The Evergreen’s newest podcast “Wait…This is Deep…”, created by sophomore Scarlett Song and junior Chloe Nguyen, was released on Jan. 22 and can be streamed on the Spotify app.
The podcast delves into mental health struggles students face within the Greenhill environment. So far, the podcast consists of four episodes, each about a half-hour long.
“We hope to spread awareness, share our thoughts and propose possible solutions and tips to our community,” Nguyen said.
The idea began when Song and Nguyen connected through their passion and interest on the topic of mental health. They both say they believe mental health is a relevant topic in today’s society and that everyone should be educated about it.
“In an era where the pressures and challenges faced by students are diverse and dynamic, creating a dedicated space for discussions on mental health is imperative,” Nguyen said.
The first episode is titled “Screenagers.” This episode covers the topic of social media and the effects it has on teenagers’ mental health. In this episode, they discuss their personal experiences with social media and converse about depression, anxiety and more.
The two continue to expand on social media and how it affects one’s mental health in the second episode. They discuss concepts including the fear of missing out, influencers, parenting and the benefits of disconnecting from social media.
According to Upper School Spanish teacher Jacobo Luna-Cruz, he chose to disconnect from his devices after listening to the podcast.
“I deleted my Snapchat and have limited TikTok to five minutes every other day,” Luna-Cruz said.
The third episode follows a different path than the first two; it is titled “Professional Perspectives Part 1.” In this episode, Nguyen and Song interview Upper School Counselor Amanda Frederick. The episode covers several topics ranging from the importance of sleep to relationships.
“By addressing topics specific to our school community, we not only validate the various experiences of our peers but also contribute to breaking down stigmas surrounding mental health,” Nguyen said.
According to Nguyen, the podcast is targeted towards students both in and out of the Greenhill community. Song and Nguyen say they want to show the importance of spreading awareness about topics revolving around mental health.
“We want people to feel like they are not alone in whatever they may be going through,” Song said. “[The podcast] is for anyone who wants to learn about mental health. It is meant for people of all ages who want to relate to someone or gain advice on any topic.”
Song and Nguyen have a Google Form linked in every podcast description, so they can gather insight from their audience on what topics people want to listen to and improve the episodes in the future.
