing pain without trying to fix it immediately
How to have radical honesty conversations with teenagers (and adults)
Practical tools for "permissioning" - giving others freedom to be authentic
Why emotional repression in adolescence creates lifelong patterns
How to navigate social media conversations with teenagers constructively
The connection between perfectionism, people-pleasing, and "good girl" conditioning
Denise and Chelsey explore their own teenage experiences, from prom rejections to math tutoring revelations, showing how early experiences shape our adult relationships with authenticity and vulnerability. They discuss the importance of asking "What do you need?" - a question teenage girls rarely receive.
The conversation tackles challenging topics including feminism, family disagreements, body image, and how Gen Z is redefining women's empowerment through body positivity and "decentering men." Chelsey also shares her work with A Call to Men, addressing toxic masculinity and gender-based violence prevention.
Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone healing your own inner teenage girl, this episode offers transformative insights into breaking generational patterns of self-doubt and embracing the full spectrum of who we are.
Chelsey Goodan is a USA Today bestselling author, international speaker, and thought leader on women and girls' empowerment. In her work, Goodan reveals the universal truths she learned from a teenage girl’s struggle with self-doubt, authenticity, confidence, leadership, connection, and power. Goodan's bestselling book, UNDERESTIMATED: The Wisdom and Power of Teenage Girls, was named “Best Nonfiction” by Amazon’s Editorial Director and garnered acclaim from Oprah’s Book Club, Oprah Daily, The Today Show, Hello Sunshine, NBC News, TIME Magazine, and public figures like Academy Award-winning actress Laura Dern. Goodan has emerged as a leading voice for reshaping school, home, and work environments to empower women and girls’ voices. She conducts women & girls’ empowerment workshops, and in 2024, she partnered with Reese Witherspoon's company Hello Sunshine and the brand Invisalign to create and lead their Empowerment Day for girls. As a keynote speaker, Goodan helps women heal their inner teenage girl and coaches parents on how to better understand and connect with their daughter. On worldwide stages, Goodan teaches communication strategies that create emotional and psychological safety. With a clear focus on social impact, Goodan supports nonprofits advocating for gender justice. Volunteering her time as the Mentorship Director of the nonprofit DemocraShe, Chelsey supports and guides girls from underrepresented communities into leadership positions. She also serves on the board of A Call to Men, a gender-based violence prevention nonprofit that educates men and boys on healthy masculinity. Chelsey’s passion to explore humanity’s potential for authenticity, liberation, and empowerment, permeates all of her work.
You can follow her @chelseygoodan and buy her book at www.chelseygoodan.com
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions to receive advice.
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