Podcast Promotes Teen Mental Health

In fall 2024, Autumn Heffernan ’25 and Lizzy Thurow ’25 (below, right) were looking for a service opportunity when they learned of a podcasting role with Friendship Circle of Wisconsin. The podcast, called “Wish You Knew,” was entering its second season and Levi Stein, executive director of Friendship Circle, needed new hosts. Despite having no prior experience, Heffernan and Thurow embraced the challenge and jumped at Stein’s offer to co-host the year-long show.
Episodes were published every other week from September 2024 to June 2025, and they gave teens an outlet to hear their peers’ mental health journeys, and even share their own. Each episode was reviewed by an oversight committee of mental health professionals prior to publishing, and teens’ identities remained anonymous. 

Along the way, the duo taught themselves audio recording and editing, learned to navigate sensitive topics with care, and created a welcoming space for authentic storytelling. “In almost every story, you can find something to relate to,” said Heffernan. “People have reached out saying they felt seen—and that’s what makes it all worth it.”