Podcrushed Episode Summary: "92NY Presents: Podcrushed LIVE (with Modern Love’s Anna Martin)"

Introduction to the Live Event Hosted by Penn Badgley, Nava Kavilan, and Sophie Ansari, the 92NY live episode of Podcrushed featured a special guest, Anna Martin, host of Modern Love for The New York Times. The event took place at Budweiser Hall at the Arnhold Center, 92nd Street Y, New York, on July 30, 2025. The hosts warmly welcomed attendees and introduced the evening's agenda, emphasizing the podcast's focus on exploring the adolescence of middle school through personal stories and meaningful conversations.

Icebreaker: Revisiting Middle School Selves To kick off the conversation, the hosts engaged in a nostalgic icebreaker, where each introduced their middle school selves.

• Penn Badgley reflected on his younger, shy self: “[05:27]... I was a quiet, very shy kid in the Pacific Northwest discovering a love for R&B music.”

• Sophie Ansari humorously shared her experience as “Silly Sophie,” recalling her deep involvement in acting from a young age: “[07:15]... I was working professionally by the time I was 12 and enjoying that, loving that.”

• Nava Kavilan reminisced about her first crush influenced by the Spice Girls and her time at asthma camp: “[07:30]... I was in love with my best friend, giving him advice on how to land a girl, and also spent a summer at asthma camp.”

This segment set a personal and engaging tone, highlighting the universal and relatable experiences of middle schoolers.

Origins and Evolution of Podcrushed The conversation shifted to the origin story of Podcrushed, primarily attributed to Nava Kavilan’s inspiration during the 2020 pandemic when she sought uplifting and relatable middle school stories:

• Nava Kavilan explained: “[09:02]... I listened to a podcast where a girl read her middle school diary, and it was so relatable and funny. When I couldn’t find a similar podcast, I decided to create one.”

• Sophie Ansari added context about Nava’s background as a middle school teacher and administrator, emphasizing the unique developmental period of middle school: “[10:19]... I had been a middle school teacher and administrator, and I remembered how crazy and fun middle schoolers were.”

The hosts discussed how Podcrushed initially focused on middle school stories but has since expanded to encompass a broader range of adolescent experiences, including more mature topics.

The Importance of Middle School Experiences Delving deeper, the hosts and Anna Martin examined why middle school is a pivotal period worth exploring:

• Sophie Ansari highlighted the neurological and psychological transformations during adolescence, citing brain plasticity and the development of moral, spiritual, and political perspectives: “[10:36]... there's just this unique time in life where you're advanced enough to do wild things, but your brain isn't developed enough to prevent those actions.”

• Nava Kavilan emphasized the newfound independence middle schoolers gain, their increased social interactions, and the influence of social media: “[12:54]... they are being opened up to so many more forces in the world... they're on social media.”

The discussion underscored how these formative years shape individuals’ identities, social scripts, and future behaviors.

The Impact of Crushes on Personal Development A significant portion of the episode focused on the role of crushes during middle school and their lasting impact:

• Penn Badgley questioned why crushes should be taken seriously, probing their deeper psychological implications: “[27:20]... why do you think we should take crushes seriously and not discount them as frivolous?”

• Nava Kavilan responded by explaining how crushes reflect personal values and societal influences, and how early crushes can set social scripts that persist into adulthood: “[27:58]... a crush tells you something about a person and a time and place.”

• Sophie Ansari elaborated on the authenticity of feelings experienced during crushes and the need to validate them while providing perspective: “[31:03]... your feelings are always valid... but it's a complete fantasy that life won't be okay without this person.”

The hosts discussed how understanding these early emotions can lead to self-compassion and personal growth, emphasizing that crushes are not merely fleeting infatuations but integral to emotional development.

Reflections and Advice on Adolescent Hardships Responding to audience questions, the hosts and Anna Martin shared insights on overcoming challenges faced during adolescence:

• Sophie Ansari stressed the importance of understanding as a pathway to relief and self-discovery: “[46:11]... the best thing you can get from reflection is understanding.”

• Nava Kavilan highlighted self-compassion and continual personal growth, noting that adolescence shapes but does not define one's entire life: “[46:19]... you are this 12-year-old version of yourself, but you are also continually evolving.”

• Penn Badgley echoed the sentiment that coming of age is a lifelong process, freeing individuals to keep discovering and developing: “[46:58]... coming of age is a lifelong process... it's freeing to understand that you just keep discovering things about yourself.”

The conversation encouraged listeners to reflect on their past experiences for personal growth and to approach current challenges with empathy and understanding.

