2. Growing pains

In Episode 2 of BTS: TBTS, Alli moves from elementary school into the emotional chaos of middle school—and deeper into her role as an observer of religion, tradition, and belonging.As a new kid in a new town, she reflects on extravagant bar and bat mitzvahs, standing on the edge of dance floors, and what it felt like to be close to faith communities without ever fully feeling inside them. The episode then fast-forwards to high school, where a confident, faith-rooted best friend and a sweet first boyfriend offer new glimpses of belief, love, and community—still appealing, still not quite hers.These experiences continue laying the groundwork for Alli’s debut novel, Too Blessed to Stress.In this episode:Middle school moves, culture shock, and tween awkwardnessBar and bat mitzvahs as a window into belongingFaith, friendship, and first love in high schoolLonging, observation, and the universal desire to fit inNext up: pop culture, televangelism, and a shift in perspective.Links:Too Blessed to Stress — available for pre-order nowEvents for Too Blessed to StressFollow Alli on Instagram: @allihoffkosikFollow Alli on Substack: Getting It Alli Together Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.