Grown, a podcast from The Moth
Grown is a podcast about the in-between: the nebulous, the liminal, the just plain weird time between those awkward teenage years and full-on adulthood. Grown is co-hosted by Aleeza Kazmi and Alfonso “Fonzo” Lacayo, two Moth storytellers and graduates of The Moth’s Education program who are on the cusp of adulthood themselves. Together, they guide listeners through true stories that deal with the challenges and joys of growing up. Using their unique points of view, Aleeza and Fonzo will discuss first crushes, culture, identity, secrets, and more. Like The Moth Podcast, Grown centers these fresh, personal stories told at Moth events worldwide—but Grown also features conversations with the storytellers themselves, on the street interviews, audio diaries from young voices, and more. Grown is a podcast that reminds us that no matter how old we are, we’re never fully grown. Start by listening to Episode 1, Crushed: Heartbreaks, first kisses, and catching feelings.
Episodes
Grown is a podcast about the in-between: the nebulous, the liminal, the just plain weird time between those awkward teenage years and full-on adulthood. Join co-hosts Aleeza Kazmi and Alfonso “Fonzo” Lacayo as they present true stories that deal with the challenges and joys of growing up. Our first two episodes drop Wednesday, February 8th, 2023, and then we’ll have a new episode every two weeks. Join us!
Young love. Erotic fan fiction. Secrets spilled or slipped. In this episode, Fonzo and Aleeza get crushed by crushes. David Lepelstat tells us about his first kiss, and Sasha Im’s mom reads her diary. Plus, relationship talk -- including an awkward reveal from our co-hosts.
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers: David Lepelstat and Sasha Im
Mental health. City adventures. Rescue dogs. In this episode, we set out to find ourselves. Esther Messe comes to understand her intrusive thoughts and Wilson Portorreal welcomes a new family member. Then, we go out to a flea market to talk about loss, and Aleeza and Fonzo get real about mental health.
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers: Esther Messe and Wilson Portorreal
Sketchy concerts. LGBTQIA+ spaces. Baby Keem. In this episode, we examine how music shapes our identity. Eddy Laughter takes us to her first punk show, and Alistair Bane explores moving to New York as a young man in the 80s. After that, Eddy and Alistair talk to each other about queerness, live music, and memory. Fonzo and Aleeza discuss the pitfalls of judging others based on their music taste and pre-pandemic concerts.
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In this episode, Aleeza and Fonzo discuss how storytelling changed their lives and share how they first met. Fonzo recounts a particularly memorable haircut, and Aleeza tells us about being crush-crazy. Plus, conversations about expressing who you really are.
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Apple cake. Pizza. Dinner parties. In this mouthwatering (sorry) episode, food connects everyone. Luna Azcurrain creates a Thanksgiving tradition with her grandfather, and Lu Levin desperately tries to grow up. We visit a food festival, and Aleeza and Fonzo talk about their families.
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers: Luna Azcurrain and Lu Levin
Bodies, bodies, bodies. This episode is all about feeling comfortable in your own skin. Annie Beyer-Chafets undergoes an important surgery, and Adia Heyliger talks about body positivity. After that, we get real about body changes, and Fonzo and Aleeza discuss puberty.
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers: Annie Beyer-Chafets and Adia Heyliger
Natural hair. A culture festival. Middle school jerks. In this episode, we hear stories of culture, identity, and how the two intertwine. Oleeta Fogden gets her first period, and Katiana Ciceron talks about the time her pastor touched her hair. Then, Aleeza and Fonzo get an update from Katiana on how she feels about her story now.
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers: Oleeta Fogden and Katiana Ciceron
Shhhhh. In this episode, we spill the tea. Shania tells us about getting her sibling ready for a dance, and Tim Manley’s love takes on a physical form. Plus, we step out into NYC to hear some secrets, and Aleeza reads excerpts from her diary. (Yes, there’s Twilight involved.)
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers: Shania and Tim Manley
We’re hard at work on Season 2, but we wanted to give you some bonus content to tide you over until then. This summer, we’ll be releasing “growth spurts,” fun episodes that feature interesting conversations and cool stories.
For our first “growth spurt” we’re featuring two of our Apple Podcast bonus episodes - if you’d like to listen to all seven bonus episodes right now, become a Moth Uninterrupted on Apple Podcasts.
Ho...
In our second “growth-spurt” (fun bonus content we’re releasing to tide you over to Season 2), we’re featuring an episode of The Moth Radio Hour that Aleeza and Fonzo hosted a while back.
If you’re a fan of Grown, you’ll LOVE The Moth Radio Hour, listen and subscribe to it wherever you’re listening to this podcast now.
Enjoy!
On this Growth-Spurt, we play an episode of the main Moth podcast, filled with stories that deal with growing up.
If you’re a student and want to bring Moth programming to your school, visit our website themoth.org/students. If you’re a teacher, visit themoth.org/education/teachers
We’re still working on Season 2, but here’s another fun “Growth Spurt” to tide you over until then.
This episode, we’re featuring two of our Apple Podcast bonus episodes - if you’d like to listen to all seven bonus episodes right now, become a Moth Uninterrupted on Apple Podcasts.
Enjoy!
We’re still hard at work on Season 2, but we wanted to share an episode from one of our favorite podcasts, “Borrowed.”
If you like Grown, we think you’ll really resonate with Borrowed, especially this episode, all about a teen luddite club.
Borrowed is a podcast from the Brooklyn Public Library, and it’s about libraries, but it’s about so much more - social justice, education, history. And this October, Borrowed will be ...
We’re so excited for Grown Season 2!!!
The first episode will launch on Wednesday, October 25th, and if you haven’t yet, you can binge the first season of Grown wherever you get your podcasts!
Bonds. Rivalries. Drama. In this episode, we explore how much our siblings shape who we are. Saad Najam finds peace with his brother and Meredith Morrison takes center stage. Then, we talk to Moth EDU students about the best and worst parts of being a sibling.
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers: Saad Najam and Meredith Morrison
FOMO. Friend fallouts. Feeling like you don't belong. We'll find out what happens when you're on the outside looking in. Moth EDU Storyteller Anaïs Cerina Irizarry Austin listens to some cool music and Hannah Citron understands a squid. Plus, Aleeza and Fonzo talk about the times when they tried to fit in.
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers: Anaïs Cerina Irizarry Austin and Hannah Citron
Anime. The Jonas Brothers. Twilight. We'll figure out how your passions shape who you are. Abigail Loor shares a story about finding a space in an anime convention and Roger Lam wears his superhero t-shirts with pride. Plus, Fonzo talks One Piece and David Lepelstat goes to the Brooklyn Comic Con.
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers: Abigail Loor and Roger Lam
Mishaps. Mistakes. Youthful indiscretions. In this episode, we'll explore how to create your own sense of ethics. Christian Garland learns a lesson from his grandpa and Stacey Bader Curry plans a heist. Then, Moth EDU students tell us about a time they had to choose between right and wrong.
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers: Christian Garland and Stacey Bader Curry
BFFs. Frenemies. Finding your clique. We'll explore how we actually make friends. Eric Carrera goes on a pizza run and Jenna Ulizio finds her people at camp. After that, we talk to high school students about the dos and don'ts of modern friendship.
Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo
Storytellers: Eric Carrera and Jenna Ulizio
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