Idelle Erickson

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In this episode we dive into the types of media content that shaped us when we were girls and now as adults. We’re constantly taking in information and messages through media sources like YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, books, radio, magazines, movies, TV, music, and podcasts. This can have a huge impact on how we see ourselves and can be a major factor in the direction we take in school, jobs, relationships, and life. It’s important to be able to see yourself reflected in media. A quote that resonated with us: If you can’t see it, you can’t be it!

We’ll get into some things that stuck with us like Hannah’s deep love for Star Wars and how it finally loves her back, and Shanna’s love of punk, screamo, and metal music and how inspired she was as a teenager by awesome female singers. We’ll also talk about identity, body image and the perils of Photoshop, social media validation, and feeling limited in career choices and opportunities from what we could see on TV and in movies when we were growing up.

What we hope you’ll take away and think about– What kind of impact does seeing girls and women in media have on your self-image and choices? Do you see yourself in the things you watch, read, and listen to? And last but not least– if you don’t see yourself or what you like out there, do something about it! Become a screen writer, YouTuber, musician, podcaster, or producer!

As always, stay tuned at the end for our segments Would You Rather and Girls Pick.

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Advocacy— it’s standing up for things you believe in and influencing the decisions that affect you and your friends and family’s lives every day. We recorded this episode right in the middle of the 2018 election season, so advocacy was at the top of our minds! This made for a great conversation with our guest— Girl Scouts River Valleys’ Capacity Building Director and resident guru of all things girl advocacy, Liana Michelfelder-Tessum, about how political decisions affect girls and how they can make sure their voices are heard. Liana has all kinds of great tips for how girls and youth can get involved in politics and be change-makers in their communities.

When you hear political advocacy you might think of big stuff, like governor or president level, but you can advocate for change at local levels too. We’ll talk about how important it is to speak up for things in your community like public transportation, safety, parking, schools and education, and other causes you believe in.

We’ll also get into how stressful and frustrating it can be to try to take in and process everything we see in the news and on social media, and how we can unplug, be mindful, and re-charge when we get overwhelmed by all the information and opinions swirling around.

Our big takeaways— Educate yourself! Get involved! Take time to reflect on how you really feel and what issues are most important to you. We learned from Liana that change is often small and incremental, and with girls’ voices at the table we can make a difference. Remember, decisions can’t be made about you without you.

As always, stay tuned at the end for Would You Rather and Girls Pick!

For more about advocacy and how you can be a catalyst for change, visit www.girlscoutsrv.org/advocate.

Here are links to some great youth advocacy organizations mentioned in the show:

The Minnesota Alliance with Youth- Minnesota Youth Council

The National Youth Leadership Council- Youth Advisory Council

St. Paul Youth Commission

Saint Paul Public Schools Student Engagement and Advancement board

Brooklyns Youth Alliance

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Getting outside is good for you! In this episode we’ll get into what we like to do outside in our everyday lives as part of our own self-care, where we would go on dream adventures, and just how fascinated we are by tiny black capped chickadees and mountain-dwelling lizards.

Our challenge to you: spend time outdoors! Find some green space, or snow space, to go for a walk or just hang out. Things like taking photos, drawing, listening to music, exercising, or reading are all better outdoors. Try it! You might find yourself feeling calmer, more focused, and energized after a little dose of nature.

We’d also like to challenge you to try something new. If you’ve never been camping– go for it! Already done the camping thing and looking for something new? Sign up for a wilderness trip at a Girl Scouts River Valleys camp, or plan an adventurous weekend with your family, friends, or Girl Scout troop. You could be spending next summer backpacking, canoeing, or riding horses. There’s also plenty to do in the winter– think snowshoeing, skiing, ice fishing, winter camping, or snowy walks through your local park.

Stay tuned at the end of the episode for Would You Rather and Girls Pick.

Visit Camp.GirlScoutsRV.org to find out about Girl Scouts River Valleys’ Every Girl in a Tent challenge and Adventure Club. Looking for some beginner camping tips? Check out this blog post: Forget the Box – Think Outside!

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Failure: We’ve all been there. It’s a learning experience, right? And it can be good for us…right? But it can feel really bad! In this episode Hannah and Shanna dive into what it means to fail, why it feels so bad, and how you can turn it around to learn and grow from your mistakes. They’ll get into some of their own epic fails, how it felt in school, and how it’s still hard when you grow up. Did you know failing comes with sound effects? You do now. 😉

Stay tuned at the end of the episode for our segments Would You Rather and Girls Pick!