About this episode

The episode explores the intense emotions experienced by middle schoolers and discusses the reasons behind these feelings.

Why does your middle schooler seem happy, anxious, excited, embarrassed, frustrated, and overwhelmed—all before dinner? In Week 3 of our whole family Socioemotional Learning (SEL) Summer Camp series, Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSW, is joined by Jessica Ragnio, MSW, LICSW, Clinical Director at Mightier, to explore the fascinating world of adolescent emotions. Always a good hang with Jessica! Together, the duo discuss why emotions become more intense during the middle school years, how ident...

People in this episode

Host: Suzanne M. Swain

Guest: Jessica Ragnio

Topics covered

• socioemotional learning
• adolescent emotions
• middle school
• emotional intensity
• family dynamics

Keywords

• middle school
• emotions
• socioemotional learning
• adolescents
• family

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mightier

More episodes of Middle School Mary Poppins

• S3 EP7: SEL Summer Camp Week 5: Anger Volcanoes: A Deep Dive Into Reactivity, Meltdowns, & Rage in Tweens · July 21, 2026 · 1h 10m
• S3 EP14 - SEL Summer Camp Week 4: Garden of Weedy Thoughts: Helping Middle Schoolers Bust Cognitive Distortions & Calm Anxiety · July 8, 2026 · 30 min
• S3 EP12 - SEL Summer Camp Week 2: Are Screens Evil or Not? Chocolate Cake, Dopamine & the Middle School Brain · June 16, 2026 · 27 min

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