Ever explode over something small and wonder why it hit so hard? In this episode, host John sits down with teen emotional wellness expert Susan and 16-year-old guest Brayden to break down one of the most powerful tools for managing your emotions: understanding your triggers.

Susan explains what triggers actually are, why they sneak up on you, and how "stacked triggers" can turn a small moment into a big reaction. Brayden gets real about his own patterns, from getting called out at basketball practice to firing off messages in group chats, and walks through Susan's five-step Trigger Tracking Worksheet live on air.

By the end of the episode, you'll know how to spot your triggers, read your body's early warning signals, and build a simple plan that actually works.

In this episode:

• What triggers are and why everyone has them
• How your "emotional battery" changes the way you react
• The five-step Trigger Tracking Worksheet
• Why making the gap between trigger and reaction even slightly bigger rewires your brain over time

This week's challenge: Pick one trigger, run it through the five steps, and write it down at least once. That's it.

The Trigger Tracking Worksheet is attached to this episode — download it and follow along with the five steps at your own pace.

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Based on the book series by Agnes Blake, including Anger Management for Teens: Mad to Calm and the Teens Emotional Wellness Workbook.

Anger Management For Teens - Mad to Calm

Teens Emotional Regulation

Teens Self Esteem and Emotional Strength

Teens Emotional Wellness Workbook