10 episodes
Seventeen Paradiso Media
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- Society & Culture
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5.0 • 60 Ratings
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On "Seventeen: Conversations with My Teenage Self," writer and essayist Laura Leigh Abby reads her 17 year-old diary - with the entries voiced by teen influencer Leia Immanuel - and reflects on it, revealing so much more than anyone could have expected. This narrative podcast is nostalgic of the early aughts, an era before social media and smartphones, while also acknowledging the inherent and often unwitting misogyny of the time. Adult Laura addresses journal entries that contain problematic sexual encounters, and explores how a generation of would-be feminists were influenced by the mixed signals of pop culture.
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Ep 1: "My Sexy 17"
In 2002, Laura Leigh Abby’s 17th birthday party kicked off a year of freedom in which she would experience many things for the first time; she thought she was finally becoming a woman. Now, almost 20 years later, she's going back to her journals from that year and revisiting some of her own adolescent choices.
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EP 2: “I feel a little slutty”
Laura recalls the time she hooked up with two guys in one night and tries to make sense of how she felt about it. She explores her own misconceptions about sex and pleasure and turns to her sister and a close friend to compare experiences. Together they talk about high school boyfriends and examine the word “slut.”
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EP 3: “I should be feeling guilty”
A sudden death in the family has young Laura facing tragedy for the first time. Looking back on its aftermath, adult Laura explores the communication barriers that existed between her and her parents back then. She talks with her mom about topics that have always felt off-limits: grief, loss, and of course – sex.
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EP 4: “What does he possibly see in me?”
Laura recalls a high school relationship that never quite materialized, and reaches out to the guy to get his take on their would-be romance. He immediately denies ever having feelings for her, and Laura must navigate the rest of the interview with the possibility that her complicated feelings were one-sided.
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EP 5: “He’s always been that guy for me”
Laura wants to know what being a teen was like for guys. Was it as easy as it looked, or did they face the same pressure she felt in high school? As she recalls her crush on “the coolest guy in school,” Laura chats with her older brother about high school popularity, how to fit in, and what it’s really like to be a teenage guy.
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EP 6: "I feel dirty and violated"
While going through her journals, Laura uncovers the truth about what really happened to her at a party in high school. In this episode she talks about the stigma of shame, the Me Too movement, and the gray area of sexual assault.
Customer Reviews
656756788 stars!
A perfect window into being a teenager
Vulnerable and Fascinating
Astounded by the boldness and insight it takes to look back on such a formative and vulnerable time. There’s a part of Laura that I am sure most women of this generation can relate to. What a victory for younger Laura to see what an amazing woman she’s become.
Flashback
This podcast takes me back to my high school days when my hormones were raging and tiny seeds were planted as to who I was to become. I’m in awe of Laura’s ability to 1: write religiously in her diary for so many years and 2: to share her most personal stories with the world, hunting down the people who inspired them, and sharing insights as to how they shaped the woman she is today. If only we were all this brave! It’s the kind of podcast where I find myself laughing one minute and crying the next—very high school of me. It’s a reminder that all of my experiences happened in order to bring me exactly where I am. And that’s pretty amazing if you think about it.