10 for Teens + Tweens
This is 10 for Teens + Tweens, a 10-ish minute podcast by Empowerful Girls that helps you grow curiosity, compassion, and confidence so you can take on the world! Host Stephanie Valdez discusses positive themes and tackles tough topics, teaching girls how to handle them. She shares guidance on personal development, physical and mental health, relationships, and media literacy. She hopes every girl listening will accept and embrace herself (strengths and weaknesses), make stronger connections with friends and family, and be mindful with media. More than anything, Stephanie wants girls to know for themselves that they are enough. Stephanie Valdez is the founder and director of Empowerful Girls. She has a degree in Communications and a background in Journalism. Stephanie is certified as a Girl Power Instructor, as well as in Social and Emotional Learning and Youth Mental Health First Aid. She has years of experience mentoring teens and tweens, and is also raising her own.
Episodes
Did you know that most New Year's Resolutions fail? Seems like how we're making them isn't working, maybe we should do things differently? Here's my new view on Resolutions to help you keep them.
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PS--I created a "2025 Year Reflection" worksheet. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 142 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.
Sometimes when we’re asked to volunteer, we’re not exactly enthusiastic about it. But volunteering doesn’t only benefit the organization or group the service project is helping–it also benefits those who volunteer to help. Let's discuss how giving service to others gives back to you too!
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A full transcript of this episode is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 141 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.
10 for Teens + Tweens just celebrated it’s 5th birthday! Honestly this podcast exists because of you girls, so with all my heart, thank you for listening.
Have you ever heard about using visualization? It's a mental practice that can help you achieve your goals. Let's explore how to utilize it and how it can help you.
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A full transcript of this episode is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 140 show note...
Let's talk about the difference between secrets and things shared in confidence. Plus--there are some things you shouldn't keep a secret. And what do you do if your friend shares something you told them in confidence--or if you do it to them?
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A full transcript of this episode is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 139 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.
It’s been 20 years since I got the worst birthday gift I’ve ever received. I’m sure you wanna know what it was. I’m not just gonna spill tea in this episode, there’s a lesson to take from it, too.
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A full transcript of this episode is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 138 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.
Nature offers numerous benefits and relief. It’s there waiting for us to experience it. The world is so noisy and it’s drowning out nature, so we need to get outside and reestablish our connection with it.
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To help you, I created a "Get Outside + Connect Your Energy" poster. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 137 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.
Whether it’s a sports injury, food allergy, chronic illness, or something else, let’s talk about how to deal with health setbacks.
As a reminder, I am not a healthcare professional; I am not offering medical advice, a diagnosis, or treatment. I still think it’s important to have conversations about this, so you’ll feel more comfortable talking about it and advocating for yourself.
Your energy is a valuable resource–which is why you should selectively choose who you give it to. This past week, a certain podcast broke the internet (wasn’t mine–yet). Now even if you’re not a fan of Taylor Swift or football, she shared solid wisdom that I think you girls should hear–even if you have already, it’s a good reminder.
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To help you, I created a "Your Energy" poster. Get your printable in the 10 f...
Even if it’s the middle of the school year when you listen to this, I want to share my best advice that can help you all year long.
Just so you know, I’m not just giving YOU girls this advice, I’m going to be practicing it too. I haven’t mastered these things, I may have a few decades of experience on you, but I’m still learning and growing alongside you. So I would love to hear what grandma hobby you try, what changes you notice b...
I’ve got a hot take about beauty, and some of you might not like it that much, for others it might not apply to you right now. But I hope you’ll still listen because it needs to be said. It’s something I wish I understood years ago, so I’m trying to help you see it sooner than I did. Beauty is costing us too much time, money, and energy.
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A full transcript of this episode is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 13...
I imagine you girls have seen or at least heard of Get Ready With Me videos–maybe even created one yourself. Reflecting on my teen routines from the 90s and early 2000s, if I had made Get Ready With Me videos, now knowing what I’ve learned over the years, I would change a lot of things. In hopes that you will learn from my mistakes, here are some of my Get Ready With Me Redos.
One of the topics you gals message me about most is friendships. And I honestly understand why. Friendships have a huge impact on you, and they're a big and important factor throughout your tween and teen years.
We’ve talked about friendships in multiple episodes– 011 Find (and Be) a Good Friend, 012 Extinguish Friendship Fires, 013 Make Friends Using Social Skills, and 051 Friendship Red Flags.
Since it’s been a minute, we’re ...
I’ve received several requests for an episode on anxiety. Just like the ADHD episode 112, this topic is personal to me because I’ve experienced it. I will preface this by reminding you–I am not a healthcare professional, I am not offering medical advice, a diagnosis, or treatment. I still think it’s important you gals hear others’ perspectives, both so you’ll feel more comfortable talking about anxiety or seeking support if you nee...
One of the most-requested topics--Puberty. So check out my chat with Dr. Cara Natterson from Less Awkward!
Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett created a host of resources to help teens/tweens AND their parents be less awkward about all things puberty! We discussed common puberty concerns, conversation starters and enders, and solid advice to help youth and parents better-understand each other.
Peer pressure can cause you to give in, go along with what others are doing, and make choices that don’t actually align with you. Let's explore some common peer pressure scenarios and help you strategize what to do when you face them.
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A full transcript of this episode is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 128 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.
You ever feel like, no matter what you do, you just can’t win? You're not wrong. And you're not alone.
So do it anyway.
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To help you, I created a "Do It Anyway" poster. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 127 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.
What do cassowaries, giant clams, or parrot fish have to do with you?
There’s something I want to share that connects how I’ve been feeling lately (and maybe you have too) with my recent trip to Australia.
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To help you, I created a "You Matter" poster. Get your printable in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 126 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.
To wrap up Women’s History Month, let’s recognize some women who made an impact with their inventions. Throughout history women who made an impact rarely received credit for it, and were often left out of history books. So I want to introduce you to some of those women.
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A full transcript of this episode is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 125 show notes on EmpowerfulGirls.com.
In honor of Women’s History Month, I’m gonna share some women’s history with you. I know, this isn’t school, but I bet you’ll learn something new. Women’s rights have come a long way over the past two centuries. We still have more work to do, so let’s remember Women’s History and be inspired to make our own history.
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A full transcript of this episode is available in the 10 for Teens + Tweens Ep. 124 show notes on E...
I can't wait for you to hear my conversation with Jill + Mary from Girls Mentorship!
Jill and Mary are mentoring girls to thrive as bold leaders, confident friends, and connected community members. We discussed why mentorship is so important, what messages they focus on in their programs, and the transformations they've seen when girls feel empowered.
Connect with Jill and Mary on social media @girlsmentorship and learn mor...
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