The Best Podcasts to Listen to If You Have a Teen or College Daughter (Mad Rush, Mental Playbook, The Intuitive Voice & That’s Good Parenting)
written by: Suzanne Hanna, Ed.S.
Every once in a while I get to sit down with a podcast host who asks the exact questions that moms and young women are really carrying around in their hearts. Podcast conversations feel like that to me. Real talk. Helpful talk. The kind of talk that makes you exhale and think, “Okay, we’re not the only ones dealing with this.”
So I wanted to share a few recent episodes I’ve been on that I genuinely believe can support your teen girl, your college girl, and you as her mom. These are conversations about anxiety, pressure, confidence, intuition, sorority recruitment, and how to stay grounded in a season of life that moves fast.
If you’re a mom of a high school senior, a college freshman, or a young woman trying to find her footing, I think these will meet you right where you are.
1. Following the Thread of Intuition Podcast
Ep 26: Supporting Young Women with Guest Suzanne Hanna
This conversation with Martha and Angela was one of those episodes that felt tender in the best way. We talked about something I think every young woman needs to learn how to trust, and that is her intuition.
We unpacked what it looks like when girls are dealing with anxiety, overwhelm, self doubt, and the constant pressure of modern life, especially in such a hyper connected world. We also talked about why mentoring matters so much, and why sometimes having support outside the mother daughter dynamic can be exactly what helps a girl breathe easier and open up.
I also share a personal piece of my own parenting journey in this episode. I talk about my son and how my intuition was quietly nudging me to pay attention to what his Senior year behavior was really telling us. On the outside, he could have gone straight to college like everyone expects. But inside, it was clear he wasn’t ready yet. We made the decision for him to take a gap year and travel instead, and it ended up being such a life giving, grounding experience for him. It helped him reconnect with himself in a way that I don’t think would have happened if we had pushed forward just because that’s the “normal” timeline.
A few takeaways from this episode:
Intuition is real, and it speaks differently to each of us. Learning to listen to it is a skill.
Girls today are carrying more emotional noise than ever, and they need places that feel calm, safe, and honest.
Sitting with discomfort is not a punishment. It’s part of how resilience and self trust are built.
Being supported by another trusted adult can help girls hear themselves more clearly.
Sometimes the wisest path is the one that honors what your child truly needs, even if it looks different than the traditional route.
Gap years can be an amazing option when a young person needs time to grow, breathe, and find their footing before college.
If your girl is trying to figure out who she is, what she feels, and how to trust herself in the middle of change, this one is for her. And if you’re a mom trying to listen well to what your child might need next, I think this conversation will encourage you in a really steady way.
2. The Mad Rush Podcast with Trisha Addicks
Navigating College Pressures and Sorority Life: Insights from Life Coach Suzanne Hanna
This episode is such a practical, supportive listen for any girl stepping into college life, especially if rush, sorority culture, or the social side of college feels intimidating.
Trisha and I talked about the pressure college girls face from every direction. Academic stress, social adjustment, wanting to belong, trying to keep up, figuring out what is normal and what is not. We also talked through sorority rush in a real way, including rejection, self respect, and how to stay grounded in who you are while everyone around you is forming opinions.
A few things we covered that I think really matter:
College pressure is intense, and girls deserve to have their feelings taken seriously.
Validation is not spoiling a girl. It’s helping her feel steady enough to grow.
Safe partying and social choices are self respect.
Rejection during rush can feel personal, but it does not define her worth.
Confidence is built through learning how to stay connected to yourself in hard moments.
I love this episode because Trisha is the goat of all things sorority recruitment, and she is even publishing a book The Rush Bible in 2026. I'd grab a copy if I were you!
Listen on Spotify | Apple | YouTube
3. Mental Playbook Podcast
Ep 28: College 101: Unpacking the College Transition with Suzanne Hanna
I’m so glad this conversation exists because the truth is, no one hands you a college manual. Not for the student, and definitely not for the parent. The transition from high school to college can feel overwhelming even when everything looks “fine” on the outside. That’s why I loved getting to talk honestly with Maliya about what to expect and how to handle it, step by step.
We covered the emotional side of the transition and the practical side too, because girls need both. They need tools, and they need reassurance that what they’re feeling makes sense.
Here are a few things we unpacked together:
Making friends while managing homesickness.
Staying motivated in class and keeping up with work when the structure is totally different.
Creating your own routine and support system in college life.
Setting healthy boundaries and learning to say no, even when it feels uncomfortable.
What parents should do to support their child, and what tends to backfire even when it’s well meant.
If your girl is about to leave for college, or she’s in her first year and trying to find her footing, I really think this episode will help her feel less alone. And moms, I think it will help you too. It gives you a clearer picture of what this season can look like from the inside out, and how to support without hovering. Plus, the host Maliya is absolutely delightful and you'll love her perspective (at the time of taping, she was headed to her freshman year of college).
And if homesickness is part of your girl’s story right now, I also created a Homesickness Survival Guide that you can grab here: the Dorm Room Blues: a Survival Guide
4. That’s Good Parenting Podcast with Dori Durbin
Ep 121: How to Build Your Teen Daughter’s Confidence Before (and in) College
This episode is for the moms who feel like they’re trying so hard to do the right thing, but parenting a teen girl can still feel delicate. If you’ve ever felt like you’re walking on eggshells, I want you to know you’re not alone. And there is a better way forward.
Dori and I talked about how confidence is built over time through connection, honesty, and the kind of steady support that helps girls trust themselves. We also talked about what moms can do now that truly affects the relationship later, because the way a girl feels with you today shapes whether she comes to you tomorrow.
Here are some of the big pieces we covered:
Why your response now matters more than you think.
The difference between reacting and responding, and how that shift changes everything.
Signs your daughter may need more support than she’s saying out loud.
What “Bandaid Friends” are.
Practical ways to build real confidence and self reliance.
How honest conversations create safety.
Navigating social pressure and comparison without losing yourself.
I love this conversation because it’s heart-centered. It gives moms a clearer picture of how to stay close to their girls, while still helping them grow strong and steady on their own. If your daughter is heading toward college soon, or already there, this episode will give you real encouragement and direction.
Listen on Apple | Spotify | Amazon Music
If you listen, I’d love to know what connects with you
If you press play on any of these, send me an email ([email protected]) and tell me what hit home. I’m always so grateful when these conversations reach the exact person they were meant for.
And if you’re in a season where your girl needs steady support, clarity, or a place to sort through what she’s carrying, I’m here. You can learn more about my comprehensive support for girls on my website: www.suzannehannacoaching.com
