All Episodes
The Thought is Worse Than the Thing
Is your brain making things harder than they really are?In this episode, Joey tells the story of a teen who dreaded doing a simple merit badge… until he realized the t...
The Untruth of Us vs Them - Message 4 Monday
This week, we’re busting the third Great Untruth: “Life is a battle between good people and evil people.” Teens will explore how tribal thinking, call-out culture, and...
The Power of "I Won't"
Saying “I can’t” sounds controlled. Saying “I won’t” sounds unstoppable. In this episode, I explore the life-changing difference between the two, teaching teens how to...
The Untruth of Emotional Reasoning - Message 4 Monday
Feelings are real, but that doesn’t mean they’re always right. This week, we’re diving into the second Great Untruth: “Always trust your feelings.” Teens will learn ho...
The Untruth of Fragility - Message 4 Monday
This week, we’re diving into the first of the Three Great Untruths: “What doesn’t kill you makes you weaker.” Teens will learn why this belief is not only false—but ac...
The Story of Misoponos - Message 4 Monday
This week kicks off our summer book series of The Coddling of the American Mind with a deep dive into the fake-but-funny story of the Oracle of Koalemos and his very r...
The Millionaire-in-Training Plan - Message 4 Monday
We’ll wrap up the month by showing teens how simple, consistent habits now can turn into financial success later. From investing basics (like compound interest) to giv...
The Danger of Debt Dragons - Message 4 Monday
Why is debt so dangerous, and why do so many people fall into it? We’ll cover the myths teens hear about “good debt,” credit cards, and borrowing from friends or famil...
Own Your Flaws
I met a girl last week who had the absolute best way to look at her acne. She was the embodiment of owning your flaws. I share her story and one of my own from this pa...
Buy the Thing or Be the Thing - Message 4 Monday
This week, it’s all about spending wisely. Teens will learn how advertising and peer pressure lead to impulse buys, and how to decide if something is really worth thei...
Save Like a Superhero - Message 4 Monday
Emergency funds aren’t just for adults. Teens will learn how to build a savings habit even with small amounts of money—and why starting now gives them superpowers late...
Don't Believe the Mob
People love to judge and the internet makes it easy. But just because the mob says something doesn’t mean it’s true. In this episode, Joey Mascio unpacks why we’re so ...
The Broke Brain Reboot - Message 4 Monday
We’ll talk about how most people grow up learning bad money habits—like impulse spending, borrowing for stuff they don’t need, and assuming debt is “normal.” We’ll ide...
It Won't Always Feel Like This
When life gets hard—like, failed-a-quiz-fell-into-a-locker hard—it can feel like you’re stuck there forever. But that feeling of being stuck is just your brain playing...
Hero Tool #3: The Reins - Message 4 Monday
Heroes feel fear, anger, sadness, and doubt just like everyone else—the difference is, they don’t let their emotions run wild. This week, we’ll talk about how to handl...
You Get What You Give
Have you ever wondered why people treat you the way they do? In this episode, Joey Mascio dives into how the data you give off—your attitude, your words, your eye roll...
Get Outside
In this episode of Secrets for an Awesome Life, we explore the rejuvenating power of the great outdoors. As spring unfolds, it’s the perfect opportunity to swap screen...
Hero Tool #2: The Pen - Message 4 Monday
Every hero has a defining moment where they realize they aren’t just a character in their story—they’re the author. This week, we’ll talk about the power of reframing,...
Hero Tool #1: The Flag - Message 4 Monday
No great hero waits for someone else to save them. They take ownership of their actions, their mindset, and their results. This week, we’ll plant our hero flag and lea...
The Story You Tell Yourself - Message 4 Monday
Before you can become the hero of your own story, you have to see yourself as the hero. But too many people walk around thinking they’re the side character—or worse, t...
The Strongest Game Plan - Message 4 Monday
Hey teens, want to be stronger than the last generation? It starts with a plan. I take the action plan from the end of Jonathan Haidt's best selling book, The Anxious ...
Creating Purpose in Math Class
“Ugh, when am I ever gonna use this in real life?” If you're a teen who has ever muttered these words in math class, you’re not alone. But what if the real lesson in m...
Surviving the Digital Zombie Apocalypse - Message 4 Monday
Gen Z fell into the screen trap and became the walking unfocused, the socially starved, the sleep-deprived, and the endlessly scrolling. But you don’t have to turn! Th...
Hooked: How Tech Companies Reel Teens In
Social media, video games, YouTube—they’re designed to be fun, right? Sure. But they’re also designed to trap you. Tech companies don’t just hope you stay on their pla...
Escape Defend Mode - Message 4 Monday
Are you living in defense mode, constantly reacting to stress and pressure? Or are you in discover mode, where curiosity and courage lead the way? This week, we’ll lea...
Lost Boys: Why Young Men Feel Directionless & How to Fix It
Too many young men today feel lost—no purpose, no mission, no direction. But why? And more importantly, how do you fix it? In this episode, Joey Mascio breaks down the...
How Gen Z Got Stuck - Message 4 Monday
Gen Z traded real-world play for endless scrolling—and it left them anxious, lonely, and stuck. This week, we’re talking about free play—why Gen Z lost it and how brin...
Take Your Medicine!
Season 6 Begins!!Struggling to get your tween or teen to do the hard things in life—like homework, chores, or even just stepping out of their comfort zone? In this epi...