Audience Questions and Responses The live session included interactive segments where audience-submitted questions were addressed:

1. Healing the 13-Year-Old Self:

   • Question: “I'm 31, but sometimes I feel my 13-year-old self comes through in the form of insecurities. How can I heal my 13-year-old self and, by extension, my adult self?”
   • Responses:
     • Sophie Ansari: Emphasized understanding and mercy as essential for healing: “[52:25]... understanding is everything. It can bring peace.”
     • Nava Kavilan: Highlighted self-compassion and the ongoing nature of personal development: “[46:19]... you're never fully formed and can continue making new choices.”

2. Advice on Reflecting on Adolescent Hardships:

   • Sophie Ansari: Advocated for understanding to gain relief and empathy: “[46:11]... understanding of your own experience... empathy for younger friends.”
   • Nava Kavilan: Encouraged self-compassion and recognizing one’s ability to make new choices: “[46:19]... you're still on a path and can take right turns.”

Expanding the Scope of Podcrushed Participants discussed how Podcrushed evolved from focusing solely on middle school experiences to addressing more mature and complex topics:

• Sophie Ansari: Explained the practical need to expand guest profiles and topics to attract a wider audience: “[40:35]... no one would come on the show if we only focused on adolescence.”

• Nava Kavilan: Mentioned enhanced research capabilities allowing for more in-depth and unique questions, leading to richer conversations with high-profile guests like Ariana Grande and Eddie Redmayne: “[42:55]... with better research, you can ask more interesting questions.”

This evolution ensures that the podcast remains relevant and continues to engage listeners by connecting adolescent experiences with adult lives.

Notable Interviews and Moments The hosts shared memorable interactions with guests who deeply connected with their adolescent narratives:

• Ariana Grande: Described as an incredible and generous guest who spent four hours on the show, engaging deeply in conversations beyond typical press topics: “[43:18]... Ariana spent four hours with us... she was so genuinely wonderful.”

• Eddie Redmayne: Appreciated for his willingness to delve into his early life without being confined strictly to discussing his projects: “[44:54]... he was so into the early life conversation and fascinated by middle school topics.”

These interviews exemplify Podcrushed's ability to bridge personal adolescent experiences with the broader narratives of prominent cultural figures.

Book Announcement: "Kruschmore" During the event, the hosts announced their forthcoming book, "Kruschmore," a collection of essays exploring love, loss, and coming of age:

• Nava Kavilan: Shared emotional insights about writing the book, including personal losses and realizations about ongoing personal growth: “[48:09]... writing the book made me realize that things hard for me now were also hard then, and it's okay to still be working through them.”

• Sophie Ansari: Emphasized understanding as the book’s central theme, discussing how it helps in processing trauma and finding peace through self-awareness: “[49:10]... understanding is the first gift to the human mind and soul... it can bring everything.”

The book release is scheduled for October 7th, promising readers a deep dive into the transformative experiences of adolescence and their lasting impacts.

Closing Remarks and Final Q&A In the final segment, the hosts engaged in a rapid-fire style Q&A, addressing topics such as the current dating environment in New York:

• Sophie Ansari humorously labeled the dating scene as “trash,” while Nava Kavilan and Penn Badgley shared personal anecdotes about their relationships and offered advice on seeking meaningful connections:

  • Nava Kavilan: Suggested looking for meaningful relationships among people you already know: “[59:02]... sometimes there is a diamond in the rough or someone you never considered.”

  • Penn Badgley: Encouraged sharing one’s feelings openly: “[29:12]... I think everyone, when they leave here, should tell someone they have a crush on them.”

The hosts wrapped up the live session by reiterating the importance of understanding and reflecting on adolescent experiences, connecting them to adult lives, and promoting their book, "Kruschmore."

Conclusion This live episode of Podcrushed offered an intimate exploration of middle school experiences and their profound impact on personal development. Through nostalgic reflections, heartfelt discussions, and insightful audience interactions, the hosts and Anna Martin provided listeners with valuable perspectives on navigating adolescence and its lingering effects into adulthood. The episode seamlessly blended personal anecdotes with broader societal reflections, reinforcing the podcast's mission to make middle school stories relatable and meaningful for all ages.

Notable Quotes:

• Sophie Ansari ([05:27]): “I was a quiet, very shy kid in the Pacific Northwest discovering a love for R&B music.”
• Nava Kavilan ([09:02]): “I couldn't find a similar podcast, so I decided to create one.”
• Penn Badgley ([27:20]): “Why do you think we should take crushes seriously and not discount them as frivolous?”
• Sophie Ansari ([31:03]): “Your feelings are always valid... but it's a complete fantasy that life won't be okay without this person.”
• Nava Kavilan ([46:19]): “You are this 12-year-old version of yourself, but you are also continually evolving.”
• Sophie Ansari ([49:10]): “Understanding is the first gift to the human mind and soul... it can bring everything.”