Overview
Reminiscing about the ups and downs of middle school can be bittersweet, heartfelt, or downright embarrassing. But oftentimes, you can bet on a hilarious gem of a story coming out of it. Those classic middle school tales are exactly what Podcrushed is looking for from their guests. Hosted by Penn Badgely (Gossip Girl or You, anyone?), Nava Kavelin, and Sophie Ansari, each episode features a different celebrity guest to tell their best junior high stories.
On Podcrushed, you can expect conversations about all the highlights of middle school — school crushes, mean teachers, puberty mishaps, and more. But are these episodes safe for your middle schooler to listen to? We took a deep dive into the popular podcast to give you all the details you need to know.
Harmful Content ❗️
The first thing to note about Podcrushed is that it’s not a podcast geared towards kids in any way. It’s a casual conversation between adults about stories from their adolescent years. Stories do not shy away from topics like sex, drugs & alcohol, and more. Not that the podcast specifically seeks out more inappropriate stories, it just happens that those are often the more interesting or shocking stories to keep an audience listening. On platforms like Spotify, some episodes will be labeled “E” for explicit if the content is over the family-friendly line.
Language
There are frequent swear words, including the F-bomb from time to time. Profanity is not bleeped, but it should be noted that the adult language is not always excessive. Often, it depends on the personality of the celebrity guest.
Sex
It’s very common for stories to center around relationships and first heartbreaks. Guests often talk about their first conversations and experiences with sex. While many of these stories are for more mature ears, it’s worth noting that the podcast is not overly sexual in general.
Violence
Most episodes are not violent, but every now and then a guest might share a story that borders on rough or aggressive.
Positive Value 💫
Between all the embarrassing and hilarious stories, Podcrushed really brings home the importance of relatability. If there’s one thing you can take away from listening to these awkward tales, it’s that you’re not alone in all the mishaps you’ve taken. And for teens, they can glean immense comfort from knowing that even their favorite celebrities had similar experiences to what they’re currently going through as a kid.
Generally speaking, the podcast values themes like perseverance, humility, and friendship. Also, the podcast is not afraid to swing back and forth between lighthearted talks and deep, thought-provoking conversations. Teens can learn how to reflect on their experiences in the same balanced way.
So, should my kid listen to it?
Given the tendency for more adult topics in Podcrushed, we’d say this podcast is appropriate for ages 15 and up. But it ultimately depends on your child’s maturity level and what you feel comfortable with as their parent.
