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 task wasn’t hard, he just hated thinking about it. Joey breaks down why we all get stuck in what he calls “the first unpleasantness,” and how recognizing that mental trap can make hard things feel easier. Perfect for teens who avoid homework, chores, or anything that feels like a drag, this episode will teach you a simple mindset s...
Jul 17, 2025•13 min•Season 6Ep. 189
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 enemy labeling are keeping them from developing empathy, leadership, and real relationships. I’ll show how true strength comes from understanding others, not dividing the world into heroes and villains. (The Coddling of the American Mind, Chapter 3) Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube cha...
Jun 30, 2025•5 min
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 own their values with power and confidence, whether it’s about religious standards, digital discipline, or resisting peer pressure. This episode gives teens the tools to stop sounding limited and start standing tall. 🧠 Secret for an Awesome Life: If you want to hold to your values, choose to say “I won’t” instead of “I can’t.” It...
Jun 26, 2025•13 min•Season 6Ep. 188
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 how emotional reasoning traps them in false stories, and how to rewrite those stories using CBT tools. Through fun examples and practical techniques, they’ll learn to recognize when their brain is lying and how to lead their emotions instead of being led by them. (The Coddling of the American Mind, Chapter 2) Loved this audio? You sh...
Jun 23, 2025•5 min
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 actually harmful—and how believing they’re fragile holds them back from growing stronger. I’ll introduce the concept of being antifragile and challenge students to face discomfort head-on through a small “micro-challenge” that helps them build resilience, one rep at a time. (The Coddling of the American Mind, Chapter 1) Loved this au...
Jun 16, 2025•5 min
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 real influence on modern thinking. Teens will learn how three popular beliefs—“What doesn’t kill you makes you weaker,” “Always trust your feelings,” and “Life is a battle between good people and evil people”—are shaping their mindset in sneaky, harmful ways. This summer, I’ll show them how to spot these untruths, challenge them, an...
Jun 09, 2025•5 min
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 giving generously and living below your means, this week shows how to be intentional with money for life . And yes—we’ll talk about how anyone can become a millionaire… even a 12-year-old who gets started early. Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@sidekicktoh...
Jun 02, 2025•4 min
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 family. We’ll teach them how to avoid it, what interest really does, and how saying “no” to debt now opens way more doors in the future. Book covered: The Total Money Mindset by Dave Ramsey Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@sidekicktohero Or watch it in the S...
May 26, 2025•5 min
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 past week when I was called Mr. Clean. -- My gamified mindset training app for teens, Sidekick to Hero, is available now! Go to www.sidekicktohero.com to start a two-week free trial. -- Follow me on Instagram! www.instagram.com/sidekicktohero -- Joey Mascio is a teen confidence coach and motivational speaker. He helps teens eliminate...
May 22, 2025•14 min•Season 6Ep. 187
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 their money. We’ll introduce the “24-Hour Rule,” budgeting basics, and why stuff never brings happiness—but smart spending can bring freedom. -- Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@sidekicktohero Or watch it in the Sidekick to Hero app for tweens and teens! It...
May 12, 2025•5 min
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 later. We’ll also look at goals-based saving, the power of delayed gratification, and how even babysitting or lawn money can start building financial security. Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@sidekicktohero Or watch it in the Sidekick to Hero app for tween...
May 12, 2025•5 min
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 quick to jump on the judgment train (whether online or in real life) and why compassion is your secret weapon against the angry crowd. With real-life examples and science-backed insights, teens will learn how to pause, question the story they're being fed, and become the kind of person people trust and respect. 🎧 Secret for an Awe...
May 08, 2025•18 min•Season 6Ep. 186
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 identify those broke-thinker traps and start replacing them with smart, future-focused mindsets. Teens will learn what it really means to live like no one else so you can live like no one else later. Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@sidekicktohero Or watch...
May 05, 2025•4 min
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 tricks on you. In this episode, Joey Mascio breaks down the concept of permanency —that sneaky belief that things will always be the way they are right now—and why it’s not the truth. Joey helps teens recognize that emotions and situations are temporary—even when they feel massive. Backed by brain science and relatable stories, th...
May 01, 2025•14 min•Season 6Ep. 185
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 handle intense emotions without letting them control you and how to fully experience positive emotions without becoming reckless, distracted, or complacent. Because when you hold the reins, you decide where your story goes next. Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.c...
Apr 28, 2025•4 min
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 rolls (yeah, we see those)—shapes how others respond to you. Whether it’s teachers, parents, or friends, if you’re not getting the reaction you want, it might be time to look at what you’re putting out there. This episode helps teens realize they have more power in relationships than they think. Joey even shares a real-life coaching st...
