Adaptivity: The Science of Adolescence

About Adaptivity: The Science of Adolescence

Taking risks. Falling in love. Figuring out who we are. Adolescents are constantly learning and adapting—in ways that are often misunderstood. Host Dr. Ron Dahl, Director of the Institute of Human Development at UC Berkeley, and his guests explore the science of adolescence on Adaptivity, a podcast by the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent.

Publisher

UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent

Category

kids & family · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Jul 2020

Latest episode

13 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

27 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Aug 2026

   How Do We Learn to Trust?

   Our ability to trust other people is foundational to our personal relationships and to society as a whole, and adolescence is a key time for learning how to balance the vulnerability and emotional risks it requires. In this episode, Ron talks with Eveline Crone, developmental neuroscientist at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, and Jennifer Rodgriquez, executive director of the Youth Law Center in San Francisco, about how we can help adolescents develop the capacity to trust in an era when it's getting harder to believe what we hear and see.

2. 

   23 Jun 2026

   Our Youth's Perspective 2026: The Real Benefits and Challenges of Social Media

   Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence members Jeevana Doddi, Kevin Ramirez, and Yonathan Kiflezghie talk with University of Washington professor Lucia Magis-Weinberg about what research says are the real benefits and challenges of social media, and how young people can manage that balance. This is the last of our three-episode 2026 youth-led miniseries of the Adaptivity podcast, hosted by Ron Dahl.

3. 

   18 Jun 2026

   Our Youth's Perspective 2026: The Importance of Friendships & Romantic Relationships

   Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence members Brooke Smith, Danari Golden, Layah Belay Simmons, and Ananshaa Singh who talk with professor Hannah Schacter from Wayne State University in Detroit about how friendships and romantic relationships in adolescence can impact connections throughout our lives. This is the second of our three-episode 2026 youth-led miniseries of the Adaptivity podcast, hosted by Ron Dahl.

Who has been a guest on Adaptivity: The Science of Adolescence

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Benjamin Olaniyi
• Brynn Santos
• Madison Cheungsomboune
• Stephany Cartney
• Professor Nick Allen

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

58

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

68

Contact Adaptivity: The Science of Adolescence

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.