Raising Greener Teens is a part of the EcoParent Podcast Network: https://www.ecoparent.ca/podcasts

I’m your host Manda Aufochs Gillespie and this is the Raising Greener Teens podcast. Where we as parents take all the curiosity, self-empowerment, and other parenting tools that got us this far and apply them to understanding our teenagers better and hopefully shepherd them to becoming curious, self-empowered, caring and courageous citizens of the future. On Today’s episode I interview author, podcast host, and Fertility educator Lisa Hendrickson Jack about all things fertility and your teen. And we ask: What is your teen not learning in sex ed?

About the Episode
Did you know that though teenagers and young adults account for only one quarter of the textually active population, but half of all STI transmissions and are in general at greater risk from them than older adults? STI rates in adolescents have been on the rise since 2014 and are currently at an all-time high according to the CDC.

Lisa Hendrickson Jack discusses the basics of fertility health, why a push towards chemical birth control not only may damage your young teenager’shealth, but may also be contributing to the rise in STIs, and asks why more adults (and teens) don’t know how to properly use condoms. (Hint: you can’t use them with oil-based lubricants!) Why aren’t teens taught anymore that condoms, used correctly, are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy and remain the only way to protect against most STIs other than abstinence? What else is behind these distributing trends and what can teenagers and young women especially learn about their bodies, health, and fertility to help prepare them to take charge of their health and sexuality? She covers it all and then my teenager simplifies it in her “Teen Splain”.

Guest Bio & Links
Lisa Hendrickson Jack is a Certified Fertility Awareness Educator, Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner, author of The Fifth Vital Sign: Master Your Cycles & Optimize Your Fertility, and host of the popular podcast series Fertility Friday.

She specializes in helping health conscious women discover the connection between their menstrual cycles and their overall health so they can ditch hormonal birth control forever. “Our education system has failed to teach us about our fertility, so I’m here to empower you to take control of your fertility and your life.”

Learn more about Lisa Hendrickson Jack, her book, and her popular podcast at https://fertilityfriday.com/

Host Bio & Links
Are you a parent to a teenager? For most parents, the teenage years can be the most challenging. Parenthood will make the best of us rethink our fundamental values and question our preconceived beliefs. The Raising Greener Teens podcast invites listeners to use their skills of curiosity, research, and humour to further develop as experts in the care of their family and to help guide the teens in their care to do the same.

Host Manda Aufochs Gillespie is the author of Green Mama & Green Mama-to-be, creator of the award-winning website thegreenmama.com, and founder of Folk University (folku.ca) and FolkU radio. She interviews doctors, naturopaths, sex educators, brain researchers, drug counsellors, parents who seem to be doing it better, and all sorts of interesting people in this series to provide inspiration to parents of teens and pre-teens, and—hopefully—teens themselves. Join Manda and her teenage daughter as they ask the experts: Is this the way it’s supposed to be?

About the EcoParent Podcast Network
The EcoParent Podcast Network helps busy families live a healthier, greener lifestyle. Our host experts are imperfect, real, busy parents just like you who share ways to lower our collective carbon footprint and practical strategies that make a difference to your family’s health, the planet and to our children’s future. We offer raw, honest conversations and actionable advice across our six podcasts: pregnancy & birth, pediatric wellness, kids’ nutrition, green beauty, healthy home, and raising greener teens. Join us and get inspired to live a more sustainable, healthy life! www.ecoparent.ca/podcasts

Partnerships:
Audio magic on this episode was performed by Carlay Ream-Neal, and was edited by Emily Groleau.