Apr 24, 2025•15 min•Season 6Ep. 184
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 time for green time. Discover how stepping outside can enhance your sleep, boost your mood, and improve overall health. -- My gamified mindset training app for teens, Sidekick to Hero, is available now! Go to www.sidekicktohero.com to start a two-week free trial. -- Follow me on Instagram! www.instagram.com/sidekicktohero -- Joey ...
Apr 17, 2025•11 min•Season 6Ep. 183
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, CBT skills, and hero thoughts —so you can take control of your confidence, self-worth, and the world you live in. Because no matter what’s happened in the past, you get to create the future. -- Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@sidekicktohero Or watch i...
Apr 14, 2025•4 min
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 learn how to ditch the victim mindset for good. Blaming others gives away your power—owning your choices gives you the ability to change everything. -- Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@sidekicktohero Or watch it in the Sidekick to Hero app for tweens and t...
Apr 07, 2025•4 min
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, the victim. This week, we’ll explore how your self-concept, beliefs, and inner narrative shape your actions and results. If you want a better life, it starts with a better story. -- Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@sidekicktohero Or watch it in the Sidek...
Mar 31, 2025•3 min
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 Generation , and I summarize it for tweens and teens into 5 commitments that you can make now that can help you feel better, focus more, and build the kind of life that’s actually fun to live. You can become the strongest generation by avoiding the mistakes that Gen Z made. This 5 commitments will help you do it. -- Loved this audi...
Mar 31, 2025•4 min
“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 math class isn’t the math? In this episode, I break down why mastering the art of doing things you don’t like is one of the most valuable skills a teen can ever learn. Listen now and discover how to make even the ‘pointless’ stuff in life work in your favor! -- My gamified mindset training app for teens, Sidekick to Hero, is availab...
Mar 27, 2025•15 min•Season 6Ep. 182
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! This week, we’re giving you the survival guide to escape the digital plague and stay fully alive . Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@sidekicktohero Or watch it in the Sidekick to Hero app for tweens and teens! It's a gamified confidence & productiv...
Mar 24, 2025•5 min
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 platforms… they engineer them to be addictive. In this episode, Joey Mascio exposes The Hooked Model from Nir Eyal’s Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and reveals how apps and games use triggers, variable rewards, and investment cycles to keep you scrolling, tapping, and playing. Drawing from Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Ge...
Mar 20, 2025•21 min•Season 6Ep. 181
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 learn how to shift out of survival mode and into thriving mode, unlocking more confidence, motivation, and fun. Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@sidekicktohero Or watch it in the Sidekick to Hero app for tweens and teens! It's a gamified confidence &...
Mar 17, 2025•5 min
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 crisis of masculinity , the loss of heroic values, and the rise of passive living. Drawing from Jordan Peterson, Viktor Frankl, and the principles of CBT, Joey gives young men (and the parents raising them) real, actionable steps to reclaim purpose, build strength, and step into the hero role they were meant for. Hit play and take...
Mar 13, 2025•15 min•Season 6Ep. 180
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 bringing it back can make you more confident, socially smarter, and emotionally stronger. If you want to break free, it’s time to put down the phone and start playing for real! Loved this audio? You should see the video version! Check it out on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@sidekicktohero Or watch it in the Sidekick to ...
Mar 10, 2025•5 min•Season 6Ep. 180
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 episode, Joey Mascio dives into why avoiding difficult tasks makes life harder and how tackling them head-on makes it better. Using a hilarious real-life story about his 9-year-old refusing to take medicine, Joey explains why some things can’t be made fun or easier—we just have to do them! He breaks down common tasks teens avoid, why...
Mar 06, 2025•16 min•Season 6Ep. 179
In the final episode of this series, Joey Mascio breaks down the third Great Untruth from The Coddling of the American Mind: “Life is a battle between good people and evil people.” Joey explains why this “us vs. them” mindset is harmful and how to see people as more than labels or groups. Learn how to practice civil discourse, build understanding, and connect with others—even when you don’t agree. Discover the secret for an awesome life as you leave the teams behind and embrace the bigger pictur...
Dec 05, 2024•16 min•Season 5Ep. 178
In this second episode of the Great Untruths series, Joey Mascio explores the dangers of always trusting your feelings. Using the metaphor of the elephant (emotions) and the rider (logic), Joey breaks down why emotional reasoning can lead us astray and how to take back control. Learn how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you guide your “elephant” and why assuming the best in others is key to avoiding unnecessary conflict. Tune in to discover the secret for an awesome life! -- My gamifi...
Nov 21, 2024•17 min•Season 5Ep. 177
