GIRL Talk is a podcast for girls, hosted by Girl Scouts River Valleys. Our episodes are created by Girl Scouts, but they’re not strictly about Girl Scouts. We’re speaking directly to girls, encouraging them to think about big topics in a way that is engaging, fun, relatable, and real.
We cover topics like failure, race, culture, advocacy, nature, video games, social media, mental health, hair and how it ties to our identity, women in non-traditional careers, and what it takes to be a leader. We’ve featured interviews with subject matter experts and women we know who are just out there doing cool things!
Episodes are created with middle and high school-age girls in mind, but we encourage parents, supporting adults, and troop leaders to listen with younger girls too. You can find GIRL Talk wherever you get your podcasts or listen online.
Podcasts Are Perfect for Social Distancing
We recommend listening while you do something else—like going for a walk (Note: walks are okay; in fact, you might even feel better after!) or cooking a meal for your family. Podcasts make chores better, too! Listen to GIRL Talk while you clean your room or do laundry, it’ll make the chores fly by.
GIRL Talk episode topics are hugely varied and you can use the episodes as a jumping-off point for great discussions. Listen together with your family or have everyone in your Girl Scout troop listen to the same episode. Add a discussion of the episode to your virtual troop meeting or buddy up and talk about the episode via FaceTime, Skype, Google Hangouts, or Zoom! Whether you’re talking with your family or with friends, we’ve got discussion questions for three great episodes to help you start the conversation.
We recommend you start with a few ground rules. At GIRL Talk, we like to remember to speak from our own experience and be open to learning about what others think even if it’s different from our experience or opinion.
Episode 001: Epic Fail
- Talk about one time you failed at something—how did it feel? Why does failure feel that way to you?
- What personal strategies do you use to process and move through failure? If you don’t currently have any, what do you think would help?
- What have you avoided doing because you were afraid you’d mess up? How can you be ready to try next time an opportunity comes up?
Episode 010: Talking about Race and Difference
- When did you first notice race and difference?
- Describe a time you wanted to ask about difference, but hesitated. What was your question? What held you back from asking?
- What kinds of things do you wish you and your friends and/or family could talk about regarding different identities?
- What conditions would need to exist for you and your friends to talk freely about racial identity and/or other differences?
Episode 014: Hair–Expectations, Identity, and Stereotypes
- Talk about your own hair “journey.” What does that mean to you? Do you feel like you’re on one?
- Have you ever felt marginalized or experienced microaggressions because of your hair? If not, have you witnessed it happening to someone else?
- Talk about how your hair ties to your identity. Do you feel like you’re allowed to have the hairstyle you want? If not, why?
GIRL Talk has fourteen episodes and a new one released each month! Check out the full listing and be sure to tell us about your experience listening and discussing.
Hannah Gilbert – Hannah is the STEM Program Manager and seasonal Director of Camp Lakamaga at Girl Scouts River Valleys. Truly living her best life, she spends her time during the school year creating science, technology, and engineering events and her summers working outside with staff and campers. Hannah is passionate (and will talk your ear off) about girls taking the lead in their lives—developing persistence and empathy along the way. In her free time, Hannah plays many video games, enjoys a good movie, and loves taking walks with her 6-pound pup, Figgy.