Vanessa Kroll Bennett is one half of the So Awkward brand and co-author (with pediatrician Cara Natterson) of the hit book "This is So Awkward" that’s making puberty conversations a little less cringey and a lot more human.
In this laugh-out-loud, deeply relatable conversation, we toss out the stiff lectures and lean into humor, personal stories, and the messy truth—because puberty isn’t just something our kids go through. Their changes stir up our own memories of middle school awkwardness, body confusion, and the tender places we still carry.
Together, we unpack:
How humor can melt the awkwardness out of puberty talks
Why sibling relationships shape how we understand and talk about bodies
The surprising ways personal history impacts how we teach our kids
How technology changes the timing and feel of puberty
Why early puberty is on the rise—and what that means for parenting
The importance of treating kids by their actual age, not their appearance
How to build trust that survives eye-rolls and slammed doors
Why making mistakes is not just okay—it’s essential
How listening to your child opens the door to connection
By the end, you might just see puberty—yours and theirs—not as an awkward stage to survive, but as an ongoing, surprisingly sacred conversation that maybe, is so unavoidable because it's essential.
And, you'll just love Vanessa and her wit and warmth. You can access the "So Awkward Universe," the book, the podcast, and all of the million other things Cara and Vanessa are doing at their website: https://lessawkward.com/