Skip to content
316. When Your Middlers Lack Interest episode artwork

Dec 3, 2025 47 min

316. When Your Middlers Lack Interest

from Brave Writer

What do we do when our tweens and teens don’t seem “into” anything? In this episode, we explore how to revive interest, curiosity, and motivation in the middle school years—without forcing artificial enthusiasm. We talk about why middlers may seem disengaged, how risk and adventure replace the “magic” of early childhood learning, and how deep dives, conversation, boredom, and flexibility can open doors to authentic passion. We also share practical scripts, examples from our own families, and tools for nurturing critical thinking and connection. Text us your questions using the link in the show notes! Resources: Listen to our interview with Chris Balme, and find his book Challenge Accepted: 50 Adventures to Make Middle School Awesome in the Brave Writer Book Shop Brave Writer class registration is open! Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!) Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing Find community at Brave Learner Home Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more! Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684 Connect with Julie: Instagram: @juliebravewriter Threads: @juliebravewriter Bluesky: @bravewriter.com Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter Connect with Melissa: Website: melissawiley.com Substack: melissawiley.substack.com Instagram: @melissawileybooks Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social Produced by NOVA

Episode details come from the podcast's RSS feed.

Embed this episode

Ready to play

316. When Your Middlers Lack Interest

0:00 47:25

No transcript yet.

Requests help us decide what to transcribe next.

Heart to Heart Podcast One on One / Next Level Studios In the Heart to Heart Podcast, we talk to some of our favorite & most interesting people in the entertainment industry so you can feel empowered and learn that even in the most challenging of industries, where there’s a will there’s a way.Whether you’re an actor, a writer, a casting director, a talent rep, or just someone interested in the behind the scene happenings of the entertainment industry, this podcast will have something for you. NOW, this isn’t just another How To podcast for actors. Plenty of those shows already exist. In Heart to Heart, every guest will share stories inspired by their sometimes winding path to success on their own terms. FYA Studios The PodClass LaQuet Sharnell Pringle Welcome to the Fearless Young Artists Podcast! This show feels like a class, providing you with practical and tactile tools for when you’re questioning your creative work and seeking inspiration from artists whose stories will remind you that you are not alone. Welcome to acknowledging that the best thing you can do for your creative life is to Be Bold, Brave, Playful, and, most importantly, BE FEARLESS! JC Speaks Ai JC Tambeau Introducing "JC Speaks AI" - a captivating and thought-provoking podcast. This podcast is born out of my passion for Artificial Intelligence and a deeply personal mission. At the heart of this endeavour is my granddaughter, Abby, a brave 7-year-old battling lung disease and damage due to medical negligence. A routine visit to the emergency department at the age of three resulted in her right lung consolidating and collapsing, forever altering her future. The health system not only failed her once but twice when they refused to cover her future medical care - care that could improve her life, care that will inevitably be costly. Host JC brings you engaging conversations and insights at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, health, and wellness. We delve into cutting-edge AI applications and discuss groundbreaking research, engaging with experts to demystify the rapidly evolving world of AI. From personalized medicine to mental health, and from ethical considerations to t Mangaka Education: Learn about the Creative Side of Webtoons, Manga, Games & Anime Brandon Chen Brandon Chen is a professional writer and producer in the manga and webtoon space, specializing in shonen intellectual property. He currently runs Inspired Productions, a studio that creates manga and webtoon IP slates with large publishers, such as WEBTOON, Tapas, VoyceMe, Pixelberry, and more. Here, you can ask any questions regarding the anime, manga and webtoon space and he sits down every week to answer them! For Brandon's games/manga/webtoons/novels, classes, merch, socials, consulting contact & more: https://brandonchen.carrd.co/

Frequently asked questions

How long is this episode of Brave Writer?

This episode is 47 minutes long.

When was this Brave Writer episode published?

This episode was published on December 3, 2025.

Can I download this Brave Writer episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.